An electro-optic device including first and second optically transparent elements mounted in spaced relationship to each other to define a gap and each having a front and rear surface. At least one optically transparent interlayer element is sandwiched between the first and second elements and joining a predetermined area of the rear surface of the first element and the front surface of the second element. A liquid, semi-liquid, gel, or semi-solid electro-optic medium, whose light transmittance is variable, is added to the gap between the first and second element. One surface of the second element may include a reflective coating except in those areas aligned with the transparent interlayer element sandwiched between the first and second element. A photoelectric cell/sensor or display is disposed behind the rear surface of the second element and may be aligned with the window formed in the reflective coating so as to receive or transmit light through the first element, the transparent interlayer, and the transparent second element.

The present invention relates to variable transmission or reflection devices, and more particularly, to rearview mirrors capable of automatically changing reflective states in response to control signals derived from varying light levels or manual controls. Moreover, this invention is directed to such mirrors having areas of constant light transmission.
High light levels reflected from a rearview mirror into the eyes of a vehicle operator during night driving can seriously impair the operator's forward vision. Light scatters within the eye causing a "veil" or "curtain" of light over the scene. The driver, therefore, has a reduced ability to detect objects which are dimly lit or have little contrast with the background. This situation is known as "disability glare."
In an effort to alleviate the problems of undesired glare at night, rearview mirrors have recently been equipped with electro-optic devices which reduce the transmission of reflected light with light scattering liquid crystal layers or coloration via electrochromic layers. The light scattering or coloration is responsive to light entering the rear of the vehicle such as from following car headlights and incident upon a photo sensor which controls the current to the electro-optic device.
In order to use open-loop glare detection circuitry of the type disclosed in Gahan et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,690, Gahan U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,768 and Molyneux et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,960, each of which require the photo sensor to have a clear, unobstructed view of the light conditions to the rear of the vehicle, one type of electro-optic mirror includes a sensor in the bezel or housing for the mirror assembly adjacent the reflective surface. However, in order to contain the sensor, the bezel or housing must have a depending portion or chin substantially broader than the remaining portion of the bezel. To some, such housings are less desirable aesthetically. In addition, such mountings require additional mechanical design and tooling and restrict mirror case design options.
Other electro-optic mirrors have included the sensor behind the reflective element of the mirror assembly. A portion of the reflective layer is removed to allow light directed from the rear of the vehicle to pass through the glass layers to the sensor. The sensor then controls a closed-loop detection circuit which generates a signal which is used to darken the electro-optic medium in front of the reflective glass panel. A major disadvantage with locating the sensor behind the reflective surface in electro-optic device is that when the electro-optic device darkens, the amount of light incident upon the sensor is reduced which, in turn, causes the electro-optic device to lighten. As the coloration decreases, the light entering through the rear of the vehicle is again incident on the sensor which again causes the electro-optic device to darken. Thus, the sensor, indirectly controlled by the electro-optic device, is continually wavering between an on and off position. Additional electronic circuitry is then required to compensate for such instability, and glare control is often less than optimum.
Accordingly, a need has existed for an electro-optic mirror which allows the mounting of a photo sensor within the reflective surface of the mirror but avoids alteration of the sensed light due to mirror dimming while allowing use of precisely controlled open-loop detection circuits. Additionally, a need has existed for an electro-optic mirror allowing use of information displays in the reflective viewing surface whose intensity is unaffected by mirror dimming operation.

Electrochromic rearview mirror for vehicles with constant light transmitting area


A tip is welded appropriately using an energy beam. The tip is welded to a base portion by irradiating the interface between the base portion and the tip with the energy beam. The welding the tip to the base portion includes: applying the energy beam continuously, while moving the irradiation position of the energy beam, in a first period of time; and applying the energy beam a plurality of times according to a pulsed output pattern, while moving the irradiation position of the energy beam, in a second period of time subsequent to the first period of time.

In some cases, to improve the durability of an electrode (e.g., a center electrode or a ground electrode) of a spark plug, a highly durable tip (for example, a tip containing a noble metal) is fixed to the electrode. One technique proposed to fix a ground electrode tip is to weld the tip to a ground electrode by irradiating the interface between the ground electrode and the ground electrode tip with, for example, a laser beam while moving the laser beam. In another proposed technique, the power of the laser beam is gradually reduced in consideration of the fact that heat imparted by the laser beam transfers through a molten portion to cause the temperature of a portion unirradiated with the laser beam to increase. For a prior art example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2012-74271 ("Patent Document 1").
When the power of the laser beam is reduced, proper welding may not be possible. For example, in some cases, the laser beam becomes unstable, and the irradiation with the laser beam stops unintentionally. This is a common problem not only when the laser beam is used but also when energy beams such as electron beams are used.
The present description discloses a technique for welding a tip appropriately using an energy beam.

Method for producing a spark plug including an electrode having a base portion and a tip fixed to the base portion


4-bromomethyl-2′-formylbiphenyl and 4-bromomethyl-2′-hydroxymethylbiphenyl are useful starting material for the preparation various angiotenzin II antagonists, which are prepared from 4-bromomethyl-2′-cyanobiphenyl or 4′-bromomethylbiphenylcarboxyilic derivatives using selected hydride reagent.

Biphenylic types of organic compounds in accordance with our invention or which can be prepared from those compounds can be used as a medicament, or more preferably for the manufacture of a medicament for treatment of hypertension and may function as angiotensin II antagonists. Most of molecules from this group consist of cyclic, preferably heterocyclic part connected through —CH2— bridge to the 4-biphenylyl part in which the distant phenyl ring is further orto substituted with a polar substituent. Some well known representatives of this group like losartan, irbesartan, candesartan, olmesartan and valsartan include a tetrazole as a polar substituent while telmisartan includes a carboxylic group in this part of molecule. Also compounds being substituted by other polar substituents, which include oxo or dioxo substituted imidazoles, thiazoles, oxazoles or pyrimidines may be used as a medicament or can be used in the process of manufacturing of a medicament.
2′-substituted (such as tetrazolyl but also formyl and hydroxymethyl) 4-biphenylyl substituted molecules, may be useful angiotenzin II antagonists. Furthermore the enzymes in human body can transform these into a carboxylic moiety. Molecules, which include such fragments are therefore potential prodrugs with improved pharmacokinetics. For instance telmisartan, which has a 2′ carboxylic acid substituent, is poorly soluble in water or physiological fluids and there is a tendency to find an (alternative) optimal way to ensure a good bioavailability.
In EP 682021 a 4′-((1,4′-dimethyl-2′-propyl-2,6′-bi(1H-benzo[d]imidazol)-1′-yl)methyl)biphenyl-2-carbaldehyde is used for condensation reaction with thiazolidin-2,4-dion. In EP 520423 various 2-formyl derivatives are used in cyanohydrine reaction in a preparation of 2,4 dioxotiazidinyl substituted compounds. Such formyl derivatives were prepared from corresponding carboxy derivatives of already finished molecular systems by two step procedure, first reducing carboxy group to hydroxymethyl with further oxidation to a formyl derivative. It is more convenient to make a conversion into the formyl group in the early synthetic step.

Synthesis of 4-bromomethyl-2′-formylbiphenyl and 4-bromomethyl-2′-hydroxymethylbiphenyl and its use in preparation of angiotensin II antagonists


Various embodiments provide for circuit design routing based on parallel run length (PRL) rules. In particular, a plurality of PRL rules is accessed and used to generate a set of additional routing blockages around an existing routing blockage of the circuit design. The additional routing blockages can be positioned relative to the existing routing blockage. During routing, the set of additional routing blockages can be modeled into a capacity map, which is then used by global to generate routing guide(s) between at least two nodes of the circuit design. In doing so, the various embodiments can assist in routing a wire while avoiding violation of the plurality of PRL rules with respect to the existing blockage, can speed up performance of global routing, can make it easier for detailed routing to honor routing guides produced by global routing, and can speed up performance of detailed routing in resolving DRC violations.

Electronic design automation (EDA) software systems commonly perform routing of networks of circuit designs, such as clock networks (hereafter, clock nets). Usually, net routing can be performed in two phases, where the first phase involves routing guides that attempt to generate timing-aware/timing-based global routing of nets, and the second phase involves detailed routing of nets with specific wires metal traces) based on the routing guides, while attempting to resolve/avoid one or more design rule violations.

Circuit design routing based on parallel run length rules


Protective head gear is described which is suitable for use in martial arts activities. The protective head gear has four main components which provide increased protection to vulnerable parts of the head and neck. The main components are 1) a head mask, 2) a face guard for protecting facial areas, 3) a neck guard for protecting the back of the neck and 4) a cap for protecting the top of the head.

1. Field of the Invention
The present matter relates to protective head gear used in martial arts activities which provides added protection against injury to the top and back of the head, back of the neck and facial areas.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Protective head gear is required to be worn by those who participate at the amateur level in various types of martial arts activities such as tae kwon do, karate and the like. Such head gear covers the front and sides of the face and is usually made from a protective material such as high impact foam having a naugahyde covering. The mouth, nose and eye areas are ordinarily left uncovered for vision, breathing and ventilation purposes. Little or no protection is provided to the top or back of the head except for a fastener used to connect the sides of the head gear at the back of the head. In order to increase its comfortability, the protective head gear often contains ventilation openings in various locations which do not interfere with its protective qualities.
Notwithstanding the fact that protective head gear must be approved by international sanctioning organizations before it can be used during competition, injuries to the head still occur. While certain rules have been promulgated which make blows to the top and back of the head illegal and while this has reduced the possibility of injury, such blows inadvertently occur during intense competition. Moreover, when an illegal blow is struck to an area that is not protected by head gear, the force of such a blow can cause serious injury. Hence, there is a need for protective head gear that provides increased protection to the top and back of the wearer's head and neck and to the facial areas.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide protective head gear that is suitable for use in martial arts activities and which provides increased protection against head and neck injuries.
It is a further object of this invention to provide protective head gear which is adjustable, comfortable and well ventilated.
It is still another object of this invention to provide protective head gear that is structured to permit good ventilation without compromising its protective features.

Protective head gear for martial arts activities


Discloses is apparatus for extracting biomass from a biomass supply, including a hollow vessel in which is established a countercurrent flow of biomass in the form of liquid or particles of biomass entrained in a liquid and solvent. The vessel includes an outlet for a solvent/extract mixture at a first vessel side and an outlet for biomass at a second vessel side. The solvent/extract mixture outlet is coupled to a closed loop circuit that includes at least a separator which encompasses a condenser having first and second stages connected in series with the second of such stages operating at a lower temperature than the first stage and both stages supplying substantially uncontaminated solvent to the hollow vessel.

This invention concerns apparatuses and a method for xe2x80x9cextractionxe2x80x9d of biomass. This is the extraction of flavours, fragrances or pharmaceutically active ingredients from materials of natural origin (these materials being referred to as xe2x80x9cbiomassxe2x80x9d herein).
Examples of biomass materials include but are not limited to flavoursome or aromatic substances such as coriander, cloves, star anise, coffee, orange juice, fennel seeds, cumin, ginger and other kinds of bark, leaves, flowers, fruit, roots, rhizomes and seeds. Biomass may also be extracted in the form of biologically active substances such as pesticides and pharmaceutically active substances or precursors thereto, obtainable e.g. from plant material, a cell culture or a fermentation broth.
There is growing technical and commercial interest in using near-critical solvents in such extraction processes. Examples of such solvents include liquefied carbon dioxide or, of particular interest, a family of chlorine-free solvents based on organic hydrofluorocarbon (xe2x80x9cHFCxe2x80x9d) species.
By the term xe2x80x9chydrofluorocarbonxe2x80x9d we are referring to materials which contain carbon, hydrogen and fluorine atoms only and which are thus chlorine-free.
Preferred hydrofluorocarbons are the hydrofluoroalkanes and particularly the C1-4 hydrofluoroalkanes. Suitable examples of C1-4 hydrofluoroalkanes which may be used as solvents include, inter alia, trifluoromethane (R-23), fluoromethane (R-41), difluoromethane (R-32), pentafluoroethane (R-125), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (R-143a), 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236ca), 1,1,1,2,2,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236cb), 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (R-236fa), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (R-245fa), 1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropropane (R-245ca), 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane (R-245cb), 1,1,2,3,3-pentafluoropropane (R-245ea) and 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (R-365mfc). Mixtures of two or more hydrofluorocarbons may be used if desired.
An especially preferred hydrofluorocarbon for use in the present invention is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a).
It is possible to carry out biomass extraction using other solvents, such as chlorofluorocarbon (xe2x80x9cCFC""sxe2x80x9d) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (xe2x80x9cHCFC""sxe2x80x9d) and/or mixtures of solvents.
Known extraction processes using these solvents are normally carried out in closed-loop extraction equipment. A typical example 10 of such a system is shown schematically in FIG. 1.
In this typical system, liquefied solvent is allowed to percolate by gravity in downflow through a bed of biomass held in vessel 11. Thence it flows to evaporator 12 where the volatile solvent vapour is vaporised by heat exchange with a hot fluid. The vapour from evaporator 12 is then compressed by compressor 13: the compressed vapour is next fed to a condenser 14 where it is liquefied by heat exchange with a cold fluid. The liquefied solvent is then optionally collected in intermediate storage vessel (receiver) 15 or returned directly to the extraction vessel 1 to complete the circuit.
There are particular problems when the biomass is a liquid (typically aqueous) form. Examples of liquid biomasses include, but are not limited to, coffee and orange juice. Liquids containing solid biomass particles present similar difficulties. We refer to such biomasses herein as xe2x80x9cliquid entrainedxe2x80x9d biomasses.
Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) solvents have been found to be effective in extracting such biomasses. An example of a suitable HFC solvent is 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, sold as xe2x80x9cR-134axe2x80x9d by the KLEA division of Imperial Chemical Industries plc. It would be desirable to provide an apparatus and method capable of continuous extraction of liquid or liquid entrained biomass using e.g. 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane in liquid form.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for extracting biomass from a liquid biomass supply. The apparatus comprises a hollow vessel containing a liquid, liquid or liquid-entrained biomass being supplied at or near a first side of the vessel and a liquid solvent being supplied at or near a second, opposite side of the vessel such that a stream of solvent passes in one direction through the vessel and a stream of biomass passes as a countercurrent through the vessel, so that biomass extract becomes entrained with the solvent. An outlet for biomass is at or near the second side of the vessel, and an outlet for solvent/extract mixture is at or near the first side of the vessel. A separator is connected to the solvent/extract outlet for separating solvent and extract from one another.
This apparatus advantageously allows intimate mingling of the biomass and the solvent so that the solvent efficiently strips the desirable components from the biomass and entrains them to a further location for separation of the solvent and biomass from one another.
The use of countercurrent flows makes the apparatus suitable for the continuous processing of liquid or liquid-entrained biomass. Conveniently in the apparatus the separator includes a rectifier for rectifying the solvent and separating therefrom the extract, a compressor, and a condenser connected in series, whereby the separator generates substantially uncontaminated solvent in liquid form. These features advantageously separate the desired biomass extract from the solvent whereby the extract is available for further use.
In the apparatus the separator includes a rectifier for rectifying the solvent and separating therefrom the extract, a compressor, and a condenser connected in series, whereby the separator generates substantially uncontaminated solvent in liquid form. The apparatus also includes pipework for supplying at least some of the substantially uncontaminated solvent from the condenser to the hollow vessel in a substantially closed loop circuit that includes the said vessel. This advantageously allows recycling of recovered solvent for contact with further biomass.
In preferred embodiments the separator includes a rectifier for rectifying the solvent and separating therefrom the extract, a compressor, and a condenser connected in series, whereby the separator generates substantially uncontaminated solvent in liquid and wherein the condenser includes first and second condenser ages connected in series, the second condenser stage operating at a lower temperature than the first stage and both condenser stages supplying substantially uncontaminated solvent to the hollow vessel. This is because there are sometimes residual inerts (air, carbon, dioxide, etc) in the aqueous feed stream of biomass. The solvent entrains some of these inert compounds to the condenser. Condensation in the presence of inerts is sometimes difficult. The second condenser stage advantageously separates inerts from the solvent.
The second condenser stage preferably operates at a lower temperature than the first stage. This removes heat from the solvent/inert compound mixture.
Even using a two-stage condenser, some uncondensed vapours may remain. Therefore the second condenser stage advantageously includes a vent for venting uncondensed vapours therefrom.
Preferably the vent is connected to an adsorbent filter that adsorbs solvent in the vented vapour. This advantageously recovers yet more of the solvent.
An example of a suitable adsorbent filter is a bed of activated carbon.
The separator as earlier defined may advantageously have a rectifier (still) for rectifying the solvent and separating therefrom the extract, a compressor, and a condenser connected in series. The separator generates substantially uncontaminated solvent in liquid form and the rectifier includes a still connected to the solvent/extract outlet of the hollow vessel. This still includes a heater for heating any solvent/extract mixture therein to a higher temperature than the solvent dewpoint. An outlet for solvent in vapour form is connected to supply such solvent to the suction side of the compressor, and a drain is provided for extract in liquid form.
Conveniently the still includes a vent and a reflux condenser forming part of the vapour path to the vent. In a preferred embodiment the reflux condenser operates at a higher temperature the solvent dewpoint and at a lower temperature than the mass extract dewpoint. Consequently the ref lux condenser recondenses any biomass fragrance compounds which undesirably distil from the still as a result of the heating mentioned in the last paragraph.
The countercurrent flow established in the hollow vessel entrains some solvent with the liquid biomass. Consequently the hollow vessel includes a biomass outlet which is connected in series to a heatable check tank, and thence to a further condenser for condensing solvent vaporised on heating of the tank. The further condenser includes an outlet for condensed solvent, the outlet being connected to supply solvent condensed in the further condenser to the hollow vessel. These advantageously permit recovery of solvent from the depleted biomass.
The solvent recovered from the depleted biomass may be recycled into the main solvent closed loop for further contact with biomass.
The check tank includes an outlet for liquid biomass residue. The biomass residue may, if necessary, undergo further solvent contamination. It may then be suitable for example animal feeds and landfill operations.
In particularly preferred embodiments the hollow vessel is an upright, elongate vessel through which a biomass stream rises and a solvent stream descends.
An alternative arrangement is one in which the hollow vessel is or includes a mixer-settler unit in which solvent and biomass streams flow in countercurrent.
In practice, there may be a series of mixer-settler units connected in series to define a multi-stage hollow vessel or a plurality of vessels.
Another arrangement is one in which a high intensity mixing device, e.g. a static mixer or inline jet spray mixer, is used to effect the contact and promote mass transfer. Typically such an arrangement could use a gravity setting tank, advantageously however an enhanced separation technology could be used. Examples of high intensity separation technologies include hydrocyclones or centrifugal separators, through which the working liquid, having acquired kinetic energy, may be passed. Various devices such as pumps may be used to impart kinetic energy to the working liquid.
The advantages of using e.g. an inline static mixer coupled with a hydrocyclone (or set of hydrocyclones arranged as desired) are that the inventory of solvent in the system can be reduced, and that the size of the extraction plant can be reduced to a bubble column and gravity settler. In addition the use of high intensity mixers reduces the potential for bypassing/short circuit flow of one of the phases, which could occur in a bubble type contactor.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of extracting biomass wherein the biomass is in liquid or liquid-entrained form. The method comprises in a hollow vessel containing liquid, establishing countercurrent flows of liquid solvent and the biomass so that the solvent strips extract from the biomass, and passing the liquid solvent containing extracted biomass to a separating vessel. The solvent is biomass extract is drained from the separating vessel. The solvent evaporated from the extract in the separating vessel, and the is passed in vapour form to means for condensing the solvent, to a heatable check tank, and thence to a further condenser for condensing solvent vaporised on heating of the tank. The further condenser includes an outlet for condensed solvent, the outlet being connected to supply solvent condensed in the further condenser to the hollow vessel, and the check tank includes an outlet for liquid biomass.
This method is advantageously effective in extracting biomass in liquid (typically aqueous) form.
It is particularly preferable that the described method be carried out in a closed loop circuit. This permits efficient recovery of solvent, whose disposal would otherwise present problems.
A further, advantageous feature of the method that permits efficient recovery of solvent following practising of the method, is that the step of condensing the solvent includes the sub-steps of compressing the solvent in vapour form and condensing the solvent.
A still further advantageous feature of the method that permits efficient recovery of solvent following practising the method, is that the step of condensing the solvent includes the sub-steps of compressing the solvent in vapour form and condensing the solvent, and wherein the step of condensing the solvent includes two stages of condensation.
The method also advantageously includes the steps of passing depleted biomass to a further separator and separating further solvent from the biomass in a further separator. This permits recovery of solvent from the depleted biomass.
In particular when practising the method using the apparatus as defined herein, it is advantageous that one of the countercurrent flows occurs under gravity. This reduces the energy consumption of the apparatus.
Alternatively when practising the method using high intensity mixing and separation technologies, gravity may be used at the designer""s choice, however the technology need not rely on use of gravity to separate the liquid. In this case (where gravity is not used to drive flow) the energy consumption may be higher (because of the pumping work used) but as the equipment will in general be much smaller there will normally stilt be all economic benefit.

Apparatus and method for extracting biomass


A submersible lens fiberoptic assembly for PDT treatment includes an optical fiber, a fiber jacket, a ball lens made of zirconia and a housing. This fiberoptic assembly is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and has a high quality of output light beam. A submersible lens fiberoptic assembly for PDT treatments is also disclosed which uses a hemisphere ball lens for treatment of areas inaccessible to a normal "forward looking" lens.

The present invention relates to a submersible lens fiberoptic assembly for use in a biological environment, and especially to a submersible ball lens fiberoptic assembly for photodynamic therapy treatments (hereinafter referred to as PDT) for transferring radiation from an optical fiber to surrounding tissue.
There are three existing types of fiberoptics used for light delivery in PDT treatments. These three known arrangements are shown in Figure 1A, 1B and 1C.
FIG. 1A shows an arrangement known as a cylindrical diffuser. In this, a cylindrical optical element 11 is butted against an optical fiber 12, and functions to cylindrically diffuse light coupled into it via the optical fiber.
FIG. 1B shows a prior art arrangement known as a spherical diffuser. In this, a spherical optical element 13 is coupled to an optical fiber 14 by an optical coupling 15, and functions to spherically diffuse light from the optical fiber into surrounding tissue.
One disadvantage of the prior art constructions shown in FIG. 1A and 1B is that every spot light source on the diffusing material emits light in a random direction; that is, there is no localization control over the specific tissue being treated.
A third prior art arrangement is shown in FIG. 1C, this being an arrangement known as a submersible microlens. In the arrangement of FIG. 1C light rays are emitted at a controlled divergence due to the functions of lenses. In this construction, a housing 16 encloses a miniature lens 17, and the housing is closed by a transparent cover plate 18. The end of an optical fiber 19 is positioned at the back focal point of the lens 17. The location of the back focal point of the lens is influenced by the index of refraction of the lens and of the medium in contact with the lens and the optical fiber surface. In the construction shown in FIG. 1C, the back focal point is fixed by sealing the fiber and lens in air through use of the housing 16 and window or cover plate 18. When this assembly is submerged in water or a saline solution, the beam divergence is reduced but the end or face of the optical fiber remains in focus since the medium surrounding the curved refracting surface of the lens is unchanged.
The ideal assembly for coupling radiation from an optical fiber into tissue is one which produces a highly divergent beam of light whose cross section everywhere, in air or water, is a magnified image of the optical fiber end or face. While the arrangement of FIG. 1C does achieve many of these objectives, the construction is complicated and accordingly expensive to manufacture.

Submersible lens fiberoptic assembly for use in PDT treatment


A toy racing set including at least one powered vehicle, a length of flexible track, and a carrying case. The carrying case folds out to form a track upon which the vehicle may run. The case may also be used when closed with the flexible track to provide a loop-the-loop track for a powered vehicle.

This invention relates to toys and, more particularly, to toy racing sets in which powered vehicles are raced around closed courses.
There have been many toys devised over the years. Few of these toys are designed to entertain a child in cramped quarters such as the back seat of a car or the seat of a train or bus. This is especially true of toys such as racing sets which use powered automobiles. Normally, the track layout for such racing sets is much too large to fit within the space. Moreover, such cramped environments do not always provide level surfaces upon which the layouts can be placed. Those few toys which have been designed for used in cramped spaces offer very few play options because of the restricted size of the space.
It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved toy racing set.
It is another object of this invention to provide a toy racing set capable of use in a compact space.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a toy racing set offering different track layouts which can be set up in a compact space.


A vehicle seat support assembly including an overcenter locking mechanism with a flexible metallic band wrapped about a floor mounted support tube and connected to a seat support frame pivotal on the tube such that tensioning of the band in an overcenter manner selectively prevents pivotal seat frame movement. A locking member of the mechanism is pivotally supported on the frame for rotation about a first axis and pivotally supports one end of a link about a movable second axis with another end of the link connected to one end of the band. In a locking position of the mechanism, the ends of the link are overcenter with respect to the first axis to provide the band tensioning and consequent prevention of seat frame pivoting. A curved intermediate portion of the link between its ends extends around a pin that supports the locking member on the frame. One preferred embodiment has its link provided with upper and lower link portions between which the other end of the band extends for connection to the seat frame, and a tensioner is provided for clamping a bight section of the band to provide proper band tension in the locking position. In another preferred embodiment, the link extends through an opening in the other band end and is connected to the seat frame by a tensioner having a pivotal lever. Both preferred embodiments have a manually actuated handle that moves the locking member and concomitantly moves a cooperable pawl on the seat frame into and out of engagement with the support tube. A mounting and thrust plate construction cooperates with the upper tube end in mounting the seat frame and limiting pivotal seat frame movement.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a vehicle seat support assembly with a locking mechanism for selectively preventing or allowing pivotal movement of a seat frame.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Current van type vehicles include seat support assemblies having seat frames that are pivotal on associated floor mounted support tubes for movement between a forwardly facing position and a position to the side and/or to the rear. Pivotal movement of the seat frame from the forwardly facing position to the side allows a seat occupant convenient access upon assuming a seated position and upon leaving the seat through an adjacent side door. Likewise, pivotal movement of the seat between the forwardly facing position and the rearwardly facing position allows a seat occupant to either view the roadway being traveled on or to view the vehicle area rearward of the seat. Locking mechanisms are utilized to lock the seat in either its forwardly or rearwardly facing position. Normally, there is no requirement to lock the seat in its position facing to the side since the seat is not used in this orientation during vehicle travel but rather only during the time in which an occupant is sitting down on or getting up from the seat. Seats of this type are quite often referred to as "pedestal" seats and are utilized widely in motor homes as well as the smaller van type vehicles.
Seats generally like those described above are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,195,848; 3,508,733; 3,758,063; 3,858,834; 3,868,084; 3,873,054; 3,885,764; and 3,926,396.


A method for gradually modifying a geological model representative of an underground reservoir to respect fixed average proportions of lithologic facies. A group of facies is selected and a subgroup of associated facies are selected. A transformation parameter is defined by the ratio between the average proportions of the facies of the association and the selection. Within the context of historical matching, a difference between measured dynamic data values and values calculated by a flow simulator from the geological model is measured. An optimization algorithm is used to obtain therefrom a new value for the transformation parameter that minimizes the difference and the transformation is applied to the lithologic facies of the selection. The modification can be applied to the entire model or to a given zone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the petroleum industry including geological modelling of oil reservoirs. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for gradually modifying a geological model representative of an underground reservoir to respect fixed average proportions of lithologic facies.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Optimization and development of petroleum reservoirs are based on the most accurate possible description of the structure and of the petrophysical properties of the reservoir. A tool is used by persons skilled in the art which allows accounting for the two aspects as an approximate way which is a geological model. The geological model best accounts for the structure and the petrophysical properties of a reservoir. The geological model includes a grid pattern forming the frame of the reservoir which is representative of the structure, and a 3 or 2 dimensional petrophysical property maps associated with this grid have to be representative of the static or dynamic behaviour of the reservoir.
Within the context of geological modelling of petroleum reservoirs, geostatistical modelling is increasingly used. In order to predict the dynamic behavior of a reservoir under production, numerical flow simulations are carried out from the geological model. In order to reduce uncertainties and to obtain a model representative of the real reservoir, the geological model must be conditioned by all of the data available. In order to apply this modelling type by integrating different data sources, the model is parameterized wherein parameters are defined which are referred to as "model matching parameters". By way of example, the matching parameters can be the average petrophysical properties of the facies (permeability, porosity, etc.), geostatistical properties such as parameters of a variogram (range, direction of anisotropy, etc.) or coefficients of the laws connecting certain properties (vertical anisotropy ratio, porosity/permeability law, etc.).
It is well known to take static data into account by means of this modelling type which allows construction of detailed geological models referred to as "geostatistical models" that best represent all of the available static data. By means of this technique, the well data, the seismic data and the geological observations (analogs, etc.) can be integrated into a coherent geological model by accounting for the uncertainties. The well data allow locally constrained geostatistical modellings by facies observations or measured petrophysical properties (porosity, permeability, etc.). The seismic data are used to describe the structure of the reservoir. In some cases, an analysis of the seismic attributes can be performed to define the spatial variations of the facies proportions, to introduce a non-stationary constraint in the geostatistical modelling process.
Taking account of dynamic data requires a suitable methodology for modifying models obtained from geostatistical modellings applied to static data. This adjusts an existing model to be coherent with dynamic data referred to as historical matching. The matching process must allow adjustment of some parameters of the geostatistical model while keeping the coherence with the static data and the geostatistical properties.
Many historical matching techniques have been developed for parameterizing and then adjusting geostatistical models to dynamic data. These techniques iteratively modify the initial geostatistical model until the simulated dynamic behavior reproduces the collected dynamic data. This problem is solved by minimizing an objective function that quantifies the difference between the dynamic data and the simulated corresponding responses.
There are known production data matching techniques for preserving the spatial structure of the geological model throughout the minimization process. In other words, it is possible to modify the petrophysical properties assigned to the grid cells of a model (a model is a set of grid cells each having well-defined spatial coordinates relative to the modelled reservoir) without perverting the global statistical properties of these properties. An example thereof is the pilot-point method that allows modifying the geological model locally around the pilot points:                RamaRao, B. S., LaVenue, A. M., Marsilly, G. de, et Marietta, M. G., 1995, "Pilot Point Methodology for Automated Calibration of an Ensemble of Conditionally Simulated Transmissivity Fields. 1. Theory and Computational Experiments", WRR, 31(3), 475-493.
Another known method is the gradual deformation method described in the following documents: French Patent 2,780,798 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,618,695, French Patent 2,795,841 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,565, French Patent 2,821,946 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 7,151,845, French Patent 2,846,767 corresponding to U.S. Published Application 2004/0138862 and French Patent 2,851,670 corresponding to U.S. Published Application U.S. 2006/0149520. This method allows perturbing a geostatistical realization of a random function (that is, a possible image of the reservoir model) from a reduced number of parameters while preserving the spatial structure of the realization. The advantage of this method is that it allows modification of the realization globally or locally. When the gradual deformation is global, a set of deformation coefficients that all apply similarly to all of the grid cells of the model is considered. When the gradual deformation is local, deformation coefficient sets are assigned to zones of the model and all the cells of a single zone are identically affected by the corresponding coefficient set. In case of a facies simulation, the gradual deformations modify the spatial distribution of the heterogeneities (described by the spatial position of the facies) while respecting the average geostatistical properties (variogram and facies proportion). The gradual deformations can be applied to the entire model or on a regional basis.
However, the change in geostatistical realization or in petrophysical properties is not always enough to explain the dynamic data. In particular, the average facies proportions can have a major impact on the dynamic behavior of the field. These proportion data can be global for the entire reservoir in the case of a stationary model (average proportion of sands for example) or they can determine the spatial trends or variations in the case of non-stationary models.
The initial proportions are generally determined from the well data and/or seismic data. They may contain uncertainties, regarding their global values as well as the spatial trends.

Method for gradually modifying lithologic facies proportions of a geological model


A media transport system includes a vacuum plenum and a belt positioned over the vacuum plenum. The belt includes at least one member having a first region and a second region that both include holes that enable the vacuum plenum to apply a force to hold print media against the belt. The belt also includes slots formed through the at least one member in an inter-copy gap positioned between the first region and the second region. Each slot is formed with a larger area than an area of each hole.

Inkjet printers form printed images using one or more printheads, each one of which includes an array of inkjet ejectors. A controller in the printer operates the ejectors to form printed images that often include both text and graphics and may be formed using one or more ink colors. Some inkjet printers move print media, such as paper sheets, envelopes, or any other article suitable for receiving printed images, on a belt past one or more printheads to receive the ink drops that form the printed image. Many printers that use belts to transport print media use a vacuum plenum and belts that have holes to generate a suction force through the surface of the belt. Each print medium engages a portion of the holes on the surface of the belt and the suction force holds the print medium to the surface of the belt to prevent the print media from slipping or otherwise moving relative to the surface of the belt as the belt moves through the printer. Holding each print medium in place relative to the surface of the moving belt enables the printer to control the timing of the operation of printheads to ensure that the printheads form printed images in proper locations on each print medium and ensures that the print media do not cause jams or other mechanical issues with the printer. In large-scale printer configurations, the belt often carries multiple print media simultaneously.
One problem with belts that carry print media over a vacuum plenum is that the print media do not completely cover every hole on the belt. For example, as a belt carries two or more print media, a gap between sheets of consecutive print media includes holes that are exposed to the vacuum plenum. The suction force of the vacuum plenum draws air through the exposed holes near the edges of the print media, which produces airflow and deviations in pressure in a region around the inter-copy gap. As the inter-copy gap moves past the printheads, the variations in pressure can negatively affect the meniscuses of liquid ink held within the nozzles of the inkjets in the printheads. In some instances, inkjets become inoperable when the variations in air pressure either draw ink from a nozzle in an undesirable manner or push the ink upwards into the nozzle. Either occurrence often results in an inoperable inkjet that can only be returned to service via a cleaning process that requires interruption of operations in the printer. Consequently, improvements to media transport systems that reduce or eliminate the occurrences of inoperable inkjets due to variations in air pressure within a print zone would be desirable.

Vacuum media transport system with reduced pressure variations in inter-copy gaps


A drop on demand ink jet print head has a chamber with a plurality of liquid passages into and out of said chamber, such that liquid is continuously moved into the chamber to a stagnation point adjacent to the nozzle opening, whereat the fluid comes substantially to rest, and out of the chamber from the stagnation point such that vector sum of liquid flow derived forces within the liquid channels is neutral. An actuator associated with the chamber is adapted to selectively increase the pressure of the liquid at the stagnation point to thereby eject a liquid drop from the nozzle opening. Continuous fluid flow internal to the system decreases the time to refill the fire chamber directly behind the nozzle opening after droplet ejection. This in turn dramatically increases the response time of the system.

Traditionally, digitally controlled color ink jet printing is accomplished by one of two technologies; "continuous stream" or "drop on demand." In both, liquid, such as ink, is fed through channels formed in a print head. Each channel includes a nozzle from which droplets are selectively extruded and deposited upon a recording surface. Continuous stream printing uses a pressurized liquid source that produces a stream of droplets that are selectively steered toward a recording surface to imagewise deposit thereon, or are captured to be recycled
On the other hand, drop on demand printing, provides droplets for impact upon a recording surface. Selective activation of an actuator causes the formation and ejection of a flying droplet that strikes the recording surface. The formation of printed images is achieved by controlling the individual formation of droplets. For example, in a bubble jet printer, liquid in a channel of a print head is heated, creating a bubble that increases internal pressure to eject a droplet from a nozzle opening of the print head. Piezoelectric actuators, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,843, issued to VanLintel, on Jul. 6, 1993, have a piezoelectric crystal actuator in a fluid channel that flexes when an electric current flows through it, forcing a droplet out of a nozzle.
Drop on demand inkjet printing systems have traditionally suffered from a problem of limited droplet ejection frequency. Once a single droplet is ejected form the print head, the ink cavity behind the nozzle opening needs to refill with ink before a second droplet can be ejected. Additionally, the system must dampen the perturbation associated with drop ejection and the system returned to steady state conditions before the next drop can be fired. All of this places constraints onto the fire frequency of drop on demand printing systems and reduces the response time of the system.
By increasing the speed capabilities of drop on demand printing system, it becomes possible to exploit the low manufacturing costs of these systems compared to faster and more expensive counterparts. It is an object of the present invention to increase the speed capabilities of a drop on demand print system by creating continuous flow through in an internal cavity of a drop on demand style print head, and to incorporate a flow stagnation point centered at each nozzle opening in the internal flow path.

Drop on demand print head with fluid stagnation point at nozzle opening


This invention is a scrubbing device particularly adapted for use in cleaning shower stalls, bathroom tile, tubs and the like. The drive motor of the unit is of the variable speed type and through a nonconductive clutch drive and associated drive cable operates a hand-held scrubber head. The prevention of accidental electric shock is assured through use of nonconductive material in the power transfer portion of the invention as well as the exterior housings thereof.

Since man first began placing indoor plumbing in houses, problems have been encountered in maintaining such areas since they remain damp much of the time. Shower stalls, bathtubs and adjacent tile and similar splash surfaces are particularly susceptible to the rapid growth of mold and mildew as well as build-ups of surface scum caused by soap residue, dirt and the like.
Over the years stiff bristle brushes used with bleach containing cleansers and a lot of arm power have been found to be the most expedient means for cleaning surfaces of the type enumerated. In recent times, some attempts have been made to mechanize this type of cleaning project. These devices invariably have been heavy, bulky systems which are difficult to manipulate and quite often, when working around water or in damp areas, can be extremely dangerous due to the possibility of electrical shock. Also the getting out and putting up such equipment is laborious in and of itself and greatly detracts from its utility.
To summarize the cleaning of bathroom type shower stalls, tubs, tiles and other like areas is a difficult and laborious job for which an adequate solution until now has not been found.


Work-bench for machining dental elements, fitted with a safety device. The invention relates to a work-bench for machining dental elements such as denture models or the like comprising a housing, a driving motor located in the housing, a milling cutter that projects above the housing and is driven by the motor, and a bearing member for the dental element to be machined that is arranged above the milling cutter and is movable relative thereto, wherein, to provide a simple form of workpiece bearing member and safety device, together with easy changing of the milling cutter and simple dust removal, said support can pivot about a vertical axis above said milling cutter and can also be swung away from said milling cutter about a horizontal axis.

The publication entitled "Harnisch & Kieth, plaster model location grinder G-F 316" discloses a work-bench of this kind in the form of a grinding machine for cutting locating notches into the bottom of models. The model is moved manually on a Teflon support in a guide against a cemented carbide formed milling cutter, so that the locating notches are milled precisely to shape. The resulting dust is sucked off by built-in exhaust means and deposited in a dust bag. The milling cutter is covered by a movable shield.
In this arrangement the design of the model support, the exhaust means and the safety device is still rather complicated. In particular it is difficult to change the cutter, since the milling table can only be removed with great difficulty and with a special tool. This requires a considerable expenditure of time and effort.
It is also known from British specification 14 62 177, in the case of a high-speed mixer having a shaft that is driven by a hydraulic motor, carries mixing blades and can be raised and lowered so that in the lowered position it extends into a container for the material to be mixed, to take precautions to prevent injury when the shaft is raised. These precautions comprise means for switching off the drive when the shaft is raised and a basket that is fixed around the shaft and extends as far as the mixer blades.


A vehicular headlamp including a lamp body, a reflector accommodated in the lamp body and tiltably supported with respect to the lamp body by an aiming mechanism, and an aiming screw which constitutes a part of the aiming mechanism and extends in a front-rear direction of the lamp body. The rear end part of the aiming screw penetrates the rear wall of the lamp body and protrudes rearward from the lamp body. An orthogonal conversion gear mechanism engaging a rear end part of the aiming screw and has a rotational operating shaft linked with the aiming screw for causing the same to rotate. The rotational operating shaft is provided on an upper end thereof with a concave engaging part engageable with the tip of a driver tool. An expanding member protruding from the rear wall of the lamp body covers the orthogonal conversion gear mechanism like a visor. The expanding member also serves as a driver guide for guiding the tip end of the driver to a concave engaging part of the rotational operating shaft.

The present invention relates generally to a vehicular headlamp for use on, for example, an automobile, and more particularly to a vehicular headlamp in which a reflector is tiltably supported in a lamp body by means of an aiming mechanism, and an orthogonal conversion gear mechanism having an rotational operating shaft for rotation of an aiming screw is disposed on the rear wall of the lamp body.
A conventional headlamp of this type, as shown in FIG. 7, is provided with a lamp body 1 and a reflector 2 accommodated in the lamp body 1, which reflector is supported by an aiming screw 3 constituting a part of an aiming mechanism, as disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 5-258602. The aiming screw 3 is rotatably supported on the rear wall of the lamp body 1. A rotational operating shaft 4 extends upward along the rear wall of the lamp body 1. An orthogonal conversion gear mechanism 5 constituted by gears 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d is provided between the rotational operating shaft 4 and a rear end part of the aiming screw 3 projecting rearward from the rear wall of the lamp body 1, so that the aiming screw 3, linked with the rotational operating shaft 4, is rotated when the shaft 4 rotates. A nut 2a fitted on the rear side of the reflector 2 threadably engages a front end part of the aiming screw 3. With this structure, when the aiming screw 3 is rotated, the nut 2a moves back and forth on the aiming screw 3 so that the reflector 2 is tilted.
In the conventional headlamp as described above, since the orthogonal conversion gear mechanism 5 protrudes rearward a significant distance, the mechanism 5 can rather easily be struck against the vehicle body when the headlamp is assembled to the vehicle so that the orthogonal conversion gear mechanism may be damaged.

Vehicular headlamp having improved orthogonal conversion gear mechanism


An apparatus of encoding an image can include an intra prediction unit that determines an intra prediction mode of a current prediction unit and generates one or more prediction blocks using the intra prediction mode, an inter prediction unit that determines motion information and generates a prediction block using the motion information, a transform unit that transforms residual signals generated using an original block and the prediction block to generate a transformed block, a quantization unit that determines a quantization parameter and quantizes the transformed block using a quantization matrix and the quantization parameter to generate a quantized block, a scanning unit that determines a scan pattern and applies the scan pattern to the quantized block to generate one-dimensional coefficient information, and an entropy coding unit the entropy-codes one-dimensional coefficient information from the scanning unit, intra prediction information from the intra prediction unit, and motion information from the inter prediction unit.

Field of the Disclosure
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus of decoding an image, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus of generating a quantized block by adaptively determining an inverse scan pattern based on an intra prediction mode and a size of a transform unit.
Description of the Related Art
In H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, one picture is divided into macroblocks to encode an image, the respective macroblocks are encoded by generating a prediction block using inter prediction or intra prediction. The difference between an original block and the prediction block is transformed to generate a transformed block, and the transformed block is quantized using a quantization parameter and one of a plurality of predetermined quantization matrices. The quantized coefficient of the quantized block are scanned by a predetermined scan type and then entropy-coded. The quantization parameter is adjusted per macroblock and encoded using a previous quantization parameter.
Meanwhile, techniques using various sizes of coding unit and transform unit are introduced to improve the coding efficacy. Techniques increasing a number of intra prediction modes are also introduces to generate a prediction block more similar to an original block.
But, the various sizes of coding unit and transform unit results in increase of coding bits of residual block when scanning a large transformed block. Also, the increase of the number of intra prediction modes requires more effective scanning method to reduce the coding bits of residual block.


Position control for pneumatic positioning devices and the like, comprising a sensing lever linked to the drive rod of the positioning device and comprising a measuring lever acting on a measuring system, whereby the one lever is seated on a position control axle with positive lock or form-fit and the other lever is seated on said position control axle with non-positive lock, and comprising at least one detent acting on the measuring lever with which the sensing lever and the measuring lever are brought into an angle relative to one another that corresponds to a zero setting.

The invention is directed to a position controller for pneumatic positioning devices and the like. Such positioning devices are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,922,952 and 4,925,498.
Position controllers for pneumatic positioning devices must be set with respect to their zero point after assembly. Usually, a zero point screw is turned until the drive rod of the positioning device just moves.
The allocation of the closed position of the positioning device to the zero position of the position control measuring system is not always the same due to dimensional deviations and variable allocation between drive rod and cone. The full range of the measuring system can therefore not always be used without readjustment of the zero point.


The present invention provides an array substrate, and adds a floating electrode layer in a contact hole for realizing an electrical connection between a metal layer of a TFT and a pixel electrode layer such that the pixel electrode layer is electrically connected to the metal layer through a bridging of the floating layer so as to decrease a resistance value and decrease the film-breaking probability of the pixel electrode layer in the contact hole. Besides, an edge of the floating electrode layer is located in the contact hole so as to reduce a size of a black matrix, increase a pixel aperture ratio. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the array substrate and a liquid crystal display panel having the array substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display field, and more particularly to an array substrate, a manufacturing method for the same and a liquid crystal display panel having the array substrate.
2. Description of Related Art
In a pixel structure of an array substrate as shown in FIG. 1, a pixel electrode layer 11 requires to be electrically connected with a metal layer M of a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) through a contact hole (via) 13 formed in the passivation layer 12. However, a thickness of the pixel electrode layer 11 is 40-60 nanometers and a thickness of the passivation layer 12 is 1.5-3 micrometers and an opening of the contact hole 13 is smaller such that the film-breaking probability of the pixel electrode layer 11 formed in the contact hole 13 is larger or a thickness of the pixel electrode layer 11 formed in the contact hole 13 is smaller. Therefore, a resistance value of the pixel electrode layer 11 at the contact hole portion 13 is higher so as to affect the display quality. In order to improve this problem, the conventional art provides a pixel structure as shown in FIG. 2, a floating electrode layer 14 is added in the contact hole 13, and the pixel electrode layer 11 is electrically connected to the TFT metal layer M through the bridging of the floating electrode layer 14 in order to decrease the resistance value and the film-breaking probability of the pixel electrode layer 11 at the contact hole 13. However, in order to avoid a short circuit of the floating electrode layer 14 and a common electrode layer 15, an edge distance between the common electrode layer 15 and the floating electrode layer 14 should be increased. Therefore, a size of the black matrix (BM) layer 16 is increased so as to decrease aperture ratio of the pixel.

Liquid crystal display panel, array substrate and manufacturing method for the same

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd


A method and system, the method may include determining a user interface to be displayed, the user interface including a user interface data element associated with a service input parameter. Information about the service input parameter may be provided to a field transformation as a transformation input, and a transformation output may be received from the field transformation.

A user interface may include various data elements that are displayed to a user. For example, a user interface might display to a user a list of all open purchase orders he or she had submitted during the last 30 days. In this case, certain information will not be available when the user interface is designed. For example, a designer will not know the appropriate dates that should be used to retrieve the open purchase orders. That is, the designer may be aware that open purchase orders "during the last 30 days" should be displayed but he or she will not know that, for example, purchase orders from Jan. 1, 2015 through Jan. 30, 2015 should be displayed (as would be the case if a user accessed the user interface on Jan. 30, 2015). A user could be asked to manually enter the appropriate dates, but such an approach may be inefficient and error prone. As another approach, a designer of the user interface could create code to determine the current date and calculate the date 30 days prior. Creating such code, however, is not trivial and may be inefficient and redundant, especially when similar scenarios (sales orders/purchase orders/bank transfers during last 60/90/ . . . days) are present on many different user interfaces.
Accordingly, an efficient mechanism for representing and implementing user interface data elements may be addressed by some embodiments herein.

Field transformations for user interface data elements


An ignition timing method and apparatus is disclosed for presetting the ignition timing of an internal combustion engine having an engine driven shaft and a wheel supported on that shaft carrying a portion of the ignition system with another portion of that ignition system supported by the engine in a relatively fixed position adjacent the wheel. A slot is provided in the shaft surface extending generally in the direction of the axis of rotation of the shaft and a further slot is provided along an inner hub of the wheel. A selected one of several different keys including spacer keys of a generally frustoconical configuration having an outer protuberance for engaging a keyway in the wheel hub and an inner protuberance for engaging a keyway in the shaft is selected and positioned intermediate the shaft and hub to fix the relative angular orientation between the shaft and hub with those keys of the frustoconical sleeve configuration compensating for the dissimilarity in the size between the hub and shaft. The spacing between the inner and outer protuberances on the frustoconical sleeve determines a selected one of the different possible angular orientations while a non-spacing key having a selected offset determines the particular angular orientation between the wheel hub and a mating shaft.

The present invention relates generally to the presetting of ignition timing for internal combustion engines and more particularly to an ignition timing method and apparatus adaptable to a number of different ignition systems on a number of different engines requiring a minimum number of relatively economical components peculiar to the particular engine-ignition combination. Even more particularly the present invention relates to a keyed adaptor sleeve which allows the use of a standard flywheel on a variety of different engines, many of which may be provided with different optinal ignition systems requiring different ignition timing.
An internal combustion engine manufacturer typically offers a wide variety of engine designs and options. For example, both two stroke cycle and four stroke cycle engines may be offered, and engines of varying crankshaft sizes may be available. Numerous ignition options may be available with each of the engine designs including, for example, solid state capacitor discharge ignition arrangements as well as magneto or breaker point ignition or other conventional ignition configurations. Further, a given ignition arrangement may be obsoleted by an improved later developed ignition arrangement and each ignition arrangement may require different preset timing for optimum engine operation.
In copending application Ser. No. 923,997, assigned to the assignee of the present application, there is disclosed an ignition timing scheme for adapting the same flywheel and ignition configuration to, for example, either a solid state capacitor discharge ignition arrangement or a magneto ignition arrangement by the appropriate selection of a particular offset key joining the flywheel to the engine crankshaft with that key having an offset appropriate to the particular ignition system employed. While this arrangement eliminates the necessity for stockpiling two different flywheels as spare parts for the same engine design, different flywheels are required for different engine configurations, for example, for engines having different size crankshafts. Further, the physical location of the fixed part of the ignition system on the engine may vary widely from design to design while the timing variations available from the offset key arrangement in this prior application are limited to something less than the sum of the widths of the two keyways to be occupied by the offset key. It would be highly desirable to extend the ideas of the aforementioned copending application, the entire disclosure of which is specifically incorporated by reference herein, to a wider variety of engine designs.


A current transformer includes a bobbin, a primary winding coil, a conductive pillar, a magnetic core assembly, and a covering member. The bobbin includes a bobbin body and a concave structure. The primary winding coil is wound around the bobbin body. The conductive pillar is partially accommodated within the concave structure. The magnetic core assembly includes a first magnetic core and a second magnetic core. The first magnetic core and the second magnetic core are partially embedded into the channel. The concave structure is partially enclosed by the second magnetic core. The covering member cooperates with the concave structure to shield the conductive pillar. The conductive pillar and the second magnetic core are separated from each other by the covering member, so that a creepage distance between the conductive pillar and the primary winding coil and a creepage distance between the conductive pillar and the magnetic core assembly are increased.

Current transformers are essential electronic components for various kinds of electric appliances. Generally, a current transformer is used for measurement of electric currents. When an electric current in a circuit is too high, a current transformer produces a reduced current accurately proportional to the electric current in the circuit.
A conventional current transformer comprises a bobbin, a magnetic core assembly, a primary winding coil and a secondary winding coil. The primary winding coil and the secondary winding coil are separately wound around a winding section of the bobbin. The magnetic core assembly is partially embedded into the winding section of the bobbin. When an electric current flows in the primary winding coil, a magnetic field is produced in the magnetic core assembly and an induced current is generated in the secondary winding coil.
As the demand on the electric conversion efficiency of electronic device is gradually increased, the safety regulations become more stringent. In other words, the electrical safety distance between the primary winding coil and the secondary winding coil and the electrical safety distance between the magnetic core assembly and the secondary winding coil need to be long enough for the current transformer. Since the primary winding coil and the magnetic core assembly of the conventional current transformer are not sufficiently isolated from the secondary winding coil, the electrical safety distance between the primary winding coil and the secondary winding coil and the electrical safety distance between the magnetic core assembly and the secondary winding coil are too short to meet the safety requirement.
Therefore, there is a need of providing an improved current transformer so as to obviate the drawbacks encountered from the prior art.


A flow control system and method especially well adapted for use on a Coanda surface. In one embodiment a plurality of plasma actuators are disposed over a Coanda surface of a wing of an aircraft. The actuators are selectively energized to either delay the onset of boundary layer flow separation from the Coanda surface, or to promote flow separation. One embodiment discloses using dual mode plasma actuators on a Coanda surface. The system and method is applicable to a wide variety of aerodynamic surfaces where control over the separation of a boundary layer flow over a trailing edge surface is desired.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
To be aerodynamically efficient, airborne mobile platforms, for example aircraft, should have highly integrated configurations that combine good performance, useful payload, and good stability and control characteristics. To achieve this objective, mobile platform configurations should have efficient, effective, and robust control effector suites. Removing conventional control surfaces offers the benefit of improved aerodynamic and structural efficiency but can degrade air vehicle stability and control. This is especially true of tailless aircraft configurations, for which hingeless yaw control concepts have been difficult to implement to date.
Pneumatically-actuated circulation control devices provide aerodynamic control potential similar to conventional moving controls but require a supply of high-pressure air to the actuators. This can necessitate bulky, heavy and hot supply infrastructure which is difficult to package in many portions of an airborne mobile platform. Electrically actuated acoustic control devices rely on harmonic excitation to alter the boundary layer. The harmonic excitation is generated using devices similar to a speaker, which includes moving parts. However, in mobile platform design, there is an interest in decreasing the number of moving parts associated with the various and numerous subsystems that the platform typically employs.

Airfoil trailing edge plasma flow control apparatus and method


Embodiments of a secure file transaction system employ a host to receive a file manipulation request for a secure file from a requester, determine whether the requester is authorized for the file manipulation request, issue an authentication challenge to the requester, issue an approval request to the file owner and process the file manipulation request based upon obtained authentication and approval.

The cyber world is a dangerous place. No matter how many layers of security solutions are implemented, organizations and their networks are still vulnerable. A targeted attack can breach purportedly secure networks and steal the data contained therein. The most sophisticated cyber security authentication tools are generally only used to challenge users at the login phase. Further, data vaults for storing critical information and files are generally provided with access doors, which expose files and/or data stored in the data vaults to unauthorized file manipulation activities by unscrupulous actors.
In various embodiments, the system of the present disclosure analyzes a user's network behavior after the login stage and automatically sends authentication challenges to an associated device when anomalous behavior is detected. Further, anomalous behavior can be presumed by the present system, such that requested access is anticipated to be denied subject to a proper authentication permitting highly temporary and personal file access. In various embodiments, authentication is required by the requester and by one or more designated file owners.
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a data vault with no doors or exits, thereby better securing stored data from any kind of exfiltration attempt, either by insiders or outsiders. In various embodiments, the presently disclosed system provides a secured container for infrastructure, software, workstation, platform, and storage "as-a-service" capabilities. The container blocks all exits by default and specifically protects against the theft or unauthorized exfiltration of data stored therein. As such, the present system provides far superior and secure data vault operations.
In various embodiments, the system can detect exfiltration attempts, identify anomalous or unauthorized actions, and block them. Aspects of the present disclosure provide and/or employ a mobile communications device application incorporating adaptive multi-factor authentication to validate users for their actions by challenging them to provide multiple distinct pieces of evidence. Further, the system disclosed herein automatically detects bad network behavior and prevents all data transfers until the user passes authentication challenges and, in various embodiments, until the requested file manipulation is approved by one or more designated owners.


Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture provide for systems and methods slot-style games having a locking feature. In one example, the locking feature may be activated based on whether a winning outcome was determined.

Social and/or wagering games of various types of such as online, offline, skill-based, games of chance, and games of mixed skill and chance are a continued source of entertainment to game players, and are often a source of great revenue for gaming companies. Some of the most popular styles of games, and one of the most consistently lucrative for the gaming industry, are those games having actual and/or simulated slot reels, which may be referred to in this disclosure as "slot-style" games. Accordingly, there is a desire to provide players with increasingly newer, more interesting, engaging, or entertaining slot-style games.

Systems, apparatus and methods for slot-style games having a symbol locking feature


Techniques for measuring Peer-To-Peer (P2P) networks are provided. P2P are initially seeded with links to feigned content. As a P2P participant accesses a link metrics are recorded about the P2P network being used by the participant. The metrics are used to form measurements to compare different P2P networks relative to one another.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks are virtual communities on the Internet where participants directly connect with one another or where they use an intermediate service to directly connect with one another. P2P has been the subject of much public debate and concern, since it provides participants the ability to share files and information with the potential of being undetected in the process.
The primary concern comes from content owners that distribute music, movies, literary works, etc. One of the more recent and high profile incidents occurred when Napster® was essentially stopped from distributing music over its P2P services for free. After this highly publicized case, many P2P networks have put checks and balances in place and have partnered with content owners to distribute copyrighted content for nominal fees. Although some abuses still remain within the P2P communities.
The entertainment industry has also realized that stopping P2P networks is not practical and in fact not presently a viable legal option. Moreover, even assuming P2P networks could be legally stopped, the publicity backlash could be devastating to the entertainment industry. As a result, content owners are trying to become active participants in P2P communities and trying to leverage the technology to their benefit for purposes of increasing sales and retaining customers.
Yet, little is known about P2P networks and even less is known about any given P2P network relative to another or remaining P2P networks. In most cases, the information about the characteristics for a given P2P network is only obtainable from the given P2P's provider, such as Napster®, Gnutella®, etc. The problem with this is that these providers may embellish their P2P's characteristics for purposes of appearing more significant than they actually are. But, quality information about P2P networks is vital to content owners and their business investment and marketing decisions.
Accordingly, improved techniques for measuring P2P networks are desirable.

Techniques for measuring peer-to-peer (P2P) networks


An apparatus for distributing gas in a processing system. In one embodiment, the system includes a gas distribution assembly having a gas distribution plate. The gas distribution plate defines a plurality of holes through which gases are transmitted. The assembly further includes a gas box coupled to the gas distribution plate, in which the gas box is configured to supply the gases into the plurality of holes. The assembly further includes a means for reducing heat transfer from the gas box to the gas distribution plate.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to gas distribution plates utilized in semiconductor wafer processing equipment, and more particularly to a gas distribution plate or faceplate for use in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chambers.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a CVD chamber, a gas distribution plate is commonly used to uniformly distribute gases into a chamber. Such a uniform gas distribution is necessary to achieve uniform deposition characteristics on the surface of a substrate located within the chamber. The gas distribution plate is generally connected to a gas box above the gas distribution plate. The gas box is typically water-cooled to a temperature of approximately under 100 degrees Celsius. A heater is generally disposed in a substrate support member beneath the gas distribution plate. The heater is typically heated to a temperature of approximately between 100 to 600 degrees Celsius. Consequently, the temperature of the gas distribution plate is somewhere in between the temperature of the gas box and the temperature of the heater. However, since the gas distribution plate is connected to the gas box, the temperature of the gas distribution plate is generally closer to the temperature of the gas box than the temperature of the heater. As a result of the low temperature of the gas distribution plate (in comparison to the temperature of the heater), a high amount of film is often deposited on the gas distribution plate during processing, which leads to a longer chamber cleaning period and an increase in clean gas consumption.
Therefore, a need exists in the art for an improved gas distribution plate.

Heated gas distribution plate for a processing chamber


The present invention relates to air-assisted, low pressure spray equipment having an improved spray nozzle including

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to air-assisted, low pressure spray equipment having an improved spray nozzle, which is especially suited for applying highly reactive, two-component coating, sealing or adhesive compositions, preferably two-component polyurea coating compositions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Several types of spray systems are known for applying two-component coating compositions. If the two components are not highly reactive, it is possible to mix the two components prior to use and apply the systems with known one-component, airless or air-assisted spray systems. These systems are generally used with coating compositions having a pot life of one hour to several hours.
Preferably, the two-component compositions are applied with two-component spray systems, which may be either high pressure (more than 100 bar) or low pressure (less than 100 bar) systems. The high pressure systems are usually airless or air-assisted airless spray systems. In these systems the two components are generally introduced under high pressure into a static mixer and are then passed through a spray tip under sufficient pressure to atomize the liquid. One disadvantage of these systems is their high cost.
Also suitable are low pressure or high pressure impingement mixers in which the components are introduced through separate orifices into a mixing chamber and then pass through an atomization spray tip under fluid pressure. The mixing chamber is generally purged with a purge rod or pressurized air. Disadvantages of impingement mixing systems are their cost, difficulty to use and typical high pressure requirements.
Examples of low-pressure systems for applying two-component compositions are air-assisted sprayers in which the components are pre-mixed and then siphoned, passed by gravity or discharged from a pressure pot through an air atomization tip. Air is passed in a generally perpendicular manner to the mixed composition from opposing outlets to atomize the composition into the desired spray pattern. A disadvantage of these spray systems is that they are not suitable for spraying highly reactive two-component systems. Both during the spraying process and especially during stoppages, the components can react to form polymer solids that clog both the liquid spray tips and/or the air outlets. This causes a lengthy down time to clean the equipment for further use.
One alternative to prevent clogging in any of these low or high pressure sprayers is to flush the equipment with a solvent or an air purge prior to stoppages. However, this embodiment results in higher equipment costs due to the presence of a third stream. In addition, the use of a solvent is disadvantageous both from a cost standpoint and an environmental standpoint.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of prior art spray systems in a cost effective manner. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive, portable and efficient spray system for two-component, reactive compositions.
This object may be achieved with the low pressure, air-assisted spray system according to the present invention. An important feature of the invention is the use of a disposable spray tip and static mixer to eliminate the clogging problems of prior art systems when spraying highly reactive two-component systems. Another important feature of the present invention is the use of an optionally power-assisted caulking gun to deliver the two-component composition to the spray tip.
Copending applications, U.S. Ser. Nos. 09/838,792 and 09/838,794, disclose the use of a disposable spray tip and static mixer in combination with a low pressure, two-component, air-assisted spray system. However, that system is intended for larger applications and does not disclose the use of a caulking gun to deliver the two-component composition. Copending application, U.S. Ser. No. 09/917,309, describes the use of a caulking gun to deliver two-component compositions to a static mixer having an optionally removable spray tip, but in that application the static mixer is inserted into a shroud.
The present invention relates to air-assisted, low pressure spray equipment having an improved spray nozzle including
1) a caulking gun having a carriage adapted to receive two or more cartridges having a nozzle, two or more rams mounted on the caulking gun for operatively engaging each cartridge to dispense a liquid component from the nozzle of the cartridge, a trigger mechanism for manually, pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically advancing the rams incrementally into operative engagement with each cartridge,
2) a static mixer having an upstream end and a downstream end wherein
a) the upstream end has an inlet port for receiving a liquid component from the nozzle of each cartridge and the upstream end is dimensioned to be reversibly connected to the cartridges of the caulking gun, and
b) the downstream end has an optionally removable spray tip for introducing the mixed liquid components into an atomizing zone and the downstream end is dimensioned for reversibly connecting the static mixer to a spray section, and
3) a spray section having an upstream end and a downstream end wherein
a) the upstream end of the spray section is dimensioned for being reversibly connecting to the static mixer,
b) the spray section has inlet ports for receiving pressurized air and
c) the downstream end of the spray section has outlet ports for introducing air into an atomizing zone formed between the outlet ports and the spray tip,
wherein the spray tip of the static mixer passes through an orifice in the spray section such that the mixed liquid components are introduced into the atomizing zone.
The present invention also relates to a process for spraying a two-component composition by
a) activating the trigger mechanism of a caulking gun having a two or more rams and containing two or more cartridges to incrementally advance a ram into operative engagement with each cartridge and dispense a first liquid component from a first cartridge and a second liquid component, which is reactive with the first liquid component, from a second cartridge into a static mixer having an optionally removable spray tip,
b) mixing the first component and the second component in the static mixer,
c) discharging the mixed liquid components from the static mixer through the optionally removable spray tip at the downstream end of the static mixer into an atomizing zone,
d) introducing air into the atomizing zone,
e) atomizing the mixed liquid components in the atomizing zone,
f) spraying the atomized liquid components onto a substrate and
g) during an interruption in the spraying process or after termination of the spraying process, discarding the static mixer and the optionally removable spray tip.

Air-assisted, low pressure spray equipment having an improved spray nozzle

Abstract: The present invention also relates to a process for spraying a one- or two-component composition with the air-assisted, low pressure spray equipment.


An electro-optical circuit for detecting fluid in a translucent or a transparent duct or tube, this circuit including an AC activated light emitting diode (LED) for transmitting a narrow beam of light through the tube and a photo transistor detection, sub-circuit activated by the LED light beam, the power to the LED being adjusted to operate the photo transistor of the detection circuit in its unsaturated, active region of operation.

This invention relates to electro-optical detectors, and especially such electro-optical detectors which detect fluids, these fluids being either opaque, translucent or transparent.
Electro-optical detectors in the past have operated on the principal of detecting a loss of signal from a photo-activated, electrical device (pick-up) which device receives a "light" signal from a light source. An object to be detected interrupts or intercepts a beam of light passing between the light source and pick-up electrical device thereby triggering a loss of signal in the pick-up circuit.
While in early years "electric-eye" type devices were used, in recent years light emitting diodes (LED's) and photo transistors have been incorporated into these devices. Such LED/photo transistor circuits are now made much smaller in size, using much less electrical power, and being commercially available at less cost than their predecessor devices.
Regardless of the type of photo electric source/pickup, i.e. LED/photo transistor or otherwise, problems still remain with existing circuits when used for detecting gas or air bubbles in translucent or transparent, fluids. This has been because light transmission through clear fluids has not been easily distinguishable from light transmission through gas or air, i.e. an empty tube. Further, in such applications the change in signal levels between these prior LED/photo transistor detector circuits have, however, operated satisfactorily with opaque objects. Some applications have been as slot detectors where the LED and photo transistor are spaced approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart with a slotted opaque disk passing therethrough.
These prior LED/photo transistor detector circuits have also satisfactorily operated as drop detectors. However, when used as a drop detector, the circuitry has critically depended upon the leading or trailing edge of a fluid drop or gas bubble to bend or distort the light beam, thereby allowing a detection.
Other light source-detector combinations have also been operated as fluid presence detectors, whereof the presence of a fluid causes a reduction in light transmission between the source and detector. Such circuits, such as spectrophotometers often utilize specific absorption frequencies or quantum effects to determine the presence or absence of materials.
Recent application of LED-phototransistor combinations have not been successful in static or in very slow moving fluidic-gas systems.
These prior electro-optical detector devices have universally operated on the physical assumption that light transmission is diminished when passing through a fluid, whether that fluid is clear or translucent, as opposed to passing through air; and blocked entirely by an opaque object or opaque fluid.
By-in-large the electrical and/or electronic circuitry involved with these prior electro-optical detector circuits has been relatively substantial and has involved operating the light source at higher power outputs or specific quantized frequencies for detection; or as in the case of the drop detectors, has required a movement for a detection.
An object of the present invention is to provide a more simple and lower cost light source, electro-optical detector circuit.
A second object is to provide such a detector circuit which does not require movement for a detection.
A further object to provide a detector circuit capable of operating satisfactorily with a variety of fluids from clear fluids, such as water and saline, to colored or dye containing fluids, to reasonably poor translucent fluids such as motor oil or paint pigment.


An image sensor and method of manufacturing the same are provided. According to an embodiment, the image sensor comprises: a circuit including an interconnection on a substrate; a lower electrode on the interconnection; a separated intrinsic layer on the lower electrode; a second conductive type conduction layer on the separated intrinsic layer; and an upper electrode on the second conductive type conduction layer. The separated intrinsic layer can have an inwardly sloping sidewall to focus light incident the photodiode for the unit pixel.

In general, an image sensor is a semiconductor device for converting an optical image into an electrical signal, and is roughly classified as a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor (CIS).
A CIS includes a photodiode and a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor in each unit pixel. To operate, the CIS sequentially detects electrical signals of the respective unit pixels in a switching mode, thereby realizing an image.
The related CIS includes a photodiode region that receives an optical signal to convert it into an electrical signal, and a transistor region that processes the electrical signal.
This related CIS has a structure in which the photodiode and the transistor are horizontally disposed.
Although the related CIS overcomes drawbacks of the CCD image sensor, the related CIS still has problems to be solved.
Specifically, according to the related CIS having the horizontal structure, the photodiode and the transistor are formed horizontally adjacent to each other on the substrate. Thus, the CIS requires an additional region for the photodiode on the substrate. Thereby, the CIS decreases a region corresponding to a fill factor, and restricts a possibility to increase resolution thereof.
Further, according to the related CIS having the horizontal structure, it is very difficult to optimize a process of simultaneously forming the photodiode and the transistor. In other words, the process of forming the transistor requires a shallow junction for low sheet resistance, but such a shallow junction is not suitable for the process of forming the photodiode.
Usually the related CIS having the horizontal structure additionally provides on-chip functions. Thus, a size of the unit pixel should be increased in order to maintain sensitivity of the CIS, or an area for the photodiode should be decreased in order to maintain a pixel size. However, if the pixel size is increased, the resolution of the CIS is decreased. Furthermore, if the area for the photodiode is decreased, the sensitivity of the CIS is decreased.

Image sensor and method for manufacturing the same


An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device of the present invention comprises a body; a head being extended from the body, the head including an internal space for accommodating; a light transmission circle being formed on the head; and a measurement module being installed in the internal space of the head, the measurement module facing the light transmission circle, wherein the measurement module includes: a plurality of first light source providing the light transmission circle with light for speckle imaging; a image sensor being positioned between the light transmission circle and the plurality of first light sources, the image sensor being spaced apart from the plurality of first light sources, the image sensor facing the light transmission circle; and a lens covering the image sensor, the lens being positioned between the image sensor and the light transmission circle.

Recently, interest in skin has been increasing. In general, dermatologic care and procedures are expensive. In addition, since it is difficult to accurately measure or diagnose the condition of the user's own skin, side effects are often caused by using cosmetics which are not suitable for the user.
The condition of the skin can be evaluated by various factors. Factors such as skin elasticity, oiliness (or oil), moisture, and wrinkles can be some criteria for assessing the condition of the skin. You can manage your own skin if you know the accurate measurement of your skin or history of your skin.
Conventional skin measurement devices have problems in that they are big sized suitable for a clinic for skin, or in that they have low accuracy for skin measurement if they are small.
To support and enhance the functionality of such electronic devices, it may be considered to improve the structure and/or software of the electronic device.