A circuit board assembly, for example, a computer motherboard, for use in a liquid submersion cooled electronic device, for example, a computer, is configured to facilitate movement of the cooling liquid when the circuit board is submerged in the cooling liquid, thereby improving the heat transfer from heat-generating components on the circuit board. For a computer, a plurality of heat-generating components are mounted on the motherboard, including a plurality of processors, a plurality of memory cards, a plurality of graphics cards, and a plurality of power supplies. A pump for the cooling liquid can also be mounted on the motherboard.

A significant problem facing the computer industry is heat. The higher the temperature a component operates at, the more likely it is to fail. Also, high temperatures, while not causing catastrophic failures, can create data processing errors. Operation at high temperatures can cause power fluctuations that lead to these errors within a central processing unit (CPU) or on the motherboard anywhere that data management is handled. Despite efforts at reducing waste heat while increasing processing power, each new CPU and graphics processing unit (GPU) released on the market runs hotter than the last. Power supply and motherboard components required to provide power and handle signal processing also are producing more and more heat with every new generation.
The use of liquids in cooling systems to cool computer systems is known. One known method of cooling computer components employs a closed-loop, 2-phase system 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The 2-phase system 10 is employed to passively cool the north 12 and south 14 bridge chips. The vapor travels through a tube 16 to a cooling chamber 18, the vapor turns back into liquid, and the liquid is returned by tube 20 to the chips 12, 14 for further cooling. In another known liquid cooling system, internal pumps move liquid past a hot plate on a CPU and then the heated liquid is pumped into a finned lower that passively cools the liquid and returns it to the plate.
In the case of large-scale, fixed-installation supercomputers, it is known to submerge the active processing components of the supercomputer in inert, dielectric fluid. The fluid is typically allowed to flow through the active components and then it is pumped to external heat exchangers where the fluid is cooled before being returned to the main chamber.
Despite prior attempts to cool computer components, further improvements to cooling systems are necessary.

Circuit board assembly for a liquid submersion cooled electronic device


A water borne, bakable paint composition having a reduced VOC formulated to contain a dispersion of at least one water compatible, film forming cross-linkable resin, a solvent and/or coalescent for the resin in the form of a block copolymer of a copolyetherpolyol and a cross-linking agent for the resin and the copolyetherpolyol in which the cross-linking agent is present in an amount sufficient to cross link the resin and the copolyetherpolyol whereby the latter becomes part of the film when the paint is baked.

The present invention relates to water borne paint composition, and particularly to water borne paint compositions containing copolyetherpolyols.
Environmental regulations restrict the amount of VOC that a paint applicator can emit, and they also restrict the amount of VOC that a paint can carry. Waterborne paints contain solvents and coalescents that contribute to the total VOC. The presence of solvents reduces the viscosity of a water-soluble resin, such as a water-soluble alkyd, thus helping the paint to flow out into an even film during the early stages of baking. In the case of latexes, a coalescent solvent helps the latex particles to fuse together into an even coating before curing has advanced too far. The most common solvents and coalescents used in water-borne paints are monoethers of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and dipropylene glycol. Formulators of water-borne paint need to utilize these volatile organic compounds, but they try to minimize their levels in order to keep the VOC as low as possible. Any way to reduce the levels of those solvents without affecting other properties of the paint or the baked coating would be an advantage.
Binders and pigments account for most of the solids content of the paint. Paint solids can be described in terms of the weight percent solids or of the volume percent. The volume percent solids is more fundamentally related to the thickness of the dried film (dft). For a given volume of paint applied to a given area, the dft depends on the volume percent solids. Throughput on high-speed paint lines is often limited by the solids content. In such cases, throughput could be increased if the paint had higher volume percent solids. However, the volume percent solids cannot simply be increased by removing some of the water, because then the paint would become too viscous to spray. Any way to increase the volume percent solids without causing a concomitant increase in viscosity would be an advantage.
The organic portion of coatings is susceptible to oxidative degradation in the presence of heat and air. Baked enamels are exposed to such conditions during their normal cure, and oxidative degradation is possible during a normal bake cycle or during overbaking. Some resins become yellow during baking by oxidative degradation. Alkyd resins made using unsaturated oils are especially susceptible to such overbake yellowing. Sometimes an alkyd resin can become sufficiently yellow during normal baking so that it is impossible to use that resin to make a very clean white paint. Antioxidants can help reduce the yellowing, but their effectiveness is limited and somewhat costly. Alkyds made using a saturated oil are much more resistant to oxidative yellowing, but they are more expensive than the more common alkyd resins. It would be advantageous to have a binder that is more resistant to oxidative yellowing than common alkyd resins, that could be used to replace some alkyd resin, and that is not much more expensive than an unsaturated alkyd.
It has been proposed to use copolyetherpolyols in water borne paints as dispersing agents for pigments. Those skilled in the art recognize that the function of such copolyetherpolyols is limited to a dispersant function. The prior art has not recognized that such copolyetherpolyols can be used in large quantities so as to become part of the film deposited on a painted substrate during the baking cycle which is not susceptible to oxidative yellowing as so frequently occurs in the case of, for example, alkyd resin films.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a water borne paint composition which overcomes the foregoing disadvantages.
It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a water borne paint composition in which use is made of a non-volatile copolyetherpolyol which can replace at least a portion of the conventionally used water-reducible film forming binders to thereby reduce the viscosity of the paint composition as well as reduce its VOC content.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a water borne paint composition containing copolyetherpolyols in which the copolyetherpolyols are cross-linked with the film forming binder to become part of the film formed during baking of the painted substrate to provide a coating having improved resistance during baking to oxidative yellowing.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention appear more fully hereinafter from a detailed description of the invention.


Provided herein are compounds, methods of making the compounds and methods for the sensitive and selective detection of Hg2+ with the compounds, which are calix[4]arenes. In particular, compounds of Formula I, wherein the variables have the values described herein, may be added to a sample to be tested for Hg2+. The compound of

Mercury is a metal which has commanded a lot of attention in the scientific world, primarily because of its toxicity. Mercury exposure can cause developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, chronic toxicity, acute toxicity, neurotoxicity and environmental toxicity. Acute and chronic mercury affects the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal system and nervous system.
The sources of the mercury are commercial products such as batteries, thermometers, electrical switches, barometers, dental fillings, fluorescent light bulbs, and some blood pressure devices. Mercury can be released into the atmosphere during various manufacturing and disposal processes, or through natural water flowing over mercury deposits such as cinnabar.
Estimates of the minimal risk levels of mercury range from 0.002-0.007 mg/kg/for oral exposure and 0.0002 mg/m3 for inhalation. The most harmful form of mercury is ionic mercury, which appears as Hg2+, a doubly charged positive ion. A small amount of the ion, Hg22+ may also be present in some cases, but it quickly decomposes to metallic mercury and the ion Hg2+. Thus, methods for assessing low levels of mercury in both biological and other sample types would be useful.

Selective detection of Hg2+ by calix[4]arenes

Abstract: Formula (I) fluoresces strongly in the absence of Hg2+ but is quenched upon binding of Hg2+ to form a complex. The decrease in fluorescence may be used to detect and quantify the amount of Hg2+ present in a sample. The disclosed compounds may also be used to selectively detect Hg2+ in samples containing other mono- or divalent metals.


A new cultivar of Sarracenia plant named ‘White Wizard’ that is characterized by long tubular shaped leaves with a vertical hood extending above the leaf opening, green leaves with red veins and a red-brown colored lip, white translucent chlorophyll free patches near the hood margins and the leaf opening and wavy hood margins.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sarracenia plant botanically known as Sarracenia hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'White Wizard'.
The new Sarracenia plant is the product of a breeding program conducted by the inventor in Vista, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new ornamental carnivorous pitcher plants with large leaves, high leaf counts and distinctive leaf colors
'White Wizard' originated from the crossing of a large number of unidentified proprietary selections of Sarracenia hybrid (not patented) in 2009. The exact parent plants are unknown. The resulting seeds were subsequently harvested and grown. 'White Wizard' was selected as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Vista, Calif. in 2009.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar 'White Wizard' first occurred by tissue culture in 2011 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. Since that time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.


A heating strap assembly includes a of heating strap engaged with positioning recesses of supports which are connected between two sides of a rectangular frame which includes a first end board, a second end board and the two sides connected between the first and second end boards. Two positioning bars are connected between the first and second end boards to press the supports. An adjusting device includes a U-shaped pull member which is movably connected to the second end board by springs. The pull member is connected to a driving support which is movably connected to the two sides of the frame and includes positioning recesses with which the heating strap is engaged. The springs pull the pull member to pull the heating strap so as to keep the tension of the heating strap.

A conventional heating assembly is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and generally includes a frame 1 with notches 102 defined in two insides of the frame 1 and a plurality of supports 2 each have two insertions 202 on two ends thereof, the insertions 202 are engaged with the notches 102 so as to connect the supports 2 across two sides of the frame 1. Two positioning bars 3 are connected between two ends of the frame 1 so as to press the supports 2 in position. Each support 2 has a plurality of positioning recesses 204 and a separation portion 206 is located between adjacent positioning recesses 204. A heating strap 4 is engaged with the positioning recesses 204 back and forth and the sections of the heating strap 4 between the supports 2 are separated by the separation portions 206 to avoid contact. When electric current goes through the heating strap 4, the heating strap 4 generates heat due to resistance and the heat is spread by a fan to increase the temperature of the interior of a room.
However, the heating strap 4 inflates because of the high temperature and the area of cross section of the heating strap 4 increases. The adjacent sections of the heating strap 4 might be in contact with each other to cause short of the circuit.
The present invention intends to provide an adjusting device which includes a pull member cooperated with springs and a support is connected to the pull member such that the tension of the heating strap is kept at a certain level so that the area of cross section of the heating strap is maintained.

Adjusting device for adjusting tension of heating straps on heating assembly


A system and method for in situ dewatering and stabilizing waste material deposits previously created from sluicing into a waste impoundment. The method includes access for installation of wells and grading for surface drainage and storm water control. If free water is present, primary dewatering siphons or decants the free water in the pond. The system includes vertical dewatering well installation that requires drilling, well completion materials for filtering leachate, and well pump installation for removing leachate from the well. Collection piping collects leachate from the wells and transfers the leachate to a discharge solution. The dewatering operation collects and removes leachate from the pond ash deposit and impoundment, reuses or treats the leachate at a discharge solution, remediates contaminants and/or hydraulic head in the impoundment, and consolidates and stabilizes the dewatered solids. Impoundment closure includes horizontal drains, final grading, final cover or overfill landfill development, and post closure.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a system and method for dewatering and stabilization system, and more particularly, to a system and method for in situ dewatering and stabilizing saturated coal ash and other coal combustion residuals or similar waste material deposits previously created from sluicing into an ash basin or similar waste impoundment.
Description of the Prior Art
Impoundments have been utilized in the mining industry and power industry for disposal of waste products generated from the mining and burning of coal prior to the 1960's. Coal fired power plants have historically used basins or impoundments to contain and store waste products generated by the coal combustion process. Ash basins were designed to settle the coal ash and other coal combustion residual (CCR) solids and decant the water to adjoining surface water through a discharge structure. Deposited CCRs are typically saturated and layered, the accumulated layers described as pond ash deposit. The water level within the constructed embankments and the pond ash deposit is described as the phreatic surface, which may be perched or connected to the local groundwater level in surrounding soils and bedrock. Accordingly, the components of an ash basin typically include free water on top of the pond ash deposits and ponded around the outlet structure, leachate within the saturated pond ash deposit, and pond ash solids. The CCR materials accumulate in a pond ash deposit and remain in an undrained, saturated condition that is typically very loose or soft.
Historically, ash basins were constructed at a time when groundwater monitoring requirements and groundwater protections were not routinely required. Environmental impacts from existing ash basins have typically occurred in the foundation soils and rock materials adjoining the basins. The environmental risks posed by existing impoundments typically involve the migration of water with concentrated heavy metals, sulfates, chlorides, total dissolved solids, or total suspended solids to adjoining surface water or groundwater.
During most of their useful life, ash basins remain passive facilities and only receive the work necessary to maintain the basin embankments and the flow path to the outlet structure. As the basin approaches its storage capacity, shallow dewatering, excavating and/or dredging activities have been used to relocate or stack pond ash to improve settlement and storage conditions within the basin. After excavation, the leachate drains from stacked pond ash leaving drier, unsaturated ash materials. The stacked ash is more dense and stable than the sluiced ash and supports heavy equipment loads. Conversely, the adjoining unimproved pond ash deposit is subject to failure under excessive static load conditions or could liquefy or spread laterally from vibration or earthquake conditions. Based on these observations and on laboratory testing of drained and undrained ash samples, consolidation and an increase in shear strength are the structural improvements needed for pond ash deposit stability.
The process treatment of the wastewater collected from an ash basin provides risk reduction for groundwater and surface water quality. Both passive and active methods for wastewater treatment to remove metals, total suspended solids and total dissolved solids have been successfully implemented in the mining and power industry. The water treatment methods to remove heavy metals from groundwater and coal wastewater have been successfully implemented for similar applications and new technologies are under development.
Existing CCR landfill overfills have been developed over historic pond ash deposits and provide added capacity for CCR disposal. For existing and new overfills, dewatered pond ash deposits improve the foundation conditions by consolidating the old pond ash deposits, which will increase the factor of safety for stability.
The current state of the art in dewatering ash basins includes excavating or dredging the pond ash, draining the leachate back to the pond, and moving the ash to a storage location. The pond ash is typically saturated when excavated and must be temporarily stacked to drain prior to loading the pond ash on trucks for hauling. Existing methods remove the leachate and ash together from below the phreatic surface to an elevated position where the leachate gravity drains from the pile, typically back into the basin. Dredging and pumping the ash-leachate slurry to process equipment for solid-liquid separation has been used to remove the pond ash deposit. With excavation or dredging, the existing methods disturb the pond ash deposit and remove the ash and leachate together. Unless the leachate accumulating in the pond during excavation is properly treated, environmental risks to surface water quality are increased during the excavation and drainage process.
The costs and emissions from an excavation or dredging operation to remove ash from an ash basin are significant. The weight of heavy construction equipment over saturated weak material and unstable conditions in the pond ash deposit is a general safety risk for conventional excavation on a pond ash deposit. In the mining industry there is a record of loss of life and equipment from these excavation activities. The safety risks are greater with increasing excavation depth.
The in situ treatment system for dewatering and stabilization of the present invention comprises a method to lower the phreatic surface with limited disturbance to the pond ash deposit for environmental risk reduction, remediation, and closure of the ash basin. The phreatic surface can be lowered and risks for contaminant migration are lowered when the leachate is collected and removed from the basin. The remaining wastes may avoid removal and transportation to an alternate site for disposal if the risks are reduced to an acceptable level.
The in situ treatment system also includes specialized wells to retain and filter solids from the recovered leachate. Controlling suspended solids from clogging the collector and damaging pump equipment is a key component of the in situ treatment system. The operation of the collectors may be concurrent with existing practices to manage leachate removal from the pond ash deposit and may be supplemented by adjoining groundwater recovery. The dewatered CCR solids will consolidate under their self-weight and will have improved strength and structural properties to support overfill of additional wastes or in situ closure. If necessary, dewatered CCR solids may be removed for secure disposal.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,900 discloses a shaft driven trencher that includes a mobile powered base, a boom assembly, a chain digging assembly, a drive assembly and a linkage. The boom assembly includes a first boom member pivotally mounted to the base at a first pivot and a second boom member pivotally mounted to the first boom member. The chain digging assembly has a plurality of buckets. The drive assembly operably interconnects the mobile base and the chain digging assembly, with the drive assembly including a drive shaft connected to the mobile base for powered rotation of the drive shaft. The drive assembly further includes a right angle gear unit with input and output shafts, with the right angle gear unit being pivotally mounted to the boom assembly for rotation about the output shaft. The linkage interconnects the right angle gear unit with the base and pivots the right angle gear unit during rotation of the first boom member. The linkage also maintains the input shaft of the right angle gear unit facing the first pivot.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,390,192 discloses an integral well filter and screen and method for making and using same. A first embodiment includes a perforated cylindrical well screen with a filter assembly in its interior. The filter assembly includes a pliable filter material bonded to a filter support. The filter support is a plastic lattice rigid enough to hold the shape of the filter assembly and keep the filter material in contact with the inner surface of the well screen, yet deformable enough that the filter assembly can be formed into a shape consistent with the interior of the well screen. A second embodiment includes a well screen with a filter made of a rigid, porous material placed inside the well screen. Because the filter is rigid, it needs no filter support. The method for the first embodiment includes bonding the filter support to the filter material, forming the filter assembly into a cylindrical shape complementary to the inner surface of the well screen, securing abutting edges of the filter assembly to maintain its shape and rigidity, and ensure complete filtration, and inserting the filter assembly into the well screen. The manufacture of the filter in the second embodiment is similar, but does not include the bonding of a filter support to the rigid porous material.
U.S. Patent Publication 2014/0255100 discloses a geosynthetic composite for filtration and drainage of fine-grained geomaterials that includes a geonet and a geotextile. The geotextile has a nonwoven fabric layer and a woven fabric layer, with the nonwoven fabric connected by needle-punching to the woven fabric whereby fibers of the nonwoven fabric extend through and beyond the woven fabric, and the woven fabric and fibers of the nonwoven fabric extending through the woven fabric are bonded to one side of the geonet.
The prior art to date does not disclose a system and method for dewatering and stabilizing coal combustion residuals or similar waste material deposits previously created from sluicing into an ash basin or coal combustion residual impoundment. None of the prior art can be combined in a way to suggest these necessary modifications. There is no teaching, suggestion, or motivation that would have enabled a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify any prior art to arrive at the present invention.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an in situ treatment system and method for dewatering and stabilization that removes leachate from the pond ash deposit and pond in situ.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an in situ treatment system and method that reduces environmental risks associated with pond leachate.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an in situ treatment system and method that consolidates and stabilizes pond ash solids.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a in situ treatment system and method that allows the closed pond to be developed as an overfill landfill for added waste disposal.

In situ treatment system and method for dewatering and stabilization of waste material deposits in waste impoundments


A gravity-fed, manually-operable dispenser for sugar, creamer and other particles and granules is comprised of a particulate reservoir affixed to a dispensing base by engagement tabs and slots. The tabs and slots allow the dispenser to be easily disassembled for maintenance and cleaning. The base encloses a substantially cylindrical rotating measuring/dispensing vane that has several hollow apertures into which particulates flow from the reservoir. The vane rides on a smooth, flat surface that seals or closes off the apertures. An opening in the flat surface of the dispensing base allows particulates in a full aperture to fall through and out of the base. A soft gasket over surfaces of the vane that would otherwise make direct contact with the base portion prevent the vane from becoming lodged in place by crystalline material.

Many restaurants that provide coffee and other beverages to customers also provide stand-alone serving stations where customers can add sweeteners and/or creamer to beverages. Individual serving, pre-packaged sweeteners and creamers are expensive and messy. They are also subject to loss or theft. Many restaurants thus prefer to offer their customers sweeteners and creamers from dispensers that are filled and re-filled from bulk quantities.
Providing sweeteners and creamers and other particulates to customers in bulk powder granule dispensers creates a number of problems. Prior art dispensers are expensive to manufacture because many of them require complicated machinery and/or complicated housings. Prior art dispensers are also somewhat complicated to use and they are not readily cleaned or maintained, which is essential for restaurant use. A powder/granule dispenser that is simple to manufacture, simple to operate, reliable and easy to clean and maintain would be an improvement over prior art particulate dispensers.


An apparatus and method for down hole gas separation from the multiphase fluid flowing in a wellbore or a pipe, for determining the quantities of the individual components of the liquid and the flow rate of the liquid, and for remixing the component parts of the fluid after which the gas volume may be measured, without affecting the flow stream, are described. Acoustic radiation force is employed to separate gas from the liquid, thereby permitting measurements to be separately made for these two components; the liquid (oil/water) composition is determined from ultrasonic resonances; and the gas volume is determined from capacitance measurements. Since the fluid flows around and through the component parts of the apparatus, there is little pressure difference, and no protection is required from high pressure differentials.

Fluid from oil wells generally includes a mixture of gas, produced water and hydrocarbon (crude oil). The real-time determination of the actual quantity of oil produced in a given well is necessary for the determination of royalties in the oil production industry. Presently, there are several methods for accomplishing such metering. As an example, the fluid stream from a well may be sent to a separation tank where it can separate by gravitational forces after which relative amounts of the various phases may be determined. However, many hours are required for this separation, and large tanks are employed. The density of heavy crude is approximately the same as that for water and separation is difficult without heating the fluid. Once heated, the densities of oil and water are sufficiently different to permit gravitational separation, but significant energy is wasted in the heating process.
Another procedure includes a phase separator, for example, a cyclone separator, for separating gas from the fluid stream. A large mechanical piping system external to the pipe carrying the mixed fluid stream is required. Once the gas is separated from the fluid, a microwave-based liquid/liquid analyzer (for example, the OW-200 series system by Agar Corporation), as an example, can be used to determine the oil-water composition. This procedure is effective for heavy crude, but in the case of light crude, more accurate density measuring devices, such as Coriolis-type meters (for example, the Coriolis meter by MicroMotion Elite) system may be used to determine the density of the oil-water mixture from which the fluid composition can be determined. Measurement systems having such capabilities are large and expensive and, as a result, it is often not possible to include such devices at every well. The flow streams from multiple wells are therefore often combined and measurements are made on the combined flow stream, which makes it difficult to determine the output of individual wells without switching the individual flow streams to the measurement device. Difficulty and expense of such measurements increases if monitoring needs to be accomplished significantly below the surface or in a deep sea operation.
If the flow stream needs to be monitored at various perforation levels in a well to determine which perforation levels are producing valuable fluids and which of the remaining levels should be closed down, a device must be lowered into the well to make this measurement. Borehole TV cameras and infra-red detectors have been used, but with limited success. Additionally, these procedures do not provide quantitative measurements of fluid composition down hole.

Integrated acoustic phase separator and multiphase fluid composition monitoring apparatus and method


The present invention discloses a graphical programming control and storage system, which includes a central control module, a display module connected to the central control module, a message response module, a graphical programming inter-component operating module, a graphical programming intra-component operating module, an item attribute and control module, a user-defined component module, an item persistence module, and a compilation module; and the central control module is responsible for processing, storing, and returning a delivered information and result. The system enables a user to complete complex programming by dragging the graphical programming components, and finally generates a formulated language or executable program, thus implementing graphical programming. The present invention can implement graphical programming control and storage by the solution above, enabling visible and intuitive programming, and improving the working efficiency of programmers.

With the rapid development of computer technologies, software and hardware programming is no longer a full-time job for an IT staff Meanwhile, in the early computer education for children, programming ideas also gives further demands to reduce the difficulty of using programming language. In Jobs' lost video, he said that everyone should learn how to program, because programming can stimulate the brain and make people think more thoroughly. However, in fact, due to the complexity of program logic and the variety of programming language syntax, it is still difficult for people in non-computer related major to reach. For robot enthusiasts in non-computer hardware and software related major, as a special group among computer users, if software is programmed in a fixed chip, a certain creation space cannot be given to them, which will no longer meet their needs. The only way to solve this urgent problem is to develop a programmable platform to create your own works, which should be easy to use as well.
The existing graphical programming software is not common, and most forms are fixed. The components for programming are limited and too difficult to learn. The user still needs to spend a lot of time to understand how to use the graphical programming system. Moreover, the efficiency of the system is not sufficient, which is very time-consuming.

Graphical programming control and storage system


An apparatus is provided with a storage medium having stored therein programming instructions that implement a set of communication services for bridging a voice call from a caller to a calle, and an execution unit coupled to the storage medium for executing the programming instructions. The communication services include call management services for transitioning the voice call through a plurality of call states [including a call holding state] while connecting/disconnecting the caller and the callee, and facilitating selective provision of information in non-audio form to the caller [in at least the call holding state] while transitioning the voice calls through the call states. The caller is also equipped to receive non-audio information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for processing calls.
2. Background Information
Applying computer technology to telecommunicaitons is generally known in the art. For example, private branch exchanges (PBX) are routinely augmented with automated receptionist/attendant and/or voice messaging systems. The applications range from simple automated receptionist services, to voice messaging services, to obtaining account information, such as balances, to conducting transactions of simple to moderate complexity, such as fund transfers. In each of these applications, the caller is automatically attended to through a series of voice menus.
Recently advances in computer technology have enabled users of computer systems to obtain information and communicate with each other over the Internet. Computer users can "surf the net" to browse at web pages offered by various web servers on the Internet. Computer users can also communicate with each other through e-mails as well as voice calls. Various vendors even offer services to facilitate voice calls between users of computer systems and users of conventional telephone handsets. However, these services are still in their infancy states with various limitations including for example, the requirement of a voice call originating computer user to know and enter the telephone number of the destination handset. Furthermore, call centers are continuing to handle voice calls as if all voice calls are originated from conventional handsets, without leveraging on the fact that increasing number of voice calls are originated through the Internet. It is therefore desirable to further enhance the current state of art for Internet telephony, in particular, the manner in which voice calls are processed by vendors who facilitate Internet telephony, and the manner in which call centers handle voice calls.

Method and apparatus for bridging a voice call including selective provision of information in non-audio to the caller


A three-dimensional displacement measurement apparatus includes a planar displacement measurement portion which measures a displacement of a measurement point on a surface of a measurement object in the direction of an X-Y plane, a vertical displacement measurement portion which measures a displacement of the surface in a vertical direction with respect to the X-Y plane, and a vertical displacement measurement position compensation portion that tracks a displacement of the measurement point on the X-Y plane.

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional displacement measurement apparatus and method, and more particularly, to a three-dimensional displacement measurement apparatus and method that measures fine displacements in three dimensions of a specific point of a precision mechanism.
Products that require precise mechanisms require efforts for quality stability from the stage of design through to manufacture, and use structural analysis methods that are incorporated from the design stage as CAE. However, when there are fine displacements of mechanism systems under compounded conditions of the influence of heat and the like to coupling portions of assembly parts, the analysis is difficult and as a result, there is a large influence to both the quality of the final product and the manufacturing yield. Because of this, there is a sharply increased necessity for high-precision three-dimensional displacement measurement apparatus so as to enable product design incorporating consideration for fine displacements that occur due to changes in the installation environment (such as temperature and humidity and the like).
Conventional three-dimensional measurement apparatus include contact-type measurement apparatus that measure by using a probe to a surface for measurement, and three-dimensional measurement apparatus of the non-contact type which use a camera to measure a displacement in the xy-directions, and an interferometer to measure a displacement in a Z-direction. In addition, there is also the triangular measurement quantity type and the static capacitance type of non-contact displacement measurement apparatus for the Z-direction.
The photointerference type is the most suited for displacement measurement in the assembly stages of products.
However, each of the types of three-dimensional measurement apparatus mentioned above cannot measure the true three-dimensional displacement measurement of a measurement point on an object plane. This is because the measurement point is not tracked in the Z-direction in accordance with displacements in the xy-directions.
For determining a true displacement due to heat measurement of the three-dimensional displacement while tracking the measurement point with respect to an initial value is essential.

Three-dimensional displacement measurement apparatus and method with vertical displacement measurement compensation


A method for reading a radiation image that has been stored in a photostimulable phosphor screen. The phosphor screen includes a divalent europium activated cesium halide phosphor wherein the halide is at least one of chloride and bromide. Light emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation is separated from stimulation light using a filter including a dye.

Radiation image recording systems wherein a radiation image is recorded on a photostimulable phosphor screen by exposing said screen to image-wise modulated penetrating radiation are widely used nowadays.
Screens which are suitable for this application comprise e.g. a BaFX: Eu2+phosphor or a divalent europium activated cesium halide phosphor wherein said halide is at least one of chloride and bromide.
The recorded image is reproduced by stimulating the exposed photostimulable phosphor screen by means of stimulating radiation and by detecting the light that is emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation and converting the detected light into an electrical signal representation of the radiation image.
In a specific embodiment light emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation is detected by means of an array of charge coupled devices. In order to obtain a good collection efficiency the light emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation is guided by means of a light guide onto the array of charge coupled devices.
In one embodiment this light guide is implemented in the form of a fibre optic plate. A fibre optic plate consist so a number of of juxtaposed optical fibres that together form a two-dimensional light guiding array. The first dimension of the array corresponds with the length of a scan line on the photostimulable phosphor screen while the second dimension covers the width of the array of transducer elements. In this way the light emitted when stimulating a scan line on the photostimulable phosphor screen is guided onto the array of transducer elements in a point-by-point like fashion.
The light which is used for stimulating the phosphor screen has to be separated from the light emitted by the screen upon stimulation.
An easy way to obtain separation of stimulating light from emission light is to use an optical filter in between the light input face of the fibre optic plate and the phosphor screen.
Coloured glass filters are widely used for this purpose.
Optimal resolution is obtained when the fibre optic plate is in close contact with the phosphor screen.
However, coloured glass filters are rather thick. The provision of a coloured glass filter in between the fibre optic plate and the phosphor screen is incompatible with the requirement of having close contact between the fibre optic plate and screen.
In case a CsBr:Eu phosphor is used, the stimulating light source is a light source emitting in the range of 600 to 800 nm. The filter should absorb the laser light to a large extent while at the same time the absorption of the light emitted upon stimulation, which has a maximum at 440 nm, should be minimal.
Optimally the optical density of the filter at the stimulation wavelength range should be at least 8 while the transmission at the emission wavelength should be higher than 75% resulting in a density equal to or less than 0.12. Reaching an optical density of 8 means that the laser light is attenuated with factor 107 (Absorption=99.999999%)
To achieve these specifications by means of a glass filter such as a BG 39 Schott filter, the thickness of the filter should at least be 7 mm.
In case of a read out apparatus as described higher wherein the light emitted by the phosphor screen is guided to the array of transducer elements via a fibre optics plate, the gap between the input face of the fibre optic plate and the phosphor screen can only be approximately 100 micrometer in order to attain high resolution. It is thus clear that a glass filter is unsuitable for this application.
In case the fibre optic plate is replaced by an array of microlenses or a selfoc array this gap would attain a value in the range of 2 to 3 mm. Even in this case the use of a glass filter as described higher would be impossible.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact system for reading a radiation image that has been stored in a photostimulable phosphor screen wherein stimulation light and light emitted by the screen upon stimulation are optically separated.
Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the description hereafter.
The above mentioned objects are realised by a system for reading a radiation image that has been stored in a photostimulable phosphor screen comprising
at least one source of stimulating radiation,
an array of transducer elements arranged for detecting light emitted upon stimulation and for converting said light into a signal representation of said image,
filtering means for preventing light emitted by said source of stimulation light from being detected by said transducer elements, wherein
said phosphor screen comprises a divalent europium activated cesium halide phosphor wherein said halide is at least one of chloride and bromide, and
said filtering means comprises a dye.
In a specific embodiment said filtering means comprise a dye that has an absorption spectrum having an absorption peak within the range of 600 to 800 nm, the maximum of said peak attaining a value corresponding with at least 99% absorption, and the absorption in the range of 400 to 500 nm being less than 25%.
In a specific embodiment the dye is dissolved in a binder such as a gelatine, a lacquer such as Mowilith CT5 (Hoechst) etc.
A filter based on a dye-gelatine composition is preferred because the filter can be made very thin so that it can be placed in between the light input face of the light guiding means and the phosphor screen. The light input face of the light guiding means is the face where the light emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation enters the light guiding means.
The composition of dye and binder can be self-supporting. Otherwise it can be provided on a support such as a PET support.
Alternatively it is also possible to adhere the mixture of gelatine and dye to the light entrance face of the light guiding means.
Still alternatively the composition of dye and gelatine can be coated onto the photostimulable phosphor screen itself.
In on embodiment according to the present invention a divalent europium activated cesium halide phosphor screen wherein said halide is at least one of chloride and bromide is used. Such a phosphor is known in the art and has for example been disclosed in EP-A-174 875 (and U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,509). The phosphor is especially well suited for manufacturing xe2x80x98binderlessxe2x80x99 phosphor screens. Binderless phosphor screens provide optimal sharpness.
It is advantageous however to use a CsX:Eu phosphor wherein X represents a halide selected from the group consisting of Br and Cl, which is obtained by the following method:
mixing CsX with between 10xe2x88x923 and 5 mol % of a Europium compound selected from the group consisting of EuXxe2x80x22, EuXxe2x80x23 and EuOXxe2x80x2, Xxe2x80x2 being a member selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I,
firing the mixture at a temperature above 450xc2x0 C.
cooling said mixture and
recovering the CsX:Eu phosphor.
A phosphor that has been obtained as a result of the above method of preparation has an increased conversion efficiency compared to the state of the art divalent europium activated cesium halide phosphor. The phosphor can be stimulated by means of a lower amount of stimulation energy.
A photostimulable phosphor screen using such a phosphor is preferably obtained by the method of
preparing said CsX:Eu phosphor by firing a mixture of said CsX with between 10xe2x88x923 and 5 mol % of an Europium compound selected from the group consisting of EuXxe2x80x22, EuXxe2x80x23 and EuOXxe2x80x2, Xxe2x80x2 being a halide selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I and
applying said phosphor on a substrate by a method selected from the group consisting of physical vapor deposition, thermal vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, radio frequency deposition and pulsed laser deposition.
This method of preparation is advantageous because it allows to deposit the phosphor in the form of needle-shaped crystals. These needle-shaped phosphor crystals act as light guides so that they reduce the lateral spreading of light in the phosphor layer. Reduced lateral light spread leads to images of higher resolution.
The needle shaped crystals will in the following be referred to as xe2x80x98needlesxe2x80x99 and the phosphor layer comprising needle shaped crystals will in the following be referred to as the xe2x80x98needle layerxe2x80x99.
Alternatively a phosphor screen containing a CsX:Eu stimulable phosphor, wherein X represents a halide selected from the group consisting of Br and Cl can also be manufactured by performing the steps of:
bringing multiple containers of said CsX and an Europium compound selected from the group consisting of EuXxe2x80x22, EuXxe2x80x23 and EuOXxe2x80x2, Xxe2x80x2 being a halide selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I in condition for vapor deposition and
depositing, by a method selected from the group consisting of physical vapor deposition, thermal vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, electron beam deposition, radio frequency deposition and pulsed laser deposition, both said CsX and said Europium compound on a substrate in such a ratio that on said substrate a CsX phosphor, doped with between 10xe2x88x923 and 5 mol % of an Europium compound, is formed.
This method of preparation is advantageous because it likewise allows to deposit the phosphor in the form of needle-shaped crystals. These needle-shaped phosphor crystals act as light guides so that they reduce the lateral spreading of light in the phosphor layer. Reduced lateral light spread leads to images of higher resolution.
This specific phosphor as well as the methods of preparation have been disclosed in U.S. provisional applications Nos. 60/159,004 and 60/142,276 which are incorporated herein by reference.
To obtain a good resolution the light used for stimulating the phosphor and the light emitted by the so-called needles of the phosphor should be guided within the needles as much as possible. When the light leaves the needle, it is partially reflected and diffused by the surface of the substrate material or of the protective layer of the screen. The addition of an absorbing layer would result in a better resolution. An absorbing layer however results in a lower sensitivity.
A layer than has different reflective properties for stimulation or emission light can be provided to solve this problem.
An embodiment of such a layer is a multilayer dielectric mirror, more specifically a so-called hot or a cold mirror. Hot and cold mirrors are for example provided by the company Melles Griot.
The filter 03 MHG 007 of Melles Griot is a hot mirror reflecting wavelengths longer than 650 nm and transmitting wavelengths within the range 400 to 650 nm.
The filter 03 MCS 005 of Melles Griot is a cold mirror reflecting short wavelengths in the range from 400 to 700 m and transmitting to a large extent these wavelengths that are longer than 700 nm.
The selection of a cold or a hot mirror depends on the design of the read out equipment.
In a flying spot scanner the light emitted upon stimulation cannot cause a loss of resolution. In this case the emitted light can be reflected, but the stimulating light should be transmitted.
In case a flying spot scanner is used for read out of the photostimulable phosphor screen it is preferred to provide a cold mirror in between the substrate layer (glass) and the phosphor needle layer. Alternatively it can be used as protective layer on top of the screen. Also combinations can be used where e.g. a cold mirror is used between the phosphor layer and the glass and a hot mirror is used on top of the screen.
On the other hand in case a read out device is used wherein pixels of a complete line are stimulated simultaneously, reflection of the stimulation light cannot result in a loss in resolution. In this case reflection of the light emitted upon stimulation is to be avoided. When this type of read out equipment is used, a hot mirror is preferably used between the substrate layer (glass) and the phosphor needle layer. Alternatively it can also be used as a protective layer on top of the phosphor needle layer.
The specific phosphors that are described higher can be stimulated by means of light in the wavelength range from 500 to 1100 nm, optimally in the range of 600 to 800 nm. The stimulation spectrum has a peak at 685 nm. The light emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation is situated in the range of 350 to 750 nm, the emission spectrum having a maximum at 440 nm.
In accordance with the present invention a dye is used that has a high absorption at the stimulation wavelength range and a very low absorption at the wavelength of the light emitted upon stimulation.
A separation factor is defined as the ratio of the absorption amount at the stimulation wavelength and the absorption at the emission wavelength.
In case of the above phosphors this ratio is given by the absorption at 685 nm divided by the absorption at 440 nm.
The density of a filter is proportional to its separation factor. The density at the laser wavelength is preferably higher or equal to 8, corresponding with a transmission lower than 10xe2x88x926%, while the density at the emitted wavelength is preferably less than 0.12 (corresponding to a transmission of 75%). The separation factor is preferably higher than 8/0.12=67.
The following dyes have the required characteristics:
Formula 1: Cryptocyanine
(1,1xe2x80x2-Diethyl-4,4xe2x80x2-carbocyanine Iodide)
Formula 2: Oxatricarbocyanine
(3,3,-Dimethyloxatricarbocyan Iodide)
Formula 3: Indotricarbocyanine
(1,1xe2x80x2-Diethyl-2,2xe2x80x2-dicarbocyanine Iodide)
Formulae 4: Thiadicarbocyanine
(3-Diethylthiadicarbocyanine Iodide)
Formula 5: Thiatricarbocyanine
(3,3xe2x80x2-Diethylthiatricarbocyanine Iodide)
Formula 6: Rhodamine 800
(8-Cyano-2,3,5,6,11,12,14,15-octahydro-1H,4H,10H,13H-diquinolizino [9;9a,1-bc:9xe2x80x2, 9axe2x80x2,1-h]xanthylium Perochlorate
Formule 7: Magnesium Phthalocyanine (MgPc)
Formule 8: Zinc Phthalocyanine (ZnPc)
Formula 9: Methylene Blue
Formula 10: Indocyanine Green
Formula 11
Copper(II) 3,10,17,24-tetra-tert-butyl-1,8,15,22-tetrakis(dimethylamino)-29H,31H-phthalocyanine
Formula 12
Vanadyl 3,10,17,24-tetra-tert-butyl-1,8,15,22-tetrakis(dimethylamino)-29H,31H-phthalocyanine
Formula 13
Vanadyl 5,14,23,32-tetraphenyl-2,3-naphthalocyanine
Formula 14 : Sulfonated Cu-phthalocyanine
Formula 15 Carbazine
In general cyanine dyes are preferred.
Among these the dye Cryptocyanine has a separation factor of 721, the dye oxatricarbocyanine (C7) dye has a separation factor of 120 and the dye Indotricarbocyanine (C7) dye has a separation factor of 60.4 at the above wavelengths and are thus very well suited.
The dyes Methylene Blue and Rhodamine 800 can also be used.
All dyes show fluorescence at longer wavelengths than the absorbed laser wavelength. The emission spectrum of Cryptocyanine has a maximum at 723 nm. The emission spectrum of oxatricarbocyanine has a maximum at 713 nm.
In order to absorb this fluorescent light a second filter can be used. This additional filter can be a glass filter since a relatively thin filter is adequate. For example a coloured BG39 Schott glass filter (Schott being a trade name) of a thickness of 2 mm is well suited.
Good results are obtained with a combination of a gelatine filter made with Methylene Blue (400 xcexcgram/m) and a filter BG39 of 2 mm thick. The filters are placed so that the laser light passes first the Methylene Blue and secondly the filter BG39.
A density of 8 can be reached with this combination resulting in a transmission of 52%.
The fluorescence light can also be attenuated using a optical coating made with dielectrical layers (TiO2). The filter types Blue Cyan and DT Blue from the company Balzers are well suited.
A combination of a dye with both a colored glass filter and a coating of dielectrical layers is possible.
To absorb the fluorescence light also other dyes than the above mentioned can be used. Here the dyes indotricarbocyanine and thiadicarbocyanine and thiatricarbocyanine can be used. Using a filter where no glass or dielectric layers but only dyes are used to absorb the light results in a very thin layer than can be placed between the phosphor plate and a fiber optic plate.
It is also possible to add this additional dye layer to the fiber optic plate or to the phosphor screen. In this way the optical filter can be integrated in the image screen itself.
It is known that the optical characteristics of a dye can change by exposing them to light. In order to minimize the degradation of the dyes, some additives can be added.
Alternatively a combination can be made of a first dye filter with a second filter such as a BG39 Schott filter of 1 mm thickness.
The dye filter can also be placed between two coloured glass filters of 1 mm. The laser light can be attenuated with factor 30 with the 1 mm filter BG39 that is placed between the light source and the dye filter. A second 1 mm thick filter BG39 that is placed between the dye filter and the detector is appropriate to attenuate the fluorescence of the dye.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to the fact that a fibre optic plate can be used for directing light emitted by the phosphor screen onto the array of transducer elements. A fibre optic plate consist so a number of juxtaposed optical fibres that together form a two-dimensional light guiding array. A fibre optic plate is an advantageous light guiding means because it can be made very compact and has high resolution and high collection efficiency.
In order to obtain separation of stimulation light and light emitted by the phosphor upon stimulation and to prevent that stimulation light is detected by the array of transducer elements the fibres of the fibre optic plate can be composed by means of coloured fibres (e.g. made of glass or plastic).
The optical characteristics that are required are (1) a high absorption of the stimulating wavelength range and (2) at the same time a high transmission of the emission wavelength.
Because of the structure of the phosphor screen obtained by applying the methods described higher, a higher sharpness and higher sensitivity is obtained. Not only the image screen should offer high sharpness, also the read out equipment should not degrade the sharpness.
The lasers that are used mostly in read out equipment for digital radiography are diode lasers. These lasers generate nearly monochromatic light. Nevertheless they also produce weak light at other wavelengths than the laser line itself. This is called the LED-light of the laser. The laser is also functioning as an LED and is producing light in the spectrum of an LED. Some wavelengths of this LED-light are shorter than the laser-line, others are longer.
These different wavelengths are transmitted differently by the optical filter.
In the case the above described csBr:Eu phosphor types are used, a filter BG39 of Schott attenuates the laser-line of a diode laser-emitting at 685 nm very well while it transmits light at 440-460 nm. Although the filter has a steep characteristic, light at shorter wavelengths than the laser wavelength (e.g. 650 nm) is not absorbed strongly.
The shorter wavelengths of the LED-light pass the BG39-filter partially and are detected as a residual signal. When the BG39 filter should attenuate the LED-light to a sufficient extent, it should be as thick as 7 mm.
If the LED-light could be eliminated the thickness of the filter could be decreased to 4 mm. It is obvious that the transmission for the emitted light is higher for the filter with thickness 4 mm.
Furthermore, the LED-light does not follow the same direction as the laser light and hence might not be focused onto the same position on the phosphor screen as the laser light. The LED light reaches the phosphor screen in the form of a halo around the small laser spot. Since the LED light stimulates the phosphor screen in addition to the stimulation by the laser light, the resolution is decreased.
The above problems can be solved and an improvement in sensitivity and sharpness can be obtained by adding an optical filter or a set of optical filters in between the stimulating laser and the photostimulable phosphor screen in order to attenuate the LED-light of the laser.
In one embodiment wherein a diode laser emitting at 685 nanometer is used as stimulating light source, a RG 665 Schott filter having a thickness of 2 mm was placed in between the laser and the screen. In this way wavelengths shorter than 665 nm were attenuated while longer wavelengths are transmitted. The laser line at 685 mm was only attenuated by 5%.
Further advantages and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

Method for reading a radiation image that has been stored in a photostimulable screen


A retractor instrument for opening a surgical incision on a human limb having a first tissue holder for grasping an edge of the incision, a second tissue holder for grasping another edge of the incision, a band extending from the first tissue holder to the second tissue holder in a generally circular configuration around the limb away from the incision, and an adjustor connected to the band so as to vary a distance between the first and second tissue holders. The band includes a first band member connected to the first tissue holder and a second band member connected to the second tissue holder. The adjustor is a clamp which is suitable for engaging grooves formed in the first band member. The tissue holders are rake members having a plurality of prongs extending therefrom. The rake members are pivotally connected to the ends of the bands. The first band member and the second band member are arranged in overlapping configuration.

Two kinds of retractors are presently used in surgery: hand-held retractors and self-locking tongs. The hand-held retractors are simply a pair of hooks which are inserted at the desired positions under the edge of a cut or wound and held by a nurse or assistant while the surgeon operates. Aside from the additional person required to hold them, such retractors only hold the cut open at two points, unless, of course, additional people and retractors are employed.
Self-locking tong retractors, while not requiring additional people, hold the cut open at only two opposing points. The tong retractors have hooks at the tong ends which are inserted under the cut edge. The ends of the tongs are then spread apart, thereby opening the cut. The tong hinge is fitted with a self-locking ratchet or spring mechanism to hold the wound open. One disadvantage of tong retractors is that it is easy to apply excessive stress to the skin or tissue exposed by the cut with them. Another important disadvantage is the excessive bulk of such devices in the surgical field.
This problem is particularly important with virtually all retractors employed in limb surgery. When the retractors must be used so as to separate the incision, such retractors are often in an awkward and cumbersome position. The position of the retractor can often adversely affect the surgical procedure and creates an obstruction to the observation and viewing of the incision. If persons are employed for the purpose of maintaining the open incision, then this further impedes the surgical process.
In the past, however, various U.S. Patents have been issued with respect to retractor instruments for the exposing of a surgical incision.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,401, issued Oct. 2, 1973 to J. W. Tupper shows a surgical retractor for use in hand surgery. This retractor includes a paddle-shaped pallet with notches around the periphery on which the hand is placed, wound-side up. Elastic bands are provided for holding the fingers in place on the pallet. At least one flexible ball-and-link chain with a hook at one end is hooked over the edge of the wound and is fastened to a pallet edge at a predetermined point along its length. An arrangement of such hooks thereby holds the wound open.
U.S. Pat. No. Re. 32,021 also shows a surgical retractor which has a frame conformed to fit the surface contour of the portion of the body to be operated on. A stay is provided which includes an elastic member and suitable tissue holding means. The frame has a plurality of notches spaced around its periphery. The elastic member of the stay is adapted to be inserted into one of the notches and held in place by friction so as to retract the tissue.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,695,607, issued on Nov. 30, 1954 to Hipps et al shows a bone retractor formed of two members which has an offset and a curved portion. This offset portion is adapted so as to engage the underside of a bone. The members extend through the incision to the underside of the bone. A chain engages notches formed on the member. This chain is adapted so as to extend around the periphery of the limb for the purpose of retaining the members in an outward position.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,612,891, issued on Oct. 7, 1952, to M. C. Smith, describes an adjustable support for finger surgery. In particular, a pair of retractor members are fastened within binding posts. By locking a thumb screw in position, the retractors are maintained in an outward position.
Soviet Patent No. 1360-706-A discloses a wound dilator in which a rod is bent along a radius and is equipped with a tubular guide bent along the same radius. A threaded end with a slit is provided on the tubular guide. A fastener, in the form of a nut with an inner cone, is set on the threaded end of the guide. A hinge mechanism is provided so as to allow the wound dilator to engage the edges of the incision.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a retractor instrument which is suitable for maintaining a surgical incision in an open position.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a surgical retractor which does not impede, interfere with, or obstruct the surgical field.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a surgical retractor which is adjustable in a position distal from the incision.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a surgical retractor which distributes the retracting force against a large area of the incision.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.


The present invention is an optical proximity sensor and manufacturing method thereof. The optical proximity sensor has an optical sensing unit, an illuminating unit, multiple transparent gels and a package. The package encapsulates the optical sensing unit and the illuminating unit. The transparent gels are respectively formed on top surfaces of the optical sensing unit and the illuminating unit. The transparent gels respectively have a convex part and a recess formed in the convex part. The package has through holes communicating with the recesses of the transparent gels to form openings. In a step of injecting encapsulant gel, because the transparent gels are still plastic, the protrusions can closely attach to the transparent gels. The encapsulant gel is prevented from forming above the sensing part and the illuminating part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a proximity sensor, and more particularly to an optical proximity sensor and a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
With reference to FIG. 6, a conventional optical proximity sensor 60 comprises a substrate 61, a metal cover 62, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) device 63 and a sensing device 64.
The metal cover 62 is mounted on the substrate 61 and has a division 620, two spaces 621 and two openings 622. The two spaces 621 are divided by the division 620. The two openings 622 are formed on a top surface of the metal cover 62 and respectively communicate with the two spaces 621. The LED device 63 and the sensing device 64 are respectively mounted in the two spaces 621. When an object 65 approaches the optical proximity sensor 60, the object 65 reflects the light generated from the LED device 63. The sensing device 64 then detects the reflected light from the object 65.
The optical proximity device 60 is preferably small in volume and the metal cover 62 is manufactured by metal stamping. However, to stamp a metal piece into the small-volume metal cover 62 is difficult and expensive.
With reference to another proximity sensor of U.S. Pat. No. 8,097,852, the proximity sensor is mainly manufactured through twice packaging as described below.
With reference to FIG. 7A, a first step is to mount an illuminant device 71 and a sensing device 72 on a lead frame 70 and to respectively form transparent gels 73 on the illuminant device 71 and the sensing device 72. The above-mentioned forming of the transparent gels 73 is called a first packaging.
With reference to FIG. 7B, a second step is to press a mold 74 on the transparent gels 73 after the two transparent gels 73 solidify. The mold 74 has two protrusions 740 respectively attaching to a top surface of the transparent gels 73.
With reference to FIG. 7C, a third step is to inject an encapsulant gel 75 between the mold 74 and the lead frame 70, called a second packaging. The encapsulant gel 75 packages the illuminant device 71 and the sensing device 72 for protecting them from wetness and pollution.
With reference to FIG. 7D, a fourth step is to remove the mold 74 after the encapsulant gel 75 solidifies. Two holes 750 are then formed in the encapsulant gel 75 at positions previously occupied by the protrusions 740. Hence, the illuminant device 71 can emits lights outward through the transparent gels 73 and the hole 750. The sensing device 72 can detect lights entering the holes 750 and the transparent gels 73.
However, with reference to FIG. 7C, in the step of injecting the encapsulant gel 75, the transparent gels 73 have already solidified. The mold 74 cannot over-press on the solidified transparent gels 73 in order to avoid damaging the illuminant device 71 and the sensing device 72, resulting in poor marginal adaptation. When the encapsulant gel 75 is being injected among the mold 74 and the lead frame 70 by a high injecting pressure, the encapsulant gel 75 may permeate through the protrusions 740 and the transparent gels 73. With reference to FIG. 7D, when the mold 74 is removed, residue encapsulant gel 751 may be left on the transparent gels 73.
The sensing device 72 is used to detect environmental light variances. When the sensing device 72 receives a reflected light emitted from the illuminant device 71 and is reflected by an object, the sensing device 72 detects light variances. Hence, it is important to keep the transparent gels 73 pure without the residue encapsulant gel 751 such that the illuminant device 71 can normally emit lights and the sensing device 72 can normally receive lights. However, the residue encapsulant gel 751 spoils the transparent gel 73 and the lights emitted from the illuminate 71 and received by the sensing device 72 are blocked, causing low sensing accuracy.

Optical proximity sensor and manufacturing method thereof


A bicycle wheel securing structure includes a bicycle fork, an adapter and a holding member. The bicycle fork has two axle support portions that are spaced apart for receiving a bicycle hub therebetween. The adapter is disposed in an adapter receiving bore in one of the axle support portions. The adapter includes a threaded axle mounting opening. The holding member is operatively coupled between the adapter and the one of the axle support portions with the adapter. The holding member prevents both rotational movement of the adapter with respect to the bicycle fork and axial movement of the adapter with respect to the bicycle fork along an axis of the axle mounting opening when the holding member is in a retaining position. The adapter is rotatable within the adapter receiving bore without moving axially with respect to the bicycle fork when the holding member is in a releasing position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a connection between a bicycle fork and a wheel securing axle of a bicycle hub. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bicycle wheel securing structure used to attach the wheel securing axle of the bicycle hub to the bicycle fork.
2. Background Information
Bicycling is becoming an increasingly more popular form of recreation as well as a means of transportation. Moreover, bicycling has become a very popular competitive sport for both amateurs and professionals. Whether the bicycle is used for recreation, transportation or competition, the bicycle industry is constantly improving the various components of the bicycle.
A bicycle is generally provided with a frame and a front fork that is pivotally connected to a front end portion of the frame. The front fork basically includes a fork stem, a fork crown and a pair of fork legs. The two fork legs are arranged on opposite sides of the front wheel with the tip end portions of the fork legs being connected to a front hub arranged on the rotational center of the front wheel. The fork crown is connected to the upper end portions (i.e., opposite ends from the tip end portions) of the fork legs. The fork stem is connected to the fork crown, and is arranged to extend upwardly form the fork crown. The fork stem is supported on the front end portion of the frame in a freely rotatable manner. In some cases, the front fork is a suspension fork with each of the fork legs including an upper or inner tube and a lower or outer tube that is telescopically arranged with the upper tube. The rear part of the frame has a similar rear fork that is not pivotal like the front fork. The rear fork can be fixed to the frame (i.e. a hard tail type) to form the rear triangle of the frame or can be a suspension type rear fork attached to the frame.
Typically, the lower tip ends of the forks are provided with dropouts (open ended slots) for attaching the wheels. In the past, the ends of the hub axles were inserted into the dropouts (open ended slots) and then fastened with nuts. However, since bicycle wheels often need to be removed from the frame, e.g., whenever there is a flat tire or a need to transport the bicycle in an automobile, wheel securing mechanisms were developed in order to facilitate easier removal and reinstallation of the wheels. A typical wheel securing device includes a skewer with a threaded end having a wheel securing member mounted at the other end. The wheel securing member includes a base with a lever and a cam structure. A nut is detachably threaded onto the threaded end of the skewer after the skewer is inserted through the hub body. The fork flanges are arranged between the base of the wheel securing member and the hub body and between the nut and the hub body, respectively. Thus, the hub can be attached by clamping the fork flanges using the wheel securing lever.
While these typical wheel securing mechanisms generally work well, a tighter connection between the hub and the frame has been in demand for some riders. Thus, bicycle hubs and bicycle forks have been designed such that an axle of the hub is threadedly attached directly to the bicycle fork. An example of this type of arrangement on a front hub and front fork is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,675. With this type of arrangement, a knob is provided on the end of the hub axle opposite the threaded end. The knob is used to rotate the axle during installation to both tighten the axle to the front fork and to clamp one fork flange between the knob and the hub. With this type of hub, a tighter connection between the hub and the front fork is possible as compared to typical wheel securing hubs. However, because of this tighter connection, it is necessary to make the front fork stronger.
In view of the above conventional technology, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved connection between a fork and a wheel securing axle of a hub. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


The present invention relates to a chain saw having a two-cycle or two-stroke engine. The present invention also relates to a hand-held power tool such as a chain saw, trimmer, or power cutter having a two-cycle or two-stroke engine. The present invention further relates to a method for the construction of a hand-held power tool such as a chain saw, trimmer, or power cutter having a two-cycle or two-stroke engine. The chain saw, trimmer, or power cutter has a housing for containing a two-cycle engine with a crankcase having scavenging ducts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to chain saw having a two-cycle or two-stroke engine. The present invention also relates to a hand-held power tool such as a chain saw, trimmer, or power cutter having a two-cycle or two-stroke engine. The present invention further relates to a method for the construction of a hand-held power tool such as a chain saw, trimmer, or power cutter having a two-cycle or two-stroke engine.
The subject of the invention also refers to a crankcase scavenged internal combustion engine, mainly intended for a handheld working tool, such as a chain saw, with an engine body comprising at least one crankcase body and a cylinder body, which are joined together, and the engine is equipped with so called elongated scavenging dues, which over some part of their length, i.e. a crankcase part, extend in the crankcase body and have their inlet there, and over another part of their length, i.e. a cylinder part, extend in the cylinder body. Generally the crankcase scavenged internal combustion engine is of two-stroke type, but it could also be a four-stroke engine as well as other applications not only meant for a handheld working tool.
2. Background of the Invention
Chain saws and other handheld tools, such as hedge or weed trimmers and power cutters, such as those used for cutting dry wall, are usually designed with consideration to convenience of use as well as other factors. One important factor is the overall weight of the chain saw or handheld tool since, obviously, a person using the tool must hold it for periods of time. An excessively large or heavy tool would be unwieldy and tiresome for the user to hold for an extended period of time. In that regard, many handheld tools utilize an internal combustion engine that is lightweight and easy to manufacture, usually a two-stroke or two-cycle engine.
Unfortunately, two-stroke or two-cycle engines sometimes can produce substantial amounts of pollutants or other emissions. They also can sometimes be inefficient with respect to fuel consumption. It therefore becomes advantageous to develop a two-stroke engine that has reduced emissions and improved fuel efficiency, yet at the same time is still lightweight and easy to manufacture.
Crankcase scavenged internal combustion engines with so called elongated scavenging ducts, i.e. scavenging ducts starting in the crankcase part, usually in its lower parts, are known since a long time. The elongated scavenging ducts will under certain conditions have a favorable effect on the scavenging and can thereby reduce both the fuel consumption and the exhaust emissions. The scavenging ducts in the crankcase part are produced in that a vertically-split crankcase is provided with cavities on both sides of the parting plane. When assembling the crankcase a large continuous scavenging duct is thus created by both of the cavities. In case the sealing in the parting plane is drawn right up to the inner side of the crankcase it will split the large duct into two scavenging ducts which often is preferable. Generally the inlet of the scavenging duct is formed already during the casting process.
This is rational from a production point of view but it requires a specific crankcase for each motor application with varying placement of the inlet. It is therefore preferable to adapt the length of the scavenging duct and/or the cross-section area of each application in order to, in this way, obtain optimum engine performance. Such an adaption for a specific crankcase can be achieved essentially only by machining the inlet of the scavenging duct instead of pre-casting it and this is costly. In the vertically-split crankcase a bearing position for each crankshaft bearing is positioned in each of the crankcase halves.
There are also internal combustion engines having a so called horizontally-split crankcase. It means that the crankcase is split at the center axis of the crankshaft and comprises essentially only one part. In that case a cylinder part contains the top crankcase half down to the center axis of the crankshaft. In this manner the engine body is thus made of only two parts instead of three when a vertically-split crankcase is used. The bearing positions of the crankshaft bearings are thus positioned in each part of the engine body and the bearings are clamped between the engine body parts. The applicant does not readily know of any example of an internal combustion engine with a horizontally-split crankcase having elongated scavenging ducts, even if this is preferable from many aspects.
The purpose of the present invention is to substantially reduce the above outlined problems, and to achieve advantages in many respects.
The above mentioned purpose is achieved in a crankcase scavenged internal combustion engine in accordance with the invention and having the characteristic features as described in the features of the invention herein below.
The crankcase scavenged internal combustion engine according to the invention is thus essentially characterized in that the crankcase part of at least one scavenging duct to a great extent comprises an insert part with at least one inner wall facing the crankshaft assembly and provided with the inlet, so that the crankcase part of the scavenging duct is comprised of the insert part alone or in combination with the inner side of the crankcase body, and leads from the inlet to an outlet intended to connect to the cylinder part of the scavenging duct. Through this insert part with the inner wall facing the crankshaft assembly and provided with the inlet of the scavenging duct, possibilities are created to supply a horizontally-split crankcase with scavenging ducts in the crankcase part so that elongated scavenging ducts are achieved. For a vertically-split crankcase, this insert part implies improved flexibility. Since the inlet of the scavenging duct is located in the inner wall of the insert part, the inlet of the scavenging duct can be moved by replacing the insert part. This means that with the aid of several different insert parts a specific crankcase can be adapted for many different motor applications. Adaption of both length and/or area of the scavenging ducts can be made, so that many different ratios of length/area of the scavenging ducts are achieved. Obviously this is a big advantage, both for a horizontally-split and for a vertically-split crankcase, since it offers opportunities, both in the development stage and in the serial production, to make changes quickly and easily.
To further explain, the scavenging ducts can be configured in many different dimensions and/or shapes to achieve or modify different engine characteristics. The length, width, depth, cross-sectional area and/or shape of the duct can be modified to effect engine tuning, horsepower, range of revolutions per minute (RPM), torque, and, as discussed above, fuel consumption and emissions. The scavenging duct can therefore be designed in particular shapes and sizes depending on the engine and its desired engine characteristics.
Further, the insert allows for tailoring of the engine with the same crankcase. The insert can be modified, while the crankcase can remain the same. Thus, production costs can be reduced because different crankcases will not have to be produced for each individual engine if the engine requires different engine characteristics, such as piston structure, cylinder displacement, and shifting the RPM at which a desired horsepower or horsepower curve(s) are generated or at which a desired torque or torque characteristic are desired. Therefore, even with the same cylinder and piston, the characteristics of a two-stroke engine can be changed by changing the various parameters as indicated in the above paragraphs.
Further, in at least one possible embodiment, the scavenging duct can extend around a substantial portion of the crankcase body to further achieve different engine characteristics as described above. For example, the scavenging duct could extend past the six o""clock position at the bottom of the crankcase up to, for example, the eight or eight-thirty position near the side of the crankcase.
Also, the insert can provide advantages relating to cost over cast crankcases. Cast crankcases can be extremely expensive to produce with some degree of precision. An insert can be modified as discussed above, but can be used on the same crankcase. Thus, only one crankcase type may need to be made, thereby reducing cost by avoiding the casting of different crankcases for particular uses.
Such an insert of the type described above is manufactured by Veinge Plast, which is a manufacturer located at Kraftgatan 1, 31234 Laholm, Sweden. Although the insert can be made from a variety of materials, such as plastic or metal, a type of plastic that can preferably be used in making the insert, according to at least one embodiment of the present invention, is a plastic material called xe2x80x9cAkulon.xe2x80x9d Akulon is produced by a company called DSM, whose home office is located at Het Overloon 1, 6411 TE Heerlen, the Netherlands. Akulon comprises two main components, namely Polyamide 6, which is also manufactured by DSM, and 45% added glass fiber (PA6+45% GF). DSM also has an internet world wide web (WWW) site that provides summaries and information regarding its products, such as Akulon and Polyamide 6, and services. The address of DSM""s web site is xe2x80x9chttp://www.dsm.nlnxe2x80x9d.
The insert can be used, as discussed above, in engines in a variety of machinery, such as chain saws, hedge and weed trimmers, power cutters, leaf blowers, and possibly even lawn mowers. Husqvarna AB is a company that produces such machinery that could use the insert. Husqvarna AB""s mailing address is SE-561 82 Huskvarna, Sweden. Husqvarna AB""s internet web site address is xe2x80x9chttp://international.husqvarna.comxe2x80x9d. Many examples of different machinery and products that could use an insert as described above can be found on the web site and in Husqvarna product catalogs that can be obtained from the company.
The above-discussed embodiments of the present invention will be described further hereinbelow. When the word xe2x80x9cinventionxe2x80x9d is used in this specification, the word xe2x80x9cinventionxe2x80x9d includes xe2x80x9cinventionsxe2x80x9d, that is the plural of xe2x80x9cinventionxe2x80x9d. By stating xe2x80x9cinventionxe2x80x9d, the Applicant does not in any way admit that the present application does not include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention, and maintains that this application may include more than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicant hereby asserts that the disclosure of this application may include more than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than one invention, that these inventions may be patentable and nonobvious one with respect to the other.

CHAIN SAW HAVING A TWO-CYCLE OR TWO-STROKE ENGINE, AND A HAND-HELD POWER TOOL SUCH AS A CHAIN SAW, TRIMMER, OR POWER CUTTER HAVING A TWO-CYCLE OR TWO-STROKE ENGINE, AND A METHOD FOR THE CONSTRUCTION THEREOF


An ink jet head 22 of linear form which consists of a plurality of nozzles 27 arranged as a nozzle row 28 is provided in an ink jet device for manufacture of a color filter. Filter element material 13 from the nozzles 27 which differ from the motherboard 12 is discharged four superimposed times by the plurality of nozzles 27, and is formed to a predetermined film thickness upon a single filter element 3. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of undesirable deviations in film thickness between different ones of the filter elements 3, so that it is possible to flatten and make even the optical transparency characteristic of the resulting color filter 1.

In recent years display devices which are so called electro optical devices, such as liquid crystal devices and electroluminescent devices and the like, have become widespread as display sections for electronic devices such as portable telephones, portable computers and the like. Furthermore, recently, it has become common to provide a full color display upon such a display device. A full color display upon such a liquid crystal device is provided, for example, by passing light which has been modulated by a liquid crystal layer through a color filter. And such a color filter is made by arranging filter elements of various colors such as R (red), G (green), and B (blue) in dot form upon the surface of a substrate plate which is made from, for example, glass or plastic or the like in a predetermined array configuration such as a so called stripe array, delta array, or mosaic array or the like.
Furthermore, a full color display upon such an electroluminescent device is provided by, for example, arranging electroluminescent layers of various colors such as R (red), G (green), and B (blue) in dot form upon the surface of a substrate plate which is made from, for example, glass or plastic or the like in a predetermined array configuration such as a so called stripe array, delta array, or mosaic array or the like, and sandwiching these electroluminescent layers between pairs of electrodes so as to form picture elements (pixels). And, by controlling the voltage which is applied between these electrodes for each picture element pixel, a full color display is provided by causing light of the desired colors to be emitted from these picture elements.
In the past, there has been a per se known method of using photolithography when patterning the filter elements of a color filter of various colors such as R, G, and B, or when patterning the picture elements of an electroluminescent device of various colors such as R, G, and B. However there are certain problems when using this photolithography method, such as the fact that the process is complicated, the fact that large quantities of the color material or the photoresist are consumed, the fact that the cost becomes high, and the like.
In order to solve this problem, a method has been contemplated of forming a filament or an electroluminescent layer or the like as a dot form array by discharging in dot form a filter element material or an electroluminescent material by an ink jet method in which liquid drops are discharged.
Now, a method of making a filament or an electroluminescent layer or the like as a dot form array by an ink jet method will be explained. The case will be considered in which, as shown in FIG. 52(b), a plurality of filter elements 303 which are arrayed in dot form are formed, based upon an ink jet method, upon the internal regions of a plurality of panel regions 302 shown in FIG. 52(a) which are established upon the surface of a so called motherboard 301 which is a substrate plate of relatively large area which is made from glass, plastic or the like. In this case, as for example shown in FIG. 52(c), while performing a plurality of episodes of main scanning (in FIG. 52, two episodes) for a single panel region 302, as shown by the arrow signs A1 and A2 in FIG. 52(b), with an ink jet head which has a plurality of nozzles 304 which are arranged in a linear array so as to constitute a nozzle row 305, filter elements 303 are formed in the desired positions by discharging ink, i.e. filter material, selectively from this plurality of nozzles during these main scanning episodes.
These filter elements 303 are ones which are formed by arraying various colors such as R, G, and B and the like as described above in a suitable array form such as a so called stripe array, delta array, or mosaic array or the like. Due to this, in the ink discharge processing by the ink jet head 306 shown in FIG. 52(b), ink jet heads 306 for just the three colors R, G, and B are provided in advance, so as to discharge the single colors R, G, and B. And a three color array including R, G, and B or the like is formed upon the single motherboard 301 by using these ink jet heads 306 in order.
However, with regard to the ink jet heads 306, generally, undesirable deviations can occur in the ink discharge amounts of the plurality of nozzles 304 which make up the rows of nozzles 305. Typically, as shown for example in FIG. 53(a), such an ink jet head 306 has an ink discharge characteristic Q in which the ink discharge amounts at positions which correspond to the two end portions of the row of nozzles 305 are the greatest, and the ink discharge amount at a central position between these end portions is the next great, while the discharge amounts in the regions intermediate between these positions are lower.
Accordingly, when using the ink jet heads 306 to manufacture a filter element 303 by operating as shown in FIG. 52(b), as shown in FIG. 53(b), thick concentrated lines are undesirably formed at positions P1 which correspond to the end portions of the ink jet heads 306 or at the central positions P2, or at both the ends P1 and P2. Due to this, there is the problem that the planar light transmission characteristic of the color filter becomes uneven.
On the other hand, if a plurality of panel regions 302 are formed upon the motherboard 301, then it has been contemplated to form the filter element 303 at high efficiency by using an ink jet head of elongated form so that the ink jet head is positioned along substantially the entire extent of the widthwise dimension of the motherboard 301, which constitutes its widthwise direction with respect to the main scanning direction of the ink jet head. However there is the problem that, if a motherboard 301 is utilized whose size is different from and does not correspond to the size of the panel regions 302, every time this happens, a different ink jet head comes to be required, and accordingly the cost is increased.

Liquid drop discharge head, discharge method and discharge device; electro optical device, method of manufacture thereof, and device for manufacture thereof; color filter, method of manufacture thereof, and device for manufacture thereof; and device incorporating backing, method of manufacture thereof, and device for manufacture thereof


The invention judges whether or not the relation between an illumination at a desired position and a target illumination satisfies a predetermined condition, and causes the illumination at the desired position to approach the target illumination by letting a plurality of lighting devices successively perform a procedure of increasing/decreasing their respective light intensities based on a result of the judgment. The illumination at the desired position is caused to approach the target illumination by randomly varying the light intensities of the lighting devices, making comparison between the illumination at the desired position and the target illumination, and narrowing the width of variation based on a result of the comparison. When the electric power consumption has increased, the light intensities are returned to the previous values. Furthermore, there is provided a control terminal device for control that can be used for other control amounts.

With conventional lighting systems, when numerous light sources are provided in a hall for example, the light intensities of the light sources are adjusted individually to set the illumination appropriately for numerous locations inside the hall. With such a technique, it is necessary to repetitively adjust each of the light sources using trial and error to set the illumination at a predetermined position to a desired value. Also, it is necessary to adjust the light intensity of each of the light sources regularly or for each performance, if the illumination of the lamps changes over time. Similarly, adjustments are necessary when the illuminant has degraded and is replaced. And in conference rooms or the like, the immediate optimal illumination varies when the outside light from a window varies.
On the other hand, systems capable of sensing the condition of each light source, detecting malfunctions, and remotely controlling the respective illuminations of the light sources are known as intelligent lighting systems (for example see Shomei Shisutemu no Chitekika Sekkei (Incorporating Greater Intelligence in the Design of Lighting Systems), Mitsunori Miki and Takafumi Kozai, Doshisha University, Science and Engineering Research Report, July 1998, Volume 39, No. 2, pp 24-34).

Control system and lighting control system


A seal apparatus includes: (a) first and second machine elements defining a sealing interface between two zones subject to different fluid pressures, a boundary of which lies between the two elements; (b) a seal comprising rigid material carried by the first machine element and having an annular lip defining a first contact surface; (c) a second contact surface comprising rigid material, defined by the second machine element; (c) wherein both contact surfaces are wear resistant, and the first and second contact surfaces bear directly against each other, so as to seal against fluid leakage between the first and second zones, while allowing relative sliding motion between the first and second contact surfaces; and (d) wherein the seal is configured to allow the lip to deform elastically and permit the first contact surface to conform in a regular or irregular shape to the second contact surface.

This invention relates generally to seals, and more particularly to fluid seals for use between two components which may move relative to each other.
Numerous types of mechanical assemblies require sealing between two components to prevent leakage of fluid (i.e. liquids or gases) therebetween.
Sealed assemblies between machine elements have previously consisted primarily of two or more relative "hard" components (e.g. metal or other hard material) sealed by a soft seal or packing (e.g. polymer, rope packing etc.)
It is desirable to employ a design using a hard member on a hard member seal (e.g. metals or ceramics), thus eliminating the polymer. Such a design is expected to have a longer service life and be suitable for harsh environments including for example high temperatures or pressures, or caustic or corrosive fluids.
Seals using two hard elements of conventional design will be, however, subject to rapid wear. First, a seal having one hard, rigid element on another will not be perfectly shaped to a nominal geometry. Such imperfections will result in points of high stress, thus causing localized wear. Furthermore, two hard elements would lack the resilient nature of a "soft" seal.