Methods and apparatus for performing fluorescence and spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy on a sample. A sample is irradiated with a fluorescence excitation fiber and radiation is collected from the sample with a fluorescence collection fiber and detected to form fluorescence spectra. The sample is also illuminated with a reflectance illumination fiber and reflected light from the sample is collected at a plurality of collection positions and detected to form spatially resolved reflectance spectra. The fibers may form a probe arranged in concentric sections. The spectra are analyzed by pre-processing and reducing the dimensionality of the spectral data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the fields of optical imaging. More particularly, it concerns apparatus and methods for combining fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopy for the imaging of samples, including both in situ and ex situ imagining of body tissues.
2. Description of Related Art
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and in the world. In the United States alone, deaths from cancer are estimated to number 560,000 in 1997 (American Cancer Society Online. Cancer Facts and Figures). Currently, diagnosis and treatment of cancer follow histopathologic evaluation of directed biopsies. However, the tissue removal necessitated by these techniques not only may alter the progression of the disease (Robbins and Kumar, 1984) but is also very costly. Improving the capability for in situ monitoring of disease progression could greatly enhance the ability to detect and treat cancer and precancer (Kelloff et al., 1992).
A growing number of clinical studies have demonstrated that fluorescence spectroscopy may be used to distinguish normal and abnormal human tissues in vivo in the skin, head and neck, genito-urinary tract, gastro-intestinal tract, breast, and brain. It is well known that fluorescence intensity and lineshape are a function of both the excitation and emission wavelength in samples containing multiple chromophores, such as human tissue. A complete characterization of the fluorescence properties of an unknown sample requires measurement of a fluorescence excitation emission matrix, in which the fluorescence intensity is recorded as a function of both excitation and emission wavelength. The field of analytical chemistry has exploited the fluorescence properties of different compounds to identify and quantify them in mixtures.
Most clinical studies reported to date have measured fluorescence emission spectra at only a small number of excitation wavelengths (typically one to three) due to clinical requirements imposed on the size, speed and sensitivity of instrumentation. The choice of excitation wavelength has been based on factors which vary from study to study, but include laser availability and predictions of chromophores thought to be present in normal and abnormal tissues and measurements of fluorescence excitation emission matrices (EEM) of normal and abnormal tissues in vitro. While in vitro measurements of tissue EEMs are feasible using commercially available scanning fluorimeters, several studies have demonstrated that the optical properties of tissue change significantly when tissue is examined in vitro due in part to interruption of the blood supply, oxidation and small size of biopsies. Thus, in vitro studies to select excitation wavelengths are of limited value.
Several recent studies have suggested that differences in optical properties, assessed using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, may be used to discriminate normal and abnormal human tissues in vivo in the urinary bladder and the skin. Furthermore, measuring both fluorescence and diffuse reflectance spectra may provide additional information of diagnostic value.
A system capable of measuring spatially resolved reflectance spectra and fluorescence excitation emission matrices in vivo would remove limitations of many previous studies, potentially enabling prediction of excitation wavelengths that provide greatest discrimination of normal and abnormal tissues, as well as a better understanding of the relative diagnostic ability of changes in absorption, scattering and fluorescence properties of tissue. Although fiber optic systems to record fluorescence EEMs and reflectance spectra at a single spatial location have been reported, such systems have measured data from only a single spatial location, and have thus not been able to perform spatially resolved spectroscopy. Additionally, previous systems have not been well-adapted for in-vivo studies of various tissues.
In one respect, the invention is an apparatus for performing fluorescence and spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy on a sample, and it includes a light source, a monochromator, a reflectance illumination fiber, a fluorescence excitation fiber, an imaging spectrograph, a fluorescence collection fiber, a reflectance collection fiber, and a detector. The monochromator is in optical communication with the light source. The reflectance illumination fiber is in optical communication with the light source. The fluorescence excitation fiber is in optical communication with the monochromator. The fluorescence collection fiber is in optical communication with the imaging spectrograph. The reflectance collection fiber is in optical communication with the imaging spectrograph and is in spaced relation with the reflectance illumination fiber. The detector is in optical communication with the imaging spectrograph.
In other aspects, the light source may include a Xe arc lamp. The monochromator may include a double monochromator. The detector comprises a thermo-electrically cooled CCD camera. The fluorescence excitation fiber and the fluorescence collection fiber may be integral. One or more of the fibers may be positioned flush with the sample. The apparatus may also include a spacer positioned between one or more of the fibers and the sample. The reflectance illumination fiber, the fluorescence excitation fiber, the fluorescence collection fiber, and the reflectance collection fiber may define a fiber optic probe. The probe may be configured to be positioned within a trocar. The probe may include a center section and an outer section, and the fluorescence excitation fiber and the fluorescence collection fiber may be positioned in the center section, and the reflectance illumination fiber and the reflectance collection fiber may be positioned in the outer section. The apparatus may include a plurality of fluorescence excitation and collection fibers arranged in a circular bundle. The apparatus may include a plurality of reflectance collection fibers defining a plurality of collection positions. The plurality of collection positions may be spaced between about 0 and about 10 millimeters from the reflectance illumination fiber. The reflectance collection fiber may define a collection position at about 180 degrees relative to the reflectance illumination fiber. The reflectance collection fiber may define a collection position at about 90 degrees relative to the reflectance illumination fiber. The reflectance collection fiber may define a collection position at about 45 degrees relative to the reflectance illumination fiber. The apparatus may include one or more fibers in optical communication with the light source and configured to illuminate the sample during operation of the apparatus. The apparatus may include a plurality of fluorescence excitation fibers arranged in one or more rows adjacent the monochromator. The apparatus may include a plurality of fluorescence excitation fibers and a plurality of reflectance collection fibers arranged in a single row adjacent the imaging spectrograph. The apparatus may include one or more unconnected fibers interspersed with the plurality of fluorescence excitation fibers and the plurality of reflectance collection fibers. The apparatus may include a fiber connected from the light source to the imaging spectrograph to monitor spectral output of the light source. The apparatus may include a controller coupled to the detector.
In another respect, the invention is an apparatus for measuring fluorescence and spatially resolved reflectance spectra of a sample. The apparatus includes a light source, a monochromator, a fiber optic probe, an imaging spectrograph, and a detector. The monochromator is in optical communication with the light source. The fiber optic probe is in optical communication with the light source and with the monochromator. The probe includes a plurality of fluorescence excitation and collection fibers in spaced relation and a plurality of reflectance collection fibers in spaced relation with a reflectance illumination fiber. The imaging spectrograph is in optical communication with the plurality of fluorescence collection fibers and with the plurality of reflectance collection fibers. The detector is in optical communication with the imaging spectrograph.
In other aspects, the plurality of reflectance collection fibers and the reflectance illumination fiber may be positioned concentrically about the plurality of fluorescence excitation and collection fibers. At least one of the plurality of reflectance collection fibers may define a collection position at about 180 degrees relative to the reflectance illumination fiber. At least one of the plurality of reflectance collection fibers may define a collection position at about 90 degrees relative to the reflectance illumination fiber. At least one of the plurality of reflectance collection fibers may define a collection position at about 45 degrees relative to the reflectance illumination fiber. The plurality of collection positions may be spaced between about 0 and about 10 millimeters from the reflectance illumination fiber. The probe may include between twenty-one and forty-six optical fibers.
In another respect, the invention is a method for combined fluorescence and spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy of a sample. The method includes directing radiation to the sample with a fluorescence excitation fiber, collecting radiation from the sample with a fluorescence collection fiber, directing the radiation from the sample to an imaging spectrograph and a detector, illuminating the sample with a reflectance illumination fiber, collecting reflected light from the sample with a reflectance collection fiber in spaced relation with the reflectance illumination fiber, and directing the reflected light from the sample to an imaging spectrograph and a detector.
In other aspects, the step of collecting reflected light may include collecting reflected light from a plurality of collection positions with a plurality of reflectance collection fibers. The step of collecting reflected light may include collecting reflected light from the sample with a reflectance collection fiber defining a collection position at about 180 degrees relative to the reflectance illumination fiber. The step of collecting reflected light may include collecting reflected light from the sample with a reflectance collection fiber defining a collection position at about 90 degrees relative to the reflectance illumination fiber. The step of collecting reflected light may include collecting reflected light from the sample with a reflectance collection fiber defining a collection position at about 45 degrees relative to the reflectance illumination fiber. The sample may include ovarian, head and neck, or cervical tissue. The method may also include analyzing spectral data from the detector to characterize the sample. The step of analyzing may include pre-processing the data and reducing a dimension of the data using principal component analysis. The step of analyzing may also include selecting one or more diagnostic principal components of the data and forming one or more algorithms. The step of analyzing may also include forming one or more composite algorithms. The step of analyzing may also include evaluating at least on of the algorithms using a cross-validation technique.
In another respect, the invention is a method for combined fluorescence and spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy of a sample. The method includes directing radiation to the sample with a fluorescence excitation fiber, collecting radiation from the sample with a fluorescence collection fiber, directing the radiation from the sample to an imaging spectrograph and a detector, illuminating the sample with a reflectance illumination fiber, collecting reflected light at a plurality of collection positions from the sample with a plurality of reflectance collection fibers arranged in spaced relation, directing the reflected light from the sample to an imaging spectrograph and a detector to produce spectral data, pre-processing the data, and reducing a dimension of the data using principal component analysis.
The method may also include selecting one or more diagnostic principal components of the data and forming one or more algorithms. The method may also include forming one or more composite algorithms. The method may also include evaluating at least one of the algorithms using a cross-validation technique.
In another respect, the invention is a method for analyzing spectroscopy data to define an optimized reduced data set. The method includes pre-processing the spectroscopy data, reducing a dimension of the spectroscopy data using principal component analysis, and selecting one or more diagnostic principal components of the spectroscopy data.
In other aspects, the spectroscopy data may include combined fluorescence and spatially resolved reflectance spectroscopy data. The step of pre-processing may include normalization of the spectroscopy data. The step of pre-processing may include mean scaling the spectroscopy data. The step of pre-processing may include calculating one or more derivatives on the spectroscopy data. The method may also include eliminating redundant data from the spectroscopy data. The method may also include forming one or more algorithms and evaluating at least one of the algorithms using a cross validation technique. The method may also include forming one or more composite algorithms.
Applications for the methods and apparatus described herein are vast and include, but are not limited to, analysis and detection of disease including cancers and pre-cancers (such as cervical, head and neck, colon, lung, esophageal, ovarian) and atherosclerosis. Applications also include industry, including, but not limited to, the semiconductor industry.

Combined fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopy

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System


A pneumatic tire is provided with at least three circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction, and a plurality of land portions defined by the circumferential main grooves. The belt layer is formed by laminating a pair of cross belts having belt angles, as an absolute value, of not less than 10° and not greater than 45° and of mutually opposite signs, and a circumferential reinforcing layer having a belt angle within a range of ±5° with respect to the tire circumferential direction. In a cross-sectional view in the tire meridian direction, the distance Dcc from the circumferential reinforcing layer to the terminal wear surface on a tire equatorial plane and the distance De from an end portion of the circumferential reinforcing layer to the terminal wear surface have the relationship such that De/Dcc≤0.94.

Recent heavy duty tires mounted on trucks, buses, and the like maintain the shape of the tread portion due to the tires having a low aspect ratio while having a circumferential reinforcing layer disposed in the belt layer. The circumferential reinforcing layer is a belt ply having a belt angle that is substantially 0° with respect to the tire circumferential direction, and is disposed laminated upon a pair of cross belts. The technologies disclosed in Japanese Patent Nos. 4642760, 4663638 and 4663639, as well as in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-522686, are conventional pneumatic tires that are configured in this manner.
Here, in the pneumatic tire, there is a problem that it is necessary to suppress separation of the peripheral rubber at an end portion of a belt ply.


A web page editor displays a web page including at least two elements that are at least partially overlapping. The web page editor includes an element selection mechanism displaying a list of overlapping elements of the web page at a selected point on the web page. The element selection mechanism allows a user to unambiguously select between the elements of the web page at the selected location from the displayed list.

The Internet is commonly used to share information in the form of web pages. Web pages can be designed using text editors to enter source code, usually in the form of a markup language, such as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). The source code defines the desired content and arrangement of information. Once the source code has been written, it can be stored on a Web server, where it is made available to client computers. A browser application running on the client computer can request the source code, and generate a web page display based upon the source code.
Graphical web page editors have also been developed to aid in the design of a web page. Graphical web page editors are advantageous because the designer is not required to know the source code markup language. Instead, the designer can use visual representations of web page elements to define the information and arrangement of information on a web page. In other words, the graphical web page editor displays the web page under development in a form similar to how it will be displayed by a browser application.

Web page editor with element selection mechanism


A method and device prevent a set-top terminal from accepting a download of new programming or data over a cable network when the download would be redundant of information already possessed by the set-top terminal or would cause an inconvenience to subscribers. When the set-top terminal is signaled that a new download is being offered, the set-top terminal checks to see if the download in fact contains a newer version of data or programming than is currently resident in the set-top terminal. The set-top terminal also checks whether criteria for accepting a download are met. The criteria are conditions that tend to indicate that an interruption of service to accept a download would not inconvenience the subscriber at that time. When the criteria are met, the download is accepted. Otherwise, the download is not accepted or is not accepted until the criteria are satisfied. Similar criteria govern the termination of the older, executing programming and the execution of the newer, downloaded programming to, again, prevent unwarranted disruptions in service.

As shown in FIG. 2, a typical cable television network includes a signal headend (201). The signal headend (201) is a facility maintained by the cable television company from which the cable television signal is sent to subscribers over the cable network (203).
Each subscriber to the cable service is typically provided with a set-top terminal (202). The set-top terminal (202) is a box of electronic equipment that interfaces the subscriber's television, and possibly other electronic equipment, with the cable network (203).
The signal headend (201) broadcasts the cable television signal over the cable network (203) to the population of set-top terminals (202) possessed by individual subscribers. In addition to being connected to the cable network (203), each set-top terminal (202) also has a connection (204) to the subscriber's television and/or other electronic equipment to allow the subscriber to make use of the signals from the cable network (203).
The set-top terminals (202) include electronic memory (206) and a computer processor (205) which is programmed using the memory (206) to process and make use of the signals transmitted by the headend (201) over the cable network (203). The set-top terminals (202) may be programmed to provide a variety of services including decoding premium cable channels and providing electronic programming guides.
Periodically, as the cable system evolves, new features may become available or signal distribution may be refined in such a manner that the programming in the set-top terminal (202) needs to be updated in order to allow the terminal (202) to continue to provide the services of the cable system to subscribers with peak efficiency. If a technician must visit the home of each subscriber to upgrade the programming in the set-top terminals (202), the implementation of the upgrade becomes time-consuming and expensive.
To avoid these problems, new programming for the set-top terminal (202) can be transmitted to the terminal (202) over the cable network (203) itself. In this way, upgraded programming and data can be distributed automatically from the headend (201) without requiring a visit to each set-top terminal (202) individually.
However, additional problems arise in downloading updated programming and data over the cable network (203) to the set-top terminals (202). For instance, in conventional systems, when a set-top terminal (202) detects that data or updated programming is being offered by the headend (201) for downloading, the set-top terminal (202) automatically accepts the download and may erase existing data or programming from memory (206) in favor of the newly-received data or programming.
This will result in an interruption of service because the set-top terminal (202) will be unable to continue providing its normal functions while it is receiving new data and programming to replace that which has been erased. If the subscriber is attempting to watch television or use the set-top terminal during this time, the subscriber may be interrupted. These interruptions of the set-top terminal's normal functions may be completely unnecessary if the set-top terminal already happens to have the same version of the data or programming being offered for download over the network (203).
It may be possible to minimize the impact of this problem by only broadcasting updated data or programming to the set-top terminals (202) during off-peak hours when television is not commonly watched, such as between one and five a.m. However, this requires additional staffing for the headend facility (201) during those hours which is expensive. Additionally, there are subscribers who use their television service during all hours, even if only to record programming which will be watched later. Therefore, the interruption of set-top terminal functions during data download posses significant and sometimes unnecessary problems.
These problems may be exacerbated if the updated programming or data is broadcast to the set-top terminals (202) on an in-band channel as is anticipated in the near future. If the incoming data is on an in-band channel, the set-top terminal (202) will have to change the channel from the one the subscriber is watching or recording in order to tune to the channel over which the download is being provided. This will make normal television viewing and recording during the period of the download impossible.
Similar disruptions of service can occur when the set-top terminal is switching from running existing programming to the execution of new programming received in a download from the headend (201).
Consequently, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for preventing disruptions in cable television service due to the downloading and implementation of updated programming or data to the set-top terminal via the cable network.

Method and apparatus for preventing disruptions in set-top terminal function due to the download of updated programming or data to the set-top terminal


A graphical user interface (GUI) tool analysis system helps determine whether to purchase or license automated testing tools. The system provides guidance, e.g., to test managers, for making decisions on expenditures for the automated test tools. As a result, the test managers need not make purchasing decisions ad hoc, based on their own personal experience and perceived benefits of implementing a tool based automatic testing approach versus a manual testing approach.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to black-box testing of Graphical User Interface (GUI)-based Applications (GAPs).
2. Related Art
Manual black-box testing of GAPs is tedious and laborious, since nontrivial GAPs contain hundreds of GUI screens and thousands of GUI objects. Test automation plays a key role in reducing the high cost of testing GAPs. In order to automate this process, test engineers write programs using scripting languages (e.g., JavaScript and VBScript), and these programs (test scripts) mimic users by performing actions on GUI objects of these GAPs using some underlying testing frameworks. Extra effort put in writing test scripts pays off when these scripts are run repeatedly to determine if GAPs behave as desired.
Unfortunately, releasing new versions of GAPs with modified GUIs breaks their corresponding test scripts thereby obliterating the benefits of test automation. Consider a situation of a list box replaced with a text box in the successive release of some GAP. Test script statements that select different values in this list box will result in exceptions when executed on the text box. This simple modification may invalidate many statements in test scripts that reference this GUI object. Maintaining test scripts involves changing its code to keep up with changes to their corresponding GAPs.
This and many other similar modifications are typical between successive releases of different GAPs, including such well-known GAPs as Adobe Acrobat Reader and Microsoft Word. As many as 74% of the test cases become unusable during GUI regression testing, and some evaluations of automated testing have shown that even simple modifications to GUIs result in 30% to 70% changes to test scripts. To reuse these scripts, test engineers should fix them. For example, scores of test engineers need to be employed to fix test scripts both manually and using different testing tools. The annual cost of manual maintenance and evolution of test scripts is enormous, and may run into the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars in large organizations.
Currently, there are two main modes of maintaining test scripts: tool-based and manual. Existing testing tools detect exceptions in test scripts at runtime, i.e., test engineers run these scripts in order to execute statements that reference modified GUI objects. Exceptions interrupt continuous testing and they require human intervention to fix them.
Unlike compilers that check unit tests against the program code, test scripts are based on different type systems than GAPs that they test. As it turns out, multiple disparate type systems make GUI testing very difficult. Existing regression testing approaches work in settings where test harnesses are written in the same language and use the same type system as the programs that these harnesses test (e.g., JUnit test harnesses are applied to Java programs). In contrast, when testing GAPs two type systems are involved: the type system of the language in which the source code of the GAP is written and the type system of the language in which test scripts are written. When the type of the GUI object is modified, the type system of the test script "does not know" that this modification occurred, thereby aggravating the process of maintaining and evolving test scripts.
As a result, tool-based approaches provide maintenance modes that allow testers to find broken statements in test scripts by executing these statements line-by-line against GAPs. The presence of loops in test scripts make them run for a long time in order to reach statements that should be checked. Test engineers comment out loops, but their modifications may change testing logic and mask broken statements. Finally, commercial testing tools are expensive (e.g., a license for one of the flagship industry tools costs more than $10,000).
On the other hand, manual maintenance of test scripts is popular among test professionals. During manual maintenance testers determine differences between successive release of GAPs and they locate and fix statements in test scripts that are affected by these changes. Since the sizes of test scripts are much smaller than the GAPs that these scripts act upon (e.g., many scripts are smaller than 1KLOC), it is feasible for testers to understand and fix them. In addition, testers are perceived to do a more thorough job of understanding and fixing scripts if they do not rely heavily on tool support. However, some test engineers lack time and necessary skills to understand and fix old scripts, especially if these scripts were created by other engineers.
Currently, testers run test scripts that are written for the previous releases of a GAP on the successive releases of this GAP to determine if these scripts can be reused. The testers may use existing tools that include a script debugger (e.g., QTP from Hewlett Packard™ company). Once a statement that accesses a modified GUI object is reached, the testing platform generates an exception and terminates the execution of the script. The engineer analyzes the exception, fixes the statement, and reruns the script again. This process is repeated until the script runs without throwing any exceptions.
Often it takes a long time until statements that reference changed GUI objects are executed. Test scripts contain loops, branches, and fragments of code that implement complicated testing logic in addition to statements that access GUI objects. Consider a test script that contains a loop with code that reads in and analyzes data from files, computes some result from this data, and inserts it in a GUI object. Computing this result may take hours depending on the sizes of the files. Test scripts often contain multiple computationally intensive loops that are interspersed with statements that access GUI objects. Each time an exception is thrown because of a failure, the results of the execution are discarded, and the script should be rerun after engineers fix this failure. Commenting out loops (when possible) speeds up execution, but it changes the logic of test scripts, and subsequently the quality of repairs.
In addition, existing testing tools provide little information about how to fix failures in test scripts. When a test script is executed against a new version of the GAP, existing tools have no information about changes between GUI objects that lead to exceptions. As a result, test engineers must analyze GUIs manually to obtain this information and relate it to the exceptions, and this is a laborious and intellectually intensive process.
When fixing failures in test scripts manually, testers examine GUIs of two consecutive releases of some GAP to determine what GUI objects are modified. In addition, testers with advanced skills as well as programmers study the source code of GAPs (if it is available) to understand these changes in depth. Learning how GAPs are modified between released versions and relating these changes to statements and operations in test scripts may have a beneficial learning effect on testers. Without relying on tool support, testers are thought to do a more thorough job of finding and fixing failures in test scripts.
It is not clear if the manual approach has definite benefits over the tool-based approach. On one hand, testing tools are expensive and may take a long time to execute scripts to determine what statements are broken because of changes made to GUI objects between successive releases of GAPs. On the other hand, the manual approach requires testers to go over each statement and operation in test scripts to understand what GUI objects they refer to, and it is laborious and expensive.
What is needed is a sound and complete approach. A sound approach ensures the absence of failures in test scripts if it reports that no failures exist, or if all reported failures do in fact exist, and a complete approach reports all failures, or no failures for correct scripts. Both manual and tool-based approaches allow testers to detect some failures that result from modifications of GUI objects, however it is unclear with what degree of precision.
Therefore, a need exists to address the problems noted above and others previously experienced.

Assessment system for choosing maintenance approaches for GUI-directed test scripts


A water heating system includes a solar collector panel, a hot water heater tank, a serpentine tube-in-sheet heat exchanger jacket built into the water tank assembly, pumping means, fluid transfer means and means for securing the heat exchanger jacket around the hot water heater. The solar collector panel has a first passageway which lies beneath the outer surface of the panel such that incident solar energy is used to elevate the temperature of an energy-absorbing fluid which is circulating through this first passageway. The heat exchanger jacket is constructed with second and third passageways which are positioned in a double serpentine coil arrangement. The energy-absorbing fluid from the collector panel flows through connecting conduits to and from the second passageway. Water within the hot water heater is coupled to the third passageway and, as it circulates through the third passageway, this water is elevated in temperature by means of conduction from the energy-absorbing fluid. The energy-absorbing fluid, by raising the temperature of the heat exchanger jacket, also elevates the temperature of the water within the hot water heater by conduction through the wall of the hot water heater. Thus, two modes of heat transfer are used to heat the water within the hot water heater. Suitable pumps and valves are provided in order to control the flow of the fluids during the various climatic conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to water heating systems and in particular to such systems which utilize solar energy.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Solar energy devices which utilize the sun's radiant energy for heating some medium are well known in the art. Such devices may include an air-to-air heat transfer mode or air-to-liquid. Conventional solar energy collectors are often designed with a box-like enclosure covered with a glass pane or lens and having some type of flow conduit therethrough. As radiant energy strikes the surface of the glass pane or lens, a majority of the heat energy will be absorbed within and a minimum amount of heat energy will be reflected off and lost. As heat energy is absorbed within the box-like enclosure, the temperature of the medium flowing through the conduit will be elevated. This medium, very often water, is then transferred to a use location and/or placed in a storage container for use at a later time when there may not be sufficient sunlight to satisfy the heating demands. Of course, a conventional water storage container is a hot water heater which is normally thought of supplying hot water in response to electric or natural gas heating units. However, it is possible to supplement these electric or gas heating elements with solar energy thereby reducing the demand on the limited and more expensive forms of energy. One such system has been offered by State Industries, Inc. of Ashland City, Tennessee. This system is detailed in a "Solarcraft" brochure and utilizes an energy-absorbing fluid which circulates between the solar panel and a heat exchanger jacket which surrounds the water storage tank. A similar system has been offered by American Heliothermal Corporation of Denver, Colorado. This system which is detailed in a publication entitled "Residential Domestic Hot Water System," also incorporates an annular jacket positioned about the water tank and utilizes an energy-absorbing fluid to supplement the heating of the water within the tank.
Both of these systems involve a heat exchanger having a single passageway and a single fluid therein. The entire extent of the heat transfer to the water within the tank, which will ultimately be used at a remote location, is from the energy-absorbing fluid through the heat exchanger surface and then through the wall of the water storage tank. In order to heat all of the water within the tank, heat must be applied to the exterior of the tank for sufficient length of time in order to allow heat to transfer through the tank wall and then through the outer portions of water to reach the inner portions of water. Of course, with any solar energy system, the object is to retain and efficiently utilize as much of the radiant energy as possible. One way to do so, is to reduce thermal insulation between the energy absorbing fluid and the water so that unproductive heat dissipation is held to a minimum level.


Retention members for securing LED boards to substrates while permitting light from the LEDs to be emitted unobstructed. The present retention members may be in the form of clips that are designed to span an LED board and attach to a substrate so as to trap the LED board between a retention member and the substrate. The retention members described herein may include one or more retention features that may interface with a corresponding mounting feature formed on the substrate to secure the retention member and thus the LED board to a substrate.

Conventional light emitting diode (LED) boards are attached and retained to substrates, such as heat sinks or housings, using mechanical fasteners or features inherent to the substrate. For example, screws or metallic clips are often used that catch an edge or corner of the LED board to hold it in place on an underlying substrate. However, the fastener heads and metallic clips oftentimes extend above the LEDs so as to block light and/or create shadows.


A fuser includes a pressure pad forming a nip with a fuser belt between the pad and a fuser rotator. A pressure face in contact with the belt has profiles in planes normal to the axis of the rotator. The profiles each include a reference section, the first to come into contact with the rotator with the belt in between when the pad forms the nip, and a boundary section at a threshold distance from the reference section in the width direction of the nip. When the pad is apart from the nip due to removal of a force applied by a pusher unit, the boundary section is, relative to the reference section, more largely displaced in the opposite direction to that of the rotator in one of the profiles located at a larger distance from a center portion of the pad in the axial direction of the rotator.

1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to electrophotographic image forming devices, and in particular, structure of fusers mounted in the devices.
2. Background
Electrophotographic image forming devices such as laser printers, faxes, and copiers are equipped with fusers, which are devices for fixing a toner image on a sheet such as a piece of printing paper and a page of a document. In particular, a fuser for thermal fixing includes a fusing member and a pressing member, which are each a rotator such as a roller or a belt. A fuser equipped with rollers as both the members is referred to as a "roller-type" fuser; see, e.g. JP 2009-300472. A fuser equipped with a belt as either of the members is referred to as a "belt-type" fuser; see, e.g. JP 2009-109931, JP 2014-199309, JP 2013-160910, JP 2013-195991, or JP 2014-178555. In thermal fixing, the fusing member is heated, and at the same time, its outer peripheral surface is pressed by the outer peripheral surface of the pressing member to form a nip. Under these conditions, both the members rotate in opposite directions. Passing through this nip, a sheet is subjected to heat and pressure. Granulated toner attached on the surface of the sheet melts and permeates the surface during the passage of the sheet through the nip, and upon movement of the sheet out of the nip, the toner is cooled and solidified again. Thus, the toner image is fixed on the surface of the sheet.
Uneven toner fixing and paper wrinkling are known as typical problems for the fusers. When the fusing member is pressed by the pressing member, both the members are generally deflected in a direction normal to their axes. With these deflections, the pressure applied to a sheet during its passage through the nip between the members, which is hereinafter referred to as "nip pressure," varies in the axial direction. When the amount of this variation is too large, toner fails to be fixed and falls off the area where the nip pressure is insufficient. This can result in deterioration in toner image quality due to rubbing off or the like. On the other hand, in the area where the nip pressure is excessive, a sheet is more likely to wrap around either of the fusing and pressing members than other areas. At the boundary between the areas, the sheet can thus deform and further wrinkle.
As ideas for preventing uneven toner fixing and paper wrinkling, the below-listed technologies are known, for example. For a roller-type fuser, a technology adjusts the force that the pressure roller applies to the fuser roller according to changes in sheet velocity caused by axial variation in nip pressure; see, e.g. JP 2009-300472. Thus, homogenized velocities of sheets can prevent uneven toner fixing and paper wrinkling In a belt-type fuser, a roller or a pressure pad or its holding member included in either of the fixing and pressing members is deflected in a direction normal to its axis when the fixing member is pressed by the pressing member. The deflection is compensated for or absorbed by difference in hardness of pressure pads, see, e.g. JP 2009-109931; difference in elasticity of holding members, see, e.g. JP 2014-199309; or undulation of the surface of a pressure pad, see, e.g. JP 2013-160910, JP 2013-195991, or JP 2014-178555. Thus, the nip pressure homogenized in the axial direction can prevent uneven toner fixing and paper wrinkling.

Fuser with pressure pad and image forming device having the same


A system is provided for treating spent geothermal brine to remove silica. The process includes introducing the brine into the reaction zone of a reactor-clarifier and allowing the brine to flow therefrom into the clarification zone of the reactor-clarifier. In the clarification zone, particles settle from the brine and are urged to the center of the tank beneath the reaction zone, and the settled particles are drawn upwardly into the reaction zone by an impeller. The particles mix with the brine in the reaction zone to form a substantially uniform distribution therein to provide nuclei for silica precipitation from the brine. A stream of sludge is removed from the bottom of the reactor-clarifier and disposed of.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to removal of solids from liquid and, more particularly, to a system for removing of solids, particularly silica, from spent geothermal brine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In view of rising costs for fossil fuels and the realization that supplies of such fuels are exhaustible, increasing attention has been focused on the earth's heat as a source of energy. Brine in subterranean rock formations or aquifers under certain geological conditions can reach high temperatures. The geothermal energy in this brine can be productively utilized, and it has been estimated that geothermal resources in the United States alone could produce 140,000 megawatts of power over a life expectancy of 30 years. This is enough energy to meet the needs of about 140 million people in the United States at current levels of electrical power consumption.
In one known process for the production of electrical energy from geothermal sources, brine under pressure is delivered from geothermal wells at temperatures ranging from 400.degree.-700.degree. F. and pressures of 200-450 psia to a flash tank in which steam is flashed from the brine. The flashed steam is used to run steam turbines to generate electrical energy. A major problem associated with this process is the disposal of the resulting spent brine.
Spent geothermal brines are characterized by high concentrations of dissolved solids, including high concentrations of silica (SiO.sub.2). For example, in the Imperial Valley of California, the brines in the Niland Basin have total dissolved solids concentrations of up to 220,000 ppm (parts per million) and those in the Heber Region have total dissolved solids concentrations of approximately 20,000 ppm. In comparison, seawater generally has a total dissolved solids concentration of about 30,000 ppm. Both types of brines from the Imperial Valley have high silica concentrations in the range at 500-700 ppm, and geothermal brines from other geographical regions also contain high concentrations of silica.
In the subterranean geothermal aquifers, the geothermal brine is at temperatures ranging up to about 700.degree. F., and the dissolved solids are at equilibrium in the brine. However, after flashing the brine to atmospheric pressure and lower temperatures (about 200.degree. F. to about 230.degree. F.) to produce steam, the spent brine is supersaturated with silica. For example, the equilibrium concentration of silica in brine at 200.degree. F. is about 180 ppm; since the actual concentration can be as high as 700 ppm, the brine is often supersaturated. The presence of silica in this supersaturated condition results in the formation of scale, containing primarily silica, in the wells and related equipment thereby hindering satisfactory disposal of the spent brine.
According to one disposal method the spent brine is pumped through reinjection wells which return the spent brine to the same aquifers from which the hot brine is removed. This method is often preferred over other disposal techniques because it is both cost-effective and environmentally sound. It is cost-effective in that it reduces overall disposal costs and at the same time increases the production life of the geothermal source. It is environmentally sound in that large areas of land need not be dedicated to unsightly brine storage ponds, potential subsidence of agricultural land is prevented, and the release of odors often associated with geothermal waters is controlled.
However, because of the extreme scale-forming characteristics of the spent brine, deposited solids must be periodically removed from the reinjection wells. This results in both increased downtime and increased operating costs. In order to prevent such solids deposition, spent brine must be treated prior to reinjection to produce a stable solution. That is, the concentration of dissolved silica in the brine which is to be reinjected must be reduced to at or below its saturation level at equilibrium.
One proposed method of reducing the dissolved silica concentration in spent geothermal brine is to add ammonium hydroxide to the brine to raise its pH. This method is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,075. According to the patent the hot brine is treated with ammonium hydroxide in a reaction chamber and then transferred to flash tanks. The ammonium hydroxide raises the pH of the brine and reacts chemically with dissolved aluminum and ferrous ions to form a gelatinous sludge of aluminum and ferrous hydroxides; silica is captured in the gelatinous sludge. From the flash tanks the spent brine is transferred to a settling tank wherein the sludge is allowed to settle from the brine and the silica thereby removed. Part of the resulting sludge is transferred to disposal, and part can be returned to the reaction chamber. According to the patent, the ammonium hydroxide is added to raise the pH of the brine from its normal pH of about 5.0 to a pH preferably about 6.6 to form the gelatinous sludge. Also according to the patent this pH adjustment requires the added ammonium hydroxide solution to be about 1.5 percent by volume of the total brine solution.


A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a display, a video receiver, and a processor. The display is configured to display an image. The video receiver is configured to receive an input signal of an impulse response. The processor configured to divide the input signal into sub-bands, apply primary echo-cancellation to the input signal by using sub-band signals corresponding to the sub-bands, estimate a residual echo based on acoustic echo path information obtained in the primary echo-cancellation with regard to each of the sub-bands, and perform secondary echo-cancellation to remove the estimated residual echo from the primary-echo-canceled input signal.

Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a display apparatus and an echo cancellation method thereof, and more particularly to a display apparatus which can suppress a residual echo and an echo cancellation method thereof.
Description of the Related Art
A display apparatus such as a television (TV), a portable apparatus such as a mobile terminal, or a similar electronic apparatus can support functions such as voice recognition for recognizing a user's voice to control a device, a video call or video conference using a user's voice, etc. and a use range of these functions based on a voice have been gradually extended. The apparatus supporting such functions uses a microphone to receive a voice signal, and the received voice signal may include an echo.
The echo is results from a sound wave propagating from a sound source and reflecting off an object. Such an echo is easy to hear in daily life, and there is a sound reverberating from a mountain as an example of a simple echo based on a single reflection.
In contrast with the echo, there is a direct sound. The direct sound refers to a sound that is heard directly without being reflected off an object. Hence, the echo is a reflection of sound arriving a predetermined time after the direct sound.
In general, a sound made inside a structure with reflective surfaces, such as a room where a TV is installed, is reflected many times and becomes complex since directions of reflected sounds are all different. This is an example of multiple echoes, and is one of causes of a residual echo. For instance, the residual echo may be caused when a sound output from a speaker is reflected many times and then returned to a microphone.
If an echo and a residual echo are not properly canceled from an input voice signal, it may inconvenience a user who is using a corresponding function and may cause an error in operation. For a normal operation, not only the echo but also the residual echo has to be canceled from the voice signal.
However, the existing cancellation for the echo or the residual echo becomes a burden to an apparatus in light of a processing time or load since the existing cancellation generally needs complicated calculations, and has a disadvantage that the residual echo is not effectively canceled.

Display apparatus and echo cancellation method thereof


A device for monitoring the position of the head is provided at a treatment device having an open design for human hair on the head, which device is outfitted with at least one transmitter and at least one receiver for generating and receiving a measurement signal 12, as well as a warning device for indicating undesired head positions.

The invention is directed to a treatment device having an open design for human hair of the head.
Such devices are e.g. infrared heating devices, drying hoods, steam devices or combinations of these devices. The head of a person to be treated should always be positioned centrally in a treatment device. This is advantageous for various reasons. On the one hand the time required for drying the hair is minimized and on the other hand a uniform action of chemical preparations, e.g. permanent wave compositions, is achieved.
It cannot be assumed with the known devices that the position of the head of a person to be treated is stationary during the treatment period. The freedom of movement in the head area which is comfortable for the client has the disadvantage for hair treatment that a uniform treatment is not necessarily achieved. In the most unfavorable case a client falls asleep during the relaxing treatment and the hair is located clearly closer to a part of the treatment device adjoining the head space than to the part lying opposite. Or the client will sit upright at first and then will bend forward later with the upper part of the body or adopt a sitting position close to a reclining position. In both cases the client leaves the optimal treatment area in both the horizontal and vertical directions.

Treating device having an open design for human hair of the head


In a ferro-electric liquid crystal display, in which the pixels in one row first receive a reset or "blanking" signal, this reset signal is presented by providing the counter electrode, prior to selection, with a reset voltage while simultaneously selecting the row of pixels to be reset. When a single counter electrode is used, it switches to a reset voltage during each selection period. If the counter electrode is divided into sub-strips, these strips switch to a reset voltage once per picture period.

The invention relates to a display device comprising a first substrate having a group of row or selection electrodes and a group of column or data electrodes and a matrix of picture electrodes arranged in rows and columns at a location of ferro-electric liquid crystal display elements between the first substrate and a second substrate provided with a counter electrode, each display element being connected to a column electrode via an active switching element and a display device comprising means for bringing, prior to selection, a row of display elements to an extreme optical transmission state by means of an auxiliary signal.
An extreme optical transmission state is herein understood to mean such a state that the pixel is substantially entirely or maximally transmissive or non-transmissive. This state is also determined by the type of ferro-electric liquid crystal material used (ferroelectric, anti-ferro-electric) and, for example the position of possible polarizers.
Such display devices, notably equipped with ferro-electric liquid crystal material are used, for example in television apparatus or in apparatus for non-volatile display. Advantages are the high switching rate of ferro-electric liquid crystal materials and their minor dependence on the viewing angle.
A display device of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,515. Prior to selection, the display elements, or pixels, are brought to an extreme state by means of the auxiliary signal To be able to use rapidly switching ferro-electric liquid crystal materials, the rows of pixels within a row selection period are first brought to the extreme state, (for example, the fully transmissive state) by means of the auxiliary signal (blanking) and subsequently they are selected while information to be displayed is presented simultaneously. When slower materials are used, the auxiliary signal or blanking signal may alternatively be supplied one or more row selection periods in advance, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,462.
Thin-film transistors (TFTs) are used as switches in said display devices. Via a column electrode, which is connected in an electrically conducting manner to the source zone of the transistor, and the drain zone of the transistor, the auxiliary signal is applied between a picture electrode connected in an electrically conducting manner to the drain zone and a common counter electrode. Ferro-electric liquid crystal material is present between the common counter electrode and the picture electrodes. The voltage at the picture electrode, hence at the column electrode, should have a sufficient amplitude to fully bring a pixel to its extreme transmission state.
While information is being written, the column electrode is subsequently provided with the suitable voltage. If the pixel must be brought to a state which is practically equal to the other (non-transmissive) extreme state, it must be possible for the voltage at the column electrodes to vary within a large range, for example from -7 V to +6 V, dependent on the liquid crystal materials used and the properties of the transistors. For most column drive circuits such a voltage swing cannot be realized or can only be realized at a very high cost.


The stowable shelf bag cart of the present invention includes a base portion resting on a wheeled chassis. The base portion includes a fixed lower shelf. A frame extends upwardly from the base portion, and includes four upright corner members connected at their upper ends by four lateral braces. The two ends of the cart are enclosed by end walls and a cover extends over the top of the cart. A stowable shelf is placed approximately halfway between the base and the top of the frame. The shelf includes axial projections at both ends that glide within a track fixed to each end wall. One other projection is located at each of the four corners of the stowable shelf. These projections are slidably received in tracks that are integral with the four upright corner members above the level of the stowable shelf. Latches are provided that securely lock the stowable shelf in the shelf position, yet permit the shelf to be easily adjusted to a right or left side wall position by one person without using any tools.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to cart constructions and particularly to carts having a rigid frame and a repositionable shelf for moving relatively large items such as baggage or cargo and the like.
2. Background Information
Carts of various types for baggage handling on airport flight lines are well known. Such carts, groups of which are generally towed by tractors, frequently include two fixed shelves for holding two layers of luggage and the like, with each shelf usually accessible from both sides of the bag cart.
Often, however, oversize luggage or cargo too large for storage on a shelf will require a separate piece of equipment to be transported. When this occurs, the needed piece of equipment is often not close at hand, and much time may be needed to find and retrieve it from a storage area after hitching it to a tractor. Some bag carts may be equipped with a removable upper shelf, but the removal operation is frequently slow and cumbersome, and may require special tools and more than one person to perform.
In some instances a cargo cart is preferred, rather than a bag cart, that permits access to the cart from only one side, with no middle shelf. Yet those who need both styles of cart have needed to keep both types on hand since no single cart has been able to meet both sets of needs. When bag carts are being used on an airport flight line for unloading luggage from an aircraft cargo hold, there may be no way of knowing what type of cart will be needed until the baggage is actually coming out of the plane. In such instances, where there is no time to search for and retrieve the appropriate bag cart, there has been nothing available to allow a single worker to quickly and easily, without the need for special tools, convert a cart having a shelf to one having no shelf and a right or left side wall, or vice versa.
The stowable shelf bag cart of the present invention overcomes the difficulties described above and affords other features and advantages previously not available.


An amplifier and a method for converting a single ended signal to an amplified differential signal. The amplifier comprises an input configured to receive a single ended signal, a differential amplifier that outputs an amplified differential signal based on the single ended signal, and a compensator coupled to the differential amplifier and configured to inject an adjusted distortion compensating signal based on the even order distortion signal to compensate for a distortion in the amplified differential signal. The method comprises receiving a single ended signal, converting the single ended signal to an amplified differential signal, and generating a distortion compensating signal to substantially cancel an even order distortion signal injected to the differential signal by the converting.

1. Field
This disclosure relates to a method, a circuit and a system for mitigating distortion in single-ended input to differential output circuits.
2. Related Art
In many applications, it is desirable to use differential signals instead of single-ended signals. Differential signals typically result in better control of receiver circuitry, faster circuits and lower power consumption. However, signals are often generated and initially transmitted as unbalanced single ended signals. Accordingly, converters, sometimes referred to as "baluns" (balanced-unbalanced converters), that convert an unbalanced single-ended signal to a pair of amplified balanced differential signals may be used.
In integrated circuits, passive baluns, which may be configured as a wire wrapped around a core, may be costly, complex and unsuitable for wide bandwidth applications. Conversely, conventional active baluns, which may be configured as an active conversion circuit, are non-linear, cause unfavorable power dissipation and introduce undesirable distortion in the differential signals.

Even order distortion cancellation in single-ended input, differential output amplifiers using feedback


According to one embodiment, a relay device that relays communication between an information request device which requests information and an information providing device which provides requested information. The relay device includes an interface to receive a signal transmitted by the information request device. The relay device includes a first circuitry to perform, using the signal, at least one of connection management of a network, authentication of the information request device, and authentication of a user of the information request device. The relay device includes a second circuitry to control allocation of storage areas included in a storage device, or an available range within which information saved in the storage area is able to be provided, when the first circuitry detects establishment of a connection to the network, disconnection of the connection, an authentication result, or a lapse of a valid connection time period.

Wireless communications represented by IEEE 802.11 have been in widespread use. In these communications systems, in order to connect communications via wireless to a backend network constructed by wired communication technologies, relay devices called access points, base stations, or the like are used. The access points function as bridges that connect different networks in the data link layer, the role of which is to relay frames between a wireless side and a wired side, or to relay frames between different wireless communication scheme. At this point, the access point does not save the frames for a long time, and the received frames are immediately transferred to a network being a relay destination.
In contrast, there has been proposed a communications system that has a caching function of temporarily save data relayed by routers and bridges on a network, so as to treat chunks of semantic information as the core of transmission (Content-Centric Networking: CCN). In this scheme, when a user intends to acquire desired information, the nearest cache is selected from among a plurality of caches existing in a network, and a wireless terminal having a wireless communication function receives the information transmitted from the nearest cache.
However, with the prior art, the use efficiency of a cache may deteriorate because of no method of adjusting cache areas.

Relay device, communication system, and relaying method


A method of making a small diameter elongated steel article such as wire or strip is disclosed. The method includes the step of melting a steel alloy having the following weight percent composition

Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a free-machining steel article and to a method for making same. More particularly, the invention relates to elongated product forms such as wire, rod, bar, band, and strip made from a substantially lead-free, free-machining, powder metallurgy steel.
Description of Related Art
Small, precision-machined parts for the watch, automotive, and other industries are made from steel wire that has been cold drawn and then straightened. Good machinability is required for manufacturing such parts and is usually obtained by including in the structure of the steel one or more additives to enhance the machinability property. Pb, S, and Se are among the most common additions to steel for enhancing machinability. However, the addition of Pb has some safety issues. Therefore, a lead-free machining steel with the same or better machinability than leaded steel is desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,282,701 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,795,584 B2, describe a lead-free, free-machining steel article for use in the production of high quality, precision parts and a process for making such an article. The microstructure of the steel described in those patents is fine grained and has a fine and uniform distribution of manganese sulfides (MnS). As described in those patents, the microstructure is obtained by using a controlled alloy chemistry, gas atomization to produce alloy powder, followed by hot consolidation of the alloy powder to form a powder compact. A billet is prepared from the powder compact which is then hot worked and cold finished to make wire and bar products for machining into small precision parts.
The alloy and method described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,282,701 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,795,584 B2 has been used to provide small diameter wire and bar with acceptable machining characteristics for making small, precision parts. However, it has been determined in practice that better machinability is needed for the machining of very small precision parts. Accordingly, it is an object of the current invention to provide small diameter wire and bar products that have a finer and more homogenous distribution of carbides to thereby enhance machinability and processability of the wire or bar beyond what was previously achievable with the material made in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 8,282,701 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,795,584 B2. An additional object of the present invention is to provide a process for making very small diameter wire and bar, including a heat treatment that, in combination with the modified chemistry, will readily provide the desired microstructure in order to obtain the enhanced combination of properties described above. The entire disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 8,282,701 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,795,584 B2 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

Free-machining powder metallurgy steel articles and method of making same

Abstract: C0.88-1.00Mn0.20-0.80Si0.50max.P0.050max.S0.010-0.100Cr0.15-0.90Ni0.10-0.50Mo0.25max.Cu0.08-0.23V0.025-0.15 N0.060max.O0.040max.and the balance is iron and usual impurities. The method includes melting the alloy, atomizing the molten alloy to make a pre-alloyed metal powder, consolidating the metal powder to substantially full density, and then hot working the consolidated metal powder to form an intermediate elongated article. The method further includes a multi-step heat treating process. A small diameter, elongated steel article having enhanced machinability is also disclosed.


A method for producing a multi-layer anodic coating on a metal is described. The method comprises the steps of (i) placing the metal in a first electrolytic solution and applying a current to form a first anodic layer having a barrier region; (ii) reducing the applied current to cause a reduction in thickness of the barrier region; and (iii) placing the metal in a second electrolytic solution and applying a current to form a second anodic layer.

Aluminium is used extensively for lightweight structures such as automotive and aerospace components where a combination of strength and corrosion resistance is essential. Aluminium owes its inherent corrosion resistance to a naturally occurring passive oxide which forms on the metal when exposed to the atmosphere. The thickness of the oxide layer is in the nanometer range which limits the performance of the metal against extreme mechanical and chemical attack. Electrochemical processes have been investigated with a view to producing coatings on such metals to enhance the strength and corrosion resistance of the metals.
Anodising is a well known electrochemical process for coating metals whereby a metal component, such as an aluminium work piece, for example, is submerged in a bath of an electrolytic solution. The work piece to be coated acts as a positive electrode and a direct current is applied. This results in an anodic coating comprising a porous layer of aluminium oxide being formed on the work piece. The thickness of the aluminium oxide is increased by the anodising process through an electrochemical reaction in acidic electrolytes such as sulphuric, phosphoric or oxalic acids. The process is commonly used to increase corrosion resistance and adhesion properties of the aluminium surface for a variety of applications.
The anodised aluminium oxide layer is nanoporous in structure with a self-assembled, hexagonal array of pores extending from the surface of the oxide to a thin barrier layer at the metal-metal oxide interface. The oxide growth and nanopore formation mechanism is a result of flow of anodic alumina in the barrier layer region due to the combination of growth stresses and field assisted plasticity. The stresses that drive the flow of material are due to electrostriction of the oxide layer which is plasticised under the electric field. The flow of material proceeds from the barrier layer into the pore walls forming Al2O3 columns in a self-assembled structure.
The anodic coating forms part of the metal but it has a porous structure which enables further treatments to be applied. For example, top coats and lacquers may be incorporated in the coating. Following the anodising process, the pores of the anodic layer need to be closed. If the pores are not sealed, the surface could have poor corrosion resistance.
For anti-corrosion applications, sulphuric acid anodising (SAA) is most commonly employed. A known significant advantage of SAA anodic layers is, for example, the ability of the pores of the anodic layer to close by surface hydration resulting in improved barrier properties thereby providing corrosion resistance. Hydration on the SAA surface proceeds rapidly after anodising and can be accelerated by hydrothermal treatment to achieve increased corrosion protection while also entrapping any applied inhibitors or dyes. Both natural and hydrothermally induced hydration results in pore blocking near the surface of the anodised layer. Hydration continues naturally over time as the pore closing effects move down the pore channel towards the metal surface. This continued hydration, termed "auto-sealing", results in an increase in the barrier properties of the anodic layers even during exposure to aggressive environments. Such a feature is responsible for the excellent long term and accelerated corrosion resistance of sulphuric acid anodised layers on copper-free wrought alloys.
However, in the case of copper-containing alloys, the protective properties provided by anodic layers formed by sulphuric acid anodising is reduced by the inclusion of copper ions within the oxide network. The presence of copper, as well as the random orientation of the pores, leads to difficulties with hydration sealing. To improve the corrosion protection on copper containing alloys, anodising processes have been developed including boric-sulphuric (BSAA) and tartaric-sulphuric (TSAA) acid anodising for corrosion and adhesive bonding applications.
Chromate based anodising processes and sealing processes are generally regarded as the target performance benchmarks for any developed anodising technology. However, due to the carcinogenic nature of these materials, the use of chromate based processes are currently restricted or being eliminated from anodising industries.
Anodising procedures currently used in the art include the use of mixed tartaric sulphuric acid (TSA) which has been shown to produce corrosion resistance and fatigue resistance equivalent to chromic acid anodising. However, on the other hand, due to surface hydration and small pore size of the resulting oxide layer, the adhesion of top coats and lacquers has been found to be inferior to that achieved using chromic acid anodising.
The conventional phosphoric acid anodising process is well known as having excellent adhesion properties, comparable to chromic acid anodising. However, this treatment imparts extremely poor corrosion resistance to the metal.
In order to achieve a balance of adhesion and corrosion resistance, duplex anodic layers have been investigated.
International Publication No. WO 2006/072804 relates to a method for the formation of anodic oxide films on aluminium or aluminium alloys. The anodic oxide coating disclosed in WO 2006/072804 is suitable for adhesive bonding of aluminium alloy structures. A duplex anodising procedure is described which involves the use of a mixed sulphuric phosphoric acid anodising step followed by a sulphuric acid treatment. The mixed bath is used to achieve a balance between hydration resistance and anodising voltage. However, in the process disclosed, the voltage used for the first anodising step is limited due to the mixture of acids used. In particular, when anodising in the presence of sulphuric acid, a lower voltage must be used compared to that used when anodising in the presence of phosphoric acid. The voltage used in the anodising step described in WO 2006/072804 is limited due to the mixture of sulphuric acid and phosphoric acid. The process disclosed in WO 2006/072804 also suffers from the disadvantage that the duplex anodic layer formed is not optimised for adhesion as the pore size is relatively small. In order to prevent pore closure due to hydration and accordingly to retain the adhesion properties of the surface, a system comprising pores having a large diameter is required.
A technology similar to that disclosed in WO 2006/072804 is described in US20050150771 in which, again, the initial anodising procedure requires a mixed sulphuric phosphoric acid anodising electrolyte to achieve lower forming voltage. It is notable that the forming voltages are limited to below 25V. However, optimum surface adhesion is not achieved as this can only be provided by sulphate free anodised layers formed under larger potentials. Thus, again, the duplex anodic layer formed is not optimised.
Thus, despite the development of anodising treatments for copper rich aluminium alloys, the corrosion protection afforded by the anodic layers is limited and does not provide the desired corrosion resistance.
In addition, many aerospace and automotive companies are utilising sol-gel chemistries as a replacement for hexavalent chrome anodising and conversion coatings. For corrosion resistance of anodised aluminium using sol-gel based sealers, the combination of both natural hydration of the surface as well as penetration of the sol-gel into the pores of the anodic is required for full performance. However, there are some inherent problems associated with the combination of sol-gel chemistry and current anodising processes. Migration of sol-gel materials into the aluminium oxide pores can also be limited.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method for the production of anodic coatings which are capable of imparting desirable corrosion resistance as well as the desirable adhesion and abrasion properties to an anodisable metal. Furthermore, the anodic layer requires optimisation in order to achieve full encapsulation of materials applied to the anodic layer(s) such as sol-gel sealers without affecting the desired properties of the anodic layers. Such optimised corrosion resistance; and optimised adhesion and abrasion properties as well as optimised for achieving full encapsulation of applied materials is not achieved by the known processes.

Method for forming a multi-layer anodic coating


A hot stick switch head is described and shown in the specification and drawings having a body, a jaw assembly attached to the top end of the body, and a base attached to the bottom end of the body. The base is adapted to be attached to an insulated pole or “hot stick.” The body has a channel extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the body. The jaw assembly has an open position and a closed position for securing high-voltage fuses, fuse barrel assemblies, or other similar or related devices during removal and installation.

A. Technical Field
An embodiment disclosed herein is generally directed to a hot stick switch head for securing high-voltage fuses, fuse barrel assemblies, or other similar or related devices during removal and installation.
B. Background Art
The present invention relates to a tool used to remove and replace electrical fuses and/or other related devices commonly used in electrical transmission and distribution systems. As detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,745 to Palmieri, single-phase and three-phase electrical power is delivered to commercial, industrial, and residential users through a system known as the power distribution grid, which generally includes such components as generating plants, transformers, and electrical power lines. These lines generally consist of both transmission lines, which typically have AC voltages in the range of about 70,000 to about 750,000 volts, and distribution lines, which typically have AC voltages in the range of about 2,300 to about 50,000 volts. Inevitably, there is an element of danger in working with these high voltages, yet there are many instances in which utility workers have to either service or repair these high voltage power lines in the performance of their duties. These service and repair duties often include the replacement of power line fuses, which, when operable, can carry hundreds of amps of electrical current and, even when inoperable, these fuses may be in an energized circuit carrying thousands of volts of electricity, which may still be available at the load side of the fuse.
Generally, power line fuses are located at or near the tops of power poles, which can place these fuses over 30 feet above the surface of the ground, and each fuse is generally carried in a fuse holder commonly referred to as a "fuse barrel assembly," which is used to provide an interface between the fuse and the fuse block, which is connected to the power line. Generally, the bottom end of the fuse barrel assembly has a hinge assembly that is comprised of an ejection assembly (for "automatically" releasing the top end of a blown fuse from a fuse block) and a pair of pivot pins (one pin on each side of the hinge assembly) that are adapted to fit into slots formed on the bottom of the fuse block. This bottom portion of the fuse block is commonly referred to as a "fuse block saddle." Generally, the top end of the fuse barrel assembly has a hoop, a pull-ring, or some other similar structure, and the hinge assembly has a slot, and both allow for the insertion of an arm (or bar) portion of a switch head tool through the hoop or slot so that the fuse barrel assembly can be manipulated by the switch head tool. This manipulation or handling of the fuse barrel assembly includes, but is not limited to, carrying the fuse barrel assembly to and from the fuse block saddle, and inserting the top end of the fuse barrel assembly into (and/or removing the top end of the fuse barrel assembly from) the top end of the fuse block, which is commonly referred to as the "fuse block switch." Briefly stated, the insertion and removal of the fuse barrel assembly from the fuse block switch is accomplished by rotating the top end of the fuse barrel assembly about the pivot point defined by the pivot pins and the slots on the fuse block saddle. In other words, after the hinge assembly is properly seated in the fuse block saddle, the fuse barrel assembly is supported by the fuse block saddle and is free to be rotated about the pivot point. This allows the top end of the fuse barrel assembly to be rotated into the fuse block switch in order to insert the fuse into the electrical circuit that it is a part of, or alternatively the top end of the fuse barrel assembly can be rotated away from the fuse block switch to remove the fuse from its electrical circuit, in which case the fuse tool can be inserted through the hinge assembly slot and used to both lift the fuse barrel assembly from the fuse block saddle, and then carry the fuse barrel assembly to the ground for servicing or replacement.
Oftentimes these fuses have to be replaced during inclement weather conditions including heavy rains and high winds. Generally, the prior art switch heads used for replacing fuses are comprised of fittings attached to insulated extension poles and have one or two prongs, arms, and/or hooks that are used for, among other functions, carrying and manipulating the fuse barrel assembly into, and/or out of, the fuse block. FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art switch head configured with a single extension arm. Many of these prior art switch heads, however, do not have a means for securing a fuse barrel assembly to the switch head while being manipulated. This can lead to the extremely dangerous condition of the fuse barrel assembly becoming separated from the switch head and hurtling a considerable distance to the ground causing serious personal injuries and significant property damage. Moreover, this dangerous condition becomes even more likely during inclement weather conditions.


A resilient seed firming attachment for a planting machine designed to effectively place seed at a consistent depth and at consistent spacing. The attachment may be of any geometrical configuration having a length adequate to firm the seed in the opened furrow and is mounted in a position trailing the discharge end of a seed boot. The resilience of the seed firming attachment being variable and having a control mechanism to ensure that sufficient force is applied to the seed to firm it into the soil at the desired planting depth. By controlling the amount of flex, the proper seed planting depth and firming will be accomplished in a variety of soil and moisture conditions. The seed firming device is also variable so that the amount of down pressure will not modify the depth desired and obtained by the furrow opening device.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to planting implements and more specifically to an attachment to a planter seed boot to improve seed depth and spacing.
2) Related Art
It is well-known that for optimum seed germination the kernels must be placed at the proper soil depth, where the seed will receive the correct moisture and temperature. Test results indicate that emerging short plants may be from seeds planted at deeper depths which has retarded their emergence, while seeds planted too shallow will not properly germinate and emerge due to dry soil conditions at shallower depths. Other problems occurring with current high speed planting techniques are seed bounce and undesired soil residuals and/or air pockets within and at the bottom of the opened furrow, both which not only effect proper seed spacing but also seed depth.
Many devices have been utilized to correct the aforementioned problems. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,255 Long et al. in which a strap is employed to prevent the seeds from bouncing out of the furrow. Although this invention may reduce the seed bounce problem, the strap configuration is designed to operate above the seeds in the furrow and does not conform or touch to the "V" groove furrow obtained by the opening device. Other inventions disclose the use of baffles to reduce the problem of seed bounce such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,922 Hooper et al. Another invention disclosed the use of loosely joined plates, U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,412 Hogenson, to deflect the seed to the lowermost portion of the opened furrow.
Although these and other inventions seek ways to reduce seed bounce, none offer a device for firming the kernel into the soil at the optimum depth or firm the seed at the desired planting depth as determined by the setting of the opener while at the same time reduce seed bounce. Residual soil in the furrow causing undesired air pockets under the kernel are eliminated if the seed firming attachment firmly presses the kernel into the bottom of the furrow. Such a device is described and claimed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 08/137,844. This invention is an improvement over my earlier seed firming attachment or device as this improvement provides control of the pressure applied to the seed to accurately firm the seed to maximize emergence under various soil and moisture conditions. Soil and moisture conditions may vary considerably at the time of planting.

Resilient seed firming attachment for a planting machine


A combustion chamber structure by using a preheating net and a spark plug to ignite includes a cylinder. The cylinder is connected with a connection seat. The connection seat has a threaded hole. A spark plug is fixedly connected in the threaded hole. A preheating net is transversely disposed under the spark plug. A certain distance is defined between the spark plug and the preheating net. When electrified, the spark plug and the preheating net will generate an electric arc to rise the temperature of the preheating net and to preheat the mixing oil gas in the combustion chamber. The present invention enhances the burning efficiency. The oil gas in the combustion chamber is complete combustion to enhance horsepower and to save oil. Besides, the present invention can decrease the exhaust gas so it is environment-friendly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a combustion chamber structure by using a preheating net and a spark plug to ignite.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The combustion chamber of a conventional engine is disposed in a cylinder. The existing combustion chamber structure comprises a spark plug screwed to a cylinder cover. The spark plug comprises a central electrode inserted in a ceramic insulation body. The ceramic insulation body is surrounded with a grounding metallic casing. Through the metallic casing, the spark plug is screwed to the cylinder cover. The top of the metallic casing is further fixedly connected with a grounding member. A gap is formed between the central electrode and the grounding member. Through the gap, the spark plug is electrified to ignite the mixing oil gas in the combustion chamber.
However, the existing combustion chamber structure uses the gap of the spark plug to discharge electricity to ignite the mixing oil gas. There is no device to preheat the oil gas or other device for complete combustion. When the existing combustion chamber structure is applied to a small-exhaust and high-speed model engine, the mixing oil gas in the combustion chamber is not complete combustion to exhaust a great amount of exhaust gas, which results in that the horsepower cannot release completely. The idling of the engine is not stable to extinguish the engine sometimes.
Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.

Combustion chamber structure by using preheating net and spark plug to ignite


On-site membrane systems are used for air separation to produce a low purity nitrogen stream and for purifying impure hydrogen, the nitrogen and hydrogen being passed to a catalytic combustion system in which the oxygen content of the nitrogen stream is reacted with said hydrogen to reduce the residual oxygen content of the nitrogen in a final purification operation to produce high purity nitrogen. Pressure swing adsorption systems can be employed in place of the membrane systems for particular applications, and a cryogenic system can be employed for said hydrogen purification.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the production of nitrogen. More particularly, it relates to a membrane process and system for the production of low cost, high purity nitrogen.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The production of high purity nitrogen has, for many years, been carried out employing state of-the-art air separation technology based on cryogenic distillation techniques. Because of the favorable economics of scale up for such cryogenic distillation, large tonnage nitrogen users are supplied with nitrogen gas piped from a cryogenic plant installed on the users' site. Smaller tonnage users, i.e., 2-30 tons/day or less, are typically supplied with liquid nitrogen trucked to the users' site from a centrally located liquid nitrogen production plant. The cost of liguefying nitrogen gas and of transporting the liquid nitrogen from an off-site cryogenic plant to the users' site will be seen to add significantly to the cost of the nitrogen as supplied to the user.
In recent years, therefore, a major challenge in the art has been to develop small tonnage air separation plants that can effectively produce low cost nitrogen gas at the users' site. Recent developments relating to pressure swing adsorption (PSA) and membrane technologies have served to significantly lower the cost of on site systems for the production of low purity, small tonnage nitrogen. On the other hand, high purity nitrogen cannot be economically produced by such PSA or membrane systems because of practical limitations rendering the power requirements and the cost of such systems prohibitive.
There is a desire in the art for the development of membrane or PSA systems and approaches capable of reducing the cost of on-site, high purity nitrogen. One approach that has been employed to reduce the cost of said on-site, high purity nitrogen involves the use of a membrane or PSA system coupled with a trace oxygen removal system for final purification of the nitrogen product. In this approach, a membrane or PSA system is used for initial air separation to produce nitrogen at up to 3,000 ppm of oxygen, or higher, with a catalyst system then being used to remove additional oxygen to produce a purified nitrogen product stream having a residual oxygen content of 10 ppm or less. While this approach enables high purity nitrogen to be produced on site at a lower cost than by membrane or PSA systems alone, the cost saving achieved thereby nevertheless represents only a marginal improvement over that associated with the supply of liquid nitrogen by truck to the users' site. This is primarily due to the relatively high cost of the hydrogen required to react with the oxygen present in the partially purified nitrogen stream for a removal thereof. This approach could be of more practical commercial significance as compared to the trucking of liquid nitrogen, however, if a low cost hydrogen supply source were available at the users' site.
There are presently a number of industrial applications, particularly in the petrochemical industry, which require high purity nitrogen and that also have low cost hydrogen available on site. Frequently, however, this low cost, available hydrogen is impure and contains various hydrocarbons. The use of such impure hydrogen would be disadvantageous with respect to the operation of a catalyst system for final nitrogen purification. If such impure hydrogen could be purified at relatively low cost, however, the resulting high purity hydrogen could then be used in an efficient and effective manner in said catalyst system for final, on-site nitrogen purification.
The inherent simplicity of permeable membrane systems provides a strong incentive and desire in the art for the development of such systems and related processes for the on-site production of high purity nitrogen. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that there are particular overall processing operations for which an on site PSA system is more appropriate than a membrane system, despite the inherent simplicity of membrane systems. The desire in the art for improved overall membrane and PSA systems for on-site, high purity nitrogen production will thus be seen as involving, in approaches utilizing a catalyst system for final nitrogen production, the development of means to effectively utilize the low-cost, impure hydrogen frequently available at the users' site in the production of high purity nitrogen in a commercially feasible and efficient manner.
It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide an improved system and process for the production of on-site, high purity nitrogen.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved overall system and process utilizing membrane or PSA systems for such on-site, high purity nitrogen production.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an overall system and process for the production of on site, high purity nitrogen by the utilization of membrane or PSA systems and of available low cost, impure hydrogen available on site.
With these and other objects in mind, the invention is hereinafter described in detail, the novel features thereof being particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Membrane process and system for nitrogen production


A method for beamforming training is disclosed including SNR values with each of the SNR values associated with one of the antenna identifiers (IDs) in a first frame identifying different radio frequency (RF) chains for a process of beamforming training; receiving and transmitting the first frame bi-directionally between multiple pairs of communicating nodes, wherein each pair of the communicating nodes has at least one initiator node and one responder node; receiving feedback of the SNRs associated with the antenna IDs from two or more responder nodes of the multiple pairs of the communicating nodes to choose an RF chain as favorable transmit antenna for transmission; and determining respective one from the multiple antenna sectors of the multiple antennas for transmission for the responder nodes according to the feedback. A central network controller and a system are also disclosed herein.

Networks generally comprise a plurality of communicating nodes used to communicate data in process of beamforming training. Millimeter wave (mmWave) communication generally corresponds to wireless communication. Directional communications offer additional gain that compensates for the large pathloss experienced for example in mmWave communications. A procedure known as beamforming in Millimeter-wave (mmWave) communications may be characterized by the use of directional antennas. Multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communications exploit the presence of multiple transmit and/or multiple receive antennas to increase spectral efficiency. In a single-user (SU) MIMO system, multiple independent data streams are communicated between two stations (STAs), while in a multiuser (MU) MIMO system a STA transmits multiple independent data streams to multiple STAs.

Method and apparatus for multiuser MIMO beamforming training


A jet recovery print process is performed each time before printing a print job, when an inactivity period of non-printing has been exceeded, or during a long print job, where the jets might clog with debris. The jet recovery print process ejects the ink from the inkjets by printing (using the inkjets) a sacrificial page in a jet recovery pattern, while operating the actuators in the inkjets at their maximum voltage rating. The jet recovery pattern is designed to purge all the ink from all the inkjets. Thus, in the jet recovery print process, the controller operates the actuators at their maximum voltage rating so as to provide a higher driving force for the ink to be ejected from the inkjets and thereby make the purge process more effective.

Systems and methods herein generally relate to inkjet printers and more particularly to devices and methods for correcting non-operating jets within inkjet printers.
Inkjet printers eject droplets of ink onto print media to perform printing operations. However, when such printers go unused for extended periods of time, the ink can start to dry out potentially causing viscous plugs in the inkjets, or debris can block the nozzles.
In view of this, the inkjet print heads can be cleared of the viscous plug after they are uncapped from an idle state, in order to recover the inkjets in preparation for printing operations. However, while such actions recover a significant number of inkjets, that still leaves large numbers jets missing, and this can adversely affect the print quality. These jets may require several additional purge cycles to recover (wasting a significant amount of ink) and some may not even be recoverable by any amount of such processing.


Various embodiments for electrical receptacle protective enclosures (“ERPE”) are disclosed. The ERPE includes an enclosure configured to be demountably affixed to an electrical receptacle. The enclosure includes a main body and covering rotatably coupled to the main body and having locking arms extending therefrom. The enclosure includes “closed,” “open,” “locked,” and “unlocked” states. The main body includes a mechanical fastening assembly positioned near apertures and configured to rotate in a common plane with a wall of the main body. The locking element comprises an indentation and a plate region positioned opposite the indentation. In the unlocked state, the indentation is aligned with the aperture and allows the locking arm to traverse the indentation and the protrusion to engage the aperture. In the locked state, the plate region is aligned with the aperture and restricts the locking arm from traversing the indentation and the protrusion from disengaging the aperture.

Electrical receptacles (also known as electrical outlets) are sockets that connect electrical devices to electricity supplies. For example, in buildings, electrical outlets may be installed in walls, although they can also be installed in floors. The human body conducts electricity very well, which means that electricity passes very easily throughout the body. Direct contact with electrical current can result in electrical injury and occasionally death. While some electrical injuries look minor, there still may be serious internal damage, especially to the heart, muscles, or brain.
Electrical outlet covers can be utilized to prevent children from accessing electrical outlets or removing electrical plugs, which thereby reduces the probability of injury due to electrical shock.
Unless otherwise specifically noted, articles depicted in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Electrical receptacle protective enclosures