A golf practice apparatus having a resilient leaf spring which serves as the striking surface, retained within a housing. Upon being impacted by a golf club, the center portion of the spring is depressed downwardly, and the ends of the spring, being free and unobstructed, translate outwardly to permit the club head to pass through the ball and over the striking surface. The practice apparatus accurately simulates the feel of a golf swing on natural turf, eliminates shock to the golfer's arms from a mishit, and provides feedback to the golfer as to how well each swing is executed.

The present invention relates to a golf apparatus, and more particularly to a device which simulates the response of natural turf to the impact of a golf club head during a golf swing.
One of the keys to becoming a successful golfer is to consistently and frequently practice the many skills necessary in the game. These include, among others, the drive, the wedge shot, and the chip shot. Each of these facets of golf has its own technique for practicing and improving upon one's skill level.
One such technique involves the repetitive hitting of a golf ball, whether in the home back yard or at a commercial driving range, to practice the basic golf swing using real golf balls and clubs in an accepted manner. One problem with this practice is that, if the ball is hit directly off the ground or even off of a tee, the turf surrounding the practice area may quickly become worn and unsightly. This is especially true in the case of iron shots because a properly executed iron shot will often cause the removal of a small patch of turf known as a divot. To remedy this, the golfer must either retrieve each divot and tamp it back in its original place, which is very time-consuming, or the golfer can continue to hit off of the bare dirt spots on the ground. However, a hit off of barren turf would not provide a natural response to the impact of the club head, and therefore one would not obtain the proper feel during the swing nor would the golf ball travel in a trajectory which is properly indicative of the quality of the swing.
Historically, a golf tee mat has been provided to combat this problem. Such mats are typically made out of a rubber-containing material, or with artificial turf. These mats provide a consistent surface from which to hit the ball, but the surface does not simulate the response of natural turf to an executed golf swing. A correctly executed iron shot, for example, results in the arc described by the club head having its lowest point forward of, and below the rest position of the ball. Normally, this would result in a divot being taken out of the turf by the club head after it has struck the ball. During practice, it would be preferable to hit down into a point immediately in front of the ball, as one would do on natural turf, with the resulting divot occurring during the follow-through of the swing. Because of the unyielding nature of the known practice mats, a golfer is prevented from taking such a natural swing. An attempt to execute this swing can result in the club head catching in the mat and either stopping abruptly, bouncing up, or roaring the mat. The golfer, in attempting to avoid hitting the mat, must make an unnatural adjustment to his swing. This adjustment usually consists of an attempt to sweep the club head across the top of the mat to hit the ball cleanly, yet not hit the mat. This required adjustment is counter-productive to a practice session wherein the golfer would prefer to work on problems associated with his golf swing, rather than problems associated with driving range mats.
Various solutions to these problems have been previously proposed. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,096 to Tone, the basic structure of the device is a spring-mounted rigid platform containing a grass-simulating upper surface. When the device is struck by a golf club head during a correctly executed swing, it is capable of deflecting only downward. The ball support surface cannot move horizontally. When a golf club head is impacted against the Tone mat with a velocity that is more horizontal than vertical, the device will only partially correct those problems associated with the traditional golf tee mats.
Another proposed solution is the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,628 to Boss, Jr., which includes a rigid housing containing horizontally mounted rollers which support an endless belt having grass simulating bristles on its outer surface. A padded platform beneath the upper portion of the belt is mounted so as to pivot about one end and is held against the inner surface of the belt by an elastic supporting member at the other end. The rollers are designed to minimize their resistance to acceleration resulting from the tangential forces imparted by the belt. The uppermost surface of the padded platform is made smooth to minimize friction between the belt and pad allowing translation of the belt across the platform following impact of the golf club head. As the golf club head strikes the belt, the vertical energy component is transferred from the belt to the platform and then to the elastic supporting member which yields, permitting the platform to pivot downwardly. The belt simultaneously translates forwardly as it moves about the rollers due to the horizontal energy component transmitted to it by the club head. The combined downward and forward deflections of the belt momentarily forms a pocket in the belt simulating that left by a removed divot.
One disadvantage associated with such prior art devices is that they are too forgiving of certain types of bad golf swings, particularly one known as a "fat shot," and therefore do not provide feedback to the golfer that his swing was poorly executed. A "fat shot" is one in which the club head hits downwardly toward the ball at approximately the correct angle but the club head catches the turf before hitting the ball. Consequently, there is a buildup of turf between the ball and the club head which makes the ball travel a lesser distance than it would if the swing were properly executed. The fatter the shot the less distance the ball travels. With a device such as that disclosed in the Boss, Jr. patent, a club head which, for example, impacts the belt an inch behind the ball would cause the belt and platform to pivot downwardly immediately upon contact of the golf club head with the belt and the belt would immediately translate forwardly offering little resistance to the club head, thereby allowing the club head to move easily forward into contact with the ball without simulating the buildup of turf that would occur if such a swing were executed on a natural surface.
Another type of belt and roller type golf device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,685 to Ballinger et al.
Thus, a need exists for a golf practice apparatus which more accurately simulates the feel of natural turf, and which provides feedback to the golfer to indicate whether or not the ball has been struck with an accurate swing.


A method includes obtaining a first packet, where the first packet has a length and comparing the length of the first packet to a length threshold. The method also includes when the length of the first packet is greater than or equal to the length threshold, placing the first packet in a long packet container and transmitting the long packet container to a first photonic switch and when the length of the first packet is less than the length threshold, placing the first packet in a first short packet container and transmitting the first short packet container to a second photonic switch.

Data centers route massive quantities of data. Currently, data centers may have a throughput of 5-10 terabytes per second, which is expected to increase in the future. Data centers contain huge numbers of racks of servers, racks of storage devices, and other racks often with top-of-rack (TOR) switches, which are interconnected via massive centralized packet switching resources. In data centers, electrical packet switches are used to route data. However, electrical packet switches have capacity limitations. To overcome those capacity limitations, it may be desirable to use an optical packet switch in a data center.
Optical burst mode switches collect batches of packets from each source TOR which are destined for the same destination TOR across a switch and map them into a multi-packet container or burst of data, which are transmitted across the switch. These containers may be many times the length of the longest packets. Burst mode switches work well when the per-destination packet rate is high, because the containers fill rapidly, even with a short container timeout. However, when a burst mode switch is used within a data center for switching between top of rack (TOR) switches, the traffic may be fragmented, and containers may be slow to fill. This may lead to a long fill period for some containers, with a long-timeout period, which may introduce delay and/or containers timing out, causing partially filled or almost empty containers to be transmitted, which may significantly reduce bandwidth efficiency and traffic data throughput.

System and method for photonic switching


The user of a new pager places it into "registration mode" by commands entered through the pager's user interface. In registration mode, the pager displays a previously stored identification code and begins rapidly searching through a list of candidate paging channels. The user then telephones the paging system clearinghouse and provides the identification code. Upon receiving this information, the paging system broadcasts an initialization message addressed to the new pager. Included in the message may be initialization data, such as a list of alternative frequencies on which the paging data may be found. The pager quickly receives this message (due to its rapid searching operation) and stores any initialization data in data registers for future reference. The pager then displays a message to the user confirming the pager's proper operation.

In conventional paging systems, each paging receiver is assigned a unique address or identification number. The address or identification number is stored in a non-volatile memory or the number is wired into the pager's circuitry. Before a new paging receiver can be used in a paging system, the paging system must be informed of the receiver's identification code. That is, when an individual buys or leases a pager the paging system's clearinghouse (a computerized facility that controls operation of the paging system) must be programmed to associate the particular individual with the particular address stored in the pager that the individual has acquired.
The present invention is directed to pagers which are designed for widespread use and for mass distribution. Furthermore, the present invention is designed for use in a pager which normally only has a short active period followed by a relatively long inactive period (for example the pager may only be active for 35 milliseconds every 1.875 minutes). Such a pager could be registered in substantially the same way that prior art pagers are now being registered; however, if this were done, a user might have to wait a substantial period of time (in the neighborhood of 1.875 minutes) before receiving an acknowledgement on the pager indicating that the registration operation had been completed and that the pager had received a message from the clearinghouse. From a human factors point of view this delay, while seemingly short is not acceptable.
With such pagers a simple and fast registration procedure is required. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pager and a paging system which can facilitate a simple and fast registration procedure.
The present invention therefore provides the pager with a special registration mode.

Paging system with registration mode which interrupts the pager's standard operating protocol and is energized with a higher duty cycle


Vehicle including, mounted on a chassis, a device for receiving material to be spread, a device for transferring the material towards a spreading component, a tank for binding product, a distribution bar, and a motorization assembly. The chassis includes at a rear portion, after the component for spreading the material, and mounted on rollers or balls that are rotatable independent of rolling elements mounted on a front portion, at least one of the motorization assembly, the tank and a control and transmission mechanism providing weight to the rear portion to permit the rear portion to act as a compactor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a road vehicle for the spreading of materials for repair of the highway, such as asphalt coated materials or chippings comprising a carrier chassis mounted on rolling elements and on which are disposed: a device for receiving the material, a device for transferring the material towards a component for spreading the material over the highway, a tank for product for binding the material onto the highway, a spreading bar for distributing this product, which is disposed in front of the spreading component, a motorization assembly, and hydraulic control and transmission means connecting the motorization assembly to the components of the vehicle and to a unit for driving this vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Such vehicles of type already known are advantageously arranged in order to form a single road train whose constituent elements are adapted, non-interchangeably, according to whether it concerns depositing on the highway an asphalt coated material or chippings amalgamated by a binder.
Prior to the construction and to the use of this type of road vehicle, it was traditional to spread over the highway a layer of a binding product or a layer of binder, such as an asphalt emulsion, prior to the deposition of the asphalt coated material or the chippings, by means of a machine independent of that effecting this deposition and comprising a tank truck and a spreading bar for spreading said product. Such a technique multiplied the number of vehicles to be employed and, moreover, a coordination between them was necessary.
In fact, in the case of a gritting of the highway, after the passage of the tank truck, equipped with the spreading bar and the asphalt layer, there followed that of a dump truck, equipped with a gritter device, moving immediately behind the tank truck in order to spread the chippings over said asphalt layer forming a binder.
In the case of a highway repair by depositing a layer of asphalt coated materials, it was known to have the tank truck, fitted with a spreading bar for spreading a binding layer, followed by a conventional finisher, supplied by trucks, and whose application table spread out said coated materials over the highway in a layer of predetermined thickness.
In all cases, a compacting of the material deposited on the highway is effected by the passage of a third vehicle formed by a compactor roller.
The aforementioned road vehicles, forming a single train, make it possible to solve a good number of these difficulties by combining in the one vehicle a binding product tank and its distribution bar at the same time as a device for receiving the material, such as asphalt coated materials or chippings conveyed by a transfer device towards a component for spreading over the highway, which component is disposed after the binding-product distribution bar.
Such an arrangement makes it possible to prevent the drying out of the binding layer in the ambient air, before application of the repair material, arising when this application happens after some length of time, and makes it possible generally to limit the degradation of the binding layer.
Furthermore, this arrangement makes it possible to combine two vehicles in a single one. But nevertheless, it does not remove the necessity of using independently a compacting roller having to pass behind the vehicle within a time not permitting the drying out of the deposited material, in order to obtain a better compacting of the latter.
The object of the present invention is to remedy this drawback and relates for this purpose to a road vehicle.

Road vehicle for the spreading of materials for repair of the highway, with integrated compactor


A single winged aircraft adapted to be attached to the back of a pilot, including a jet fuel engine whereby it may be propelled into space and sustained in flight, and provided with manually operable controls for controlling operation of ailerons and the directional issuance of the jet stream exhausting from the engine, whereby the aircraft may be directionally controlled in flight by the pilot.

This invention relates to aircraft of a type that is adapted to be harnessed to the back of a man and propelled in flight by means of an engine.
From ancient times and down through the ages to the present, man has continuously sought to soar like a bird about the sky, to ascend high above the clouds, to glide with the air currents, to swoop down at will toward the earth and turn suddenly in flight to again rise upwardly, and finally to land at will at home or in some far away place.
Man's efforts at solo flight in this manner have met with repeated failure. The contraptions he employed included wings which he endeavored to flap like a bird so as to rise from the ground, or to sustain him in flight after he leaped from some high point. Man's error was in trying to attain flight by flapping the artificial wings which he attached to his body. His body was too heavy, and his physical energy was far too limited for any practical purpose in this respect.
The present invention has been designed to avoid this error. It is directed to the provision of a non-flappable winged craft which is adapted to be attached to the body of a man; it is provided with an engine whereby it may be propelled into space and sustained in flight; and it is provided with manually operable controls whereby it may be directionally controlled in flight and caused to ascend and descend at the will of the pilot.
Accordingly, the subject of this invention comprises a single winged plane having a central portion adapted to be harnessed, as by strapping, to the body of a pilot, and provided with an engine subject to the control of the pilot whereby the plane is adapted to be propelled and sustained in flight. A suitable appendage extending centrally and rearwardly from the plane provides a rest for the pilot's feet while the plane is in flight. Suitable handgrips with associated controls enable the pilot to effect a controlled operation of the engine and directional movements of the plane including takeoff and landing.
The invention further lies in its overall construction, in the general organization of its component parts, and in their cooperative association with one another to effect the various purposes and advantages for which the invention was developed.
The subject of the invention is light in weight and of practical construction. It is suited for use not only for peaceful purposes, but also for warfare. It does not need a large hangar for housing and repairs, since its small size enables its storage in a small shed, garage or in one's home. Nor does it need an airport or acres of land for takeoff and landing; it can take off from, or land upon, a backyard, small lot or roadway.
It is a simply designed, small and inexpensive craft, whereby one may for pleasure or work employ it to rise above the earth, explore the heavens, and travel high over land and water to distant lands and places near; it may be used to considerable advantage in emergencies and rescue operations to swiftly carry a skilled technician, doctor, law enforcement agent, or other to an area of distress, whether it be the top of a mountain or building, a snowbound village, or other inaccessible place. It would be of considerable advantage in warfare, since it may be equipped with cannon, rockets or other firearms and swiftly piloted to a place of need. Its small size and jet developed speed would make it an infinitesimal or phantom target to enemy fire. Its small size and inexpensive structure enable vast numbers of military men to employ them, so as to fill the skies in battle array and sweep over the enemy territory with the utmost of strategic swiftness and surprise.
The foregoing as well as other objects and advantages of this invention will appear more fully hereinafter upon considering the detailed description which follows, together with the accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and description and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

Aircraft attachable to the body of a pilot


A unisize type lifting belt containing basically three elements: the underlying wrap assembly with expandable back panel and overlapping closure ends; suspenders with four adjustable ends to secure to the underlying wrap assembly at varying positions in front and at two positions varying vertically in the rear; and expandable side pull portions which have a pair of elastic band portions and removably secured end tabs is disclosed. The expandable side pulls are normally applied by snugly securing the side pulls to the underlying wrap assembly prior to lifting.

The present invention is related to the field of lifting belts. Many sizes and varieties of lifting belts have been proposed and made and patented. Exemplary of such patented belts are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,147,261; 4,907,576; and 4,964,401. While these lifting belts may serve the purpose of reducing back injuries, all of them are specially sized, which requires the marketer and manufacturer to make a minimum of four sizes: small, medium, large, and extra large.


An automatic point layout system identifies points and their coordinates using vertical planes of laser light. Laser controllers aim vertical laser light planes that will cross at any desired point on the jobsite floor. The user views a virtual jobsite illustration on a remote controller touchscreen display, and selects a point of interest. Commands are sent to the two laser controllers, which aim their laser transmitters at that point of interest, showing visible laser light lines that intersect directly at the point of interest, for staking. The user selects a second point of interest on the touchscreen display, commanding the laser transmitters to rotate to a new set of coordinates. The user performs these functions seamlessly; the remote controller allows the user to quickly move from one point of interest to the next, without having changing to any other operating mode between the identifying and staking of each new point.

In today's technology, the process for constructing a building typically begins with an architect designing a virtual building in a CAD model, which is a virtual jobsite illustration created on a computer. The CAD model is a Computer Aided Drafting file, and can be either a two-dimensional or a three-dimensional virtual jobsite illustration.
The need for construction contractors to tie a CAD model to the physical world has been around for as long as CAD models have existed. In the past, the conventional solutions have involved pre-creating points of interest on the CAD model, and then later translating those points to the physical world. Unfortunately, this approach adds extraneous data and at least one extra step to the process. Contractors must first create the points on relevant geometry and then use the point data for their physical world work.
The first step of creating points on relevant geometry involves a procedure in which the contractor must figure out which points of the architect CAD model belong with a particular physical structure to be constructed on the jobsite. For example, in a "global mode" the user must select an area of the jobsite floor and select the appropriate points in a "create" mode (or function). All of the points in that area will be displayed, and the user must mentally use selectivity to determine and select the correct points for the particular structure that the user wishes to be laid out at that time.
In the conventional systems, many users start with a "point list," which is a computer file that includes jobsite coordinates of the points of interest that are to be laid out on the jobsite floor. Often, the point list will be a tabulation of such points of interest in the form of a spreadsheet, with the columns of the spreadsheet containing the point designations, the X-coordinates, and the Y-coordinates (in terms of jobsite coordinates, for example). Another format is for the point list data to be exported to a "CSV file" (a comma separated values file), which can be uploaded to a tablet computer.
The point list could be displayed in a graphical format. However, in the conventional systems, such a graphical file merely displays the relative position of the various points of interest to be laid out, without showing any of the floor plan structure.
Therefore, the user who is performing the actual layout work must attempt to correlate any specific point, or set of points, with a particular structure to be worked on "today." In other words, if the user desires to lay out a specific diagonal wall, then that user must attempt to select the exact points of the graphical "point list" file that correspond to that diagonal wall, without being able to see the floor plan and the points of interest on the same display. This typically requires the user to go back and forth between the point list screen and the architect's virtual jobsite illustration screen, to figure out which precise points belong with a specific structural feature. Most jobsites contain hundreds, if not thousands, of points of interest, so this "back and forth" work is not an easy, or intuitive, task.
After that has occurred, the user will want to actually lay out a particular point of interest, using a "layout mode" (or function). The user would typically zoom in on the tablet computer's display being used to show the CAD model; otherwise the user would not necessarily be able to see the exact point of interest that is being selected, particularly if the geometry of the structure being laid out has any curved surfaces, which would typically cause a large number of points to be displayed that are relatively close to one another on the screen. Zooming in often will be quite necessary to select the correct point.
Unfortunately, once the layout function has occurred, the user must go back to the global mode and zoom back out to see the next portion of the virtual jobsite illustration that will then be selected as a group of points of interest. The correct point must then be selected and then the layout mode (or function) must then be selected so that the user can zoom in and go to the exact correct point that is to be laid out and staked on the jobsite floor.
When using the conventional systems that have been available, the user must go back and forth between a "point create mode" and the "layout mode," for staking each point of interest. There are several different types of architect and layout stations that can perform these types of conventional functions. For example, there is a device known as the "total station" that includes a laser distance meter and has an automated angle measuring sensor to detect the azimuth that the laser distance meter is being pointed at.
In one of the more basic forms of a total station, two persons are required to perform the layout procedure: the first person operates the total station itself, and a second person walks around on the jobsite floor with a prism pole. The prism pole has a retroreflective mirror that the laser distance meter of the total station aims at, and if it sees the prism pole's reflective mirror, then the total station will receive a portion of the laser light back and determine the distance. Since the total station knows where the point of interest is supposed to be (once the total station has been set up on this jobsite floor), it will automatically aim at the correct azimuth angle and wait for the second person to position the prism pole at the correct azimuth and distance. The second user at the total station can read out the distance and let the first user who's moving the prism pole know when the prism pole has been placed correctly. This is a painstaking task, and always requires two human beings for the layout and staking procedure.
A more advanced device is known as a total tracking station (TTS), which also includes a laser distance meter; in the total tracking station only a single user is needed for the layout procedure. This user walks around the jobsite floor with a prism pole and also has a remote computer with a display, which is in communication with the total tracking station. The total tracking station gives directions to the user walking around with the remote computer and the prism pole to guide that person to the correct azimuth and distance for accurately positioning the prism pole. Once that has been accomplished, the user will have the prism pole positioned at the correct point that is to be staked on the jobsite floor. While the total tracking station is definitely an improvement over a "raw" total station, the single user still has no visual aid to let that user know exactly where the prism pole is to be positioned except for the display on the remote computer. And even at that, the procedure for positioning the prism pole is onerous, in and of itself, although construction workers are used to working with those devices, regardless of how time consuming and painstaking it is to work with them.
Yet another type of total station is now available which has a pointing laser. In this type of system, the user does not need to use a prism pole, but instead the total station will literally aim a laser beam at the correct point of interest on the jobsite floor. This is a real advancement as compared to devices that require a prism pole; however, there still are some shortcomings. The main shortcoming is that, for a point of interest that is some distance from the location of the total station with pointing laser, the circular laser beam will hit the jobsite floor and show a relatively lengthy ellipse. For example, the ellipse could be a laser beam that is about 3 inches long. While it might seem a simple task to find the exact center of that ellipse, in practice, when the jobsite accuracy is to be within an eighth of an inch, being able to see that exact center of the ellipse can be rather difficult. So this advanced total station with pointing laser still leaves something to be desired, especially for points of interest that are many feet away from the location of the total station itself.
Regardless of what type of total station is being used, with the conventional software that uses CAD models, the user must still bounce between the "point create mode" and the "layout mode" for each point of interest. That may not seem to be an onerous task, but the user must still zoom in and zoom out for each point that is going to be staked on the jobsite floor. If nothing else, this procedure is time consuming
To provide a more detailed description of the conventional sequence of operation that uses a total tracking station will now be presented below, as OUTLINE #1.
OUTLINE #1—SEQUENCE OF OPERATION, using a tracking total station (for example, a Spectra Focus 8 reflectorless total station, Model No. HNA33500), with "Field Link" software, sold by Trimble, Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif.
(1) Begin setup mode, using CREATE FROM MODEL button, on remote controller.
(2) User views the CAD model two-dimensional display on the remote's screen.                (2a) This is a virtual jobsite illustration.
(3) User selects the POINT CREATE mode.                (3a) User "taps" the screen at a point of interest of the CAD model. Options:                    (3a-1) Intersection of lines            (3a-2) End point of a line            (3a-3) Mid point of a line            (3a-4) Center of a circle or an arc                        (3b) User designates a point with a number, such as "#100" for the first control point.        (3c) User designates a point with a number, such as "#101" for the second control point.
(4) User selects the SETUP mode.                (4a) Remote controller displays the CAD model (virtual jobsite illustration).        (4b) User "taps" the screen at the first control point (CP1 ).        (4c) User places the prism pole at CP1.        (4d) User "taps" the "measure" function on the screen.        (4e) User "taps" the screen at the second control point (CP2).        (4f) User places the prism pole at CP2.        (4g) User "taps" the "measure" function on the screen.        (4h) User "taps" the "SET" function on the screen.        (4i) The Setup mode is completed.
(NOTE: The system software is ready to start selecting points to be laid out on the jobsite floor.)
(5) For the first point of interest ("n"): the CREATE FROM MODEL mode is selected.                (5a) User selects the first point, and "taps" the screen (at an intersection, for example).        (5b) The CAD model software creates a "point icon" at this placement, on the screen.        (5c) User "taps" the "CREATE" function on the screen.                    (5c-1) The software gives that point a designation, such as "#102".                        (5d) User "taps" the "MEASURE" function on the screen.
(6) The LAYOUT mode is now selected.                (6a) User "taps" the specific point to be laid out.        (6b) The tracking total station keeps track of the prism pole as it is being moved.                    (6b-1) The instantaneous location of the prism pole is display on the screen of the remote controller. The user can see this.            (6b-2) The remote controller also displays an instruction bar on the screen.            (6b-3) The instruction bar gives directions to the user where to move the prism pole.            (6b-4) As the prism pole approaches point #102, a hockey puck symbol is displayed.            (6b-5) Once the display shows a green circle, the prism pole is "on point."                        (6c) User "taps" the "MEASURE" function on the screen.                    (6c-1) This informs the software that the user is staking this point #102.
(7) For the second point of interest ("n+1"): the CREATE FROM MODEL mode is selected.                (7a) User selects the second point, and "taps" the screen (at an end point, for example).        (7b) The CAD model software creates a "point icon" at this placement, on the screen.        (7c) User "taps" the "CREATE" function on the screen.                    (7c-1) The software gives that point a designation, such as "#103".                        (7d) User "taps" the "MEASURE" function on the screen.
(8) The LAYOUT mode is now selected.                (8a) User "taps" the specific point to be laid out.        (8b) The tracking total station keeps track of the prism pole as it is being moved.                    (8b-1) The instantaneous location of the prism pole is display on the screen of the remote controller. The user can see this.            (8b-2) The remote controller also displays an instruction bar on the screen.            (8b-3) The instruction bar gives directions to the user where to move the prism pole.            (8b-4) As the prism pole approaches point #103, a hockey puck symbol is displayed.            (8b-5) Once the display shows a green circle, the prism pole is "on point."                        (8c) User "taps" the "MEASURE" function on the screen.                    (8c-1) This informs the software that the user is staking this point #103.
(9) For the "next" point of interest ("n+m"): the CREATE FROM MODEL mode is selected.                (9a) User selects the next point, and "taps" the screen (at a mid-point, for example).        (9b) The CAD model software creates a "point icon" at this placement, on the screen.        (9c) User "taps" the "CREATE" function on the screen.                    (9c-1) The software gives that point a designation, such as "#103+m".                        (9d) User "taps" the "MEASURE" function on the screen.
(10) The LAYOUT mode is now selected.                (10a) User "taps" the specific point to be laid out.        (10b) The tracking total station keeps track of the prism pole as it is being moved.                    (10b-1) The instantaneous location of the prism pole is display on the screen of the remote controller. The user can see this.            (10b-2) The remote controller also displays an instruction bar on the screen.            (10b-3) The instruction bar gives directions to the user where to move the prism pole.            (10b-4) As the prism pole approaches point #103+m, a hockey puck symbol is displayed.            (10b-5) Once the display shows a green circle, the prism pole is "on point."                        (10c) User "taps" the "MEASURE" function on the screen.                    (10c-1) This informs the software that the user is staking this point #103+m.
As can be seen from the above OUTLINE #1, the system for laying out points once the setup has been completed requires the user to bounce between the "CREATE FROM MODEL" mode and the "LAYOUT" mode, for each point of interest to be laid out and then staked.

Automatic point layout and staking system


The present invention provides an optical signal add/drop apparatus comprising: an optical signal multiplexing/demultiplexing portion comprising a plurality of 2xc3x972 channel unit devices which are arranged in a straight line and having first and second dual-core ferrules having two optical fibers disposed to be symmetrical to each other at an identical distance from an optical axis for transmitting optical signals, a wavelength division filter disposed between first and second lenses for selectively transmitting or reflecting only the optical signals having specific wavelengths, first and second grin lenses for collimating or focusing the optical signal transmitted or reflected from said wavelength division filter and then transmitting the signal to the first and second dual-core optical fibers; and a switch module having unit 2xc3x972 switches connected to two optical fibers of the second dual-core ferrule of each of the unit devices of said optical signal multiplexing/demultiplexing portion; wherein the switch module can drop simultaneously the optical signals demultiplexed on each of the unit devices or transmit them to the output channels continuously according to the connection state of each of 2xc3x972 switches of the switch modules and then transmit them to output channels through each of the unit devices when the optical signals are added.

The present invention relates to an optical signal add/drop apparatus, and more particularly, to an optical signal add/drop apparatus capable of adding and dropping simultaneously optical signals having various wavelength bands.
The optical signal add/drop apparatus is generally used for the optical signal transmission from a major optical transmission line of a bi-directional optical transmission system to a local network or metro core network, or for the optical signal transmission from a metro core network to a access network. That is, by using this optical signal add/drop apparatus, some optical signals having several specific wavelengths, among the optical signals that are transmitted through an optical transmission system from a region A (source) to a region B (destination), can be dropped from a region C and can be used in the network of the region C, and signals having the same wavelength as the dropped signals can be added and can be transmitted to B region.
Particularly, when optical signals having various wavelengths have been inputted into the optical signal add/drop apparatus used in a wavelength division multiplexing optical transmission system, the apparatus can simultaneously add a plurality of desired optical signals thereto and drop the desired optical signals therefrom.
FIG. 1 shows the constitution of a conventional optical signal add/drop apparatus that can simultaneously add and drop a plurality of optical signals.
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional optical signal add/drop apparatus comprises a demultiplexer 10, a multiplexer 20 and a switch module 30.
The demultiplexer 10 divides multi-band optical signals xcex1 to xcexn inputted through optical fibers (input channels) into optical signals having respective wavelength bands, and transmits the divided signals through n optical fibers of output channel. The multiplexer 20 multiplexes optical signals having different wavelength bands inputted through the n optical fibers, respectively; and transmits the multiplexed optical signals to the destination through the other optical fibers (output channels). The demultiplexer 10 and the multiplexer 20 using thin film technology comprise a plurality of optical unit devices (not shown) for combining and separating the optical signals.
The switch module 30 comprises n set of 2xc3x972 switches for connecting respective optical signals received from the demultiplexer 10 with either of the optical fibers connected to the multiplexer 20 or the optical fibers connected to a local network 40.
In the optical signal add/drop apparatus constructed as such, multiple optical signals xcex1 to xcexn having n different wavelengths, inputted through the input channels, are separated in view of their wavelengths by the demultiplexer 10 and are transmitted through the respective optical fibers. According to connection state of 2xc3x972 switch, the optical signal may be dropped to the local network 40 or transmitted to the multiplexer 20. The optical signals may be inputted to the multiplexer 20, combined with the other signals having different wavelengths, and transmitted to the output channels.
However, since the conventional optical signal add/drop apparatus comprises a plurality of optical unit devices including the multiplexer, the demultiplexer and a group of the 2xc3x972 switches, there was a problem in that the size of the apparatus becomes larger. Further, since the expensive elements such as multiplexer, demultiplexer and the group of the 2xc3x972 switches should be used, there was another problem in that high costs of manufacture thereof are consumed.
Furthermore, since n optical unit devices should be provided, respectively, to the optical fiber grating typed or micro optics typed multiplexer and demultiplexer in case that there are n optical signals having different wavelengths, total 2n optical unit devices are used. Thus, the whole size of the apparatus becomes larger and the production costs thereof are more increased.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical signal add/drop apparatus that is small in size and is low in production cost.
Further, it is another object of the present invention to provide an optical signal add/drop apparatus wherein a plurality of wavelengths can be simultaneously dropped and added by multiplexing/demultiplexing portion, including a plurality of optical unit devices for simultaneously performing multiplexing and demultiplexing functions.
The optical signal add/drop apparatus for achieving the objects according to the present invention comprises: a first dual-core ferrule having first and second optical fibers disposed to be symmetrical to each other at identical distances from an optical axis for transmitting at least one optical signal; a second dual-core ferrule having third and fourth optical fibers disposed to be symmetrical to each other at identical distances from the optical axis for transmitting at least one optical signal; a wavelength division thin film filter for selectively transmitting only an optical signal having a specific wavelength; a first lens for collimating the optical signal inputted thereto from one of the optical fibers of the first dual-core ferrule into a parallel ray and outputting the parallel ray to the wavelength division thin film filter, and for focusing the optical signal reflected thereto from the wavelength division thin film filter and outputting the optical signal to the other optical fiber of the first dual-core ferrule; and a second lens for focusing the optical signal transmitted thereto from the wavelength division thin film filter and outputting the optical signal to one of the optical fibers of the second dual-core ferrule, and for collimating the optical signal inputted thereto from the other optical fiber of the second dual-core ferrule into a parallel ray, collimating the parallel ray to the wavelength division thin film filter, and outputting optical signal to the second fiber through first lens. Further, the first lens, the wavelength division thin film filter, and the second lens are arranged on the optical axis.
Multiplexing/demultiplexing portion including a plurality of optical unit devices and a switch module including a plurality of 2xc3x972 switches, connected correspondingly to the optical unit devices, respectively, for dropping the optical signal outputted from the optical unit device or adding the optical signal, identical to that dropped from the optical unit device, to the optical unit device.
The optical signal add/drop apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention comprises: an optical signal combining and separating portion including a plurality of optical unit devices which have a first dual-core ferrule having first and second optical fibers disposed to be symmetrical to each other at identical distances from an optical axis for transmitting optical signals, a second dual-core ferrule having third and fourth optical fibers disposed to be symmetrical to each other at identical distances from the optical axis for transmitting optical signals, a wavelength division thin film filter for selectively transmitting only an optical signal having a specific wavelength, a first lens for collimating the optical signal inputted thereto from one of the optical fibers of the first dual-core ferrule into a parallel ray and outputting the parallel ray to a first surface of the wavelength division thin film filter and for focusing the optical signal inputted thereto from the wavelength division thin film filter and outputting the optical signal to the other optical fiber of the first dual-core ferrule, and a second lens for focusing the optical signal inputted thereto from the wavelength division thin film filter and outputting the optical signal to one of the optical fibers of the second dual-core ferrule and for collimating the optical signal inputted thereto from the other optical fiber of the second dual-core ferrule into a parallel ray and outputting the parallel ray to a second surface of the wavelength division thin film filter; and a switch module including a plurality of switches connected correspondingly to the optical unit devices, respectively, for dropping the optical signal outputted from the optical devices or adding the optical signal, identical to that dropped from the optical devices, to the optical devices.
Herein, it is preferred that the switches be connected to the third and fourth optical fibers of the second ferrule, thereby being constructed in the form of the 2xc3x972 switches for dropping the optical signals outputted from the optical unit devices or adding the optical signals identical to the dropped optical signals.
Further, the first lens collimates the optical signal inputted through the first optical fiber into a parallel ray and outputs it to the wavelength division thin film filter. The first lens also focuses the optical signal, which is reflected by or passes through the wavelength division thin film filter, and outputs to the second optical fiber. The second lens collimates the optical signal inputted through the third optical fiber into a parallel ray and outputs it to the wavelength division thin film filter. Further, the second lens can focus the optical signal transmitted thereto from the wavelength division thin film filter and can output it to the fourth optical fiber.
Herein, the third optical fiber can be an add channel to which new optical signal is added from the local network, and the fourth optical fiber can be an drop channel through which the optical signal is dropped to the local network.


Efficient digital compression of 3D/stereoscopic video is achieved by a novel technique in which various views forming 3D/stereoscopic video are coded by utilizing the redundancies among the views. Coding is performed in a manner compatible with existing equipment to allowing decoding of one layer of video for display on normal (i.e., monoscopic) displays. The motion compensated discrete cosine transform ("DCT") coding framework of existing standards such as the Motion Pictures Expert Group-Phase 2 ("MPEG-2") video standard is exploited, and when necessary extended, to result in highly efficient, yet practical, coding schemes. In constrast with known techniques of encoding the two views forming stereoscopic video which rely on the use of a disparity estimate between the two views (where one of the views is the reference, coded by itself and the other is disparity compensated predicted and coded with respect to the reference view), the present techniques invention utilize one disparity estimate and one motion compensated estimate. Two novel methods for combining these estimates for prediction are provided. The first method provides an average between the two estimates; the second method allows choice between various combinations resulting from prespecified weightings applied to the estimates. Such a technique, advantageously, represents a significant improvement over known techniques in achieving high-efficiency digital compression of 3D/Stereoscopic video, and advantageously is fully compatible with existing video compression standards. Furthermore, although digital broadcast service for 3D/stereoscopic television can be realized by the practice of the invention immediately, full compatibility with normal video displays is provided, allowing gradual introduction of high quality stereoscopic displays in future.

Although the human visual system can naturally capture the three dimensional world, most imaging and display systems limit our abilities by presenting only a two dimensional ("2D") mapping of the three dimensional ("3D") world. Many current as well as emerging applications can significantly benefit from the high degree of realism provided by 3D scenes with depth. In fact, human ability to perceive realism in a scene is directly related to our ability to perceive depth accurately in the scene. A real 3D scene can be reconstructed from many 2D views of a scene imaged from different perspectives. Such a representation would not only allow the perception of depth in a scene but look-around capability as well. However, due to practical display constraints, although only a less complex solution employing two views of a scene is easily realizable, it can still impart the sensation of depth. Thus, two views are required to be imaged under specific constraints--one for each eye of a human visual system--so that our brain can generate the depth information necessary to perceive realism. The two views, when put together in a video format, can represent stereoscopic video. Each view is similar to normal video except that the two views are related under the constraints imposed by stereoscopic vision. Under specified constraints, the two views imaging a scene differ by what is known as disparity between the views, which is typically only a few pixels in vertical direction but can be of the order of about 40 pixels or higher in the horizontal direction, assuming each view is imaged at normal TV resolution.
Stereoscopic video has potential applications in education, training, 3D movies/entertainment, medical surgery, videoconferencing, virtual travel and shopping, multimedia presentations, video games and immersive virtual reality experiences, and others. Although, many potential applications of 3D/stereoscopic video exist, there are several limitations to be overcome before 3D/stereoscopic video potential can be truly harnessed, and its use becomes wide spread. One example of such a limitation is that a practical means of displaying stereo requires viewers to use specialized viewing glasses. Although some displays do not require specialized viewing glasses, for example, autostereoscopic systems, they impose other restrictions, for example, limited viewing zones and view discreteness. Moreover, such systems may typically require between 10 and 20 views for realism. Stereoscopic video, on the other hand, although it requires use of specialized glasses, can impart perception of depth in a scene and requires only two views: one is referred to as the left-view and other is referred to as the right-view, which are intended for presentation to the left-eye and the right-eye, respectively, of a human visual system in either time-sequential (with active synchronized shuttered glasses) or time-simultaneous (with passive polarizing glasses).
In addition to the aforementioned display issue, another issue of concern is efficient digital compression of 3D/stereoscopic video so that the multiple views can be easily manipulated, stored or transmitted as needed. Towards that end, interworking with existing or emerging standards based coding schemes as well as existing displays for normal video is highly desirable.

Digital 3D/stereoscopic video compression technique utilizing disparity and motion compensated predictions


A fuel system has a fuel injector directly mounted with a fuel rail. The fuel rail includes a first portion and a second portion that form a body. The body has an interior surface defining a volume, an exterior surface surrounding the interior surface, and at least one aperture disposed between the interior and exterior surfaces in fluid communication with the volume. The at least one fuel injector has an inlet tube with an inside surface defining a flow path through a portion of the fuel injector and an outside surface surrounding the inside surface. The fuel injector is disposed such that the flow path is in fluid communication with the volume. A rigid connection is disposed between the interior surface of the fuel rail and at least one of the outside surface and the inside surface of the inlet tube. The rigid connection secures and hermetically seals the fuel rail with the at least one fuel injector.

The invention relates to a fuel system, and more particularly to a fuel system including a fuel injector rigidly connected with a fuel rail. The rigid connection secures and hermetically seals the fuel injector with the fuel rail, and therefore obviates the need for a clip to secure and an elastomeric member to seal the fuel injector with the fuel rail.
It is known to use a rail to deliver fuel to an injector in a conventional fuel delivery system. In the conventional system, an elastomeric member (for example, an O-ring), is disposed on the inlet of the injector. A separate cup that is brazed to the rail receives the injector inlet. By this arrangement, a hermetic seal is formed between the inlet having the elastomeric member and the cup. It is also known to use a clip to secure the injector to the rail and prevent separation.
However, the conventional system suffers from a number of disadvantages. The use of a clip to secure and an elastomeric member to seal the injector with the rail increases the cost and complexity of assembly. Further, it is believed that a more hermetically sealed flow path can be achieved through other assembly processes that eliminate the elastomeric member. For these reasons, it is desirable to provide a fuel system having a fuel injector that is rigidly connected to a fuel rail, the rigid connection securing and hermetically sealing without the use of a clip and an elastomeric member.
The present invention provides a fuel system having a fuel injector directly mounted with a fuel rail. The fuel rail includes a first portion and a second portion that form a body. The body has an interior surface defining a volume, an exterior surface surrounding the interior surface, and at least one aperture disposed between the interior and exterior surfaces in fluid communication with the volume. The at least one fuel injector has an inlet tube with an inside surface defining a flow path through a portion of the fuel injector and an outside surface surrounding the inside surface. The fuel injector is disposed such that the flow path is in fluid communication with the volume. A rigid connection is disposed between the interior surface of the fuel rail and at least one of the outside surface and the inside surface of the inlet tube. The rigid connection secures and hermetically seals the fuel rail with the at least one fuel injector.
The present invention also provides a method of forming a fuel system. The method includes providing at least one aperture in a fuel rail with a body having an interior surface to define a volume and an exterior surface surrounding the interior surface, the at least one aperture in fluid communication with the volume, and rigidly connecting an inlet tube of at least one fuel injector with the interior surface of the fuel rail to secure and hermetically seal the inlet tube of the fuel rail with the volume of the fuel injector.

Fuel system including a fuel injector internally mounted to a fuel rail


An apparatus for vitrifying blast furnace slag, which comprises:. an endless conveyor belt formed by endlessly connecting a plurality of rectangular cooling metal members, each of said cooling metal members having a plurality of narrow and deep cooling grooves on the outer surface thereof for rapidly cooling and solidifying a molten blast furnace slag into a vitreous blast furnace slag; a driving means for travelling said endless conveyor belt; a molten slag container, arranged above the upstream of the upper forwarding position of said endless conveyor belt, for pouring a molten blast furnace slag into said cooling grooves; a stripper arranged, in the upstream of the lower returning position of said endless conveyor belt, at a prescribed position adjacent to the back surface of said endless conveyor belt, for taking out a cooled and solidified vitreous blast furnace slag in said cooling grooves; and, a cooling means arranged at a prescribed position in the lower returning position of said endless conveyor belt, for sequentially cooling said cooling metal members heated by the high-temperature molten blast furnace slag poured into said cooling grooves.

A water-granulated blast furnace slag (hereinafter referred to as a "water-granulated slag") used as a raw material for cement has conventionally been manufactured by spraying pressurized cooling water to a molten slag discharged from a blast furnace. Since the molten blast furnace slag is cooled and solidified through contact with the cooling water, the water-granulated slag thus obtained is vitrified. A water-granulated slag is usually applied as follows:
However, because a water-granulated slag, coming into direct contact with a cooling water in the course of manufacturing, usually contains about 15 wt.% water. To apply a water-granulated slag for any of the uses mentioned in (a) through (d), it is necessary to dry the water-granulated slag in advance. This drying requires about 17 liters heavy oil per ton of water-granulated slag, and in addition, transportation cost for the unnecessary water content is required when transporting the water-granulated slag before drying. For the uses (b) and (c) above, furthermore, it is necessary to finely pulverize the water-granulated slag previously until the specific surface area value based on the Blaine-air-permeability method (hereinafter referred to as the "Blaine fineness") reaches from about 3,000 to about 4,000 cm.sup.2 /g, thus requiring from about 60 to about 100 KWH electric power per ton of water-granulated slag. During the manufacture of the water-granulated slag, contact with the cooling water leads to the production of such noxious gases as hydrogen sulfide gas, resulting in worsening working environments, and moreover, soluble substances useful for a cement contained in the slag such as lime, silica and alumina are lost by dissolution into the cooling water.
With these facts in view, the following granulating process and granulating apparatus of a molten blast furnace slag have been proposed.
feeding a molten material such as a molten steel and a molten slag onto a rotary disk in rotation; granulating said molten material by causing said molten material to scatter under the effect of centrifugal force produced by the rotation of said disk; covering the periphery of said disk with a frustoconical casing flaring downwardly; forming a film of cooling water flowing downwardly along the inner surface of said casing; and, cooling and solidifying said granulated molten material by the contact with said film of cooling water (hereinafter referred to as the "prior art (1)").
feeding a molten slag into a rotating rotary drum inclined by 2.degree. to 20.degree. relative to the horizontal line from an inlet on the higher side thereof, while cooling the barrel of said drum by spraying cooling water onto the outer surface of said drum; cooling and solidifying said molten slag by the contact with the inner surface of said drum, and at the same time, crushing said solidified slag by the rotation of said drum; and, discharging said crushed slag from an outlet on the lower side of said drum (hereinafter referred to as the "prior art (2)").
feeding a molten slag onto the outer surface of a rotating rotary drum; granulating said molten slag by causing same to scatter in front of said drum under the effect of centrifugal force produced by the rotation of said drum; and, cooling and solidifying said granulated molten slag by a cooling system installed within the scattering area of said granulated molten slag (hereinafter referred to as the "prior art (3)").
vitrifying a molten blast furnace slag by granulating, while cooling and solidifying, said molten blast furnace slag by blowing the molten blast furnace slag with a pressurized fluid such as a pressurized air and a pressurized steam, or by causing the molten blast furnace slag fed onto a rotating rotary disk to scatter under the effect of centrifugal force produced by the rotation of said rotary disk; and, finely pulverizing said vitrified granulated blast furnace slag (hereinafter referred to as the "prior art (4)").
However, in any of the above-mentioned prior arts (1) to (4), partial crystallization of molten blast furnace slag is inevitable, because it is impossible to obtain a high cooling rate sufficient to completely vitrify the molten blast furnace slag. In the prior arts (1) and (3), furthermore, problems similar to those in the water-granulated slag mentioned above are encountered, since water is still employed as the cooling medium.
With a view to solving these problems, there has been proposed, in Japanese Patent Application No. 126,098/78 dated Oct. 16, 1978, an apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous blast furnace slag, which comprises:
a rotary drum having a substantially circular barrel formed by endlessly connecting a plurality of rectangular cooling metal members, each of said plurality of cooling metal members having on the outer surface thereof a plurality of narrow and deep cooling grooves with the longitudinal direction substantially in parallel with the rotating direction of said rotary drum, and each of said plurality of cooling grooves comprising an outwardly flaring inlet section for introducing a molten blast furance slag and an inwardly narrowing cooling section, following said inlet section, for rapidly cooling and solidifying the molten blast furnace slag into a vitreous blast furnace slag;
a driving mechanism, connected to the center axle of said rotary drum, for rotating said rotary drum;
a molten blast furnace slag feeder including a slag container, arranged above said rotary drum, said molten blast furnace slag feeder being adapted to receive a molten blast furnace slag discharged from a blast furnace into said slag container and pour said molten blast furnace slag thus received into said plurality of cooling grooves of said cooling metal member reaching about the highest position of the barrel of said rotary drum along with the rotation of said rotary drum;
a stripper stationarily arranged at a prescribed position in said rotary drum adjacent to the inner surface of the barrel of said rotary drum, said stripper being adapted to take out a cooled and solidified vitreous blast furnace slag in said plurality of cooling grooves of said cooling metal member; and,
a cooling tank containing cooling water, arranged below said rotary drum so that the lower portion of the barrel of said rotary drum is immersed in the cooling water, said cooling tank being adapted to cause said plurality of cooling metal members forming the barrel of said rotary drum to successively pass through the cooling water in said cooling tank along with the rotation of said rotary drum, thereby cooling said cooling metal members heated by the high-temperature molten blast furnace slag poured into said cooling grooves (hereinafter referred to as the "earlier invention").
The aforementioned apparatus for manufacturing a vitreous blast furnace slag (hereinafter referred to as the "apparatus of the earlier invention") has a high cooling rate sufficient to substantially completely vitrify a molten blast furnace slag, and furthermore, the molten blast furnace slag is cooled rapidly and solidified by the direct contact with the cooling metal members, instead of the direct contact with cooling water. According to the apparatus of the earlier invention, therefore, it is possible to manufacture a vitreous blast furnace slag which is substantially completely vitrified, substantially free of water, excellent in grindability, and has a high quality as a raw material for a cement or for a calcium silicate fertilizer. In the earlier invention, however, a plurality of cooling metal members form the substantially circular barrel of the rotary drum. In the apparatus of the earlier invention, therefore, in order to improve the production capacity, it is necessary to use wider cooling metal members to increase the number of cooling grooves, or to use a rotary drum with a larger diameter to increase the number of cooling metal members. However, with wider cooling metal members comprising a larger number of cooling grooves, it becomes difficult to uniformly pour a molten blast furnace slag into the cooling groovs. With more cooling metal members with a larger-diameter rotary drum, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient head between the slag container and the cooling metal members by providing a pit in the ground and accommodating the lower portion of the rotary drum in this pit, thus requiring higher installation costs.

Apparatus for vitrifying blast furnace slag


A chain saw guard including a substantially planar shield member pivotally supported to the rear end portion of the guide bar of the chain saw for pivotal movement alongside the chain bar between a lower guard position and an upper inoperative position, spring means urging the shield member downward into the guard position, latch means interconnecting the guide bar and the shield to lock the shield member in its guard position, and a downward projecting trigger element operatively connected to the latch means for releasing the latch means upon upward movement of the trigger element, such as by a log engaging the bottom of the chain saw.

This invention relates to power chain saws, and more particularly to a guard for a power chain saw.
Guards for power chain saws are known in the art, such as those disclosed in the following U.S. patent Nos.: 3,754,328, Knerr, Aug. 28, 1973, 3,808,684, Ludwig, May 7, 1974
The guards disclosed in both of the above patents are elongated and pivotally mounted to the rear end of the guide bar and are pivoted with spring means for urging the guard downward into a parallel position along the guide bar to normally protect the user from the exposed teeth of the rotating chain. The spring member is adapted to permit the guard to be cammed or raised upward by the work piece during the sawing operation, yet permit the guard to return to its original guard position after the sawing operation has been completed.
Neither of the guard members disclosed in the above patents completely over the exposed chain. The guard in the Knerr U.S. Pat. No. 3,754,328 is an open framework as opposed to a solid shield, whereas the solid shield of the Ludwig U.S. Pat. No. 3,808,684, is provided with openings in the top edge to expose portions of the teeth of the chain for cutting brush.
Furthermore, there is no provision for latching the guard in its guard position in order to protect the body of the operator should the bottom edge of the moving saw blade engage the foot, leg, arm or other body portion of the operator.


An improve the pump including a reciprocal piston pump having a pump piston, guided longitudinally displaceable in a displacement chamber. An outlet valve for the admission of pressure means and a valve for the outflow of pressure means is associated with the displacement chamber. The outlet valve is embodied as a cup-shaped sleeve, having on the outflow side a sealing lip of an elastomeric material, which cooperates with a cylindrical sealing face. The outlet valve is distinguished by low opening pressure, reduced noise when closing and reduced machining effort. The reciprocating piston pump (10) is intended for use in hydraulic brake installations of motor vehicles with ABS systems.

The invention relates to a hydraulic piston pump as set forth hereinafter.
Such reciprocating piston pumps for generating a relatively high pressure are already known from German Published, Non-Examined Patent Application DE-OS 32 36 536. During operation in the ABS system mode, a pump of this type is intended to return pressure medium taken from a wheel brake cylinder during a brake pressure reduction phase back to the main brake cylinder of a brake installation of a motor vehicle with an ABS system, such as known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,116. Pump pressures of up to approximately 200 bar can occur in the course of this operation. The reciprocating piston pump has an inlet valve and an outlet valve in the form of one-way valves. These valves have a conical valve seat of great precision and a hardened steel ball as a closing body, which is pressed against the valve seat by means of a helical pressure spring. While a spring with a relatively low closing force is assigned to the inlet valve, the outlet valve has a spring with a great closing force in order to diminish the bounce of the ball, which causes noise during closing of the valve.
Furthermore, very high demands are made on the tightness of particularly the outlet valve in order to prevent, on the one hand, the flow-off of pressure medium from the brake line into a pressure medium reservoir disposed at the inlet side of the pump during braking. The reservoir is intended for the intermediate storage of a pressure medium during the pressure reduction phases in the course of ABS operation, so that it can be transported by the pump. On the other hand, the tightness of the valves also prevents the automatic emptying of the pressure medium reservoir into the main brake cylinder, if during braking without ABS operation, pressure medium is incorrectly collected in the reservoir. However, this disrupts quick brake pressure reduction in the course of an anti-blocking operation.

Hydraulic reciprocating piston pump for brake installations of motor vehicles with an ABS system


A computer system is configured to translate telecommunications trouble tickets. The computer system receives a native telecommunications trouble ticket from a first telecommunications trouble ticket system, and translates the native telecommunications trouble ticket into a master telecommunications trouble ticket. The computer system then stores first data from the native telecommunications trouble ticket in a database, and retrieves second data related to the native telecommunications trouble ticket from the database. Next, the computer system merges at least some of the second data into the master telecommunications trouble ticket, translates the master ticket into a first enhanced telecommunications trouble ticket configured for use by the first telecommunications trouble ticket system, and sends the first enhanced telecommunications trouble ticket to the first telecommunications trouble ticket system.

Modern telecommunications systems are extremely complex and contain a wide variety of subsystems. For example, a telecommunications system may include subsystems configured for wireless voice communication, wireless data communication, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) communication, billing, and service. Each of these subsystems may include a system for creating, modifying, closing, and tracking trouble tickets. For example when a wireless voice customer is unable to complete a call to a destination device, they may call the service center for wireless voice communications. This service center may then open a telecommunications trouble ticket containing information describing the problem so that technicians may work to repair the problem.
Some problems may involve more than one subsystem within the telecommunications system. For example, in the case of the wireless voice customer discussed above, it may be advantageous to know the billing and payment history of the customer, along with information regarding previous complaints from the customer. Often this additional data is not contained within the wireless voice subsystem, and technicians must query other service centers within other subsystems in order to generate a complete picture of the problem.
Also, some problems may span two or more subsystems due to the type of problem that has occurred. For example, if the wireless voice customer is unable to call a destination device on the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the problem could potentially be located within the PSTN, not the wireless voice subsystem. In such a case, technicians for the wireless voice subsystem would be unable to solve the problem, and would need to alert technicians responsible for the PSTN about the problem.

System and method for the translation of telecommunications trouble tickets


The durability of a mobile terminal can be improved by improving the heat-dissipating performance thereof, the mobile terminal comprising an inner space and having a camera hole formed on the rear surface thereof; a substrate located in the inner space and having an electric element mounted thereon; a camera module including a lens part and mounted at a location corresponding to the camera hole; a deco frame, which includes a lens hole for exposing a lens part of the camera module and a heat-dissipating hole formed on the circumference of the lens hole, and is inserted into the camera hole; and a heat-dissipating sheet located in the inner space and including a heat-absorbing part coming in contact with the electric element, a heat-dissipating part located on the inner side of the deco frame and covering the heat-dissipating hole, and a heat transfer part connecting the heat absorbing part and the heat-dissipating part.

Terminals may be generally classified as mobile/portable terminals or stationary terminals according to their mobility. Mobile terminals may also be classified as handheld terminals or vehicle mounted terminals according to whether or not a user can directly carry the terminal.
Mobile terminals have become increasingly more functional. Examples of such functions include data and voice communications, capturing images and video via a camera, recording audio, playing music files via a speaker system, and displaying images and video on a display. Some mobile terminals include additional functionality which supports game playing, while other terminals are configured as multimedia players. More recently, mobile terminals have been configured to receive broadcast and multicast signals which permit viewing of content such as videos and television programs.
As such functions become more diversified, the mobile terminal can support more complicated functions such as capturing images or video, reproducing music or video files, playing games, receiving broadcast signals, and the like. By comprehensively and collectively implementing such functions, the mobile terminal may be embodied in the form of a multimedia player or device.
As such functions become more diversified and complicated, people spend more time on mobile terminals and an application processor (AP) provided in such the mobile terminal has to process more information. To enhance the usability and durability of the mobile terminal, there are more increasing needs for a new heat radiation structure configured to radiate the heat generated in the application processor.


A single reactor process for formation of block copolymers comprising aromatic ester mesogenic units containing flexible alkane spacers and polyester flexible coil units in the main chain thereof which comprises:. (a) reacting an .alpha., .omega.-bis(hydroxybenzoyloxy) alkane monomer with an aromatic acid chloride in a reactor to form a functionalized liquid crystal oligomer containing such mesoenic units; and PA0 (b) thereafter reacting the oligomer from (a) in the same reactor with either (i) a polyester oligomer; or (ii) the reagents for synthesizing the polyester oligomer (i).

C. Ober et al. in Polymer Journal, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 9-17 (1982) disclose liquid crystal polymers comprising aromatic ester mesogenic units containing flexible alkylene (or "polymethylene") spacers. For example, one type contains an aromatic ester triad with three linearly-aligned aromatic rings, the bis(p-carboxyphenyl) terephthalate moiety, and a polymethylene flexible spacer which can contain 2 to 10 CH.sub.2 groups.
Quite recently, in U.S. Ser. No. 726,601, filed Jul. 8, 1991, which is incorporated herein by reference, thermotropic liquid crystal segmented block copolymers containing mesogenic and flexible coil polymer blocks have been described in which the rod blocks can be the type of liquid crystal polymer moieties described in the Ober et al. publication with the flexible coil moieties being polyester, for example. The synthesis procedure for making the block copolymers, in preferred embodiments, was a two-step reaction. In the first step, a hydroxyl-terminated aromatic mesogenic oligomer was synthesized from terephthaloyl chloride and the desired 1,4-bis(p-hydroxybenzoyloxy) alkane in one reactor and acid chloride-terminated polyester oligomers from terephthaloyl chloride and bis(4-hydroxyalkyl) terephthalate were synthesized in another reactor. In the second step both functionalized oligomers were combined to form the desired block copolymer. This procedure is more complicated than desired since it requires a transfer of one or both of the oligomers to complete the polymerization.

Synthesis of block liquid crystal copolymer


A method and system for detecting and monitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of materials is disclosed. The method and system include providing a detection and monitoring network whereby multiple ports-of-entry are each equipped with a detection system that is in communication with a central computer. The detection systems are then used to detect levels of a material in vehicles passing through the ports-of-entry. The method and system further include associating the levels of material detected for each vehicle with the respective vehicle, and saving the vehicle material levels on a computer. The material levels detected at each port-of-entry are then uploaded to the central computer for monitoring and review.

The present invention relates to vehicle radiation detection systems, and more particularly to a system for detecting and monitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of radioactive materials.
Vehicle and rail radiation detection systems that detect the presence of radioactive materials in vehicles containing scrap metals or waste materials are known. The systems are typically installed at metal recycling centers or waste dumps to monitor vehicles entering the site to ensure that no material being dumped emits radiation above a certain level. Examples of such systems include the Vehicle and Rail Radiation Detection System by Rad/Comm Systems of Valparaiso, Indi., and the Vanguard System by ThermoEberline of Santa Fe, N.Mex.
These systems typically include a microprocessor controller and large detector assemblies mounted on each side of a vehicle pass-through such as, a or railroad track. In operation, a truck or rail car passes the detectors and the data collected by the detectors is transferred to the controller. If the detected radiation levels exceed a certain threshold, the controller emits an alarm to alert an operator. In the Vanguard system, the detected radiation levels collected by the detectors are continually printed as a graph on a paper tape for viewing by the operator.
Although such systems effectively inform an operator of radioactive loads, the systems have disadvantages. One problem is that there is no association between the plotted radiation levels and the vehicles passing-through the system. That is, the operator has no way of knowing which radiation levels on the graph belong to which truck.
Another problem is that once a vehicle sets off the alarm and the vehicle leaves the site, there is no way to monitor the whereabouts of the vehicle. Finally, little or no thought is given to how the information about the vehicle should be used or communicated to proper authorities.
Although current detection systems protect against the dumping of noncompliant materials such as radioactive waste, these systems fail to protect against illegal and noncompliant interstate transportation of such materials. The present invention addresses such a need.
The present invention provides a method and system for detecting and monitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of materials. The method and system include providing a detection and monitoring network whereby multiple ports-of-entry are each equipped with a detection system that is in communication with a central computer. The detection systems are then used to detect levels of a material in vehicles passing through the ports-of-entry. The method and system further include associating the levels of material detected for each vehicle with the respective vehicle, and saving the vehicle material levels on a computer. The material levels detected at each port-of-entry are then uploaded to the central computer for monitoring and review.
According to the method and system disclosed herein, the present invention associates the detector data with the appropriate vehicles and allows the proper authorities to be notified of vehicles transporting noncompliant and/or illegal payloads across state and national borders with minimal manpower.

System and method detecting and monitoring noncompliant interstate transportation of materials


A method for interfacing with a financial institution using a computer interface is disclosed for on-line or E-Lending. A customer selects a lending product on the website of a financial institution. The financial institution receives information to authenticate the customer, and receives additional information related to the financial history and lending needs from the customer. The terms and conditions related to the lending product are presented to the customer and an authorization to an application is received from the customer. A risk analysis is performed using information received from the customer and the application of the loan is subject to approval based at least in part on the risk analysis. The third set of information related to insurance, disclosures, etc is received from the customer and a fourth set of information related to the closing information is provided back to the customer. The loan may be further closed on-line or with an attorney or agent.

Increasingly, the public is going on-line for a variety of transactions and information. More than 30% of the population has personal computers and modems. Furthermore, over 60% of people with bank accounts have personal computers and modems. At the same time the number of people subscribing and using on-line services is greater than 40 million, and this number is growing at an exponential rate.
As the public uses computers with a greater frequency, more financial transactions are being automated and performed via computer. There is good motivation to bank on-line. On-line banking provides convenience, safety, cost savings, and potentially new types of services not readily or conveniently available via in-person banking. Such potentially new services include access to superior up-to-the minute information, on-line investment clubs, information filters, and search agents.
With the increase in the number of financial transactions performed on-line, the convenience and cost-savings of banking on-line also increases. Additionally, new and more powerful methods are being developed for protecting the security of financial transactions performed on-line. The result is that convenience, cost savings and enhanced security have combined to make on-line financial services more useful and effective, thereby driving the development of newer and more integrated services. More sophisticated financial systems that offer greater integration and a high degree of user control enable on-line users to synthesize, monitor, and analyze a wide array of financial transactions and personal financial data.
Currently, methods exist for users to perform a variety of on-line financial transactions. These methods however fail to offer on-line lending including qualification verifications. For example, users may bank on-line, thereby enabling performance of transactions, such as transfers from one account to another, but must already have an established account or line of credit in the financial institution.
In view of the increase of electronic commerce in the market place the present subject matter discloses a unique on-line account opening method. The disclosed subject matter enables a stream-lined entry to an on-line lending presence.
A method is needed in which customers may apply for a loan on-line and be enrolled in financial offerings as a result of qualification and verification of the qualification based on a set of criteria.
In order to obviate the deficiencies of the prior art, the present disclosure presents a novel method for interfacing with a financial institution using a computer interface. In the method, a customer's request is received from a customer that has reached a predetermined webpage of the financial institution using a computer network. A first content is presented to the customer, and a first input is received from the customer. A customer is authenticated if the customer is determined to be an existing on-line banking customer. A first set of information is received from the customer and presented back to the customer for review.
In the method, a second set of information is further received from the customer. The terms and conditions are presented to the customer. An authorization to proceed with a credit check and an application are received from the customer. A risk analysis is performed using information received from the customer and the application of the loan is subject to approval based at least in part on the risk analysis. The third set of information is received from the customer and a fourth set of information is provided back to the customer. The fourth set of information related to the costs and schedule associated with the line of credit or loan product.
Another method is also presented for interfacing with a financial institution using a computer interface. The method includes receiving a product selection from the customer along with a first set of identification information. The method further includes a review the first set of information and a determination of the identity of the customer from the first set of information. If the customer identification cannot be made the process terminates.
A determination is made whether the customer is an existing on-line client of the financial institution and, if so, fields of the application for the selected product based on information known from the preexisting relationship are pre-populated. A third set of information is received from the customer that includes information relating to collateral, customer income, customer asset, customer liability, and combinations thereof.
The method determines an amount of the line of credit or the amount and term of loan product. Additional disclosures and an application are received from the customer for the chosen product or products.
These and many other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a perusal of the claims, the appended drawings, and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

System and method for an electronic lending system


The present invention relates to a solid state assembly having a solid state device bonded to a terminal board of an insulating material having a plurality of metal terminal pads thereon and arranged in a pattern. A metal bump is on each of the terminal pads of the terminal plate with an amalgam layer covering at least a top of each bump. The solid state device has a plurality of metal terminal pads thereon. The solid state device is mounted on the terminal board with each of its terminal pads being seated on the amalgam of each bump on the terminal board. The assembly is formed by placing some amalgam on each of the bumps on the terminal plate. The solid state device is then mounted on the terminal plate and the amalgam is hardened, such as by heating at a low temperature, to bond the amalgam to the bumps and the solid state device terminal plates. Once the device is bonded to the terminal board, the temperature the assembly is subject to can be higher than the temperature used for the bonding operation without causing any harm to the bond.

One technique for mounting a solid state device, such as an integrated circuit, on a terminal board is known as the "flip-chip" technique. For this technique, the solid state device is provided with small bumps of a tin/lead solder or indium on the terminal pads of the device. The solid state device is then mounted on the terminal board with the solder bumps being seated on corresponding terminal pads on the terminal board. The assembly is then heated to the melting temperature of the solder bumps which then bond to the terminal pads of the solid state device and terminal board. Another technique is to form gold bumps on the terminal pads of the solid state device. The solid state device is then mounted on the terminal board with the gold bumps contacting the corresponding terminal pads on the terminal board. The solid state device is secured in place on the terminal board by a resin.
Although the flip-chip technique provided for ease of mounting a solid state device on a terminal board without the need of connecting terminal wires, for some types of solid state devices it is not practical. For example, solid state image sensors often have features, such as organic color filters, thereon which interfere with the use of the flip-chip technique. Building solder bumps onto such an image sensor is not practical since the topography of the bumps cause uniformity problems for the color filter arrays. Building the bumps onto the image sensor after the color filters have been processed will cause damage to the fragile filters since they cannot withstand the necessary photoresist processes required for making the bumps. In addition, the color filters cannot withstand the high temperatures required to solder the bumps to the terminal board. Therefore, forming the bumps on the terminal board for contact with terminal pads on the image sensor still will not be satisfactory. The resin attachment technique also is not satisfactory since it may effect the image sensing capability of the sensor because of distortions in the light received by the sensor. Also, the usual ultra violet cure for the resin may affect the color filters.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a flip-chip technique for mounting on a terminal board solid state devices which have features which are adversely affected by high temperatures which can be carried out at low temperatures which do not adversely affect the solid state device. Low temperature solders have been developed for use in bonding parts together, such as the cover plate and housing of an image sensor package, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,291 to E. J. Ozimek et al, issued Jan. 23, 1990, entitled "Method of Making a Hermetic Seal in a Solid-State Device" and assigned to the assignee of the present application. However, the problem with such low temperature solders is that if the assembly is subjected to the same low temperatures during the use thereof, the solder will melt and allow the parts to come apart. Therefore, it is desirable to have a bonding technique which not only can be carried out at low temperatures, below the maximum allowable processing temperature, but will withstand much higher temperatures after the bond is formed.

Bonding of solid state device to terminal board