An image processing apparatus having a first conversion section for converting image data of a target pixel in a multi-color image as an object to be processed into first color data corresponding to colors of the image data, a second conversion section for converting the first color data converted by the first conversion section into binary data, a first calculation section for calculating second color data having the same colors as those of the image data on the basis of a plurality of the binary data converted by the second conversion section, a second calculation section for calculating color errors between the image data and the second color data calculated by the first calculation section, a third calculation section for calculating weighting errors by multiplying the color errors calculated by the second calculation section with predetermined weighting coefficients, a storage section for storing the weighting errors calculated by the third calculation section, and a correction section for correcting the image data of the target pixel according to the weighting errors stored in the storage section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus by which gradation processing with high color reproduction fidelity can be attained for a color image of an object.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an image processing apparatus for processing a color image, gradation processing and color correction processing are required so as to output, to a color printer, color signals read from an original using a reading device such as a color image scanner.
In color reproduction processing, for example, R, G, and B (R: red, G: green, and B: blue) signals from a scanner are converted into Y, M, and C (Y: yellow, M: magenta, and C: cyan) complementary color signals, as printer drive signals for original color signals. This processing is performed by a 3.times.3 matrix operation given by equation (1): ##EQU1##
On the other hand, an ordered dither method is generally used for the gradation processing. This method is simple, but undesirably impairs resolution of the resultant image.
An "error diffusion method" is known as a gradation processing method, which can provide higher resolution than the ordered dither method, and can also provide a sufficient gradation characteristic.
As U.S. Patent applications that disclose gradation processing methods using the error diffusion method, there are the following prior applications filed by the same applicants as for the present application:
(1) U.S. Ser. No. 756,630 filed on Sep. 9, 1991, and
(2) U S. Ser. No. 785,788 filed on Oct. 31, 1991.
All of the disclosures of these prior patent applications are incorporated in the present patent application.
In the "error diffusion method", a product of a digitization error of digitized surrounding pixels with a given weighting coefficient is added to a color signal of the target pixel, thus obtaining a digitized color signal of the target pixel by a fixed threshold value.
In the "error diffusion method", the digitization error generated upon digitization of the target pixel is diffused to the surrounding pixels to perform error compensation, thereby minimizing the digitization error. Therefore, when an input image is a photographic image, digitization processing can be performed to assure a satisfactory high gradation characteristic. However, in a color image, when the "error diffusion method" is independently applied to R, G, and B input color signals (three color signals), the three Y, M, and C digitized output signals cannot be in phase with each other. Thus, the digitized output signals having different phases are undesirably output, and a color image cannot be faithfully reproduced.

Image processing apparatus and image processing method for reproducing a color image from color signals having different phases


A method for identifying an error condition due to a faulty cable connection in a network comprising a plurality of computer systems, at least one of the computer systems including a network adapter with the network adapter including a media access control (MAC) unit, includes initializing a plurality of mechanisms for tracking a plurality of conditions in the MAC of the network adapter. The method further includes receiving a transmit demand request in the network adapter and updating the plurality of mechanisms according to a current status of each of the plurality of conditions. In addition, the method includes determining whether a predetermined threshold has been reached in one or more of the plurality of mechanisms, wherein when one or more of the plurality of mechanisms has reached the predetermined threshold, a faulty cable connection is identified. In a system aspect, the system includes a plurality of counting mechanism for tracking each of a plurality of error conditions. The system further includes a media access control (MAC) unit for differentiating each of the plurality of error conditions. In addition, the system includes an error identification mechanism for determining when any of the plurality of counting mechanisms has reached a predetermined threshold.

In many computing environments, computer systems are interlinked in local area networks (LANs). Proper operation of these networks is important for maintaining productivity. With networks providing more convenient resource-sharing among users, problems arising from network errors limit the full utilization of the conveniences.
One of the most important of these errors to resolve is an error due to the presence of a faulty cable or a disconnected cable from either the network card in the computer system or the main hub/server of the network. Unfortunately, the protocol for most systems merely indicates a high level error under such circumstances, e.g., `network driver doesn't exist anymore`, which does not provide a clear indication that the error is due to a faulty cable/disconnect situation. Detection of an error due to a faulty cable/disconnect is not only important to allow quicker recovery, but also to distinguish the error from other problems, such as set-up issues and bad adapter situations. Further, with some specifications, such as Microsoft NDIS 4 as used in Windows 95 and in Windows NT, identification of a cable disconnect has become a formal requirement of certification for the Ethernet hardware and software.
Accordingly, a need exists for identification of errors due to a faulty cable or cable disconnect condition in computer networking environments. The present invention addresses such a need.

Method and system for identifying an error condition due to a faulty cable connection in an ethernet network


An adjustable light includes a base member, which is a shell-like member, having a circuit board and a battery set therein and having a pivot portion and a magnet at an end thereof. The base member can be attracted on a surface, which is made of a magnetic attraction material, by the magnet. A pivot base is pivoted on pivot portion of the base member, on which a switch is provided. An illuminating tube member has a transparent tube and a lamp in the tube. The tube has two lids to close two ends thereof. A shaft is inserted through one lid to pivot the illuminating tube member on the pivot base, and a hook mount is pivoted on the other lid.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an auxiliary light for work, and more particularly to an adjustable working light, which has magnet for easy operation and movable mounting.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the work of repairing automobile or machines, worker always hold a light to illuminate the region that he/she has to work on. The light is hung on a place when the work needs both hands to work. The hung light swings or is unstable or is too fixed to adjust or rotate that the light is hard to change the illuminating direction and region. Such lights usually are used in the repairing workplace, and they are hard to be used in other place. This restricts the application range of the light.
The present inventor ever created an adjustable light to fix above problem. The light, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, includes a main member 1, a transparent tube 2 pivoted on a front of the main member 1, in which a reflective film 3 and a lamp 4 are provided, and a hook assembly 5. The light can be hung easily in any workplace. The transparent tube 2 may be turned to any desired angle to change the illuminating direction. However, such light still needs to improve.


According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus is provided with a circuit board contained in a case and including a first surface and a second surface formed on the reverse side of the first surface, a first heat generating component mounted on the first surface, a second heat generating component mounted on the second surface, a radiator section located off the circuit board, a first heat transfer member extending along the first surface and provided between the first heat generating component and the radiator section, and a second heat transfer member extending along the second surface and provided between the second heat generating component and the radiator section.

1. Field
One embodiment of the invention relates to an electronic apparatus on which heat generating components are mounted, and to, for example, heat radiating structure of the heat generating components.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic apparatus, such as a portable computer, is mounted with heat generating components including a CPU. A remote heat exchanger (RHE) is an example of a structure for cooling these heat generating components. The RHE is basically composed of heat pipes, radiator fins, and a cooling fan. The radiator fins are located off a circuit board and, for example, near a peripheral wall of a case. The cooling fan cools the radiator fins. The heat pipes are provided between the heat generating components and the radiator fins and transfer heat from the heat generating components to the radiator fins.
An electronic apparatus having a cooling unit for cooling a plurality of heat generating components is disclosed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 10-107469, for example. This electronic apparatus includes, for example, three heat generating components, three heat pipes, and a fin unit. The heat pipes are arranged between the fin unit and the heat generating components.
The power consumption of electronic components mounted in electronic apparatuses has become higher and higher in recent years. It is believed that any other heat generating components than CPUs, such as graphic chips, memories, etc., should preferably be directly cooled by means of an RHE in the future. In this case, one end of a heat transfer member, such as a heat pipe, may possibly be attached to each heat generating component, and the other end of the heat pipe to radiator members, such as radiator fins.
In attaching heat pipes to a plurality of heat generating components arranged side by side horizontally, for example, the heat pipes are also arranged adjacent to one another horizontally. In order to keep a necessary space for the lead-around of the adjacent heat pipes to radiator members, gaps of a predetermined or larger width must be provided between the heat generating components.


A computer automated design system includes a subject routing module configured to set a first grid area and a first diagonal grid area and route a first wire in the first grid area and a first diagonal wire extending diagonally to a longitudinal direction of the first wire and a next routing module configured to set a second grid area and a second diagonal grid area and route a second wire in the second grid area and a second diagonal wire extending diagonally to a longitudinal direction of the second wire.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit, more specifically to a computer automated design system and a computer automated design method for designing a semiconductor integrated circuit including orthogonal wirings and oblique wirings in a multi-level interconnect.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with miniaturization of integrated circuits in recent years, problems with crosstalk between adjacent wires have been of concern. Especially in cases of a wire pitch of 90 nm or less, crosstalk is more likely to occur, and various technologies to suppress crosstalk have been examined.
The technologies to suppress the occurrence of crosstalk between wires include a multi-level interconnect technology using a diagonal interconnect technology. The diagonal interconnect technology utilizes "diagonal interconnect" with wires extended in directions of 45° and 135° while wires are extended in directions of 0° and 90° in "orthogonal interconnect". Employing the diagonal interconnect technology, a wire length can be shortened by the square root of double the wire length of the orthogonal interconnect. Therefore, the wiring area can be reduced to 30% and electric power consumption can be decreased, in comparison with the orthogonal interconnect. Since the wiring area is reduced by utilizing the diagonal interconnect technology, a pitch of diagonal wires can be magnified and the design rule can be modified, in comparison with the orthogonal interconnect technology. Accordingly, crosstalk can be reduced.
However, in the multi-level interconnect technology using an diagonal interconnect technology currently used in general, a wiring layer where the diagonal routing grid is simply arranged is placed in a layer above a wiring layer where the routing grid of the orthogonal interconnect is placed. Therefore, there is a tendency that grid points of the routing grid of the orthogonal interconnect do not match grid points of the routing grid of the diagonal interconnect. When the grid points do not match each other, in placement of a via hole in a portion where wires intersect at right angle, the via hole cannot be placed at any one of adjacent points of orthogonal interconnect and diagonal interconnect. The via hole must be therefore placed at another position. The problem of displacement of the grid points becomes more obvious with increasing reduction of wire width, and the design process is complicated due to restriction of placement positions of via holes.

Semiconductor integrated circuit including a multi-level interconnect with a diagonal wire


A connector assembly for mating with a multi-port electrical connector includes a shielded housing having a plurality of discrete shielded plug chambers and a plurality of plugs received in corresponding plug chambers. Each of the plugs are shielded from one another by the shielded housing, and the plugs are configured for simultaneous mating with the multi-port electrical connector, wherein each plug is received in a different port of the electrical connector. The connector assembly also includes a latch assembly coupled to the shielded housing. The latch assembly engages the shielded housing and is configured to engage the multi-port electrical connector to electrically common the shielded housing and the multi-port electrical connector.

The subject matter herein relates generally to data communication systems, and more particularly, to connector assemblies for data communication systems.
Data communication systems have many applications, including telecommunications and interconnecting computers over local area networks. Application demands are driving systems to have increased electrical performance while increasing the density of connectivity. Some known systems strive to maximize the number of contact pairs within a connector to make installation orderly and efficient. However, such systems are not without disadvantages. For instance, with increased numbers of contact pairs, and as products become denser, known systems and connectors are challenged to perform wire termination and assemble the connectors. Difficulties arise in achieving desired electrical transmission performance due to interference and signal degradation, such as from cross-talk between contact pairs. While some systems attempt to provide electrical isolation between components by surrounding them with materials that effectively provide shielding from cross-talk, providing such shielding in a limited space while maintaining an acceptable termination and assembly process has proven problematic.
Additionally, known systems suffer from problems with accessibility for installation and removal within the system. For example, some known systems include a telecommunications rack or cabinet with panels arranged in a stacked configuration. The space between neighboring connector assemblies connected to the panels is limited. Many high density connector assemblies use screw fasteners to retain the connector assemblies to the panel because of the limited space. However, such systems require a tool, such as a screwdriver, to install and remove the connector assemblies, which increases the installation and removal time.
A need remains for a communication system that achieves high transfer rates with desirable system performance and space utilization. A need remains for a connector assembly that may by quickly installed and removed without the need for tools.


A method of enhancing the flow of hydrocarbon fluids from small flow conduits (12) in a subterranean reservoir rock formation (10) that have traditionally not been propped in association with a fracturing treatment of the formation (10), the method including the steps of introducing a first pressurized fluid into the formation at a pressure that is sufficient to expand the pre-existing small flow conduits (12) and introducing into the pressure-expanded small flow conduits (12) a first portion of a relatively small particulate propping agent (16); simultaneously with the fracturing of the formation, or immediately thereafter, introducing a second portion of a relatively small particulate propping agent (16) into expanded pre-existing small flow conduits and into any new small flow conduits that are formed by the fracturing of the formation; and reducing the hydraulic pressure on the formation, whereby the small flow conduits are held open by propping agent particles.

Hydraulic fracturing is a well stimulation technique which involves injecting a fracturing fluid into the formation at rates and pressures sufficient to rupture the formation or widen compressed potential flow conduits, i.e., fissures, cracks, natural fractures, faults, lineaments and bedding planes. In most formations, the earth stresses are such that a vertical crack or fracture is also formed by the hydraulic fracturing treatment. In certain types of formations, the small flow conduits which exist naturally are widened under the hydraulic fracturing process. Once the artificially created fracture is initiated, continued injection of the fracturing fluid causes the hydraulic fracture to grow in length, height and width. A particulate propping agent suspended in a pressurized carrier fluid is then introduced into the relatively larger fractures to maintain them in a propped condition when the fracture-inducing pressure is subsequently relieved. The type and size(s) of the propping agents have been selected based on their ability to prop open the large fractures created in the formation.
In the fracturing of most formations, it is desirable to optimize the width, length and height of the propped fracture in order to increase fracture conductivity. It is known that the success of the well stimulation is strongly influenced by the geometry of the propped fracture. As the fracture width increases, increased fracture lengths can improve well stimulation.
The width of the fracture is normally obtained by controlling variables, such as fluid viscosity and injection rate to achieve the desired fracture geometry. Although large dynamic widths are frequently obtained, the width of the closed fracture is substantially less than the dynamic width, mainly because of the relatively low concentration of proppant in the carrier fluid. In other words, most of the volume in the carrier fluid is liquid, which leaks off into the formation through small flow conduits leaving the proppant wedged in the larger fractures in the formation walls, but unable to enter the small flow conduits.
The improvement in injectivity or productivity of a well by fracturing the formation depends directly on the retained conductivity of a propped fracture system. A wide variety of different techniques and propping agents have been disclosed in the prior art. The following U.S. patents are illustrative of the prior art methods and materials.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,879,847 discloses geometrical shapes that can be introduced into the proppant-fracture system to improve permeability. Protrusions on the sides of three-dimensional objects, such as spheres or the like serve to increase permeability between the spheres or other shapes.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,235,007 discloses multiple layers of respective proppants including metals, ceramics, plastics, steel shot, aluminum, glass-beads and crushed and rounded walnut shells, peach pits, coconut and pecan shells.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,819 discloses the use of glass beads flowed into a fracture system with a high viscosity liquid during fracturing.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,383 describes electroless metal plating followed by a proppant displaced into the fracture system.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,807 discloses injection of a fluid suspension of coarse particles with fine grains of sand or other material bonded to the outer surfaces to maintain pathways between the particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,138 discloses injection of an alumina propping agent of at least 30 mesh size introduced into a fracture system in a multi-layer distribution scheme.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,029,148 utilizes color-coded proppant that are particles injected at different depths so that the source of the proppant particles can be determined in the event that they backflow and are recovered during later production.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,116 discloses the use of material injected to plug a zone around a wellbore in a subterranean formation.
An analysis of the teachings of the prior art technical and patent literature reveals that the methods of formation stimulation have been directed to maintaining flow passageways between particles for retaining permeability, while at the same time maintaining particle contact for retaining high structural strength for propping the fracture open. This approach tends to allow closure over time of production or injection of fluid because of the small movement of the particles with a resultant infusion of particle edges and the like into the passageways to restrict permeability. Moreover, these various types of particles and methods have been resistant to creating the desirable layering in a fully packed propping system in a fracture. Further, these methods have tended to fail in deeper formations where the pressures tending to close a fracture were even greater.
It is known that the flow capacity of certain high compressive strength, deep, over-pressured reservoirs varies with net confining pressure. This net confining pressure is the result of the difference in the overburden pressure and the reservoir pore pressure. As this reservoir pressure is decreased with hydrocarbon depletion, the net confining pressure increases, reducing flow capacity in the matrix and also in small flow conduits.
Many deep, high temperature, low permeability, high compressive stress or over-pressured carbonate and sandstone subterranean formations bearing hydrocarbons contain small flow conduits in the form of, e.g., natural fissures, cracks, natural fractures, lineaments, bedding planes and faults. Productivity from such subterranean formations is determined in large measure by the contribution of hydrocarbons passing through these small flow conduits and into the wellbore. However, the fluid loss (leakoff) that occurs during hydraulic stimulation of these subterranean formations is also increased due to the presence of these small flow conduits.
Although the importance of fracture width has long been recognized by those working in the art, propped widths larger than about 0.3 inches are normally not achieved in deep reservoirs. The contribution of the naturally occurring small flow conduits has been ignored by the prior art fracturing methods, and this despite the recognition of the contribution of such small flow conduits to fluid loss by leakoff during fracturing.
Proppants are of three types: sand, resin coated sand and ceramic proppants. Propping agents, or proppants, include naturally occurring sand, man-made intermediate ceramics, high-strength ceramics, sintered bauxite and resin coated (deformable) sand.
Intermediate strength proppants are defined by reference to the operating conditions into which the proppants will be introduced, i.e., intermediate stresses and temperatures. For example, an ISP will be selected for use at closure stress that is between 4,000 and 8,000 psi and at a bottom hole static temperature of up to 375° F.
High strength proppants would include sintered bauxite. Sintered bauxite, a type of ceramic proppant with a high alumina content, low silica and low clay content, is the strongest proppant available and is used at the greatest depths.
The use of intermediate strength proppants (ISP) and high strength proppants (HSP) have proven effective in enhancing hydrocarbon flow through the induced hydraulic fracture. Conventional fracturing of subterranean formations utilizing quartz sand or other propping agents is ineffective in the small flow conduits of these high compressive stress formations.
Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a method of propping small flow conduits that obviates the disadvantages of the prior art and provides a natural flow system that resists collapse and closure and that retains permeability through a novel mechanism not heretofore employed.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved propping method for use in deep, high compression formations that will substantially improve hydrocarbon production.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel propping method that can be used advantageously with both acid fracturing and hydraulic fracturing techniques in various types of reservoir rock formations.

Method of treating subterranean formations to enhance hydrocarbon production using proppants


A stage driving apparatus for a stage of this invention includes a horizontal driving mechanism which moves in a horizontal direction a stage to place a wafer thereon, and an elevating mechanism which moves the stage in a vertical direction. The elevating mechanism has a first elevating mechanism which supports the horizontal driving mechanism and vertically moves the horizontal driving mechanism, and a second elevating mechanism which supports the stage on the horizontal driving mechanism and vertically moves the stage over a short distance with a piezoelectric element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stage driving apparatus for a stage and a probe method and, more particularly, to a stage driving apparatus for a stage and a probe method which can test an object to be tested at high speed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a semiconductor device manufacturing process, the electrical characteristics of a device formed on a wafer are tested. For example, a prober having a stage driving apparatus for a stage as shown in FIG. 7 is used for this testing. A stage 1 whereon a wafer W is placed and which incorporates an elevating mechanism, an X stage 2 which supports the stage 1 and can move in an X direction, and a Y stage 3 which supports the X stage 2 and can move in a Y direction are arranged in the prober chamber of the prober. When the electrical characteristics of the wafer W are to be tested, the X stage 2 and Y stage 3 are moved in the X and Y directions, respectively. Thus, the stage 1 is moved in the X and Y directions, and the stage is rotated in a θ direction by a rotary mechanism 1a, to align the wafer and a probe card with each other. After that, the stage 1 is vertically moved in a Z direction by the elevating mechanism, to test the electrical characteristics of the wafer W with the probes of a probing card (not shown) in contact with the wafer W.
When a ball screw 2a rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, the X stage 2 reciprocates in the X direction along a pair of guide rails 2b arranged on the Y stage 3. When a ball screw 3a rotates clockwise and counterclockwise, the Y stage 3 reciprocates in the Y direction along a pair of guide rails 3b arranged on a base 4. Reference numeral 3c denotes a motor; 3d, a rotation amount detector. The elevating mechanism of the stage 1 can include, e.g., a ball screw, motor, and elevation guide. When the ball screw is rotated clockwise and counterclockwise by the motor, the stage 1 vertically moves along the elevation guide.
The prober has an alignment mechanism 5 to align the probes of the probing card and the electrode pads of the wafer W with each other. The alignment mechanism 5 includes an upper camera 5b (to imaged sense the wafer W) attached to an alignment moving mechanism 5c, and a lower camera 5a (to imaged sense the probes) provided to the stage 1. The alignment moving mechanism 5c moves from the deepest portion in the prober chamber to the center (in the direction of an arrow Y) along a pair of guide rails (not shown).
The degree of integration of devices is increasing year by year. The number of devices to be tested at once (simultaneous measurement number) increases. The contact load applied by the probes to the wafer W increases greatly. Accordingly, the rigidity of the stage 1 must be increased, so that the weight of the stage 1 increases. In order to improve the throughput of testing, the X and Y stages 2 and 3 and the elevating mechanism must operate at higher speeds. As the diameter or the like of the wafer W increases, the apparatus increases in size and weight.
In the conventional prober, the stage 1 is arranged on the X and Y stages 2 and 3. Thus, the contact load increases, and the rigidity and weight of the stage 1 increase. It has become difficult to operate at higher speeds the elevating mechanism of the stage 1 and the X and Y stages 2 and 3 on which the heavy stage 1 is placed. Accordingly, to increase the speed of testing has become difficult. Due to the rigidity of the ball screws of the elevating mechanism of the stage 1, the limit of the motor torque, and the like, to increase the speed for vertically moving the stage 1 is also limited.

Stage driving apparatus and probe method


A computer implemented system and method provides for responding to an instruction to a print screen instruction by generating and storing an image of user interface components that had been displayed in a display area when the instruction was received; and storing in association with the image original text that had been displayed in the display area and on the user interface components when the instruction was received, where the first image does not include a representation of the original text. Output of the screen copy includes, for example, overlaying some or all of the text, or which some or all can be in modified form, over the image.

Computer system users often collaborate on projects by exchanging information, e.g., over a network, such as the Internet, or using non-electronic delivery methods to exchange computer-based information. Such information often includes copies of digital information or computer image data. Such data can be saved on a user's computer and/or provided to another person, e.g., another computer user. Exchange of information can also be between different users of the same computer terminal. For example, a first user of the terminal can create or otherwise obtain data displayed on a user interface of the terminal, and second user can view such data that has been output on the user interface. Alternatively, the first user can send the data to the second user, who can then view the data by logging into the second user's account, e.g., e-mail account, to which the data has been sent.
Data a user might want to exchange with another user often is ensconced within sensitive information that is not to be exchanged. The user sharing the data therefore must strip the sensitive information prior to sharing the data.
Often exchange of data occurs between users who speak different languages. A first user speaking a first language might want to exchange data in the first language with a second user who speaks a second language, which is an inefficient way to provide the information to the second user.
Additionally, a first user might want to present a modified version of data to a second user as a prototype for an output of a program, e.g., in a collaboration for creating a computer program, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,087,007, issued Dec. 27, 2011, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
Data of a computing device to be saved and/or shared often includes data of a graphical type, for example, graphical user interface data of a screen. Such data can be saved and transmitted as a screenshot. For example, MICROSOFT WINDOWS® provides a print screen key, in response to selection of which, for example, if selected by itself, a bitmap image of the entire screen is captured and copied to a storage area, e.g., the clipboard, and, if selected in combination with selection of the Alt key, a bitmap image of the portion of the active window of the screen that is visible in the screen is captured and copied to the storage area, e.g., the clipboard. Such bitmap data can be obtained from storage for viewing at a later time and/or transmitted or otherwise provided to other users. For example, during a teleconference, a user might want to explain a concept by using that which is on the user's screen as a visual aid. The user can use the screen copy functionality to obtain a copy of the screen, and e-mail the screen copy to the other user for discussion during the teleconference.

System and method for enhanced screen copy


A multistage machining process includes a plurality of stations. Workpiece feature quality is predicted based on decomposition of the machining process into sources of variation, reticulation of the machining process into machining stations and error models that account for significant contributions to feature quality including from categorical sources of variation.

Multistage manufacturing systems (MMS) are commonplace, diverse in variety and are employed in various aspects of many manufacturing industries. Complex mechanical assemblies, such as automatic transmissions, and vehicle assembly plant processes, such as body assembly operations, are examples of MMS related specifically to assembly systems. However, MMS are also widely employed in complex fabrication systems, e.g. semi-conductor fabrication, and complex machining systems, e.g. internal combustion engine block and head machining. Some hybrid MMS include aspects from multiple types of manufacturing systems including assembly, fabrication and machining.
A common characteristic of MMS is a multiplicity of well defined processing operations and stations. MMS also typically involve multiple fixture exchanges and process datum changes. This is particularly evident in the complex machining and assembly of engine blocks and heads or of transmission cases, for example.
Variations throughout MMS affect the quality of the final manufactured product. Each of the multiplicity of operations and stations and associated transfers of workpieces therebetween are potential sources for introducing variation into the final product. Trial and error approaches are commonly employed in improving quality of parts produced by machining MMS. However, such techniques tend to be lengthy and not generally well structured and understood with respect to specific manufacturing variables.
Practices are known for simulating component part tolerance stack-up in assembly processes and for providing conformance-type analysis of such simulations. Final product conformance to print may thereby be statistically predicted and component tolerances adjusted—relaxed or tightened—to effect quality and cost improvements to the final product.
Complex machining processes, however, include a variety of inputs and sensitivities not generally shared by assembly systems or other types of manufacturing systems. For example, machining variations can be affected by variations in raw castings, variations in accuracy and repeatability of machine motion, geometric variations of the workpiece and fixture, station transfers and fixture changes, elastic deformation of the workpiece and fixtures due to clamping forces, and machining variations due to cutting forces.

Predictive modeling of machining line variation


A sensor detects skewed adjacent movable component. The sensor may be used to detect harmful skews of aircraft control surfaces, such as slats or flaps on aircraft wings, which may be caused by an actuator disconnection from the surface it drives. Harmful skew, which is a relative asymmetrical motion of control surfaces beyond a predetermined limit, is detected by the sensor, but the relatively smaller harmless skew caused by normal flight is ignored. The sensor comprises first and second arms connected to a common base that may be attached to a first control surface. A constraining means such as a mechanical fuse holds the arms together while a separating means such as a spring exerts a separating force on the arms when the fuse breaks. A switching means is integral to the two arms. A striker pin on a second control surface strikes the first or second sensor arm when the relative motion between the control surfaces exceeds a certain predetermined limit. The force of the striker pin breaks the constraining means at a predetermined tension. Then the switching means operates to provide an indication that the arms have been opened.

The invention relates generally to a sensor for detecting skewed or disconnected adjacent movable components, and more particularly to a sensor for detecting skewed or disconnected aircraft control surfaces such as slats or flaps while ignoring relatively smaller harmless skews caused by normal flight.
Aircraft wings employ high-lift devices that are sometimes known as auxiliary airfoils or control surfaces. During takeoff and landing of the aircraft, the pilot can extend these control surfaces from a leading or a trailing edge of a wing to increase aerodynamic lift. When extended, the surfaces increase the effective size, curvature, camber, and area of the wing. This extension increases the lift of the wing for slow-speed flight. Control surfaces that extend from the leading edge of the wing are usually known as slats, while those that extend from the trailing edge of the wing are known as flaps. Slats are used primarily to increase lift at large angles of attack, while flaps are designed primarily to increase lift during landing.
An actuation system for the control surfaces converts electrical or hydraulic power, depending on the aircraft, into mechanical force that extends or retracts the control surfaces. Typically, a single lever in the cockpit controls both the slats and the flaps. In various aircraft designs, single or multiple actuators have driven a single control surface. Most frequently, multiple separate but coordinated actuators are used on each control surface, one or more on the inboard side, and one or more on the outboard side of the surface.
A control surface actuator is typically a geared device contained in the wing driven by hydraulics or by an electric motor. The actuator moves a rigid spar called a xe2x80x9ctrackxe2x80x9d that in turn extends or retracts the control surface. An actuation system may fail, for example, if the actuator gears strip, if the spar becomes disconnected from either the control surface or the actuator, or if the motive power (electric or hydraulic) is interrupted to the actuator. An actuation system problem is called xe2x80x9cdormantxe2x80x9d when it is not readily detected by inspection during ground maintenance, but fails later in flight. A dormant problem is a latent failure.
When two independent actuators drive a single control surface, only limited asymmetrical movement of the leading or trailing edge, respectively, of a slat or flap that is not parallel to the leading or trailing edge of the wing, respectively, will be tolerated. Such misaligned movement is called xe2x80x9cskew.xe2x80x9d If one of the actuators fails, skew of the surface that the actuator drives may occur. This skew may jam a control surface mechanism, thereby restricting control of the aircraft. A surface may jam if the forces on it are asymmetrical, just as a drawer in an ordinary dresser may jam if it is pulled on one side. In the worst case, if both actuators driving the same surface fail, the surface may separate from the wing and be lost.
A single actuator, supporting structure, and track may instead actuate a control surface. However, this method does not supply the desirable redundancy that multiple actuators afford. Multiple actuators, either of which will support the control surface, but not necessarily drive it alone, provide a margin of safety. Use of multiple actuators, however, requires synchronization, which requires additional complexity. In addition, the control surface must be structurally capable of withstanding the force of a failed single actuator while the remaining actuator or actuators apply force. With multiple actuators, weight must be still be kept at a minimum.
In one prior art method, a taut cable running the length of a wing detected skew of control surfaces. The cable sensed all control surfaces on the wing simultaneously when tension changes in the cable were measured. This method suffered from being relatively less sensitive to skew, and it was less capable of detecting which surface of several was skewed. Inductive proximity switches on control surface tracks have also been used for skew detection. The switches monitored track position and compared it with driveline position at the end of the wing. The proximity switch method suffered because the switches give an xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d reading rather than a continuous output. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,907 to Bedell, et al. discloses a system that used both the cable and proximity switch methods. Such systems were in some cases not sensitive enough for regional jet applications.
Regional or business jets typically use low-profile, relatively small wings with smaller slats and flaps as compared with larger commercial aircraft that typically use larger, high-profile wings. Manufacturing and assembly tolerances, thermal conditions, wing dynamics, and backlash on the slats together result in stringent requirements on a sensing system. That is, a small xe2x80x98windowxe2x80x99 exists where sensing must take place. The sensor cannot be so sensitive as to create a false detection due to assembly tolerances, temperature, wing dynamics, and backlash that cause a relatively small amount of harmless skew. On the other hand, it must detect relatively larger amount of harmful skew on surfaces.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a sensor that will detect harmful skew in any configuration having adjacent movable components.
Another object is to provide a sensor that will detect a failed aircraft control surface actuator or a broken connection between an actuator and the surface it operates.
It is a further object to detect an actuation system failure that may cause harmful skew or separation of an aircraft control surface from a wing while ignoring the relatively smaller harmless skew caused by assembly tolerances, temperature, wing dynamics, and backlash.
Another object is to provide a sensor that will detect harmful skew of a control surface and activate a circuit to warn the crew.
Still another object is to provide a sensor that will detect a lost control surface and activate a circuit to warn the crew.
Yet another object is to provide a sensor that is capable of de-energizing an actuation system to reduce aircraft damage after the sensor detects harmful skew or loss of a control surface.
Another object is to provide a sensor whose state can be determined by visible inspection during maintenance.
A further object is to provide a sensor that is repairable, re-settable, accurate, and reliable.
An additional object is to provide a sensor that will resist salt, insects, dirt, and other contaminants in an aircraft environment.
A major step in the invention is the recognition that a constraining means such as a mechanical fuse that separates at a predetermined tension, combined with a switching means, may be used to detect harmful skew of two adjacent movable components that exceeds a predetermined limit, while ignoring relatively small harmless motions.
According to the invention, a sensor that detects relative motion of two adjacent movable components comprises a base; a first arm pivotally connected to the base; a second arm pivotally connected to the base; a switching means integral with the first and second arms for detecting the position of the two arms with respect to each other; separating means for applying a force between the first and second arms; and means for simultaneously constraining the first and second arms in a closed position and the switching means in a closed position until a relative motion between the two adjacent movable components exceeds a predetermined limit, thereby causing a force on the first or second arm to exceed a predetermined limit, which causes the constraining means to release the arms from the closed position and also causes the separating means to apply a force to the first and second arms to move the first and second arms to an open position and to move the switching means to an open position.
In further accord with an aspect of the present invention, the switching means is operative to provide an indication that the first and second arms are in the closed or opened position, wherein the indication may be visual or may comprise a signal of an electrical, optical or some other nature that may be used by subsequent circuitry.
The invention has several benefits compared with prior art systems such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,907 to Bedell, et al. The present invention is more sensitive to the motion of adjacent movable components, in particular control surfaces, and it is better able to detect dormant problems before they become failures. In addition, the invention better protects against a false annunciation to the crew of a harmful control surface skew. It is also lighter than the prior art. The sensor of the present invention is re-settable by replacing or re-setting the means for constraining the arms. Finally, after an actuation of the sensor, it is simple to establish during ground maintenance where a failure occurred since there is physical evidence of a broken fuse or other means for constraining the arms.

Method and apparatus for sensing skews and disconnects of adjacent movable components


A drawer structure (5) includes a fixing device (6) for fixing a front panel (7) to a drawer container (8) in a detachable and position-adjustable manner. The front panel (7) can be detachably connected to the fixing device (6) by means of a connection element (9) pre-mounted on the front panel (7). A first adjusting element (1) is associated with the container (8), for adjusting the position of the front panel (7) in the vertical direction (HR), and a second adjusting element (2) is associated with the container (8), for adjusting the position of the front panel (7) in the lateral direction (SR), at least the first (1) and second (2) adjusting elements engaging with the same part of the connection element (9).

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a drawer frame structure comprising a fixing device for fixing a front panel to a drawer container in releasable and positionally adjustable relationship, wherein the front panel can be releasably connected to the fixing device by way of a connecting element which can be pre-mounted to a front panel and wherein a first adjusting element is associated with the container for adjusting the position of the front panel in the heightwise direction, as well as a drawer having such a drawer frame structure and an article of furniture having a drawer with drawer frame structure.
(2) Description of Related Art
Drawer frame structures generally form a part of a drawer that imparts stability thereto. In most cases those drawer frame structures are in the lateral lower regions of the drawer where the drawers are mounted on extension guides, the extension guides themselves in turn being mounted in a carcass of an article of furniture.
As is known from WO 2009/006651 A2 concerning the general kind of drawer frame structure, arranged in the region of the drawer frame structure that faces in the direction of front panels, is a fixing device to which a front panel is fixed. In addition, arranged in the region of the fixing device are various displacement mechanisms permitting positional adjustment of the front panel for example in heightwise, lateral and inclination directions. In that respect the adjusting elements are associated with the container (frame structure) for adjustment of height and inclination, while the adjusting element for lateral adjustment is associated with the front panel. As can be seen in that specification, that entire mechanism requires a relatively large amount of space in the fixing region and is of a complicated and expensive structure involving very many parts.
DE 43 05 074 A1 basically shows a drawer panel fixing fitment which allow heightwise and lateral adjustment of the front panel relative to the drawer side wall. In that case heightwise adjustment is effected by a holding projection and a screw in relation to a fixing part (longitudinal slot). The height can also be fixed by a threaded pin. In comparison lateral transverse adjustment of the front panel is effected directly with a fixing part which is connected to the front panel—and thus associated with the front panel and not the drawer or its side wall—and there by way of the slots. A transverse displacement along the slots can only be effected by hand without an actual adjusting element when the fixing screws are loosened.
In the same fashion, that also applies to AT 304 802 B which is of a different general kind of device. In accordance with that specification, there are only slots for lateral adjustment between a carrier plate and the front panel. A screw responsible for heightwise adjustment in connection with an opening is not associated with the container as in the release position of the front panel with pre-mounted carrier plate, the screws remain in threaded bores in the carrier plate—and thus associated with the front panel.
DE 85 31 752 U1 which relates to a different kind of device also provides that the adjusting screws present are associated with the connecting element (holding part). In addition there is not an actual adjusting element for lateral displacement.
DE 20 2007 011 518 U1 which relates to a different kind of device also provides bolts for heightwise and lateral adjustment associated with a device connected to the front panel. In other words the connecting element can only be released with the bolts from a carrier member associated with the container or from the frame structure, whereby no adjusting elements are associated with the container.
In a similar fashion EP 1 639 917 A1 which relates to a different general kind of device also shows screws associated with the connecting element, wherein moreover there is no teaching in respect an actual lateral adjusting element.


A tray attachment for a wheelchair. In an embodiment, the tray attachment includes a mounting tube for mounting the tray to a wheelchair. Further, a slider extension tube is disposed within the mounting tube for supporting the tray. In addition, a first ball knob assembly is mechanically coupled to the slider extension tube for supporting the tray. Moreover, a second ball knob assembly is mechanically coupled to the slider extension tube for supporting the tray. In the present aspect, the slider extension tube rotates as the tray is moved from a stored position to a utilization position, such rotation places the first ball knob assembly adjacent to an edge of the tray and the second ball knob assembly beneath the tray, thereby providing lateral and vertical support to the tray on the attachment side.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,681 B1 granted to Applicant on Apr. 20, 2004 describes a tray for attachment to a wheelchair and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. There are thousands of conventional and motorized wheelchairs in service and each of the people who are confined to a wheelchair needs the convenience of having a tray at their disposal. Since a wheel chair is mobile, the wheel chair and its occupant travel from place to place. If the tray is not attached to the chair, the tray may be left in a location to which the occupant and/or caregiver must return in order to obtain and utilize the tray.
Many types of trays which are removable from the armrest of a wheelchair are in use; however, they have their limitations in that they must be removed from the wheelchair prior to the time that the occupant can be removed from the wheelchair. There is accordingly a need for a wheelchair having a storable tray thereon wherein the tray can be stored at the side of the chair on a continuous basis without affecting the operation of the wheelchair and which when needed can be returned to its utilization position without affecting the operation of the wheelchair. The tray assembly of U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,681 B1 met this need by providing a tray which is movable between a utilization position and a storage position while still allowing an occupant of the chair assembly to use the chair assembly in its fullest capacity.
In the present invention, the tray assembly as represented by U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,681 B1 has been further improved to provide a more practical lateral and vertical support to the tray in the utilization position and other mechanisms for attaching the tray to a manual or motorized device or chair having armrests. The tray vertical support mechanism may be improved for most basic motorized or conventional wheelchairs, whether of the standard or desk type arm design or whether the chair with arms is stationary or whether the device with arms is a platform used and/or occupied by the user. The support for the portion of the tray farthest from the occupant is lacking in the design described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,681 B1. The design may be improved by having the support for the portion of the tray farthest from the occupant be retractable instead of stationary as was described in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,681 B1. Such configuration overcomes the problem of support members protruding into the area used by the occupant in getting in and out of the wheelchair. Additionally the lateral support for the tray covered under U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,681 B1 is provided in an alternative configuration in which the tray arm is attached opposite the pivot arm to the rear of the chair preventing the tray from rotating and/or moving forward. That tray design may be used as a restraint if required by doctor's orders, however it may be perceived as a restraint when not needed and therefore the tray may not be utilized.
Therefore, a more practical design is presented by the present invention in order to provide a more practical vertical support and adequate lateral support needed by the majority of users.


A double hull vessel is disclosed having a novel type of ballast tank element. That ballast tank element has a half-breadth double-bottom ballast tank and a side ballast tank. The half-breadth double-bottom ballast tank has a tank access trunk that is located within the double-side of the hull. Preferably, that tank access trunk is at least one frame space wide. The side ballast tank is located within the double-hull, and is adjacent to the tank access trunk. Preferably, the ballast tank elements are used in pairs which are adjacent and opposite from each other. These pairs of ballast tank elements can be used in conjunction with double-hull ballast tank elements having no internal subdivisions.

Single-skin hull vessels are usually used to transport liquid cargo, such as gasoline, crude oil and various other liquid chemicals. If the hull is breached from an accident, the leakage of liquid into the surrounding sea may cause pollution.
Because of the international furor created by oil spills, various schemes have been proposed to minimize the danger of leakage from oil carriers. Usually, the solution lies in a double hull vessel whose design is such that if an accident impairs the structure of the outer hull, the inner hull can be expected to retain its integrity and prevent leakage of the liquid cargo held therein.
Unfortunately, because the center of gravity of the load is higher in double hull vessels than in single hull vessels, double hull vessels are less stable. Even if only a few of the compartments of a double hull vessel are breached, depending upon the subdivision arrangement, the resulting imbalance of the load might capsize the vessel, and the whole vessel might be lost.

Ballast tank elements for a double hull vessel


An aircraft electronic device retention mechanism and method of removeably supporting an aircraft electronic device having first electrical contacts within a cockpit having compatible second electrical contacts includes a base that is generally configured to the size and shape of a surface of the electronic device and at least one lever that is mounted by a pivot to the base. The lever(s) has an engaging portion that is adapted to engage an engaged portion of the electronic device and an actuation portion. The actuation portion is adapted to rotate the lever(s) about said pivot between a first orientation in which the engaging portion retains the engaged portion and a second orientation in which the engaging portion does not retain said engaged portion. A manual actuator is connected with the actuation portion of the pivot. The manual actuator is configured to move between a first position, which rotates the lever(s) to the second orientation and a first position which rotates the lever(s) to the first orientation to retain the electronic device.

The present invention is directed to a retention mechanism and method for removeably supporting an electronic device in a vehicle, such as an aircraft. While the invention is illustrated for use with a portable flight controller that is adapted to control and configure a primary flight display in a cockpit of the aircraft, it is useful with other portable devices having touchscreen displays and other portable electronic devices in general.
Flight controllers are displayed and input devices are mounted in the cockpit of an aircraft. It has been proposed that the flight controller be made portable so that it can be easily removed from the aircraft to be upgraded or moved to other aircraft, and the like. Such portable flight controller has a set of electrical contacts, such as in the form of an electrical connector that engages a set of compatible electrical contacts of the cockpit. Because of the large number of contacts that electrically connect the portable flight controller to the cockpit, the force needed to join and to separate the electrical contacts may be very large, such as up to 35 pounds of force or more.

Retention mechanism and method for removeably supporting a portable flight controller

L-3 Communications Avionics Systems, Inc.


A mobile roof safety device and method of use for arresting the fall of a roof worker off an elevated flat roof is described. The mobile device comprises a displaceable frame having a weighted base adapted to be positioned on a flat roof surface for restraining a load. At least one actuable surface gripping assembly having a pivoting arm to which a safety line is attached for the engagement of a gripping formation is secured to the weighted base. When a pulling force is applied on the pivot arm by a worker attached to the safety line secured to the pivot arm, the gripping formation is biased in the flat roof surface to arrest the fall of the worker.

Various safety apparatuses are used and to which roof workers can be attached to arrest the fall of a worker off the roof. Many of these devices are used for pitch roofs and wherein the worker is fitted with a harness to which a safety line with an energy absorbing locking mechanism is secured and attached to the device. The safety apparatus is usually retained on the roof by fasteners secured into the roof at a predetermined location. When there is a need to work in different areas of a roof, some of these apparatus require to be disconnected from the roof and reconnected at a different location. These fasteners damage the roof and require repair to prevent leakage. Also, the displacement of these apparatuses is time-consuming and poses a danger in that during the relocation of the apparatus the workers are not protected by the safety lines as they are connected to the safety apparatus which is disconnected from the roof. It is also known to use mobile vehicles when working on flat roofs and to which the workers are attached. However, these vehicles are supported on wheels and when a sudden pulling force is applied to the vehicle by a worker falling off a roof, the vehicle can be displaced on the roof thereby providing extra length in the safety line connected to the worker which may cause serious injury or death to the worker. It is not a fail-proof device, although it resolves the problem of being displaceable and not having to puncture the roof for securement of the device. Working on roofs is a dangerous occupation.


A glass photo tile is formed by edge slumping an optically-correct glass front in a mold at a superheated temperature substantially above the annealing temperature of the glass, then cooling down the edge-slumped glass front in the mold through an anneal-cooling curve followed by cooling to room temperature. A photographic print is laminated in the glass front with a transparent adhesive layer, and a back mounting is installed with an adhesive layer against a back side of the print to seal the print in the glass tile. For optically correct glass having an annealing temperature of about 1000.degree. F., the pre-heating temperature is within about 100.degree. F. of the annealing temperature, and the superheated temperature is about 1400.degree. F., and the anneal-cooling curve is a Fibonacci-formula curve. Preferrably, the photographic print is laminated to the front glass with a silicone adhesive layer, and the back mounting is a ribbed glass sealed to the print with a silicone adhesive layer.

The present inventor has pioneered in the artistic field of installing photographic artwork in public places. Such photographic artwork needs to be protected within a very durable, transparent, optically perfect structure to be viewed with the same photographic resolution and yet survive exposure to public use, moisture, environmental and chemical damage, and fading over time. Therefore, it would be desirable to hermetically seal photographic works in high-impact glass in a manner that would preclude the introduction of any moisture, environmental, or chemical attack.
Glass tiles have been produced by known glass molding techniques. Decorative materials have been encased in glass tiles by molding or laminating. However, conventional glass molding or laminating techniques have not been found suitable for encasing photographic works in glass tiles because of high finishing requirements, chemical intrusion, and/or lack of optical trueness.


A personal authentication system includes a first electrode in a first skin area of a person to be authenticated, a second electrode in a second skin area apart from the first skin area, a measuring unit, and an authentication unit. The contact surface between the second electrode and the second skin area has a predetermined area. The measuring unit measures the resistance distribution of the epidermis in the first skin area based on a predetermined voltage that is applied between the first and second electrodes and a current flowing between the first and second electrodes through the body of the person to be authenticated. The authentication unit compares the resistance distribution of the epidermis in the first skin area of the person to be authenticated with at least part of the stored resistance distribution of the epidermis of a validated person to validate the person to be authenticated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to personal authentication systems and personal authentication methods and, more particularly, to a personal authentication system and a personal authentication method using the electrical resistance of the epidermis.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, along with the popularization of the Internet, the applicable range of networks has been rapidly expanding and the value and amount of distributed information has been increasing year after year. This has been accompanied with an increase in illegal activity and crimes concerning a variety of electronic information that has raised social issues and the effects of the social issues tend to increase. Such illegal activity includes physical intrusion into computer facilities, illegal use of equipment, and illegal access from networks.
Countermeasures against such an illegal activity or crimes include, first, enhanced physical security for preventing illegal access to facilities and, second, enhanced information security for preventing illegal network intrusion or illegal access to information. Secure user identification provides effective means for both countermeasures. For example, the physical feature of a user is used to perform personal authentication.
As computer technologies and communication technologies progress more and more, electrical equipment used in ordinary life will have a CPU or a memory and will be operated with given instructions or stored data. Legal users are victims to illegal access to such equipment and illegal operation thereof. Secure identification of the users is effective means for preventing such illegal access and illegal operation.
Ultimate identification means is a biometrics authentication using physical features. Although fingerprints have been used for a long time in biometrics authentication, a personal authentication method using new biological information has been of interest in recent years. For example, it is hoped that an iris authentication technology using the pattern of the iris of a human eye that differs from person to person comes into wide use because of its high precision.
However, since fingerprints or irises are external biological features, high-precision reproduction is possible and thus undesirably permits an imposter to pose as an authenticated person. Since fingerprints or the like stay at places that are touched with a hand, they can be reproduced by current state-of-the-art technologies but the reproduced fingerprints or the like cannot be identified by common fingerprint identification systems.
Although methods that use internal biological information have been suggested as methods for overcoming the drawbacks of the existing authentication technologies described above, their size, cost, and limited applicable range cause problems, thus disadvantageously providing low practicability.

Personal authentication system and personal authentication method


A method and apparatus to determine the payload in a mobile machine by measuring the total weight of the mobile machine, the fuel in a fuel tank on the mobile machine, and the payload. The weight of the fuel is determined as the machine operates, and the actual weight of the payload is determined by subtracting the weight of the fuel and the weight of the mobile machine.

Payload measurement systems for mobile machines are well known in the art. In particular, payload measurement systems for mobile machines adapted to carry loads over distances, e.g., dump trucks, are well known in the art.
One common method for measuring payloads in mobile machines is to measure the pressure being applied to the suspension system of the mobile machine. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,635,739, Foley et al disclose a payload monitor that senses the pressure applied to the front and rear suspension struts of a mobile machine, e.g., a truck. By calculating the differential pressure between an empty truck and a loaded truck, the payload can be determined.
However, a substantial weight carried by a mobile machine is the fuel stored in the fuel tank. The weight of the fuel is included in the total measurement of a suspension-based payload measurement system. As the mobile machine operates, the fuel is consumed and the initial weight of the fuel decreases. This change in fuel weight can be significant and causes error in the payload measurement.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.

Method and apparatus for compensating for weight of fuel in a payload measurement system


A packet transmission system includes a mechanism for controling congestion (30, FIG. 2) in the transmission system by comparing, at each switching node of the system (52, FIG. 5), the traffic load at that node and the traffic loads at all immediately neighboring switching nodes. Such traffic loads can be measured by node buffer utilization, either discretely or continuously, and loading information exchanged by the use of messages between the switching nodes (42, 54). The packet transmission speed between any two adjacent switching nodes is then adjusted (47, 62) in response to the relative traffic loads so as to reduce the traffic incoming to the more congested node. The transmission speed is never reduced to zero, however, to insure that a mechanism remains in place to relieve congestion at every transmitting switching node.

In high speed connectionless networks such as packet transmission networks, or other networks not using dedicated transmission facilities, high traffic loads often result in extensive delays between packet transmissions. Such delays can actually decrease the overall throughput of the network. This phenomenon is known as congestion. Data packets arriving at a switching node in a congested system find no available buffer space and hence must be discarded and retransmitted at a later time. Such discard and retransmission, in turn, further increases the traffic load on the system, causing the congestion condition to further degenerate. Increased geographic separation of the ports on the network increases round trip delay of messages on the network, further accentuating the congestion control problem. Moreover, even on shorter round trips, large bandwidths increase the number of packets in transit, also accentuating the congestion control problem.
Traffic management systems are designed to either avoid traffic congestion or to control such congestion once it has come into existence. It has become common to provide so-called "end-to-end" congestion control. That is, traffic is observed at either the entry point, the exit point, or both, and the rate of transmission adjusted to prevent congestion. While such a strategy may be appropriate for connection-oriented networks, where a connection is set up between the sending and the receiving ports prior to the exchange of messages, such a strategy is not effective for connectionless networks where data packets are switched locally at switching nodes in response to information in the data packet itself. In addition, connection-oriented networks, having at least some transmission facilities exclusively used by a connection, are extremely inefficient for transmitting bursty computer network traffic due to the large overhead cost of setting up the connection and the short holding time for such a connection. Thus, end-to-end congestion control techniques which are viable in connection-oriented networks are not well-suited to connectionless packet networks.

Link-by-link congestion control for packet transmission systems


A method for supplementing the levels of select amino acids in ruminants is provided. Amino acids are susceptible to microbial degradation in the rumen, where the relative susceptibility of an amino acid oligomer is determined primarily by its solubility in the rumen fluid. A method for designing and preparing microbial resistant amino acid oligomers based on relative solubility is also provided. Various compositions containing amino acids are described and shown to resist microbial degradation in ruminants.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for the selection, preparation and use of oligomers that contain amino acids, and to compositions containing such oligomers. More specifically, the oligomers contain amino acid sequences that are less susceptible to microbial degradation in the rumen as compared to naturally occurring amino acid sequences, and so may be used for supplementing important nutrients to the animals. Moreover, the process disclosed herein may be used to design therapeutic peptides that can complement microbial protein synthesis in the rumen.
II. Description of the Related Art
Ruminants are animals that possess a complex stomach consisting of four morphologically distinct compartments. These compartments are rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. The rumen and the reticulum are fermentation compartments where many species of microorganisms live. Digestion of the feed is conducted primarily by cellulase, amylase, cellobiose, and proteinases which the microflora secrete in the rumen and the reticulum.
One major problem associated with ruminant digestion is that substantial amounts of proteins and amino acids are hydrolyzed and fermented into ammonia and carbon dioxide by the resident microflora of the rumen. This microbial action renders significant amounts of biologically active peptides unavailable for animal absorption. Moreover, dietary supplements that contain essential amino acids are extensively degraded. This degradation renders the supplemented essential amino acids unavailable to the animals. The microbial action also generates excess nitrogen that the ruminants have to dispose of, burdening the secretion system of the animals and contributing to waste disposal problems, especially in high density industrial feeding operations.
Studies have been conducted in search for methods that can effectively protect peptides or amino acids from degradation. One approach has been to modify the peptide or amino acid materials by physical or chemical methods making the materials less susceptible to microbial degradation. In one example, heating soybean meal has been shown to help alleviate the degradation of proteins by microorganisms; however, the parameters of the heating process are difficult to control in order to obtain reliable and repeatable results. Insufficient heating may lead to no protection from degradation, while overheating may cause undesirable biological and/or chemical changes to the peptides or amino acids. Another method includes coating of peptides with shielding materials, such as fat. The coating procedures are tedious, and the side-effects of shielding materials on the body and on the peptides have significantly limited this concept in application. To date, no shielding technologies have proven stable when subjected to feed pelleting procedures.
Yet another approach is to react the amino acid or peptide materials with substituents that render the materials less susceptible to degradation. U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,590 issued to Lorbeit et al. discloses a process for attaching a residue of an α-hydroxy carboxylic acid (e.g., 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butynoic acid ("HMB") to the end of an amino acid oligomer. The oligomers end-capped by HMB demonstrate reduced cleavage by a variety of proteases, but suffer a disadvantage that the α-hydroxy carboxylic acid may alter the chemical and/or biological characteristics of the peptide. For instance, HMB-poly-lysine is not digested by many proteases that otherwise digest lysine oligomer in the intestine, and so the HMB substitution defeats the purpose of rendering such materials available for adsorption in the intestines. There remains a need for a method of designing and selecting for amino acid oligomers that are resistant to microbial degradation in the rumen but are digestible in the intestine.
Although the HMB-capped oligomers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,590 appear to resist protease degradation in vitro, it is not known whether these oligomers are resistant to microbial degradation in the rumen in vivo. Indeed, experiments on degradation of methionine analogs, such as HMB-methionine, have produced conflicting results. While some studies have concluded that HMB is mostly resistant to microbial degradation, others have shown that merely 5.3% of HMB consumed escapes rumen degradation to reach the omasum. See e.g., Determination of rumen degradability and ruminal effects of three sources of methionine in lactating cows, S. Noftsger et al., J Dairy Sci. 2005 January; 88(1):223-37. Therefore, there is a need for a method to generate amino acid oligomers that can sustain microbial degradation in vivo.

The Curators Of The University Of Missouri


A method of decontaminating solids contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons includes a first step of heating the contaminated solids at a temperature high enough to volatize chlorine contaminates but below a temperature range favorable to the formation of the dioxins and furans to dechlorinate the contaminated solids. Volatilized chlorine contaminates are removed from the dechlorinated contaminated solids. The dechlorinated contaminated solids are then purged with an inert gas to remove oxygen from the dechlorinated contaminated solids. Thereafter the dechlorinated contaminated solids are heated in the absence of oxygen to a temperature sufficient to crack hydrocarbons contaminating the solids to lower molecular weight hydrocarbons.

The chemical weapons program of the U.S. military has lead to the production of thousands of tons of hazardous chemical warfare munitions. At the present time many of these weapons are being decommissioned by disassembly and destruction. Incineration has been approved for destruction of the chemical warfare agents, but concerns about generation of harmful byproducts has lead to reexamination of the wisdom of incineration.
In addition to destruction of chemical warfare agents, associated wastes such as wood pallets, demilitarization protection ensemble (DPE) suits, contaminated activated carbon and miscellaneous wastes (cardboard, plastics, metals), collectively, "dunnage," must be decontaminated. Under U.S. Army regulations, solid waste potentially contaminated with chemical warfare agents must undergo "5x" treatment. Treatment of waste materials to 5x has been determined to result in solids free of chemical warfare agents and which are safe for handling by the general public. 5x treatment requires solids to be heated to at least 1000° F. for at least 15 minutes.
Unfortunately, many of the chemical warfare agents contain chlorine atoms. In addition, the dunnage may be contaminated with chlorine atoms. For example, the DPE suits comprise chlorinated organic polymers. Other dunnage wastes may be contaminated with chlorinated organic compounds, for example pentachlorophenol which is used for insect resistance and polychlorinated bi-phenol (PCB) compounds, both of which are toxic. Heating of the dunnage and chemical warfare agents containing chlorinated hydrocarbons in the presence of oxygen at temperatures between 400-800° F. has been found to result in the production of harmful dioxins and furans.
Several attempts have been made in the prior art to eliminate the production of harmful furans and dioxins during cracking or destruction of hydrocarbons in the presence of chlorine by removing chlorine atoms before high temperature incineration. For example, Zevenhoven and Saeed, Two-Stage Combustion of High-PVC Solid Waste with HCl Recovery, Proceedings of R′2000 World Congress on Recovery, Recycling, Reintegration, Toronto, Canada, Jun. 5-9, 2000, pp. 1212-1217 (HTTP:www.rrr2000.com)—discloses a waste to energy process based on high-PVC solid wastes that includes a two-stage combustion of high-PVC solid waste with hydrochloric acid recovery. In a first step, the PVC fraction is heated between 200-400° C. (396-750° F.) in the presence of an inert gas (nitrogen) in an attempt to remove chlorine from residual solids. The chlorine is removed in the form of a high temperature HCL gas. In a second stage the solids are incinerated in an oxidizing environment. Zevenhoven and Saeed teach that the removal of the chlorine before incineration limits dioxin/furan formation and removal of the hot HCL gas from the incineration minimizes corrosion. While Zevenhoven and Saeed teach the use of pyrolysis to remove chlorine molecules from the residual solids, they teach this removal in the range of 200-400° C., which is an optimum temperature range for the formation of harmful furans and dioxins. Thus, heating in this temperature range actually increase the chances of dioxin formation. Subsequent incineration in the presence of oxygen further enhances the opportunity for the formation of dioxins and furans from any chlorine molecules that were not successfully removed in the first stage.
In a like manner Kneko et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,899, teaches the desirability of limiting a supply of oxygen during pyrolysis of chlorine containing solids so as to minimize the risk of formation of dioxins and furans. After a pyrolysis step the waste is subject to cracking in the presence of oxygen in a temperature range of 1000-1200° C. Kneko is silent with respect to the temperature at which the pyrolysis is conducted. As with Zevenhoven and Saeed, if this pyrolysis is done at temperatures over 400° F., a risk of dioxin formation remains notwithstanding the absence of oxygen.
With the prior art recognized that heating chlorinating organics in the absence of oxygen can remove chlorine compounds while minimizing production of undesirable dioxins and furans, the teachings of the prior art still run the risk of dioxin and furan formation from oxygen released from the heated hydrocarbons combining with chlorine molecules at a temperature suitable for dioxin and furan formation to yield undesirable dioxins and furans. Another problem faced by prior art treatments for decontaminating chemical warfare munitions is validating treatment of the solids under the 5x conditions, i.e., heating to at least 1000° F. for at least 15 minutes. Their problem results because solid wastes entering the unit can potentially pass through the unit at a rate faster than that predicted, causing an unacceptably short exposure times.

Multi-stage pyrolysis systems for treating chlorine contaminated wastes


The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of a digital filter for noise suppression of a signal representing an acoustic recording. The method comprises determining a desired frequency response (H(ω)) of the digital filter; and generating a noise suppression filter based on the desired frequency response. The desired frequency response is determined in a manner so that the desired frequency response does not exceed a maximum level, wherein the maximum level is determined in response to the signal to be filtered.

Due to the ubiquitous presence of noise in natural environments, real-world sound recordings typically contain noise from various sources. In order to improve the sound quality of sound recordings, a range of methods for reducing the noise level of sound recordings have been developed. Often, in such methods, a time-domain noise suppression filter is computed from a desired frequency response H(ω), and the time-domain noise suppression filter is then applied to the sound recording.
In an ideal noise suppression filter, the desired acoustic signal should pass through the filter undistorted, while noise should be completely attenuated. These properties cannot be simultaneously fulfilled in a real filter (except in the special case when there is no desired signal or no noise, or when the desired signal and noise are spectrally separated). Hence, in determining a desired frequency response 1/(o) of a filter, a trade-off between distorting the desired signal and distorting the noise has to be made for frequencies at which both the desired signal and noise are present.
The desired frequency response H(ω) can be estimated by means of various methods, such as spectral subtraction. In "Low-distortion spectral subtraction for speech enhancement", Peter Händel, Conference Proceedings of Eurospeech, pp. 1549-1553, ISSN 1018-4074, 1995, different aspects of spectral subtraction methods for suppressing noise are discussed. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,395, spectral subtraction is discussed and a method of defining the level to which noise should be attenuated is disclosed. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,395, the desired frequency response H(ω) is clamped so that the attenuation cannot go below a minimum value, wherein the minimum value may, according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,395, depend on the signal-to-noise ratio of the noisy speech signal to be filtered. The clamping of the desired frequency response of U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,395 prevents a noise suppression filter from fluctuating around very small values, thus avoiding a noise distortion commonly referred to as musical noise.
In many spectral subtraction methods, the desired frequency response is calculated as a function of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Since the SNR of a noisy acoustic signal at a particular frequency varies with time, the desired frequency response H(ω) is generally updated over time—often, the desired frequency response H(ω) is updated for each frame of data. An effect of this is that a noise, which is at a constant level in the noisy speech signal, is often attenuated to a level that varies considerably with time in a noticeable manner, resulting in fluctuations of the residual noise. This undesirable effect is often commonly referred to as noise pumping, and can be heard as a shadow voice.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating a nondestructive inspection model are provided, where such methods, systems and computer readable media are particularly suitable for use with aerospace parts or components. The method can include occurring at a computing platform with a memory and a processor, and analyzing, by the processor, a design model file stored in the memory to determine one or more properties of a composite part, the design model file describing one or more physical characteristics of the composite part. The method also can include generating, by the processor, a non-destructive inspection model for the composite part based on the one or more properties of the composite part determined by analyzing the design model file.

Composite parts are often subjected to high stress environments. For example, many aerospace applications employ composite parts (e.g., parts containing carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and/or graphite fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP)) where strength, durability, and weight are determinative factors. It is therefore often important to periodically subject composite parts to inspection. Once installed, however, physical internal inspection of a composite part might require destruction of the part itself. Various technological advances, for example in the use of acoustic waves, support non-destructive inspection of composite parts.
Non-destructive inspection of a composite part involves the development of a model for the composite part that predicts expected results, for example, responses from a given acoustic wave. Once a model for a composite part is developed, analogous testing may be performed on installed counterpart parts, and the results compared with the model's predicted results.
Generating a non-destructive inspection model for a composite part is often a complex, tedious, and resource intensive endeavor that requires determining one or more properties of the composite part for which a model is being developed. Modern composite parts, however, are often designed using design modeling tools (e.g., computer aided design (CAD) systems) that produce rich descriptions of the composite parts.
Accordingly, a need exists for methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating a non-destructive inspection model for a composite part from a design model of the composite part.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating a non-destructive inspection model for a composite part from a design model of the composite part


A sound absorbing structure includes a wall having a first side and a second side and at least one acoustic scatterer coupled to a first side of the wall. The first side of the wall may be positioned to face a source of noise, such as moving motor vehicles, airplanes, and the like. The at least one acoustic scatterer has an opening and at least one channel. The at least one channel has a channel open end and a channel terminal end with the channel open end being in fluid communication with the opening.

The background description provided is to generally present the context of the disclosure. Work of the inventors, to the extent it may be described in this background section, and aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present technology.
Low-frequency noise-related issues are common in a variety of different environments. For example, noise generated from rapidly moving traffic on a highway, the takeoff and landing of large airplanes at an airport, the movement of rail freight on a railroad, and the like create significant amounts of low-frequency noise. There are several different solutions for managing low-frequency noises, but many have drawbacks. For example, conventional porous sound absorbing materials are only efficient for high-frequency noise reduction due to its high impedance nature. The sound transmission through porous materials is high if the material microstructure has a large porosity.
Additionally, the sound isolation performance using these types of materials is limited by the so-called "mass-law." The "mass-law" states that doubling the mass per unit area increases the sound transmission loss ("STL") by six decibels. Similarly, doubling the frequency increases the STL by six decibels. This effect makes it difficult to isolate low-frequency sound using lightweight materials. In order to achieve high STL, one may either reflect or absorb the sound energy. However, achieving high absorption and high STL at the same time is also difficult because high absorption usually requires impedance matching, which leads to high transmission.

Sound absorbing structure having one or more acoustic scatterers for improved sound transmission loss

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


A computerized method for model-less segmentation and registration of ultrasound (US) with computed tomography (CT) images of an organ with a fluid filled chamber. The method is based on correlating between the US image(s) and the CT image(s) by processing the US image(s) by iteratively expanding the CT image segment so that the expanded CT image segment is correlated with the visual boundaries of the US image segment; transforming the CT image(s) according to an estimated US transducer position and estimated US beam direction related to the US image(s) so that at least one of shape and volume of the organ in the CT image is adapted with at least one of shape and volume of the organ of the US image, to form a CT image representation which is correlated with US image(s).

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to systems and/or methods for image registration and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to systems and/or methods for registration of ultrasound and Computed Tomography CT and/or Magnetic Resonance (MR) images.
Physicians may use several imaging modalities when examining the heart of a patient. Each imaging modality may provide better imaging detail of some tissue types and/or tissue functionalities, but poor imaging of other tissue types and/or functionalities. Therefore, several different modalities may be used to gain an overall clinical picture.
Ultrasound may be used to provide dynamic and/or functional information of the beating heart. Ultrasound may also provide images of the function of the cardiac valves. Computed tomography may provide detailed examination of the heart structure, for example, chambers, blood vessels, connective tissue and/or muscle tissues. However, due to limitations in radiation exposure of the patient, fewer samples may be acquired at different stages of the cardiac cycle, yielding high quality images at some time phases and low quality images at other time phases.
US and CT imaging modalities may be different in terms of, for example, image artifacts, intensity levels and/or spatial shape differences. The differences may be due to physical processes related to image formation of each modality. Ultrasound images are obtained by echo (i.e., reflection) of acoustic waves. CT images are obtained from X-rays, optionally accompanied by injected contrast agents. The differences in the image modalities raise difficulties in registering the US and CT images.
Various attempts have been made to align US and CT images, in order to fuse the information of both modalities and enable better diagnosis, follow up and visualization during treatment procedures. However, the differences in the modalities, for example, image artifacts, intensity levels, and spatial shape differences due to physics related to image formation in each modality, have made image registration challenging.
Huang et al., "Rapid dynamic image registration of the beating heart for diagnosis and surgical navigation." IEEE Trans Med Imaging. 2009 November; 28(11):1802-14. discloses " . . . a rapid two-step method for registering RT3D US to high-quality dynamic 3-D MR/CT images of the beating heart. This technique overcomes some major limitations of image registration (such as the correct registration result not necessarily occurring at the maximum of the mutual information (MI) metric) using the MI metric."

Systems and methods for registration of ultrasound and CT images


An in situ air sparging/soil vapor extraction apparatus includes first, second and third concentrically arranged pipes disposed in a single bore hole. The first pipe extends a first length through the bore hole to discharge pressurized gas from a second end. The second pipe surrounds the first pipe and extends a second distance, less than the first length of the first pipe, through the bore hole to discharge pressurized gas from the second end of the second pipe at a different level in the soil then the pressurized gas discharged from the second end of the first pipe. The third pipe surrounds the second pipe and is connected to a low pressure source to extract substantially all of the air discharged through the second ends of the first and second pipes and the contaminants entrained in the air from the soil and groundwater.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to soil and groundwater remediation apparatus and processes and, more specifically, to air sparging/soil vapor extraction apparatus and processes.
Concerted efforts have been made to remove contaminants from soil and ground water. A common method is in situ air sparging and soil vapor extraction using pressurized air injection through a bore hole in contaminated soil. The pressurized air volatizes and entrains contaminants in the groundwater in close proximity to the discharge outlet of the injection bore hole. An extraction bore hole is spaced from the injection bore hole and has a low pressure or vacuum to draw the pressurized air and entrained contaminants from the groundwater. This withdrawn air is filtered in a surface located processing facility to remove the contaminants.
However, such an apparatus and process suffers from several deficiencies. First, since the injection bore hole or holes are spaced from the extraction bore hole, only a percentage of the injected air from the bore hole is captured and withdrawn through the extraction bore hole. Secondly, the injection bore holes are typically of one constant depth. As the injected air exits the injection bore hole, and entrains contaminants therein, the air becomes saturated as it rises through the soil until it is incapable of volatizing additional contaminants. Thus, in this typical prior art arrangement, only the contaminants in the immediate vicinity of the outlet of the injection bore hole are volatized. It will normally take a considerable length of time before all the contaminants in the immediate vicinity of the discharge outlet of the injection bore hole are remediated so as to enable air discharged from the injection bore hole to rise and begin volatizing contaminants located at closer to the surface. This adds additional time to and lowers the efficiency of the soil and groundwater remediation process.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an air sparging/soil vapor extraction apparatus and method which insures that substantially all of the air injected through the injection bore is collected by the extraction bore hole. It would also be desirable to provide an air sparging/soil vapor extraction apparatus and method which is capable of simultaneously removing contaminants at different levels within the soil and groundwater. Finally it would also be desirable to provide an air sparging/soil vapor extraction apparatus and method which reduces the number of bore holes required to remediate a contaminated area.

Air sparging/soil vapor extraction apparatus