A radio frequency transmission arrangement comprises a ground plate having an aperture comprising a slot with an elongate cross-section and substantially parallel sides, and a first and second transmission line. The thickness of the ground plate is greater than a width of the slot. The first transmission line comprises a first elongate conductor on a first side of the ground plate and has an end terminated with a first termination stub. The second transmission line comprises a second elongate conductor on the opposite side of the ground plate and has an end terminated with a second termination stub. The first transmission line is arranged to cross the slot at a point adjacent to the first termination stub, and the second transmission line is arranged to cross the slot at a point adjacent to the second termination stub.

In modern wireless systems, such as for example cellular wireless and fixed radio access wireless networks, there is a need for equipment operating with radio frequency signals, such as radio transceiver equipment in user equipment or at base stations or access points, which is economical to produce, while having high performance at radio frequencies. Increasingly high radio frequencies are being used as spectrum becomes scarce and demand for bandwidth increases. Furthermore, antenna systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often employing arrays of antenna elements to provide controlled beam shapes and/or MIMO (multiple input multiple output) transmission. Typically, radio frequency circuits are constructed with unbalanced transmission lines for transmission of radio frequency signals between components of the circuit, such as between amplifiers, filters, detectors, antennas and many other types of radio frequency component. An unbalanced transmission line comprises a signal conductor, such as a printed track of a circuit board, and a ground structure, such as a ground plane of a circuit board or a conductive ground plate, such as a milled aluminium plate. If one transmission line is connected to another transmission line, the signal conductor of one transmission line needs to be connected, at least at radio frequency, to the signal conductor of the other transmission line. It is also important that there is a good radio frequency connection between the ground structures of the respective transmission lines. This ensures a low loss connection between the transmission lines and, by ensuring that the conductors are referenced to the same ground voltage, reduces pick up of spurious signals.
Electronic equipment may be constructed with a ground plate having radio frequency electronic circuitry on both sides of it. For example, a ground plate may be a backing plate for an antenna array, and a radio transceiver may be mounted on the other side of the backing plate from the antenna array. There is typically a need to connect signals from one side of the ground plate to the other, for example between the antenna array and the transceiver.
Conventionally, signals may be connected through a ground plate using co-axial radio frequency connectors. Such co-axial connectors are typically made to tight mechanical tolerances and are relatively expensive, often being gold pated for example to ensure a good electrical connection and avoid corrosion. A poorly made or corroded connector may result in a poor radio frequency connection, resulting in signal loss or may even produce a connection with non-linear transmission characteristics resulting in generation of spurious signal components. There is a need for a low cost, high performance radio frequency connection, preferably tolerant of mechanical misalignment, between a transmission line on one side of a ground plate and a transmission line on the other side of the ground plate.
It is known to couple radio frequency signals between transmission lines on different layers of a printed circuit board using slot-coupled interconnects. The publication "Slot-Coupled Double-Sided Microstrip Interconnects and Couplers" by Ho, Fan and Chang, 1993 IEEE MTT-S Digest, discloses slot-coupled interconnects for coupling radio frequency signals between layers of a multi-layer printed circuit board, through an aperture in a ground plane forming a layer of the printed circuit board.
It is an object of the invention to mitigate the problems of the prior art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In a multi-core computer system, a method for dealing with a fault with a core includes detecting a fault in one of the cores. Information is transferred from a recovery buffer to a mapper. The information includes logical register mapping information. A recovery is performed using the information in the mapper. If a recovery cannot proceed, a sparing can be initiated using the information in the mapper.

The present invention generally relates to computer architecture, and more specifically, to simplified sparing and recovery options for processors or cores in multi-core systems.
Computer system manufacturers and computer processor manufacturers continually strive to produce faster and more reliable computer systems. One way that computer systems are made faster and more reliable is to provide a multi-processing computer system. A multi-processing computer system can be implemented using multiple single-core processors or one or more multi-core processors. A multiprocessing computer system can be faster than a single processor system because the multiple processor cores can be made to execute tasks in parallel with one another. A multi-processing computer system can be made more reliable because, in the event of a failure of one processor or core, another processor or core can take over the functions that were being executed on the failed processor or core at the time of the failure. The capability to move an architectural state from one processor core of a multiprocessor computer system to another processor core can be referred to as processor sparing. In the existing art, sparing has been a complex process because the architectural state of the processor may be spread across multiple locations, including a mapper and a recovery buffer. In these cases, the sparing process must access both the mapper and the recovery buffer and process that information.
In addition to sparing is the related concept of recovery. While sparing involves replacing a processor core with a spare processor core, recovery involves stopping a processor core from executing, then restoring the processor from a known state, thus preserving the architecture. This recovery process includes moving information from a recovery buffer into a mapper and then performing a recovery reset that resets all non-architectural state to a known good reset state. There can be issues when mixing recovery with sparing.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A coaxial conductor has a coax connector which includes a tubular outer conductor, an insulator unit and an elongated inner conductor. The tubular outer conductor has a rear end portion, a front end portion and an intermediate portion which is disposed between the rear and front end portions and which confines a through-hole that communicates the rear and front end portions. The rear end portion has a teethed inner wall surface. The through-hole has a diameter smaller than inner diameters of the rear and front end portions, and a diverging end section adjacent to the rear end portion. The insulator unit is disposed fittingly in the front end portion of the tubular outer conductor. The inner conductor has a portion that extends through the insulator unit and into the intermediate portion of the tubular outer conductor, and is retained in an axial direction of the tubular outer conductor by the insulator unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a coaxial conductor, more particularly to a coaxial conductor with an improved coax connector which can be attached securely and easily on one end of a coaxial signal cable.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional mini-DIN coax connector is shown to comprise a tubular outer conductor 1 and a tubular inner conductor 2. The tubular outer conductor 1 has a rear end portion 10 and a front end portion 11. The front end portion 11 is used to connect the coax connector and one end of a coaxial signal cable. The tubular inner conductor 2 is used to connect the coax connector and a conventional socket. The tubular inner conductor 2 has a portion which extends into the front end portion 11 of the tubular outer conductor 1 and which is retained axially within the same by an insulator body 20.
Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional coaxial signal cable 3 is shown to comprise a center conductor 30, a braided outer conductor 31, a dielectric (not shown) which separates the center conductor 30 from the braided outer conductor 31, and an insulating jacket 32 which is provided around the braided outer conductor 31. When mounting the coax connector on one end of the coaxial signal cable 3, it is necessary to strip one end of the insulating jacket 32 so as to expose a portion of the braided outer conductor 31. The exposed portion of the braided outer conductor 31 is then pulled over the insulating jacket 32 so as to expose a portion of the dielectric. The exposed portion of the dielectric is then stripped so as to expose a portion of the center conductor 30. The exposed portion of the center conductor 30 is extended into the tubular inner conductor 2 to effect electrical contact with the same. The exposed portion of the braided outer conductor 31 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the rear end portion 10 of the tubular outer conductor 1, thereby completing the electrical connection between the coax connector and the coaxial signal cable 3. A crimping tool (not shown) is employed so as to crimp the tubular outer conductor 1 onto the coaxial signal cable 3, thereby strengthening the structural connection between the coax connector and the coaxial signal cable 3.
To use the coax connector, the front end portion 11 of the tubular outer conductor 1 is inserted into a conventional socket 4 so as to contact tightly an outer conductive sleeve 41 of the latter. The tubular inner conductor 2 extends fittingly into a through-hole 401 of an inner conductive sleeve 40 of the socket 4 at this stage.
Some of the drawbacks of the conventional mini-DIN coax connector are listed as follows:
1. Attachment of the coax connector to the coaxial signal cable 3 cannot be accomplished easily. Note that the diameter of the tubular inner conductor 2 is relatively small. Thus, extension of the exposed portion of the center conductor 30 into the tubular inner conductor 2 cannot be achieved conveniently. Furthermore, if the center conductor 30 is a stranded conductor, it is likely that several strands of the center conductor 30 will not extend into the tubular inner conductor 2 and will come into contact with the tubular outer conductor 1, thereby resulting in signal interference or in a short-circuit condition.
2. When connecting the coax connector to the socket 4, it is necessary to extend the tubular inner conductor 2 into the inner conductive sleeve 40 of the socket 4. If the coax connector was connected to the socket 4 improperly, the tubular inner conductor 2 might be forced further into the tubular outer conductor 1. This can result in improper electrical contact between the coax connector and the socket 4.

Coaxial conductor and a coax connector thereof


A superconductive cable which has a cryostat with two concentric metal pipes where the cryostat has at least a first axial section with a first axial spring constant, and at least a second axial section which has a second axial spring constant which at most is 20%, more preferred at most 10%, of the axial spring constant of the first section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a superconductive cable in which, in a cryostat with two concentric corrugated metal pipes whose intermediate space is evacuated for insulation, a cable core is arranged which has around a center at least one superconductive phase conductor. The center is preferably of copper or a metal material and may be of solid material or hollow, and may also consist of individual stranded conductors, and preferably has a coaxial inner cooling duct.
2. Description of Related Art
EP 1617537 describes that the length difference of the cable core, which is arranged so as to be longitudinally slidable in a cryostat, is compensated relative to a connected normal conductor by providing the normal conductor with a tubular component which surrounds the superconductive cable core so as to be longitudinally slidable.
EP 1480231 B1 describes the manufacture of a superconductive cable in which the cryostat is wound onto a cable drum, and the ends of the cable core are connected to the ends of the cryostat only in the wound-up state for achieving an excess length of the cable core relative to the cryostat, which permits a compensation of the different contraction behaviors of the cryostat relative to the cable core.

System with a superconductive cable and a surrounding cryostat


A radiotransmission station transmits digital data at a predetermined rate to a receiving station. The receiving station is controlled by a timing circuit which recognizes a predetermined enabling code. The digital data is transmitted as bit sequences and each sequence contains a first group of bits for synchronizing the timing circuit and the transmission rate. This first group of bits is followed by a second group of bits which includes the enabling code. The recognition of the enabling code enables the reviewing station to receive and process the transmitted information. The enabling code is derived from a sequence of logical "1" and "0" bits and certain bits of the sequence are altered to form groups of three like bits (111,000). Each group of three bits has no more than two adjacent pairs of like and opposite bits (00,11). The group of like bits are arranged in a first part of the second group so that the chances of incorrect recognition are minimized and the synchronization achieved by the first group is unaltered.

This invention relates to apparatus for the radiotransmission of data between a radiotransmitting station and a radioreceiving station and more specifically, to the recognition of enabling codes capable of enabling the receiving station to recognise and to process transmitted data encoded according to a predetermined key.
It is known for radioreceivers to be provided with devices which recognise enabling codes to enable the radioreceiver to receive data transmitted through air. Generally, the enabling code is a sequence of bits, and follows a group of bits used to synchronise the receiver to the transmission frequency. In some cases, as a result of radio frequency disturbances or of interferences with other transmissions, these enabling codes are erroneously interpreted by the recognising device as other synchronisation signals, but out of phase with the true transmitted synchronisation signals transmitted. The result is that the radioreceiver is not longer capable of recognising and processing the data transmitted.

Enabling code for radiotransmission of data


The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device may include a control body with a first connector portion and a cartridge with a second connector portion. The first connector portion and the second connector portion may be configured to releasably engage each other. One of the first connector portion and the second connector portion may include an extension and the other of the first connector portion and the second connector portion may include a receptacle configured to receive the extension. The extension may include contact sections positioned along a longitudinal length thereof. The contact sections may be electrically insulated from one another by at least one spacer and may be configured to form an electrical connection with the receptacle. A related assembly method is also provided.

Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices such as electronic cigarettes, and more particularly to connectors for aerosol delivery devices including an atomizer, and associated systems and apparatuses. The atomizer may be configured to heat an aerosol precursor composition, which may be made or derived from tobacco or otherwise incorporate tobacco, to form an inhalable substance for human consumption.
Description of Related Art
Many smoking devices have been proposed through the years as improvements upon, or alternatives to, smoking products that require combusting tobacco for use. Many of those devices purportedly have been designed to provide the sensations associated with cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoking, but without delivering considerable quantities of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis products that result from the burning of tobacco. To this end, there have been proposed numerous smoking products, flavor generators, and medicinal inhalers that utilize electrical energy to vaporize or heat a volatile material, or attempt to provide the sensations of cigarette, cigar, or pipe smoking without burning tobacco to a significant degree. See, for example, the various alternative smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices and heat generating sources set forth in the background art described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,881,737 to Collett et al., U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2013/0255702 to Griffith Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014/0000638 to Sebastian et al., U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014/0096781 to Sears et al., U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2014/0096782 to Ampolini et al., and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2015/0059780 to Davis et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. See also, for example, the various embodiments of products and heating configurations described in the background sections of U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,594 to Counts et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 8,079,371 to Robinson et al., which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.
However, some aerosol delivery device may include multiple pieces, which may be separable. For example, aerosol delivery devices may include a control body and a cartridge. Accordingly, aerosol delivery devices may include couplers that allow for coupling and decoupling of the cartridge and the control body, such that the cartridge may be refilled or replaced. However, such connectors may wear out from repeated usage, may be difficult to engage or disengage, or may provide unreliable electrical connections. Thus, advances with respect to connectors for aerosol delivery devices may be desirable.

Aerosol delivery device including connector comprising extension and receptacle


An appliance is provided with a control housing secured to the cabinet top cover. The control housing includes a front opening which is closed by a control panel assembly engageable with the lower portion of the housing front and rearwardly pivotable for engagement with the top of the housing front. The control panel assembly includes a support panel and an overlying decorative panel which is biased toward the frontal surface of the support panel. This biasing maintains the rear of the face portion of the fascia panel in contact with the support panel. The control panel assembly ends are enclosed by a pair of rearwardly extending end caps which combine with the upper edge of the fascia panel to provide a continuous unbroken line at the top of the panel assembly and form a frame having a mitered corner appearance.

This invention relates generally to the field of laundry and kitchen appliances and more particularly to an improved control housing therefore.
In household electrical appliances such as laundry appliances there is generally provided a control housing which is secured to the top cover of the appliance cabinet. This control housing is utilized for mounting various switches, timers, cycle selection switches and other controls essential to the operation of the appliance.
In the past, control panel assemblies have provided panels for support, nomenclature, etc., which are joined by mechanical fasteners or by adhesive bonding and which are then framed by a wrap-around decorative trim piece to provide a mitered corner and picture frame appearance.
More recently, control panels have been constructed with at least two panels joined by mechanical fasteners or by adhesive bonding and having a pair of decorative end caps for at least partially enclosing the exposed end portions of the panel assembly. In known constructions, the end caps, while being decorative, have not generally provided corners which give the appearance of a continuous frame construction as was previously achieved with the wrap-around decorative trim piece. The prior art end caps have included shoulders or other extensions which break the square corner and they do not provide a mitered appearance.

Appliance control housing and console construction


An application tool (and a method of use of the tool) is provided for assembling an outboard seal and roller assembly into a hub unit. The tool and method allow for the use of standard seals and standard cage/roller assemblies, thus avoiding the problem associated with the use of special cages or oversized large-diameter seals.

Not applicable.
Not Applicable.
This invention relates to a method of assembling a GEN III packaged bearing in a hub, and, in particular, to a method which facilitates the insertion of an outboard seal using an application tool.
The assembly of GEN III type packaged bearing products is difficult due to the minimal space between the outboard cup, housing, or knuckle face and the inboard face of the hub flange. A seal pressed into the bearing, housing or knuckle is required to minimize or eliminate contaminants entering the bearing from the roadway. Certain packaged bearing designs are such that the outboard seal cannot be installed prior to the installation of the rollers and cage into the bearing cup/housing or knuckle, therefore, the rollers and cage must be installed before the seal and the hub.
Two options are currently available to assemble this type of bearing. One is the design of a xe2x80x9cbelow centerxe2x80x9d cage in which the rollers are installed from the outside diameter of the cage, as opposed to the more traditional design in which rollers are installed from the inside diameter of the cage. xe2x80x9cBelow centerxe2x80x9d0 cage designs are not considered the standard method of retaining rollers in tapered roller bearings. Therefore, the cost of such items becomes higher than the more conventional cage design. Assembly of the bearing using a xe2x80x9cbelow centerxe2x80x9d cage design requires additional manipulation of the bearing cup, housing, or knuckle to install the rollers and cage, increasing the cost of the assembly.
Another option is to use a specially designed cage in which the rollers are contained in the cage. However, the use of a special cage design can result in increased cost and special assembly operations.
The problem to be solved is how to get the outboard seal of the hub unit in place. In a typical GEN II hub unit, the outboard seal is installed in the bearing before the bearing is installed on the hub. It is only when the outboard cone is integral with the hub, as in a GEN III hub unit, that it is difficult to install the outboard seal. The reason for this difficulty is that the outboard seal has to be in place on the hub before the rollers are installed on the hub and when the hub/seal/rollers are inserted into the cup, there must be some way to press the seal into the cup, housing, or knuckle with a tight fit.
GEN III ball bearings (as opposed to tapered roller bearings) have been in use for some time. However, since it is common for the balls of ball bearings to be held in the cage as a set, they do not encounter this problem, because the ball/cage set can be installed in the cup, and then the outboard seal pressed into the cup, housing or knuckle, and then the hub inserted into the cup.
There are a number of solutions when tapered rollers are used. A typical solution is to use a split puller that fits between the hub flange and the seal. This puller pulls the seal into place as the spindle is inserted into the cup. However, as the hub unit is made narrower, there is no room for the puller. This is especially true, if a ribbed flange (such as disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No. 981,539, filed Oct. 17, 2001, which is entitled xe2x80x9cWheel Hub With Stiffened Flangexe2x80x9d, and which is incorporated herein by reference) is used.
Other solutions involve the use of special cages or very large ID seals. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,015 discloses the use of a special cage in the outboard row that holds the rollers against the cup ID. Thus, the outboard rollers, cage, and outboard seal can be installed in the cup prior to assembly of the hub into the cup.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,643 discloses the use of a special cage in the outboard row that holds the rollers in the cage, much the same as is used for ball bearings. Again, the outboard rollers, cage, and outboard seal can be installed in the cup prior to insertion of the hub.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,214 discloses a special finger type cage. Here, the special cage is used to make a true GEN III bearing, wherein both cones are integral with the hub. The problem here is providing some way to get the rollers into the bearing. Getting the outboard seal in place is secondary, as there is sufficient clearance to pull it in with a puller.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,454,647 and 5,494,358 disclose less desirable solutionxe2x80x94namely that the outboard seal be big enough to pass over the rollers after the rollers and cage are assembled on the outboard integral cone.
Each of the noted solutions has its problems. Special cages cost more and require different roller loading equipment. Large diameter seals generate more heat. It would be preferable to develop a technique to assemble a hub assembly which uses a standard cage and which simplifies the placement of the seals in the hub assembly.
In accordance with the invention, generally stated, an application tool (and a method of use of the tool) is provided for assembling an outboard seal and roller assembly into a hub unit. The tool and method allow for the use of standard seals and cage/roller assemblies, thus avoiding the problem associated with the use of special cages or oversized large-diameter seals.
An application tool of the invention includes an outer member that is at least partially hollow and an inner member which is received within the outer member and is movable axially relative to the outer member. A biasing member (such as a spring element) is placed in the outer member to bias the inner member upwardly relative to the outer member. The inner member includes plurality of pockets formed about its outer surface and which extend downwardly from its upper surface. The number of pockets formed in the inner member outer surface correspond to the number of rollers to be inserted in the outboard row of the bearing assembly of the hub unit. The inner member also includes a bore extending axially downwardly from its member upper surface which is sized and shaped to receive a spindle of the hub. The outer member has an outer diameter sized to allow the application tool to slide adjacent to and axially relative to the hub outer raceways.
The method of assembling the outboard seal into a hub unit includes (1) providing a support member with at least an outboard outer race; (2) inserting the application tool into the outboard outer race; (3) placing a cage about the application tool with the small end ring of the cage resting on the upper surface of the tool outer member and with the cage pockets generally aligned with the application tool inner member pockets; (4) placing rollers into enclosures defined by the cage pockets and the inner member pockets; (5) ensuring that the rollers contact the outer raceway; (6) fitting an outboard seal into position on the support member; (7) inserting a hub into the support member to form a hub/support member assembly in which the outboard seal is engaged with a seal surface of the hub; and (8) separating the application tool and the hub/support member assembly from each other. When the cage and rollers are placed in the tool for insertion into the hub unit; the rollers may be axially spaced from the outboard outer raceway. Hence, step (4) above involves axially moving the tool relative to the support member (and raceways) until the rollers are in contact with the raceway. During step (7), the inner member is moved axially relative to the outer member.

Method of assembling a package bearing and an assembly tool therefore


The cord coupler of the present invention includes a flexible planar first sheet of hook and loop fastener material. A first side of the first sheet includes hook material of the hook and loop fastener material. An opposite second side of the first sheet includes loop material of the hook and loop fastener material. The first sheet is formed into at least three portions. A first portion is elongate in a first direction from a first end to an opposite second end. A second portion is elongate in a second direction from a first end to an opposite second end. A third portion is elongate in a third direction from a first end to an opposite second end. The first direction is perpendicular to the second and third directions. The second and third directions are parallel. The second portion is adjacent the third portion. The first ends of the second and third portions are formed integrally with the first end of the first portion.

It is an identified problem in the prior art that male and female plugs on the ends of power conductors such as electrical extension cords and power tool electrical cords and the like may be accidentally separated if the junction between the cords is pulled under tension without some sort of restraining device coupling the male and female plugs together in mated engagement.
It is known that most power tools and heavy duty appliances include a relatively short power cord or rigid receptacle having a pronged male electrical connector at the end thereof. Typically the ends of the power cords are the only means provided by which extension cords may be connected to the power cords to provide power to the tools. Realistically, power tools are routinely used with extension cords and a user while moving about, for example at a work site, will quite often reach an outer limit of the range afforded by the extension cord and will inadvertently pull on the power tool thereby separating the junction between the power tool cord and the extension cord. More aggravatingly, a junction between connected extension cords removed from the location of the user requires the user to walk across the job site to locate separated connectors between extension cords.
Quite apart from the aggravation and inefficiency of such a situation, the partial separation of electrical connectors is also potentially hazardous. Consequently, the need identified in the prior art and attempted to be solved in the prior art exists to releasably secure by means of a releasably mountable device, male and female electrical plugs in mated engagement.
In the prior art devices, U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,524 which issued to Falcon on Dec. 1, 1992, identifies many prior art attempts to solve the above problem as such devices existed in the published prior art up to 1991. The Falcon device itself is a coupling restraint assembly which includes a pair of generally identically configured U-shaped flexible mounting straps which are secured relative to each of the male and female connectors in opposing relationship with respect to one another using integrally formed locking tabs which are extendible through openings provided in each strap. The mounting straps are constructed so as to be used interchangeably on different types and sizes of power cords and electrical connectors. In the embodiment taught to be preferred by Falcon, a pair of selfbinding restraint straps are secured to two legs of one of the generally U-shaped mounting straps and are selectively extendible through openings in opposing leg portions of the adjacent mounting strap. The restraint straps are secured upon themselves by use of hook and loop releasable fasteners.
What is neither taught nor suggested, and which is an object of the present invention to provide, is a coupling device superficially similar in plan view profile to the Falcon device when laid flat, but one which is of simplified construction when compared thereto for ease of manufacture and of increased tensile load bearing capacity. Load bearing capacity is increased due to the lack of apertures formed as tensile load transfer couplings between a base portion to which are mounted a pair of generally parallel straps. The present invention has no such limitation, being formed of a unitary piece which may be cut out of a sheet in a "cookie-cutter" fashion as better described below.
Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,107 which issued to Sheryll on Aug. 9, 1994 for a plug retention device. Sheryll discloses a device for retaining an electrical plug and extension cord to another plug and extension cord by the use of fasteners strip elements secured to each cord adjacent to each plug by a circumferential clamp. With the electrical plug engaged with its corresponding socket, mechanical interacting fastener elements that engage each other when in the assembled state maintain the plug in the socket. It is taught that the fastening elements may be mushroom-shaped fasteners sold under the trademark Dual Lock or other forms of interacting article elements of the type the subject of the U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,192,589 and 3,266,113. What is neither taught nor suggested is a coupler adapted for use in storing a coiled extension cord, the Sheryll device also being of a molded plastic design not well adapted for being formed in a unitary piece cut out from a sheet in a "cookie-cutter" fashion.


A display unit which can detect the X coordinate of a position with which a pen is in contact more efficiently. In a non-display period, X-electrodes are grouped into N regions according to the X-electrode arrangement, each region is divided into two parts according to the X-electrode arrangement, and selection voltage is applied to the X-electrodes belonging to each part having larger X coordinates. The process is repeated in order while N is doubled from one to the half value of the number of the X-electrodes of a liquid crystal panel. If a pen coming in contact with the liquid crystal panel and detecting X-electrode selection voltage detects selection voltage with respect to each N value, the Nth most significant bit of the X coordinate of the position with which the pen is in contact is set to `1.` If the pen does not detect selection voltage, the bit is set to `0.` Thus, the X-electrode of the position with which the pen is in contact can be detected at the number of selection voltage application times equal to the minimum number of bits that can represent each of the X-electrodes.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a display unit having a coordinate input mechanism and in particular to coordinate input techniques thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, the display unit described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 2-255911 is known as a conventional display having a coordinate input mechanism.
According to the display unit, a drive voltage pulse of a display is detected by a pencil-like detector for finding the coordinates of the position indicated with the detector. Therefore, the display unit does not require an additional pressure-sensitive tablet or the like for inputting coordinates.
The display unit described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.Hei 2-255911 will be discussed.
FIG. 40 shows the configuration of the display unit.
In the figure, numeral 201 is a thin film EL panel, y0, y1, . . . , yn-1 are Y-electrodes, x0, x1, . . . . xm-1 are X-electrodes, numeral 202 is a Y-electrode driver, and numeral 203 is an X-electrode driver. Numeral 204 is a timing generator, numeral 205 is a pencil-like detector, for detecting coordinates, which will be hereinafter simply called the pen, numeral 206 is an amplifier, numeral 207 is a Y coordinate detector, and numeral 208 is an X coordinate detector. The Y coordinates or lines on a display screen of the thin film EL panel 201 are specified by the Y-electrodes and the X coordinates or columns are specified by the X-electrodes. The pixel corresponding to the X-electrode to which a selection voltage is applied, on the line corresponding to the Y-electrode to which a selection voltage is applied, on the thin film EL panel 201, goes ON (is displayed).
The operation of the display unit will be described with reference to FIG. 41.
FIG. 41 shows the timing of a drive voltage applied to the Y- and X-electrodes of the thin film EL panel 201.
As shown in FIG. 41, in the display unit, the 1-frame period required to display one screen is divided into the display and Y coordinate detection mode period, for performing display and Y coordinate detection, and the X coordinate detection mode period for detecting X coordinates. The former is a period in which voltage is applied to the X- and Y-electrodes for actual display and the latter is a period in which voltage application for display is not performed.
The operation in the Y coordinate detection mode period is as follows:
The Y-electrode driver 202 connected to the Y-electrodes y0, y1, y2, . . . , yn-1 applies a selection voltage VyON(H) or VyON(L) to the Y-electrodes y0, y1, y2, . . . , yn-1 in order, as shown in FIG. 41. On the other hand, the X-electrode driver 203 connected to the X-electrodes x0, x1, x2, . . . , xm-1 supplies a voltage corresponding to display data displayed on the corresponding pixel on the line corresponding to the Y-electrode to which the selection voltage is applied to the X-electrodes x0, x1, x2, . . . , xm-1 in synchronization with the scanning operation of the Y-electrode driver.
This operation displays one screen in the display period and the X coordinate detection mode period.
Meanwhile, if the selection voltage is applied to the line with which the pen 205 is in contact, electrostatic capacity coupling between the pen 205 and the Y-electrode y0, y1, y2, . . . , yn-1 corresponding to the line, causes a voltage pulse to be supplied via the amplifier 206 to the Y coordinate detector 207. The selection voltage VyON is applied to the Y-electrodes y0, y1, y2, . . . , yn-1 in order. If a counter or the like for counting which of the Y-electrodes y0, y1, y2, . . . , yn-1 the selection voltage VyON is applied to is provided, the Y coordinate with which the pen 205 is in contact can be detected if the counter value is stored at the timing at which the voltage pulse is input via the pen 205 and the amplifier 206.
Next, the operation in the X coordinate detection mode period is as follows:
As in the detection of the Y coordinates, a voltage pulse applied to the X-electrode x0, x1, x2, . . . , xm-1 is detected by the pen 205, thereby detecting the X coordinate indicated with the pen 205.
Then, in the display unit, the X-electrode driver 203 applies a selection voltage VxON to the X-electrode x0, x1, x2, . . . , xm-1 in order. Thus, electrostatic capacity coupling between the pen 205 and the X-electrode x0, x1, x2, . . . , xm-1 to which the selection voltage VxON is applied, causes a detection voltage pulse to be supplied via the amplifier 206 to the X coordinate detector 208.
Therefore, if like the Y coordinate detector 207, the X coordinate detector 208 is provided with a counter or the like for counting which of the X-electrodes x0, x1, x2, . . . , xm-1 the selection voltage VyON is applied to is provided, and the counter value is stored at the timing at which the voltage pulse is input via the pen 205 and the amplifier 206, the X coordinate with which the pen 205 is in contact can be detected.
According to the display unit described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 2-255911, the X coordinate detection mode period for detecting X coordinates is required in addition to the period in which selection voltage is applied to the X- and Y-electrodes for display.
The X coordinate detection mode period will be considered. For example, to detect an X coordinate in a personal computer operating with a frame period of 70 Hz, assuming that the resolution is 640 dots in the horizontal direction and 480 lines in the vertical direction, selection voltage VxON must be applied to the X-electrodes x0, x1, x2, . . . , x639 in order in the X coordinate detection mode. This means that a 640 selection voltage application pattern must be provided in the X coordinate detection mode period.
On the other hand, the X coordinate detection mode period is called a vertical retrace period (vertical interval). To provide good display, it must normally be suppressed to a period of about 5% of the 1-frame period. Therefore, if the 1-frame period is 70 Hz, the X coordinate detection mode period becomes about 700 .mu.s and the period in which selection voltage is applied to one of the X-electrodes x0, x1, x2, . . . , xm-1 becomes about 1 .mu.s.
To apply selection voltage to each of the X-electrodes x0, x1, x2 . . . , xm-1 in order every about 1 .mu.s, the X-electrodes need to be charged with a voltage sufficient for detection by the pen in that period. However, a high-performance X-electrode driver is required to provide such high-speed charge operation.
On the other hand, such an X-electrode driver that can operate at high speed cannot be provided at low costs, leading to a high cost display unit. Such a high-speed operation would increase power consumption of the display unit.

Display unit having a coordinate input mechanism


A direction changeable handle lock structure includes two handles each provided with a first surface and a second surface, and each formed with a combination hole extended through the first surface and the second surface. The handle is formed with a positioning hole communicating with the combination hole. The lock set includes an inner disk unit and an outer disk unit each provided with a shaft tube, for combination with ornamental covers each having a combination portion, so that the combination hole of the handle may be mounted on the combination portion from the first surface or the second surface, and the handle may be fixed by a positioning member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a direction changeable handle lock structure, and more particularly to a direction changeable handle lock structure, wherein the handle of the handle lock may be selectively pressed in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction according to the user""s requirements.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, a handle lock 91 used for a door plate 90 is usually mounted on the left side or right side of the door plate 90 according to the user""s requirement. The handle lock 91 includes a handle 92 that may be pressed in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction, to drive the lock tongue 94 of the lock latch 93 to retract inward.
As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional handle lock structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,074 is shown. In such a conventional handle lock structure, the handles 81 are arranged in a symmetric manner. The normal face or opposite face of the handle 81 may be mounted on the shaft tube 83 by the combination portion 84 of the shaft tube 83 being inserted into the combination hole 82 of the handle 81. The shaft tube 83 is provided with a circular hole 85 of insertion of the cap 86 which has an annular groove 87 aligning with the screw bore 88 of the shaft tube 83, so that the screw 89 may be screwed into the screw bore 88 of the shaft tube 83 and inserted into the annular groove 87 of the cap 86 for fixing the cap 86. However, such a conventional handle lock structure is not provided with a locking function, so that it can only used in a passageway door plate without needing locking, and cannot be available for the site needing locking.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a direction changeable handle lock structure, wherein the handle of the handle lock may be mounted at the left side or right side of the door plate according to the user""s requirements, and may be selectively pressed in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction according to the user""s requirements.
A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide a direction changeable handle lock structure, wherein the handle of the handle lock may be combined with a lock set needing the locking or unlocking function according to the user""s requirements.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a direction changeable handle lock structure including two handles each provided with a first surface and a second surface, and each formed with a combination hole extended through the first surface and the second surface. The handle is formed with a positioning hole communicating with the combination hole. The lock set includes an inner disk unit and an outer disk unit each provided with a shaft tube, for combination with ornamental covers each having a combination portion, so that the combination hole of the handle may be mounted on the combination portion from the first surface or the second surface, and the handle may be fixed by a positioning member.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

Direction changeable handle lock structure


A female urinary device for allowing a female to urinate without splattering and without having to sit upon a toilet. The female urinary device includes a first sheet of material including a main portion having a top edge, a bottom edge, and side edges and being essentially tapered from the top edge to the bottom edge and also having a plurality of pleats spaced apart and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge with the main portion being foldable into a funnel having an open top and an open bottom with the side edges being securely fastenable to one another and with the first sheet of material also having a flap portion being securely attached to the top edge of the main portion; and also includes a second sheet of material having a top edge, a bottom edge, and side edges and also having a plurality of pleats spaced apart and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge with the second sheet of material being foldable into a chute and with the side edges being securely fastenable to one another and with the chute including an open top and an open bottom and being removably connected to the open bottom of the funnel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a urinary device and more particularly pertains to a new female urinary device for allowing a female to urinate without splattering and without having to sit upon a toilet.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of a urinary device is known in the prior art. More specifically, a urinary device heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,637; U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,330; U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,890; U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,948; U.S. Pat. No. 2,100,888; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 371,601.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new female urinary device. The inventive device includes a first sheet of material including a main portion having a top edge, a bottom edge, and side edges and being essentially tapered from the top edge to the bottom edge and also having a plurality of pleats spaced apart and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge with the main portion being foldable into a funnel having an open top and an open bottom with the side edges being securely fastenable to one another and with the first sheet of material also having a flap portion being securely attached to the top edge of the main portion; and also includes a second sheet of material having a top edge, a bottom edge, and side edges and also having a plurality of pleats spaced apart and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge with the second sheet of material being foldable into a chute and with the side edges being securely fastenable to one another and with the chute including an open top and an open bottom and being removably connected to the open bottom of the funnel.
In these respects, the female urinary device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing a female to urinate without splattering and without having to sit upon a toilet.


A light source assembly for use in a light exposing device of a color cathode ray tube is disclosed. The device comprises a cabinet having a mount for mounting the panel of a color cathode ray tube, a light source assembly, a light correcting means and a shutter means, the light source assembly, the light correcting means the shutter means being installed inside of the housing. Included with the light source assembly is a light pass amount adjusting mechanism capable of blocking and controlling, in a stepwise or non-stepwise manner, the light from a light exposing lamp. The adjusting mechanism is preferably provided at the front of the body of the assembly. The light amount from the light source assembly is variable, and therefore, the necessity of changing mechanisms which was required in conventional devices for light-exposing the panels of different kinds of cathode ray tubes is eliminated.

A conventional light exposing device is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. In the device of FIG. 1, a light source assembly 20' is disposed at the bottom of a cabinet 10. A mount 11, mounting a panel 60, is provided at the upper position of the cabinet 10. A correcting filter 13 and a correcting lens 12, for correcting the light radiated from the light source assembly, are disposed between the light source assembly body 20' and the panel 60.
Additionally, a shutter (not shown) is provided, between the correcting lens and filter 12, 13 and the bottom of the panel, for partially passing the light radiated from the light source assembly 20'.
The light source assembly 20' generally takes a form which is the same as or similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2. That is, a light exposing lamp 21' is installed in such a manner as to be exposed to a cavity 23' formed at the center of the body of a cooling tank 22'. A protecting glass 24' may be installed in the middle cavity 23'.
The amount and path of the outgoing light radiated from such a light source assembly may be properly corrected by passing it through the correcting lens and filter, so that the fluorescent stripe on the inner face of the panel should be formed in a uniform manner.
However, there is a limit in the correcting function of the correcting lens and filter. Therefore, in the case of large cathode ray tubes and the like, the light amount exposed on the peripheral areas of the screen may be significantly insufficient relative to the middle area of the screen, resulting in the widths of the fluorescent stripes being non-uniform. This in turn causes an increase in the difference of the luminances in some parts of the screen, thereby lowering the image quality. That is, in the case of a large screen, the difference of the light exposing amounts between the peripheral areas and the middle area of the screen becomes large, giving rise to the above described problems. Increasing the light exposing amount radiated to the peripheral areas of the screen is required to solve the above described problem.

Light source assembly for use in light exposing device of color cathode-ray tube


An apparatus for the continuous production of individual flexible products from a folded web of material, in particular, heat sealable thermoplastic material, is described having improved means for providing tension relief in such web material, and for tucking such web material outwardly from the surface of the product drum. The tuck rolls remain extended above the surface of the product drum throughout product drum rotation, and are retracted by cam arrangement to provide tension relief. Three alternative support assemblies and related cam arrangements are disclosed, two of which employ adjustable, compressible tuck roll support assemblies.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for making individual flexible web products, and, in particular, to an apparatus and method for producing bags of different widths from a folded web of heat sealable thermoplastic material.
In the production of individual flexible web products such as plastic bags and containers, the bag stock is typically supplied in the form of a continuous web of thermoplastic material which has been folded upon, itself to form two plies. In forming individual plastic bags and containers, portions of the thermoplastic material are severed from the web. These severed areas also become side seams for the bags because they are typically sealed at the same time as they are severed by the use of a heated wire element. The plastic bags are then stacked, counted, and packaged by packing equipment.
The severing and sealing operation typically takes places on a relatively large diameter rotating drum which may contain multiple heated wire severing and sealing elements positioned in grooves located within the outer periphery of the drum. See, for example, Tumminia Patent No. 4,369,449, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. As the drum rotates through a given arc, different severing and sealing elements are actuated and raised up to the drum surface to sever and seal a respective portion of the web of bag stock. The individual bags are retained on the drum by a vacuum arrangement as the drum rotates. Such drums are large and expensive pieces of equipment.
Individual bags are then taken from the drum, stacked, and packaged. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. Re 28,172, 3,254,889, 3,599,705, 3,640,050, and 3,842,568, for a description of typical stacking and packing apparatus. Desirably, the packaging operation occurs at the highest possible speed at which the equipment can be operated to increase productivity of the system. As shown in the above mentioned patents, presently, individual bags are taken from the drum by a smaller drum, also suitably equipped with vacuum capabilities. The vacuum on the bags on the large drum is relieved at an appropriate point, and the bags fall onto the smaller drum where they are held in position by vacuum. At an appropriate point, the vacuum is released and the individual bags are pulled off the smaller drum by an orbital packer or similar device.
Early rotary drum apparatuses provided for cutting bags at fixed intervals on a smooth drum, e.g. Allison, U.S. Pat. No. 2,737,859, permitting production of one bag size. Since then the versatility of bag making machines has been improved to permit the production of a variety of bag widths on one machine. Improvements in mass production rates have also been sought. The machines disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,901,754, 4,115,183 and 4,331,502 use two sets of support rollers which separate and tuck the web of thermoelastic material radially inward into a zig-zag shape before cutting and sealing along one set of spring-mounted supports. Bag width can be adjusted by changing the separation between the two sets of support rollers. In the '754 machine, the supports are fixed on two nested drums. Bag width is changed by adjusting the axis of rotation of smaller drum 15, thereby altering, within limits, the relationship between the rods and bars which separate from a point of intersection between the drums to form the tuck. Bag width may also be varied by removing intermediate rods or bars. In the '183 and '502 machines, where both sets of bars are on the same drum, bag size may be varied only by changing the cam plate which controls the motion of bars which are drawn radially inward by spring tension to form the tuck. While these machines permit continuous bag production at high rates, their drawback is that they have many moving parts.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,557,713 and 4,609,367, employ adjustable tuck bars to tuck the web material radially outward rather than inward. The depth of tuck and tension relief is controlled by a cam track. No springs are used to effect tucking or tension relief in the web. Infinite variation of bag size is possible within dimensional limits of these machines by adjusting the cam track which controls tuck bar movement. As the product drum rotates through a complete cycle, the tuck bars extend radially outward to tuck the web, and retract inside the drum periphery to allow product transfer. Again, however, the '713 and '367 machines also have the drawback of many moving parts which can wear and require maintenance. Precision in bag width, therefore, continues to be of concern. Additionally, transfer and stacking problems occur with larger bag sizes on the '713 and '367 machines due to instantaneous acceleration of the bags at the point of transfer between the product drum and transfer drum, a problem discussed in more detail below.
When the thermoplastic material is severed and sealed, the resulting bag seams remain hot even as the bags pass from the large product drum to the transfer drum. Thus, when looped or tucked material is removed from the product drum and laid flat on the transfer drum, the bag seals may overlap and reweld. One solution has been, for example with U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,557,715 and 4,608,367, to increase the rotational speed of the transfer drum to create space between the bag seams on the transfer drum. However, because the transfer drum is required to rotate at a tangential velocity higher than that of the seal drum, the bags are subjected to instantaneous acceleration at the point of transfer. Transfer and stacking problems result, particularly with larger sized bags.
Also presenting bag sealing problems is the tendency of the thermoplastic material to melt back when cut by the hot sealing wires. It has been found that relieving tension in the thermoplastic web material permits the bag welds to seal more completely. New means to provide such relief have been sought. Thus, for example, cam tracks have been designed to cause the tuck bars of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,557,713 and 4,609,367 and supports of U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,502 to retract slightly at the time of sealing to provide tension relief and improve the bag weld seal.
The need continues, therefore, for high volume production machines which achieve size adjustment with a minimum of moving parts. The wear on numerous moving parts presents problems in maintaining bag width precision, general maintenance, and repair. Sealing problems have been addressed by providing tension relief through machine design, and by maintaining weld separation between bags. The need to maintain bag weld separation requires further development to avoid transfer and stacking problems.

Apparatus and method for the production of flexible bags


A filler wire weld composition is set forth which provides high yield strength characteristics comparable to a base substrate made from a high performance Ni--Cr steel alloy. The filler wire weld composition is useful for repair welding substrate alloys used commercially in contexts such as turbine components such as rotors and discs.

Advanced high performance alloy materials are used in a variety of applications such as turbine components. The alloy materials are frequently made from Ni--Cr alloys, including alloys containing molybdenum and vanadium. These alloys find uses as turbine rotors and discs in both gas turbines and steam turbines. The turbine components are characterized by having a high yield strength to withstand the rigorous conditions during use. For instance, conventional base alloy materials used in steam and combustion turbine components have 0.2% yield strengths of from about 135 to about 155 ksi.
Imperfections sometimes result in the manufacture of the turbine components or result in the use of these components under operating conditions. The components must usually be replaced due to the unavailability of an adequate filler weld wire material that can provide a weld deposit having a comparable yield strength to that of the base metal.
Filler weld wire composition standards have been set by various testing societies. The American Welding Society has set forth various compositions in AWS A5.28 classes ER80, 90, 100, 110, and 120 that have 0.2% yield strengths of up to about 120 ksi. Commercially available filler weld wire compositions, such as those available from United States Welding Corporation contain from 0.09-0.11% wt. C, 1.8-2.0% wt. Mn, 0.3-0.4% wt Si, 0.002-0.005% wt. S, 0.9-1.05% wt. Cr, 2.2-2.4% wt. Ni, 0.55-0.7% wt. Mo, less than 0.005% wt. P, less than 0.01% wt. vanadium, and residual levels of other elements. However, the highest attainable 0.2% yield strengths with this material is up to 135 ksi.
There exists a need to develop a filler weld wire composition which has the strength characteristics comparable to the high performance base alloy materials. The filler wire composition should thus be able to provide a weld that has a comparable 0.2% yield strength to the base alloy while not compromising other physical characteristics below acceptable levels.

Filler wire composition and method of welding turbine component with filter wire composition and its product thereof


A new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum plant named ‘PIILC-III’, characterized by its compact, mounded, spreading growth habit; dark purple foliage color that persists through summer and winter; dark pink flowers in spring; and improved cold hardiness compared to other compact purple-leaf cultivars.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum, a member of the Hamamelidaceae family, hereinafter referred to by its cultivar name 'PIILC-III'. This cultivar is grown primarily as an ornamental for landscape use and for use as a potted plant.
The cultivar originated from an open-pollination of Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum 'GriffCRL' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,615) in Watkinsville, Ga. in 2008, and was selected from the progeny seedlings of this open-pollination by continued evaluation for growth habit and improved foliage characteristics. The cultivar 'PIILC-III' originated and was discovered in a cultivated environment in an outdoor nursery in Watkinsville, Ga.
'PIILC-III' has been asexually reproduced by softwood cuttings since 2009 in Watkinsville, Ga. The characteristics of the cultivar have been stable and reproduced true to type in successive vegetative generations.


A manufacturing method of an alignment layer and a manufacturing method of a display substrate are provided. The manufacturing method of the alignment layer includes: providing a display substrate on which a patterned structure is formed; applying the entire display substrate with wetting fluid, wherein the wetting fluid can be fused with alignment liquid; transferring the alignment liquid on the display substrate applied with the wetting fluid by a transfer roller; and curing the alignment liquid to form an alignment layer. The manufacturing method is used for producing the alignment layer on the display substrate.

A liquid crystal display device has advantages of low power consumption, low radiation, thin body and the like, and is more and more widely applied. The liquid crystal display device includes a display substrate, an alignment layer is arranged on the display substrate, and the alignment layer is used for enabling liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal display device to have an initial orientation.

Manufacturing method of alignment layer and manufacturing method of display substrate

Beijing BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.


A method for advanced crank spark with blend spark retard for an internal combustion engine includes the steps of selecting whether a spark in an engine cylinder will be fired on a predetermined first or second crank edge during an engine start mode, firing the spark on the second crank edge during the engine start mode if the second crank edge is selected, firing the spark on the first crank edge if the first crank edge is selected, determining whether the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed, continuing to select whether to fire the spark on the predetermined first crank edge or the predetermined second crank edge if the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed less than the predetermined speed, and retarding the spark from a first spark level to a hold start level at a predetermined rate, holding the spark at the hold spark level for a hold period, and advancing the spark to the first spark level at the predetermined rate, if the internal combustion engine is in the engine start mode based on engine speed greater than the predetermined speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to spark advance in internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to a method for advanced crank spark with blend spark retard for an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Environmental concerns have prompted government regulations to curb emissions from sources such as internal combustion engines in motor vehicles. For instance, the Clean Air Act of 1990 regulates maximum levels of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen that may be emitted from a tailpipe of the motor vehicle. Also, California, because of its unique climate, has enacted its own stringent regulations.
In the motor vehicle, a catalytic converter is used for decreasing emissions from the engine before the exhaust gases exit through the vehicle's tailpipe. One technique for reducing emissions is to utilize a leaner air/fuel ratio, however, starting a cold engine requires a richer air/fuel ratio until the engine warms up. Another technique for reducing emissions is to increase the spark advance, but this is not always feasible during engine cranking. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a method of advancing the spark and then retarding the run spark to reduce emissions from the engine as soon as possible after the engine starts.

Method for advanced crank spark with blend spark retard for an engine


Disclosed herein are biomarkers of platelet function and methods for assessing platelet function in response to anti-platelet therapy and for determining a prognosis, diagnosis, or risk identification in a patient by detecting at least one biomarker of platelet function in the patient as well as determining amounts thereof. The biomarkers may be used to identify a patient as a candidate for treatment with an antiplatelet agent and to monitor and adjust antiplatelet therapy in a patient.

Methods of identifying individuals at risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) mortality, primarily due to platelet mediated cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction (MI), are a priority for reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease. To identify novel risk factors, genome-wide surveys of allelic variation, structural variation, and gene expression can identify loci associated with CAD, though not all are subsequently associated with cardiovascular events.
Aspirin is a potent inhibitor of COX-1 and an inhibitor of platelet function. Aspirin is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for the prevention of cardiovascular events, suggesting that aspirin interacts with biological pathways that may underlie these events. Platelet function assays can be used as surrogates for the effects of aspirin and demonstrate variability, reproducibility, and heritability, despite complete suppression of platelet COX-1. However, platelet function testing is not widely available primarily due to technical complexity, such as the need for specialized equipment and trained personnel. For example, point-of-care tests require testing to be completed within hours of phlebotomy and thus are out of reach for the vast majority of outpatients on aspirin. Further, most patients taking aspirin for chronic prevention are outpatients where results at the point-of-care are not required. Instead, testing in central laboratories would be sufficient for determining aspirin response in the outpatient setting.
It would be beneficial if aspirin could be used as a probe in conjunction with whole blood gene expression profiling to elucidate novel biological pathways associated with platelet function in response to aspirin and cardiovascular outcomes.

Diagnostic markers for platelet function and methods of use


An apparatus for inserting wire into an intermittently fed insulating body (I) of a structural element (B), with a wire supply device (6, 7) disposed on a pivotable base plate (1) and with a device (15, 16, 21) for forming and shaping a wire receiving duct, wherein, in the feed direction of the structural element, the forming and shaping device is disposed in front of the wire supply device as well as at the same angle as it and on the same side of the insulating body and is fixedly connected with the wire supply device, can be moved together with it in the direction toward the insulating body of the structural element and away from it and is pivotable together with it.

In an apparatus of the type known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,360, Ritter, to which EP-389 465 corresponds, the wire supply device is disposed on a base frame and, separated from it, a device for forming and shaping a wire receiving duct in the insulating body, which is linearly displaceable and pivotable synchronously with the wire supply device. A plurality of forming and shaping devices, placed on top of each other in a vertical direction, can be provided. The known device has the disadvantage that the forming and shaping device is disposed separated from the wire supply device and must therefore be separately triggered and displaced, and that the distance between the forming and shaping device and the wire supply device is fixedly preset.


A process, which is harmless with respect to safety, for the production of malonic acid anhydride. For this purpose, diketene is ozonized in the presence of a suitable carbonyl compound. Malonic acid anhydride is a highly reactive intermediate product for the synthesis of numerous active ingredients for, e.g., pharmaceutical agents, pesticides or dyes.

1. Field Of The Invention
The invention relates to a new process for the production of malonic acid anhydride.
2. Background Art
Malonic acid anhydride is a reactive structural element for the production of numerous active ingredients for pharmaceutical agents, pesticides or dyes (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,251,447 and 4,360,691). Ozonizations of diketene to malonic acid anhydride are known. Perrin, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,251,447 and 4,360,691, claims the production of malonic acid anhydride or malonic acid anhydride derivatives by the reaction of diketene at 0.degree. to -100.degree. C. with ozone. But a drawback of this process, serious for safety reasons, is that insoluble formaldehyde-peroxide polymers result as a by-product in organic solvents (U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,691, column 5, lines 3 to 5), which, e.g., are highly explosive according to Lapalme et al., Can. J. Chem., Vol 57, (1979), page 3272.

Process for the production of malonic acid anhydride


An image measurement apparatus includes: an imager section, an obtainment section, an outline detection section, a setting section, and a measurement section. The imager section takes an image of a subject to be measured. The obtainment section obtains a taken image of the subject taken by the imager section. The outline detection section detects, by a Hough transformation, outline of a graphic included in the image obtained by the obtainment section. The setting section sets an edge detection tool on the outline detected by the outline detection section. The measurement section measures, by the edge detection tool set by the setting section, graphic information concerning the graphic.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image measurement apparatus and an image measurement method.
2. Description of Related Art
Heretofore, there is known an image measurement apparatus that takes an image of a measurement spot of a work by a charge coupled device (CCD) camera or the like and performs edge detection or the like to the taken image (see, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 08-247719, for example).
The edge detection is, for example, a technique for obtaining edge information (e.g. positional coordinates) of a subject graphic to be measured included in the taken image and measuring graphical information such as a position or a width of the subject graphic, according to an edge detection tool that is set by a user within the taken image.
As the edge detection tool, for example, a rectangular tool (referred to as a box tool, hereinafter) 73 shown in FIG. 14A and an annular-shaped tool (referred to as a circular tool, hereinafter) 74 shown in FIG. 14B are well-known.
The box tool 73 is better suited for edge detection of a linear portion 72a in the image and is defined by a position coordinate (X, Y) of a midpoint of the box tool 73, a distance W between both ends of the box tool 73 across the linear portion 72a, a width H of both sides of the box tool 73 in parallel with the linear portion 72a, and an angle θ.
In the case of the box tool 73, edge detection toward an arrowhead from a base thereof is repeatedly performed at an interval of ΔH which is preliminarily set within the width H.
The circular tool 74 is better suited for edge detection of a circular image 72b and is defined by a position coordinate (X, Y), an inside diameter r1 from which the detection starts, and an outside diameter r2 at which the detection ends.
In the case of the circular tool 74, edge detection toward an arrowhead from a base thereof is repeatedly performed with rotation centering on the coordinate (X, Y) at an interval of Δθ which is preliminarily set.
Moreover, there is known an image measurement apparatus provided with a function called "a step-and-repeat function" for continuously measuring the subject graphics to be measured, which graphics are equally spaced and regularly arranged, by setting a displacement amount of the edge detection tool and the number of measurements to be performed.
However, in such a conventional image measurement apparatus, a user by oneself has to manually set the edge detection tool within the taken image to execute the above-mentioned edge detection, thereby measuring the graphical information is troublesome.
Moreover, in the case of measuring the graphical information by using the step-and-repeat function, it is necessary to set the displacement amount of the edge detection tool that is set within the taken image and to set the number of measurements to be performed, thereby measuring the graphical information is further troublesome.

Image measurement apparatus and method of measuring works using edge detection tools


A method for fabricating a lightweight solar cell is provided wherein a) an LD silica aerogel substrate at densities between 10-1,000 mg/cc is prepared, b) the surface of such aerogel substrate is polished to an optical quality surface c) a dielectric planarization layer of SiO.sub.2 is applied to so-polished substrate surface and d) one or more photovoltaic thin film layers are deposited on the planarization layer to form such lightweight solar cell, which includes an LD aerogel substrate that was not available before the invention hereof. Such substrates as well as the PV thin film layers are sufficiently transparent to admit energizing light not only through the PV layers of the cell but also if desired, through the substrate side of such cell, to energize such PV layers from one or both sides as desired. The solar cells of the invention, with their LD aerogel substrates are much lighter than prior art solar cells. This is advantageous in satellite applications since the solar array weight is substantial. Such lightweight solar cells of the invention also find further advantage on the ground, e.g. for solar-powered vehicles in which weight is a primary concern.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a lightweight solar cell, particularly a cell having a substrate of low density.
2. THE PRIOR ART
The current state of the art in solar cell design is to deposit a photoconductive material onto a substrate, e.g. of glass or a low expansion glass ceramic. These substrate materials have densities of approximately 2.2 gms/cc (2200 mg/cc) or higher. Accordingly, the weight of an array or battery of such prior art solar cells is a determining factor in the size of the battery system to be launched into space due to payload weight constraints. However, if a lighter weight cell substrate could be fabricated, the resulting savings in
size for weight would translate into an increased allowable size for satellite photovoltaic energy systems, which implies higher reliability and accessibility of the satellite throughout its life cycle.
There has now been discovered a method of manufacture of lightweight solar cells having a substrate density considerably below, eg. 2200 mg/cc of the above prior art glass substrates. In fact, the present invention provides cell substrates of greatly reduced densities, e.g. in the range of 30-1,000 mg/cc, to provide a significant decrease in solar cell array weight.
The present invention employs a solar cell substrate of low density or LD. By low density or LD substrate, as used herein, is meant one with a density of from 10-1,000 mg/cc.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium includes instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method. The method includes identifying a frame of a video sequence, transforming a model into an initial guess for how the region appears in the frame, performing an exhaustive search of the frame, performing a plurality of optimization procedures, wherein at least one additional model parameter is taken into account as each subsequent optimization procedure is initiated. A system includes a computer readable storage medium, a graphical user interface, an input device, a model for texture and shape of the region, the model generated using the video sequence and stored in the computer readable storage medium, and a solver component.

Diversity of captured footage and accuracy requirements make the feature tracking problem very challenging. For instance, typical background footage exhibits drastic changes in lighting, motion blur, occlusions, and is usually corrupted with environment effects such as smoke or explosions. Tracking features on hero characters such as a human faces is equally challenging, especially near the eyes and lips, where the textures change continuously.
Existing commercial tracking packages can provide automatic approaches for identifying and tracking markers though a sequence. These tools may be very powerful in some situations, but can encounter strong temporal discontinuities such as occlusions or lighting flashes. Such "outlier" situations can be common in VFX work. Another class of trackers are single-marker systems, based on fast template matching algorithms. They can have a sophisticated user interface that provides manual controls to assist and guide the trackers through complex shots. However, because single-marker systems focus on individual features and not regions, they can have difficulty handling large-scale image motions such as scaling, rotation, blurring and large deformations of the image regions.


A universal joint boot having a high degree of ability to withstand radial expansion. The boot (10) includes a bellows structure (16) having alternating ridges (26) and valleys (28) interconnected by flank portions (30). The flank portions (30) are curved inwardly of the boot and have a varying wall thickness that increases from the ridges (26) toward the valley (28). The valley portion (28) is defined by a U-shaped annular groove (34) to reduce the wall thickness thereby to improve the flexibility.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a boot for a universal joint such as a constant velocity universal joint of an automobile.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Universal joints are protected by rubber boots that prevent ingress of dusts and dirt. Rubber boots also serve to confine a lubricant such as grease applied to the moving parts of the universal joints.
As is well-known, the universal joint boot is alternately subjected to expansion and contraction for each revolution of the universal joint because the two axes of the universal joint are intersected at an angle with one another. In addition, the boot is subjected to an inner air pressure resulting from the temperature rise as well as to a substantial centrifugal force resulting from the rotation of the boot. Often, a high and uneven centrifugal force is exerted on the boot due to the presence of the mass of grease adhering to the inner wall of the boot. Under high revolutionary speeds, the boot is expanded radially outwardly by the increased centrifugal force. If the radial expansion is excessive, there is a danger of the boot being damaged or broken due to contact with the ground or with other parts of the automobile.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,262 to Mizutani et al. discloses a rubber boot wherein the wall thickness of a valley portion, and the portions adjacent thereto, of the bellows structure is increased in order to restrain the radial expansion of the boot.
While this design is advantageous in reducing the undesirable radial expansion of the bellows structure, the problem is that the flexibility of the valley portion is sacrificed so that a stress is concentrated at the valley portion when the boot is subjected to repeated cycles of expansion and contraction. This gives rise to the formation of cracks and fissures at the valley portion thereby resulting in a premature breakage of the boot.
The stress concentration is particularly significant when the boot is made of a thermoplastic elastomer material in order to improve the weather resistance of the boot, because a thermoplastic elastomer material has much less elasticity than a rubber material.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved boot for a universal joint.
Another object of the invention is to provide a universal joint boot which has a high degree of ability to withstand the centrifugal force and which is yet capable of avoiding the concentration of stress at the valley portions of the boot.
A still another object of the invention is to provide a universal joint boot which is capable of restraining the radial expansion of the boot due to the centrifugal force and which has an improved durability and a prolonged service life.
A further object of the invention is to provide a universal joint boot which has an improved weather resistance and which is capable of being manufactured at a low cost.
Another object of the invention is to provide a universal joint boot which has a controlled wall thickness and which is suitable for manufacture by blow molding of a thermoplastic elastomer material.


System and method of designing and developing table translation software in which an operation is performed on input data provided in the form of tables, and data resulting from the operation is also provided in the form of tables. The system includes an item input section for inputting items representative of attributes of data, a relation input section for inputting inter-item relations for the inputted items, an item and relation managing section for holding and supplying the inputted items and inter-item relations thereof, and a relation indicating section for indicating the items and the inter-item relations thereof held by the item and relation managing section. Software is designed and developed with the functions of the software being handled as translation processes of the tables.

The present invention generally relates to a software structuring system and method which can be used in a system for designing and developing softwares (programs). In particular, the invention is concerned with a table-translation type software structuring system and a method suited for designing and developing software which is functionally adapted to handle input/output data in the form of table formatted data.
Heretofore, design and development of software has been performed through the procedure mentioned below:
(1) In accordance with a requested software, output requirements are determined (i.e. determination is made as to what kinds of outputs are desired).
(2) Based on the output requirements thus determined, functions and data structure are determined.
(3) In accordance with the functions and the data structure, a framework of the whole software is designed, which is then followed by the analysis of software in terms of functional modules for designing details of the modules.
(4) On the basis of the designed modules, programming and debugging are conducted.
As will be appreciated from the above description, in the development of software, designing of data structure is conducted separately from the designing of the processing modules. This procedure does not coincide with the human's thinking process, imposing thus a great burden on the design engineer in proceeding with the designing. In the design of software, meanings and forms of data are taken into consideration for determining the processing procedure so that the desired data can be obtained ultimately. Consequently, alteration of functions conducted in the course of designing the software frequently requires alterations of the meanings and forms of data, which in turn exerts influence on the data structure. Alteration of the data structure involves alteration of the processing modules. Under the circumstances, with the hitherto known software designing technique, it is impossible to design the software so that the data structure can be handled integrally with the data processing. Second, intermediate results obtained in the course of designing can not be reused. Third, a human's trial-and-error procedure can not be admitted. For these reasons, a great difficulty is encountered in an attempt to enhance the productivity of software.
A system design procedure is disclosed in Tom DeMarco's "Structure Analysis and System Specification", YOURDON Inc. (1987) p.p. 227-279. In this literature, a process starting from the system design and leading to the development of software is discussed in connection with data structure and effective software design and development. However, the discussion does not go beyond the mere suggestion of approaches and discloses no practical designing systems which can run on a computer system. In other words, although the impossibility of integral handling of data structurization and data processing which provides a major obstacle in improving the productivity is described, no concrete proposal is made for solving this problem. Further, no suggestions are disclosed for dealing with the second and third problems mentioned above.

Software structuring system and method by data table translation


Particulate materials useful as fillers, reinforcing agents, radioopacifiers, or impact modifiers. The particulate material has an average particle size range of about 10,000 nm or less and comprises an organic-inorganic hybrid material that has a ceramic material network having organic polymer segments distributed throughout the ceramic network. The ceramic network may be prepared by a sol-gel technique. The particulate material may be compounded in thermoplastic polymer compositions useful in a variety of applications such as preparation of medical device components.

Ceramic sol-gel compositions that have sites that will crosslink into a polymer network are known. Such compositions may be formulated with cureable monomers to produce radiation curing compositions, for instance.
Compositions of thermoplastic polymers and particulate ceramic and metal nano-particles particles are known. For instance, fumed and colloidal silicas have wide uses in polymer compositions as fillers and reinforcing agents. Nanocomposite thermoplastic materials are typically made by mechanically mixing nanoparticles with the thermoplastic resin in a compounding process. However dispersion is often difficult, particularly in viscous melt or rubbery compositions of thermoplastic high polymers. The particulate materials will often agglomerate or clump when processed or blended into the base material. Furthermore, often it is difficult to achieve desired physical properties without sacrificing other desired properties. Using such particles to increase tensile properties of the polymer composition often produces an undesirable loss of flexibility, for instance. Additionally, many of these compositions are susceptible to a loss of desired properties upon aging.
There exists a need therefore for improved particulate materials useful in thermoplastic high polymer compositions that provide a wider range of physical property improvement benefits than are currently available.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/094,638, filed Mar. 30, 2005, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes polymeric/ceramic composite materials for use in medical devices polymer and sol-gel derived ceramic. The polymer and sol-gel ceramic may form a bi-continuous nanophase or separate polymeric and sol-gel derived ceramic phases.

Organic-inorganic hybrid particle material and polymer compositions containing same


An endoscope apparatus includes a front end section which is rigid, and a flexible tube which has a bent portion. One end of a tube which can be bent is fixed to a lens barrel which holds an optical mechanism having a movable section. The tube is extended in a longitudinal direction of the flexible tube of the endoscope apparatus, and at least a part of a shape memory element is accommodated inside the tube. One end of the shape memory element is fixed to an end of the tube, which is not fixed to the lens barrel, and the other end of the shape memory element is mechanically connected to the movable section of the optical mechanism which includes the movable section. Due to expansion (elongation) and contraction of the shape memory element, relative positions of the movable section of the optical mechanism which includes the movable section, and one end of the tube fixed to the lens barrel are changed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus, and particularly to an endoscope apparatus which includes a focusing mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an endoscope which includes an imaging unit at a front end section, and a flexible tube having a bent portion, normally, for observing an endoscope image in an optimum condition, it is necessary to perform focusing by moving a focusing lens and an imaging device. For this, an imaging apparatus for endoscope has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2004-129950. In the imaging apparatus for endoscope according to the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2004-129950, inside a front end section of the endoscope, a shape memory alloy is used as a means for varying relative positions of an optical device and an imaging device.
In an endoscope apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2004-129950, inside the front end section of the endoscope which is rigid, the relative positions of the optical device and the imaging device are changed by using the shape memory alloy. The endoscope is structured such that focusing is performed by changing the relative positions of the optical device and the imaging device.
However, an amount of change in the relative positions of the optical device and the imaging device is attributable to a length of the shape memory alloy which is included in the front end section of the endoscope, which is rigid. Since the rigid front end section of the endoscope cannot be made substantially long, from a point of view of functions of the endoscope, a length of the shape memory alloy inside the front end section of the endoscope is restricted. Therefore, in a structure according to a conventional technology, an increase in the amount of change in the relative positions of the optical device and the imaging device for focusing cannot be dealt with.


A connector that receives a threaded apparatus and reduces stresses induced from the treaded apparatus into the connector is described. The connector includes a top side, a bottom side, and an opening that extends therethrough. The opening is defined by an inner surface that includes a threadform including a plurality of threads. The threads extend radially outward from the inner surface into the connector opening and include a first thread portion and a cutback that extends through a portion of the threadform. The cutback facilitates less stresses being induced into the first thread portion.

This application relates generally to connectors and, more particularly, to connectors sized to receive a threaded apparatus.
Aircraft engines typically include a plurality of threaded connections that are torqued during assembly. For example, an aircraft engine may be mounted to an aircraft at various locations, such as on a wing, to a fuselage, or to a tail. The engine is typically mounted at a forward and an aft end with a mounting system that includes a plurality of thrust links including connectors at each end. The connectors include openings extending therethrough that are defined by substantially planar inner surfaces including a plurality of threads.
The thrust link connectors are exposed to potential vibrational stresses that are induced during engine operation. To minimize the effect of exposure to such vibrational stresses, threaded components are torqued. When threaded components are loaded by torque or an external load, stresses are induced within the connectors. A highest stress area typically occurs in a first thread. More specifically, a highest stress is induced into a first thread root fillet that is defined between the first thread and a subsequent thread. Continued exposure to such stresses, may weaken the first thread and reduce a low cycle fatigue capability of the threaded connection. Prolonged reduced low cycle fatigue may shorten a useful life of the threaded connection.
To facilitate improving the low cycle fatigue capability of threaded connections, the threads of at least some known threaded components are rolled to provide a surface that is pre-stressed in compression. Such a process is time-consuming. In some other known applications, thread rolling is not available and the threads are instead cut back to facilitate improving low cycle fatigue capability. However, such connections are also costly and time consuming to manufacture.

Systems and methods for designing threads of turbine engine connectors