An apparatus (40,60) for aligning a rail conditioning system, such as a sanding system or a compressed air snow removal system of a locomotive. A source of light (50,70) is removeably and unmovingly attached to a conduit (44,62) of the rail conditioning system to direct a beam of light (53) toward a rail (46) to verify a location of impingement (56) of a spray of rail conditioning material (45,66). The source of light may be a battery operated laser pointer, and it may be attached to a fixture (48,72) that is removeably secured to the conduit. The fixture may be attached over an outlet nozzle (42,62) of the conduit, or it may be threaded onto the conduit in place of the nozzle when the nozzle is removed for cleaning and inspection.

The present invention relates generally to the field of rail transportation, and more specifically to on-board systems for treating the rail directly in front of a locomotive wheel, and in particular, to verifying the proper alignment of a nozzle of a locomotive rail treatment apparatus.
Modem locomotives are commonly powered by electric traction motors coupled via suitable gearing to one or more axles of the vehicle. In the motoring mode of operation, the traction motors are supplied with electric current from a controllable source of electric power, such as an engine-driven alternator, to rotate the axle. The axle drives a wheel which, in turn, supports the locomotive on the rail and propels the vehicle along the track. In the braking mode of operation, the electric motor may have its mode changed to function as a generator to assist the mechanical brakes in slowing the speed of the locomotive. In any mode of operation, good adhesion between the wheel and the rail is required for efficient operation of the vehicle. The peak pulling and braking capability of the locomotive may be limited by the adhesion available between the drive wheels and the rails. Contaminants such as snow, water, grease, insects and rust that are present on the rail can reduce the maximum available adhesion.
Systems for treating the rail directly in front of a rail vehicle wheel in order to improve adhesion between the wheel and the rail are well known in the art. The use of compressed air and steam to clean the rail in a railroad system began in the 1,800""s. Modern locomotives are often equipped with a sanding system and a rail cleaning system. A cleaning system may include a supply of compressed air selectively delivered to a nozzle having an outlet directly in front of a drive wheel. The nozzle directs a blast of compressed air against the rail at a predetermined angle of attack in order to displace contaminants from the rail. Such cleaning systems are often used to remove accumulations of snow in cold environments. A sanding system may include a supply of sand or other particulate matter selectively delivered to a nozzle having an outlet directly in front of a drive wheel. The nozzle directs a quantity of sand between the rail and the wheel. The sand improves the adhesion between the wheel and the rail, particularly in the presence of snow, ice or grease.
The proper operation of rail treatment systems is important for minimizing the number of adhesion-related stalls that occur on a railway. This is particularly true for railroads in cold climates where snow and ice are a constant challenge. Such systems must be routinely inspected and maintained to ensure that the outlet nozzle of the system is properly aligned with respect to the wheel and the rail so that the material delivered by the nozzle is used effectively. The term xe2x80x9cmaterialxe2x80x9d as used herein with respect to a rail conditioning system is meant to be inclusive of the sand, steam, compressed air, adhesion product, or other matter that is expelled from a nozzle of a rail conditioning system and directed toward the rail or wheel for accomplishing a desired treatment.
FIG. 1 is an example of a prior art rail conditioning system nozzle alignment verification system 10, in this case applied to a sand application system 11. A locomotive includes a drive wheel 12 and a sand nozzle 14 having an outlet 16 for directing a diffused spray 18 of adhesion-enhancing material toward a rail 20 directly in front of the wheel 12. The diffused spray 18 will have a distribution pattern that is determined by the geometry of the nozzle outlet 16 and that is selected by the system designer to provide a preferred pattern of adhesion-enhancing material on the rail 20. A centerline C/LN of the nozzle outlet 16 and of the diffused spray 18 may be aligned with a centerline C/LW of the wheel 12 for proper application of the adhesion-enhancing material. An alignment tool 22 includes a body member 24 designed to fit over the nozzle and an elongated handle 24 attached to the body 24 for manipulation by an inspector. The alignment tool 22 also includes a pointer 28 connected to the body 24 and extending in the direction of the material spray 18. Pointer 28 is designed to have a shape that places its tip 30 along the centerline C/LN of the diffused spray 18 at a predetermined distance from the nozzle outlet 16. An inspector may determine if the sand nozzle 14 is properly aligned by viewing the location of the tip 30 of the pointer 28 relative to the rail 20. In the event that the nozzle 14 is not properly aligned, the handle 26 also provides leverage for the inspector to apply a force for bending the sand delivery tube 32 to achieve proper alignment of the nozzle outlet 16.
Prior art rail conditioning system nozzle alignment verification system 10 is more effective as an adjustment tool than as an inspection tool. A typical sand delivery tube 32 may be a steel tube having and outside diameter of 1.25 inches and an inside diameter of {fraction (15/16)} inch. The tube 32 has such a sturdy construction in order to be able to minimize damage due to impacts with passing objects. In order to bend such a pipe for alignment purposes, it is necessary to apply a considerable amount of force while the material is heated to a red-hot condition. Alignment tool 22 functions as a large pry bar for exerting such force. There is a necessary gap between the inside dimension of the alignment tool body 24 and the outside dimension of the sand nozzle 14 in order for the tool 22 to fit over the nozzle 14. This gap allows the body 24 to wobble relative to the true centerline C/LN of the nozzle outlet 16, and that movement is exaggerated at the pointer tip 30. Thus, the combination of a bending tool and an alignment mechanism into a single tool 22 results in a poor alignment guide. Alignment of the nozzle 14 may be expected to have an uncertainty of up to xc2x1xc2xd inch where the adhesion material strikes the rail 20 as a result of this movement. Furthermore, the alignment tool 22 is heavy and awkward for the inspector to use, since it must be able to withstand the forces necessary for bending the delivery tube 32 when adjustment is required.
FIG. 1 also illustrates the location of the outlet nozzle 34 of a type of rail cleaning system 35 called a Snow Blaster. A diffused pattern of compressed air 36 is generated by the nozzle 34 which receives the air through a delivery pipe 38. The delivery pipe 38 may typically be a xc2xd inch schedule 80 steel tube with a xc2xd inch union welded onto an end to accept the nozzle 34. The delivery pipe 38 is attached to the sand pipe support bracket, which in turn is attached to the truck at the journal box (not shown). The compressed air 36 is directed toward the rail 20 at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rail 20 and with respect to a vertical axis through the rail 20. The compressed air 36 is used to remove snow and ice from the rail directly in front of the locomotive wheel 12. Current operating procedures require the nozzle 34 to be removed for cleaning and inspection on a periodic basis. The alignment of the nozzle 34 is also visually checked at that time and any gross misalignment corrected. Delivery pipe 38 must be heated to a red-hot condition and bent to change the alignment of the nozzle 34. No process currently exists for accurately determining the alignment of the nozzle 34 with respect to the rail 20.
One may appreciate that the operating environment of the nozzles 14, 34 of a rail conditioning system can be quite harsh. The nozzles 14, 34 are exposed to atmospheric conditions including rain, snow and temperature extremes. They are also subject to impact with foreign objects in the path of the rail 20 and with debris that is dislodged by the moving locomotive, for example rocks, litter and ice. As a result, it is not uncommon for such nozzles to become misaligned. Misalignment of rail conditioning nozzles has been known to contribute directly to adhesion related locomotive stalls, thereby adversely affecting the service level for the railroad. Current methods for checking the alignment of rail conditioning nozzles are at best cumbersome and inaccurate, and they are at worst nonexistent. Because the consequences of a misaligned nozzle can be significant, it is necessary to perform an inspection of such nozzles regularly. A convenient, accurate method for confirming the proper alignment of such nozzles is needed.
Laser alignment systems are well known. U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,219 describes a laser alignment method and apparatus for aligning a series of pipes with respect to each other during the assembly of a fire sprinkler system. A laser light source is affixed to an open end of a pipe, and a mating pipe end is positioned with respect to the laser light beam. U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,788 describes a laser beam used for alignment of a gun sight. A source of laser light is placed inside the gun barrel and the gun sight is adjusted so that the light beam is aligned with a target. U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,899 describes a rotary saw that is guided so that a laser light beam follows a target in order to align the saw blade properly. In spite of the need for improved nozzle alignment systems for a locomotive application, the present inventor is not aware of any application of a laser for improving the delivery of material from a rail conditioning device.
A method and apparatus for aligning a rail conditioning system installed on a rail vehicle for delivery of a rail conditioning material to a desired location on a rail relative to a wheel of the rail vehicle are described herein. Such a rail conditioning system includes a delivery conduit having a nozzle for producing a diffused spray of a material centered along a line of flow directed toward the rail. The method may include: removing a nozzle from a delivery conduit of a rail conditioning system of a rail vehicle; detachably securing a source of light on the delivery conduit in place of the nozzle to unmovingly align the source of light relative to the delivery conduit; energizing the source of light to direct a beam of light along a path corresponding to a central line of a flow of material to be delivered by the nozzle; detecting impingement of the beam of light on one of a rail and a wheel to assess alignment of the nozzle when installed on the delivery conduit for centering the flow of material on a desired location; removing the source of light from the delivery conduit; reinstalling the nozzle onto the delivery conduit; and delivering a spray of a rail conditioning material to provide a desired coverage of the rail by the rail conditioning material. The method may include performing the steps of detachably securing a source of light, energizing the source of light, detecting impingement of the beam of light, and removing the source of light during a service event when the nozzle is otherwise removed from the delivery conduit for servicing. The method may include: removing the nozzle from the delivery conduit by unthreading the nozzle; attaching the source of light to a fixture provided with threads; and threading the fixture onto the conduit in place of the nozzle.
A method of aligning a rail conditioning system installed on a rail vehicle for delivery of a rail conditioning material to a desired location on a rail relative to a wheel of the rail vehicle is described herein. The rail conditioning system may include a delivery conduit having a nozzle for producing a diffused spray of a material centered along a line of flow directed toward the rail, and the method may include: detachably securing a source of light to be unmovingly aligned with a nozzle end of a conduit of a rail conditioning system; energizing the source of light to direct a beam of light along a path corresponding to a central line of flow of a diffused spray of material to be delivered by the conduit through a nozzle; detecting impingement of the beam of light on one of a rail and a wheel to assess alignment of the nozzle for centering the flow of material on a desired region of the rail; and delivering a spray of rail conditioning material to the rail through the nozzle to provide a desired coverage of the rail by the rail conditioning material. The method may include: removing the nozzle from the conduit prior to the step of detachably securing the source of light; detachably securing the source of light in place of the nozzle; and reattaching the nozzle between the steps of detecting impingement and delivering a spray of rail conditioning material. The method may include: attaching the source of light to a fitting having a generally hollow shape adapted for receiving the nozzle; and detachably securing the source of light by placing the fitting over the nozzle. The fitting may be formed to contain a notch in a predetermined location; and the method may include aligning the fitting on the nozzle by engaging a protruding feature of the nozzle into the notch.
A method of aligning a rail conditioning system installed on a rail vehicle for delivery of a rail conditioning material to a desired location on a rail is described herein, the rail conditioning system including a delivery conduit having a nozzle for producing a diffused spray of a material centered along a line of flow directed toward the rail, the method includes: adjusting alignment of a conduit to have approximately a first predetermined angle in a forward direction and to have approximately a second predetermined angle in a sideward direction with respect to a vertical axis passing through a rail; removing an outlet nozzle from the conduit; unmovingly securing a source of light on the conduit in place of the nozzle; energizing the source of light to direct a beam of light along a path corresponding to a central line of a flow of material to be delivered by the nozzle; adjusting alignment of the conduit to direct impingement of the beam of light onto a predetermined location; removing the source of light from the delivery conduit; and reinstalling the nozzle onto the delivery conduit.
An apparatus for aligning a rail conditioning system installed on a rail vehicle for delivery of a rail conditioning material to a desired location on a rail is described herein, the rail conditioning system including a delivery conduit having a nozzle for producing a diffused spray of a material centered along a line of flow directed toward the rail, the apparatus including: a fitting for removable attachment to a conduit of a rail conditioning system; and a source of light attached to the fitting for directing a beam of light in unmoving alignment with a central line of a flow of material to be delivered through the conduit.
The fitting may further include a generally hollow shape adapted for fitting over portion of a nozzle attached to the conduit. The fitting may include a notch formed in the fitting for engagement with a protruding member of the nozzle for alignment of the source of light along the line of flow. When a nozzle is threaded into the conduit, and the fitting may include threads adapted to thread into the conduit in place of the nozzle. The source of light may include a battery-operated laser.

Locomotive rail conditioning system alignment verification


A food composition useful as a peanut spread and having a reduced level of fat and/or oil is provided. The composition is a macroscopically homogeneous blend of an peanut component and an aqueous phase associated with a fragmented granular starch hydrolysate. The fragmented granular starch hydrolysate is capable of forming an aqueous dispersion at 20% starch hydrolysate solids having a yield stress of from about 100 to about 1,500 pascals. Also provided is a method of preparing a peanut spread which comprises making a premix of the granular starch hydrolysate and water, fragmenting the granular starch hydrolysate and then blending the resulting particle gel with a peanut component to produce a macroscopically homogeneous blend.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,166 (Lenchin et al.) discloses converted starches having a DE less than 5 and certain paste and gel characteristics which are used as a fat and/or oil replacement in various foods, including ice cream and mayonnaise. The converted starches are described as dextrins, acid-converted starches (fluidity starches), enzyme-converted starches and oxidized starches. It is also disclosed that if the converted starches are not rendered cold-water soluble by the conversion, they are pregelatinized prior to use or cooked during use.
A product bulletin entitled "Paselli SA2; The Natural Alternative to Fats and Oils" (Avebe b.a., Foxhol, Holland, Ref. No. 05.12.31.167 EF) discloses the use of a low-DE-hydrolysate (DE less than 3) made from potato starch as a replacement for fifty percent of the fat with an amount of the low-DE-potato starch hydrolysate plus water (starch hydrolysate at 28% dry solids) equal to the amount of fat replaced.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,962,465 (Richter et al.) and 3,986,890 (Richter et al.) disclose the use of thermoreversible gels of a starch hydrolysate (formed by enzymatic hydrolysis) as a substitute for fat in a variety of foods, including cake creams and fillings, mayonnaise and remoulades, cream cheeses and other cheese preparations, bread spreads, pastes, meat and sausage products, and whipped cream.
The preparation of ready-to-spread frostings having reduced levels of calories is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,292 (Augustine et al.). The patent discloses a frosting which contains (a) about 40 to 85 weight percent sugar, at least about 20 weight percent of which comprises fructose; (b) about 1 to 12 weight percent of a granular starch having a cold-water solubility of greater than 50 weight percent and a fat content of less than 0.25 weight percent; (c) about 5 to 30 weight percent fat; and (d) about 10 to 30 weight percent water. The patent also discloses, at column 5, lines 25-38, that the preferred frostings contain 8 to 18 weight percent fat in comparison to conventional frostings which routinely contain about 18 to 30 weight percent fat.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,408 (Morehouse) discloses margarine or butter-like spreads of reduced caloric values which involve an edible fat at levels of from about 15 to 35% by weight of the spread and a low D.E. non-gelling starch hydrolysate having a D.E. value of about 4 and not more than 25. The spreads are described as water-in-oil emulsions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,915 (Cain et al.) discloses spreads containing less than 35 wt. % fat comprising 10-35 wt. % continuous fat phase and 90-65 wt. % dispersed aqueous phase. The aqueous phase contains a gel-forming composition having a viscosity of at least 20 mPA.s when measured at 5.degree. C. and at a shear rate of 17090 sec.sup.-1. Gelling agents are stated to include gelling hydrolyzed starch derivatives, for example Paselli SA2, which is described as a gelling maltodextrin.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,507 (Bodor et al.) discloses edible water-in-oil emulsion spreads having an aqueous phase dispersed in a continuous fat phase and produced by incorporating, as a component of the dispersed phase of the emulsion, hydrated, non-crystalline, intact, undissolved starch particles. The starch is more particularly described as being swollen by the aqueous phase to a sub-maximal degree, thereby avoiding disintegration and ultimately dissolution in the starch in the aqueous phase. The emulsions are described as containing 20-70% by weight fat in the case of spreads of the reduced-fat type.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,131 (Bodor et al.) discloses edible water-in-oil emulsion spreads having an aqueous phase dispersed in a continuous fat phase and produced by incorporating, as a component of the dispersed phase of the emulsion, 1-25 wt. % based on the total emulsion, of discrete granules of agglomerates of native, crystalline starch granules, 80-100% of which have a diameter of less than 25 microns, preferably between 4 and 15 microns. The emulsions are described as containing 20-70% by weight fat in the case of spreads of the reduced-fat type.

Composition and method of preparing reduced fat spreads


A harmony authorization detector (HAD) synthesizer electronically generates single audible musical notes in harmony with single original aural notes of a melody as the melody is played on an instrument by a single player. Thus the HAD functions as, in effect, a second instrument electronically operational in harmony with a manually played lead instrument. The HAD synthesizer is particularly useful with guitars although not so limited. When a lead electronic guitar is used in a solo situation playing one original note at a time, the HAD synthesizer will, for each string on each position of the guitar and with the aid of a group of tone decoders, electronically detect the single fundamental note played by the guitarist and will authorize the emission of a preset, predetermined electronically generated synthesized single harmony note e.g. a third, fifth, seventh, etc. based on the fundamental of the single note played by the lead guitarist. The original electronic note played plus the synthesized electronic harmony note are amplified and led to a speaker system where they are transduced into aural notes. The HAD synthesizer covers at least about two octaves for each string of the guitar with which it is to be associated and will function harmonically true on ascending and descending scales. The synthesized harmony note sustains for about the same period of time, e.g. as a congruent envelope configuration of amplitude versus time, and is of approximately the same instrumental quality (timbre), as the original note. The HAD synthesizer has a control to enable the player to preselect the synthesized electronically generated harmony notes, whereby to permit the player to decide on the harmony which he desires for his electronic accompanist. The HAD synthesizer can produce harmony corresponding to a variety of instruments by controlling said envelope configuration and the harmonic content of said electronically generated single harmony note.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a harmony authorization detector synthesizer, that is to say, a device that will, responsive to a single original note that is detected by the synthesizer, electronically authorize the emission of an electronically generated single note in harmony with the original note.
2. Description of the Prior Art
No directly relevant prior art is known in which for each single (original) note a harmony note is generated in combination therewith, nor, particularly, in which the harmony note experiences a predetermined decay and is selectable as to timbre, nor as to which the harmony note has an amplitude that is a function of the amplitude of the original note, nor as to which the harmony note is selectable as to the type of harmony desired.
There are prior art patents in which original notes are analyzed to determine the fundamental tones in the absence of harmonics and which notes subsequently are modified by the addition of overtones to change the color (timbre) of the note so, as an example, to make the note resemble different instruments or even the human voice. However, such patents pertain to "harmonics" which are modifications of an original voiced note but are not new notes in "harmony" with an original voiced note; hence such art is not deemed to be relevant.

Harmony authorization detector synthesizer


A blind to be attached to a compound bow by a support rod threaded into the standard, threaded hole provided in the front of the bow to receive a stabilizer rod. The blind includes a central block supported at the end of the rod and having a threaded opening in its front surface to receive a standard stabilizer rod. Ribs radiate outwardly from the block to support the perimeter portions of a camouflage cloth spaced a short distance ahead of the bow.

This invention relates to bow blinds for use on compound bows and particularly to bow blinds suitable for mounting in the threaded hole provided in the riser of compound bows to receive stabilizer rods.
U.S Pat. No. 4,817,579 issued to Ralph R. Mathias shows a camouflage shield that can be mounted on a compound bow to hide the person using the bow from the sight of an animal being hunted. However, the shield is mounted on a special support that requires special holes to be drilled in the riser of the bow. In addition, the shield has a perimeter frame and a central frame member attached to the support structure, all of which add to the weight of the shield and make it difficult to carry through the woods.
Another camouflage shield is illustrated in the "Original Trebark Catalogue" that has a lighter weight structure and uses radial ribs to stretch a rectangular piece of camouflage cloth attached only to the tips of the ribs. The ribs are supported by a central support member attached to the outer end of a stabilizer rod by means of a screw threaded into the end of the rod. Since stabilizer rods are not normally drilled and tapped to receive a screw, this has to be done for each stabilizer on which the shield would be mounted, and such stabilizers are anywhere from a few inches to a few feet long. That means that the shield could be several feet from the person using the bow, which would considerably reduce its ability to shield the person from view.


Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a sensor comprising an on-board control system and a testing system. The on-board system can determine viability of the control system or the testing system. Also disclosed are methods of using such a sensor.

There has been a proliferation of on-site analytical and diagnostic measurement kits. Non-limiting examples include those used in environmental science and health care, such as household lead test kits, on-site water contamination test kits, home blood glucose test kits, home pregnancy test kits, and home blood coagulation test kits. Merely by way of example, point-of-care tests based on a meter that measures an electrochemical reaction in a disposable test strip are becoming increasingly common. Many of these meters are designed for use by health care professionals but also for people less familiar with their use such as consumers who purchase them for use at home. As these meters can play a major role in monitoring important health conditions (e.g., blood glucose levels or coagulation times) to evaluate, monitor, and/or determine proper therapeutic treatments, there is a need to ensure that test results are accurate. One such way to ensure the accuracy of these results can include using a control system to determine test strip viability.


NDIR gas sensing methodology is advanced which renders the output of an NDIR gas sensor, when implemented with this new methodology, to remain stable or drift-free over time. Furthermore, the output of such a sensor will also be independent of the temperature of an environ wherein the sensor is in physical contact. This method utilizes the same narrow band-pass spectral filter for the detection of the gas of interest for both the signal and the reference channels. By so doing, the two channels always receive radiation of the same spectral content from the infrared source of the sensor convoluted with that from any external elements exposed to the sensor. While the same sample chamber through which the gas of interest to be detected flows is shared by the two channels, the detector package for the reference channel is hermetically sealed with 100% of the gas to be detected instead of 100% N2 as for the signal detector. In so doing, the reference channel is rendered almost completely “blind” to the presence or absence of the gas of interest flowing in the common sample chamber thereby creating an absorption bias or difference between the two channels enabling the concentration of the gas of interest to be detected by ratioing the outputs of the two channels via calibration.

The Non-Dispersive Infrared ("NDIR") technique has long been considered as one of the best methods for gas measurement. In addition to being highly specific, NDIR gas analyzers are also very sensitive, stable, reliable and easy to maintain and service. Ever since the NDIR technique of gas measurement was first introduced and practiced in the mid 1950's, a large number of improved measurement techniques based upon the NDIR principle for gas detection have been proposed and successfully demonstrated. The most notable advances over the years in this field are summarized as follows.
Burch et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,793,525) and Blau et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,776) in 1974 were the first to advance a so-called "Double Beam" technique for NDIR gas measurement by taking advantage of the principle of nonlinear absorption for some strongly absorbing gases such as CO2 to create a reference channel. Shortly thereafter, this "Double Beam" NDIR gas sensor technique was greatly simplified with the use of two interposed spectral filters (one absorbing and one neutral) to create a sample and a reference detector channel. Subsequent NDIR gas sensors, designed using this technique, have enjoyed good performance alluded to briefly above.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,762 (1986) Wong advanced the first self-calibrating NDIR CO2 analyzer using a novel two-wheel chopper and mirror arrangement. Another improved type of such gas analyzer is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,694,173 (1987) by Wong. This gas sensor has no moving parts for effecting the interposition of spectral filters to create both a sample and reference detector channel as in the NDIR gas analyzers described earlier.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,332 (1992), Wong advanced the so-called "wave-guide" sample chamber concept for simplifying NDIR gas sensors into ones that are compact, rugged and low-cost while still maintaining their superior performance characteristics. This concept has subsequently been widely adopted in the design of today's NDIR gas sensors, particularly in low-cost and high volume versions.
All of the NDIR gas analyzers described above for the measurement of the concentrations of one or more gases in a mixture perform well functionally and have contributed successfully to the overall technical advancement in the field of gas analysis during the past two decades. They have been widely accepted in both the medical and industrial communities. Despite their undisputed success over the years, there still remain a number of important sensor performance characteristics that need to be greatly improved in order to further extend the useful applications of these devices in a number of areas.
By far the most deficient performance characteristic of gas sensors of today, inclusive of NDIR gas sensors, is the sensor output stability over time. Unlike the temperature controller or thermostat device which just about everybody is familiar with at home or in their workplaces for sensing temperature and never requires output adjustment or recalibration over time, such is not the case for gas sensors irrespective of their operational principle, functional design, material construct or even costs. Dependent upon the type of gas sensors, just about every one of them requires recalibration once every six months to a year without exception in order that they remain accurate over time. While this performance deficiency has been well tolerated over the years, it remains as a significant drawback for gas sensors and even precludes their use in a number of vital applications and must therefore be eventually eliminated.
The second most prominent performance deficiency for gas sensors of today irrespective of their operational principle is their output dependence as a function of the temperature of the environment wherein the sensors are located. This performance deficiency for just about all gas sensors is universally, albeit reluctantly, dealt with by specifying the output correction per degree of temperature change with respect to the output stipulated at a standard temperature. In some gas sensors these output temperature corrections are quite large and in many cases severely limit the use of these sensors outdoors. It would be a significant step forward in the development of future gas sensors, particularly for the NDIR type, because of its prevalent use in most industries, that this performance deficiency be also overcome.

Saturation filtering NDIR gas sensing methodology


A method of measuring the bends in a preformed tube by locating in space, with a mechanical tube-engaging apparatus, the centerline of each straight tube section. Where the bends are measured of a tube which is longer than the physical boundaries of the apparatus, adjacent portions of the tube are successively positioned within the boundaries of the apparatus and the centerlines of sufficient straight tube sections are located with the tube in successive positions to correlate the tube position and orientation at the successive tube positions. In measuring a tube with a straight section of such a length that bends at either end thereof cannot be correlated at successive tube positions within the physical boundaries of said apparatus, an apparatus is attached to the straight section of the tube to create simulated bends within the long straight section, enabling measurement of the bends at each end of the long straight section.

Measurement of preformed tubes are taken to enable reproduction of such tube configurations. Hopf U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,607, issued Oct. 31, 1978, discloses an instrument for taking such measurements. The tube is fixed onto the instrument table and is measured by engaging a metered mechanical apparatus at points along the straight portions of the tube to define the centerlines of the straight portions. Using this data, the tube configuration may be computed.
When a tube is so long as to extend beyond the boundaries of the instrument, the tube is measured in sections. The tube is shifted so that at least two measured straight sections remain within the instrument boundaries. Those two straight sections are relocated with the instrument and then the remaining straight sections of the tube within the instrument boundaries are also located. These later measured sections can in this way be spatially correlated to the first measured sections of the tube.
A problem has arisen when the tube has a straight section which is so long that it is impossible to spatially locate straight sections defining successive bends within the boundaries of the instrument. I have developed both a method and an apparatus for creating false bends within the long straight section so as to overcome this problem.

Method and apparatus for aiding measurement of preformed tubes


Rigid, amorphous copolyamides which can be produced in a single-stage polycondensation reaction with a high glass transition temperature and low water absorption capacity, based on cycloaliphatic diamines, dimerized fatty acids and aromatic dicarboxylic acids.

Thermoplastically processible polyamides can be divided into semicrystalline and amorphour homo- and copolyamides.
The semicrystalline polyamides form an important group of commercial thermoplastics. Shaped articles produced from them are distinguished by high strength, rigidity, toughness, surface hardness, good abrasion behavior, and excellent resistance to chemicals and stress-crack resistance. However, the usefulness of these semicrystalline homo- and copolyamides, for example the high melting point polyamides PA 6 and Pa 6,6, is substantially reduced by their tendency to absorb water and the associated reduction of the glass transition temperature resulting in loss of rigidity and strength.
Rigid amorphous copolyamides are generally produced from aromatic dicarboxylic acids and diamines having crystallization-inhibiting structures, and can contain further comonomers such as amino acids, lactams, and salts of diamines and dicarboxylic acids. The properties of such copolyamides can be intentionally varied within wide limits by the choice of monomers used in each case.
As already mentioned, the glass transition temperature drops due to moisture absorption, which in turn causes a reduction of the upper use-temperature. The temperature of use of molded bodies is greatly reduced, leading to a considerable limitation in their utility.
Amorphous copolyamides are described, for example, in the following patents: GB 619,707, CH 449,257, U.S. Pat. No. 2,494,563, U.S. Pat. No. 3,842,045, U.S. Pat. No. 3,840,501, JP 72/11,502, U.S. Pat. No. 2,969,482, U.S. Pat. No. 3,597,400, DE 21 59 803, and CH 624,970.
It is also known to use polymeric--in particular dimerized--fatty acids for the production of polyamides and copolyamides. These materials are used, for example, in adhesive and lubricant polymer chemistry. The structure and properties of dimerized fatty acids are described in detail in, for example, the Henkel-Emery/Gouda (NL) brochure entitled "Empol Dimer and Polybasic Acids, Technical Bulletin 114". These dimerized fatty acids are obtained from monomeric unsaturated fatty acids usually containing 18 carbon atoms by a specific polymerization reaction. There are many products having different ratios of monofunctional, difunctional, trifunctional, and polyfunctional acids. Types having a high dimer content, for example 90%, in particular 97%, are preferred for the production of thermoplastic polyamides.
CA 8 61 620 describes polyamides derived from 1-amino-3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexane; optionally further diamines and, in particular, at least 25 mol % of dimerized fatty acids, based on all acid components (sebacic acid being the preferred dicarboxylic acid) are included. However, these known copolyamides have low rigidity. The influence of aromatic dicarboxylic acids on the glass transition temperature Tg and rigidity, in particular in molar amounts of more than 25%, based on all acids, is not relevant in this CA-PS, because the copolyamides described are used for the preparation of flexible products such as binders, shoe adhesives, and films.
Thermoplastically processible plastic materials which have high rigidity and strength and which maintain these properties under the influence of moisture (high atmospheric humidity or contact with water) are required for many commercial applications. Preferably, the moisture absorption should be low enough so that the glass transition temperature is affected as little as possible.

Amorphous copolyamide from dimer acid, aromatic dicarboxylic acid and cycloaliphatic diamine


The steering wheel of the vehicle is comprised of an annular roller bearing (22) having an interior annular element (23) which is integral with, for example, an interior element (26) of a second roller bearing (24) and an exterior annular element (21) of the annular roller bearing (22) supports a rim (19) and a tire (20). An exterior element (25) of the second roller bearing (24) is mounted via a pivot (40) supported by an articulated arm (17). The inclination of the second roller bearing and, consequently a caster angle of the steering wheel, is variable by way of a double-acting hydraulic actuator (42) which is supplied with hydraulic fluid by a hydraulic pump (46) driven by a motor (47) and controlled by an electronic circuit (48) coupled to a gear selector mechanism of the vehicle.

With motorcycles, particularly high performance motorcycles for racing, the proper regulation of inclination of the steering axis of the steering axis affords the driver a fundamental advantage. At high speed and along a straight line significant rearward inclination considerably increases vehicle stability and allows the driver to safely increase speed to the maximum. Conversely, the greater the angle, the harder the handlebar is to turn. Thus, it is obvious that on slopes with frequent sharp curves or on mountain roads, inclination should be minimal to eliminate wasting driver time on turns or forcing the driver to exert too great an effort to guide the vehicle. An ideal solution would be to achieve a vehicle wherein inclination could be regulated on course, that is, increased for travel in straight lines and reduced for curves.
This is the aim which the present invention proposes to achieve.

Mechanism for varying an inclination angle of the steering wheel relative of the vehicle


A rotor core is provided for an electric machine. The rotor core includes a body extending a length along, and being configured to rotate about, a central longitudinal axis. The body includes spokes arranged radially about the central longitudinal axis and conductor openings arranged radially about the central longitudinal axis. The radial arrangement of the spokes and conductor openings about the central longitudinal axis includes an alternating pattern of spokes and conductor openings. The spokes include slots extending therethrough along the central longitudinal axis. The slots are positioned radially about the central longitudinal axis between adjacent conductor openings. The rotor core also includes conductors extending within the conductor openings of the body.

Rotating electric machines are used for a wide variety of applications, such as automotive applications, aerospace applications, industrial applications, and/or the like. Rotating electric machines include a rotor assembly and a stator. A rotating electric machine may be an electrical motor, wherein the rotor assembly rotates relative to the stator to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy. Rotating electric machines also include electrical generators, wherein the relative rotation between the rotor assembly and the stator converts mechanical energy to electrical energy.
Known rotating electric machines are not without disadvantages. For example, operation of at least some known rotating electric machines may generate harmonics in the rotor assembly and/or the stator that affect performance of the electric machine. Such harmonics may generate asynchronous rotating fields that produce eddy currents in the rotor assembly, the stator, and/or in an air gap between the rotor assembly and the stator. The eddy currents consume power and reduce the efficiency of the rotating electric machine. For example, the eddy currents may generate relatively significant losses in the rotor assembly and/or the stator that reduce efficiency.


The invention relates to an operating method for an automated language recognizer intended for the speaker-independent language recognition of words from different languages, particularly for recognizing names from different languages. The method is based on a language defined as the mother tongue and has an input phase for establishing a language recognizer vocabulary. Phonetic transcripts are determined for words in various languages in order to obtain phoneme sequences for pronunciation variants. The phonemes of each relevant phoneme set of the mother tongue are then specifically mapped to determine phoneme sequences that correspond to pronunciation variants.

The method relates to an operating method of an automatic language recognizer for speaker-independent language recognition of words of different languages and a corresponding automatic language recognizer.
For phoneme-based language recognition, a language-recognition vocabulary is required, containing phonetic descriptions of all the words to be recognized. Typically, words are represented by sequences or chains of phonemes in the vocabulary. During a language recognition process, a search is conducted for the best path through various phoneme sequences found in the vocabulary. This search can, for example, take place by means of the Viterbi algorithms. For continuous language recognition, the probabilities for transitions between words can also be modeled and included in the Viterbi algorithm.
A phonetic transcription for the words to be recognized form the basis of phoneme-based language recognition. Therefore, at the start of a phoneme-based language recognition process, the first order is to obtain phonetic transcripts for the word. Phonetic transcripts can be generally defined as the phonetic descriptions of words from a target vocabulary. Obtaining phonetic transcripts particularly relevant for words that are not known to the language recognizer.
Mobile or cordless telephones are known that enable speaker-dependent name selection. In this case, a user of such a telephone must train the entries contained in the electronic telephone book of the telephone in order to be able to subsequently use the name selection by spoken word. Normally, no other user can use this feature because the speaker-dependent name selection is suitable for only one person, i.e. for the person who has trained the language selection. To overcome this problem, the entries in the electronic telephone book can be changed to phonetic transcripts.
To determine the phonetic transcript from a written word, for example from a telephone book entry, various approaches are known in the art. One example is a dictating system that is used with a PC. With dictating systems of this kind, a lexicon of typically more than 10,000 words with an allocation of letter sequences to the phoneme sequences is normally stored. Because a lexicon of this kind requires a very high storage capacity, it is not practical for mobile terminal devices such as mobile or cordless telephones to wholly incorporate this configuration.
Systems are also known whereby the conversion of a word to its phonetic transcript is rule-based, or takes place using specially trained neural networks. As with the lexicon, this method also has one disadvantage that the language in which the phoneme sequences to be realized must be specified. In any case, names from different languages may be present, particularly in electronic telephone books. On a mobile device, converting words from different languages would be burdensome to wholly implement under the above configuration.
Other multilingual systems for determining phoneme sequences and language recognition have been developed. These systems enable phoneme sequences to be created from different languages.
Under still other configurations, a user speaks the words into a language recognition system that automatically generates sequences of phonemes. However, for large vocabularies, (e.g., an electronic telephone book with 80 entries), this is no longer acceptable for the user.

Operating method for an automated language recognizer intended for the speaker-independent language recognition of words in different languages and automated language recognizer


Provided is a novel active noise control biosensor including a detection plate, a signal detection module and a control module. The signal detection module includes a signal superimposable transistor and a readout circuit. The signal superimposable transistor has a secondary input terminal and a primary input terminal. The detection plate inputs a detected primary signal to the primary input terminal, and the control module processes an output signal from the signal detection module by a signal processing system and generates and inputs a secondary signal to the secondary input terminal. The primary signal and the secondary signal received by the signal superimposable transistor are superimposed to realize active noise control, and the superimposed signal is read out by the readout circuit and output as an input signal to the control module. The biosensor can achieve the detection of potential or charges and have active noise control characteristics.

Recently, the biological molecular process detection has attracted more and more attention, for example, cell activity detection, DNA detection, bioprotein detection, drug screening and so on. Compared with the optical detection, the direct electrical activity detection is simple in operation and convenient for in-vivo detection. At present, the direct electrical activity detection mainly uses two conventional solid-state biosensors, i.e., a microelectrode array and a field effect device. However, in the two conventional sensors, an additional reference electrode is needed for setting a difference in voltage between a solution and a substrate of the sensor. As a result, it is difficult to realize large-scale integration in a standard integrated circuit process of conventional sensors, and the further reduction in cost and development in portability of such sensors are hindered.
As a common basic unit in a semiconductor device, a floating gate transistor has two ports, i.e., a floating gate and a control gate, which both may be used as an input terminal. Meanwhile, the control of the turn-on voltage and the saturation current may be realized by a superposition principle of the control gate and the floating gate. Therefore, some scholars have proposed devices structurally similar to floating gate transistors. The use of the control gate makes up the deficiency that the conventional sensors require additional reference electrodes. However, the control gate can only be used to set a quiescent operating point. During the actual detection, there are electrochemical noise caused by the ionic movement of an electrolyte solution, slow DC drift caused by the change in temperature, and so on. The noise will inhibit or hinder accurate signal detection, so it is necessary to provide a novel sensor to overcome this noise, make up the deficiencies of the existing sensors and realize high signal-to-noise ratio detection.


A method and system augments a broadcast by detecting an event that occurs while viewing a broadcast data by at least one user; when the event is detected, automatically capturing feedback data with a human computer interaction (HCI) capturing device (HCICD) from the at least one user, the feedback data being indicative of a measurement of the user from viewing the event; generating a feature data as a function of the feedback data; including the feature data in the broadcast data to generate an augmented broadcast data; and transmitting the augmented broadcast data.

A media broadcast may be sent to a variety of electronic devices. For example, a broadcast may be viewed on a television, a computer, a mobile device, etc. The broadcast may also be sent live such as a sporting event coverage, with audio or video, be sent pre-recorded, or with a brief broadcast delay. During a broadcast, a broadcasting device may include data to be shown concurrently with the broadcast. For example, broadcasting devices may include advertisements in a non-intrusive area during the broadcast.
A broadcasting device may also show data that is based upon viewer feedback. Conventional broadcasting devices may include poll data. For example, during a broadcast for a sporting event, a question may be posed such as "Who should be the MVP for this game?" with a number of choices listed beneath. Viewers of the broadcast may cast a vote (e.g., phone, website, etc.) and after a predetermined period, the results of the poll may be displayed during the broadcast. However, for such viewer feedback data to be collected and shown during a broadcast, the viewer is often required to provide the data to the broadcasting device.
Recent advances in sensor technology and computer vision methods open the door to a new trend in human computer interaction (HCI) that is more natural and entertaining. A HCI device capable of translating human gestures, movements, voice, and facial expression into a set of commands that, in turn, can control a computer application, is highly attractive because it supports human behavior-like interactions. A user engagement and visualization, where user reality and virtual reality are mixed, allows for user intuitive and intelligent interaction with virtual content and for seamless visualization of real and virtual content in a video presentation.
Motion capture is the field of recording motion of a person, animal, or object and translating the captured data representing the movement into meta-data, specifically mathematical models of the captured object's movement and its appearance. Practical applications of motion capture technology have been used in the fields of movie making, animation, video games (both game animation/production and for playing the games), military applications, medicine, and sports and entertainment. Motion capture systems can be used to capture motion and positional data in two or three dimensions. "Motion capture" as used in this application includes the capture and use of objects' positional data and appearance models. The positional data and appearance models may be continuous-time estimates based on discrete data samples. The positional data and appearance models may be derived from sources such as one or more video image sequences of a scene, range image data, depth images, and acoustical data. Objects' appearance models may include 3D surface, pose, color, and texture models.
Motion capture systems typically involve a data capture device, a data translating and processing system, and a data output device. Data capture devices used with motion capture systems include cameras, infrared sensors, microphones, and other recorders and detectors. Mechanical, magnetic, and RF positioning motion capture systems may also be used to provide motion capture data. Data translating and processing systems are typically computer systems, including systems from sophisticated movie animation graphics computers to home computers and video game consoles. Data output devices include computer video monitors, televisions, movie screens, robotics, and other devices that have been controlled or manipulated using captured motion data.
Motion capture data is often mapped to a model. A model in computer-vision is a mathematical or graphical representation that characterizes the data. For example, a B-spline model may be used to represent a captured object's surface, a topological-graph may be used to represent a captured object's gesture (pose), or a color histogram may be used to represent the captured object's appearance. An object's model, as a characteristic representation, is used to detect, identify, and track an object's movements and gestures in the scene. Motion capture technology can be used to create "virtual reality" systems where users interact with digital (virtual) content, such as in simulators and other training environments, virtual walk-throughs, and virtual interaction between performers and digital content. Another application for motion capture technology is "augmented reality" where in a video presentation virtual elements (e.g. graphical signs or players) are placed relative to real elements (e.g. studio or sports arena) so their appearance is consistent with the camera movements.

Presenting content and augmenting a broadcast


It is an object of the invention to provide a movement device, which makes possible an improved conclusion concerning the cooperation of a person with impaired mobility during training. In a first solution, xe2x80x9cactive phasesxe2x80x9d, related to a side, represent a quantity, which corresponds to the time, to the path or to the angle of the active phases traversed. In a second solution, this procedure is related to the actuating elements, considered as a unit. In further parallel solutions, an evaluation takes place with regard to a first quantity, which represents the active phases, and a second quantity, which expresses the passive phases, and moreover for side-related and integral training, that is, training, in which the actuating elements are considered in totality.

The invention relates to a movement device with two mutually connected, movable actuating elements for an extremity pair of a person, means for driving and braking the actuating elements, as well as an electronic unit for regulating and/or controlling the movement of the actuating elements.
Movement devices of the type described above have become known in different embodiments and are used predominantly for the treatment of people, whose mobility is impaired.
Since people with impaired mobility, such as those who are paralyzed on one side, frequently are not able to bring about a circular motion at a movement device with a crank handle, such movement devices frequently have a mode, in which, for example, the legs of a person of impaired mobility, are moved at a constant rpm. However, the impaired person can support the movement by the work of his own muscles.
In the German Patent document DE 198 11 233 A1, an embodiment of a movement device is disclosed which, by adapting an xe2x80x9celectronic centrifugal massxe2x80x9d, produces a relatively large increase in the rpm when actively actuated very little by the person of impaired mobility. However, this increase in rpm then declines slowly. Such a regulation is intended to provide the person of impaired mobility with a success experience, which improves the efficiency of the training.
It is an object of the invention to provide a movement device of the type described above, which permits an improved conclusion to be drawn with respect to the cooperation of a person of impaired mobility during the training.
Starting out from a movement device of the type described above, such an objective can be accomplished by the characterizing distinguishing features of the claims.
In the first way of accomplishing the objective, the electronic unit is designed so that, when an extremity acts on an actuating element, movement phases of the actuating element are defined as the xe2x80x9cactive phasexe2x80x9d in accordance with certain fixed criteria, and are assigned to a quantity. This quantity may be a sum. In other words, all the movement phases of the actuating element may be summed up. This sum, with the exception of one factor, may be the total time when the actuating element is in the active phases, sum of the length of the path traveled in the active phases, or the sum of the angular displacements of the active phases. This means that the quantity reflects the quantity of the active movement phases. Preferably, the sum of the times, of the paths or of the angles traversed are determined directly for quantifying the active phases. These physical quantities usually have the advantage, that they can easily be related to a total value. For example, the path traveled can be summed within active movement phases and then easily added to obtain the total path traveled. For example, the following option is conceivable: path traveled, active: 12 km; total path traveled: 20 km.
Of course, it would also be possible to state the xe2x80x9cactive timexe2x80x9d in relation to the total training time. The quantity for the active phases can be determined in relation to the side, as in the case of the first possibility just described or, as in the case of a further significant variation, considered as a unit for the actuation elements. With the formulation, xe2x80x9cthe total active effect of an extremity pair on the actuating elementsxe2x80x9d, the training phase is to be determined, in which the training person exerts a total force on the actuating elements through the extremities of an extremity pair, the force acting in the direction of an intended movement of the actuating elements. In other words, in particular, for example, the following cases at a pedal crank, at which a direction of rotation is specified, shall be assigned to the active movement phase: movement phases, at which the training person exerts a force with at least, for example, one foot on the crank arm, the force supporting the crank movement in the specified direction or movement phases, for which the leg pair in all produces a force acting on the crank, which tends to drive the crank in the specified direction.
In this way, one extremity can also work counter-productively, if the activity of the other extremity predominates. The quantity, which reflects the quantity of the active movement phase, can be determined integrally in relation to both actuating elements or side related, preferably two quantities being determined, which represent the active movement phases of each actuating element separately. By means of the inventive procedure, a training person or an attendant receives data, with which the active cooperation of the training person can be quantified. This enables the training person or the attendant to configure the training in a goal-oriented manner, in order to increase the proportion of the active movement phases.
The essential aspect of a further important solution of a movement device is to be seen therein that the electronic unit is designed so that, when an active effect of an extremity on an actuating element occurs, movement phases of the actuating element, which is acted upon, are defined as a function of fixed criteria as xe2x80x9cactive phasexe2x80x9d and assigned to a first quantity, for example, summed up the first quantity reflecting the active phases, and the remaining movement phases of the actuating element, which is acted upon, are assigned to a second quantity, for example, summed up, the two quantities being comparable. By these means, a side-related evaluation of xe2x80x9cactive trainingxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cpassive trainingxe2x80x9d can be carried out. By these means, the course of training, for example, of a person paralyzed on one side can be optimized selectively for the diseased leg. For example, when movement phases are assigned to the two quantities, the two movement phases are evaluated with, for example, duration, angle traversed, average performance, average moment and work and this value is added to a value, which corresponds to the applicable quantity with the exception, optionally, of one factor. Comparable quantities are understood to be either standardized quantities or quantities with the same units.
The inventive development can refer to a side-related formation of a quantity, as in the case of the solution described immediately above, or be directed to determining the active phases and an associated quantity on the basis of the sum of an active effect of an extremity pair on the actuating elements. In both cases, it becomes possible in an elegant manner to make available values, which reflect the cooperation in relation to the passivity of the person, to a person, whose movement is impaired. With that, it is more easily possible to determine, by comparison from training session to training session, whether the cooperation of the person being trained has improved or deteriorated. The person being trained can be informed of this already during the training, in order to increase his motivation. By means of these measures, the trainee can also easily follow his physical condition during the training from training unit to training unit by comparing value pairs.
In a particularly preferred development of the invention, the electronic unit is designed for the purpose of defining a movement phase with an active contribution by a training person and with a detectable consequence of the active contribution as active. In this connection, it is preferred in one embodiment of the invention if the electronic unit for fixing the movement phases of the actuating elements, in which the actuating elements move at a higher than specified periodicity, for example, at a higher rpm during a circular movement, is designed as active phases. For example, these active phases are assigned to a first quantity and movement phases of the actuating elements, in which the actuating elements move with the specified periodicity, are assigned to a second quantity. The specified periodicity can also vary within an active phase. Making a division into active and passive training in this way is particularly suitable for movement devices, for which it is possible to adapt an electronic centrifugal mass. Such movement devices permit, for example, a course of motion, for which the legs of a training person are moved with the help of a crank handle at a constant rpm, yet a brief force pulse by the training person causes a large increase in rpm, which then declines comparatively slowly. In this case, it would be disadvantageous for the motivation of the training person if only the brief pulse were to be defined as the active phase and the remaining course of the motion as the passive phase. It is therefore proposed that the whole of the course of the motion, starting from the brief active pulse and continuing until a specified basic rpm is reached once again, be used as active phase.
In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the electronic unit is designed to establish that a given movement phase is active when an active contribution of the training person has occurred within the given movement phase. This measure also is intended to motivate the person in training. For example, the electronic unit evaluates each revolution of the actuating element as if there were an active contribution of the training person. If this is the case, the whole of the revolution is evaluated as an xe2x80x9cactive phasexe2x80x9d, even if the active contribution of the person in training occurs only briefly before the conclusion of a complete revolution.
In a particularly preferred development of the invention, the electronic unit is designed so that the movement phases of the actuating elements, in which the respective actuating element is driven by a person in training, in each case is assigned to a first quantity, which reflects the quantity of the driving process and of the movement phases, in which the respective actuating element is braked by a training person, is assigned to a second quantity, which reflects the quantity of the braking process or processes. In other words, the more frequently a movement phase occurs in the course of movements under consideration, in which an actuating element is driven, the larger is, for example, the value of the first quantity in relation to the corresponding actuating element. This represents one possibility of comparing the active and passive phases of the extremities in a side-related manner with one another. Accordingly, for each extremity, such as each foot, for example, the passivity and activity can be made available by a value pair in comparison or by an appropriate ratio of the values. With that, it is possible to compare this value pair or ratio between the feet.
Preferably, the electronic unit should also be designed to produce a single value pair or ratio from these value pairs, which reflects the activity and passivity of an extremity pair in total on the actuating element. In order to realize the extremity-related determination, it is necessary to provide means, by means of which the loading at each actuating element by the respective extremity of the person in training can be determined. This can be accomplished, for example, by applying in each case a force sensor at each actuating element.
In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronic unit is designed for assigning movement phases of the actuating elements, in which the means for driving and braking drive the actuating elements, to a first quantity, which reflects the quantity of the driving process or processes, and movement phases of the actuating elements, in which the means for driving and braking break the actuating element, to a second quantity, which reflects the quantity of the braking process or processes. This procedure describes the possibility of dividing training into active and passive training depending on whether the sum of the actuation of the extremities is active or passive. Such a development can be accomplished relatively easily with a motor driven crank, in that the current supplied to the motor is evaluated.
The various possibilities of assigning active training to a quantity, and optionally passive training to a second quantity can, of course, be integrated into a single electronic unit.
In a simple variation of an embodiment, the value of the first and second quantities can be determined from the duration of the respective movement phase or phases. Likewise, however, it is possible that, in the case of actuating elements capable of rotating, such as a crank, the value of the first and second quantities can be obtained from the angle traversed by the actuating elements in the respective movement phase or phases. It is also possible to integrate driving and braking moments in the respective movement phases over the angle.
In order to provide feedback concerning the course of the training especially to a person in training, it is furthermore proposed that means for displaying the values of the first and second quantities be set in a ratio and/or provided in comparison.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronic unit is designed for assigning at least the quantity,which quantifies the active movement phases, preferably this quantity (first quantity) and a second quantity, which reflects the passive phase, on specified training blocks. By these means, warming up and cooling down blocks can be specified, between which the training blocks lie, in which then the first and optionally also the second quantity are determined. Likewise, several xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d training blocks with active and passive movement phases can be separated by relaxation blocks with a strictly passive movement, the first and optionally also the second quantity being determined in relation to all xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d blocks or in relation to only particular xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d blocks. In this connection, it is also preferred if values for the first and optionally also for the second quantity can be ascertained from this for all training blocks under consideration, that is, if an integral determination of the quantities is possible. Furthermore, it is preferred if, in the case of periodically moving actuation elements, the quantity can be determined for a specified path section, such as an angular range of 360xc2x0 or for several specified path sections.
An example of the invention is shown in the drawing, further advantages and details being explained.

Moving apparatus with two connected movable actuating elements for a pair of person extremities


A delayed coking process includes:                a. introducing a fresh hydrocarbon feedstock containing undesirable sulfur and/or nitrogen compounds for preheating into the lower portion of a coking unit product fractionator;        b. introducing at least a portion of an intermediate fraction derived from the fractionator and at least one adsorbent material that selectively adsorbs sulfur- and/or nitrogen-containing compounds into a mixing zone to form an adsorbent slurry stream;        c. discharging a bottoms fraction from the fractionator;        d. adding all or a portion of the slurry stream to the bottoms fraction to form a mixed coking unit feedstream;        e. heating the mixed feedstream in the coking unit furnace to a predetermined coking temperature; and        f. passing the heated mixed feedstream to a drum of the delayed coking to produce a delayed coking product stream while depositing the adsorbent material having adsorbed sulfur and/or nitrogen compounds with the coke in the coking drum.

Delayed coking has been practiced for many years. The process utilizes thermal decomposition of heavy liquid hydrocarbons to produce coke, gas and liquid product streams of varying boiling ranges. The resulting coke is generally treated as a low value by-product, but is recovered for various uses, depending upon its quality.
The use of heavy crude oils having high metals and sulfur content is increasing in many refineries, and delayed coking operations are of increasing importance to refiners. The goal of minimizing air pollution is a further incentive for treating residuum in a delayed coking unit since the gases and liquids produced contain sulfur in a form that can be relatively easily removed.
Coking is a carbon rejection process in which low-value atmospheric or vacuum distillation bottoms are converted to lighter products which in turn can be hydrotreated to produce transportation fuels, such as gasoline and diesel. Coking of residuum from heavy high sulfur, or sour, crude oils is carried out primarily as a means of utilizing such low value hydrocarbon streams by converting part of the material to more valuable liquid and gas products.
In the commercial practice of the delayed coking process, the feedstock is first introduced into a fractionating column where lighter materials are recovered from the top and the bottoms are then sent to a coking furnace where they are rapidly heated to a coking temperature in the range of 480° to 530° C. and then fed to the coking drum. Coking units are typically configured with two parallel drums and operated in a swing mode. When one of the drums is filled with coke, the feed is transferred to the empty parallel drum. Liquid and gas streams from the coke drum are fed to the coking product fractionator.
Any hydrocarbon vapors remaining in the coke drum are removed by steam injection. The coke is cooled with water and then removed from the coke drum using hydraulic and/or mechanical means.
In the delayed coking production of fuel grade coke and, to some extent, even in the production of anode or aluminum grade coke, it is desirable to minimize the coke yield and maximize the liquid product yield, since the liquids are more valuable than the coke. It is also desirable to produce a coke having a volatile matter content of not more than about 15 percent by weight, and preferably in the range of 6 to 12 percent by weight.
In the conventional delayed coking process, fresh feedstock is introduced into the lower part of the coking fractionator for preheating and mixing and the fractionator bottoms, which include the heavy recycle material, and the fresh feedstock are heated to coking temperature in a coking furnace. The hot mixed fresh and recycle feedstream is introduced into a coke drum maintained at coking conditions of temperature and pressure where the feed decomposes or cracks to form coke and volatile components. The volatile components are recovered as vapor and transferred to the coking unit product fractionator. Heavy gas oil from the fractionator is added to the flash zone of the fractionator to condense the heaviest components from the coking unit product vapors. The heaviest fraction of the coke drum vapors can be condensed by other techniques, such as heat exchange, but in commercial operations it is common to contact the incoming vapors with heavy gas oil in the coking unit product fractionator. Conventional heavy recycle oil is comprised of condensed coking unit product vapors and unflashed heavy gas oil. When the coke drum is full of coke, the feed is switched to another drum, and the full drum is cooled and emptied by conventional methods as described above.
It is also known to add one or more catalysts and additives to the fresh feed and/or the fresh and recycle oil mixture prior to heating the feedstream in the coking unit furnace. The catalyst is used to promote the cracking of the heavy hydrocarbon compounds and the formation of the more valuable liquids that can be subjected to hydrotreating processes downstream to form transportation fuels. The catalyst and any additive(s) remain in the coking unit drum with the coke if they are solids or are present on a solid carrier; if the catalyst(s) and additive(s) are soluble in the oil, they are carried with the vapors and remain in the liquid products.
Processes have been disclosed for modifying the properties of the coke formed in the coking unit to obtain a particular coke product. For example, a delayed coking process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,168 in which Lewis acids, such as aluminum chloride, aluminum bromide, boron fluoride, zinc chloride and stannic chloride are used to obtain a premium coke having increased particle size. The additive and feedstock are introduced into the coking drum together. The additive can be in powder form or in liquid form if the feedstock is at a temperature above the melting point of the additive. The amount of the additive is a function of the feedstock used and the coking conditions employed. For example, 0.01 to about 5.0 percent by weight of additive based on the feedstock are used.
The use of additives based on polymeric materials with molecular weight in the range of from 1,000 to about 30,000 g/gmol is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,658,838. The polymeric materials are selected from polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymer, ethylene diamine tetra alkoxylated alcohol of polyoxyethylene alcohol, ethylene diamine tetra alkoxylated alcohol of polyxopropylene-polyoxyethylene alcohols and mixtures thereof and having a molecular weight from about 1,000 to about 30,000. The polymeric additive which is effective for the formation of substantially free-flowing shot coke is introduced into the feedstock at a point upstream of the second heating zone, between second heating zone and coking zone, or both.
A delayed coking process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,664 that utilizes metal complexes, where the metal is selected from the group consisting of vanadium, nickel, iron, tin, molybdenum, cobalt and sodium. The additives enhance the production of free-flowing shot coke during delayed coking. The feedstock is subjected to treatment with one or more additives at effective temperatures, i.e., from 70° C.-500° C. The additives can be in liquid or solid form. The additives include metal hydroxides, naphthenates and/or carboxylates, metal acetylacetonates, Lewis acids, metal sulfides, metal acetate, metal carbonates, high surface area metal-containing solids, inorganic oxides and salts of oxides, of which the basic salts are preferred additives.
A process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,645,375 in which low molecular weight hydrocarbons are used as additives to produce free-flowing shot coke. The feedstock is subjected to treatment with one or more additives at effective temperatures 70° C.-500 C. The additives include one- and two-ring aromatic systems having from about one to four alkyl substituents, which alkyl substituents contain about one to eight carbon atoms, preferably from about one to four carbon atoms. The one or more rings can be aromatic rings only or aromatic rings containing nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur. The additives, which include benzene, toluene, xylenes, methyl naphthalenes, dimethylnaphthates, indans, methyl indans, pyridine, methylpyridines, quinoline, and methylquinolines, are used in the concentration range of from 10 ppmw-30,000 ppmw.
A delayed coking process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,306,713 wherein metal free additives are used to produce free-flowing shot coke. The additives include elemental sulfur, high surface area substantially metal-free solids, such as rice hulls, sugars, cellulose, ground coals, ground auto tires; inorganic oxides such as fumed silica; salts of oxides, such as ammonium silicate and mineral acids such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and acid anhydrides.
An additive preparation method and utilization is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,387,840, 6,193,875 and 6,169,054 for delayed coking process. The additives include metal salts containing a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and mixtures thereof.
Gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen donor solvents are also utilized to enhance the coking unit product yields and quality. Hydrogen is used to stabilize the free radicals formed to increase liquid yields and, as a necessary result, to decrease the coke yield.
A delayed coking process is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,698,147 and 4,178,229 in which a heavy hydrocarbon oil is admixed with a hydrogen donor diluent boiling in the range 200-540° C. The spent hydrogen donor is separated from the delayed coker products, regenerated and then recycled back to the coking unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,197 describes a delayed coking process wherein hydrogen gas is injected to stabilize a hydrocarbon compound incapable of further bimolecular reaction with another radical. This reaction is the reverse of coking reaction and hence minimizes coke production.
The references discussed above use additives/catalysts to improve the coke quality, but none of the references disclose a suitable, cost-effective additive, catalyst or adsorbent that can selectively remove the HPNA molecules from the liquid coking unit products to thereby enhance the quality of those products. A problem thus exists for producing transportation fuels from residual feedstocks that are low in HPNA molecules. A further problem exists when the feedstock contains metal compounds that remain in the coking unit product stream and are preferably removed or reduced prior to further processing of the various fractionator streams.

Delayed coking process utilizing adsorbent materials


A process for preserving a patient's organ for transplantation and cardioplegia during cardiac surgery is disclosed which includes harvesting the patient's organ for transplantation or arresting the heart during cardiac surgery, perfusing the organ or heart with an aqueous solution, and removing at least a substantial portion of the aqueous solution from the organ or heart to effect the removal of waste products from the organ before transplantation or restarting the heart. The aqueous solutions of these inventions promote anaerobic glycolysis, remove waste products from the organ and maintain the energy production capacity of the organ and are preferably comprised of about 50 to 150 millimoles of histidine per liter of the solution, at least one energy providing material for maintaining the energy production capacity of the organ, about 60 to 90 millimoles of Na.sup.+ per liter of the solution, about 10 to 25 millimoles of K.sup.+ per liter of the solution, and about 3 to 8 millimoles of adenosine per liter of the solution for the transplantation solution and 0.001 to 1 millimoles of adenosine per liter of the solution for cardioplegia. Sodium entry into and depolarization of the cells is resisted by the extracellular to intracellular sodium gradient and use of adenosine. The aqueous solutions of this invention have a pH of about 6.8 to 8.0 where intracellular pH is maintained by the buffering action of the histidine and the solution is preferably used at moderate hypothermia for up to 24 hours.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process for preserving a patient's organ for transplantation which includes perfusing the organ with an aqueous solution that promotes anaerobic glycolysis by providing a high energy substrate, removes waste products from the organ by buffering, and maintains the energy production capacity of the organ.
This invention also relates to a process during cardioplegia in cardiac surgery which includes perfusing the heart with an aqueous solution that arrests the heart, promotes anaerobic glycolysis by providing a high energy substrate, removes waste products from the heart by buffering and maintains the energy production capacity of the heart until the heart is restarted by reestablishing the blood flow.
2. Background Information and Description of the Prior Art
It is well known by those skilled in the art to employ during transplantation of an organ and cardioplegia during cardiac surgery a solution that will preserve the organ during the complete interruption of its blood and oxygen supply. Generally, these solutions rely on substantially arresting the organ's metabolism with the use of chemicals and by employing temperatures of 4.degree. Centigrade and lower. This substantial slowing of the metabolism of the organ permits the energy stores in the organ at the time of harvesting to be consumed at a slower rate. Accordingly, the preservation time of these solutions is limited by the available energy stores present at the time of harvesting and the rate of their consumption. Organ preservation such as for example, preservation of the heart, is limited by the fact that currently available solutions are able only to safely preserve organs for very limited periods of time. For the heart, this time is generally less than six hours. This relatively short period of time severely limits the distance that these organs may be transported and imposes great demands upon the surgeon to complete the complex and delicate transplant surgery in an expeditious manner. Another disadvantage of these solutions is that they do not preserve the organ by promoting anaerobic glycolysis. For example, it is well known by those skilled in the art that prolonged myocardial preservation is limited by the heart's inability to maintain high energy stores and low intracellular calcium levels during ischemia. Anaerobic glycolysis, which is the only potential source of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) during ischemia, is inhibited by the accumulation of lactate and H.sup.+ in the myocytes. These waste products inhibit energy production by the organ while the organ is outside of the patient's body. As a result, ATP production during ischemia is inhibited. It is known by those skilled in the art that low ATP levels are associated with detrimental morphologic changes in the heart.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,556 discloses a protective solution for preventing ischemia damage to organs during transplantations. It discloses a solution that includes alpha-ketoglutarate to improve aerobic metabolism during perfusion. This patent states that alpha-ketoglutarate is able to lengthen the ischemia tolerance times. It discloses, however, that the ischemia tolerance time associated with the protective solution decreases as temperature rises from 5.degree. Centigrade to 35.degree. Centigrade.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,663,289 discloses a process and a solution for preservation of cells in a cell culture. It discloses an ionic balanced solution that normalizes the redox state of the cell wherein the solution contains a normal Na:Cl ratio. This patent includes L-histidine HCl.H.sub.2 O as a nutrient additive to the balanced salt mixture. The solution promotes aerobic metabolism by providing substrates for the mitochondria.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,044 discloses a hyperosmotic intracellular flush and storage solution for preserving an organ for transplantation. It states that the intracellular flush solution minimizes adenine nucleotide catabolism and post-preservation renal reperfusion injury. It also states that the intracellular flush solution comprises KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4, K.sub.2 HPO.sub.4, KCl, NaHCO.sub.3, KHCO.sub.3, mannitol, MgSO.sub.4, MgCl.sub.2, adenosine, allopurinol and verapamil. This patent utilizes the intracellular electrolyte flushing solution in combination with cold storage techniques for extending organ preservation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,691 discloses an oxygenatable fluorocarbon nutrient cerebrospinal fluid containing electrolytes, lecithin, and amino acids. It states that the fluid may be employed for treating hypoxic-ischemic central nervous system tissue.
An article entitled "Effects of Low Extracellular Calcium on Cytosolic Calcium and Ischemic Contracture," Journal of Surgical Research, Vol. 49, pp. 252-255 (1990), and co-authored by E. Jimenez, M.D., et at., states that use of a low calcium cardiac arresting solution prior to ischemia improves the tolerance to ischemia.
del Nido, P., et at., "The Role of Cardioplegic Solution Buffering in Myocardial Protection", The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol. 89, No. 5, pp. 689-699 (1985), discloses that histidine improves post-ischemic recovery of cardiac function and that zero calcium concentration in combination with a low potassium concentration is important for organ preservation.
Transplantation Art SU 878-297 teaches a heart perfusion aqueous solution which contains water, lidocaine, glucose, mannitol and phosphate.
Qayumi et al., "Preservation Techniques for Heart Transplantation: Comparison of Hypothermic Storage and Hypothermic Perfusion," Journal of Heart-Lung Transplant, Vol. 10, No. 4., pp. 518-526 (1991), discloses a heart perfusion solution which comprises mannitol, glucose, insulin and sodium.
In spite of the prior art disclosures, there remains a very real and substantial need for a process and aqueous solution for organ preservation and cardioplegia that promotes anaerobic glycolysis by providing a high energy substrate, removes waste products from the organ by buffering and maintains the energy production capacity of the organ.

An aqueous heart preservation and cardioplegia solution

University of Pittsburgh of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education


A multi-tape cartridge has a number of tapes therein which are either wound in common on a single hub, or are wound individually on respective hubs, and proceed in the housing along respective tape paths from the commonly wound hub, or the individual hubs, to respective take-up hubs also disposed in the housing. One of the sidewalls of the housing has openings therein so as to expose the respective tape paths, followed by the tapes, to an exterior of the housing, thereby allowing data transfer heads to be inserted into the opening so as to engage the magnetic tapes to read data therefrom or write data thereon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a tape cartridge or cassette, such as a magnetic tape cartridge or a cassette of the type suitable for use in a drive known as a tape "streamer," and in particular to a such a tape cartridge or cassette containing multiple tapes for use with a drive having multiple data transfer heads respectively engageable with the multiple tapes.
2. Description of the Prior Art and Related Applications
The need for storing all types of digital information is increasing rapidly. Magnetic tape is by far the least expensive high-capacity medium available today for digital information storage. The suppliers of tape drive and tape medium are always striving to develop new drives with increased storage capacity, shorter access time and higher data rates.
A primary advantage of tape, in addition to its low cost, as an information storage medium is its relatively large recording surface area.
A significant disadvantage of tape as an information storage medium is that tape is a sequential medium. This means that when a data transfer head, such as a read/write head being operated as a read head, is located at a beginning of a tape, it is necessary for the tape to pass along virtually its entire tape length in order to retrieve information at the end of the tape. The access time associated with tape is therefore much longer than the access time associated with hard disks, optical disks and flexible (floppy) disks.
Access time associated with a tape can, at least in theory, be improved by making the tape wider and shorter, so that it takes less time to transport the tape to reach the end of the tape in order to retrieve information located at the end of the tape. There are, however, practical limits to making a tape wider and shorter.
One problem is that the dimensions of the tape, and consequently the dimensions of the cartridge containing the tape, have an influence on the form factor of the drive. A wider tape requires an increased form factor. Consistent with current marketplace desires, the current trend in the industry, however, is to reduce the form factor. Moreover, in library systems the cartridges are stored in magazines, usually with ten cartridges per magazine. Such magazine storage would have to be reconfigured if wider tape, and thus wider cartridges, were employed.
Another problem is that increasing the tape width also increases the air cushion which is unavoidably created between the exterior surface of the tape on the take-up reel and the incoming tape which is being wound onto the take-up reel. In the confined V-shaped space at this location, air which is carried along the surfaces of the rapidly-moving tape becomes entrapped and forms a cushion which pushes the incoming tape slightly away from the wound tape. Increasing the width of the tape would make this trapped volume larger, and thereby increase the cushion effect. This may result in the tape not being firmly wound onto the take-up reel, which can subsequently result in a tape pack shift if the cartridge is subsequently subjected to shock and vibration. As is known to those of skill in this art, a tape pack shift can result in the occurrence of mis-tracking when the tape is subsequently unwound and read.
Another theoretical way to increase the data transfer rate is to use an increased number of write/read heads in parallel. It is well-known, however, that the manufacturing yield of conventional heads decreases, often dramatically, as the number of channels accommodated within the head increases. Employing a wider tape would require the use of an increased number of heads operating in parallel to adequately cover the increased tape width.
Another problem associated with increasing the tape width is that the head-to-tape contact pressure is very difficult to maintain uniformly from the lower tape edge to the upper tape edge. This is due to head tilt (zenith) tolerances and tape transverse cupping and tension.
The above problems are addressed in two co-pending applications which are assigned to the same assignee, Tandberg Data ASA, as the present application. A multiple tape cartridge and drive system is described in co-pending application Ser. No. 09/006,459, filed Jan. 13, 1998 ("Multiple Tape Cartridge and Drive System Wherein Tapes are Extracted from the Cartridge," Rudi), in which a mechanism is provided to withdraw the multiple tapes from the cartridge to an exterior hub. The multiple tapes are temporarily affixed to the hub and the hub is rotated to unwind the multiple tapes from the hubs in the cartridge housing. Space is provided for a number of data transfer (read/write) heads to be moved adjacent to the respective tapes in a region between the cartridge and the exterior hub, so that data transfer can take place. When a data transfer operation is completed, the tapes are detached from the exterior hub and are returned to the inside of the cartridge.
In another co-pending application, Ser. No. 09/041,689 filed Mar. 13, 1998 ("Multiple Tape Cartridge and Drive for Concurrent Recording with the Tapes Disposed in the Cartridge," Rudi) the cartridge housing is provided with an access opening into which multiple data transfer heads can be simultaneously inserted. When inside the housing, each data transfer head is adjacent the tape transport path traversed by one tape, among multiple tapes, which are wound in overlapping fashion on two reels in the housing. The tapes thus always remain in the housing, even during data transfer.
In another co-pending application, Ser. No. 09/080,352, filed May 18, 1998 ("Multi-tape Cartridge And Multi-head Drive For Concurrent Data Transfer To/from Multiple Tapes," Rudi), a magnetic tape cartridge and drive are disclosed, wherein the tape cartridge has multiple tapes wound in common on a single hub, the tapes engaging respective further hubs which are disposed around the periphery of the cartridge housing. A number of drive motors are provided equal in number to the total number of tape hubs, for driving the peripheral hubs to withdraw multiple tapes from the commonly wound hub, and to drive the commonly wound hub to wind the multiple tapes thereon. In all embodiments described in this application, the hub having multiple tapes wound thereon is disposed in a central region of the cartridge housing, with the other hubs, onto which the tapes are respectively wound individually, being distributed around the commonly-wound hub, at a peripheral region of the cartridge housing.
Many types of robotics systems are available for cartridge handling and manipulation, such as so-called loader and library systems. For these types of systems, currently two cartridge form factors are particularly important, these being the DLT cartridge, commercially available from Quantum, and the IBM 3840/3490 cartridge. Both of these cartridges employ tape which is one-half inch in width. A large number of loader/library systems currently in use are designed to handle cartridges having a form factor corresponding to these standardized cartridges.
An advantage of these cartridge types is that they have a large available recordable surface area which is available, compared to other cartridge types and other media types. A disadvantage of these types of cartridge, however, is that the data transfer rate is limited because the number of data transfer (read/write) heads is limited which can be used in parallel for a one-half inch tape. Another disadvantage of these standardized cartridge types is that in order to obtain access to data at the end of the tape, it is necessary to unwind (or rewind) the entire tape length, which is approximately 2,000 feet. An unavoidable delay is therefore associated with obtaining access to data at this location on the tape.
Moreover, these standardized cartridges are of a type wherein the tape is extracted from the cartridge, and is wound onto a take-up hub located remote from the cartridge in the drive, and thus before the cartridge can be unloaded (removed from the drive), the tape must be completely rewound and returned to the cartridge. Moreover, the tape threading mechanism associated with cartridges of this type is very complex, and this complex threading mechanism imposes a lower limit for tape thickness, and thus also imposes a lower limit for tape length.
Recently, HP, IBM and Seagate have jointly introduced the so-called Linear Tape-Open (LTO) technology. This technology is available in two basic formats, a so-called Ultrium format, which has up to 200 GB capacity, and a so-called Accelis format, which has an access time under 10 seconds. The cartridge format or "footprint" for the Ultrium format is the aforementioned IBM 3480/3490 standardized format. The magnetic tape in each of these formats is 1/2" tape, with the tape in the Ultrium format being wound on a single reel, and the tape in the Accelis format being wound on dual reels.

Tape cartridge allowing concurrent reading/writing on multiple tapes