An apparatus having a fast drop-off in attraction force between magnets is provided. The apparatus includes a first magnet array having a plurality of magnets with different magnetic field orientations fixedly positioned in a first housing. The apparatus also includes an adjacent magnet assembly relative to the first magnet array and provided in a second housing that includes second and third magnet arrays, each having a plurality of magnets with different magnetic field orientations. The apparatus includes an activation mechanism configured to move the adjacent magnet assembly from at least a first relative position to a second relative position. The adjacent magnet assembly in the second relative position has a second magnetic attraction force with the first magnet array that is substantially reduced as compared to a first magnetic attraction force with the first magnet array in the first relative position. The magnet arrays may define a magnetic fastener controlling opening and/or closing of portions of a device.

The present disclosure relates to a magnetic fastener, and more particularly, to a magnetic fastener assembled in a hinged device.
Hinged devices may use a magnetic fastener to hold together the halves of the hinged device. Existing magnetic fastener designs typically require large amounts of space for placement of the magnetic fastener assemblies. Also, the opposing portions of current designs of magnetic fastener assemblies generally must be positioned touching each other or at extremely small gap distances in order to maintain the magnetic attraction. Additionally, current designs also use single or dual poled magnets, which require large lateral travel distances between aligned magnets to break the magnetic attraction force between the opposing magnetic assemblies. As such, there exists a need for improvement in magnetic fasteners.

Magnetic fastener and hinged device using same


A circuit arrangement for actuating an air-conditioning system or an automatic air conditioner in a vehicle, in which it is possible to switch the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner on and off when the engine is operating. Here, the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner is switched off, if the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner is operating while the engine is operating and the engine is switched off. Further, the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner continues to possess a function with which, when the engine of the vehicle is stationary, the residual heat of the engine is utilizable. Additionally, at least one function of the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner, which is switchable manually when the engine is operating, is switchable via the same control element used to activate and deactivate the function in which the residual heat is utilized when the engine is stationary.

The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for actuating an air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner in a vehicle. Here, the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner can be switched on or off when the engine is operating. Moreover, the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner is switched off if the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner is switched on when the engine is operating and the engine is subsequently switched off. Additionally, when the engine of the vehicle is stationary, the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner continually possesses a function via which the residual heat of the engine is utilizable.
Presently, vehicles are being increasingly equipped with air-conditioning systems. Such air-conditioning systems have a compressor with which air can be cooled. In an air-conditioning system, the power of the compressor is directly set by the driver of the vehicle or an occupant of the vehicle. Here, it is the interior temperature of the vehicle which is controlled. If the temperature of the interior of the vehicle does not correspond to the expectations of the driver or the occupant, the driver or the occupant will change the power setting of the compressor appropriately.
The interior temperature of the vehicle is thus controlled in a closed-loop manner. Similarly, it is known to continuously control such an air-conditioning system in a closed-loop manner so that the air-conditioning system thus becomes an automatic air conditioner. In such an automatic air conditioner, the driver or the occupant of the vehicle must enter the interior temperature setpoint of the vehicle. Using at least one temperature sensor, the power of the compressor is then set in such a way that the temperature setpoint in the interior of the vehicle is maintained. Additionally, or as an alternative, a temperature is also maintained while taking into account other ambient conditions such as, for example, solar radiation. The driver or occupant of the vehicle can expect this temperature to corresponding to the setpoint temperature while accounting for the ambient condition.
Because of the comparatively large power requirement of the compressor, the operation of such an air-conditioning system or such an automatic air conditioner is permitted only if its power is provided by the engine for the vehicle. The air-conditioning system and/or the automatic air conditioner can therefore basically be switched on and off by the driver of the vehicle or an occupant of the vehicle. Here, it is possible to activate the air conditioning system and/or the automatic air conditioner only if the engine is running.
Moreover, it is also known to equip an air-conditioning system or an automatic air conditioner with a further function with which the residual heat of the engine can be utilized to heat the interior of the vehicle. Here, in a manner comparable to the heat exchanger of a conventional heater of a vehicle, heat is then obtainable from the coolant of the engine. With this function, the residual heat of the engine is utilized when the engine is not operating. In the prior art, the on/off switch of the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner and the switch for the residual heat utilization function are different (i.e., separate) switches.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a circuit arrangement for actuating an air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner in a manner such that its control is simplified and the expenditure (in terms of components) is minimized.
This and other objects and advantages are achieved by the circuit arrangement according to the invention, in which at least one function of the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner, which is manually switchable when the engine is operating, is switchable via the same control element utilized to activate and deactivate the function of utilizing the residual heat when the engine is stationary.
Here, in comparison to the prior art, an advantage is achieved by eliminating the use of one control element. Since the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner is switched off automatically when the engine is switched off, the control element with which the at least one manually switchable function can be switched on or off when the engine is operating can be used (when the engine is stationary(off)) to switch the function in which the residual heat is utilized. This is because at least one function can be switched only when the engine is operating. On the other hand, the function of utilizing the residual heat can be switched only if the engine is not operating. As a result, via this double assignment of the control element, in comparison to the prior art, it is possible to eliminate the use of one control element.
In an embodiment of the circuit arrangement according to the invention, the at least one function of the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner, which is manually switchable when the engine is operating, is the activation and deactivation of the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner when the engine is operating.
Via this refined embodiment of the invention, the use is simplified insofar as one control element is provided with which different functions can be switched on or off. This proves advantageous insofar as, in the two cases in which the engine is operating and in which the engine is switched off, this control element has a switching-on and switching-off function, i.e., in the switching on/off of the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner, and in the other case the switching on/off of the function where the residual heat of the engine is utilized. Therefore, by virtue of the fact that the control element is not used to set any variables, but rather a switching on/off function is implemented, the device is simple for the user to operate (in terms of the control). This is particularly advantageous in view of the comparatively large number of control elements of an air-conditioning system and an automatic air conditioner.
In another embodiment of the circuit arrangement according to the invention, the control element is a switch. In a switch, haptic feedback (i.e., information learned by touching the switch) of the switched state is easily provided. This enables the user to determine which switched state the switch is in.
In yet another embodiment of the circuit arrangement according to the invention, the control element is a pushbutton switch. The actuation of a pushbutton switch can be input by a controller or microprocessor in a simple manner. This is advantageous insofar as it is in any case necessary to use a controller or microprocessor for the open-loop or closed-loop control of the air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner. Here, in an advantageous manner, it is possible to feed into the controller or microprocessor the external signals in a particularly simple way when pushbutton switches are used.
In a still further embodiment of the circuit arrangement according to the invention, there is at least one display element with which it is possible to display which of the functions can be switched by the control element. As a result, the operation of the device by the user becomes easier. This is because it is always possible to determine which of the functions can be switched via the control element. For example, in each case a designation of the two switchable functions can be printed onto the control element itself. Assignable to each of these designations is a light-emitting diode. Here, the light-emitting diodes is driven in accordance with the operating state of the engine. As a result, it is always possible to determine which function can be switched. Additionally, it is also possible to provide a corresponding display in a display device. Further, the control circuit arrangement can be implemented via software, hardware or some combination thereof, with reference to the controller or microprocessor.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Circuit arrangement for actuating an air-conditioning system or automatic air conditioner in a vehicle


This invention is an aggregate extruder for the deposition of a multi-layered aggregate bed having layers of differing aggregate material. The extruder is divided into three sections transversely disposed over a defined surface, each of the sections contains a different aggregate material. A front grading baffle is mounted behind a front panel extending intermediate side panels forming the front dispensing section. A second grading baffle is mounted between the first and rear grading baffles forming the middle dispensing section, behind the front dispensing section, and a rear dispensing section. The extruder is self-propelled by a hydraulically operated ram mounted to each side panel. A panel is mounted to the rear of each side panel of the hopper and extends rearward thereof to define channel within which aggregate is maintained as the hopper moves along the surface. When the ram is activated it extends rearward for engagement with a form, and pushes the extruder along the defined surface. The aggregate material from each dispensing section is deposited on the ground. Each grading baffle grades the layer of aggregate deposited immediately forward the grading baffle to a preselected level.

When rain water is collected, it is usually directed to small lakes or retention ponds that may serve as water supplies or recreational cites for a local populous. Before the water empties into the lakes or ponds, it undergoes a filtration process. Water is usually collected in canals or ditches where in a filtration system separates and removes larger debris from the water. The bottom of the canal or ditch is lined with a multi-layered filtration bed. As the water drains into the ditch, it seeps through the bed and collects in a conduit system which directs the water to a second filtration phase.
A drainage bed may consist of a sand aggregate bottom layer, and consecutive stone layers of differing gradations on top of the sand bed. Deposition of such a multi-layered filtration bed usually requires depositing one layer at a time. Each layer is first deposited in the canal ditch then graded to a desired level. After grading to a desired level, another aggregate layer of a different gradation is placed on top of the first and also graded to a desired level.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide an aggregate extruder that simultaneously deposits multiple layers of different aggregates as it moves along a desire path. Still another object of this invention is to provide the extruder with a grading means that grades each layer as it is deposited. Yet another object of this invention is to provide such an aggregate extruder with self-propulsion means.
These and other objectives are achieved by utilizing a self-propelled extruder for simultaneously depositing and grading multiple sections of a drainage/filtration bed. The extruder includes a hopper divided into dispenser sections. Each section of the hopper is filled with appropriate aggregate material to be deposited to form the bed. A grading blade is mounted toward the rear of each dispenser section for grading the layer of aggregate deposited. A panel extends horizontally from each side of the rear of the extruder to maintain the width of the bed in that area behind the extruder. Wheels are mounted to the hopper to facilitate movement along a desired path.
A hydraulic system including a cylinder and rod extension is mounted on each side of the hopper. When the hydraulic system is activated, the arm extends from the cylinder and pushes against a fixed abutment forcing the hopper along the ditch opposite the extension of the hydraulic arm. As the hopper moves along the ditch or desired path, it deposits aggregate from each section of the hopper. The grading blade at the rear of each section grades the aggregate material deposited immediately forward the blade. An adjacent dispenser section is behind a forward section simultaneously deposits a layer of aggregate on top of the aggregate layer before it.


An improved process is disclosed for manufacturing chlorinated hydrocarbon by way of oxychlorination which yields reduced levels of environmental toxins such as, chlorobenzenes, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. The process involves fixed bed or fluid bed catalyzed oxychlorination of a hydrocarbon reactant containing from 1 to 3 carbon atoms. The oxychlorination process consists of contacting the hydrocarbon reactant with oxygen or oxygenated gas and at least a portion of externally obtained hydrogen chloride in the presence of the oxychlorination catalyst in a heated reaction zone operated at from 150.degree. C. to 600.degree. C. and recovering chlorinated hydrocarbon from the effluents of the reaction zone. The improvement consists of the use of at least a portion of the hydrogen chloride from an external source other than from recovery of hydrogen chloride from the thermal pyrolysis of the product from the operated oxychlorination process, wherein the external hydrogen chloride, containing aromatic hydrocarbons, is pretreated before use in the operated oxychlorination process by a means for removal of the aromatic hydrocarbons.

The recent literature concerning the commercial use of chlorine has focused on the small but measurable quantities of polychlorinated aromatic compounds such as chlorobenzenes, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) all of which are hereinafter referred to as PCDD/F(s) and are considered environmentally toxic. These highly undesirable compounds (HUCs) are found in soil and lake sediments and their reduction or elimination from industrial production is becoming of paramount concern. The literature contains many references to PCDD/F formation which in general support the position that the formation of trace quantities of PCDD/F's is unavoidable in many industrial chlorine containing processes involving addition or removal of chlorine atoms from non-aromatic hydrocarbons. This is particularly true for oxychlorination processes, and especially true for the oxychlorination of ethylene to 1,2-dichloroethane, also referred to as ethylene dichloride (EDC), an important intermediate in the production of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM).
Because of the concerns about the toxicity and bioaccumulation of polychlorinated aromatics, minute quantities are being monitored in a variety of industries, including solid waste incinerators, EDC/VCM processes and other processes that involve the chlorination, oxychlorination or hydrochlorination of non-aromatic hydrocarbons, including the reverse processes, i.e. dechlorination or dehydrochlorination. A recent report compiled from case studies of emissions from EDC/VCM processes in Europe estimates annual emissions of what are referred to as toxic equivalents of 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro dibenzodioxin (TCDD) at 1.8 kg. See De Vorming van PCDFs, PCDDs en Gerelateerde Verbindingen Bij de Oxychlorination van Etheen, Evers, E. H. G., Dept. of Environmental Toxicology, University of Amsterdam, Contract No. ZH4005, Nat. Water Service District of So. Holland (hereinafter referred to as the NWS Study) 1989. MTC Pub. No. MTC89EE. Moreover, experts are in disagreement over what levels of these toxins are generated from both natural and industrial processes.
There are numerous literature citations of investigations concerning the various synthetic routes giving rise to PCDD/Fs. Chemosphere, Vol. 23, Nos. 8-10, O. Hutzinger, Editor, Pergamon Press, 1991. By way of summary, the significant precursors that may lead to the formation of PCDD/Fs noted in the literature include chlorophenol, benzene, chlorinated benzene, and diphenyl ether. These species have been found to convert to PCDD/Fs via condensation, free-radical and ionic mechanisms. Chlorinated Dioxins and Related Compounds, O. Hutzinger, et. al, Editors, Pergamon Press, 1982.
The de novo synthesis of PCB's and PCDD/Fs from non-aromatic precursors (including elemental forms) has been reported in the literature for oxychlorination processes. Chemosphere, Eklund, G.; Pederson, J. R.; Stromberg, B., 17, 575, 1988. The NWS study demonstrated that a number of PCDD/Fs were detected in the gas phase and catalyst residue of a simulated oxychlorination process. The total amount of PCDD/F's observed in the NWS experiments was 546 nanograms per 1.31 grams of EDC formed or 417 ng/g (ppb). The PCDD/Fs congener pattern formed in the NWS experiments was very similar to that found in the waste sludge of the VCM industries along the Rhine river basin and indicates that the laboratory study accurately modeled the process occurring in commercial units. The authors of the NWS Study concluded that copper catalyst plays a role in formation of PCDD/Fs in mediums in which carbon, chlorine, oxygen and active catalytic surfaces are present. The data generated appear to confirm conclusions of other researchers that PCDD/Fs are formed de novo in the oxychlorination of alkanes and alkenes and especially with oxychlorination of ethylene to form EDC. The term de novo is defined as formation of PCDD/Fs directly from acyclic, aliphatic hydrocarbon, such as methane and ethylene, in the presence of oxygen and HCl. The researchers presumed that aromatization of simple carbon structures was occurring in order to account for the apparent de novo synthesis.
De novo formation of chlorinated alkenes, benzenes,-phenols and biphenyl has also been reported to be formed by the reaction of CO.sub.2 and HCl in the presence of catalysts. Chemosphere, Stromberg, B. 27, 179, 1993; Chemosphere, 23, 1515, 1990. These catalysts include many commercially used materials like those used in oxychlorination processes. In addition, fly ash from municipal solid waste incinerators has also been shown to catalyze formation of PCDD/Fs. a) Chemosphere, Ross, B. J.; Naikwadi, K. P.; Karasek, F. W., 19,291, 1989; b) Chemosphere, Benfenati, E.; Mariani, G.; Fanelli, R.; Zuccotti, S., 22, 1045, 1992; and Chemosphere, Born J. G. P.; Louw, R.; Mulder, P., 26, 2087, 1993. One such study has shown that favorable conditions occur at temperatures between 280.degree. C. and 300.degree. C., leading to a consensus among investigators of incineration methods that PCDD/Fs likely form in the post-combustion vent gas cooling zones of solid waste incinerators. Thus, studies have shown that de novo synthesis of chlorinated aromatic compounds apparently occurs under a variety of conditions.
With the many reports of de novo formation of PCDD/Fs in industrial chlorine consuming processes, reduction or elimination of these by-products is highly sought. Some approaches have focused on improving the reaction selectivity to making the desired product. For example, one approach which is considered from the standpoint of reduction in the level of byproducts produced in the manufacture of EDC, is the improved direct chlorination process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,747 ('747). This liquid phase reaction of ethylene and chlorine as taught in '747 is conducted at the boiling point of the EDC liquid in the presence of a metal chloride catalyst and added aromatic hydrocarbon, such as benzene. The side reactions forming undesired by-products, principally 1,1,2-trichloroethane, are reduced. Following the view that de novo synthesis of PCDD/F's is occurring, improved reaction selectivity could reduce the level of de novo PCDD/Fs formed.
Other improvements have focused on reduction in the volume of effluent discharged from the oxychlorination process. In the balanced process for oxychlorination of ethylene to make EDC, there is provided the recapture and reuse of hydrogen chloride from the cracking of 1,2-dichloroethane to vinyl chloride monomer. The amount of waste effluent is reduced considerably in the re-use of HCl. This recycled HCl is referred to herein as "internally sourced" and this internally sourced HCl is typically separated from EDC, VCM and byproducts by distillation.
Recent developments in the world-wide chemical industry are leading to a shift in the manufacturing of VCM away from the balanced VCM process, and towards the increasing use of HCl from external, i.e., non-oxychlorination processes. The present invention is concerned with the use of this "external" HCl, i.e., from sources other than that obtained in separating HCl from the effluent generated in the thermal cracking of the oxychlorination product, e.g., EDC. External HCl is produced in industrial processes such waste incineration of chlorinated materials; the manufacture of organic isocyanates; high temperature chlorinolysis of C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 hydrocarbons; and the dehydrochlorination of chlorinated materials such as chlorine containing polymers, chlorinated hydrocarbons, chloroacetic acid, CFC's, HCFC's and other industrially useful materials.

Method for reducing formation of polychlorinated aromatic compounds during oxychlorination of C1-C3 hydrocarbons


A device and method for removing deposited material from subgingival tooth surfaces, under endoscopic guidance, without surgical cutting of the gingiva. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a simple endoscopic probe insertable into the gingival sulcus to endoscopically visualize the process of and/or effects of subgingival root planing, scaling or other plaque removal procedures carried out by other operative instruments. In another embodiment, the endoscopic viewing apparatus is incorporated into an operative instrument which is, in itself, usable to effect removal deposited material from subgingival tooth surfaces such that the operator may endoscopically view and/or guide the instrument while using the instrument itself to effect the removal of material deposited on the subgingival tooth surfaces. The invention includes methods for removing deposited material from subgingival tooth surfaces under endoscopic guidance and/or monitoring.

i. Pathogenesis of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease encompasses a group of different disorders which affect the gums or supporting structures of the teeth. The general epidemiology of plaque associated periodontal disease typically begins with the formation of supragingival microbial plaque which, if left untreated, subsequently invades the normally closed space between the free gingiva and the tooth surface. If left unremoved, such subgingival plaque gives rise to the formation of hardened calculi and areas of erosion on the subgingiva surfaces of the tooth (i.e. the subgingival enamel and root surfaces). Resultant inflammation of the surrounding tissues and recession of the surrounding connective tissue and bone then occurs. Such inflammation and recession of the periodontia results in the formation of a gap or "periodontal pocket" between the gingival tissue and the adjacent tooth surface. The gradual loss of ligamentous attachment and surrounding alveolar bone mass in periodontal disease often results in loss of the affected tooth, unless effective treatment is administered to halt the progression of the disease.
Clinically, plaque associated periodontal disease may be treated by either a surgical or nonsurgical approach.
The surgical approach to the treatment of plaque associated periodontal disease typically involves the performance of one or more surgical procedures whereby the gingival tissue is excised and the underlying tooth surfaces (e.g. subgingival enamel and a portion of the root) are visually examined and subjected to scaling and root planing under direct visualization. Although the surgical approach to the treatment of plaque associated periodontal disease is often highly effective, such surgical approach is also associated with significant expense and a significant degree of patient discomfort.
The nonsurgical approach to the treatment of plaque associated periodontal disease typically involves procedures known as subgingival scaling and root planing. Some chemical formulations for dissolving and/or removing subgingival plaque and/or calculus are also known. Subgingival scaling and root planing procedures are typically accomplished by inserting a hand instrument, an ultrasonic or sonic cleaning device and/or a rotating instrument into the periodontal pocket (PP), without cutting or excising the gingiva, for the purpose of scraping plaque or dental calculus from the subgingival tooth surfaces. The ultimate effectiveness of such subgingival scaling and root planing procedures, or chemical plaque/calculus removal methods, is dependent upon the completeness with which removal of plaque or calculi has been effected by such procedures. Because the surrounding gingiva remain intact, the operator is unable to directly view the subgingival tooth surfaces when carrying out such subgingival plaque and calculus removal procedures. The inability to visualize the subgingival tooth surfaces makes it virtually impossible for the operator to ascertain whether all of the subgingival plaque or calculus has been effectively removed. Failure to completely remove all subgingival deposits of plaque or dental calculus may result in progression of the periodontal disease. Such progression of the disease often necessitates abandonment of the nonsurgical treatment approach in favor of the more costly and painful surgical approach.
In view of the desirability of treating periodontal disease by nonsurgical treatment modalities, there exists a need in the art for new devices and techniques whereby the subgingival tooth surfaces may be endoscopically viewed to permit visual assessment and/or guidance of subgingival plaque/calculus removal procedures without the need for surgical cutting or excision of the gums.
Additionally, there exists a need in the art for endoscopically viewing the subgingival tooth surfaces and/or subgingival tissues of the periodontium during and/or after various treatment procedures directed at the subgingival tooth surfaces and/or subgingival tissues. Examples of treatment procedures which may guided, monitored, visualized and/or assessed by direct endoscopic viewing include (a) resection of subgingival granulation tissue, (b) alveolar bone seeding or bone grafting procedures, and (c) the application of chemical agents to the subgingival root surfaces to facilitate new ligamentous attachment thereto.
ii. Instruments Utilized for Subgingival
Scaling and Root Planing Procedures
The instruments used for subgingival scaling and root planing procedures include (a) hand instruments, (b) ultrasonic instruments; (c) sonic instruments; and (d) rotating instruments.

Endoscopic method and device for subgingival dental procedures


A computed tomography (CT) imager includes a scintillator and a photosensor array optically coupled to the scintillator through an optical coupling layer. The photosensor array includes a plurality of photosensitive devices disposed in a block so as to receive incident light from the scintillator through a first surface of the block; each photosensitive device forms a pixel in the array, and each pixel further has a fully photoactive region in which the quantum efficiency of the photosensor is greater than about 65%. The optical coupling layer further includes a pixel boundary light barrier that is made of light absorptive material disposed in the optical coupling layer overlying the areas on the photosensor array first surface between respective fully photoactive regions of the photosensitive devices. The pixel boundary light barrier is disposed to absorb substantially all light photons passing along a path between the scintillator and pixels in the photosensor array other than the pixel underlying the portion of the scintillator in which the light photons were generated, thereby reducing noise and cross-talk in the array and enhancing the linear operating characteristics of photosensors in the array.

Computed tomography (CT)imaging arrays typically comprise large arrays of photosensor devices coupled through an optical coupling layer to a scintillator in which the incident radiation (such as x-rays) to be detected by the imager is absorbed. Light photons generated in the scintillator as a result of the absorption of incident radiation pass to the photodetector array and are in turn absorbed by the photosensor, resulting in the accumulation of charge on the photosensor that corresponds to the flux of light photons; reading the charge accumulated on respective photosensors provides a measure of the intensity of the incident x-rays and the relative position on the array at which the x-ray radiation was absorbed.
In conventional CT arrays, photosensors are arranged in a one-dimensional array with each photosensor being directly coupled to readout electronics (in a one-dimensional array, the photosensor are aligned in a pattern along one axis). In volumetric CT devices the photosensor arrays typically comprise photosensor array blocks in which photodiodes are arranged in a two-dimensional pixel array (that is, disposed in a pattern along two axes). These photosensor arrays typically comprise a block of semiconductive material in which respective contact pads are formed along one surface of the array block and an electrode is disposed along an opposite surface of the array block. The respective photosensors in the block correspond to each contact pad; a bias voltage is applied by the back electrode to the respective photosensors in the array and results in a depletion region being formed in the semiconductive material surrounding the contact pads. Charge generated in the photodiode as a result of the absorption of light photons from the scintillator is collected at respective pixel contact pads and processed by the readout electronics to generate the imager output signal.
It is desirable that the photosensor array in a CT imager array exhibit low noise, low cross-talk between photodiodes, and a high degree of linearity (that is, respective photosensors developing corresponding amounts of charge in response to the same intensity of incident radiation on the imager). For example, to minimize cross-talk between photodiodes, reflective or light absorptive material is disposed around portions of the scintillator overlying respective pixels in order to reduce scattering of light photons within the scintillator to pixels other than the pixel underlying the portion of the scintillator in which the light photons were formed in response to the absorption of the incident radiation.
In addition, as new two-dimensional arrays are developed for use in volumetric C T, it is thought that the light-transmissive optical coupling layer in convention CT type imager arrays will present a problem with respect to cross-talk and linearity of the respective photodiodes. Optical photons generated in one portion of the scintillator overlying a particular pixel can be scattered and pass through the optical coupling layer into an adjoining pixel; this passage presents problems of increased cross-talk in the array, that is, detection in photodiodes of light absorbed in portions of the scintillator other than that portion of the scintillator overlying the pixel, which reduces the spatial resolution of the array.
Further, the absorption of photons in the region between the diodes can affect the linearity of the array as the amount of charge collected on a particular diode is a function of the voltage across the diode (the bias voltage across the diode affects the extent of the depletion region surrounding the contact pad and hence the sensitive, or photoactive, region of a given photodiode). Thus, the size of depletion region of a given photodiode is affected by signal strength as the greater the number of incident optical photons the greater the amount of charge collected, and thus the greater the reduction in the size of the depletion region. Charge not collected by one photodiode in which the depletion region has become smaller due to reduced bias voltage may be lost through recombination; this loss results in non-linearity in the array. Such absorption of photons in the region between the diodes can result from: the scintillator being larger than the underlying diodes; optical photons leaving the scintillator at an angle such as to hit the region between the diodes; and, scattering of optical photons in the optical coupling layer between the scintillator and the photosensor array.
It is thus an object of this invention to provide a CT photosensor array having low cross-talk and high linearity of photosensor devices in the array.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a low noise photosensor array,

CT array with improved photosensor linearity and reduced crosstalk


A heating device (100, 200), which can be arranged at an object (101, 201) to be heated, especially an injection molding die, has an inner jacket surface (111, 211) and an outer jacket surface (112, 212), with a heating element (105, 205) and with a thermocouple (103, 203). The thermocouple (102, 203) has at least one positioning section, in which the cross section of the thermocouple (103, 203) deviates in at least one direction of the cross-sectional area from the cross section of at least one section of the thermocouple (103, 203) located adjacent to this positioning section. The heating device (100, 200) has at least one device for locking this positioning section against displacement in and/or opposite to the direction in which the thermocouple (103, 203) extends.

Such heating devices are used, for example, in injection molding dies. They are pushed there over a material tube with a duct for the flowable material or placed around same. The outer wall of the material tube is surrounded by the heating device, which can be removed from the material tube. Furthermore, accurate temperature monitoring is important, which is achieved in practice by providing a thermocouple as a temperature sensor, whose sensor tip is in contact with the material tube and is fixed there, for example, in a crimped sleeve, which is welded to the material tube. This concrete embodiment brings with it, furthermore, the fact that the thermocouple must pass through the heating device, e.g., in a hole prepared for this purpose in the heating device, into which the thermocouple must be inserted. An example of such a hot nozzle is known, for example, from DE 10 2008 055 640 A1.
It was found in practice that the service lives of thermocouples and heating devices, which are used in hot nozzles, are different from each other in practice. However, it is complicated, if at all possible, in the prior-art embodiments to replace a defective thermocouple of a still functioning heating device or to use a functioning thermocouple of a defective heating device in conjunction with a new heating device that is able to function.


A ground penetrating antenna apparatus and method are provided for locating underground objects via radar, sonar, or similar methods. The apparatus includes one or more antennas that are rotatably affixed to support extensions that also rotate, but about an axis that is different from each of the antenna axes. The apparatus includes a linear propulsion mechanism, and the support extensions may be coupled to the linear propulsion mechanism via a transmission mechanism. In one embodiment, the supporting extensions rotate at a constant rate and each antenna rotates at that same constant rate but in the opposite direction.

In many applications it is important to be able to quickly and accurately locate objects such as pipes, cables, mines, and barrels that are buried beneath the surface of the earth. Such objects may be located using Ground Penetrating Radar ("GPR") techniques in which electromagnetic waves are transmitted into the ground and reflected. (The term 'ground' includes soil, concrete, asphalt, and the like.) The reflections are analyzed according to methods that are well known in the art to determine the location of any object that may be buried there beneath. Other methods well known in the art may also be used, including sonar techniques and inductive techniques.
GPR techniques use transmitting antennas to emit the electromagnetic waves that propagate into the ground and interact with the buried objects. This interaction results in a scattered wave, which is measured by the receiving antenna of the GPR device. By changing the location of the transmitting antenna and recording the corresponding signal that is received and then output by the receiving antenna as a function of time (or frequency) and location, one obtains the radar data from which the information about the buried objects may be extracted. However, for the radar data to be useful, the positions of the measurement locations must be accurately known. Further, it is important for cost efficiency that the system be able to cover a large area in a short period of time; that is, it is important that the system have a high survey speed, which means that the antenna must travel at a high speed.
Such high speed movement may create undesirable mechanical stresses on the antennas. For example, in the simplest scanning system the antenna moves linearly back and forth across the width of the scanning area. This back and forth linear motion requires that the antenna slow down, stop, and then speed up each time it reaches the edge of the scanning area. This type of back and forth movement creates tremendous mechanical stresses in the antennas and survey system when the system is operated at a high survey speed. In fact, these extreme stresses severely limit the survey speed that is obtainable with a linear scanning system.
It is an object of the current invention to provide a rotating GPR system for which the antenna speed and survey speed can be very high without causing excessive mechanical stresses on the antennas and scanning system. With a rotating system, the antennas do not have to slow down when they reach the edge of the scanning area, but instead may operate at a constant speed. As a consequence, the mechanical stresses are much less for a rotating GPR system than for a linear GPR system.
A rotating GPR system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,199 ("Ground Probing Radar Method and Apparatus") to Gunton et al. and in Surface Penetrating Radar by D. J. Daniels (IEE Press, 1996, pp. 200–204). Those references describe a system in which the antennas are interleaved spirals whose axes correspond with the axis of rotation. Further, unlike the present invention, the rotation in these systems is used solely to reduce clutter rather than to move the antenna system along the ground.

Multiple-axis linearly-propelled rotating sensor apparatus


A plastic autoclave enclosure for retaining and storing medical instruments and apparata which must be autoclaved includes a molded tray, a molded lid and a pair of oppositely disposed slide latches which are used to secure the molded lid to the molded tray. The molded tray has an outwardly extending flange and disposed therein a pair of spaced-apart keyhole slots. The slide latches are attached to opposite ends of the molded lid and include a protruding pin portion from each latch which has an enlarged head and this enlarged head is received by the corresponding keyhole slot. The base of the molded tray is configured with two spaced-apart ribs and the molded lid has a pair of spaced-apart ribs which define the top surface into three generally rectangular areas. The spacing and length dimension of the tray ribs is such that the base of the tray may be stacked onto the top of the lid thereby allowing a plurality of autoclave enclosures to be stacked one on top of the other.

The present invention relates in general to plastic autoclave tray enclosures in particular to a plastic autoclave tray and lid combination for medical and dental instruments, appliances, and implant prostheses.
Some of the aspects of importance in the design of autoclave enclosures include handling, opening and storage convenience, weight, compactness, durability and versatility in accepting a variety of holders and retainers for the instruments and appliances. The present invention addresses some of these aspects in a novel manner providing improvements to what heretofore have been available.
Although a majority of autoclave trays and enclosures are fabricated out of metal for durability, strength and versatility reasons, there are modern plastics whose heat resistance enables them to be used for autoclave trays and enclosures. Plastics have certain physical features that are advantageous when compared to metal and weight advantages over metal and provide the ability to easily provide unique styles and shapes for the enclosure which might not be readily producible in metal.
Autoclave trays, cassette and enclosure designs which might be of interest in order to appreciate some of the aspects of the conventional design wisdom are disclosed in the following patents.
______________________________________ Patent No. Patentee Issue Date ______________________________________ 5,098,676 Brooks, Jr. March 24, 1992 5,002,319 Chandler March 26, 1991 1,973,947 Enderle Sept. 18, 1934 3,433,269 Sackett, Sr. March 18, 1969 4,826,348 Brightman May 2, 1989 3,179,287 Rickmeier, Jr. April 20, 1965 3,091,488 Vander Sande et al. May 28, 1963 805 909 Kulbel-Germany June 4, 1951 ______________________________________
Brooks discloses a plastic sterilization and storage container which includes a lower tray portion and an upper lid portion. Disposed within the tray portion is a finger mat for supporting surgical instruments. The tray and lid are molded out of plastic and each includes an outwardly extending flange portion with the lid flange fitting over and around the tray flange. A metal clamp then pivots from the plastic lid over and around the overlapping flanges as a means to clamp the lid onto the tray.
Chandler discloses a sheet metal latch apparatus which may be used to attach a cover or lid portion to a base container.
Enderle discloses a lid and container combination in which a pivoting U-shaped latch is used to clamp together the outwardly extending flanges of both members.
Sackett discloses a rapid access closure system in which a base container is covered by a lid each of which have an outwardly extending flange portion. The two flanges are secured together by a pin arrangement.
Brightman discloses a coupling set for interlocking objects which includes first and second coupling elements each having an integral stud by which it is anchored to one of two objects to be interlocked.
Rickmeier discloses a container and lid in combination each of which includes an outwardly extending flange portion. The lid is provided with a series of slot openings and the base container has a matching series of protruding extensions. A pivotal or swivel latch mechanism is attached to the lid and provides an interlocking arrangement when the lid is secured to the base container.
Vander Sande discloses a rotary latch mechanism for use in securing together a base container and lid member. In this particular arrangement there are no outwardly extending flanges and the rotary latch relies principally on a spring clip and pin arrangement for securing the hinged lid in a closed position on the base container.
The German patent discloses a hinged lid and tray combination including a front wall, two-part latch mechanism. The lid includes an extended pin and the base or tray portion includes a spring clip slot with inwardly protruding projections. The latching mechanism relies on the lid pin pushing through the tray projections and coming to rest at a point of clearance beneath the projections. The projections are spring-biased such that when suitable force is exerted on the lid the pin can be pulled back through the protruding portions in order to open the container.
The plastic autoclave tray and lid combination of the present invention departs from the designs and features of these earlier references by providing a molded plastic, stackable design with a quiet, smooth and convenient latch design.

Plastic autoclave tray and lid combination


Network for transmitting and using electromagnetic radiation for two or more functionally different useful purposes. Such a network may be comprised of a signal source apparatus to provide information, an electromagnetic radiation generator capable of being modulated for providing electromagnetic radiation, electronic circuitry for modulating the electromagnetic radiation generator, medium through which the electromagnetic radiation passes and is transmitted, a receiver apparatus for receiving and demodulating the modulated electromagnetic radiation, a first user means for processing and making use of the information to achieve a useful functional purpose, and second user means for achieving a useful functional purpose from said radiation said useful functional purpose being different from the purpose of said first user means.

A communication network is a means for conveying information from one place to another. The information can be in audio, digital data, video, text, graphics, data, sign language or other forms. The network can be a wide area network such as an intranet in an office, store or factory. Establishing and maintaining communication networks is one of the oldest known activities of mankind ranging from the shouting and drum signals of prehistory through written messages, signal flags, signal fires, smoke signals, signal mirrors, heliographs, signal lanterns, telegraphs, radios, telephones, televisions, microwave signals, linked computers and the internet. Improving communication networks will continue to be a major technical focus in the future.
The ideal communication network would be non-intrusive, inexpensive, extremely large information carrying capability (wide bandwidth), instantaneous and suitable for use with a broad variety of transmission and reception technologies.
There have been a few reports of the use of visible lighting as a carrier in electronic communication networks. The earliest reference to using lighting to send electronic information as well as to provide illumination appears to be Dachs (U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,404) disclosing an analog amplitude-modulation (AM) scheme to modulate the arc current in a fluorescent lamp, the "carrier" signal, with an audio information signal. King, Zawiski and Yokoun (U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,434) disclosed an updated electronic circuit that also provides for AM modulation of the arc current with an analog signal. Smith (U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,145) teaches a method for encoding low-bandwidth digital information into the lamp light using a pulsed AM technique. The encoding technique involves chopping 100 microsecond slices of current out of the arc waveform. Nakada (Japanese Patent application 60-32443, Feb. 19, 1985.)reports a FM modulation and a frequency shift keying (FSK) scheme to transmit digital data using visible lighting. Gray (U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,915 Jun. 3, 1997 and PCT WO90/13067, Oct. 11, 1991.) has reported a product pricing system for supermarket shelf labels where a signal is sent from visible lighting to individual product price labels on shelves to cause the listed prices to change when desired.
Other communication schemes have been proposed that do not use the lamp light as the carrier, but instead use the lamp fixture as an antenna for transmitting conventional radio wave or microwave signals. In Uehara and Kagoshima (U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,859), for example, the inventors disclose techniques for mounting a microwave antenna on the glass surface of fluorescent and incandescent lamps. Buffaloe, Jackson, Leeb, Schlecht, and Leeb, ("Fiat Lux: A Fluorescent Lamp Transceiver," Applied Power Electronics Conference, Atlanta, Ga., 1997) first outlined the possibility of using pulse-code modulation to transmit data with a fluorescent lamp. In the latter reference, a three-level code shifts the arc frequency to one of three possibilities every Tsw=2 milliseconds. The result is a steady light output, on average, with no perceptible flicker. A one or a zero bit does not correspond to a particular arc frequency, but rather, to a three level pattern in arc frequency. A logic zero bit is transmitted by varying the arc frequency first to 40 kHz, then to 38 kHz, and finally to 36 kHz. A logic one bit is transmitted by the arc frequency pattern beginning with 38 kHz, followed by 40 kHz, and ending with 36 kHz. A unique start bit, used to demarcate the beginning of a transmitted byte, is represented by a sequence in the arc frequency beginning with 36 kHz, followed by 38 kHz, and ending with 36 kHz.
In our previously filed patent applications Ser. No. 09/291,706 filed Apr. 14, 1999 and entitled "Dual-Use Electronic Transceiver Set for Wireless Data Networks" and application Ser. No. 09/292,126 filed Apr. 14, 1999 entitled "Analog and Digital Electronic Receivers for Dual-Use Wireless Data Networks", we have disclosed visible light communications networks for analog and digital data based on frequency modulation of light. The modulation techniques include direct FM, 2 level half weight bit coding and other orthogonal bit coding schemes.
The visible light case mentioned above is a specific case of our invention which, stated generally, involves simultaneous intentional dual use of transmitted electromagnetic radiation for two completely different useful purposes.


A system and method for detecting a contaminant in a sample. The contaminant may comprise melamine or a derivative thereof and the sample may comprise a feed material. The method may comprise illuminating a sample to thereby generate a first plurality of interacted photons, collecting the interacted photons, passing the interacted photons through a tunable filter, and detecting the interacted photons to generate a near infrared data set representative of the sample. This near infrared sample may comprise a hyperspectral near infrared image. The method may further comprise fusing said near infrared data set with a Raman data set representative of sample. A system may comprise an illumination source, one or more collection optics, a tunable filter, and a detector configured to generate a near infrared data set. The system may further comprise a second detector configured for generating a Raman data set representative of a sample.

Melamine is a common chemical recently found to have been added to animal feed in an attempt to increase the apparent protein content of the product. As a result, a substantial amount of the animal feed that entered the consumer market was contaminated, killing a large number of animals. Current methods of detecting melamine and other contaminants are labor-intensive and time consuming. There exists a need for rapid, non-destructive, specific, low-cost, and routine systems and methods for assessing feed samples for the presence or absence of melamine. Additionally, it would be helpful to be able to detect other contaminants such as cyanuric acid, ammeline, and ammelide, which may also be found in feed materials. These agents may be present in due to their individual addition to the feed or as a result of melamine degradation.
Fast melamine screening requires minimal sample preparation (e.g., no extraction/centrifugation), routine analysis of a number of samples without reagents, minimal procedures and ease of operation. Such systems and methods are increasingly important because of the potential public and animal health concerns. In addition, systems and methods are needed for melamine screening to prevent protein fraud.
Spectroscopic imaging combines digital imaging and molecular spectroscopy techniques, which can include Raman scattering, fluorescence, photoluminescence, ultraviolet, visible and infrared absorption spectroscopies. When applied to the chemical analysis of materials, spectroscopic imaging is commonly referred to as chemical imaging. Instruments for performing spectroscopic (i.e. chemical) imaging typically comprise an illumination source, image gathering optics, focal plane array imaging detectors and imaging spectrometers.
In general, the sample size determines the choice of image gathering optic. For example, a microscope is typically employed for the analysis of sub micron to millimeter spatial dimension samples. For larger objects, in the range of millimeter to meter dimensions, macro lens optics are appropriate. For samples located within relatively inaccessible environments, flexible fiberscope or rigid borescopes can be employed. For very large scale objects, such as planetary objects, telescopes are appropriate image gathering optics.
For detection of images formed by the various optical systems, two-dimensional, imaging focal plane array ("FPA") detectors are typically employed. The choice of FPA detector is governed by the spectroscopic technique employed to characterize the sample of interest. For example, silicon ("Si") charge-coupled device ("CCD") detectors or CMOS detectors are typically employed with visible wavelength fluorescence and Raman spectroscopic imaging systems, while indium gallium arsenide ("InGaAs") FPA detectors are typically employed with near-infrared spectroscopic imaging systems. For some modalities, intensified charge-coupled devices ("ICCD") may also be used.
Wide-field spectroscopic imaging of a sample can be implemented by collecting spectra over the entire area encompassing the sample simultaneously using an electronically tunable optical imaging filter such as an acousto-optic tunable filter ("AOTF") or a liquid crystal tunable filter ("LCTF"). Here, the organic material in such optical filters are actively aligned by applied voltages to produce the desired bandpass and transmission function. The spectra obtained for each pixel of such an image thereby forms a complex data set referred to as a hyperspectral image which contains the intensity values at numerous wavelengths or the wavelength dependence of each pixel element in this image.
Spectroscopic devices operate over a range of wavelengths due to the operation ranges of the detectors or tunable filters possible. This enables analysis in the Ultraviolet ("UV"), visible ("VIS"), near infrared ("NIR"), short-wave infrared ("SWIR"), mid infrared ("MIR") wavelengths, long wave infrared wavelengths ("LWIR"), and to some overlapping ranges. These correspond to wavelengths of approximately 180-380 nm ("UV"), 380-700 nm ("VIS"), 700-2500 nm ("NIR"), 850-1800 nm ("SWIR"), 650-1100 nm ("MWIR"), 400-1100 ("VIS-NIR") and 1200-2450 ("LWIR").

System and method for detecting contaminants in a sample using near-infrared spectroscopy


The disclosure relates to an inorganic, halogen-free flameproofing agent produced from modified, recarbonized red mud (MKRS-HT). The agent may have a mineral composition of 10 to 50 weight % of iron compounds, 12 to 35 weight % of aluminum compounds, 5 to 17 weight % of silicon compounds, 2 to 10 weight % of titanium dioxide, 0.5 to 6 weight % of calcium compounds the weight ratio of Fe (II) carbonate to the oxides of iron being at least 1. The agent, according to examples, can be used as a flame retardant in the high-temperature range. The disclosure further relates to flameproofing agent produced from modified, recarbonized and rehydrated red mud, which may be a flame retardant in the low-temperature range as well as in the high-temperature range, methods for producing same and use as flame retardants, substitutes, synergists, thermal stabilizers, heat accumulators, heat insulators and/or sound insulators and/or as electromagnetic radiation shielding materials.

Flame Inhibition
Flameproofing agents are fire inhibitors which are intended to restrict, slow down or prevent the spread of fires.
Flameproofing agents are used wherever potential sources of ignition are located, or where the use of combustible materials constitutes a safety risk.
Rising demands for safety and the increasing use of high-grade plastics instead of metals and metal alloys, for example in the construction industry, aircraft and automobile manufacture and in interior fittings, have led to an increasing need for flameproofing agents.
The mode of action of flameproofing agents is based on different effects:                interruption of the radical chain reaction of the gases produced during pyrolysis of the material;        forming a protective coating of charred material (intumescence), in order to prevent the access of oxygen and heat;        cooling of the combustion process by initiation of an endothermic decomposition or evaporation of bound water;        dilution of the combustible gases by inert, gaseous substances (such as for example CO2 which is produced by endothermic decomposition of carbonates;        liquefaction, i.e. formation of a melt which flows out of the fire zone and simultaneously reduces the surface area.
Most flameproofing agents trigger one or more of the said chemical-physical effects:
Therefore the following 4 types of flameproofing agent are distinguished:                additive flameproofing agents—these are incorporated into the combustible substances;        reactive flameproofing agents—substances which are themselves components of the material by polymerization into plastic;        inherent flameproofing agents—the material per se is flame-resistant;        coating—the flameproofing agent is applied as a coating onto the combustible substance from the outside.
In this case in reactive flameproofing agents there are three different main approaches in order to achieve a certain flameproofing in polymer systems:                Intumescent FR systems (English: flame retardant): For example melamine derivatives with polymer;        Halogen-free FR systems: In particular aluminum hydroxide (ATH), magnesium hydroxide (MDH), ammonium polyphosphate (APP); and/or        Halogen-containing FR systems: For example polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with antimony trioxide (Sb203) and/or organic halogen FR with antimony trioxide (Sb203) and polymer.
Important reactive and inherent, but also additive flameproofing agents have been criticized for toxicological reasons, in particular because of the formation of toxic or environmentally harmful gases during the decomposition process, and are now subject to a strict risk assessment. This applies in particular to halogen-containing flameproofing agents, so that there is a great demand for so-called zero-halogen flame retardants (OHFR fillers) and in particular inorganic flameproofing agents have increasingly gained importance and continue to do so.
Aluminum hydroxide (ATH) is the most important inorganic flameproofing in terms of quantity. Initially ATH was used in polyolefin systems, in particular for so-called wire and cable (W&C) applications.
Since the nineteen-seventies alternatives to these have been increasingly tested, such as for example magnesium hydroxide (MDH), which has a higher decomposition temperature and also has been and is used in systems such as polypropylene and polyamides as OHFR filler. Disadvantages of MDH are, on the one hand, the comparatively high price thereof and, on the other hand, problems which occur at processing temperatures above 300° C., since here the products on the market already decompose while undergoing elimination of water.
At the same time as ATH, ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and its derivatives occurred, but these have inter alia the disadvantage that they are susceptible to moisture content (water immersion tests in electrical components) and already release ammonia at a temperature of 170° C.
In the technical thermoplastics, such as for example polyamides and polyesters, melamine derivatives such as melamine isocyanurate, melamine cyanurate and melamine polyphosphate have been used in addition to magnesium hydroxide.
Furthermore at load factors of up to 65% by weight of the respective OHFR filler in the flameproof polymer compound, which may be necessary for example in order to achieve a required fire class (for example UL 94 vertical V-0), technical problems occur with regard to processing (extrusion behavior) as well as property profile problems (decrease in the mechanical and electrical values by comparison with the unfilled polymer). These difficulties increase at even higher load factors—virtually exponentially—and make maximum demands on compounding equipment and operators. This statement applies to an even greater extent for the so-called Construction Protection Directive ("CPD") (cf. prEN 50399), which for classification of the FR compounds into the so-called "Euro Classes" again necessitates more stringent applications of new FR tests. At such high degrees of filling, flameproof polymer compounds can no longer be technically implemented in practice and can no longer be processed. Furthermore, during the development of CPD-compliant OHFR polymer compounds the use of so-called nanoclays as synergists has been described and for example introduced technically into the market under the trade marks Cloisite® and Nanofil®.
Since the polymer compound systems resulting therefrom have become increasingly complex and expensive, the inventors of the present invention have taken a completely different route.
It is known that red mud, which is produced as a waste product in the Bayer process for extracting aluminum hydroxide (ATH) from bauxite, has profound OHFR characteristics. Therefore in the following description red mud (RM) is understood to be the residue from the Bayer process which is produced in the extraction of ATH from bauxite.
Red mud (RM), which may to some extent be represented as bauxite minus ATH, is an extremely heterogeneous substance with regard to its chemical and mineralogical composition, its endothermic properties, its pH value, etc. The cause of the heterogeneity sometimes lies in the differing composition the bauxites used, but above all in whether the Bayer process operates by autoclave digestion or by tube digestion. In the autoclave process the digestion is carried out with 30 to 35% caustic soda solution at temperatures of 170-180° C., so that a pressure of 6 to 8 bars is established. The tube digestion process was developed in order to shorten the reaction time of 6 to 8 hours to less than 1 hour by increasing the temperature to 270° C. However, at this temperature a water vapor pressure of 60 bars is established at the end of the reactor. The higher temperatures of the tube digestion also influence the composition of the red mud. For example, in the iron hydroxide/oxide hydroxide system in the tube digestion process the balance is shifted almost completely towards hematite (Fe2O3). Because of the heterogeneity of the red mud (RM) the economically viable possibilities for use thereof is restricted, so that it must be predominantly disposed of as waste at disposal sites.
In WO 2012/126487 A1 an OHFR-system based upon modified rehydrated red mud (MR2S) is described, which is suitable as a cost-effective OHFR system for technical applications in the wire and cable field or for constructional and plastics processing applications. With the aid of the modified rehydrated red mud disclosed in WO 2012/126487 A1 a flame-retardant effect can be achieved in the temperature range from approximately 200° C.-350° C. The flame-retardant effect comes about due to the fact that the hydroxides and oxide hydroxides of aluminum and iron—such as for example gibbsite and boehmite or goethite—which are produced in the rehydration of the red mud decompose in oxides and water. Such products have applications for example in polymer systems such as PVC or EVA (PE). Products such as ATH or APP hitherto used in the market react between 180° C. and 220° C. and are regarded as low-temperature products. Between 220° C. and 340° C. products such as MDH and brucite are used which are regarded as high-temperature products. The flame retardants (MR2S) produced from RM by rehydration react between approximately 220° C. and 350° C. and thus according to the currently customary definition covers both the low-temperature and the high-temperature range.
However, within the context of the present disclosure the temperature range between 220° C. and 350° C. is classified as the low-temperature range, MR2S acquires the suffix NT (low temperature) and thus is called MR2S-NT.
However, there is an increasing need for substances which exhibit their flame-retardant effect in higher temperature ranges, so-called high-temperature (HT) flame retardants. Within the context of the present disclosure the temperature range between 350° C. and 500° C. is classified as the high-temperature range.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Inorganic, halogen-free flameproofing agent on the basis of chemically modified recarbonized red mud


An assembly and method for mounting linear structures in locked longitudinal alignment, which includes retainer bars joinable to a bracket for mounting linear structures and a pin assembly having wedge pins protruding outwardly from a base wherein the wedge pins engage opposing apertures in a locked, spring-loaded interface tightened into alignment by a retainer screw. The locked interface between opposing edges of the wedge pin and the apertures impart strong resistance to displacement forces, thereby providing a system for joining and mounting permitting adjustment and alignment of independently suspended linear structures and subsequent tightening down of the linear structures.

Modular suspended linear structures are typically assembled in place by connecting and mounting individual modules. Typical linear structures suspended from joint and mounting assemblies include linear fluorescent lighting systems. Such lighting fixtures may radiate light upwardly against the ceiling or downwardly toward the work area. Imprecise interfitting of such modular lighting systems results in an unsightly and unprofessional appearance and in spaces in the completed assembly, through which light radiates when switched on.
To avoid such undesirable finishes, strict alignment tolerances must be observed. Common designs are elongated, and often large, and typically permit no visible mounting hardware or fastening devices. Such designs make assembling within acceptable tolerances of existing designs difficult.
Moreover, these assemblies are typically suspended at heights of ten feet or more from the floor. Mounting and joining prior art structures entails cumbersome, and sometimes dangerous, procedures. These problems with prior art linear structure mounting and assembly systems for modular structures are exacerbated when the design requires that its modules contain no interior obstructions in order to provide adequate space for cables, wiring, lamps or other associated components.
A prior art system mounting assembly designed to maintain clear intra-module space utilizes a joiner aligner. However, significant problems are associated with such joiner aligners. This is an end-to-end fastening mechanism which is attached to the end of one module and frictionally engaged by insertion into the end of an adjoining module. The close force-fit of adjoining modules requires intact circumferential surfacing of the end of the joiner to ensure proper alignment. Excessive torque on the joiner aligners may cause deformations which destroy the fit necessary to attain acceptable alignment tolerances.
Moreover, these joiner aligners must be secured with retainer screws, which are awkward to insert, and provide poor resistance to displacement loads. Design specifications of many linear structures requiring close proximity of a screw axis with the longitudinal plane make mounting the required retainer screws extremely cumbersome, primarily due to the difficulty in properly turning and tightening down the screws.
Yet another prior art mechanism for joining suspended linear structures utilizes end headers. Similar to joiner aligners, end headers are also fastened to abutting ends of linear structures bolted together during installation. As with other prior art assemblies, these end-to-end interconnections require application of multiple fasteners such as bolts, machine screws, and the like in order to properly secure the assemblies. Without such fasteners, insufficient mechanical strength, i.e., resistance to longitudinal forces resulting in misalignment, is provided. Furthermore, end-to-end joiners require alternating male-female fasteners, and therefore are mounted in corresponding directions.
End-to-end securing of linear structures utilized by both joiner aligners and end headers requires exacting tolerances in order to obtain acceptable alignment and resistance to displacement forces, particularly longitudinal, i.e., tensile, loads. Moreover, the need for strict adherence to precise assembly in order to attain alignment tolerances of linear structures for mounting lighting and other fixtures must be achieved while working in awkward positions and small spaces. Such limitations may even require disassembly of lighting fixtures to gain access to the interiors of the modules, and subsequent reassembly thereof. Since interconnection of the lighting fixtures or other modules must be accomplished after the lighting fixtures are suspended from the ceiling structure, such procedures are time consuming and costly.
Furthermore, proper alignment often requires iterative adjustment of module connections and separate mounting assemblies. Such adjustments are particularly difficult if connection and mounting assemblies are not within reach, and require manipulation by at least two workers.
Assembly of prior art systems is further hindered by the need to mount and join, in tandem, more than one linear structure at a time. This coupling typically requires use of temporary support structures to keep the subassemblies in place while being aligned and mounted. The need for temporary structures to support the mounting assemblies and linear structures while they are being installed exacerbates the problems associated with difficult access and inconvenience of installation of such prior art assemblies. Some such problems are the safety risks associated with premature dismantling and collisions with these obstructive temporary support structures.
Thus, until now, there has been no system addressing the above problems with existing joint and mounting assemblies for linear fixtures; to the contrary, known assemblies perpetuate problems with alignment and stress resistance associated with prior art assemblies. Unfortunately, therefore, there persists an ongoing need for a joint and mounting assembly having accessible and readily installed connectors, which provides adequate mechanical strength for maintenance of acceptable alignment tolerances.

Integral joint and mounting assembly for suspended linear structures


A terminal crimping structure includes a terminal crimped to a copper alloy wire. The terminal has a crimping piece portion crimped to the copper alloy core wire portion. A rate of compression of the copper alloy core wire portion, of a particular diameter, by the crimping piece portion is determined from a relative relation between a parameter varying according to the ratio of (the cross-sectional area of the copper alloy core wire portion at a crimped portion)/(the cross-sectional area of the copper alloy core wire portion before crimping) and a parameter varying according to the ratio of (a cross-sectional area of an annealed copper core wire portion at a crimped portion)/the cross-sectional area of the annealed copper core wire portion before crimping) which is the rate of compression of the annealed copper core wire portion by the crimping piece portion.

This invention relates to a terminal crimping structure and a terminal crimping method in which a metal terminal having a pair of crimping piece portions extending upwardly respectively from opposite side edges of a base plate portion thereof is crimped (press-clamped) to a copper alloy wire of an electric wire, and the invention also relates to a wire harness having this terminal crimping structure.
For example, there is known one related metal terminal in which a compression rate A {=(a cross-sectional area of that portion of a conductor surrounded by crimping piece portions/a cross-sectional area of the conductor before crimping) which is the ratio of (the cross-sectional area of the conductor after crimping)/(the cross-sectional area of the conductor before crimping) is set to 80% to 85% (see, for example, JP-UM-A-3005065).
Usually, core wires of electric wires are different in the value of a strain in an initial condition before crimping, depending on their material and processing. And besides, even when the cores wires are subjected to the same compression, the core wires are different in the amount of change of a tensile strength per unit area. Therefore, the compression rate need to be determined taking the material and processing of the core wire of the electric wire into consideration.
In the JP-UM-A-3005065, however, the compression rate is not determined taking the material and processing of the core wire of the electric wire into consideration, and therefore it is difficult to secure a desired mechanical performance and a desired electrical performance.

Terminal crimping structure and terminal crimping method of crimping terminal to copper alloy wire and wire harness with the terminal crimping structure


Modular fountain pens useable with inks of varying viscosities that utilize a nib with exterior grooves for conveying ink, which removably fits into a coupler that places the nib in fluid communication with a reservoir by way of a central ink tube. The coupler removably secures into a housing, which is closed on its opposite end by a rotating end cap designed to engage the ink reservoir so as to allow the pen user to adjust the internal volume of the reservoir. The pen allows for quick assembly and disassembly, which allows the pen to be easily cleaned between uses to accommodate fluid inks that may leave heavy residues and also allows for the appearance of the pen to be changed according to user tastes. The use of a quick-removing nib allows for a double-tipped nib to be used, with different writing tips, and easy swapping by the pen user between writing tips.

The present disclosure relates generally to fountain pens. In particular, fountain pens that are capable of using a variety of different unconventional fluids for inks, such as wine, juice, soy sauce, etc., are described.
Fountain pens, developed from historical writing instruments such as the dip pen and quill, is comprised of an ink reservoir which feeds a nib, with both components retained in a housing that facilitates use of the pen. These basic components and the essential design of a fountain pen have been known for centuries. Despite the widespread adoption of more modern writing implements such as ball-point pens, fountain pens continue to enjoy a widespread usage by enthusiasts who employ them for artistic purposes, nostalgia, or to provide a more formal flourish in communications. The nib of a typical modern fountain pen is made of metal, which tapers to a pointed tip, and is split from the tip down a portion of its length. The split forms a channel that conveys ink from the pen's reservoir to the tip, to enable writing. Due to the split in the nib, writing with a typical fountain pen results in strokes of varying sizes depending upon the pressure used in writing. The greater the pressure used, the more the split opens at the tip, resulting in an increasingly broad stroke. This split also results in a fountain pen having a somewhat flattened contact point with the writing surface, which causes the pen's writing performance to vary depending upon the angle with which the writer holds the pen.
Dip pens, a predecessor to the fountain pen as mentioned above, can be purchased with nibs that are constructed using glass or a similarly hard material, shaped to a conical point. Instead of a split for conveying ink, multiple channels are cut into the surface of the nib, which act as small reservoirs. The pen is used by periodically dipping the nib into an ink well, which replenishes the ink held in the nib channels. These channels are often cut in a spiral fashion to increase the amount of ink the pen can retain between dips. The use of such a conical nib enables more consistent stroke widths, as the width of the nib in contact with the writing surface does not vary according to writing pressure. Furthermore, writing with a glass nib is slightly easier for left handed writers as compared to a fountain pen, as the nib comes to a slightly rounded conical point and is less sensitive to the angle at which the writer holds the pen.
Known fountain pens are not entirely satisfactory for the range of applications in which they are employed. For example, the performance of existing pens is highly dependent upon the viscosity and type of ink used. The small channels and passageways present on metal nib fountain pens can become clogged if unsuitable fluids are used for ink, resulting in diminished writing performance. Similarly, ink with too high a viscosity may not flow easily. With their simplistic design, dip pens are more immune to clogging, but lack the reservoir of a fountain pen that enables relatively continuous writing. Furthermore, currently available glass nib dib pens usually have a nib that is integral to the body of the pen. Should the nib break, the pen is essentially rendered useless and must be discarded.
Thus, there exists a need for improved fountain pens that improve upon and advance the design of known fountain and dip pens. Examples of new and useful fountain pens relevant to the needs existing in the field are discussed below.
Disclosure addressing one or more of the identified existing needs is provided in the detailed description below. Examples of references relevant to fountain pens include U.S. Pat. No. 1,205,004, and Chinese Patent CN 202491558 U. The complete disclosures of the above patents and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.


According to one embodiment, a video processing apparatus includes a content list display module, a content register and a controller. The content list display module is configured to display a list of contents capable of being acquired via a network. The content register is configured to register contents which are acquired via any of broadcasting, a recording medium and the network and on which any processing operation such as reproduction, record or reservation is performed. The controller is configured to change a display form of the contents registered in the content register into a different display form from other contents among the contents displayed in a list in the content list display module.

As is well known, in recent digital television broadcast receiving apparatuses, there is widely used not only the function of recording and reproducing received programs on a recording medium such as hard disk or optical disk but also the function of accessing a specific server via a network such as Internet and acquiring desired contents from the server for viewing, recording and reproducing the same.
The number of contents capable of being acquired via a network is vast, and even when the contents are retrieved in a narrowed range with set genre or keywords, the number thereof is still huge. Thus, even when many retrieved contents are displayed in a list, it is very difficult for a user to find desired contents therefrom.

Video processing apparatus and video processing method


A connection manager which requires re-authentication of a user of a permanent virtual connection (PVC). Data transfer may be disabled upon the occurrence of a pre-specified condition, and is enabled only upon proper authentication. An out-of-band connection (e.g., another PVC) may be used for such authentication. The connection manager may disable data transfer by a controlling a customer premise equipment (CPE) serving the managed PVC.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to networks, and more specifically to a method and apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of a permanent virtual connection provisioned on a network.
2. Related Art
Networks are often used to provide virtual connections between end systems. A typical network includes several network elements (e.g., switches, routers, DSL access multiplexors) to provide a virtual connection between two end systems (e.g., telephones, computer systems). A connection provides the necessary data transport to enable network applications (e.g., voice calls, remote access) between the two end systems. A connection is generally referred to as a virtual connection due to the absence of dedicated wires connecting the end systems.
In a typical situation, a user uses a user system (e.g., computer system implementing client software) to access a protected system (e.g., a computer system implementing server software). An accessed system is generally referred to as a protected system because it is often desirable to prevent unauthorized access to the accessed system. The user system and protected system are examples of end systems. In general, several user systems access a protected system and an organization (e.g., a corporation) may have several protected systems serving several different purposes and applications.
Some connections between user systems and protected systems may be provided as permanent virtual connections (PVCs). A permanent virtual connection generally refers to a virtual connection which not terminated when not in use. As an illustration, a non-permanent virtual connection may be terminated when a voice call using the connection is terminated. On the other hand, a permanent virtual connection may not be terminated even if a voice call using the connection is terminated.
Devices such as customer premise equipment (CPE) are often used in provisioning the PVCs (any virtual connections, in general) as is well known in the relevant arts. A typical PVC is provisioned between two dedicated CPEs. A user system generally sends and receives data to/from one CPE (conveniently termed as xe2x80x9cuser CPExe2x80x9d hereafter) and a protected system sends and receives data to/from another CPE. The CPEs in turn use a provisioned PVC for transferring the data between the user system and the protected system.
One problem with such PVCs is that there may be an enhanced risk of unauthorized access to protected systems. The risk is generally due to the feature of not terminating PVCs even when not in use. As an illustration, an authorized user may first logon to a protected system from a user system using a provisioned PVC and leave the session active. As the PVC is not terminated even if no data is transferred, an unauthorized user may later work with the protected system using the same user system and active session. Such unauthorized access may be undesirable.
Password type authentication mechanisms are often used on protected systems for protection against unauthorized use. Some protected systems may use periodic authentication, at least upon inactivity in a session. Such periodic authentication may prevent unauthorized access in some situations. However, not all protected systems may have such periodic authentication mechanisms. In addition, authentication mechanisms may not be robust on the protected systems. Accordingly, an administrator of the protected systems may be concerned about the risk of unauthorized use and access of the protected systems.
Therefore, what is needed is a method and apparatus for preventing unauthorized use and access of any protected systems accessible by a permanent virtual connection provisioned on a network.
The present invention may prevent unauthorized use of a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) (xe2x80x9cmanaged PVCxe2x80x9d) by forcing a user to authenticate upon the occurrence of a pre-specified condition. A telecommunication system in accordance with the present invention may include a user system connected to a user CPE, and a protected system connected to a managed CPE. A network is provided between the two CPEs. A managed PVC may be provisioned on the network between the user CPE and the managed CPE.
In accordance with the present invention, a connection manager may determine whether any pre-specified condition has occurred. If the condition has occurred, the connection manager may block data transfer on the managed PVC by interfacing preferably with the managed CPE. Absence of data transfer for a pre-specified duration is an example of a condition.
The user may then be required to authenticate before allowing the data transfer on the managed PVC. An out-of-band connection may be used for such authentication. The out-of-band connection may be implemented by another PVC provided on the same network supporting the managed PVC.
Due to the authentication procedure, unauthorized use of the managed PVC may be prevented. In addition, as the out-of-band connection can also be provided on the network, the implementation of authentication procedure may be simplified.
In an embodiment, the connection manager includes an access control block and an authentication server. The access control block may control the data flow on the managed PVC by controlling the managed CPE. The access control block may be designed to operate with a pre-existing authentication server used by any other systems, thereby reducing the cost of implementing the present invention.
Thus, the present invention may prevent unauthorized use of a managed PVC by requiring a user to authenticate periodically.
The present invention prevents (or minimizes) unauthorized use of protected systems irrespective of the robustness of any authentication loopholes on protected systems as the user is required to authenticate for transferring data on the PVCs providing access to the protected systems.
The present invention provides a cost-effective mechanism for authentication by providing another PVC using the shared network.
The present invention enables pre-existing authentication servers to be used by separating the access control block from the authentication server.
Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements. The drawing in which an element first appears is indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number.

Method and apparatus for preventing unauthorized use of a permanent virtual connection


Provided is a curable composition for photo imprints excellent in the mold releasability and the ink jettability. The curable composition for photo imprints, comprising: a polymerizable compound (A); a photo-polymerization initiator (B); and a mold releasing agent (C), the mold releasing agent (C) being represented by the formula (I) below. Rf represents a C1-8 fluorine-containing alkyl group having two or more fluorine atoms; m represents 1 or 2; L represents a single bond or divalent linking group; n represents 1 or 2; X represents a single bond, oxygen atom, sulfur atom, or nitrogen atom; R1 represents a C1-8 substituent being free from a polymerizable group; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, C1-8 substituent, or divalent linking group; p represents 1 or 2, q represents 0 or 1, and r represents 1 or 2; R1 and R2 may combine with each other to form a ring.

Imprinting is a technique evolved from embossing well known in the field of manufacture of optical disk, which can precisely transfer fine patterns, by pressing a master mold having an irregularity pattern formed thereon (generally referred to as mold, stamper or template) against a resist material to thereby mechanically deform it. In recent years, the imprinting has been expected to be applied to various fields, since a mold, manufactured only once, will be used repetitively and economically for forming fine structures such as nano-structure.
Proposed imprinting processes include thermal imprinting using thermoplastic resin as a material to be processed (see Non-Patent Literature 1, for example), and photo imprinting using curable composition (see Non-Patent Literature 2, for example). In the thermal imprinting, a mold is pressed against a polymer resin heated at or above the glass transition temperature, cooled down to or below the glass transition temperature, and then released to thereby transfer the fine structure onto the resin. The method is very simple and is applicable to a variety of resin materials and glass materials.
On the other hand, in the photo-imprinting, a curable composition is irradiated with light through a translucent mold or light-transmissive substrate for photo-curing, and the mold is then released to transfer the fine pattern onto the photo-cured article. The method enables imprinting at room temperature, and is applicable to the field of high-precision processing such as manufacture of semiconductor integrated circuit. Recent reports have described new developments of nano-casting based on combination of advantages of both processes, and reversal imprinting capable of creating a three-dimensional stacked structure.
Applications below have been proposed for these imprinting processes.
A first application relates to the case where the molded pattern per se has a function, and is usable as an essential component or structural member in nano-technology. Examples include various micro- or nano-optical components, high-density recording media, optical film, and structural members in flat panel display device.
A second application relates to construction of a stacked structure by monolithic molding of micro-structure and nano-structure, or by simple inter-layer alignment, and use of such structure for manufacture of μ-TAS (Micro-Total Analysis System) or biochip.
A third application relates to use of the molded pattern as a mask for processing a substrate typically by etching. With the aid of high-precision alignment and high level of integration, this technique is applicable to manufacture of high-density semiconductor integrated circuit, manufacture of transistor for liquid crystal display device, and processing of magnetic material for next-generation hard disk called patterned medium, replacing the conventional lithographic technique. Efforts for practicing the imprinting, in relation to such applications, have been gathering momentum in these years.
From the beginning, the imprinting has suffered from mold releasability since it involves a process of releasing a mold. As a method of improving the mold releasability, there has been known a method of treating the surface of the mold using a mold releasing agent such as silane coupling agent having a perfluoro group. While the method, capable of reducing the surface energy of mold, is highly effective in terms of improving the mold releasability, the durability has remained insufficient due to degradation of the mold releasing agent as the imprinting is repeated.
As an effort of improving the durability of the mold releasing treatment, there has been known a method of incorporating a silane coupling agent having a perfluoro group into a curable composition (Non-Patent Literature 3). This method has suffered from poor shelf stability due to reactivity of the silane coupling agent, and this has resulted in increased defect of imprinted pattern.
As an effort of improving the mold releasability, there have been known a method of incorporating a surfactant having a perfluoro group into the curable composition (Patent Literature 1), and a method of incorporating a polymerizable compound having an alkyl group which contains two or more fluorine atoms into the curable composition (Patent Literature 2). These methods are successful in terms of ensuring a good shelf stability of the curable composition, which has been degraded by the silane coupling agent.
In recent years, ink jet process has attracted a lot of attention particularly in applications in need of precisely forming ultra-fine patterns (for example, etching resist for processing semiconductor substrate) (Patent Literature 3). The ink jet process, capable of controlling the amount of the curable composition depending on sparseness and denseness of pattern, can successfully reduce variation in the thickness of residual film. The process also takes an advantage over spin coating, in terms of efficiency of utilization of material. Meanwhile, the process has suffered from incomplete filling of the curable composition or non-uniform thickness of the residual film, if ink jetting is inaccurate and unstable.

Curable composition for photo imprints, method for forming pattern, fine pattern, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device


A display device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a display panel including a display region and a non-display region and a housing accommodating the display panel therein. The device also includes a light sensing unit interposed between the display panel and the housing, the light sensing unit facing the display panel in the non-display region. The light sensing unit is configured to detect light that is totally reflected from the display panel and is emitted from a side of the display panel.

Field
The described technology generally relates to a display device.
Description of the Related Technology
To serve our information-oriented society, various display technologies have been developed, for example, organic light-emitting diode (OLED), liquid crystal display (LCD), electrophoretic display (EPD), and electro-wetting display (EWD) panel have been applied to a display device.
As OLED and LCD displays are repeatedly used, the respective OLEDs and backlight unit degrade, resulting in reduced luminance and image quality.
A typical OLED or LCD display includes a compensation circuit to adapt the luminance of the OLED or the backlight unit according to usage. For example, the compensation circuit may regulate the luminance of the OLED or the backlight unit, depending on light intensity that is received by a light sensor placed on a side of the display panel.