A manual powered hoist and ramp system for pickup trucks enables a single person to lift heavy objects located on handtrucks or dollies onto the loading platform of the truck. The truck tailgate has a pivoted flap extension to form a ramp inclined from the truck loading platform to the ground when pivoted into its opened ramp position with the flap extended. An accompanying hoist has a counterforce mechanism mounted on a pair of elevated stanchion posts on opposite sides of the truck loading platform for producing an upward assisting lifting force establishing tension in a line extending to the ground for attachment to a handtruck or dolly. That force directed substantially parallel to the ramp tending to move the load up the ramp thus enables a single person to handle a heavier load, such as a refrigerator, for hoisting onto the truck platform. The hoist is manually powered and thus stores a force in the counterforce mechanism as the line is extended to ground level to attach to a loaded hand truck or the like. The counterforce mechanism relies upon the weight of lead masses or the like to provide enough lifting force that a single person can manipulate safely larger loads between ground level and the truck platform. The hoist-ramp assembly stores on a pickup truck to convert it to a one person moving vehicle capable of moving large, heavy furniture pieces such as refrigerators.

For loading pickup trucks with heavy objects, such as refrigerators usually moved on dollies or hand trucks, it has been customary to pick up the objects and lift them to the truck loading platform. For larger, heavier loads and larger size objects generally encountered in moving or delivering furniture, this has required two persons, thus limiting the utility of the truck for this purpose and imposing a high labor cost.
Even if auxiliary ramps and power assist hoists were available for use when needed on heavier loads, such would not be particularly adaptable to the peculiar characteristics of pickup trucks. For example, how would ramps and or hoists be anchored to the truck body? Or where would such equipment be stored? And how much setup time would be required to use such auxiliary equipment? Under such circumstances, the use of accessories for expanding the utility of pickup trucks has not become common.
It is a further problem that affects the complexity, operability and expense of powered hoists for loading trucks that electric or hydraulic motor power is conventionally required. Thus, there are no known unmotored power hoist assists specifically applicable for use in and on pickup trucks.
It is therefore a general object of this invention to increase the utility of pickup trucks for moving heavy and awkwardly sized loads.
It is another object of this invention to increase the load capacity that a single person can handle when loading heavy and bulky objects on the loading platform of a pickup truck.
It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a built in hoist-ramp accessory for pickup trucks that provides for partially hoisting a loaded wheeled dolly or hand truck upwardly to the loading platform of the truck without requiring electric or hydraulic motors.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be found throughout the following description, drawings and claims.


For each of a plurality of storage devices, there is stored a response time required from when an input/output request sent from a host processor is received until when a processing result of the request is sent to the host processor. One or a plurality of response-time upper limit values assigned respectively to one or a plurality of files to be stored in the storage device are stored and managed. The upper limit value of the file to be stored and each of the response times of the storage devices are compared, and according to the comparison result, a storage device for storing the file is selected. Through such a structure, an operational form of a storage control device may be optimized.

The present application claims priority upon Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-325132 filed on Oct. 23, 2001, which is herein incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a storage control device which stores and manages data sent from a host processor connected to communicate therewith, and particularly relates to a technique for optimizing a operational form of the storage control device.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well known, processing performance of a computer system comprising a host processor, such as a host computer, and a storage control device, such as a disk array device, connected thereto highly depends on a processing speed of an input/output process from the storage control device to the host processor. A typical conventional technique for improving the processing speed of the storage control device is, for example, utilization of a cache memory, and various attempts have been made in the past regarding an efficient utilization of the cache memory (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 8-263380).
Incidentally, jobs conducted by the host processor in operation generally include both a job requiring a high input/output processing priority such as a transaction processing or an image data transmission, and a job that does not require much priority. In such a case, it is preferable upon operation of the computer system to prioritize the input/output process of a job having high priority.
However, in a conventional computer system, there are many cases where circumstances of the host processor are not always reflected in the processing of the storage control device. For example, even when there is contention between jobs in trying to allocate a cache memory resource, an order of data processing is not decided according to the processing priority. Thus, there may be cases where a low processing priority job (i.e., a job having a low processing priority) may be processed with priority over a high processing priority job (i.e., a job having a high processing priority).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Two separate electrooptic phase modulators are used in a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer to vary the absolute and relative optical phases of two orthogonally polarized modes of an input signal independently of each other. A conventional Y-branch splitter on lithium niobate splits the input signal equally into the two waveguide phase modulators and an external polarization splitter recombines the two phase modulated signals in orthogonal polarization states. The polarization in the interferometer is maintained by connecting the outputs of the two phase modulators to polarization maintaining fibers. An alternate embodiment of the present invention uses an additional 3-dB directional coupler to mix the two phase modulated signals before they are combined in orthogonal polarization states.

Very long optical fiber transmission paths, such as those employed in undersea or transcontinental terrestrial light wave transmission systems, employ optical repeaters along the path. As such, such fiber paths are subject to a host of impairments that accumulate along the length of the optical fiber composing the transmission path, thus causing the system performance to degrade.
Experimental evidence has shown that polarization dependent effects, induced by the optical fiber itself and/or other optical components (e.g., repeaters, amplifiers, etc.) along the transmission path, contribute to signal fading and signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) fluctuations. One of the polarization dependent effects is termed polarization hole burning (PHB), which is related to the population inversion dynamics of optical amplifiers. PHB reduces the gain of optical amplifiers within a transoceanic transmission system for any signal having a state of polarization ("SOP") parallel to that of the primary optical signal carried by the transmission system, whereas the gain provided by these amplifiers for optical signals having an SOP orthogonal to that of the primary signal remains relatively unaffected. In simplified terms, the primary optical signal produces an anisotropic saturation of the amplifier that is dependent upon the SOP of the primary optical signal. The anisotropic saturation reduces the population inversion within the amplifier, and results in a lower gain for optical signals having the same SOP as the primary signal. This effectively causes the amplifier to preferentially enhance noise having an SOP orthogonal to that of the primary signal. This enhanced noise lowers the SNR of the transmission system and causes an increased bit error rate ("BER") .
One method of eliminating anisotropic gain saturation (i.e. polarization hole burning) in erbium-doped fiber amplifiers in optically amplified lightwave systems is to use high-speed polarization scramblers which depolarize the launched optical information signal. An example of such a prior art polarization scrambler is described in Heismann et al, "Electrooptic Polarization Scramblers for Optically-Amplified Long-Haul Transmission Systems,"IEEE Photon. Technology Letters 6, p. 1156 (1994).
Other methods to improve the transmission of optical information signals along such optically-amplified paths include the use of additional bit-synchronous phase modulation at the clock frequency of the optical information signal. This type of phase modulation improves the performance of the non-return-to-zero (NRZ) systems through partial, nonlinear conversion of the phase modulation into amplitude modulation. Typically, a single waveguide polarization scrambler generates a combination of polarization and phase modulation if the input light is linearly polarized at 45.degree.. Examples of polarization scramblers based on this type of modulation are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,678, entitled "Apparatus and Method Employing Fast Polarization Modulation To Reduce Effects of Polarization Hole Burning and/or Polarization Dependent Loss," issued to Heismann et al on Oct. 25, 1994 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/312,848, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,162, entitled "Synchronous Polarization and Phase Modulation for Improved Performance of Optical Transmission Systems," filed Sep. 27, 1994 by Bergano, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Generally, conventional polarization scramblers function by applying a voltage, V(t), to the drive electrode of the modulator which induces different optical phase shifts for the TE- and TM-polarized modes via the r.sub.13 and r.sub.33 electro-optic coefficients, respectively. The induced phase shift for the TM-polarized mode, .PHI..sub.TM (t), is given by: EQU .PHI..sub.TM (t)=.GAMMA.(r.sub.33 /.lambda..sub.o)V(t),
where .GAMMA. is a constant, .lambda..sub.o is the optical wavelength in free space, and r.sub.33 .apprxeq.30.8.times.10.sup.-12 m/V. Similarly, the induced phase shift for the TE-polarized mode, .PHI..sub.TE (t), is given by: .PHI..sub.TE (t)=.GAMMA.(r.sub.13 /.lambda..sub.o)V(t),
where and r.sub.13 .apprxeq.8.6.times.10.sup.-12 m/V. As represented by these equations, the two phases in these conventional phase modulators are shifted in the same direction but at substantially different rates (r.sub.33 .apprxeq.3.6r.sub.13). This gives rise to a differential TE-TM phase retardation, .PHI.(t), with .PHI.(t)=.PHI..sub.TM (t)-.PHI..sub.TE (t)=(.GAMMA./.lambda..sub.o)(r.sub.33 -r.sub.13)V(t) and to a common phase modulation, exp(j.PSI.(t)), with .PSI.(t)=(.PHI..sub.TM (t)+.PHI..sub.TE (t))/2=(.GAMMA./2.lambda..sub.o)(r.sub.33 +r.sub.13)V(t). Hence, the relative amounts of phase and polarization modulation in prior art devices are dependent upon each other by the ratio (r.sub.33 +r.sub.13)/(2(r.sub.33 --r.sub.13)).
Therefore, there exists a need in this art to provide a high-speed polarization scrambler which can adjust the phase and polarization modulation independently. In particular, there exists a need for a polarization scrambler which can produce a pure (chirp free) polarization modulation as well as a pure phase modulation. The present invention addresses these needs.

High-speed polarization scrambler with adjustable chirp


A random number generating apparatus includes a noise source, a circuit for generating timing signals from the noise source, and a digital circuit that freely and continuously cycles through a predetermined distribution of states. The states of the digital circuit are stored at random times in accordance with the timing signals and are collected to form bytes of random numbers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to random number generating methods and apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for generating nonreproducible, nonperiodic random numbers using electrical noise.
2. Description of the Related Art
Random numbers are useful for a variety of different applications. For example, computer-implemented simulations that model physical objects can receive streams of random numbers as input data to assist in predicting how simulated objects may react or behave in the real world. Random numbers are also useful in the field of data security, where data can be encrypted by combining it with a sequence of random numbers. Decryption of the encrypted data requires knowledge of the sequence of random numbers used for encryption. Thus, the encrypted data remains secure as long as the random numbers used for encryption cannot be ascertained.
Conventionally, random numbers have been generated using known recursive algorithms and techniques, such as the linear congruential method and the additive congruential method. Under these methods, an algorithm uses an arbitrarily-selected initial number, known as a "seed," to produce a first random number. The algorithm then uses each new random number to generate other random numbers.
These conventional random number generators, however, do not produce truly random numbers, but rather "pseudo-random" numbers. Once the algorithm and the seed are known, the numbers produced therefrom are deterministic and thus reproducible.
Also, the algorithms used in the conventional random number generators often produce a series of numbers that eventually repeats. While pseudo-random numbers may be acceptable for a few applications, their use is often less than satisfactory. For example, pseudo-random numbers used in data encryption can be readily reproduced by identifying patterns in encrypted data due to the repetitive nature of pseudo-random numbers. Once the pseudo-random numbers have been reproduced, the encrypted data can be easily decrypted. Thus, it is desirable to generate random numbers that are not reproducible or periodic.

Method and apparatus for generating random numbers using electrical noise


A system and method that performs iterative foreground detection and multi-object segmentation in an image is disclosed herein. A new background prior is introduced to improve the foreground segmentation results. Three complimentary methods detect and segment foregrounds containing multiple objects. The first method performs an iterative segmentation of the image to pull out the salient objects in the image. In a second method, a higher dimensional embedding of the image graph is used to estimate the saliency score and extract multiple salient objects. A third method uses a metric to automatically pick the number of eigenvectors to consider in an alternative method to iteratively compute the image saliency map. Experimental results show that these methods succeed in accurately extracting multiple foreground objects from an image.

With continuous miniaturization of silicon technology and proliferation of consumer and cell-phone cameras, there has been an exponential increase in the number of images that are captured. Whether the images are stored on personal computers or reside on social networks (e.g. Instagram, Flickr), the sheer number of images calls for methods to determine various image properties, such as object presence or appeal for the purpose of automatic image management. One of the central problems in consumer photography centers on determining the aesthetic appeal of the image. The problem itself is challenging, because the overall aesthetic value of an image is dependent on its technical quality, composition, emotional value, and the like. In order to combine all of these aspects, sophisticated systems must be built to take into account all of the aspects of image aesthetics. One such aspect is the prediction of the presence and possible segmentation of a salient object in the image, which could inform the system about the features that the system should consider in determining the aesthetics appeal.
An efficient method for the computation of salient foreground in consumer quality images has recently been proposed in F. Perazzi, O. Sorkine-Hornung, A. Sorkine-Hornung, "Efficient Salient Foreground Detection for Images and Video using Fiedler Vectors," Eurographics Workshop on Intelligent Cinematography and Editing, Zurich, Switzerland, May 5, 2015. However, this method is not able to deal with an image that contains multiple objects in the scene effectively. Specifically, in the case of multiple disconnected objects, this method can only correctly detect a single salient object in the scene. What is desired is a system and method that can overcome this major deficiency of the prior art method.

Iterative method for salient foreground detection and multi-object segmentation


A method, including: obtaining a grain size for amorphous silica associated with a basin and a grain size for quartz associated with the basin; obtaining kinetics of silica dissolution corresponding to the basin and quartz precipitation corresponding to the basin; determining, with a processor, a concentration of amorphous silica in water based on the grain size for amorphous silica, the grain size for quartz, and the kinetics of silica dissolution and quartz precipitation; comparing, with the processor, the concentration of amorphous silica in water to an amorphous silica saturation condition; and determining, with the processor, a presence of microquartz based on a result of the comparing.

This section is intended to introduce various aspects of the art, which may be associated with examples discussed in the Detailed Description section. This discussion is believed to assist in providing a framework to facilitate a better understanding of particular aspects of those examples discussed in the Detailed Description section. Accordingly, it should be understood that this section should be read in this light, and not necessarily as admissions of prior art.
Reservoir Quality (RQ), as applied to oil and gas reservoirs, is a measure of the porosity and permeability. For clastic reservoirs, mainly consisting of quartz grains, a significant loss of RQ can occur as the rock matures under the conditions of deep burial and elevated temperature. The loss of RQ is identified with the growth of quartz overgrowths under deep burial and elevated temperature.
The occurrence of micron-sized quartz coatings on the original quartz grains can inhibit further quartz growth and prevent the reduction of RQ. These thin coatings are referred to as microquartz grain coatings. Microquartz grain coatings can be identified through examination of rock cores with an optical or electron microscope. Regions with microquartz grain coatings are high RQ zones and geologic mapping can be used to estimate their extent. "High," when used to characterize RQ zones, is a relative characterization. The context of various factors, discussed further below, provide the needed context.
When high RQ is encountered and there is reason to expect that quartz cements should have blocked the pore space, for example deep burial, an examination of the rocks is undertaken. First, using an optical microscope, the clastic grains are examined for grain coats, with microquartz coats a frequent type. Abundant microquartz grain coats are associated with high RQ. If the optical examination fails to identify such coats, the samples are examined at higher magnification using electron microscopy. However, to extend this finding throughout the reservoir requires examination of many hundreds of samples from cores. Both vertical and horizontal RQ variation is needed. Finally, construction of a map that defines the boundaries of the high RQ zones is also needed.
In some deep, hot reservoirs, the burial history can be used along with a quartz growth model to predict the expected amount of quartz cementation, and therefore RQ loss. Cementation is the hardening and welding of clastic sediments (e.g., quartz) (those formed from preexisting rock fragments) by the precipitation of mineral matter in the pore spaces. If sample logs indicate higher RQ, then it is assumed that some mechanism has preserved this porosity. However, models that can relate these observations to reservoir distributions require subsequent optical and electron microscopy examination of the samples identical to that for the previous approach. This creates the need for drilling wells to supply the necessary rock samples.

Method for predicting occurrence of microquartz in a basin


A multivariate control method and system to control torque output from a powertrain system to a driveline is provided, to reduce driveline oscillations. The powertrain preferably comprises hybrid powertrain having a plurality of torque-generative devices connected to a transmission. Desired powertrain and driveline operating states are determined, as are a plurality of operating state errors. Each torque-generative device is controlled, based upon the operating state errors, and operating mode of the transmission. A damping torque command, additive to a commanded torque, is determined for one or more of the torque-generative devices based upon the determined transmission operating mode. Determined operating states include operator input, and powertrain/driveline including driveline torque; transmission input torque, rotational speed of the torque-generative devices; road load; and, accessory load.

Various hybrid powertrain architectures are known for managing the input and output torques of various prime-movers in hybrid vehicles, most commonly internal combustion engines and electric machines. Series hybrid architectures are generally characterized by an internal combustion engine driving an electric generator which in turn provides electrical power to an electric drivetrain and to a battery pack. The internal combustion engine in a series hybrid is not directly mechanically coupled to the drivetrain. The electric generator may also operate in a motoring mode to provide a starting function to the internal combustion engine, and the electric drivetrain may recapture vehicle braking energy by also operating in a generator mode to recharge the battery pack. Parallel hybrid architectures are generally characterized by an internal combustion engine and an electric motor which both have a direct mechanical coupling to the drivetrain. The drivetrain conventionally includes a shifting transmission to provide the preferable gear ratios for wide range operation.
One such parallel hybrid powertrain architecture comprises a two-mode, compound-split, electro-mechanical transmission which utilizes an input member for receiving power from a prime mover power source and an output member for delivering power from the transmission. First and second motor/generators are operatively connected to an energy storage device for interchanging electrical power between the storage device and the first and second motor/generators. A control unit is provided for regulating the electrical power interchange between the energy storage device and the first and second motor/generators. The control unit also regulates electrical power interchange between the first and second motor/generators.
Engineers implementing powertrain systems encounter driveline vibrations, which typically range from unnoticeable to objectionable to an operator. Driveline vibrations are customer dissatisfiers, and may reduce service life of one or more driveline components. Typically, engineers attempt to manage driveline vibrations by implementing systems which operate to cancel torque oscillations at one specific frequency, or over a range of frequencies, or a set of frequencies chosen based upon gear ratio at which the driveline is currently operating. Such torque cancellation systems typically pass driveline inputs through signal conditioning filters, which slow system responsiveness. Slow system response often leads to a bump or overshoot that occurs when there is an aggressive operator torque request, due to delays in transient responses required to develop filters. Such systems often use a single feedback variable, typically engine speed, and command a single control signal, typically engine torque. However, single feedback/single control vibration control systems do not provide adequate damping in a system having multiple devices operable to generate vibrations in a driveline.
A hybrid powertrain system is exemplary of a system having multiple devices operable to generate vibrations in a driveline, which therefore drives a need for an alternative method and apparatus to control driveline vibrations.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and apparatus to provide driveline damping for a hybrid powertrain control system over the operating range of the powertrain. There is a further need to provide driveability performance similar to that of a vehicle having a torque-converter in a vehicle equipped with a hybrid driveline, especially in a vehicle equipped with a hybrid driveline that incorporates manual transmission configurations such as direct connection between an engine, electric motors, and transmission input shafts.

Method and apparatus for multivariate active driveline damping


A two-mass heavy duty vibratory machine has a frame in the form of a box-like cage in which a working member, such as a screen, is received. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the frame is resiliently mounted on a stationary support surface and the working member is resiliently suspended from the frame. In another embodiment of the disclosure, the working member is resiliently mounted on the stationary support surface and the frame is suspended from the working member. In both embodiments, an exciter is mounted on the frame at a location outside the frame and spaced from the working member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to vibrator mounting structures and, more particularly, it pertains to a mounting for a vibrator used to excite a two-mass vibratory system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vibrators have been used for many years in the industrial field for vibrating working members, such as screens, feeders, conveyors and separators, for example. These vibrators typically are comprised of a rotating shaft having one or more eccentric weights attached thereto for generating a rotating force vector through the bearings which support the shaft and connect it with the surrounding structure.
By far the most common method of mounting such rotary vibrator structures upon the object to be vibrated is the so-called "brute force" system. In such a system, the vibrator supporting structure is mounted directly to the object to be vibrated so that the rotating force vector, such as might be transmitted from an eccentrically weighted shaft, will be passed directly from the supporting bearings to the working member in which a vibratory motion is desired. One common problem with which this typical method of mounting a rotary vibrator is afflicted, is that the direction of the vibratory motion is limited by the manner in which the vibrator is connected to the vibrated object.
In order to obtain relatively linear motion, as opposed to the circular motion normally achieved by the "brute force" vibratory systems, vibrators in recent years, in certain applications, have utilized elastic members which are relatively rigid in the direction in which the vibratory motion is desired to be directed and which are flexible in the transverse direction, so that little, if any, vibratory force is transmitted transversely. A typical example of such a structure is provided by the United States patent to Musschoot U.S. Pat. No. 2,984,339 which discloses a vibratory feeder that includes a set of air springs for mounting the rotary vibrator structure to the conveyor structure.
An even more recent improvement has been the use of elastomeric members for mounting the exciting vibrator to the object to be vibrated. For example, the United States patent to Bruderlein U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,630; Maeder et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,212,629; and Makino U.S. Pat. No. 3,396,294 all disclose rotary vibrator structures which are connected to the object to be vibrated by means of elastomeric blocks.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,236 a mounting to control the direction of vibration in a two-mass system is disclosed.
Vibratory linear motion screens are commonly driven by either of two basic means. The first means comprises a crank arm driven by an eccentric shaft, wherein the crank arm connects either a fixed or resiliently mounted frame to a screen box and thereby imparts motion to the frame or box. The second means comprises counter rotating dual shafts with eccentric weights to oscillate the screen in a direction parallel to a line between the shaft centers or in a direction transverse to said line between the shaft centers depending on the relative orientation of the respective counterweights on the dual shafts.
The patents 3,583,553 and 3,703,236 show two-mass vibratory mechanisms.


A multiple stage pinch valve generally includes a pinch valve body, a manifold top head connected to a proximal end of the pinch valve body and a nozzle head connected to a distal end of the pinch valve body. In one embodiment, the pinch valve body includes a first pinch valve section and a second pinch valve section disposed downstream of the first pinch valve section. In another embodiment, the pinch valve body includes an inner pinch valve section and an outer pinch valve section disposed coaxially around the inner pinch valve section.

Industrial bottle filling processes typically require high performance capital equipment. This equipment must be highly reliable, compact, low cost, low maintenance, and precise. A typical apparatus for filling large volumes of bottles in such environments includes a filler valve to reliably fill bottles with a high accuracy of less than 1% of the fill volume in a matter of few seconds in a clean process without spill. Fast filling is required for high throughput and fast payback of capital investment. Cleanliness is needed to meet increasingly stringent health standards, in particular when dealing with dairy fluids. In this case, any spills may develop harmful bacteria in the filling system environment, which in turn may violate health standards.
Filling accuracy is important for cost control. A lower than advertised fill weight may violate weight and measure laws. Overfill, which is often done to avoid violations, results in material waste and overflow spill. Compactness is needed to lower the filling system size and reduce its footprint. Finally, a low cost for a single valve is required since a typical high performance filling system may have well over hundred filler valves.
Thus, the main problem in the general requirements of a high performance valve, for a bottle filling system, is the following conflicting demands: 1) High filling rate; and 2) High filling precision.
One possible solution towards satisfying these requirements is to use a single stage pinch valve. A single stage pinch valve assembly typically contains an elastic tube, through which the filling fluid flows. The elastic tube is installed within a solid tube. When air, or other actuator, is applied between the inner surface of the solid tube and the outer surface of the elastic tube, the elastic tube is compressed to close the fluid flow passage, thereby stopping the flow of fluid through the valve.
EP2682652 discloses a pinch valve that has a deformable tubular valve element, which defines a main fluid flow channel. A rigid tube is also provided within the main channel for providing a second fluid flow channel. An actuating structure is provided to deform the valve element to alternately open and close the main fluid flow channel. To close the main fluid flow channel, the tubular valve is deformed to fit closely against a valve seat surface provided on the outer surface of the rigid tube. While this valve allows the flow of two fluids, there are no provisions provided for stopping the flow of the second fluid flow channel within the rigid tube.
While such valves are compact and low cost, they do not solve the conflict between high filling rate and high fill height precision. Such valves can also generate either slow flow at high accuracy or high flow at a lower accuracy.
Another solution is a mechanically actuated valve. A cam-operated mechanism raises the empty bottle so that the neck of the bottle is sealed against the valve and a ball check valve is the only passage for venting air from the bottle while fluid fills it up. The rising fluid level in the bottle reaches the ball float and raises it to close the vent, hence closing the flow of fluid. One typical problem with this solution is low reliability due to possible mechanical failure of the cam mechanism, and mechanical valve. Another problem is fluid spillage inherent in vent-controlled filling with mechanical valves resulting in fluid wasted as much as 6% of fill volume and providing a good breeding ground for bacterial growth.
There is therefore a need to improve the design of prior art filling system valves.

Multiple stage pinch valve and filling apparatus using a multiple stage pinch valve


Example actuator assemblies to deploy aircraft leading edge flaps and seals for aircraft leading edge flaps are described herein. An example apparatus includes an aircraft flap that is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The flap includes a top panel. A notch is formed in the top panel and extends into a side of the top panel near a trailing edge of the flap. The example apparatus also includes a seal coupled to the flap. The seal is movable to cover the notch when the flap is in the deployed position.

Fixed wing aircraft commonly employ high lift devices, sometimes referred to as auxiliary airfoils, along the leading and trailing edges of the wings. These high lift devices are actuated to extend outward from the wing to change the aerodynamic lift of the wing during takeoff and landing. A common high lift device is a Krueger flap. A Krueger flap is a leading edge flap device that is deployed outward in front of the leading edge of the wing. In general, the Krueger flap is stored within the bottom of the wing near the leading edge and is swung, along an arc, outwardly from the bottom of the wing to a position in front of the leading edge of the wing. Krueger flaps are capable of changing the airflow over the wing to generate more or less lift, which is beneficial, for instance, during takeoff and landing. Krueger flaps are advantageous because they do not change the position or shape of the leading edge of the wing as compared to other high lift devices like leading edge slats or drooped leading edges.

Actuator assemblies to deploy aircraft leading edge flaps and seals for aircraft leading edge flaps


An electric door release system and an electric door release method are disclosed. The system and method may be used for releasing a vehicle door when a primary power source of the vehicle is drained. According to certain embodiments, the system includes a power interface configured to receive a direct-current (DC) power from an external mobile device. The system also includes one or more door latches. The system further includes an isolation circuitry configured to prevent the DC power from powering circuitry not included in the electric door release system. The system further includes a controller configured to activate a door latch using the DC power.

Power door lock has become a common option in modern vehicles. For example, an occupant of a vehicle can use a wireless key fob to send radio signals to an electric door latch. If the frequency matches a preset frequency, the electric door latch operates to unlock the corresponding door. Since the radio signals are used, the occupant can unlock the doors at a distance from the vehicle.
Some vehicles still provide mechanical locks in conjunction with the power door locks. Other vehicles, particularly the electric vehicles, are increasingly doing away the mechanical door locks. However, the electric door latch requires electric power to function properly. In the event that the vehicle runs out of internally stored electric energy, the occupant must find ways to recharge the vehicle or mechanically break into the vehicle. For example, the occupant may jump start the vehicle. But this method requires at least an extra vehicle present at the scene. Alternatively, the occupant may mechanically gain access to the vehicle to unlock the door from inside. But this method not only requires great expertise and skills, but also carries the risk of damaging the vehicle. Moreover, the occupant may always connect the vehicle to an external power source to recharge the vehicle. But the occupant must either move the unpowered vehicle to a charging station/pole or find a portable external power source that is often heavy and not readily available.
It is worth noting that one additional disadvantage common to all the above-described methods is that they all take a long time to finally unlock the vehicle doors. Often, the occupant only wants to enter the vehicle to retrieve some belongings, e.g., to retrieve a wallet left in the vehicle before the vehicle is pulled to a charging station. More importantly, there are emergencies, such as when a child is locked in the vehicle, that require entry into the vehicle in no time. Therefore, an electric door release system is needed to quickly and conveniently unlock the doors when the primary power source is drained.
The disclosed system is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems of the prior art.


A vehicle includes an integrated floor and traction battery support assembly. The assembly includes a floor panel and cross-members each having an upper portion attached to a lower surface of the floor panel and extending laterally across the floor panel. The assembly further includes a battery tray attached to lower portions of the cross-members and cooperating with the lower surface to define a battery-pack enclosure. A battery pack is disposed in the enclosure.

Vehicles such as battery-electric vehicles and hybrid-electric vehicles contain a traction-battery assembly to act as an energy source for the vehicle. The traction battery may include components and systems to assist in managing vehicle performance and operations. The traction battery may also include high-voltage components, such as multiple battery arrays electrically connected to each other.
Typically, traction-battery assemblies include a support structure that attaches to an underbody of the vehicle. The support structure includes a bottom that supports the arrays, sidewalls, and a top that cooperates with the bottom and sidewalls to enclose the battery arrays.

Electric vehicle with integrated battery and floor assembly


A ferroelectric programming cell utilizable for providing programming signals for configurable logic elements. A preferred embodiment of the ferroelectric programming cell includes a volatile memory cell having first and second internal data storage nodes that are latched in complementary states when the volatile memory cells positive power input is held to a maximum allowed voltage level and its negative power input is held at ground. A node enabling switching means connected between an external signal generator and the volatile memory cell enables an external signal generator to set the values of the first and second complementary internal nodes. First and second substantially identical capacitance-dividers each include a first ferroelectric capacitance means for storing a non-volatile configuration state. Each ferroelectric capacitance means has a driving terminal connected to the external signal generator and a measurement terminal connected to a second capacitance means that enables the volatile memory cell to measure the non-volatile configuration state of the first ferroelectric capacitance means. It also includes a measurement clearing switching means for enabling the external signal generator to force the voltage at the measurement terminal to ground. First and second substantially identical loading switches enable the external signal generator to transfer the nonvolatile configuration state stored in the first and second capacitance dividers to the internal nodes of the volatile memory cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor integrated circuits and, in particular, to ferroelectric circuits utilizable for programming configurable logic.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Configurable logic consists of a rectangular array of individually-programmable functional logic cells, each of which is connected to its neighbors by a programmable link. An open link means no connection; a closed link establishes a connection between cells. Thus, the configuration of the individual cells and of the links in the array determines the logic function to be performed by the circuit.
In some configurable logic arrays, such as PALs or PLAs, the links can only be programmed once. Thus, the system is permanently configured after programming. In other configurable logic arrays, such as that disclosed by Freeman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,302, the circuitry which stores the configuration data for the cell array is volatile, and the array needs to be reconfigured each time the chip is turned on.
In still other configurable logic array architectures, such as EEPROMs, configuring the array requires applying a high voltage which is distinct from the normal, operating supply voltage for a prolonged period of time in order to reconfigure the chip.
Additional examples of programmable logic devices and techniques are described in the following documents Furtek, U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,736, "Programmable Logic Cell and Array"; Furtek, U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,187, "Programmable Asynchronous Logic Cell and Array"; El Gamal, U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,459, "Programmable Interconnect Architecture"; Furtek, U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,440, "Programmable Logic Cell and Array"; and Austin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,734, "Semi-Conductor Integrated Circuits/Systems".
Due to recent developments in semiconductor technology, ferroelectric elements have become popular choices for implementing data storage devices. Ferroelectric devices rely on the polarization of domains in a PZT thin film structure to store information. Because polarization is maintained after the power is removed, while stored charge is not, and because they require little power and are quite compact, ferroelectric devices provide an excellent means for implementing a low power, nonvolatile memory circuit.
Ferroelectric storage circuits typically include one or more ferroelectric capacitors and various transistors utilized for appropriately charging and discharging the capacitors. A ferroelectric capacitor can be thought of as possessing a polarization which, as an approximation, arises from how it was last charged to its maximum value. In particular, assuming the capacitor consists of two plates N and S, one polarization occurs when the capacitor is charged to its maximum value with plate N at a higher voltage than plate S, and the other polarization occurs when the maximum charging occurs with plate S at a higher voltage than plate N. This polarization is maintained even if the voltage across the capacitor changes, provided that the voltage across the capacitor does not swing toward the maximum value in the opposite direction. In particular, the polarization is maintained even after power is removed from the device.
Because ferroelectric capacitors are compact and can be designed to have maximum voltages near the regular power supply voltage, they are good components for use in building non-volatile storage elements. The polarization of a ferroelectric capacitor can be detected electrically because the capacitance in one polarization state differs substantially from the capacitance in the other polarization state.
For simplicity in the discussion that follows, one of the polarization states is called "up" and the other polarization state is called "down"; it is assumed that the capacitance of the "up" polarization state is greater than that of the "down" polarization state.
A common method of using ferroelectric capacitors for building a memory element is disclosed in Eaton, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,654 for "SRAM with Programmable Capacitance Divider". Eaton's memory element uses two ferroelectric capacitors. A "1" is stored by forcing the polarization of one capacitor into the "up" mode and the polarization of the other capacitor into the "down" mode. A "0" is stored by configuring the polarizations of the two capacitors in exactly the opposite manner. The stored value is read by charging each of the capacitors and comparing the resulting voltage. Because the polarizations differ, the capacitances differ, thus causing the voltages at each of the intermediate nodes to differ. In essence, the sign of this capacitance difference determines the stored value.
Other relevant examples of ferroelectric storage circuits include Dimmler, U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,225 for "Memory Cell with Volatile and Non-Volatile Portions Having Ferroelectric Capacitors" and Eaton, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,627 for "One Transistor Memory Cell with Programmable Capacitance Divider".
In addition, Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,204 for "Non-Volatile Programmable Interconnection Circuit" discloses a programmable interconnection circuit that utilizes two ferroelectric capacitors that differentially store the programming state of the circuit. Although the Miller circuit provides a programming circuit having the advantages of ferroelectric data storage, it does not provide the cell isolation and capacitor equalization required for stable data retention.

Ferroelectric programming cell for configurable logic


Each of control rods inserted in the core of a nuclear reactor is coupled to a control rod driving apparatus for moving the control rod in an axial direction by a coupling mechanism including a gripper formed at a lower end of a driving extension shaft adapted to be driven by the control rod driving apparatus, and a finger mounted at an upper end of the control rod for engagement with the gripper. A cam is located in the interior of the driving extension shaft for bringing the gripper and the finger into and out of engagement with each other for coupling and uncoupling the control rod and the control rod driving apparatus.

This invention relates to a coupling mechanism for coupling each of control rods inserted in the core of a nuclear reactor to a control rod driving apparatus.
The power of a nuclear reactor is controlled by the control rods inserted in and withdrawn from the reactor core. Insertion and withdrawing of the control rods in and from the reactor core are effected by the control rod driving apparatus which moves each control rod axially thereof. The control rod driving apparatus performs the function of controlling the rate of movement of each control rod, and is provided with means for inserting each control rod as quickly as possible in the reactor core when it is necessary to effect emergency shutdown of the reactor as the result of the occurrence of an accident in an installation or equipment associated with the reactor. More specifically, the control rod driving apparatus is provided with normal control rod inserting and withdrawing means for moving each control rod at a predetermined rate and emergency control rod inserting means for inserting each control rod at high speed to effect emergency shutdown of the reactor.
As is well known, prolonged use of a control rod results in a decline in the function thereof to control the power of a nuclear reactor. Thus old control rods are replaced by new ones usually at regular intervals. To this end, each control rod is coupled to the control rod driving apparatus by a coupling mechanism which allows the control rod to be detachably coupled to the control rod driving apparatus.
A primary requirement for the construction of a control rod coupling mechanism is that coupling and uncoupling of the control rod and the control rod driving apparatus can be effected readily without any trouble. This requirement should be met because, when the aforesaid control rod inserting means for inserting the control rod in the core in an emergency fails to operate successfully, it is necessary to uncouple the control rod from the control rod driving apparatus to permit the former to drop by gravity into the reactor core. Thus the control rod is arranged vertically. Moreover, the control rod is contaminated with radioactivity once it is inserted into the reactor core, so that manual operation of the coupling mechanism should be avoided.
One type of control rod coupling mechanism known in the art which meets the aforesaid requirement includes a hollow driving extension shaft extending from the control rod driving apparatus for axial reciprocatory movement and having a lower end portion divided peripherally into a plurality of pieces by forming therein a plurality of axially directed slits of a suitable length to provide a plurality of fingers each formed with an outwardly bulging portion changing smoothly in contour. The extension shaft has mounted in its hollow portion a cam which is adapted to move through the hollow portion for reciprocatory movement axially of the shaft to force the bulging portions of the fingers outwardly by a protruding portion of the cam. The fingers are restored to their original portions by the elastic force of restitution inherent in the fingers themselves when the cam is released from engagement with the fingers. To this end, the fingers are formed of a material of a small thickness so that they may have a suitable elastic restoring force. Meanwhile the control rod is formed at its upper end portion with an axial hole of a suitable length to allow the lower end portion of the extension shaft to be inserted therein, the hole being formed in its inner wall surface with grooves each adapted to receive therein one of the bulging portions of the fingers in engagement therewith. The driving extension shaft is arranged in axial alignment with the control rod, and is moved downwardly from this position to permit the forward end of the fingers to be received in the hole formed in the upper end of the control rod in a manner to allow the bulging portions of the fingers to be brought almost into engagement in the grooves. While the bulging portions of the fingers are in this position, the cam is actuated to force the bulging portions of the fingers outwardly by the protruding portion of the cam into intimate engagement in the grooves, thereby completing the coupling of the control rod to the control rod driving apparatus.
In the event that it is necessary to effect emergency shutdown of the reactor and the aforementioned means for quickly inserting the control rod in the reactor core in an emergency fails to function, the cam is actuated to release the force acting to force the bulging portions of the fingers outwardly so as to bring the bulging portions out of engagement in the grooves and permit the control rod to move downwardly by its own weight into the reactor core. U.S. Pat. No. 3,604,746 discloses a mechanism similar in construction to the aforementioned mechanism. The aforementioned type of coupling mechanism meets the requirement that the control rod should be readily coupled and uncoupled without trouble as stated previously.
The coupling mechanism for coupling the control rod to the control rod driving apparatus is inserted in the reactor core in which it is subjected to the irradiation of neutron rays. As a result, the materials of the mechanism are liable to deteriorate, and particularly the fingers which are formed to have a small thickness are markedly affected by the irradiation of neutron rays. Moreover, when the control rod is coupled to the driving apparatus, an axially directed force is exerted on the fingers as aforementioned, so that the fingers tend to undergo buckling. If this phenomenon occurs, not only the control rod but also the control rod driving mechanism itself or some of the component parts of the mechanism should be replaced, thereby interfering with the efficient operation of the nuclear reactor.
Thus when the coupling mechanism shows deterioration, there arises the necessity for replacing the old mechanism by a new one or using a new type of coupling mechanism which is free from the development of a buckling phenomenon due to deterioration of the material.

Coupling mechanism of control rod for nuclear reactor


Apparatuses and techniques are described for reducing or eliminating program disturb in non-volatile storage. In one aspect, the ramp rate of a voltage applied to a dummy word line is reduced during programming of edge word lines. In one embodiment, a slower than normal ramp rate is used for a dummy word line when the word line selected for programming is an edge word line, but a normal ramp rate is used for the dummy word line when the word line selected for programming is a middle word line.

The present technology relates to the operation of memory devices.
Semiconductor memory devices have become more popular for use in various electronic devices. For example, non-volatile semiconductor memory is used in cellular telephones, digital cameras, personal digital assistants, mobile computing devices, non-mobile computing devices and other devices.
A charge-storing material such as a conductive floating gate or a non-conductive charge-trapping material can be used in such memory devices to store a charge which represents a data state. The memory cell may be a transistor in which the charge-storing material may reside between a channel and a control gate. The charge-storing material may be insulated from both the channel and the control gate. The charge-storing material can be arranged vertically in a three-dimensional (3D) stacked memory structure, or horizontally in a two-dimensional (2D) memory structure. One example of a 3D memory structure is the Bit Cost Scalable (BiCS) architecture which comprises a stack of alternating conductive and dielectric layers.
In one arrangement, memory cells are arranged in strings having a select gate transistor at each end to selectively connect a channel of the string to a source line at one end and bit line at the other end. The string may have a number of data memory cells and one or more dummy memory cells. If present, a dummy memory cell is typically located between a select gate transistor and the data memory cells. There may be one or more dummy memory cells at each end of the string. The control gates of the memory cells are connected to word lines in some architectures. The word lines that connect to control gates of data memory cells are typically referred to as data word lines. The word lines that connect to control gates of dummy memory cells are typically referred to as dummy word lines. Note that in some architectures the control gates of certain memory cells may share a common "word line." For example, memory cells on neighboring strings may share the same word line.
Memory cells may be programmed by altering the charge in the charge-storing material, thereby altering the threshold voltage of the memory cell transistor. The charge in the charge-storing material may be controlled using Fowler-Nordheim tunneling or hot-electron injection, for example. In one technique, a high voltage is applied to the control gate with a low voltage in the channel to add charge to the charge-storing material.
When programming a memory cell (referred to herein as a "selected memory cell"), memory cells that are not currently selected for programming (referred to herein as "unselected memory cells") may receive some unintentional programming. This unintentional programming is referred to herein as "program disturb." This program disturb may occur to unselected memory cells that share the same word line as the selected memory cell. In order to reduce or eliminate the program disturb, the voltage in the channels of the unselected memory cells may be boosted. Therefore, the voltage differential between the control gate and channel of the unselected memory cell may be low enough to reduce or eliminate unintentional programming of the unselected memory cells. However, challenges remain in preventing or reducing program disturb.

Dummy word line bias ramp rate during programming


This disclosure provides a plywood article that is pre-cured or cured. The plywood includes a first wood veneer, a second wood veneer disposed opposite the first wood veneer and an adhesive composition disposed between the first wood veneer and the second wood veneer. The adhesive composition is either cured or not cured. Prior to cure, the adhesive composition consists essentially of an isocyanate component and Kaolin. After cure, the cured adhesive composition consists essentially of a self-polymerization product of the isocyanate component and the Kaolin. The Kaolin is present in an amount of from greater than 10 to 50 weight percent based on a total weight of the adhesive composition. Moreover, each of the first and second wood veneers independently has a moisture content of from 0 to 45 weight percent.

Composite materials such as oriented strand board, particle board and flake board are generally produced by blending or spraying comminuted lignocellulosic materials such as wood flakes, wood fibers, wood particles, wood wafers, strips or strands, pieces of wood or other comminuted lignocellulosic materials with a binder composition while the comminuted materials are blended by tumbling or agitating them in a blender or like apparatus. After blending sufficiently to form a uniform mixture, the materials are formed into a loose mat, which is compressed between heated platens or plates to set the binder and bond the flakes, strands, strips, pieces, etc., together in densified form. Conventional processes are generally carried out at temperatures of from about 120 to 225° C. in the presence of varying amounts of steam, generated by liberation of entrained moisture from the lignocellulosic materials. These processes also generally require that the moisture content of the lignocellulosic materials be between about 2 and about 20% by weight, before the lignocellulosic materials are blended with the binder composition.
Plywood production is accomplished by roll coating, knife coating, curtain coating, or spraying a binder composition onto veneer surfaces. In addition, foamline and extrusion processes can be used. A plurality of veneers are then laid-up to form sheets of required thickness. The mats or sheets are then placed in a heated press and compressed to effect consolidation and curing of the materials into a board. Binder compositions which have been used in making such composite wood products include phenol formaldehyde resins, and urea formaldehyde resins.
Isocyanates are commercially desirable for use in forming some types of composite materials because they have low water absorption, high adhesive and cohesive strength, flexibility in formulation, versatility with respect to cure temperature and rate, excellent structural properties, the ability to bond with lignocellulosic materials having high water contents, and produce no formaldehyde emissions. Moreover, the isocyanates absorb into some types of the composite materials to form a 3D matrix. The disadvantages of using isocyanates include difficulty in processing due to their high reactivity, adhesion to platens, lack of cold tack, high cost and the need for special storage.
However, relative specifically to forming plywood, isocyanates historically cannot be used because they fully absorb into the veneers and are not viscous enough to be used as adhesives, thereby leading to run-off and material loss during industrial processing. Moreover, even if isocyanates are tried for use as adhesives for plywood, the bond strength is insufficient to adhere the veneers because a 3D matrix is not formed. For these reasons, there remains an opportunity to develop and improved composition and process for forming plywood.


The improved automatic dampening water replenisher has two flow sensors that respectively measure the flow rates of stock solution and diluent water which are to be mixed to prepare dampening water with which the tank of dampening water is to be replenished, and this enables the concentration of dampening water in its tank to be maintained within a predetermined range at all times. If desired, the apparatus (the replenisher) may be equipped either with components for computing, displaying and storing the total flows of stock solution and diluent water or with an emergency alarm generator which issues an alarm indicating the occurrence of aberrations in the concentration of dampening water in its tank. This offers the advantage that normal operation of the apparatus can be resumed as soon as power failure is remedied, or the suspension of water supply and other troubles can be readily identified and corrected to avoid unwanted variations in the concentration of the dampening water.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for use in lithographic printing such as offset printing to automatically replenish dampening water. More particularly, this invention relates to an automatic dampening water replenisher with which the concentration of is conditioned to be within a predetermined range and can be automatically supplied into an associated tank or fountain in a lithographic printing press and which provides ease in troubleshooting.
2. Prior Art
Offset printing is a method of lithographic printing that makes use of the inherent immiscibility of water with grease. The surface of the printing plate used in this method consists of water-receptive areas that repel greasy ink and ink-receptive areas that repel water. The former are called "non-image" areas whereas the latter are "image" areas.
Dampening water used in lithographic printing wets the non-image areas to increase the difference in surface chemistry between the image and non-image areas, thereby widening the difference between the ink repulsion of the nonimage areas and the ink affinity of the image areas. Dampening water used for this purpose is prepared by diluting a stock solution, or an additive generally referred to as an "etch solution" (e.g. an acidic etch solution, an alkaline etch solution or an alcohol), with water to a concentration of 0.1-1 wt % or 0.1-5 wt %. To insure consistent printing operations, various chemicals are usually incorporated in the etch solution and they include a desensitizer for greases at the non-image areas of the plate, a pH modifier, a pH buffer, a cleaning agent, a wetting agent, a chelating agent, an antiseptic and an alcohol. Water that is used as a diluent may be tap water, industrial water or well water.
Specific examples of common dampening water are aqueous solutions consisting of water and small amounts of stock solutions containing alkali metal salts of bichromic acid or ammonium bichromate, phosphoric acid or salts thereof such as an ammonium phosphate, or colloidal materials such as gum arabic and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Since etch solutions are used as additives for dampening water in very small amounts compared to the diluent water, it is considerably difficult to control their concentration to lie within an appropriate range. Even a slight variation in the concentration of each solutions will tend to upset the balance between printing ink and dampening water, causing various troubles in printing operations, including scumming, smudging, trapping on roller surfaces, roller stripping, delayed setting and drying, deteriorated gloss and poor dot reproduction.
An aqueous solution containing ca. 20-25% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) has also been used as dampening water. However, isopropyl alcohol is so volatile that maintaining its concentration at a constant level is very difficult unless an expensive device is used. In addition, isopropyl alcohol which has not only an unpleasant odor but is also toxic is not desirable today when there is a growing concern over environmental pollution caused by industrial activities.
Under these circumstances, various methods and apparatus have been used or proposed for adjusting the concentration of additives in dampening water to lie within appropriate ranges. Offset printing machines are usually equipped with an apparatus for cooling and circulating dampening water which is stored in a tank of its own. The tank of dampening water is supplied with a stock solution and diluent water which are mixed to prepare dampening water of a given concentration. Conventionally, the concentration of dampening water is maintained at a constant level by measuring the pH or electroconductivity of the dampening water in the tank or, if IPA is used as an additive, by adjusting its concentration with a hydrostatic controller using a float. However, these methods are incapable of precise performance in a consistent way.
To solve these problems, an apparatus that uses a metering pump to replenish the stock solution and mix it with diluent water has been proposed in Japanese Patent Publication (kokai) No. 39463/1980 but it involves a complicated mechanism and is not easy to use. An apparatus for mixing and feeding dampening water automatically by adjusting the quantity of the stock solution using both a metering pump and a timer that controls its working time has been proposed in Japanese Utility Model Application(kokai) No. 163535/1981 but the volume of neither diluent water nor stock solution can be adjusted with sufficient correctness to maintain the concentration of dampening water at a constant level. A method and apparatus that meters diluent water and chemical solutions on a weight basis have been proposed in Japanese Patent Application (kokai) No. 303739/1988 but they are also complicated in mechanism and are difficult to use.
The dampening water conventionally used in the various replenishing apparatus described above has a serious defect in that it does not wet the non-image areas of a printing plate uniformly, causing occasional smudging of the print. In addition, considerable skill has been necessary to properly adjust the amount of dampening water to be supplied.
With a view to solving these problems, the assignee proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 243613/1989 a compact and inexpensive apparatus and method for replenishment that used novel dampening water that was free from the toxicity and safety problems, that was easy to handle and that was highly stable, which apparatus and method were capable consistently metering and feeding predetermined quantities of diluent water and stock solution into a dampening water tank in a device for cooling and circulating dampening water. The replenishing apparatus proposed in that patent application has the advantage that the dampening water it provides has better physical properties than what was previously used and that it maintains constant concentrations with fairly high precision. However, the apparatus uses a metering pump as a means of feeding the stock solution for dampening water and the metering of the solution which is performed by controlling the working time of the pump is subject to great variations, which limit the efforts to further improve the precision with which the concentration of dampening water can be held constant. Furthermore, the metering pump can sometimes idle and this has been another cause of the low precision of the apparatus.
As a further problem, none of the prior art apparatus for replenishing dampening water have means of calculating, displaying and storing the integrated (total) flow rates of water and stock solution or the concentration of dampening water as computed from those integrated flow rates. If the main power supply is cut off on account of either power failure or the occurrence of trouble in the apparatus or printing press, there is no way to know the integrated flow rates of water and stock solution or the concentration of dampening water, and this necessitates repeating the overall procedure of preparing dampening water in the tank or considerable difficulty is involved in identifying the cause of the trouble.


A scroll-type compressor has a stationary scroll frame 7 on which a discharge muffler 24 is provided so as to form a first discharge space 24a. First and second discharge passages 25, 26 are formed to extend through the stationary scroll frame 7 and a bearing 20 so as to provide communication between the first discharge space 24a and the interior of the hermetic container 1. The second communication hole opens in the interior of the hermetic container 1 through a guide member 29 at a level above the level of a lubricating oil in a lubricant reservoir 31. Since the opening of the second communication hole into the hermetic container is set by the guide member 29 at a level above the oil level in the lubricant reservoir 31, the discharge passage can be formed easily without requiring any special component which defines the passage.

A conventional scroll-type compressor having a lower portion forming a compression mechanism and an upper portion forming a motor portion has a construction as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-177452. FIG. 1 shows such a compressor in vertical section. Referring to this Figure, numeral 50 denotes a stationary scrollmember having a stationary scroll end plate 51 and a stationary scroll wrap 52. An orbiting scroll member 53 has an orbiting scroll end plate 54 and an orbiting scroll wrap 55. The stationary and orbiting scroll members mesh with each other so as to form a compression space 56. Numerals 57 and 58 denote a discharge port and a discharge communication pipe. The discharge communication pipe 58 is led out of a hermetic container 59 and is again led into the hermetic container 59. Numeral 60 denotes a mechanism for preventing the orbiting scroll member 53 from rotating about its own axis. A drive shaft 64 is borne by a bearing 61 which includes both the main bearing 62 and a sub-bearing 63. Numerals 65, 66 denote a stator and a rotor of an electric motor 67, respectively. The rotor 66 fits on the drive shaft 64 so as to transmit torque to the orbiting scroll member 53. Lubricating oil is supplied to sliding parts in the bearing from a lubricant reservoir 68 which is defined between the bearing 61 and the electric motor 67. A balance weight 69 attached to the rotor 66 of the electric motor 67 i exposed to the lubricant reservoir 68. In operation, a compressed gas discharged from the stationary scroll end plate 51 is introduced into a lower space in the hermetic container 59 and is then returned into the hermetic container 59 through the pipe 58 so as to cool the electric motor 67. Oil suspended by the discharge gas after cooling is then separated from the gas within the hermetic container 59. The gas free of oil is then delivered to the exterior of the compressor through the discharge pipe 70. Meanwhile, oil separated from the gas is collected in a lubricant reservoir 68.
This known apparatus has suffered from problems such as increase in the noise and vibration of the whole system as the pulsation by the discharged gas is directly transmitted to the exterior of the compressor. Furthermore, an additional communication pipe has to be provided for the purpose of introducing the discharged gas into the hermetic container.
Furthermore, there is a risk that, when the position where the discharged gas is returned into the hermetic container has not been adequately determined, the lubricating oil in the lubricant reservoir is blown by the returned gas so as to cause a shortage of the lubricant oil. When the gas discharge passage is formed by, for example, a pipe, the resonance vibration of the pipe is directly transmitted to the hermetic container to excite or amplify the pulsation of the pressure inside the hermetic container, with the result that the noise from the compressor is undesirably increased.
It is also to be pointed out that the balance weight exposed to the lubricant reservoir agitates the lubricating oil in the reservoir so as to incur a wasteful power loss.
Furthermore, presence of a space of a comparatively large volume under the compressor, forming a part of the discharge passage, undesirably allows stagnation of the lubricating oil contained in the discharged gas, resulting in a lowering of the level in the lubricating oil reservoir and, hence, in a shortage of the lubricating oil to be supplied to various sliding portions in the compressor.

Scroll-type compressor with discharge opening above the lubricant reservoir

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A traveling assist device includes a recognition unit, a traveling control unit, a sensor determination unit, and a control decision unit. The sensor determination unit determines whether surrounding detection sensors are normal or not. The control decision unit decides whether the traveling control unit controls a lane change based on the result of determination by the sensor determination unit.

Known techniques for lane recognition include detecting lanes of the road on which a vehicle is traveling with surrounding detection sensors such as a camera and recognizing the lanes of the road based on detection information acquired from the surrounding detection sensors. A traveling assist device described in PTL 1 below recognizes the present lane in which the vehicle is traveling and an adjacent lane as the destination of a lane change of the vehicle from the present lane, and controls the lane change of the vehicle.


An apparatus and a method is disclosed for configuring a spring arm retaining ring which is contained by a groove that is put into a bore, such that the concentricity of the ring to a male part which is installed into the bore is limited to an extent that allows the ring to enter a tapered bore leading to the ring bore, and compresses the outside diameter of the ring. The male part that is installed into the bore includes a configuration which cooperates with the retaining ring, and may or may not be a portion of the part, or assembled to the part. The combination of the ring disclosed and the cooperating portion allows a retaining ring to be installed by pushing the male part, that is to be retained in the bore, into the bore.

Rings that are compressed diametrically inward to facilitate the ring entering a female bore provided with a groove, of larger diameter than the bore, that has been provided in the bore to retain the ring when the ring was positioned so that the ring could expand into the groove, have been used for years.
These "internal retaining" rings are provided with two holes near the gap in the ring (that allows compression of the ring)-so that two prongs of a pliers like tool may engage the two holes and facilitate diametric compression of the ring for assembly or removal of the ring from the bore groove.
This invention concerns the use of provisions that are a part of the ring that cooperate with provisions that are associated with the male part that is to be retained in a bore by the ring, which allow the part to be merely pushed into the bore and retained by the ring in the bore. The pliers that are normally required are then only required for the removal of the male part from the female bore.
For the circumstances that can utilize this type of configuration, a considerable cost savings is thus obtainable. This savings more than offsets the added cost of providing the means herein disclosed, and there is a general improvement in the reliability that is associated with the installation of internal retaining rings.
When using the configuration disclosed herein, the diametric compression of the ring is accomplished by forcing the ring into a tapered bore that leads to the bore that is provided with the ring groove.
The recognition that a small angle chamfer will cause a ring to be squeezed to this extent is not new either. People who use these internal retaining rings do not normally use a chamfer to squeeze the rings because that is not reliable, or the cost to them of doing so is too great because of the length or depth of the chamfer is large, and the cost of the space is too great. The usual problem that one faces includes the concentricity of the ring. It does not seem like a large number that is involved but the ring must be allowed enough clearance to anything that passes through the ring to permit squeezing the ring enough to enter the bore. This of course requires that the ring can have a concentricity that would require a large entry diameter of the chamfer.
There is also the problem of the plane of the surface of the ring not staying perpendicular with the axis of the chamfer, this condition is more often harmful than helpful when one is installing a ring.
One is therefore faced with finding a solution which satisfies the requirements of a number of problems. First, one must have a solution which minimizes the entry diameter of a chamfer that is of an angle that is small enough to cause the ring to squeeze down with low applied force, given the mechanical squeeze properties of a ring that is "strong" enough for the retention required. Second, the solution must be in keeping with reasonable manufacturing requirements. Third, the thing which pushes the ring into engagement with the ring engaging groove must maintain sufficient perpendicularity to the chamfer and bore axis. Fourth, the cost of what is done must be low, or not too many will use the means, and so on. When one considers all that must be "satisfied" by a "workable" solution, it is not too surprising when one finds that ring installation is not done this way.
The method disclosed herein addresses these problems by providing a "pusher" that cooperates with provisions that are provided on the ring. The ring must squeeze to a smaller diameter to enter the bore, spring outward in diameter to "lock" into the groove, and if one desires to have the ring preassembled to the part that is "pushed-in", the ring must spring further outward from its free (as shipped) diameter so as to spring back to its free diameter after assembly to the part that the ring is pushed over. For ease of discussion the part that is pushed into the bore will be called the male, and the bore will be called the female.
Because of the springing that must be done by the ring, the outer periphery of the ring must be free to spring outward or inward. The inner portion of the ring must accommodate the male which will be retained by the ring, and the portion between the outer spring arms of the ring and the male must provide space for the outer ring arm compression, as well as any provision for maintaining ring concentricity to the male.
Any provisions made that maintain ring concentricity to the male are thus done in this intermediate area. The purpose of these provisions would be to maintain the concentricity of the ring to the male, so that one installing the male into the female could merely establish the concentricity of the male to the female, and the ring would be concentric with the chamfer leading to the female bore.
If one further had a portion of the male, that extends beyond the ring, enter a concentric bore in the female, then the concentricity of the ring and chamfer would be greatly facilitated.

Apparatus and method for a push assemble retaining ring


An image processing method includes steps of obtaining a first image under a first field of view; generating a first rectangular mask in the first image; converting first X-Y plane coordinates of four end points of the first rectangular mask into spherical coordinates; obtaining a second image under a second field of view; converting the spherical coordinates into second X-Y plane coordinates corresponding to the second image; determining whether the second X-Y plane coordinates of the end points all are located in the second image; and if the second X-Y plane coordinates of the end points all are located in the second image, generating a second rectangular mask in the second image by a maximum X coordinate value, a maximum Y coordinate value, a minimum X coordinate value and a minimum Y coordinate value of the second X-Y plane coordinates of the end points.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an image processing method and an image processing device and, more particularly, to an image processing method and an image processing device capable of generating an appropriate rectangular mask in an image according to different field of views.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A privacy mask is an important and necessary function for surveillance application. In a fixed camera, the prior art paints a privacy area in an image directly to generate the privacy mask. For a Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) camera, the position and/or size of the privacy area will change based on user or system control. If the position and/or size of the privacy mask in the image do not change correspondingly, the privacy area will be exposed in the image and it will disturb the user. Furthermore, when a part of the privacy area exceeds the image due to the change of the field of view, an algorithm for generating the privacy mask will become complicated and then increase computation load.

Image processing method and image processing device for generating rectangular mask in image according to different field of views


An ECG system for a 12-lead ECG test includes ten electrodes--consisting of six ventricle electrodes V1-V6, a right arm electrode RA, a left arm electrode LA, a left leg electrode LL, and a right leg electrode RL--which generate electrical signals indicative of heart activity within a human patient. The EGG system also includes a plurality of conductors connected to corresponding electrodes and a signal acquisition system connected to the conductors. The EGG system also has an offset adjustment system operatively coupled to the signal acquisition system. The offset adjustment system identifies a selected voltage level (such as a maximum or minimum voltage level) of at least one of the electrical signals generated by an associated electrode and manipulates that voltage level to produce an offset adjustment signal. This offset adjustment signal is used to bring voltage levels of all of the electrical signals produced by the electrodes within a signal acquisition range of the signal acquisition system. The ECG system further includes a potential adjusting feedback circuit coupled between the offset adjustment system and one of the electrodes (such as the right leg electrode RL) to supply a reference potential to that electrode. The potential tends toward the offset adjustment signal to offset the electric potentials of the human patient by an equal amount. This offset has the effect of moving the range of electrode voltages into the range of the signal acquisition system and yields a maximum signal acquisition range of approximately 300 mV, which can be resolved to 5 .mu.V increments using a 16-bit A/D converter.

An electrocardiograph (ECG) system monitors heart activity in a human patient. The ECG system applies small conductive pads or "electrodes" to specific locations on the human patient. Each electrode has an adhesive patch and a conductive member (which might be one in the same) that is placed on the patient's skin. These electrodes detect electrical impulses generated by the heart during each beat. Each heart beat generates a waveform that consists of three identifiable wave complexes referred to as the P, QRS, and T wave complexes.
To appropriately capture the heart beat waveform, a conventional 12-lead resting ECG is conducted using ten electrodes. An electrode is adhered to each of the four limbs of the human patient--left arm, right arm, left leg, and right leg--and to six anatomically-prescribed locations across the chest and left side of the human patient.
In response to detection of the electrical impulses from the heart, the electrodes produce electrical signals indicative of the heart activity. These electrical signals have small magnitudes on the order of 1 mV, and are commonly resolved by signal processes down to about 5 .mu.V. The electrical signals are different from one another by virtue of the different physical locations of the electrodes about the patient. FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a conventional ECG system 10 having ten electrodes V1-V6, RA, LA, LL, and RL connected to a human patient 12. The electrodes are connected to an ECG device 14 via conductors 16. ECG device 14 detects the electrical signals generated by the electrodes and performs various signal processing and computational operations to convert the raw electrical signals into meaningful information that can be displayed or printed out for review by a physician.
From the signals produced by the ten electrodes, ECG device 14 can produce two sets of ECG leads: limb leads and chest leads. The "limb leads" are formed from the right arm electrode RA, the left arm electrode LA, and the left leg electrode LL as follows:
I=LA-RA PA1 II=LL-RA PA1 III=LL-LA PA1 aVR=RA-1/2(LA+LL) PA1 aVL=LA-1/2(RA+LL) PA1 aVF=LL-1/2(LA+RA) PA1 Lead V1=V1-(RA+LA+LL)/3 PA1 Lead V2=V2-(RA+LA+LL)/3 PA1 Lead V3=V3-(RA+LA+LL)/3 PA1 Lead V4=V4-(RA+LA+LL)/3 PA1 Lead V5=V5-(RA+LA+LL)/3 PA1 Lead V6=V6-(RA+LA+LL)/3.
In addition to these six leads, six "chest leads" are formed by subtracting the average of the right arm, left arm, and left leg electrode outputs from each of the chest electrodes V1-V6, as follows:
Notice that each of these twelve ECG leads of a conventional 12-lead ECG test concerns input from only three of the four limb electrodes: the right arm electrode RA, the left arm electrode LA, and the left leg electrode LL. According to medical convention, the right leg electrode RL is not used in deriving a multi-channel ECG recording. Part of this is due to the RL electrode being located farthest from the heart in comparison to the other nine electrodes.
The right leg electrode RL is used, however, to help reduce common-mode interference that appears between the signal leads and a common reference plane. As illustrated in FIG. 1, it is common for the patient to have an electric potential V.sub.P-E relative to a true electrical earth ground, while the ECG device has a relative or floating ground ECG GND that is at a different electric potential V.sub.E-ECG relative to true earth ground. Typically, ECG device 14 is configured so that its own ground ECG GND tries to approximate true earth ground, thereby leaving a difference in potential between the patient 12 and ECG device 14. These different potentials cause common-mode noise voltage in the electrode signals carried by conductors 16 which appears equally and in phase from each electrode/conductor relative to ground.
Conventional ECG systems are designed to reject the common-mode signals. Because each electrode leadwire has the same common mode signal, the 12 lead tests described above are each derived by subtracting different ones of the electrical signals so that theoretically the common mode interference is removed. However, subtraction alone may not completely eliminate the common mode interference because there is such a significant difference in magnitudes between the common mode signal and the small signals being detected by the electrodes. For example, an electric potential of a human patient relative to electric earth ground might be 5-10 volts, which is one to several orders of magnitude greater that the 1 mV signal detected by the electrode and the resolvable unit of 5 .mu.V. Simply subtracting signals at the 5-10 volt range might result in missing important information at the 1 mV or less range.
Accordingly, it is conventional to apply a small correcting current to the right leg electrode RL in an effort to bring the electric potential of the human patient and the relative ground of the ECG system in line with each other. As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1, the RL electrode is driven in such a way that the patient-to-earth ground voltage potential V.sub.P-E and the ECG device-to-earth ground potential V.sub.E-ECG are approximately equal, thereby substantially removing the common mode interference before the EGG even conducts the lead computations. Conventionally, the RL electrode is based upon the average of the other three limb electrodes RA, LL, and LA. An operational amplifier 22 provides a correcting current based upon a difference between the average voltage from these three limbs and the EGG GND.
Designers of EGG systems are also cognizant of the need to accommodate DC offset voltages which may exist between leadwires, originating from electrochemical mechanisms inherent to the skin-electrode interfaces. Performance standards (e.g., ANSI) require an accuracy in signal detection over a 300 mV range. To test compliance with these standards, a designer conducts a test where one conductor is driven to +300 mV relative to all other conductors and a reading is taken to detect electrical signals. Then that same conductor is driven to -300 mV relative to all other conductors and another reading is taken. This action is repeated for each of the conductors. The system passes if signals can be detected over the entire .+-.300 mV range.
As shown in FIG. 1, ECG device 14 typically has an amplifying subsystem 18 which amplifies the analog signals generated by the electrodes and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 20 which converts the amplified analog signals into digital values that are resolved down to approximately 5 .mu.V. To accommodate a 600 mV (i.e., .+-.300 mV) signal acquisition range, a 17-bit A/D converter is used to account for the 120,000 resolvable increments (i.e., 600 mV/5 .mu.V). Other techniques might alternatively be used to detect signals within the 600 mV range, such as a hardware high-pass pole.
It would be beneficial to reduce the dynamic range from 600 mV to a narrower signal acquisition range. This reduction would simplify the signal acquisition circuitry, and lower its cost, while still complying with medical requirements. For instance, a reduction by one-half to a 300 mV acquisition range would permit a designer to employ conventional, off-the-shelf 2.sup.n devices (e.g., 16-bit A/D converter) to capture the signals, rather than unconventional electronics like the illustrated 17-bit A/D converter that is used to detect signals within the 600 mV range.
It is an aspect of this invention to provide an ECG system that satisfies the requirements for offset range and resolution, as specified by ANSI and others, while operating within a reduced dynamic range for signal detection.

Heart monitoring system and method with reduced signal acquisition range


A ventilation system to be used over roofing materials that have ribs or corrugations on their surface such as might be found on preformed metal roofing panels. This ventilation system consists of narrow strips of material that are to be placed end to end in such a way as to form a long continuous strip. They are then covered by a typical ridge cap or other flashing material allowing the ventilation air to pass over the roofing material but under the ridge cap or flashing material. The resulting ventilation system is impervious to normal temperature extremes and wind born materials such as rain or snow.

The present invention relates to roof ventilation, particularly to ventilation of roofs comprised of formed panels such as metal roofing.
A ventilating system for these roofing panels must first of all be impervious to temperature and moisture extremes that are normally found in these outdoor environments. It must exclude all objectionable insects and rodents from the area to be ventilated. It would ideally be east to install without requiring extensive training to otherwise qualified roofing installers. It must be cost effective. It must, of course, ventilate the open space below said roofing panels effectively.
While Applicant acknowledges other method of ventilating said roofing systems, he asserts that all of these fail in one or more of the above mentioned areas.
Some embodiments of this new invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:


This invention relates to novel oxetanes containing neopentyl difluoroamino groups. More specifically, mono- and bis-(difluoroaminomethyl)oxetanes are synthesized. These compounds are prepared by the direct fluorination of blocked neopentyl amines. These mono- and bis-(difluoroaminomethyl)oxetanes can be polymerized to form homopolymers and copolymers with load beating polyether backbones and highly energetic pendant groups. The homopolymers and copolymers of the present invention are useful as energetic binders in high-energy formulations, such as propellants, explosives, and gasifiers.

High-energy solid formulations, such as propellants, explosives, and gasifiers, generally consist of particulate solids, such as fuel material, oxidizers, or both, held together by an elastomeric binder. These high-energy formulations also often include a plasticizer, such as a nitrate ester, which is a liquid prior to its incorporation into the formulation.
Organic compounds which contain nitrogen and fluorine are frequently used as fuel material and/or particulate oxidizers. These compounds are most suitable for making high-energy propellants because such compounds form gaseous HF as a decomposition product. During decomposition, the high heat of formation of HF is liberated to the surroundings, thereby doing mechanical work. Additionally, during the course of decomposition, fluorine is present as an oxidizing agent, and thus, no external source is required to complete oxidation.
Plasticizers are used in solid propellants and explosives to facilitate processing and increase flexibility and toughness, in addition to providing other benefits which vary with the nature and use of the formulation. Energetic or high-energetic plasticizers are those that provide energy in addition to flexibility and toughness, and their inclusion there/ore does not lessen the performance of the formulation. Considerations involved in the selection and use of plasticizers include compatibility with the other components of the formulation, including the primary energetic compounds and any binders present, the oxygen balance of the plasticizer, energy content, safety (i.e., stability with regard to detonation), and melting point. Plasticizers with melting points in a range which causes them to crystallize readily, for example, are of limited utility, since crystallization is detrimental to the plasticizer function and can adversely affect the mechanical properties of the propellant or explosive.
While the binder is an important means of maintaining the uniformity of the formulation and of holding it together, the binder material bums with substantially lower energy than the fuel. The binder thus imposes a limit on the energy content of the fuel material. One way of minimizing this limitation is to use a binder which release as much energy as possible when burning with the fuel. It is desirable, therefore, that the elastomeric binder have pendant groups which themselves are relatively high in energy.
Additionally, if a nitroester plasticizer is used in conjunction with the binder, nitroester-miscibility is required. Thus, in addition to being relatively high in energy, the polyethers and the elastomers formed therefrom should contain pendant groups which impart miscibility of the elastomer with the nitrate ester plasticizers. Nitro, nitrato, nitroamino and cyano groups are examples of pendant groups which impart nitrate ester-miscibility to the polymer and which have relatively high energies so as to contribute to the performance of the propellant.
Compounds containing two fluorine atoms bonded to nitrogen, i.e., a difluoroamino (NF.sub.2) group, have been extensively studied as ingredients for propellants and explosives. The difluoroamino group has higher energy, higher positive heat of formation and greater thermal stability than the other frequently used pendant groups (e.g. the nitrato group). In addition to significantly improved energy content, the difluoroamino group strongly enhances the performance of formulations containing boron and aluminum as fuels.
Practical use of the difluoroamino group in propellants and explosives has been limited, however. In compounds known to date, the difluoroamino group was found to impart unacceptably high impact sensitivity or chemical instability to the compound. Due to the strong electron-withdrawing nature of the difluoroamino group, NF.sub.2 -containing compounds have been found to be unstable and readily lose HF to form nitriles when alpha hydrogens are present. Therefore, the use of NF.sub.2 -containing compounds in explosives and propellants has been limited to those compounds containing difluoroamino groups on a tertiary center prepared from tetrafluorohydrazine, or geminal di-difluoroamino groups prepared from strong acid solutions of difluoroamine. In both cases the resulting products are shock sensitive and expensive to prepare.

Difluoroamino oxetanes and polymers formed therefrom for use in energetic formulations