The present invention provides a novel nanoparticle drug delivery system generated from poly(ortho ester) polymers with sustained drug release capability and can be functionalized to allow for systemic delivery to various organ systems throughout the body. One important aspect of this invention is that the nanoparticle drug delivery system generated from poly(ortho ester) polymers encapsulate several types of drugs in poly(ortho ester) nanoparticles, including but not limited to lipophilic, hydrophilic small and large molecules and also hydrophilic and lipophilic dyes by adopting appropriate emulsion techniques. These poly(ortho ester) nanoparticles are biodegradable, biocompatible and controlled release drug delivery system with zero order kinetics, which can be used in various biomedical applications such as eye-related diseases, cancer, arthritis, etc.

Atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects more than 9 million individuals in the United States. With the increased longevity of the US population, this number will increase to ˜17.8 million by 2050. The economic burden is estimated at ˜$25 billion in lost gross domestic product. In 2004, the direct medical cost of age related macular degeneration treatment was estimated to be $575 million, excluding nursing home costs, productivity losses, and home health care costs.
Diabetic retinopathy is another leading cause of new cases of legal blindness among adults aged 20 to 74 years in the United States. The estimated prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy was 28.5% and 4.4% among US adults with diabetes, respectively. Diabetes-related blindness is a personal catastrophe to the individual and costs the United States approximately $500 million annually. The development of a sustained release delivery system would expand the list of therapies that could be utilized to treat several chronic intraocular diseases including age related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, according to the World Health Organization. Approximately 120,000 are blind from glaucoma, accounting for 9% to 12% of all cases of blindness in the United States. In terms of Social Security benefits, lost income tax revenues, and health care expenditures, the cost to the U.S. government is estimated to be over $1.5 billion annually.
Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a rare, hereditary disorder that leads to retinal dysfunction and visual impairment at an early age, often from birth. Of all the retinal degenerations, it has the earliest age of onset and can be the most severe. The birth prevalence of LCA is two to three per 100,000 births. LCA accounts for the cause of blindness in more than 20% of children attending schools for the blind.
The development of a sustained release delivery system would expand the list of therapies that could be utilized to treat several chronic intraocular diseases such as, age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, Leber congenital amaurosis, etc.
Efficacious drug delivery to chronic diseases and disorders can be limited by dosing frequency. For example, drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye is inherently limited by barriers created by the structures of the eye (e.g., the thick scleral tunic, absorption of the drops by the conjunctival and nasal vasculature, tight junctions between retinal pigment epithelium cells). The most direct route for administration of therapeutic drugs to the tissues in the back of an eye is via intravitreal injections. However, this route is limited by frequent need for repeat dosages, which can cause complications, such as endophthalmitis and retinal detachment. It would be ideal to have an injectable biodegradable device made of non-toxic materials that offered many advantages, such as an increase in the half-life of the drug, no need for removal of an implant and circumvention of the first-order kinetics of drug delivery that are experienced following injection of the drug alone (i.e., rapid rise in drug concentration followed by a rapid decrease).
There are several modes by which drugs can be administered to the posterior segment of the eye including systemic circulation, eye drops, transcleral delivery or intraocular injections. Systemic circulation, eye drops, and transcleral delivery methods are limited by barriers created by the structures of the eye (e.g., the thick scleral tunic, absorption of the drops by the conjunctival and nasal vasculature, tight junctions between retinal pigment epithelium cells). Therefore, intravitreal injection is the safest and most effective route for administration of therapeutic drugs to the target tissues of the back of the eye, especially the retina. However, it is critical to limit the number of repeated injections to minimize the risk of infection or retinal detachment.
A nanoparticle drug delivery system has many technological advantages such as longer shelf life, ability to carry both hydrophilic and lipophilic substances, and high drug loading capacity. Nanoparticles can also be designed to allow sustained drug release from the particulate system in the treatment of chronic diseases in order to enable reduction of dosing frequency in certain drugs. Drug-loaded nanoparticles constitute a versatile drug delivery system and have the ability to overcome physiological barriers and guide the drug to specific cells or intracellular compartments either by passive or ligand-mediated targeting mechanisms.
For ophthalmic applications, biodegradable polymer, poly(ortho ester) have been used as bolus drug depots. Poly(ortho ester)s are hydrophobic polymers, degraded by surface erosion confined to the polymer-water interfaces following zero-order drug release kinetics when placed in a biological environment. The erosion rate of a poly(ortho ester) polymer is controlled by the incorporation of a latent acid such as lactic acid (LA), resulting in a 4th generation poly(ortho ester) polymer (poly(ortho ester) IV) (Schwach-Abdellaoui, K.; Heller, J.; Gurny, R. Hydrolysis and erosion studies of autocatalyzed poly(ortho esters) containing lactoyl-Lactyl acid dimers, Macromolecules 1999, 32, 301-307). While poly(ortho ester)s have been evaluated as a bolus drug delivery system and have minimal to no toxic effects (Einmahl, S.; Ponsart, S.; Bejjani, R. A.; D'Hermies, F.; Savoldelli, M; Heller, J.; Tabatabay, C.; Gurny, R.; Behar-Cohen, F. Ocular biocompatibility of a poly(orthoester) characterized by autocatalyzed degradation. Jthenal of Biomedical Materials Research, Part A, 2003, 67, 44-53), this polymer has not been used to generate nanoparticles for use as an intraocular delivery system.
To avoid frequent intravitreal injections, which can cause complications such as endophthalmitis and retinal detachment, a biodegradable, biocompatible, and long-term controlled release drug delivery system is highly desirable.

Nanoparticle composition and methods to make and use the same

University of Tennessee Research Foundation


Provided is a thermoplastic resin composition which exhibits little dependence of air permeability on fatigue. The present invention is a thermoplastic resin composition which comprises an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and a polyamide resin, said thermoplastic resin composition being characterized in that only one maximal peak point assignable to crystallization is observed in the curve of heat flow versus temperature as determined by differential scanning calorimetry of a melt-kneaded mixture of 25 parts by mass of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and 75 parts by mass of the polyamide resin in a cooling process.

Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers have excellent gas barrier properties. However, since ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers have poor heat drawability compared with polypropylene or polystyrene, a method in which polyamide resin is blended is proposed as a countermeasure thereof (Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Focusing attention on excellent gas barrier properties of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, there has been an attempt to use ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer as an inner liner of a pneumatic tire (Patent Document 3).

Thermoplastic resin composition and tire using same


A method and system to sense an amount of material such as toner in a container held in a horizontal position within a machine, such as a printing machine. A level sensor senses an amount of material within a dispensing unit which causes the level sensor to issue a signal. The dispensing unit is external to the container. The container holding the material is rotated, and a rotation direction reversed to a direction normally used to dispense the material. The reverse rotation direction moves the material to a closed end of the container. The container is then moved in a forward direction following the rotation of the container in the reverse direction. The forward rotation moves the material to the open end of the container, and the material further moves into the dispensing unit. A signal is generated when a sufficient amount of material has been moved into the dispensing unit. A time period is determined which represents the time it took to move the material from the closed end of the material, until the signal indicating a sufficient amount of material exists in the dispensing unit. The amount of material in the container is estimated by use of the determined time period.

The present application relates to electrophotographic printing. More specifically, the application relates to a system and method for calculating an amount of toner in a toner container located within a electrophotographic printing machine.
In the well-known process of electrophotographic printing, a charge retentive surface, typically known as a photoreceptor, is electrostatically charged, and then exposed to a light pattern of an original image to selectively discharge the surface in accordance therewith. The resulting pattern of charged and discharged areas on the photoreceptor form an electrostatic charge pattern, known as a latent image, conforming to the original image. The latent image is developed by contacting it with a finely divided electrostatically attractable toner which is held on the image areas by the electrostatic charge on the photoreceptor surface. Thus, a toner image is produced in conformity with a light image of the original being reproduced. The toner image may then be transferred to a substrate or support member (e.g., paper), and the image affixed thereto to form a permanent record of the image to be reproduced.
The electrophotographic process is useful for light lens copying from an original as well as printing electronically generated or stored originals such as with a raster output scanner (ROS), where a charged surface may be image wise discharged in a variety of ways.
Existing electrophotographic printing machines are commonly supplied with replaceable containers which hold the toner. Typically, such a container is positioned horizontally within the printing machine, and therefore gravity does not ensure movement of the toner towards the latent image. Thus a mechanism, such as an auger, is needed to move the toner. One particular container design is a cylindrical container having an opening near one end and internal spiral ribs, which when rotated urges the toner to the opening. Such containers are also called bottles or cartridges among other names.

Methods and systems for sensing an amount of material in a toner cartridge


An electrical connector assembly comprises a first connector (1) and a second connector (1′) having a same configuration with a housing (30, 30′) and a mounting face (34, 34′) adapted for mounting onto a printed circuit board PCB (100) except for a distinguishable portion (353, 353′) provided on the housing (30, 30′) adjacent to the mounting face (34, 34′) thereof. The first connector (1) is not able to be regarded as the second connector (1′) to be mounted onto the PCB (100) due to the different distinguishable portions (353, 353′) of the first and second connectors (1,1′).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector assembly, and in particular to an electrical connector assembly having an erroneous installation prevention function to prevent each electrical connector from being mounted to an incorrect position.
2. Description of Related Art
Today there are different categories of electrical connectors, so it is possible to mount two or more categories of connectors on a printed circuit board, it is also possible to mount two or more connectors, which are of a category and have similar configuration, just different from functions on a printed circuit board. In condition of the latter, it is very difficult to mount the connectors to right positions by virtue of configuration, so a general method is to distinguish the connectors by their colors.
However, in pipelining, a factory worker repeats continuously the same action of mounting connectors on a printed circuit in a day, therefore, he is too tied to distinguish connectors by their colors, that is, mount a connector on a position, which is the right position for the other connector having similar configuration to the connector but different colors and functions from the connector. As a result, the connectors need remount on the printed circuit, sometimes, the connectors may be destroyed.


A device for measuring torsional distortion of a body comprises first and second clip portions each having a central part and two legs depending from the central part, each leg having adjacent the free end thereof a groove or projection for engaging a respective projection or groove (14) provided in the body (16) to mount the clip portion the body rotationally fastened therewith. A bridge interconnects the clip portion. The bridge is less stiff than the clip portions whereby relative rotational displacement of the clip portions caused by torsional distortion of the body will cause proportional deflection of the bridge. Means, for example a SAW device (15), are provided for measuring the deflection of the bridge to provide an indication of the torsional distortion which produces the deflection of the bridge. Also (20) for the interior all of a hollow body.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to measuring torsional distortion, and in the preferred embodiment provides a method and device for measuring the distortion in a body which is subject to applied torque. The torsional distortion measured may be used, in known manner, to determine the magnitude of the torque to which the body is subject.
2. Description of Related Art
It has been known for many years to measure the torque to which a body (for example a shaft) is subject by applying one or more strain gauges to the surface of the body and interrogating the output of the strain gauges to provide an indication of torque. In recent years, torque measurement techniques have been substantially improved by the introduction of Surface Acoustic Wave ("SAW") based torque measurement devices (see for example EP-A-05 18900). Such devices have a number of well recognized advantages including high sensitivity and the ability to provide torque measurements without the need for hard wired connections to the SAW device.
Up until now, the conventional technique for mounting torque measuring devices has consisted of preparing the surface of the body whose torsional distortion is to be measured and securing the torque measuring device to the prepared surface. The preparation may consist of a cleaning process subsequent to which the torque measuring device is secured to the cleaned surface by a bonding technique—for example adhesive bonding or soldering. However, many torque measuring devices require a flat surface upon which to be mounted and accordingly the preparation may include the step of providing a flat surface, for example by machining, on the body whose torsional distortion is to be measured, prior to securing the torque measuring device to the prepared flat. These techniques are well recognized as being disadvantageous because of the time and cost involved and because they limit the possibility of retrofitting a torque measuring device to an existing shaft. Further, the mounting of the torque measuring device requires both skilled labor and well defined manufacturing conditions and is accordingly difficult to carry out under field conditions. As a result it is generally necessary to apply torque measuring devices in a factory environment before the body whose torsional distortion is to be measured is mounted in its final use position. As a result the torque measuring device is susceptible to accidental damage during the period between mounting of the torque measuring device and the final positioning of the body whose torsional distortion is to be measured. Finally, existing techniques require the permanent mounting of the torque measuring device on the body whose torsional distortion is to be measured. As a result, if the torque measuring device fails, substantial additional work will be involved in terms of removing the faulty unit before a replacement unit can be installed.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a method and apparatus for measuring torsional distortion of a body which may easily be applied to the body without extensive preparation of the body. The need also arises for such a device which can be applied under field as well as factory conditions and which can be applied by skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labor. A need also arises for such a device which can readily be removed and replaced in the event that it becomes faulty.

Measuring torsional distortion with an easily applied clip device (saw)


Multi-media technology is applied to the testing of children, brain damaged adults and the general population using standard psychological and educational assessment tools. To avoid the inherent bias occurring when a tester speaks in a language or dialect not fully comprehended by the student or other human subject, the multi-media computer has a linguistic adaptation means, such as a sound card and data associated therewith, which can produce sounds, such as test instructions, in the most appropriate language and dialect of the test taker, such as a student, so that the human tester can provide the human subject with instructions for responding to the psychological evaluation. The human subject is exposed to computer-generated multi-media psychological evaluative probing, so that the human subject can respond to the computer-generated psychological evaluative probing. The computer tallies and records the student""s responses and analyzes the human subject""s recorded responses. Afterward the computer automatically prepares a report based upon the human subject""s recorded responses, and transfers its report, such as transfer to a computer-readable diskette or by printing to a printer.

This invention is related to interactive multi-media applications in psychological testing.
Psychological and educational assessment tools have been used for the measurement and evaluation of abilities, aptitudes, personality characteristics and so forth. An early example of such tests dates back to 1904 when psychologist Alfred Binet was asked by the French Ministry of Education to design a test that would identify slow learners. It was noted that some children did not learn well in an ordinary classroom setting and needed special help. Reluctant to let teachers identify slow learners due to the possibility of prejudicial bias, an objective test was sought that would reveal who could benefit from remedial work. Binet""s brainstorm was the famous IQ test.
It is well to note the basic difference between the assessment tools that are the subject of this invention and the skill acquisition or remedial training tools commonly known as computer-assisted instruction (CAI). Many examples of the latter courseware for simple presentation or the newer multi-media versions are available in subjects from art to zoology. The main attribute of such courseware (including testing) is the interactive nature of the programs and the convenience and xe2x80x9ccustomizingxe2x80x9d of each session as a function of the demonstrated skill level of the student. In CAI the notions of reliability, validity, bias, and standardization are seldom of central importance because of the objective nature of the courseware.
These notions, however, are of primary importance in the psychological and educational assessment tools; furthermore, accurate determination of the subject""s basals and ceilings is required for the proper administration and scoring of the test.
The allocation of presentation material to video vs. audio is just a matter of style or perceived effectiveness in the CAI environment. The situation is quite different regarding assessment tools which are rigorously field tested (ie. xe2x80x9cnormedxe2x80x9d) for reliability and validity; the mode of administration is precisely stipulated, and any deviation may violate the conditions under which it had been normed. For psychological and educational assessment tools, the full range of multi-media presentation features closely simulates the manual version of a normed test. The standards used to create the manual test are easily translated to the computer test by a comparative study of the similarity of test scores of computer assisted versus manual testing.
To summarize the distinctions between CAI and norm referenced computer-assisted assessment (CAA) of the present invention, the uses of each as well as the scoring techniques should be explored. CAI is used to teach new material, to review learned material as in drill and practice, to teach productivity techniques such as word processing and to teach programming. Some CAI programs have features to keep track of scores or to adjust the level of difficulty. In contrast, CAA of the present invention is an assessment tool; teaching is not the objective. Scoring of CAA is sophisticated with raw scores, standard scores, subtests, age equivalents, and basals and ceilings. The testing rules of CAA are rigid with no deviation allowed.
The traditional psychological and educational assessment manual tools are usually administered one-on-one with a clinician serving the dual role of test administrator and observer/recorder. For brain damaged adults, the clinician is typically an experienced psychologist or psychiatrist. However, in the school environment for educational or psychological assessment, the clinician may be a social worker, a visiting psychologist, a speech therapist, a reading specialist, a resource room teacher, a special education teacher, etc. While test administration requires a training program, the proficiency of the clinician is variable especially in the school environment. Each of the assessment tools has extensive instructions for the clinician in the area of question sequencing and scoring related to establishing the critical range of the subject; this is involved with the subject""s basals and ceilings which are determined by runs of right or wrong answers within a particular sequence. A rule might be, xe2x80x9cif the subject gets two questions wrong in succession, change to sequence 4 and score all of the answers below question x as wrong and above question y as rightxe2x80x9d. To the uninitiated, this might seem counter intuitive; field experience has shown this aspect of test administration and scoring to be most problematic, especially for clinicians with limited assessment background. For example, clinicians tend to be reluctant to xe2x80x9cpenalizexe2x80x9d subjects by not giving credit for correct answers above the ceiling; others show a reluctance to grant unearned credit for incorrect answers below the basal. Other reasons for bias such as social class prejudice or the assumption that shy or disruptive children are learning impaired may be operative. The subjectivity of manual testing precludes true standardized administration. Subjectivity and deviation from test rules can take place during any part of the testing session. Factors may involve the clinician or the subject.
In the traditional test session, the clinician is expected to manually administer the test, record the scores, and assess the subject""s response and behavior. In addition, the clinician is expected to compute the scores and sometimes to write a report suggesting learning programs. This is difficult to do well, especially with xe2x80x9cdifficultxe2x80x9d test subjects. In fact, such testing using a human examiner is often not possible for children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or those too young to focus long enough to be accurately tested.
While clinicians may be very proficient in their respective fields, they may not speak clearly. They are expected to flawlessly recite scripts to the subjects during evaluation. In some cases, the subject is getting the question wrong just because he or she doesn""t understand the examiner. In situations with xe2x80x9cEnglish as a Second Languagexe2x80x9d (ESL) subjects the problem is compounded. Sometimes, the reverse problem manifests itself if the clinician has an accent.
Computer software for test scoring and analysis of error patterns is available for manually administered tests. However, it is necessary to manually enter the raw scores into the computer prior to the automated analysis. Also, there is no computer guidance in administrating the test since this is done as an ad-hoc procedure after the test is over.
Therefore, the objects of the present invention are as follows:
To preclude all possible bias in test administration, thereby achieving complete objectivity;
To provide dynamic linguistic adaptation to accommodate ESL test subjects;
To enhance the validity of the subject""s response by utilizing professional voice actors with unsurpassed clarity in every dialect to guarantee that the subject understands what is being asked;
To automatically determine the subject""s basals and ceilings, thereby finding the subject""s critical range to ensure the proper test administration and scoring;
To improve subject on-task performance by superior computer presentation of test items which has been shown to improve motivation and focus;
To free the clinician to assess the subject""s response and behavior by using the multi-media system to take over the test administration function;
To permit cost-effective screening of students by less-trained and less-paid paraprofessionals using computerized testing; this eliminates the inherent bias in the selection process of students for further professional testing;
To use the features of multi-media computer presentation as an audio-visual aid enhance the clarity and understanding of test items;
To use the computer as an audio-visual aid in presenting sample items to help clarify instructions and model correct responses;
To use computer-based test administration to maintain test standardization by precisely conforming to traditional modes of evaluation;
To provide automated scoring and analysis of error patterns without the manual re-entry of raw scores; and,
To utilize animation and other audio-visual techniques inherent to multi-media technology to create new measures (tests) to test subjects in ways they could never be tested before, as well as to test specific cognitive, motor, and other abilities, which could never be tested before.
The nature and substance of this invention includes a method and system to perform psychological and educational assessment of subjects using multi-media technology.
The method of the present invention for psychological evaluation of human subjects includes the steps of providing a human subject, such as a student, to be evaluated with a multi-media capable computer having a view monitor means, such as a VDT terminal, and a computer input-response means, such as a keyboard, a mouse or a touch screen. A human psychological tester operates the multi-media computer and conducts the psychological evaluation of the student.
To avoid the inherent bias occurring when a tester speaks in a language or dialect not fully comprehended by the student or other human subject, the multi media computer has a linguistic adaptation means, such as a sound card and data associated therewith, which can produce sounds, such as test instructions, in the most appropriate language and dialect of the test taker, such as a student, so that the human tester can provide the human subject with instructions for responding to the psychological evaluation.
The human subject is exposed to computer-generated multi-media psychological evaluative probing, so that the human subject can respond to the computer-generated psychological evaluative probing.
The computer tallies and records the student""s responses and analyzes the human subject""s recorded responses. Afterward the computer automatically prepares a report based upon the human subject""s recorded responses, and transfers its report, such as transfer to a computer-readable diskette or by printing to a printer.
The psychological evaluation of the human subject is provided by at least one software program stored in a randomly accessible non-volatile computer memory, such as the computer""s hard drive, for providing at least one type of psychological evaluation. The at least one software program further includes a plurality of discrete audible and/or visual segments such as questions to be responded to by the human subject being evaluated.
The discrete audible segments include audibly-reproducible signals stored in a randomly accessible non-volatile computer memory for producing sounds to be responded to by the human subject being evaluated, such as spoken phrases to be responded to by the human subject. The spoken phrases are selected from a plurality of user-selectable languages and/or dialects.
The discrete visual segments include visually-reproducible signals stored in a randomly accessible non-volatile computer memory for producing images to be responded to by the human subject being evaluated, such as text selected from a plurality of psychological evaluation question items stored as text written in a plurality of languages and/or dialects and/or character sets, such as Chinese or Cyrillic, among others.
To assist in evaluating temporal time oriented tasks, such as allowing a student decide which of three moving objects, such as balls, moves fastest, or the calculated destination thereof, optionally the discrete visual segments may include computer-generated motion for psycho-motor evaluation of human subjects.
The computer generated motion may include a plurality of user selectable visually-perceived motions, such as the moving balls, at differing speeds and/or velocities and/or accelerations.
Moreover, the linguistic adaptation means includes at least one software program capable of presenting audible psychological probing tasks in a variety of user-selected languages and dialects, wherein the languages and dialects are respectively stored discretely in randomly accessible computer non-volatile memory, such as the computer""s hard drive or upon a removable diskette.
The method of using multi-media technology in psychological evaluations may include an evaluation of the human subject""s emotional status, mental health, learning ability, neurological impairment status, educational status, educational achievement status, aptitude for future education or aptitude for future vocational education.
In changing the language or dialect of the test, the linguistic adaptation means further includes a user selection of the language and/or dialect to be used for the psychological evaluation of the specific human subject, such as a student.
Furthermore, the linguistic adaptation means further includes information stored in a computer non-volatile memory means, such as discrete randomly accessible test questions in a plurality of languages and/or dialects on the hard drive or insertable diskette of the multi-media computer. To begin the test, the human psychological tester selects the type of psychological evaluation to be conducted and selects the language and/or dialect in which the test is to be conducted. In that manner, the test avoids language based bias in the use of interactive multi-media applications in psychological testing.

Application of multi-media technology to psychological and educational assessment tools


A method and a system for providing signaling in cellular telephone system providing broadcast services to fully integrate broadcast services with the services provided by the cellular telephone systems. The signaling method coordinate interaction between an access network and the subscriber station to allowing the subscriber station to decode the broadcast service, to receive paging messages while receiving the broadcast service, to properly transition between operation states, and other functions known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

1. Field
The present invention relates to broadcast communications, otherwise known as point-to-multipoint, in a wireline or a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for signaling in such a broadcast communication system.
2. Background
Communication systems have been developed to allow transmission of information signals from an origination station to a physically distinct destination station. In transmitting information signal from the origination station over a communication channel, the information signal is first converted into a form suitable for efficient transmission over the communication channel. Conversion, or modulation, of the information signal involves varying a parameter of a carrier wave in accordance with the information signal in such a way that the spectrum of the resulting modulated carrier is confined within the communication channel bandwidth. At the destination station the original information signal is replicated from the modulated carrier wave received over the communication channel. Such a replication is generally achieved by using an inverse of the modulation process employed by the origination station.
Modulation also facilitates multiple-access, i.e., simultaneous transmission and/or reception, of several signals over a common communication channel. Multiple-access communication systems often include a plurality of subscriber units requiring intermittent service of relatively short duration rather than continuous access to the common communication channel. Several multiple-access techniques are known in the art, such as time division multiple-access (TDMA), frequency division multiple-access (FDMA), and amplitude modulation multiple-access (AM). Another type of a multiple-access technique is a code division multiple-access (CDMA) spread spectrum system that conforms to the "TIA/EIA/IS-95 Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard for Dual-Mode Wide-Band Spread Spectrum Cellular System," hereinafter referred to as the IS-95 standard. The use of CDMA techniques in a multiple-access communication system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,307, entitled "SPREAD SPECTRUM MULTIPLE-ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING SATELLITE OR TERRESTRIAL REPEATERS," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,459, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING WAVEFORMS IN A CDMA CELLULAR TELEPHONE SYSTEM," both assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
A multiple-access communication system may be a wireless or wire-line and may carry voice and/or data. An example of a communication system carrying both voice and data is a system in accordance with the IS-95 standard, which specifies transmitting voice and data over the communication channel. A method for transmitting data in code channel frames of fixed size is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,773, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE FORMATTING OF DATA FOR TRANSMISSION", assigned to the assignee of the present invention. In accordance with the IS-95 standard, the data or voice is partitioned into code channel frames that are 20 milliseconds wide with data rates as high as 14.4 Kbps. Additional examples of a communication systems carrying both voice and data comprise communication systems conforming to the "3rd Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP), embodied in a set of documents including Document Nos. 3G TS 25.211, 3G TS 25.212, 3G TS 25.213, and 3G TS 25.214 (the W-CDMA standard), or "TR-45.5 Physical Layer Standard for cdma2000 Spread Spectrum Systems" (the IS-2000 standard).
In a multiple-access wireless communication system, communications between users are conducted through one or more base stations. A first user on one wireless subscriber station communicates to a second user on a second wireless subscriber station by transmitting data on a reverse link to a base station. The base station receives the data and can route the data to another base station. The data is transmitted on a forward link of the same base station, or the other base station, to the second subscriber station. The forward link refers to transmission from a base station to a wireless subscriber station and the reverse link refers to transmission from a wireless subscriber station to a base station. Likewise, the communication can be conducted between a first user on a wireless subscriber station and a second user on a landline station. A base station receives the data from the first user on the wireless subscriber station on a reverse link, and routes the data through a public switched telephone network (PSTN) to the second user on a landline station. In many communication systems, e.g., IS-95, W-CDMA, IS-2000, the forward link and the reverse link are allocated separate frequencies.
The above described wireless communication service is an example of a point-to-point communication service. In contrast, broadcast services provide central station-to-multipoint communication service. The basic model of a broadcast system consists of a broadcast net of users served by one or more central stations, which transmit information with a certain contents, e.g., news, movies, sports events and the like to the users. Each broadcast net user's subscriber station monitors a common broadcast forward link signal. Because the central station fixedly determines the content, the users are generally not communicating back. Examples of common usage of broadcast services communication systems are TV broadcast, radio broadcast, and the like. Such communication systems are generally highly specialized purpose-build communication systems. With the recent, advancements in wireless cellular telephone systems there has been an interest of utilizing the existing infrastructure of the—mainly point-to-point cellular telephone systems for broadcast services. (As used herein, the term "cellular" systems encompasses communication systems utilizing both cellular and PCS frequencies.)
Introduction of a common broadcast forward link to a cellular telephone systems, requires integration of broadcast services with the services provided by the cellular telephone systems. The subscriber station needs to be able support functions allowing the subscriber station to function in both the broadcast mode and communication mode. There is, therefore, a need in the art for a method and a system for a signaling in cellular telephone system providing broadcast services allowing the subscriber station to consummate both services.

Method and system for signaling in broadcast communication system


A printer for fusing images on sheets of at least three width size categories including small, medium, and large is operated by control through a microprocessor assigning -7 to full size sheets, +13 to small size sheets and +17 to envelopes. These are accumulated until the count reaches 127, at which the interpage gap is adjusted based on which of those three categories is being printed and which of the three categories will next be printed. This maximizes throughput without requiring a thicker fuser.

An overheat potential exists by the feeding of narrow width medium (less than 8.5 inch, which is full size, standard paper in the United States) through a fuser in a paper feed system that uses one edge of the paper as a position margin, as opposed to the center of the paper. The thermal problem is caused by the accumulation of more thermal energy on that portion of the fuser hot roller which does not contact the paper when it is fed through the fuser. This can result in the fuser elements exceeding safe operating temperature (overheating), resulting in melting or other physical destruction of the imaging apparatus.
One existing prior art solution when the paper edge is the feeding boundary or reference is to maintain a count of envelopes and slow the throughput from 10 pages per minute (10 ppm) to 5 ppm by increasing the interpage gap when 15 envelopes are printed consecutively from the last idle condition. The envelope count is reset to zero if the printer is idle long enough for the fuser temperature, as measured by a thermocouple or other sensor, to drop to the standby temperature. Only printing of consecutive envelopes results in the slowing of throughput. Combinations of other substrates are printed at the maximum throughput of the printer.
Japanese patent 57-102676, dated Jun. 25, 1982, addresses the overheating by sensing the heating roller where the short-width paper does not extend and disconnecting the fuser heater when an predetermined upper limit is sensed.
Another existing prior art, in which the paper edge is the feeding boundary or reference, employs a sufficiently thick aluminum layer in the hot roller and slowing the rate for envelopes from 8 ppm to 6 ppm by enlarging the interpage gap (gap between two successively printed media). The thicker aluminum adds to cost and increase warm-up time.


A method of hydrogenating a polymer comprises: (a) providing a dense phase, the dense phase comprising a polymer in a solvent; (b) providing a catalyst system, the catalyst system comprising as least one metal hydrogenation catalyst (preferably including nickel or ruthenium); and (c) providing a light phase, the light phase comprising, consisting of or consisting essentially of hydrogen and carbon dioxide; and (d) contacting the dense phase, the light phase and the catalyst system under conditions in which the hydrogen reacts with the polymer and hydrogenates the polymer.

Hydrogenation of some commercial polymers can produce new polymeric materials that are difficult or expensive to synthesize by other means, e.g., by polymerization of the corresponding monomer(s). For example, polystyrene (PS) can be hydrogenated to produce poly(vinyl cyclohexane) (PVCH). The glass transition temperature of PVCH is about 50° C. higher than that of PS (150° C. versus 100° C.), and PVCH may be able to compete with poly(bisphenol A carbonate), a more expensive polymer than PS, in some high-temperature applications.
Despite the potential advantages of hydrogenating inexpensive, commercially-available polymers to create more valuable materials, hydrogenation of polymers is not widely practiced on a commercial scale. A solid catalyst is required to carry out such hydrogenations selectively, at a reasonable rate. The viscosity of a solution of polymer in a solvent is very high, even if the concentration of the polymer in the solution is relatively low. The high viscosity of the polymer solution causes at least two serious problems: First, if the hydrogenation is carried out by suspending small catalyst particles in the polymer solution, these particles are very difficult to separate from the final solution of the hydrogenated polymer when the reaction is complete. Because of the high viscosity of the solution, separation techniques such as filtration, sedimentation, and centrifugation can become impracticably slow. Second, the high viscosity of the solution causes the heat and mass transfer coefficients to be low between the solution and the catalyst particles, and between the solution and the fluid phase that contains the H2. These low coefficients, in turn, lower the rate of hydrogenation and increase the temperature of the catalyst particles. The higher temperature of the catalyst particles can lower the selectivity of the reaction, i.e., undesired hydrogenation reactions such as chain scission can occur.
In a conventional hydrogenation, using a catalyst with a small particle size (0.1 to 100 μm) that is dispersed in the liquid phase, the transport limitation between the gas phase and the liquid (polymer solution) can be reduced or eliminated by employing a high rate of mechanical agitation. This is illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows the results of hydrogenating a solution of polystyrene in decahydronaphthalene in a 50 cc stirred autoclave equipped with a mechanical agitator. The extent to which the phenyl groups of polystyrene have been hydrogenated in a fixed period of time, at a fixed set of conditions, is plotted against the rotational speed of the agitator. Note that the extent of ring hydrogenation increases as the rotational speed of the agitator is increased, up to a speed of about 2000 rpm. Above 2000 rpm, the rate of ring hydrogenation is no longer sensitive to stirring speed. This shows that an agitation rate of greater than 2000 rpm is required to essentially eliminate the resistance to H2 transfer between the gas phase and the liquid phase at the conditions of FIG. 1.
Unfortunately, varying the rotational speed or the design of the agitation system has no little or no effect on the transport resistance between the liquid phase and a small catalyst particle that is suspended in the liquid. Moreover, the agitation rate/agitator design has no effect on the internal (pore diffusion) transport resistance. Consequently, increasing the agitation rate is only a partial solution to the second problem described above, and it does not contribute to solving the first problem. Accordingly, there is a need for new techniques for carrying out hydrogenation reactions on polymers.

Hydrogenation of polymers in the presence of supercritical carbon dioxide


The present disclosure provides a backlight module and a display device. The backlight module includes: a back plate including a bottom wall and a side wall coupled thereto, with the bottom wall and the side wall defining an accommodating space; a light guide plate disposed in the accommodating space and including: a light outgoing surface disposed away from the bottom wall, a bottom surface disposed toward the bottom wall, and a light incident surface coupled between the light outgoing face and the bottom face; a light source disposed in the accommodating space and configured to emit light toward the light incident surface; and a composite film located on a side of the light guide plate away from the bottom wall and including a diffuser sheet and a plurality of prism sheets combined together and sequentially arranged in a direction away from the light guide plate.

A backlight module can provide backlight for a liquid crystal panel in a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device, so as to enable the liquid crystal panel to display a visual picture viewable by a user. At present, ultra-thin liquid crystal displays having low power consumption are becoming more and more popular, resulting in higher and higher requirements for designs of power consumption and thickness of the liquid crystal displays.

BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A method for optimizing executable code includes identifying a plurality of instructions in the executable code matching a predetermined instruction pattern, assessing whether the binary number conforms to a predetermined bit pattern, and transforming the plurality of instructions into transformed instructions when the binary number conforms to the bit pattern.

Converting source code into executable code is a two step process. In a first step, the source code is compiled into what is known as an object file. In a second step, the object file is processed by a linker which may combine the object file with other objects to generate the final executable file.
The linker will resolve references to undefined symbols by finding which other object defines a symbol in question, and replacing placeholders with the symbol's address. Since a compiler generally does not know where an object will reside in the program's address space, it assumes a fixed base location (for example, zero). The linker therefore arranges the objects in a program's address space by relocating code provided by each object file that assumes a specific base address to another base. Relocating machine code may involve re-targeting of absolute jumps, loads and stores. Since the compiler does not know what address it will ultimately need to load at the time of compiling, many compilers will assume a maximum address size requiring 64 bits unless explicitly told otherwise by the programmer/user. Other compilers may assume a different maximum size, depending on the processor architecture.
In reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors, a 32 bit machine-language instruction may include a certain number of bits of a constant value for use as data. So long as the constant value can be expressed in the number of data bits made available by the instruction format, considerable time may be saved by having the number incorporated into the instruction itself. In particular, this avoids having to load the numbers from memory or registers. However, larger numbers require multiple instructions to load. In this case, a number is segmented into multiple parts and each part is loaded separately.
In the case where the constant value to be loaded is an address, the compiler may generate code that assumes a larger address then is actually eventually assigned by the linker. Thus, additional unnecessary instructions are incorporated into the final code which adversely affects the program size and speed of execution.
There is a continuing need to improve the efficiency and speed of execution of computer software. It would therefore be desirable to develop a system and method for mitigating the inefficiencies identified above.

Address simplification by binary transformation


A bed extension assembly for a vehicle includes a bed assembly having a bed floor, sidewalls disposed along sides of the bed floor and a split tailgate assembly disposed adjacent a rearward edge of the bed floor between the sidewalls. The split tailgate assembly includes a first door pivotally secured to one of the sidewalls and a second door pivotally secured to another of the sidewalls. A bed extender member is movably secured to the bed assembly for movement between a stowed position beneath the bed floor and in an extended position protruding rearwardly from the bed assembly.

The present invention generally relates to a bed extension assembly for a vehicle, and more particularly to a bed extension assembly including a split-type tailgate openable in a center thereof disposed along a rearward side of a bed floor and a bed extender movable between a stowed position and an extended position for providing increased floor area.
Storage capacity in pick-up vehicles, particularly storage capacity in the beds of such vehicles, is a concern that has been addressed many times over. The need for sufficient storage space in the bed has become even more critical with the introduction of sport utility truck (SUT) vehicles, which often include an open-ended load carrying bed that is something less than full size.
One attempted solution for increasing the storage capacity of a pick-up truck's load carrying bed is to provide an accessory part that can be a cage-type structure that locks into place when the bed's tailgate is down to create an auxiliary storage area. The tailgate then becomes the floor of the auxiliary storage space and the accessory cage forms side and rear walls of the auxiliary storage space.
This solution is less than optimal because the bed can only be extended a dimension equal to that of the height of the tailgate. Moreover, the accessory part must then be hauled around as an extra part and, in cage form, the accessory part may not sufficiently contain smaller items capable of slipping between bars forming spaces within the caged accessory. Still further, in a conventional cage accessory mounted upon a tailgate, most if not all of the strength of the extended floor must be supported by the tailgate (i.e., the cage accessory provides no support).


A cerebral aneurysm clip used for clamping an intercerebral blood vessel during a surgical operation. The clip has a pair of opposite clamping blades or arms for clamping a blood vessel, semi-circular engagement portions integrally connected to the proximal ends of the clamping arms, and a resilient wire portion integrally connecting the two engagement portions for exerting a resilient clamping force to the clamping arms via the engagement portions. The clamping arms are opened and closed by manipulating forceps which has at its tip engagement protrusions engaging the engagement portions from the inside. In order to prevent a blood vessel from passing excessively beyond the region between the opposite clamping arms, a U-shaped wire element is attached to the clip. The wire element has a transverse section passed through and across the proximal ends of the clamping arms for preventing ingress of the blood vessel into the space between the engagement portions. The wire element has also a pair of connecting sections connecting the ends of the transverse section with the resilient portion of the clip. The connecting sections prevent a blood vessel from being caught by the resilient portion.

The present invention relates to a surgical clip and, more particularly, to a clip for clamping a blood vessel to blockade, for example, a cerebral aneurysm in a surgical operation.
A cerebral aneurysm clip is a surgical instrument for clamping the base part of a cerebral aneurysm to isolate the latter from the cerebral artery. A typical cerebral aneurysm clip comprises a coiled intermediate portion and a pair of arms integrally extending therefrom in substantially the same direction to form opposite clamping jaws for clamping a blood vessel, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,023 to Sugita et al.
A cerebral aneurysm can be formed at a variety of positions in intercerebral blood vessels, and an access to a position where the aneurysm exists must be made through an extremely narrow space. In order to enable such an access to the aneurysm, a combination of a clip and forceps was proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 4-68943.
The clip proposed in this Japanese patent publication has a pair of opposing clamping arms for clamping a blood vessel. These clamping arms are arranged in a common plane. A pair of opposing engagement portions extend from the proximal ends of the clamping arms away from the arms, respectively. These engagement portions also lie in the same plane as the clamping arms. The engagement portions are of inwardly concave arcuate shape whereby the engagement portions form a substantially circular ring when the clip is closed. The two engagement portions are integrally connected by a resilient portion for urging the clamping arms in mutual abutting contact for clamping a blood vessel. The resilient portion is made up of a pair of resilient rounded wire sections each forming a convolution extending from each engagement portion at an angle to the plane mentioned above, and a resilient intermediate wire section integrally connecting the two rounded wire sections. The intermediate wire section is offset from the plane of the engagement portions.
When the clip is to be applied to a blood vessel, forceps is used to open and close the clamping arms. The forceps has on the tip ends thereof a pair of semicylindrical engaging protrusions which form a cylindrical shape combinedly when the tip ends of the forceps are closed. In a closed state of the tip ends, the cylindrically combined engaging protrusions are inserted into a space formed between the engagement portions of the clip. When the forceps is manipulated to cause the semi-cylindrical engaging protrusions to move apart, the engaging protrusions are engaged with the internal surfaces of the arcuate engagement portions to cause the engagement portions to move apart against the resiliency of the resilient portion of the clip whereby the clamping arms are opened and can be put on the blood vessel. Thereupon the clamping arms are closed to clamp the blood vessel by manipulating the forceps reversely.
This known clip is characterized in that its engagement portions can be engaged from the inside by the engaging protrusions of the forceps, to open and close the clamping arms. In the case of the clip of the U.S. patent referred to before, the engagement portions of the clip can be engaged only from the outside by relatively bulky engaging members of the forceps, so that the operator is prevented by the engaging members from viewing the clamping arms and the blood vessel to which is clamping arms are to be applied. However, in the case of the clip disclosed in the Japanese patent publication, the engaging members or protrusions of the forceps engage the engagement portions of the clip from the inside so that the engaging protrusions are small in size, thus allowing the operator to view the clamping arms and the blood vessel without being obstructed by the engaging protrusions.
The known clip described above, however, has a drawback in that when the clip is being moved to be applied to a blood vessel the clamping arms tend to move too far to such an extent that the blood vessel passes beyond the area of the clamping arms and enters the space between the engagement portions. Should this occur, the clip will not be able to clamp the blood vessel correctly between its clamping arms. This must be avoided.
Furthermore, in this known clip, there is a possibility that a blood vessel other than a blood vessel to be clamped by the clamping arms is caught in the angular area between the rounded wire sections and the intermediate joining wire sections mentioned before while the clip is being advanced toward the blood vessel to be clamped.


A computer system includes a transceiver and a processor that is cooperatively operable with the transceiver. The processor gathers, over the transceiver, (i) issue tracking information stored in an issue tracking storage system, the issue tracking information having a history of issues filed against a plurality of artifacts, and (ii) source code management information stored in a source code management storage system, the source code management information having a history of code changes committed against another plurality of artifacts. The processor checks a combined history of the issue tracking information and the source code management information for a history of issues filed against an artifact and a history of commits and corresponding source code changes committed against the artifact. The processor provides an interpretation of the current state of the artifact based on the combined history of the issue tracking information and source code management information about the artifact.

All software developers, in whatever language and platform, whatever methodology, will realize that there is some software that they don't want to write and that already exists. Developers that write their own software conventionally will re-use existing software artifacts as building blocks in writing code within a larger project, so as to avoid re-writing software which already exists.
Conventional systems do not provide a way to identify, evaluate and interpret reports about the quality of artifacts.
As an example of a conventional product that evaluates the quality of artifacts, consider the open source product called "SONAR" that provides quality scores for artifacts, available at nemo.sonarsource.org. SONAR downloads the source code for popular open source projects, and runs tests against the source to provide a SQALE ranking based on source code metrics and testing. This is a very machine-level analysis based on quantifiable software-level code checks such as counting lines of code, counting duplicate lines of code, comments in the code, classes, and the like, and renders a single score. SONAR does a good job of testing machine-level quality but does not look at impact over time. Furthermore, there are a limited number of projects which have been reviewed by the NEMO system.

Method and system for evaluating a software artifact based on issue tracking and source control information


A dependency graph is generated for database files. An unvisited node of the dependency graph is selected and a breadth-first-search performed starting from the selected unvisited node. Results of the breadth-first-search is defined as a group. A group assignment for the database files is returned.

SAP HANA is an in-memory, column-oriented, relational database management system. The HANA platform is fundamentally based on the principle of pushing down data-intensive computations into a HANA database layer in order to benefit from HANA's in-memory capabilities and to avoid unnecessary data transfers between the database layer and an application layer. Computations can be pushed down using, for example, SQL SCRIPT procedures, different types of database views, application functions, etc.
HANA Deployment Infrastructure (HANA DI) is a service layer of the HANA database that simplifies the deployment of HANA database objects by providing a declarative approach for defining database objects (as design-time artifacts) and ensuring a consistent deployment into the database, based on a transactional all-or-nothing deployment model and implicit dependency management. HANA DI is focused only on deployment aspects and addresses both development and modeling scenarios as part of the HANA database.
Sometimes multiple HANA DI-based applications, each application including multiple files are transported at the same time between development systems (for example, between a source and target system). Because of varying development status, some of the applications may not be compatible with the target system, causing deployment failure for all applications, when it is possible to deploy at least the compatible applications. Likewise, HANA DI-based deployments for single applications sometimes fail due to one or more file errors, when it is possible to deploy a subset of interdependent files without errors.

Deployment of independent database artifact groups


A method of burring includes a first step of forming, in a metal plate, a bottomed expanded portion expanded into a die hole with a punch and a die having the die hole into which the punch is inserted, the die hole being formed such that a predetermined gap is formed between an inner peripheral face of the die hole and an outer peripheral face of the punch so as to have a width larger than a thickness of the metal plate, a second step of swaging the bottom of the expanded portion of the metal plate between the punch and the bottom face of the die hole to render the bottom of the expanded portion thinner such that a material of the expanded portion bottom is caused to flow to a peripheral wall portion of the expanded portion positioned in the gap between the inner peripheral face of the die hole and the outer peripheral face of the punch, thereby thickening the peripheral wall portion of the expanded portion, and a third step of opening the bottom of the expanded portion.

This invention relates to a method of burring for forming a generally short cylindrical projected burr on workpieces such as a metal plate.
In a conventional burring method, a circular prepared hole is formed by way of punching. The peripheral portion of the prepared hole is formed into a cylindrical configuration by way of drawing so that a short cylindrical burr is formed. A tapping screw is usually threaded into the burr formed as described above in order that another part or member is secured to the metal plate.
In the above-described conventional method, however, the metal plate needs to be extended by way of drawing so that the burr is formed. Accordingly, the peripheral portion of the burr has a thickness smaller than the base metal plate, which often causes the thickness of the burr peripheral portion to be smaller than the depth of the screw thread. In such a case the screw needs to be replaced with one having a smaller depth of the screw thread. Consequently, a sufficient screw tightening force cannot be obtained, resulting in insufficient securing of the other part or member to the metal plate.


A wrench includes a shank having a drive head, a handle slidably mounted on the shank, and a resistance member mounted between the shank and the handle to provide a resistance to damp movement of the handle. Thus, when a force is applied on the handle to rotate the shank about the drive head, the force produces an axial component force which drives the handle to move relative to the shank, so that the resistance member is compressed, and the handle is moved on the shank to a determined position. In addition, the shank is provided with an indication portion to indicate a safety parameter of motion of the handle during movement of the handle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wrench, and more particularly to a wrench having a safety device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional wrench comprises a shank having an end provided with a drive head, and an adjustable torque mechanism mounted in the shank. The adjustable torque mechanism includes a compression spring mounted in the shank and having an end rested on the locking teeth of the drive head. In operation, the torque of the adjustable torque mechanism is preset, so that when the torque of the drive head exerted on a workpiece exceeds the preset value during operation of the wrench, the locking teeth of the drive head slip, so that the drive head cannot operate the workpiece, thereby providing a safety effect. However, the adjustable torque mechanism is hidden in the shank, so that the user cannot observe operation of the adjustable torque mechanism and easily exerts an excessive force on the wrench, thereby wearing the locking teeth of the drive head.
The closest prior art references of which the applicant is aware are disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. 488354 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,442 to Macor.


A belt clasp has a supporting body with a top portion, back side, and an inner perimeter defining a slot. A clasping arm is flexibly attached to the top portion of the supporting body and extends into the slot area. Two extensions extend from the back supporting side, each defining an engaging groove. A locking unit is provided with a locking portion and an engaging rod, which pivotally engages the grooves. The locking portion is shaped to prevent the clasping arm from opening in the locked position, and in the unlocked position, the clasping arm may be opened and the belt removed from the belt clasp.

Conventional belt clasps frequently have a tongue-shaped belt engaging member that slips over a belt or other such structure. The belt clasps are typically attached to a storage unit such as a pouch, canteen or knife holder. Securing the storage unit to a belt with the belt clasp provides the advantage that the storage unit is readily accessible to the user. However, having the storage unit on a belt subjects it to being knocked in various directions as the user moves about. Accordingly, conventional belt clasps easily disengage from the belt when jostled or forced in certain directions causing the user to lose the storage unit and the objects therein.


A control device for a gearbox of a vehicle is provided with fixed support. A control element carried by the fixed support is able to move along a first axis to carry out a gear rank selection operation and also able to rotate about the first axis to carry out a gear engagement/disengagement operation. An actuator having an output element movable along a second axis is orthogonal to the first axis and cooperating with the control element to rotate it about the first axis. An engagement element carried in an integral manner by the control element is also provided. A cam which can be activated selectively and is suitable for cooperating in a sliding manner with the engagement element to displace the control element axially by a predetermined quantity during the rotation of the control element about the first axis is included. Selective activation of the cam during the gear selection operation is possible.

The invention relates to a control device for a gearbox of a vehicle, particularly for a gearbox of the automatic type. Devices of the above-mentioned type are known, and substantially comprise a control element suitable for adopting four different positions along a first axis of its own, the selection of a gear corresponding to each of these positions, and for adopting three different angular positions contained in planes orthogonal to the above-mentioned first axis, the engagement of a gear or the neutral position corresponding to each of these positions. This control element is brought into the above-mentioned positions by the action of suitable actuators: normally, a first multi-position actuator is used to control the movements along the first axis whilst a second actuator, also a multi-position one, and movable along a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, is used to control the angular movements about the said first axis.
The above-mentioned actuators are normally operated pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically and are controlled by associated activation means; in particular, in the case of hydraulic operation, each actuator is controlled by a plurality of solenoid valves suitably combined together.
To operate it, the above-mentioned control element therefore requires the use of various relatively complex fluidic components, such as multi-position actuators, valves, travel regulation elements, position transducers, for example, which require accurate mechanical machining work and give rise to structural devices of high cost.

Control device for a gearbox of a vehicle with actuator and cam activated selection of gears


A method for reducing soft error rates in semiconductor memory. In one embodiment, memory is partitioned into a) boot and download memory, b) program memory and c) data memory. Each partition receives protection according to the importance of the data stored. The boot memory is protected by sensing errors and repairing them utilizing on-chip data storage redundancy and exchange. The program memory is protected by sensing errors and repairing damaged data by reloading it using the program stored in the boot and download memory. The data memory is selectively protected similar to the program memory, but with the added feature of regular saving to disk from which to check for accurate data in the event of corruption. In another embodiment, any or all of the soft error protection features are selectable on a global basis, a memory type basis or, in the cases of program and data memory, on a block level basis.

A variety of sources of radiation and high-energy particles can cause a bit to change in a memory device. These changes are referred to as "soft errors". If these errors occur in program memory, it can result in a catastrophic failure that may cause the entire system to be rebooted. Such failures in telecommunications systems can result in dropped calls. Failures in medical or military equipment can be life threatening. In many systems, it is desirable to reduce failures due to soft errors to an absolute minimum in order to minimize the overall failure rate of the system.
The internal memory of processor chips is particularly vulnerable to soft errors since parity and ECC is typically not used for internal memory accesses which need to be made as quickly as possible. As internal core voltages decrease and internal processor memory increases, systems will become more vulnerable to these soft errors.
Presently the problem of soft errors is addressed by detecting system crashes with watchdog timers or status messaging and then rebooting the system as soon as possible while rerouting ongoing processes through redundant systems. This is not a satisfactory solution since data can be lost during the process of switching to the redundant system and system level redundancy is very expensive.
In addition, many telecommunications applications do not require 100% data integrity, while medical or military applications do require 100% data integrity. Therefore, a system of protection is demanded that meets the varying needs of the users.
The present invention comprises a method of soft error data protection wherein the internal processor memory is divided into three partitions: the Boot and Download Memory, the regular Program Memory and the Data Memory. Each partition receives a different type of protection according to the data's relative importance.

Method to reduce soft error rate in semiconductor memory


A boom pod with an adaptable user interface automatically reconfigures based on operation phase. Elements of the user interface may also be manually reconfigured based on operator preference. Operator reconfigurations may be recorded for use during similar phases in subsequent operations. A controller automatically records system status during a refueling operation and prepares a digital log entry. Portions of the use interface are dedicated to augmented displays to assist the operator at any given operational phase.

Boom pods used to control in-flight refueling operations currently include banks of gauges, knobs, and switches that individually control aspects of the refueling boom. Such boom pods offer insufficient flexibility and situational awareness to the operator. Furthermore, many of the physical knobs and switches are not needed during any given operational phase, but continue to clutter the control surface ad may contribute to user error.


An electronic assembly tester for testing an electrical component of an optoelectronic device. The electrical component includes a transmit and receive port. The tester includes of a base, an arm, and a hinge. The arm includes a flex circuit and cables. The arm is rotated into a closed position to form a temporary electrical connection between the electrical component and the flex circuit. Other configurations for forming a temporary electrical connection between the test circuit and the electrical component are possible. The electrical component is evaluated by providing a data signal to the transmit portion of the electrical component and evaluating a return data signal obtained from the receive portion of the electrical component.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of optoelectronic devices, and more specifically relates to an assembly and method for testing the electrical component of an optoelectronic device before optical components are attached.
2. The Relevant Technology
Optoelectronic devices, such as transceivers and transponders, are devices that are capable of performing two functions. First, a transmitting portion of an optoelectronic device receives electrical signals, translates the electrical signals to optical signals, and then transmits the optical signals. Second, a receiving portion of an optoelectronic device receives optical signals, translates the optical signals to electrical signals, and then transmits the electrical signals. Note that an optoelectronic device may have both transmitting and receiving capabilities, such as those found in a transceiver or transponder.
In the manufacture of optoelectronic devices, each device is tested to ensure that it functions properly before selling the device to a customer. Since optoelectronic devices operate in a variety of environments (with respect to temperature, supply voltage, and the like), the devices are preferably tested under conditions similar to those found in such operating environments.
Testing optoelectronic devices has, however, proven to be a costly activity. This cost is related to the fact that it is both expensive and difficult to disassemble or repair an optoelectronic device once its components have been assembled. Optoelectronic devices are composed of an electrical component and a pair of optical components. The electrical component transmits and receives electrical signals, whereas the optical components transmit and receive optical signals. An optoelectronic device will malfunction if the electrical component, the optical component, or their connection malfunctions.
Typically, an optoelectronic device is tested after it has been completely assembled. When an optoelectronic device is found to be malfunctioning, disassembling the optoelectronic device is time consuming, and thus expensive, and may render unusable the device's electrical component, optical components, or both. Further, for some types of malfunctions, testing the optoelectronic device as a whole makes it difficult to determine which component of the device is malfunctioning.
Thus, it would be beneficial to test the electrical component and the optical components of an optoelectronic device separately before these components are joined to form an optoelectronic device. In this way, manufacturing costs are reduced, malfunctions are more easily and accurately diagnosed, and fewer components are damaged. In addition, disassembly of the optoelectronic device is largely avoided.

Electronic assembly tester and method for optoelectronic device


The present invention is a grooved belt, or surface roll where applicable, and a method for making these belts or rolls, comprising placing a chemically reactive material on a partially completed belt surface, and depositing an elastomeric material onto the chemically reactive material which reacts and forms a bond therewith to create a pattern. Placement of the elastomeric material is used to create the grooves, for example. The grooves are formed without machining and the resulting belt surface is smooth and uniform without cuts or cracks.

During the papermaking process, a cellulosic fibrous web is formed by depositing a fibrous slurry, that is, an aqueous dispersion of cellulose fibers, onto a moving forming fabric in the forming section of a paper machine. A large amount of water is drained from the slurry through the forming fabric, leaving the cellulosic fibrous web on the surface of the forming fabric.
The newly formed cellulosic fibrous web proceeds from the forming section to a press section, which includes a series of press nips. The cellulosic fibrous web passes through the press nips supported by a press fabric, or, as is often the case, between two such press fabrics. In the press nips, the cellulosic fibrous web is subjected to compressive forces which squeeze water therefrom, and which adhere the cellulosic fibers in the web to one another to turn the cellulosic fibrous web into a paper sheet. The water is accepted by the press fabric or fabrics and, ideally, does not return to the paper sheet.
The paper sheet finally proceeds to a dryer section, which includes at least one series of rotatable dryer drums or cylinders, which are internally heated by steam. The newly formed paper sheet is directed in a serpentine path sequentially around each in the series of drums by a dryer fabric, which holds the paper sheet closely against the surfaces of the drums. The heated drums reduce the water content of the paper sheet to a desirable level through evaporation.
It should be appreciated that the forming, press and dryer fabrics all take the form of endless loops on the paper machine and function in the manner of conveyors. It should further be appreciated that paper manufacture is a continuous process which proceeds at considerable speeds. That is to say, the fibrous slurry is continuously deposited onto the forming fabric in the forming section, while a newly manufactured paper sheet is continuously wound onto rolls after it exits from the dryer section.
Rising energy costs have made it increasingly desirable to remove as much water as possible from the web prior to its entry into the dryer section. As the dryer drums are typically heated from within by steam, costs associated with steam production may be substantial, especially when a large amount of water must be removed from the web.
Traditionally, press sections have included a series of nips formed by pairs of adjacent cylindrical press rolls. In recent years, the use of long press nips of the shoe type has been found to be more advantageous than the use of nips formed by pairs of adjacent press rolls. This is because the longer the time a web can be subjected to pressure in the nip, the more water can be removed there, and, consequently, the less water will remain behind in the web for removal through evaporation in the dryer section.
The present invention relates, in part, to long nip presses of the shoe type. In this variety of long nip press, the nip is formed between a cylindrical press roll and an arcuate pressure shoe. The latter has a cylindrically concave surface having a radius of curvature close to that of the cylindrical press roll. When the roll and shoe are brought into close physical proximity to one another, a nip, which can be five to ten times longer in the machine direction than one formed between two press rolls, is formed. Since the long nip may be five to ten times longer than that in a conventional two-roll press, the so-called dwell time, during which the fibrous web is under pressure in the long nip, may be correspondingly longer than it would be in a two-roll press. The result is a dramatic increase in the dewatering of the fibrous web in the long nip relative to that obtained using conventional nips on paper machines.
A long nip press of the shoe type requires a special belt, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,537 to Dutt (Albany International Corp.), the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. The belt is designed to protect the press fabric, which supports, carries and dewaters the fibrous web, from the accelerated wear that would result from direct, sliding contact over the stationary pressure shoe. Such a belt must be provided with a smooth, impervious surface that rides, or slides, over the stationary shoe on a lubricating film of oil. The belt moves through the nip at roughly the same speed as the press fabric, thereby subjecting the press fabric to minimal amounts of rubbing against the surface of the belt.
Belts of the variety shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,537 are made by impregnating a woven base fabric, which takes the form of an endless loop, with a synthetic polymeric resin. Preferably, the resin forms a coating of some predetermined thickness on at least the inner surface of the belt, so that the yarns from which the base fabric is woven may be protected from direct contact with the arcuate pressure shoe component of the long nip press. It is specifically this coating which must have a smooth, impervious surface to slide readily over the lubricated shoe and to prevent any of the lubricating oil from penetrating the structure of the belt to contaminate the press fabric, or fabrics, and fibrous web.
The base fabric of the belt shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,537 may be woven from monofilament yarns in a single or multi-layer weave, and is woven so as to be sufficiently open to allow the impregnating material to totally impregnate the weave. This eliminates the possibility of any voids forming in the final belt. Such voids may allow the lubrication used between the belt and shoe to pass through the belt and contaminate the press fabric or fabrics and fibrous web. The base fabric may be flat-woven, and subsequently seamed into endless form, or woven endless in tubular form.
When the impregnating material is cured to a solid condition, it is primarily bound to the base fabric by a mechanical interlock, wherein the cured impregnating material surrounds the yarns of the base fabric. In addition, there may be some chemical bonding or adhesion between the cured impregnating material and the material of the yarns of the base fabric.
Long nip press belts, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,238,537, depending on the size requirements of the long nip presses on which they are installed, have lengths from roughly 10 to 35 feet (approximately 3 to 11 meters), measured longitudinally around their endless-loop forms, and widths from roughly 6 to 35 feet (approximately 2 to 11 meters), measured transversely across those forms. The manufacture of such belts is complicated by the requirement that the base fabric be endless prior to its impregnation with a synthetic polymeric resin.
It is often desirable to provide the belt with a resin coating of some predetermined thickness on its outer surface as well as on its inner surface. By coating both sides of the belt, its woven base fabric will be closer to, if not coincident with, the neutral axis of bending of the belt. In such a circumstance, internal stresses which arise when the belt is flexed on passing around a roll or the like on the paper machine will be less likely to cause the coating to delaminate from either side of the belt.
Moreover, when the outer surface of the belt has a resin coating of some predetermined thickness, it permits grooves, blind-drilled holes or other cavities to be formed on that surface without exposing any part of the woven base fabric. These features provide for the temporary storage of water pressed from the web in the press nip, and are usually produced by grooving or drilling in a separate manufacturing step following the curing of the resin coating.
The present invention relates particularly to a grooved press belt which could be used in a long nip press or also in a conventional press. In addition, the present invention relates to a grooved roll cover.
In the case of conventionally grooved belts, a machining process is typically used to create the surface grooves. The grooves define channels and are separated from one another by what may be referred to as land areas. The width and depth of the grooves and the number of grooves per inch dictate the void volume of the grooved belt surface. In addition, the need for the belt to flex dictates certain material characteristics. For instance, the material must be sufficiently flexible to conform to the belt path and still be rigid enough so as not to collapse under press loads. In this regard, it is noted that elastomers such as urethane have been successfully used heretofore.
Roll covers are manufactured in a variety of ways, using varied materials such as rubber, rubber-like materials, polymers or metal alloys. Current methods of manufacturing roll covers include "laying up" sections of uncured mats of polymeric compounds onto a roll body, sometimes with textile reinforcement. This forms a roll cover of several sections, which is finished by heat curing to form a continuous cover. This cover is ground and may undergo other surface finishing steps. Finally, grooves are cut in a circumferential pattern in the surface to assist sheet dewatering in the press nip. Another method used to form roll covers is to spiral wind a semi-solid resin onto a body, followed by curing and surface finishing. Again, grooves are cut in the surface to assist dewatering in the nip. Yet another method is to cast or mold a resin-fiber system onto a mandrel or roll body, forming a composite system. Other covers may be formed of mixtures of resins (i.e., "alloys" of resins), metals and resins, ceramics, and the like.
Also in the case of conventional grooved rolls, the surface grooves are typically created by machining the roll cover surface. Again, the width and depth of the grooves and the number of grooves per inch dictate the void volume of the grooved surface. It is also noted that there are many different materials used to create grooved roll surfaces.
During the machining of grooves especially in belts, the interior walls (the sides of the lands separating the grooves) of synthetic surface material are left with microscopic surface cuts created by the action of the machine tool. These microscopic cuts can constitute crack initiation sites which may lead to larger cracks and eventual failure or delaminating of the land area on either side of the groove. In this connection, U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,389 is directed toward a method of making a grooved void-volume belt for use on a long nip press. After applying an adhesive, a strip of material having a groove already formed therein is wound about a partially completed belt and suitably attached. This, among other things, avoids having to cut grooves in the belt surface.
The present invention provides an approach towards forming grooves or other patterns on both belt and roll surfaces without machining using ribbon placement to create the grooves.

Grooved surface belt or roll and method of fabrication


An abrasive throwing wheel assembly comprising a rotating wheel having a forward face including: a recess bounded circumferentially by an interior wall of a forward peripheral portion; a plurality of blade slots in the forward peripheral portion; and a groove, for receiving a retaining element, provided in the recess proximate the rearward base end of the interior wall. To prevent the retaining element groove from interfering with the attachment and removal of the blades, the assembly also includes: (a) the peripheral portion having a rearwardly sloped forward surface, (b) the interior wall diverging rearwardly toward the axis of rotation, and/or (c) the blade slots extending outwardly from the recess at a rearward angle.

Centrifugal blasting machines are commonly used for stripping or cleaning floors, storage tank walls, metal castings, and other items. Some machines employ a throwing wheel assembly comprising a plurality of throwing blades mounted on only the front face of a single plate-type rotor, runner head, or other single plate wheel element. Other designs utilize wheels having a pair of opposing plates (i.e., a front plate and a back plate) between which the throwing blades are mounted. Although the single plate and double plate designs all have limited service lives, the single plate-type wheel designs are preferred by many in the art because they are simpler and much less costly to manufacture, balance, and replace.
The blasting machine throwing blades are adapted for receiving a stream of steel shot, hardened steel grit, other abrasive material, or a combination thereof and throwing the abrasive material radially outward from the wheel at an appropriate discharge point. Different treatment profiles can be provided by varying the type or mix ratio of the abrasive material, varying the abrasive size, and/or adjusting the rotating speed of the throwing wheel assembly. The abrasive material cleans the surface of the floor, wall or other item and typically rebounds, along with removed contaminants, dust, and debris, into a separator or other recovery chamber. Unfortunately, because of the action of the abrasive material within the centrifugal blasting apparatus, the throwing blades undergo considerable wear and must be replaced periodically.
In one common type of blasting assembly, the throwing wheel, throwing blades, and the rotating central impeller of the device are all cast in place as a unitary structure. Although such unitary cast structures do not require further assembly and do not present blade retention concerns during installation, they have significant shortcomings and disadvantages. For example, although the throwing wheel and other portions of the unitary cast structure are less susceptible to wear and damage than are the throwing blades, the entire cast structure must be replaced when the blades are worn, or if even just a single blade is chipped or broken. In addition, the unitary casting procedure does not allow the blade portion of the casting to be formed from a different, harder, more wear-resistant material. Further, the use of a harder, more wear-resistant material for forming the entire structure is not practical due to both higher cost and the poor casting characteristics of these harder materials which, for example, make them much more difficult to machine after heat treatment.
To address these issues, and to obtain the benefits of a single plate design, various efforts have been made to develop throwing assemblies wherein the throwing blades are removably mounted on the forward face of a single plate-type throwing wheel. One such throwing wheel assembly is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,584, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. The prior art assembly comprises; a single plate throwing wheel; a hub affixed to the back of the throwing wheel; a plurality of throwing blades which are removably mount on, and are perpendicular to, the forward face of the throwing wheel; and an impeller centrally mounted on the hub between the inlet ends of the throwing blades. The blades generally extend radially away from the impeller.
As is generally the case, the impeller rotates with the throwing wheel for receiving a stream of abrasive blasting material from a spout and feeding the abrasive material to the throwing blades. The rotating impeller delivers the abrasive material through the discharge opening of a stationary control cage within which the impeller is rotatably positioned. The abrasive material is received on the inlet ends of the blades as the blades rotate past the cage opening. The abrasive material then moves outwardly along the throwing surfaces of the blades and is thrown from the distal ends of the blade throwing surfaces at a desired discharge point.
In the single plate throwing assembly described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,584, each of the throwing blades has a holding structure which projects laterally outward from the lower end of the rearwardly facing side edge of the blade. This lower holding structure is configured for removable, locking engagement with a corresponding retaining slot formed in the wheel face. Consequently, during operation, the centrifugal force exerted by the rotation of the throwing wheel operates to continuously urge the blades radially outward into secure engagement with the holding slots formed in the wheel face. However, in removable blade systems such as this when the system is being assembled and installed and there is no centrifugal force acting against the blades, additional retaining mechanisms are needed to at least temporarily hold the blades in place so that they do not fall off the wheel face.
To deal with this problem, U.S. Pat. No. 7,311,584 discloses the addition of a second (upper) holding structure to the side edge of each blade. These upper holding structures are received in peripheral detents formed around the throwing wheel wherein they are contacted with individual biasing springs. The biasing springs operate to continuously urge the throwing blades radially outward such that the lower blade holding structures are always held in locked engagement in the blade retaining slots.
As will be understood by those in the art, a continuing need exists for improved single plate rotating wheel assemblies having removable throwing blades. A need particularly exists for improved assemblies of this type which (a) are lower in cost, (b) are less complicated to assemble, install, and remove, (c) are easier to manufacture, and (d) provide a much simpler yet highly effective means for retaining the removable blades on the throwing wheel during assembly and installation procedures.