A heat treat fixture is provided for supporting thin sheet-like work pieces, such as metal gasket layers, during heat treatment to achieve uniform hardness and properties of the work piece while preventing warpage. The fixture has porous, planar support walls that engage the opposite sides of the work piece. The walls include a coarse porous exoskeleton of expanded metal and an inner liner of wire mesh panels that are considerably finer than the coarse exoskeleton. The porous walls permit liquid heating and cooling media during heat treatment to flow freely through the walls for intimate contact with the work piece to achieve rapid uniform heating and cooling. The work piece is supported by the porous walls against movement out of its plane while being permitted to expand and contract within its plane to minimize warpage.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to heat treat fixtures and methods for supporting thin sheet metal work pieces during heat treatment in liquid heating and cooling media to achieve hardening of the work pieces.
2. Related Art
The heat treatment of thin sheet-like structures such as metal gasket layers and the like is generally avoided in favor of the usage of pre-hardened materials such as 301 full hard stainless steel (FHSS) in the case of metal gasket layers. 301 FHSS starting material is roll hardened and possesses the desired end hardness and strength needed for metal gasket applications, which typically include one or more active layers formed with bead embossments that project out of the plane of the gasket layer and serve when compressed to provide a resilient seal between adjoining clamped structures such as a head and block of an engine. The bead embossments are typically stamped in an initially flat sheet of 301 FHSS via a stamping operation and, as such, the selection of material for the active layers must be sufficiently ductile to allow for such formation of the beads, yet sufficiently hard and strong in use to withstand considerable loading and deformation without cracking or yielding plastically under load.
It is generally accepted that the approach of heat treat hardening such thin sheet-like work pieces fabricated of less expensive heat treat hardenable materials, while attractive from a cost standpoint, is impractical at best, since such sheet-like structures having a considerably large surface area together with an extremely thin cross section (for metal gasket layers, typically on the order of about 0.01 inches) and are, by their nature, inherently unstable in a heat treat environment and would have a tendency to warp beyond levels acceptable in metal gasket applications when exposed to the extreme and rapid changes in temperature required to achieve heat treat hardening of the material.
Known approaches to controlling the warpage have involved constraining the thin sheets between two plates to prevent all movement of the sheet both against movement within its plane and out of its plane. Such approaches are not known to have been successful at preventing warpage and would likely worsen the condition by setting up non-uniform heating and cooling rates across the surface of the work piece which would contribute further to resultant warpage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,196 discloses provision of a heat treat gasket layer, but the disclosure is silent as to the particulars of the heat treat process, including any fixturing of the parts, to achieve hardening while preserving the dimensional stability of the work pieces.
Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for a heat treat process and fixture apparatus capable of achieving effective, practical heat treat hardening of thin sheet work pieces such as metal gasket layers while preventing warpage of such work pieces that is prevalent using known conventional heat treatment and fixturing techniques.
According to one aspect of the invention, a fixture apparatus is provided for supporting at least one thin, planar sheet metal work piece fabricated of heat treat hardenable alloy during a heat treat cycle wherein the work piece is immersed in a first bath of liquid heating medium for heating the work piece to an elevated temperature followed by immersion in at least one bath of liquid cooling medium to quickly lower the temperature of the work piece to effect heat treat hardening of the work piece. The fixture apparatus comprises at least a pair of rigid support walls having oppositely disposed inner support surfaces that are substantially planar to define an envelope therebetween for the accommodation of at least one of such work pieces between the walls. The walls are coupled in such manner as to engage opposite sides of the work piece with the inner support surfaces in such manner as to support the work piece against movement out of its plane while permitting unrestricted movement of the work piece within its plane during the heat treat cycle. The walls are substantially porous to permit the free flow of the liquid heating and cooling medium through the walls for intimate contact with the work piece to achieve rapid uniform heating and cooling of the work piece, with the porosity being generally uniform across the support surfaces of the walls.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for heat treat hardening thin planar sheet metal work pieces fabricated of heat treat hardenable metal. The method comprises disposing the work piece in a fixture between opposing porous support walls thereof in such manner as to support the work piece against movement out of its plane while permitting the work piece to move within its plane. The fixture and work piece are immersed in a first bath of liquid heating medium which is permitted to flow through the porous walls of the fixture and intimately contact and uniformly heat the work piece to an elevated temperature. The fixture and work piece are then removed from the first bath and immersed in a second bath of liquid cooling medium which is permitted to flow through the porous walls of the fixture and intimately contact and uniformly cool the work piece to effect heat treat hardening of the work piece. Within the fixture, the work piece is substantially free to expand and contract within its plane during heating and cooling while being supported by the porous walls against movement out of its plane to prevent warpage of the work piece.
The invention has the advantage of providing a simple, effective means of heat treat hardening thin sheet-like work pieces such as metal gasket layers while avoiding the warpage problems associated with known conventional heat treatment and fixturing techniques.
The subject fixture and method enables less expensive materials to be used in thin metal layer applications, and particularly metal gasket layers. The use of such heat treat hardenable materials further reduces manufacturing costs by simplifying the formation of the usual bead embossments. Such materials are initially soft and readily deformable, requiring significantly lower stamping loads needed to form the embossments as compared to the force required to form such embossments in 301 FHSS starting material. The soft starting material further allows for greater design flexibility in the formation of the bead embossments, as there is not the concern for cracking the material.
The heat treat cycle has the added benefit of relieving any undesirable stresses that may have built up in the formation of the bead embossments that could contribute to early fatigue and failure of the gasket layer sometimes associated with full hard gasket layers.
The subject invention has the further advantage of enabling such work pieces to be austempered without warpage to achieve a desirable bainitic microstructure.

Heat treat fixture apparatus and method of heat treat hardening thin metal work pieces


An open-frame flash-memory drive has a printed-circuit board assembly (PCBA) with flash-memory chips, a controller chip, and a Serial AT-Attachment (SATA) connector soldered to it. The PCBA is only partially encased by left and right frames or by a U-shaped bracket frame. The frames have PCBA supports and guide posts that fit near edges of the PCBA. The frames do not cover the top and bottom of the PCBA, allowing chips on the PCBA to be ventilated by unblocked air flow. Screws that attach the PCBA to the frame have metal collars that ground the frame to the PCBA's ground plane. The screws form a current path to draw any electro-static-discharge (ESD) current off the frame and onto a PCBA ground. When the SATA connector is inserted into a host, the host ground sinks ESD currents collected by the open frame.

Data files stored on a floppy disk or diskette may require a password for access, or may use encryption to secure the data within the file. Confidential documents can be delivered over a network by adding safety seals and impressions. However, the confidential data is at risk due to breaking of the passwords, encryption codes, safety seals and impressions, thereby resulting in unsecure transfer of the information.
The parent application, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,257,714, disclosed an electronic data storage medium that had fingerprint verification capability. FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit block diagram illustrating an electronic data storage medium disclosed in the parent application.
The electronic data storage medium with fingerprint verification capability can be accessed by PC motherboard 9 using input/output interface circuit 5, which may use a Personal-Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA), RS-232, or similar interface to communicate. The electronic data storage medium can be located inside or outside of the external computer.
The electronic data storage medium is packaged in card body 1, and includes processing unit 2, memory device 3, fingerprint sensor 4, input/output interface circuit 5, display unit 6, power source 7, and function key set 8.
Memory device 3 can be a flash memory device that stores data files. Fingerprint sensor 4 scans a fingerprint of a user to generate fingerprint scan data. Processing unit 2 connects to other components and can operate in various modes, such as a programming mode, a data retrieving mode, and a data resetting mode. Power source 7 supplies electrical power to processing unit 2. Function key set 8 allows the user to input a password that is verified by processing unit 2. Display unit 6 shows the operating status of the electronic data storage medium.
The electronic data storage medium is packaged in card body 1, and includes processing unit 2, memory device 3, and input/output interface circuit 5. While such an electronic data storage medium is useful, manufacturing methods and product designs are desired that can be cost-effectively produced. In particular, designs for making the card body or casing that encapsulates the electronic components are desired. To reduce the cost and size, designs of the electronic data storage medium that eliminate some costly components, such as the fingerprint sensor, function key set, display, are desirable. An external power source may further reduce costs and size. Such device designs may allow a low-cost electronic data storage medium to be manufactured.

Open-frame solid-state drive housing with intrinsic grounding to protect exposed chips


A power connector includes a housing (10) defining a tube-like receiving chamber (16) extending through a front face (11) thereof and a receiving hole extending through a rear face (12) thereof, a first contact (20) extending into the receiving chamber, and a second contact (50) extending into the receiving hole. The receiving hole comprises a front section (17) and a rear section (18). The front section is communicating with the receiving chamber and is larger than the rear section in diameter thereof to form a step portion therebetween. The second contact (50) is a single piece and comprises an engaging portion (51) extending in the receiving chamber, a retaining portion (52) extending from the engaging portion and engaging with the step portion for preventing the second contact from moving rearwardly, and a connecting portion (53) extending from the retaining portion and comprising a bent portion engaging with the rear face of the housing for preventing the second contact from moving forwards.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power connector.
2. Description of Related Art
Power connectors which have a central contact and peripheral resilient contacts are widely used in the field of electronics. The central contact and the peripheral resilient contacts respectively act as a positive pole and a negative pole of a power supply for providing voltage to electrical components connecting to the power connector. For transmitting voltage steadily, it's needed to ensure a certain pressing force between the central contact and the terminal of the complementary connector while the power connector engaging with the complementary connector. Because of the pressing force, a pushing/pulling force between the central contact and the terminal of the complementary connector arises when the complementary connector is inserted or drawn out, and the pushing/pulling force will affect the secure retention of the central contact in the housing of the power connector.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,322,397 discloses a central contact which is secured within the housing of the power connector by fixing it onto a projection thereby. However, in such case, when the complementary connector is inserted into the power connector, the pushing force will make the central contact be pushed backward away from the housing, then cause the unreliable engagement between the central contact and the terminal of the complementary connector leading unsteadily transmitting of the voltage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,999 discloses a conductive pin fixed within the housing together with a flake-like terminal, and the flake-like terminal is crimped onto the conductive pin to prevent the conductive pin from coming off. However, such a way transmitting the voltage by transferring it from another terminal to the conductive pin increases the resistance. And it's possible to cause an open circuit once if the engagement between the conductive pin and flake-like terminal failed.
There is also such a power connector that comprises a housing, a central contact and a locking plate. The housing having a opening on its top surface, the central contact having a annular groove, and the locking plate is inserted into the opening of the housing for engaging with the annular groove of the central contact to secure the central connector within the housing, ensuring the central contact is prevented from pushing/pulling away while the complementary connector is inserted into or drawn out of the housing. However, such a securing method increases an additional component, also complicates the assemble process.
Hence, an improved power connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.


A rotary actuator assembly can include a fluid motor with a rotor that displaces with hypocyclic precessional motion within a stator in response to fluid flow through the fluid motor, and a gear reducer section including an input gear that is fixed relative to the rotor and displaces with the hypocyclic precessional motion relative to an output gear. Another rotary actuator assembly can include a fluid motor with a rotor having a central longitudinal axis that rotates about a central longitudinal axis of a stator, and a gear reducer section including an input gear that rotates with the rotor and displaces relative to an output gear, and the input gear having the same central longitudinal axis as the rotor. A well system can include at least two fluid motors, and fluid flow through one fluid motor causes rotation of the other fluid motor in the well.

This disclosure relates generally to well tools and operations utilizing well tools in subterranean wells and, in at least one example described below, more particularly provides for rotational speed reduction in downhole tool assemblies.
It is desirable in many different situations to produce rotation of one or more well tools downhole. A fluid motor, electrical motor or another type of motor can be used for this purpose. However, a rotational speed output by the motor may not be optimal for operation of the well tool(s) downhole.
Therefore, it will be appreciated that improvements in the arts of designing, constructing and utilizing equipment to produce rotation of well tools downhole are continually needed. Such improvements may be useful with any of a wide variety of different well tools and in a variety of different operations performed in wells.

Rotational speed reduction in downhole tool assemblies


A method of controlling a camera system having a plurality of solid-state imaging devices is provided. The method includes supplying a horizontal addition control signal and a vertical addition control signal, phases of which are controlled, to the plurality of solid-state imaging devices; selecting pixel column(s) and row(s) of the plurality of solid-state imaging devices in accordance with the horizontal addition control signal and the vertical addition control signal; adding a plurality of pixel signals to each other, the plurality of pixel signals being adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction, in a vertical direction, or in both horizontal and vertical directions, of the selected pixel column(s) and row(s); and processing a luminance signal and a color signal using the added pixel signals and adding a sync signal to the luminance signal and the color signal so as to output a color image signal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a high-sensitive three-plate color camera system, and more particularly, to a method of controlling a camera system which satisfies both high sensitivity and high resolution, and the camera system using the method.
2. Description of Related Art
In related art, there has been known a color camera system having a plurality of solid-state imaging device devices, which satisfies both high sensitivity and high resolution.
A known high-sensitive color camera system 300 disclosed in JP-B-7-075409 is shown in a block diagram of FIG. 11.
The high-sensitive color camera system 300 is configured to include solid-state imaging devices 302 to 304, a phase control circuit 307, a pixel addition control circuit 308, sample-and-hold circuits 310B, 310G, and 310R, and a sync signal generation circuit 311. In the camera system, pixels disposed in a horizontal direction of the solid-state imaging devices 302 to 304 are added to each other, thereby achieving the high-sensitivity characteristics. In a pixel addition process, a pixel addition control signal output from the pixel addition control circuit 308 is supplied to the B (blue) solid-state imaging device 302 and the R (red) solid-state imaging device 304, and a pixel addition control signal with a phase controlled by the phase control circuit 307 is supplied to the G (green) solid-state imaging device 303.
FIG. 12A shows an arrangement of pixels in a normal operation where the pixel addition process in a horizontal direction is not performed to the pixels. FIG. 12B shows a spatial arrangement of pixels in a case where two pixels in a horizontal direction are added to each other in the high-sensitive color camera system 300. In the camera system 300, the pixel addition control signal supplied to the G solid-state imaging device 303 is shifted from the pixel addition control signals supplied to the B solid-state imaging device 302 and the R solid-state imaging device 304 by an amount corresponding to one pixel so that the G pixels and the B and R pixels are alternately disposed one after the other. As a result, deterioration in the horizontal resolution of luminance signal components is reduced (see FIG. 12B).
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a spatial arrangement of pixels in a known color camera system disclosed in JP-A-2002-034049. In the arrangement, the G pixels are shifted from the B and R pixels in both horizontal and vertical directions, by an amount corresponding to a half pixel, respectively. As shown in Formula 1, luminance signals Y (for example, Y121, Y122, Y211, and Y212) are calculated and interpolated to produce an increased amount of luminance signals by four times as many as the number of pixels disposed on the G solid-state imaging device.Y121=0.3*R21+0.59*G21+0.11*B21 Y122=0.3*R22+0.59*G21+0.11*B22 Y211=0.3*R21+0.59*G11+0.11*B21 Y212=0.3*R22+0.59*G11+0.11*B22  [Formula 1]
(The symbol "*" represents a multiplication sign.)
In stead of producing an increased amount of luminance signals by four times as many as the number of G pixels through interpolation, the high-sensitivity characteristics is achieved by reducing the number of pixels disposed on the solid-state imaging devices to ¼ and increasing a photo-receiving area for one pixel.

Camera system for processing luminance and color signals using added pixel and adding sync signals


A method and apparatus for induction brazing wherein the induction coil's power is controlled by a closed loop temperature controller which is provided a temperature signal from a temperature sensor located proximate the brazed joint. Power is supplied to the induction coil until temperature reaches a specific set point corresponding to the desired brazing temperature of the alloy.

The present invention relates generally to induction brazing, and, more specifically, to a method and apparatus for controlling the induction brazing process via a closed loop control system controlled by temperature sensed at the brazed joint.
Brazing is a well-known method of joining two metal pieces by fusing a layer of alloy between adjoining surfaces. It also is known to heat the brazing alloy layer in the region of the joint by use of an induction coil encircling the joined members in the plane of the brazing alloy layer (flux) for its fusion. The energy supplied to the induction coil typically is controlled by either visual operation of the heating effect on the brazing ring or by time, that is, the coil is simply powered for a predetermined time, with hopefully the desired result achieved.
This approach leads to problems, particularly when brazing is done of thin-walled members such as condenser tubes of the type used in automotive applications. Such tubes typically are brazed to the condenser via sockets and are constructed of materials with complex chemistry such as aluminum. In such cases, brazing typically is performed with an aluminum alloy. This combination of a thin-walled tube and the complex chemistry of aluminum makes for a difficult mix. For example, it is extremely difficult to control the temperature of aluminum and it is easy to melt through a thin-walled tube during the brazing process. Under heating causes inadequate penetration of the brazing ring into the brazed joint. Such heating variations are exacerbated by variations in the tubing wall dimension, variations in the amount of flux applied, variations in the air gap between the tube and the socket, and variations in the tube's position relative to the induction coil. High scrap rates have resulted from the problems inherent in such brazing processes.
For example, aluminum condensers have been induction brazed by Chrysler Corporation in a manufacturing process typically consisting of brazing 1/2 inch or 5/8 inch header tubes to a condenser socket. The tubes are manually assembled with a braze ring of an aluminum alloy prior to presentation at the induction machine. Up to 40% of the product typically either requires rework or is scrapped due to heating variations of the brazed joint.
Thus it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for induction brazing wherein the energy supplied to the braze alloy could be controlled in a matter to minimize defective brazed joints.
It would further be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for induction brazing wherein the power supplied to the induction coil could be controlled by a signal that is indicative of the state of the brazed joints.

Closed loop temperature control of induction brazing


The invention provides therapeutic methods for inhibiting, ameliorating or alleviating the hyperproliferative cellular activity of diseases of the breast, e.g., breast cancer, which includes administering to a patient in need thereof an active vitamin D analogue and another anticancer agent. Cell differentiation is promoted, induced or enhanced without causing to the patient dose-limiting hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in both United States and worldwide. Breast cancer rates are the highest in industrialized countries. In the United States, the incidence of breast cancer has more than doubled in the past 30 years. In 1964, the lifetime risk was 1 in 20. Today it's 1 in 8. Approximately 185,700 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. annually, and breast cancer is responsible for about 44,560 deaths in the U.S. per year. An estimated 3 million women in the U.S. today are living with breast cancer of which 2 million have been diagnosed with the disease and 1 million have the disease but do not yet know it. Worldwide, it is estimated that 1.2 million new diagnoses and 500,000 deaths from breast cancer will occur this year.
While predominantly observed in women, 1,400 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually in men, and 260 men die of breast cancer per year. When breast cancer does occur in men, it is usually not recognized until late, and thus, the results of treatment are poor. In women, carcinoma of the breast is rarely seen before the age of 30 and the incidence rises rapidly after menopause.
Breast cancer often first manifests itself as a painless lump, detectable by self-examination and clinical breast exams including mammograms. Commonly, growth initiates in the lining of the ducts or in the lobules of the breast.
No universally successful method for the prevention or treatment of breast cancer is currently available. Management of the disease currently relies on a combination of early diagnosis (through routine breast screening procedures) and aggressive treatment, which may include one or more of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Current surgical treatments include mastectomy (removal of the entire breast) or lumpectomy (removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue) for localized tumors. Localized disease can be effectively treated by surgery, if all of the cancer can be removed. Surgical treatment is often followed by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or hormone-blocking therapy, especially if the disease has metastatized. Breast cancer cells can metastasize to the lymph nodes, skin, lungs, liver, brain, or bones. Metastasis may occur early or late in the disease progression, although typically metastasis occurs once the cancerous growth reaches a size of about 20 mm. Currently, there are no therapies that are effective for long term treatment of breast cancer that has metastasized to lymph nodes or distal sites.
It has been reported that certain vitamin D compounds and analogues are potent inhibitors of malignant cell proliferation and are inducers/stimulators of cell differentiation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,802 issued to Suda et al. discloses that 1α-hydroxyvitamin D compounds, specifically 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3, possess potent antileukemic activity by virtue of inducing the differentiation of malignant cells (specifically leukemia cells) to nonmalignant macrophages (monocytes), and are useful in the treatment of leukemia. Antiproliferative and differentiating actions of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and other vitamin D3 analogues have also been reported with respect to cancer cell lines. More recently, an association between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism and cancer risk has been reported, suggesting that vitamin D receptors may have a role in the development, and possible treatment, of cancer.
Previous studies of vitamin D compounds and cancer treatment have focused exclusively on vitamin D3 compounds. Even though these compounds may indeed be highly effective in promoting differentiation in malignant cells in culture, their practical use in differentiation therapy as anticancer agents is severely limited because of their equally high potency as agents affecting calcium metabolism. At the levels required in vivo for effective use as, for example, antileukemic agents, these same compounds can induce markedly elevated and potentially dangerous blood calcium levels by virtue of their inherent calcemic activity. That is, the clinical use of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and other vitamin D3 analogues as anticancer agents is severely limited by the risk of hypercalcemia. This indicates a need for compounds with greater specific activity and selectivity of action, i.e., vitamin D compounds with antiproliferative and differentiating effects but which have less calcemic activity. It also indicates a need for co-administration agents which can be combined with vitamin D3 agents, allowing for smaller doses of vitamin D3 compounds to be used while achieving the same or greater beneficial effect.

Method of treating breast cancer using a combination of vitamin D analogues and other agents


An automobile window shade system comprising a frame (20) formed of horizontal tubular elements (20a through 20c) and vertical tubular elements (22e through 22f) interconnected by T-shaped connectors (24a through 24f). The frame is installed inside the automobile body and contains a cord (42) guided through a plurality of guiding means (64, 66, and 68). Two adjacent shades (94 and 96) which are made of a light-impermeable flexible material are attached to a yoke (84). One end of the yoke is located inside the vertical tubular element (22e through 22f) between two stops (88 and 90) which are rigidly attached the cord. The cord is also connected to a handle (110). When the handle (110) is moved in the window shading direction, it moves the cord (42) and hence the stops (88 and 90). When the upper stop (88) comes into contact with the yoke (84) it moves the yoke and the shields (94 and 96) down, thus shading the windows. An embodiment with a beaded thread (128) and the expandable spring-loaded C-shaped portion of the yoke makes it possible to shield and unshield windows selectively. A motorized version with a drive motor (150) provides mechanized shading and unshading. For this purpose, a portion of the cord comprises a roller chain (156) which is in mesh with a sprocket (154) attached to the output shaft of motor (150). The system may be hidden under the panels of the car interior or attached directly to the outer surface of the panels.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to automobile window shades, particularly to an automobile window shade system capable of shading all windows of an automobile simultaneously.
2. Description of Prior Art
The interior of a vehicle parked outdoors in the summer sun can become extremely warm and uncomfortable for its occupants. Moreover, direct sunlight damages the upholstery, dashboards, steering wheels, seats, and other parts of the automobile interior, causing them to fade, dry out, or crack. Therefore, various window shading devices are used to protect automobile interiors from the damaging action of direct sunlight.
One of the most popular and simple types of window shading devices is an accordion-folded window blind. Such blinds, which are produced, e.g., by Auto-Shade Inc., North Hollywood, California, are made of cardboard, can be folded and unfolded, and can be stored in the trunk of an automobile. However, these blinds are designed specifically for shading only the portion of the automobile under the windshield. For this purpose these blinds have a special cutout for rearview mirrors. Furthermore, folding and unfolding the blends takes time. Besides, the cardboard can be quickly damaged and must be often replaced. During the time of the day, the sun changes position with respect to the automobile, so that its rays penetrate the automobile through unprotected side-door windows. Although the window blinds are adjustable in the horizontal direction, they have a fixed vertical dimension, which makes them inconvenient for use in automobiles of some models.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,548 issued Jul. 31, 1990 to G. Payne et al. discloses a side window shade for automobiles. The shade is formed of a plurality of pivotally connected sections which form a panel. An upper edge of the panel is configured with a curvature corresponding to an automobile side window frame and includes a plurality of spaced notches which receive suction cup retainers for insertion of suction cups attachable to an automobile side window. The device of this type also protects only side-window portion of the automobile interior. The device must be removed for driving and reinstalled for parking in a sunny place every time. Therefore it is inconvenient in use. Moreover, suction cups can be easily damaged because of frequent connection and disconnection. Since the suction cups are subject to direct sunlight, their material quickly looses elasticity, making the suction cups unsuitable for further application.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,238 issued Nov. 12, 1991 to Mauni Mohtasham describes a windshield sunshade assembly for mounting on the pivoted connector portion of the sun visor attachment of a automobile so that a shade member, which is wound into a roll, can be unwound and retracted or extended in order to cover the windshield from inside of the automobile. This device has the same disadvantages as other conventional automobile-interior shading means, i.e., it shields only the automobile interior under the windshield and does not protect the rest of the interior.
Even in the case all automobile windows are shaded separately by using conventional devices described above, it would be necessary to close and open each window shade separately which would be an inconvenient and time-consuming operation.


During standby (waiting time), a microcomputer of a portable radio device monitors positional information based on the RSSI level (received signal strength) of receiving standby signals and GPS data. Then, when it is detected, based on the positional information based on the RSSI level (received signal strength) and the GPS data, that the radio device has entered an area outside a radio communication enabled area, namely an out-of-service area, the microcomputer carries out a power save processing.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a portable radio device and a radio communication method and, more particularly, to a portable radio device, which is communicatable via Bluetooth (Bluetooth: registered trademark) between battery-powered speaker-microphones and which is movable with the speaker-microphone, and the radio communication method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are available portable radio devices, which are communicatable, via Bluetooth, between battery-powered speaker-microphones (or headsets) that are movable with their speaker-microphones. Among those portable radio devices, a portable radio device, for communicating with a partner station using a simplex (half duplex) scheme, transmits a transmitting voice of a user collected by a speaker-microphone, via Bluetooth communications, to the portable radio device and further wirelessly transmits the transmitting voice from the portable radio device to a partner station through a relay station. At this time, the partner station is in a receiving state. When, on the other hand, the partner station is in a transmission state, the portable radio device is switched to a receiving state. Then the transmitting voice wirelessly transmitted from the partner station is received by the portable radio device via the relay station, and the transmitting voice received is further transmitted to the speaker-microphone via Bluetooth communications. As a result, the transmitting voice is received and produced as voice sound by the speaker-microphone.
In a portable radio device with a speaker-microphone for business or commercial use among those equipped with the speaker-microphones using the simplex (half duplex) scheme, the user starts a call immediately after a push-to-talk (PTT) switch at the outset of a communication is operated. Thus, a transmission state starts upon activation of the PTT switch, and an attack time at which the modulation is actually feasible is defined accordingly. In the receiving, too, a received voice is suddenly outputted unlike a mobile phone where the received voice is outputted after a telephone calling operation has responded to an incoming call.
Accordingly, for such a portable radio device equipped with the speaker-microphone for business use, it is preferable that the voice communication is constantly enabled within a call possible zone (e.g., wireless service area or radio communication enabled area), and the headset profile (HSP) is used as the Bluetooth profile. As a result, the battery saving of the speaker-microphone is not carried out.
Also, in the portable radio device with the speaker-microphone for business use, the battery saving of the battery-powered speaker-microphone is not done although conventionally the transmission and the receiving in the radio communication do not need to be controlled in an area outside the call possible zone (an out-of-service area). In this case, the electric power of the battery-powered speaker-microphone is constantly consumed in the conventional portable radio device with the speaker-microphone for business use, thus causing a problem of reduced battery life.
In the light of this, conceivable for the purpose of reducing the power consumed by the speaker-microphone is a method where the power saving is carried out, except during a call, using the hands-free profile (HFP) of the Bluetooth profile.
Also conceivable for the purpose of reducing the power consumed by the speaker-microphone is employing a known method, as cited in Reference (1) of the following Related Art List, for reducing the power consumed by a mobile terminal device. A conventional method, cited in Reference (1) of the following Related Art List, for reducing the power consumed by a mobile terminal device, is as follows. That is, when the device is not in used for a predetermined duration of time with a function being turned on, it is determined that the function be turned off and, at that time, the position and the power use state or condition of the mobile terminal device are registered. Then, in the thus registered position, control is performed such that the mobile terminal device is in the registered power use state. As a result, the functions not in use are turned off and therefore the wasted power consumption is reduced. The position of the mobile terminal device is acquired by a known method using a global positioning system (GPS).

Portable radio device movable with a speaker-microphone, and a wireless communication method


An additively manufactured structure and methods for making and using same. In a method for making the structure, a first layer structure can be formed. A second layer structure can be formed on the first layer structure and a support structure. The support structure can be removed from the second layer structure. The second layer structure can include an overhang structure that does not deform or break after the support structure is removed. The support structure can provide support to the second layer structure during printing. Strong bridging capability of the second layer structure is not required. The support structure can be quick and easy to make. The support structure can be reusable and does not add weight to the printed structure. The support structure can be easily removed after completing of printing. Installation of the support structure can be fast without significantly interfering with printing process.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is a technique that deposits materials only where needed, thus resulting in significantly less material wastage than traditional manufacturing techniques, which typically form parts by reducing or removing material from a bulk material. In typical additive manufacturing processes, a 3D object is created by forming layers of material under computer control. While the first three-dimensional (3D) printed articles were generally models, the industry is quickly advancing by creating 3D printed articles that may be functional parts in more complex systems, such as hinges, tools, structural elements.
Additive manufacturing for making a 3D article on a large scale (i.e., typically with at least one dimension greater than 5 feet) can be referred to as large-scale additive manufacturing. A system (or technique) for large scale additive manufacturing can be referred to as large scale additive manufacturing system (or technique). Exemplary large scale additive manufacturing systems include, for example, the Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) 100 ALPHA available from Cincinnati Incorporated located in Harrison, Ohio, or the Large Scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM) machine available from Thermwood Corporation located in Dale, Ind. Exemplary systems that use extrusion deposition for large scale additive manufacturing includes the BAAM 100 ALPHA and the LSAM machine.
Large-scale additive manufacturing has recently become an area of greater research, use, and technology advancement because of improvements in material properties and increased needs of customized large structures. For example, Local Motors located in Phoenix, Ariz. was the first to use large-scale additive manufacturing, or large-scale extrusion deposition, to print a vehicle. However, large-scale additive manufacturing also faces great challenges that cannot be resolved by directly adopting technology used in smaller-scale additive manufacturing. One of the challenges is making overhang or bridge structures that are not subject to failures such as deformation (such as drooping) or breaking under gravity. An overhang structure can include a portion of a printed structure that extends from a main part of the printed structure and into empty space in a direction at least partially orthogonal to gravity. A bridge structure can include an exemplary overhang structure having two opposing end regions each connected to a printed structure.
Inventors of the present disclosure have discovered that, although smaller-scale additive manufacturing may encounter the difficulty of making overhang structures, the difficulty is especially severe and presents unique challenges in large-scale additive manufacturing. For example, in a large-scale extrusion deposition process, an extruded bead at large scale can hold heat much longer and remain in a rubbery or molten state long after the nozzle has attempted to deposit the bead in a desired location. During solidification of the bead, the bead may not be able to maintain dimension under the weight of the bead itself and/or under the weight of material printed on top of the bead. Further, the inventors have considered using a rapid solidification process to speed up the solidification, such as spraying the bead with liquid nitrogen, but considered that the rapid solidification process may reduce inter-laminar adhesion between printed layers and weaken strength of the large-scale printed structure. In contrast, in a small-scale extrusion deposition process, fans can be used to rapidly solidify material leaving the nozzle, and overhangs can therefore be printed more easily.
The inventors have further discovered that, in a large-scale extrusion deposition process, the overhang structure is usually of large scale. For example, in printing a vehicle using large-scale additive manufacturing, it may be necessary to print structures such as fenders and raised flat planes, and printing such structures presents problems. The amount of deformation of the overhang structure can be significant. Due to a great weight, breakage of the overhang structure is likely to occur. In contrast, in a smaller-scale extrusion deposition process, the overhang structure is smaller. Accordingly, amount of deformation of the overhang structure can be very small or negligible. With a low weight, the overhang structure can be less likely to break.
The inventors have further discovered that methods for making structures in smaller-scale additive manufacturing often do not apply to large-scale additive manufacturing. In one example, a support structure can be printed concurrently with the main part, and the overhang structure is subsequently printed on the support structure. However, in large-scale additive manufacturing, such a support structure costs significant resources such as material, print time, and energy consumption. Furthermore, properties of the support structure cannot be selected with flexibility, so removal of the support structure can be difficult. Even if the support structure is successfully removed without being damaged, the support structure is not reused, resulting in large quantities of waste.
In another example, an infill structure is positioned adjacent to the main part such that the overhang structure is subsequently printed on the infill structure. The infill structure remains as a part of the printed structure and is not removed. In large-scale additive manufacturing, size of the infill structure can be large and requirement on mechanical strength of the infill structure is high, so the infill structure cannot have very low density. The weight that the infill structure adds to the printed structure is significant, sometimes making the printed structure impractical to use.
Therefore, as discovered by the inventors, for making the overhang structure, the problem in large-scale additive manufacturing is different from and/or greater than the problem in smaller-scale additive manufacturing. Further, any methods for solving the problem in smaller-scale additive manufacturing may not be effective or practical in large-scale additive manufacturing.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improvements and/or alternative or additional solutions to improve additive manufacturing processes for making overhang structures and to produce overhang structures that are currently not possible to be made by additive manufacturing.
It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are generally represented by like reference numerals for illustrative purposes throughout the figures. It also should be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the preferred embodiments. The figures do not illustrate every aspect of the described embodiments and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Additively manufactured structure and method for making the same


An Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) docking system is provided in which the UUV is responsive to a first rotating light beam (which emits from a submarine) to begin a docking procedure. The UUV utilizes a photodetector to detect the first light beam and to guide the UUV toward the submarine by utilizing the first light beam. In one embodiment, the UUV reflects light from the first light beam back to the submarine. A photodetector on the submarine detects the reflected light to ascertain that the UUV is locked onto the first light beam. The submarine then stops rotating the light beam so that a trajectory of the UUV heads in the direction of a docking station which is positioned on the submarine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) used with submarines and, more particularly, to a laser based system for autonomous docking of the UUV to a submarine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Optical docking systems have been utilized on space vehicles, robot and machine guidance systems, and in various types of autonomous UUV docking situations.
However, docking to submarines involves relative motion of water currents which affects the motion of both the submarine and the UUV. This can result in a relative motion for which difficulties arise in either establishing or maintaining a visual lock between a docking station on the submarine and the UUV. For example, the UUV and/or the submarine may move to relative positions where the bulk of the submarine blocks the optical signals on the docking station of the submarine.
Acoustic methods for docking underwater vehicles have also been documented. The spatial accuracy of underwater acoustic docking systems, although useful for long-range docking procedures, may be severely limited for close range docking maneuvers with the submarine.
The following United States Patents describe various prior art systems that may be related to the above and/or other docking systems:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,646,771 (issued Mar. 7, 1972) to Greene, discloses an underwater communicating connection between a marine vessel, such as a submarine, and a stationary structure, such as a dock or underwater caisson or another marine vessel, for the passage of personnel, which is formed by juxtaposing the vessel and structure to isolate a water-containing space between watertight doors on the vessel and structure, removing water from the space, and admitting air at subaqueous pressure, whereby the vessel is forced against the structure by hydrostatic pressure; the doors are then opened. A flexible sealing member outside of the connection on the vessel or structure may engage a sealing surface on the other for additional sealing. The dock may include a tower extending to the water surface. The vessel can be positioned by anchors resting on a platform or engaged to a frame fixed to the ground.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,825 (issued Jan. 24, 1989) to Meyerhoff et al, discloses a method for underwater fuel transfer of liquid fuels such as crude oil from an off-shore, stationary underwater mooring to a submerged submarine oil tanker. There is provided a berthing guidance and control system including permanently moored acoustic transponders interrogated by the tanker sonar equipment to provide input commands for azimuth control along the on-tack position in conjunction with speed controls. The system also includes an arrestor mooring apparatus for decelerating the tanker as the tanker approaches the underwater station. This underwater station has the dual function use of providing mooring for the tanker and also reception of the tanker oil transfer device.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,748,102 (issued May 5, 1998) to Barron, discloses an apparatus for interconnecting an unmanned underwater vehicle and a free-fitting communications pod that includes a communications cable depending from the pod and extending to a buoy of less buoyancy than the pod, such that the cable carries communication signals between the pod and the buoy and extends generally vertically in a column of water between the pod and the buoy, the buoy being in communication with a distal station. The apparatus further includes a mobile unmanned underwater vehicle having therein guidance means for directing the vehicle to the cable, the vehicle being in communication with a control vessel, connector means mounted in a nose portion of the vehicle and adapted to intercept the cable, the connector means being further adapted to permit the cable to slide therethrough as the vehicle continues movement after the intercept of the cable, and complementary alignment means on the vehicle and the pod adapted to cause the vehicle to engage the pod in a preselected orientation and azimuth, with the communication components of the UUV and pod in alignment, whereby to place the control vessel in communication with the distal station.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,527 (issued Jan. 7, 2003) to Danielson, discloses a system for recovering submerged devices that uses two recovery tubes of an underwater recovery vehicle. A recovery member is disposed within a first recovery tube. A second recovery tube receives the submerged device. To recover the submerged device, the recovery member is extended from the first recovery tube. A capture arm, which is pivotally attached to the end of the recovery member, is extended. The extended capture arm is engaged with the submerged device. The capture arm is adjusted to align the submerged device with the second recovery tube. The recovery member is retracted to recover the submerged device into the second recovery tube. Because the recovery member is not disposed within the same recovery tube that is used to house the retrieved submerged device, the submerged device may have an outer diameter approximately equal to the inner diameter of the recovery tube.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,677,889 (issued Jan. 13, 2004) to Van Rees et al, discloses an auto-docking system that can automatically dock a surface ship. The auto-docking system provides a close in radar system and a secondary propulsion system that is under control of a docking processor.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,014 (issued Apr. 11, 2006) to Forgach et al, discloses one or more docking cages releasably attached to a tow line extending from the stern of a retrieval surface ship, that emit optical tracking beacon beams picked up by sensors in unmanned underwater sea craft vehicles being approached, for steered propulsion thereof into rammed hook attachment to the cages. A sea craft vehicle thereby releasably attached to a cage, is towed onboard the retrieval ship by storage reel-in of the tow line, which is then disconnected from the cage and the retrieved vehicle for subsequent use in retrieval of other unmanned sea craft vehicles.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,505,366 (issued Mar. 17, 2009) to Blackmon et al, discloses a linear mechanism for optical-to-acoustic energy conversion for optoacoustic communication from an in-air platform to an undersea vehicle. Signals used in underwater acoustic telemetry applications are capable of being generated through the linear optoacoustic regime conversion process. A number of issues concerning linear optoacoustic communication is addressed that lead to a formulation of a linear regime optoacoustic communication scheme. The use of oblique laser bean incidence at an air-water interface to obtain considerable in-air range from the laser source to the vehicle is also addressed. The effect of oblique incidence on in-water range is addressed as well. Optimum and sub-optimum linear optoacoustic sound-generation techniques for selecting the optical wavelength and signal frequency for optimizing in-water range are identified. Optoacoustic techniques employing M-ary frequency shift keying and multifrequency shift keying are compared with communication parameters such as bandwidth, data rate, range coverage and number of lasers employed.
United States Patent Publication No. 2006/0083111 (published Apr. 20, 2006) to Grasso, discloses a method for detecting, tracking and locating submarines that utilizes pulsed coherent radiation from a laser that is projected down through a water column, with particles in the water producing speckle from backscatter of the random particle distribution, with correlation of two closely time-spaced particle-based speckle patterns providing an intensity measurement indicative of the presence of a submarine. Subsurface submarine movement provides a subsurface wake which causes movement of particles such that two closely-spaced "snapshots" of the returns from particles in the same water column can detect particle movement due to the wake. The magnitude of the speckle pattern change indicates particle movement. In one embodiment, the return signals are imaged onto an intensified CCD or APA array that capture two successive laser pulses through the utilization of dual pixel registered cameras. Note that in the subject system, phase information is converted to measurable intensity information relating to particle motion.
United States Patent Publication No. 2008/0289558 (published Nov. 27, 2008) to Montgomery, discloses a profile scanner for locating a target zone on a profile of a vessel comprising an emitter adapted to progressively or instantaneously radiate towards the vessel; a receiver providing a signal indicative of radiation incident thereon; a controller or processor including stored instructions, for energizing the emitter and receiving the signal, and adapted to determine the vertical location of the target zone relative to scanner. All laser beams propagate in-air and are meant to assist surface vessels to dock to a stationary mooring on a pier to accommodate the tidal sea variation.
United States Patent Publication No. 2008/0302292 (published Dec. 11, 2008) to Ruggaber, discloses a method and apparatus for optical and autonomous docking of an underwater vehicle into a torpedo tube of a submarine. The apparatus has a moveable tube provided with an insertion/extraction device at one of its ends. The device is in the form of a tube or of a ring in a retracted state and in the form of a funnel in an extended state.
The above-cited prior art does not adequately disclose an optical docking system which is suitable for long range and short range docking of UUVs with a submarine. Consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate the present invention that addresses the above and other problems.

Laser-based method for docking an unmanned underwater vehicle to a submarine

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A vented EMA may have a vent that allows gas to pass from into and out of the vented EMA, while preventing liquid from passing into and out of the vented EMA. The vented EMA may have a desiccant material inside the vented EMA that absorbs condensation from within the vented EMA. A vented EMA may also have an air flow path that conducts gas into and out of the vent during operation. As a result, the pressure inside the vented EMA may equalize with the pressure outside the vented EMA, but the deleterious ingress of liquids may be ameliorated.

Typical electric motor actuators in aircraft and/or large vehicle (e.g., trains, commercial equipment, and/or the like) brake systems may employ an electric motor actuator. In response to the actuator being engaged, the actuator translates a force-exerting member into and out the housing. This translating causes pressure changes in the air volume within the actuator, contributing to moisture ingress, which degrades the actuator operational life and performance.


Sensors around the periphery of the remote control unit detect contact with the user's hand. A trained model-based pattern classification system analyzes the periphery sensor data and makes a probabilistic prediction of the user's hand size. The hand size is then used to control a mapping system that defines how gestures by the user's thumb upon a touchpad of the remote control unit are mapped to the control region upon a separate display screen.

The present invention relates generally to remote control systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a remote control system, suitable for control of consumer electronic products and home appliances, that includes a touch sensitive handheld remote control unit that detects hand size characteristics of the user and adapts the mapping between the user-touch-sensitive surface(s) and a display screen.
Handheld remote control units, typically featuring a large plurality of push buttons, are now quite commonplace on coffee tables throughout the world. With most consumer electronic products, it is customary for the manufacturer to furnish such a handheld remote control with each unit. Thus, most consumers own a collection of various different remote control units, each associated with a particular product or appliance.
In an effort to simplify matters, the Applicants' assignee has developed several different embodiments of a touch-sensitive remote control unit that features a reduced number of push buttons and one or more touch-sensitive touchpads that may be manipulated by the user's fingers or thumb to interact with information on a display screen. The touch pads may be manipulated, for example, to move a selection indicator (such as a cursor or other graphical element) across a control region upon a display screen. In some applications, the display screen will be separate from the handheld remote control unit, and thus the user manipulates the selection indicator by watching the display screen while manipulating the keypad with a finger or thumb. Preferably, the touchpad or touchpads are disposed on the remote control unit so that they can be manipulated by the user's thumb while the user is holding the unit in one hand.
The human thumb is articulated for generally arcuate movement across a touchpad surface disposed on the face of the remote control unit. By bending at the knuckles, points on the touchpad may be reached that are radially inward from the extended arcuate sweep of the thumb's natural trajectory. Due to these physical constraints of the user's hand and thumb movement, some regions on the touchpad are easier to reach than others. Because each user's hand size and dexterity qualities are different, it becomes quite difficult to design a touch sensitive handheld remote control unit that will physically suit all users.
We have therefore developed a remote control system that detects hand size characteristics of the user and uses this detected information to map points on the touchpad onto points of the display screen to thereby assist the user in making selections on the display screen regardless of the size or geometric configuration of the screen's control region and regardless of the physical limitations of the user's hand and thumb movement geometry.

Touch sensitive remote control system that detects hand size characteristics of user and adapts mapping to screen display


A method and system for effectively communicating file properties and directory structures within a distributed file system is provided. A manifest that includes properties relating to all of the files used in an application is created. The manifest is distributed to a client before the client has received all of the files or properties associated with an application. The manifest is stored on the client and is used to determine properties and locations of files used within the application. A distributed file system layer is used to receive file and property requests from the application; determine the location of the requested file, or the property using the manifest, and retrieve the property or file using the manifest. A tool may be used to generate the manifest manually or automatically. File system calls within an application may be replaced with calls that use the distributed file system layer. An interpreter may also be used to intercept the file system calls and replace them with calls that use the distributed file system layer.

Today, some software applications may be distributed over a network, such as the Internet. Additionally, some software applications may be run over a network using a client and server model. This model, however, may have problems with available bandwidth when the application on the client makes a lot of requests to the server for properties relating to the files used within the application. Each request requires bandwidth that may be needed by some other process or event. The slower the connection the client has, the more burdensome these requests may become. This is, of course, assuming that the server can keep up with all of the requests that are coming in from all of the clients. Server requests across a wide area network can take a significant amount of time due to network delay, traffic, and/or a high number of users connected to the server. Consequently, it may be inefficient to make numerous file property requests to a server. What is needed, therefore, is an efficient way to distribute information relating to files within a distributed file system.

Method and system for effectively communicating file properties and directory structures in a distributed file system


A switching system (14) at a customer premises communicates information associated with one or more subscribers. The switching system (14) includes multiple subscriber line ports (17) for communicating xDSL signals with subscribers, the xDSL signals containing both data signals and POTS voice signals. A logical port (20) communicates data signals and packetized voice signals from the subscribers with a central office, the switching system (14) converting between the POTS voice signals of the subscriber lines (16) and the packetized voice signals of the logical port (20). A LAN port (21) communicates data signals with a server complex (23) using a LAN (22) to provide data services to the subscribers. The switching system (14) may include a switch (32) that receives voice signals on a first virtual circuit (VC), switches the voice signals out of the switching system (14) on the first VC, and also communicates received data signals for routing. A router (32) within the switching system (14) may receive the data signals from the switch (32) on a second VC, determine a third VC for the data signals, and route the data signals to the switch (32) on the third VC for communication out of the switching system (14) on the third VC.

Historically, voice, video, data, and other services have been provided separately, using multiple facilities and separate wiring. As a result, communities requiring such services have usually faced relatively large initial expenses for implementing a system, subsequently increasing system capacity, and maintaining the system on an ongoing basis. Attempts to integrate such services to offset these inadequacies have typically forced users in these communities to accept a number of undesirable limitations, for example, limitations as to the generality of data services available.
Communications needs continue to expand on a global scale. With the growing demand for communications, and despite the limitations associated with prior systems, there is a concurrent expansion in the demand for audio, video, data, and other services provided to user communities. This is particularly true considering the recent rise in importance of packet-based audio, video, data, and other communications that rely on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Internet Protocol (IP), Frame Relay (FR), and other packet-based protocols. For example, users in a community such as an apartment complex or other shared tenant environment may have telephones, personal computers, facsimile machines, and other devices allowing them to interface to the public switched telephone network (PSTN), the Internet, and other suitable networks. Previous systems do not provide voice, video, data, and other services in an integrated manner using a system having relatively low implementation, scaling, and ongoing maintenance costs. As a result of these and other inadequacies, previous systems are often inadequate to address the current and future needs of many user communities.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Switching system and method for communicating information at a customer premises


A system, apparatus and method process data by identifying a processing pipeline defining a series of markup language processing steps. The system inserts at least one debugging step into the processing pipeline. The debugging step(s) define processing to collect debug data associated with application of the markup language processing steps to markup language data to be processed by the processing pipeline. The system executes the series of markup language processing steps, including the debugging step(s), upon input markup language data as a transaction. Execution of the debugging step(s) captures the debug data for at least one of the series of markup language processing steps in the processing pipeline. The debug data allows analysis of operation of the markup language processing steps of the processing pipeline on the input markup language data.

Computer systems and computerized devices operate software programs that exchange data in a variety of different data formats. As an example, conventional computer programs can format messages and data in a markup language data format such as the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) data format that encodes data in a platform independent manner to allow different computer systems to share the XML encoded data. The software industry commonly refers to data encoded in the XML data format as an XML document. Software developers have created many different programs that are capable of performing a various processing operations on XML documents. XML is a text-based language that requires significant processing resources to encode and decode and otherwise process the data since XML is not in a native machine or processor format.
As an example of conventional XML processing, in a conventional web services architecture, a server computer system can provide access to processing functionality using a web services interface that is defined in a machine-readable interface description, such as Web Services Description Language (WSDL). A particular service expressed or described in WSDL can provide some predefined and specific processing functionality. Other computer systems (e.g., other servers) that want to access web service functionality can discover and invoke the web service offered by the web services server by submitting requests for the service to the web services server using XML data encoded in a remote method invocation protocol such as the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). A requesting computer system can transfer XML/SOAP requests to the web services server providing the web service over HTTP (or over secure HTTP, known as HTTPS). When a server receives an invocation of a web service via an XML message or stream of messages encoded using SOAP/HTTP, the web services server decodes and processes the XML encoded data, performs the web service processing (i.e., the application processing) on the decoded data, and can formulate an XML/SOAP/HTTP response. The server then returns the response to the requesting computer system (i.e., a client or another server) in XML format via HTTP. The XML/SOAP/HTTP web services computing paradigm thus allows distributed computing servers to share processing functionality with other computers, such as other servers and/or clients, using XML encoded data.
Conventional XML processing technologies embedded within a web server allow the web server to interpret and process the XML-encoded data in a variety of ways. Several conventional XML technologies allow a software application to access (e.g., extract) XML-encoded data for application processing purposes. As an example, a server can use XML software processing technologies such as the Document Object Model (DOM) or Simple Application programming interface for XML (SAX) to parse XML documents to gain access to the encoded data. In addition, other XML-related technologies such as XPath and the eXtensible Stylesheet Transformation Language (XSLT) allow a developer of an XML-aware software application to define transformations of XML encoded data from one data format to another. Extensible Stylesheet Transformations (XSLT) is a language originally intended for converting, or transforming, documents written in XML into other formats, including HTML and other XML vocabularies. XSLT uses an XSL document to transform an XML document from one format to another. A schema is a description in a meta-language specifying the acceptable syntax or structure of an XML document. A schema document is used to validate an XML document and guarantee that its syntax is correct. Several schema languages exist. A filter is one or more XPath expressions (which may optionally be contained in an XSLT document or other control structure) used to extract data from an XML document. This data can be used to produce a decision on the acceptability of the input XML document based on an arbitrary set of criteria as expressed in the query expressions. A filter verifies the input document based on semantic or other content (transformed or not transformed) not typically related to syntax, and so differs from a schema validation in this way.
An XSLT document can be used to transform an XML document, and also to schema validate the XML document at the same time using a schema specified in the XML document (or other out-of-band mechanism). As an example, a developer that creates an XML-aware application (e.g., for use on a web services server platform) can create an XSLT transformation to convert XML encoded data to HTML encoded data. A web server process that receives XML encoded data can apply such an XSLT transformation to the XML-encoded data to convert this data, for example, from XML to HTML and the server can return this data to the client thus allowing the client browser to render the XML-encoded data as HTML within a web browser.
If data security is a concern when performing transactions of XML encoded data between computer systems, conventional standards and common practices have emerged to allow a web server to use some of the above XML processing tools (e.g., DOM, SAX, etc.) to perform XML processing such as digital signature validation, encryption, and decryption upon XML encoded data. Other data messages, such as email messages, can be encoded in XML and software developers have created XML-based email message processing applications to parse and process XML encoded email. Generally then, there are a variety of different processing operations that software programs can apply to XML encoded data.

System, methods and apparatus for markup language debugging

International Business Machines Corporation


A solvent-free one-part hot melt polyurethane adhesive or sealant composition which is solid at room temperature comprising 10 to 70% by weight of a urethane prepolymer having an isocyanate content of 0.25 to 15% and an isocyanate index greater than 1 and 30 to 90% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated polymer having a number average molecular weight of 4,000 to 15,000 as determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography using a PL Gel,Mixed 10 micron column, a Shimadzu Model RID 6A Detector with a tetrahydrofuran carrier solvent at a flow rate of 1 milliliter per minute, the polymer containing sufficient hydroxyl functionality to provide an OH number of 5 to 15.

Hot melt adhesives are 100% solid materials which do not contain or require any solvents and are solid at room temperature but, on application of heat, melt to a liquid or fluid state in which form they are applied to a substrate. On cooling, the adhesive regains its solid form and gains its cohesive strength. Hot melt adhesives which are applied in molten form, cool to solidify and subsequently cure by a chemical crosslinking reaction have been prepared using specific materials such as polyurethanes.
Reactive hot melts are one-component, 100% solid, solvent-free urethane prepolymers. Unlike conventional hot melts that can be repeatedly heated from solid state and flowed to a liquid form, the reactive hot melt behaves as a thermoset and goes through an irreversible chemical reaction once dispensed in the presence of ambient moisture. The reactive hot melts are isocyanate terminated prepolymers that react with surface or ambient moisture in order to chain-extend, forming a new polyurethane polymer which offers performance superior to that obtained with conventional hot melt.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,507 to Stanley et al. that the incorporation into otherwise conventional polyurethane hot melt adhesives of low molecular weight polymers formed from ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing no reactive hydrogen provides an improvement with respect to cohesive and adhesive strength and assists in forming bonds with some of the more difficult to adhere substrates. In order to incorporate the low molecular weight polymer into the polyurethane, it is possible to polymerize the respective monomers within the urethane prepolymer or, optionally, to add an already polymerized low molecular weight polymer into the urethane prepolymer. Typical monomers useful include acrylic monomers such as the C1 to C12 esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid as well as ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing moisture reactive functional groups such as silane or reactive isocyanate. Typical low molecular weight polymers are represented by Elvacite 2013, a 64% butylmethacrylate/36% methylmethacrylate copolymer having an I.V. of 0.2.
While the class of adhesives described in the aforementioned patent has substantially improved properties for most applications, the fact that the low molecular weight polymer is merely blended into, and not chemically bound, within the urethane still creates problems in areas where high heat and/or solvent resistance is required such as for automotive adhesive and sealant applications. Moreover, the range of acrylic monomers useful is somewhat limited in terms of Tg. Thus the higher Tg, more polar acrylics are found to be more compatible with the urethanes while the lower Tg, non-polar acrylics could not be as readily incorporated into the system. There is, however, a need for adhesives containing these lower Tg materials since they will provide for a more elastomeric adhesive and may improve the adhesion to certain metal substrates as well as provide for longer open time or bond range.

Polyurethane hotmelt adhesives with reactive acrylic copolymers

National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation


Medical procedure related objects (e.g., instruments, supplies) tagged with transponders may be accounted for in a medical procedure environment via a medical object accounting system using a number of antennas, and optional readers. A first set of antennas may be configured to interrogate sterile fields and/or non-sterile fields which do not encompass a body of a patient to account for the objects proximate a start and an end of a medical procedure. Sterile fields may encompass working surfaces of tables and stands, typically used by nurses. Readers (e.g., symbol, RFID) may be employed. A database may be maintained with information including a current status of each instrument or supply, for instance as checked in or checked out. On notification of a discrepancy, a handheld antenna and/or second set of antennas may interrogate a volume encompassing a body of a patient for retained instruments or supplies. The system may be automatically configured (e.g., loading appropriate software) on communicative coupling of a device (e.g., antenna, reader, peripheral device).

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to a wireless medical procedure environment, and more particularly accounting for transponder tagged medical procedure objects such as instruments and supplies in an environment in which medical procedures are performed.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is important to determine whether objects associated with a medical procedure, for instance surgery or child birth delivery, are present in a patient's body before completion of the medical procedure. Such objects may take a variety of forms used in medical procedures. For example, the objects may take the form of instruments, for instance scalpels, scissors, forceps, hemostats, and/or clamps. Also for example, the objects may take the form of related accessories and/or disposable objects, for instance surgical sponges, gauzes, and/or absorbent pads. When used in surgery, failure to locate an object before closing the patient may require additional surgery, and in some instances may have serious adverse medical consequences. In other medical procedures, such as vaginal child birth deliveries, failure to remove objects, for instance gauze or absorbent pads can lead to infections.
Some hospitals have instituted procedures which include checklists or requiring multiple counts to be performed to track the use and return of objects during surgery. Such a manual approach is inefficient, requiring the time of highly trained personnel, and is prone to error.
Another approach employs transponders and a wireless interrogation and detection system. Such an approach employs wireless transponders which are attached to various objects used during surgery. The interrogation and detection system includes a transmitter that emits pulsed wideband wireless signals (e.g., radio or microwave frequency) and a detector for detecting wireless signals returned by the transponders in response to the emitted pulsed wideband signals. Such an automated system may advantageously increase accuracy while reducing the amount of time required of highly trained and highly compensated personnel. Examples of such an approach are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,818, issued Feb. 22, 2000, and U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2004/0250819, published Dec. 16, 2004.
Commercial implementation of such an automated system requires that the overall system be cost competitive and highly accurate. In particular, false negatives must be avoided to ensure that objects are not mistakenly left in the patient. Consequently, a new approach to prevention of foreign object retention in medical procedure environments is highly desirable.

Method and apparatus to account for transponder tagged objects used during medical procedures


An object of the present invention is to achieve high coding efficiency for a companded signal sequence and reduce the amount of codes. A coding method according to the present invention includes an analysis step and a signal sequence transformation step. The analysis step is to check whether or not there is a number that is included in a particular range but does not occur in a second signal sequence (a number sequence that indicates the magnitude (magnitude relationship) of original signals) and output information that indicates the number that does not occur. The signal sequence transformation step is to output a transformed second signal sequence (which is formed by assigning new numbers to indicate the magnitudes of original signals (the magnitude relationship among original signals) excluding the magnitude of the original signal indicated by the number that does not occur and replacing the numbers in the second signal sequence with the newly assigned numbers) in the case where it is determined in the analysis step that there is a number that does not occur. The particular range is defined as a number that indicates a positive value having a minimum absolute value and a number that indicates a negative value having a minimum absolute value, for example.

A known reversible, lossless coding is a method of compressing information, such as a sound and an image. Besides, various types of compression coding methods have been proposed to deal with cases where a waveform is directly recorded in the form of a linear PCM signal (see Non-patent literature 1).
On the other hand, in audio transmission for long-distance telephone or VoIP, the logarithm approximation companding PCM (see Non-patent literature 2), in which the amplitude is expressed in logarithm approximation, is used instead of the linear PCM, in which the amplitude is expressed by a numerical value.    Non-patent literature 1: Mat Hans, "Lossless Compression of Digital Audio," IEEE SIGNAL PROCESSING MAGAZINE, July 2001, pp. 21-32    Non-patent literature 2: ITU-T Recommendation G 711, "Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) of Voice Frequencies"

Coding method, decoding method, and apparatuses, programs and recording media therefor

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


A device for the delivery of documents conveyed in a vertical orientation along a document path to a receptacle in a substantially horizontal orientation includes a diverter for diverting individual vertically disposed documents away from the document path in a direction toward the receptacle, a document receiving and transporting system disposed adjacent the diverter to receive the documents and progressively advancing and changing the orientation of the documents from vertical to horizontal, whereby the documents are each delivered into the receptacle in a substantially horizontal orientation.

The present invention relates to mass document and mail sorting equipment, and more particularly to a device for rotating envelopes transported along a mass mail sorter from a vertical position to a flat horizontal exit position and discharging the envelopes in a horizontal orientation directly into a receptacle such as a mail container.
In the use of mail sorting equipment, large numbers of envelopes are normally transported at high speeds in a vertical position or orientation along a sorting path. Apparatus within the sorting equipment automatically reads the zip code or address indicia on the envelopes, and sorts the envelopes into uniform zip code groupings to allow the user to take advantage of lower postal rates. Envelopes of similar zip code are deviated from the sorting path at predetermined locations.
In existing equipment, upon being sorted into separate bins which collect envelopes in groups bearing a uniform zip code, the envelope groups are stacked vertically in the bins. When a bin is observed by an operator to be full, or nearly full, the stack of envelopes is manually lifted and deposited into standard mail receiving receptacles or containers. In the case of larger or "flat" mail, such as catalogs, pamphlets, large envelopes of unfolded mail and the like, such grouping of material may be too heavy to be readily lifted from a bin and placed in a receiving container. Additionally, this process requires the exertion of physical labor that is avoided using the apparatus of the present invention.
A primary object of the present invention is to receive documents conveyed along a primary conveying path and diverted into a secondary document engaging and transporting path in a substantially vertical orientation, rotate the documents into a substantially horizontal direction while the documents are being conveyed in the secondary path, and delivering the documents sequentially in a substantially horizontal orientation from the secondary path into a receiving container.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a document re-orientation conveying and delivery system for a sorting apparatus which automatically adjusts to securely grip and convey documents such as mail of different thicknesses.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a document conveying and re-orientation system for a document sorting apparatus which ejects documents from a document engaging and transporting path in a horizontal orientation and in a downwardly angled trajectory to facilitate the delivery of the documents directly into a receptacle located at the end of and slightly below the end of the document engaging and transporting path.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a document engaging and transporting path for a sorting apparatus which engaging and transporting path extends between adjacent runs of two flexible belt systems extending between respective pairs of rollers, one roller of each pair being vertically disposed and the other roller of each pair being horizontally disposed such that as they are advanced, the documents change from a vertical to a horizontal orientation and are delivered horizontally into a receiving receptacle or container.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a document engaging and transporting path formed by a plurality of adjacent moving belts providing an entrance nip between the portions of the belts forming the nip, whereby the nip is partially defined by an idler roller which is movable to vary the position of the nip in the document engaging and transporting path.

Automatic article discharge into mail container


Photovoltaic devices are presented. A photovoltaic device includes a window layer and a semiconductor layer including a semiconductor material disposed on window layer. The semiconductor layer includes a first region and a second region, the first region disposed proximate to the window layer, and the second region including a chalcogen-rich region, wherein the first region and the second region include a dopant, and an average atomic concentration of the dopant in the second region is greater than an average atomic concentration of the dopant in the first region.

The invention generally relates to photovoltaic devices including a semiconductor layer. More particularly, the invention relates to thin-film photovoltaic devices including a semiconductor layer.
Thin film photovoltaic devices typically include a plurality of semiconductor layers disposed on a transparent substrate, wherein a first semiconductor layer serves as a window layer and a second semiconductor layer serves as an absorber layer. The window layer allows the penetration of solar radiation to the absorber layer, where the optical energy is converted to usable electrical energy. In certain configurations, thin film photovoltaic devices may further include an additional semiconductor layer interposed between the window layer and the absorber layer that may function as an intrinsic layer. Cadmium telluride/cadmium sulfide (CdTe/CdS) heterojunction-based photovoltaic devices are one such example of thin film solar cells, where a cadmium telluride (CdTe)-based semiconductor layer may function as an intrinsic layer or an absorber layer.
However, CdTe-based photovoltaic devices typically demonstrate relatively low power conversion efficiencies, which may be attributed to a relatively low open circuit voltage (Voc) in relation to the band gap of the material which is due, in part, to the low effective carrier concentration and short minority carrier lifetime in CdTe. Effective carrier concentration of CdTe may be improved by doping with p-type dopants.
Further issues with improving the device efficiency of CdTe solar cells include the high work function of CdTe and high back-contact resistance at the interface between CdTe and metal-based back contact layer. The back-contact resistance may be improved by increasing the carrier concentration at the back interface. For example, for a p-type CdTe material, increasing the carrier concentration amounts to increasing the p-type carriers in the CdTe material to form an "ohmic contact layer" on the backside of the CdTe layer, which is in contact with the back contact layer.
Typical methods employed to form the ohmic layers or for doping the absorber layer include etching of the CdTe layers and incorporation of copper into back-end of line processing of the absorber layer. However, it may be difficult to control the amount of copper incorporated in the bulk and in the back interface, using a typical CdTe processing method. Further, photovoltaic devices manufactured using the typical methods may include a high copper content at the back-interface, which may adversely affect the long-term stability. Furthermore, etching of the CdTe layer using conventional etching agents may lead to removal of CdTe material from the surface, and selective etching of grain boundaries, resulting in increased defects.
Thus, there is a need for improved methods of processing semiconductor layers. Further, there is a need for improved photovoltaic device configurations including the semiconductor layers.