A switching apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising a relay including a relay coil and at least one normally open relay contactor that closes when the relay coil is energized, a normally closed stop contactor and a stop member moveable between a deactivated position in which the stop contactor is closed and an activated position wherein the stop member forces each of the stop contactor and the relay contactor open.

The field of the invention is power controls and more specifically emergency stop and safety relay controls for use with power equipment.
This section of this document is intended to introduce various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention described and/or claimed below. This section provides background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. It should be understood that the statements in this section of this document are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
In many industrial systems, high levels of power are required by loads (e.g., manufacturing equipment, HVAC systems, etc.). Power relays are commonly employed to link and de-link power sources to and from loads, respectively. A typical power relay includes a coil and a plurality (e.g., four) of contact pairs or contactors where each contact contactor is either normally open (NO) or normally closed (NC) and changes its state (e.g., open or closed) when the coil is excited. In the case of a relay used with three phase power lines, the relay typically includes at least three NO contactors that close when an associated coil is energized and open when the coil is de-energized. In the case of an NO contactor, a relay spring usually biases the contactors into the normally open state. Typically the force applied by the spring to the contactors upon de-energization of the coil is on the order of one-fourth to one-half pound.
In addition to the components above, most high power control configurations also include several other components. To this end, a typical control configuration will include a start button and associated NO contactor, an emergency stop (ES) button and associated NC contactor and a fourth normally open power relay contactor (i.e., a fourth normally open contactor that opens and closes when the power relay is de-energized and energized, respectively) where the start and ES contactors are in series with the power relay coil and the fourth NO contactor is in parallel with the start contactor. In this case, to provide power to the load, the start button is pressed to close the NO start contactor thereby providing power through the ES contactor to the power relay coil which causes the power contactors in the power lines as well as the power contactor in parallel with the start contactor to close. When the start button is released, the parallel contactor remains closed so that the relay coil remains energized and the NO contactors remain closed.
If a problem occurs, a system operator can quickly cut off power to the load by simply pressing the ES button to open the ES contactor which cuts off power to the power relay coil and in turn, at least in theory, should open the NO relay contactors in the power lines as well as the NO contactor that is in parallel with the start button. Here, the force applied by the ES button to the ES contact pair is relatively large (e.g., on the order of 10 to 50 pounds, depending on the force applied by the system user when the ES button is pressed).
Unfortunately, as well known in the industry, despite cutting off power to the relay coil by pressing an ES button, under certain circumstances, the power relay contactors have been known to remain closed due to mechanical failure, heating/welding of contact pairs, residual magnetism within the relay structure, relay corrosion, frictional forces or a combination of the above. Hereinafter, in the interest of simplifying this explanation, the term "failed" will be used to refer to any NO contactor that remains closed when an associated relay coil is de-energized. Where any contactor in a relay fails, all of the NO contactors within a relay remain in the closed state. When the NO power line contactors fail, a load becomes uncontrollable as the system operator has no way to cut off power to the load.
To reduce the likelihood of uncontrollable loads, it has become common practice within the industry to design redundant power control configurations. For instance, one common redundant relay configuration includes two power relays where the relay coils are arranges in series with the NC ES contactor and the NO start contactor, a separate NO contactor from each of the two relays is arranged in series in each of the three power supply lines and an arrangement including series linked NO contactors from each of the relays is arranged in parallel with the NO start contactor. In this case, when a power relay contactor in the first relay fails (e.g., welds, sticks closed, etc.), in most cases the contactors in the second relay will remain operational and the load will remain controllable. Thus, even when one relay fails, when the NC ES button is pressed, the NO power line contactors in the second relay should open and cut off power to the load.
To better ensure redundancy, circuits have been developed that preclude providing power to a load after a relay fails until after the failure is eliminated via either manipulation of the relay or replacement of the relay. For instance, where corrosion causes a contactor to stick in the closed position, some times the contactor can be reopened by cycling through energizing and de-energizing cycles in an effort to overcome the binding effect of the corrosion. Where the spring force is insufficient to separate the NO relay contactors (e.g., in most cases where contacts weld together), the entire relay typically has to be replaced. While redundant relay designs and replacement relays are a solutions to the uncontrolled load and failure problems described above, unfortunately, these solutions are relatively expensive for several reasons. To this end, redundant relay designs require additional relay hardware which increases design and implementation costs. In addition, when the relay spring force fails to open NO contactors during energizing cycles and a relay has to be replaced, the replacement costs include loss of productivity due to down time of equipment linked to the power lines associated with the relay and maintenance costs (e.g., a system operators time) in addition to the cost of the replacement relay.
Moreover, in at least some cases conditions can occur wherein even redundant relay configurations fail to cut off load power when an ES button is pressed. For instance, when a large unexpected current surge passes through power lines it is possible for both series NO power line relay contactors in each power line to fail (e.g., weld) such that the ES button becomes effectively useless.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an inexpensive power control configuration wherein power to loads could be cut off despite the operational condition of line relays and where failed relays could be salvaged whenever possible despite contactor failure.


An apparatus for ratcheting multiple restraint webs includes first and second locking web retractors each coupled to one end of a different restraint web. When locked, the web retractors each prevent web movement in a web pay-out direction relative thereto. The apparatus further includes first and second ratcheting devices each coupled to a corresponding one of the web retractors, and each is movable in a direction that moves the corresponding web in a web take-up direction relative to its web retractor when the web retractors are locked. The apparatus further includes an actuator movable between two positions and coupled to each of the ratcheting devices. The ratcheting devices are each responsive to a moving force applied thereto by the actuator as the actuator moves between its two positions to move in the direction that moves its corresponding web in the web take-up direction.

Restraint webs are conventionally used to restrain persons and/or objects in or to motor vehicles of myriad types. In some known applications, a restraint web is attached at one end to a conventional web retractor mounted to a motor vehicle, and is configured at its opposite free end to releasably engage a corresponding coupling structure to thereby restrain the person and/or object in or to the motor vehicle. Such applications may generally include one or more such restraint web/retractor combinations to restrain one or a plurality of persons and/or objects in or to the motor vehicle.
Some conventional web retractors may include a locking mechanism operable in a locked position to prevent movement of the restraint web in at least one web movement direction, e.g., in a pay-out direction and/or in a take-up direction relative to the web retractor. Some such conventional web retractors may further include a ratcheting apparatus, including a ratcheting lever, configured to draw the associated restraint web into the web retractor as the ratcheting lever is actuated. If the free end of the restraint web is engaged with a coupling structure, actuation of the ratcheting lever results in the application of tension to the restraint web.

Apparatus for ratcheting multiple restraint webs via a single actuator


A fume hood has a plurality of peripheral inclined drainage channels for receiving condensed grease that is gravitationally delivered thereto from a region of the fume hood thereabove. One of the drainage channels continuously extends into an adjacent drainage channel therebelow to provide a single passageway that delivers the received grease to a single grease collection hole. Each of the drainage channels is configured with a surface along which the received grease flows and which slightly extends inwardly into a hood interior from a bottom edge of a corresponding wall of the hood, and a border element which extends vertically above an inward edge of the drainage channel surface to a sufficient height which prevents the flowing grease from spilling into the hood interior.

It is imperative that hot fumes generated by cooking apparatus be continuously vented to the atmosphere, for the health of kitchen workers. A fume hood is used to filter grease and other condensable contaminants entrained in these hot fumes, to prevent malfunction of an air ventilation system. Prior art fume hoods are disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,206, U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,116, U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,707, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,195.
Condensed grease generally accumulates in an inclined fume hood filter, and needs to be manually cleaned on a regular basis by a time consuming procedure so as not to constitute a fire hazard. The fume hood filter is generally a metallic, labyrinth type filter whereby the hot fumes condense upon contact with the plurality of spaced baffles of the filter during each consecutive passage along a winding path through the filter. The condensed grease flows upwardly and downwardly on the face of each baffle, and collects within concave seats provided with the hood assembly, often U-shaped, within which the filter is mounted. These seats are a major source of grease accumulation and are not able to be readily cleaned, particularly since the filter is not easily, or not at all, removable. The accumulated grease also trickles by gravity onto a surface underlying the fume hood to form slippery and hazardous puddles.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a fume hood assembly that is configured in such a way so as to minimize or completely prevent the accumulation of condensed grease during cooking or frying operations.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a fume hood assembly that allows a filter to be mounted thereto without resulting in grease accumulation along the filter periphery.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.


A cable television (CATV) housing having a screwless seizure mechanism for receiving the center conductor of a coaxial cable is disclosed. The mechanism is mounted on a printed circuit board adjacent an entry port of the CATV housing. One end of the seizure mechanism includes a female terminal for receiving the center conductor of a cooperating CATV coaxial cable when the cable is installed on the entry port. An entry guide is provided which insulates the female terminal as well as directs the center conductor of the CATV cable into the female terminal. A second end of the seizure mechanism is securely mounted to, and in electrical communication with, the printed circuit board. A CATV coaxial cable installed onto the entry port of the CATV housing is placed in electrical communication with internal electronics of the housing while still maintaining signal and power integrity without the need to disassemble the housing to secure the center conductor to the circuit board by a seizure screw.

Prior art CATV port connectors and seizure mechanisms require a two step process for installation of a CATV cable onto the CATV port. The first step is to install the cable onto the port, where the cable connector is torqued to a specific level and sealed with heat shrink tubing or the like. Next, the installer is required to open the housing and screw down a pin seizure mechanism to make a reliable mechanical and electrical contact between the center conductor of the installed cable and the internal electronics of the housing. In some instances it may be required that modules be removed in order to provide access to the pin seizure mechanism Examples of such arrangements are shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,617,811 to McVoy, U.S. Pat. No. 3,881,160 to Ross, U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,150 to Nordberg et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,636 to Blum. The CATV housing may be located outdoors such as at the top of a telephone pole or underground, making access to and disassembly of the housing more difficult. Such a process is time consuming, cumbersome and can result in installer induced problems from the removal and installation of the modules of the housing every time a CATV cable is installed or removed. Additionally, the use of a set screw as part of the pin seizure mechanism results in deformation of the center conductor when the screw presses the conductor against a connector block, thus the cable may not easily or reliably be reused.

CATV housing seizure mechanism for receiving hardline coaxial cable pin connectors


Methods and apparatus are provided for mixing and dispensing multi-component compositions. The preferred embodiment utilizes a syringe barrel as a mixing chamber and for dispensing of the mixed components. A mixer element, preferable including a paddle member and finger grip means for rotating the paddle member, is provided for insertion into the syringe barrel to effect the desired mixing. A scraper element is used to scrape mixed components from the mixer element so as to retain the mixed components within the syringe barrel upon removal of the paddle member after mixing is completed. Mixing is preferably performed with the multiple components placed in side-by-side orientation within the syringe barrel rather than one on top of another.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for use in mixing and dispensing multi-component compositions such as dental cements or impression materials. More particularly, the present invention is directed to syringe mixing and dispensing methods and apparatus.
2. Background Information
Many modern formulations are packaged in two parts, often known as A and B components. Upon mixing, these A and B components typically undergo a chemical reaction which causes the resultant composition to "set up" in some desired manner.
In the dental field, for example, several two-part formulations currently enjoy wide use. Glass ionomer cements and resinous luting cements are frequently used for applications such as securing dental caps in place. Dental impressions are made using A and B components.
In order to work properly, it is important that the A and B components of these two component systems be mixed together rapidly and thoroughly and in the right proportions. Failure to mix rapidly can result in loss of valuable working time with the resultant composition, and can impact the ability to obtain a thorough mix as the composition begins to set up unevenly. Failure to mix thoroughly can result in a composition having less than optimum characteristics. For example, if a poorly mixed composition is used as a cement, it is possible that portions of the cement will fail to reach the chemical strength required for a long-term bond.
Problems of obtaining rapid and uniform mixing are often complicated by differences in the A and B components. Sometimes it is necessary to mix two liquids, while other times it is necessary to mix a powder with a liquid. Sometimes there are equal amounts of the A and B components, but other times there is more of one component than another. Sometimes the two components have similar viscosities, while at other times the two components have widely differing viscosities.
The primary means employed for mixing A and B components has been simple mechanical mixing, such as by means of a mixing bowl or pad and a stir instrument such as a spatula. This method tends to be somewhat messy and time consuming. It is difficult at times to gauge whether the mixing has been sufficiently thorough.
It is also difficult in some instances to prevent formation of small air bubbles in the mixed composition. Most dental compositions are ultimately dispensed from a syringe in order to control the amount dispensed, to permit precise placement of the dental composition, and to prevent premature evaporation of constituents of the composition. This generally requires placement of the mixed compositions into a syringe. Additional air can become entrained during this step. Estrained air bubbles are usually detrimental.
Further, the simple process of mixing the components on a pad or in a bowl and then transferring them to a syringe takes time; this can lessen the available working time to actually utilize the composition. It is not uncommon for so much time to pass during the mixing and syringe-loading steps that the mixed composition becomes effectively unusable.
In order to try and overcome the time delays and the mess inherent in the approach set forth above involving mixing on a pad or in a bowl followed by loading into a syringe, attempts have been made to mix materials directly from a syringe or from a caulking gun. These attempts have involved the use of specially formed tips which effect some mixing as material is dispensed from the syringe or caulking gun. Although useful from the standpoint of minimizing the amount of time used to effect the mixing of A and B components, incomplete mixing is common. Furthermore, the mixing tips utilized are frequently expensive, and hence are usually cleaned for reuse. Such tips are generally difficult to clean and disinfect, making their use burdensome.

Methods and apparatus for mixing and dispensing multi-part compositions


A memory device according to an embodiment includes a fluid layer extending in a first direction, a particle in the fluid layer, a first control electrode made of a first material, a first insulating film provided between the fluid layer and the first control electrode, a second control electrode made of a second material and provided to be spaced apart from the first control electrode in the first direction, a second insulating film provided between the fluid layer and the second control electrode, a third control electrode made of a third material different from the first material and the second material and provided between the first control electrode and the second control electrode, and a third insulating film provided between the fluid layer and the third control electrode.

In a three-dimensional NAND flash memory which is one of nonvolatile memories, memory cells are three-dimensionally disposed. The number of memory cells is increased by three-dimensionally disposing the memory cells, and thus, a large capacity of the nonvolatile memory can be realized.
For example, the large capacity of the nonvolatile memory can be realized by setting data to be multivalued by increasing the number of bits of data stored in one memory cell. It is desired to realize a nonvolatile memory capable of setting the data stored in one memory cell to be multivalued.


Disclosed are novel methods and apparatus for delta transfers in distributed file systems. In an embodiment, a communication system for transferring a delta of a file is disclosed. The communication system includes a sender site, a file transfer system, and a receiver site. The sender site includes a database with a trove section and a transfer section. The file transfer system includes a trove reader and a transfer reader. The trove reader may communicate with the trove and transfer sections. The transfer reader may have access to the transfer section. The receiver site receives the file delta from the transfer reader. The receiver site includes a file installer, which patches a previously installed version of the file with the file delta.

As the use of digital data becomes more prominent in everyday life, the need for access to reliable data sources increases. For example, a user may need regular access to data that can be physically located across different buildings or even around the world. This is often the case with respect to large company projects that may involve many groups worldwide working on a same solution.
As these types of joint projects become more commonplace, so does the need for having access to such data in real-time. In other words, the data accessed by each remote site will need to be current whether that data is stored locally or halfway around the world. Accordingly, the users need to have access to the latest version of the data as soon as it is released into the system from any site.
In many current implementations utilizing transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP), file transfer protocol (FTP), and other similar facilities (e.g., RSYNC command provided in Unix systems) are utilized to maintain data amongst remote sites. These tools, however, are generally useful only for transferring files from one point to the next. Moreover, automation of these tools only results in synchronization among multiple sites when a batch update or a nightly synchronization is performed. Also, if one of the remote sites goes down or cannot accept external data, the data may be dropped and unavailable.
One of the biggest challenges for a distributed file system is the efficient utilization of the available network bandwidth. This can be key to an effective real-time file synchronization utility, especially in a large multi-user community sprawled across a country or even the globe. The RSYNC utility uses an internal computation for transferring only the change in data to a remote site. This internal computation, however, cannot be harnessed by a multi-site file system using, for example, a revision control system (RCS) at the backend. Also, the RSYNC utility computes the change on an entire file without regard for different versions of a same file.

Delta transfers in distributed file systems


To prepare crystalline sodium disilicates having a laminar structure, a molar ratio of SiO.sub.2 to Na.sub.2 O of (1.9 to 2.1) 1 and a water content of less than 0.3% by weight, a water glass solution is first obtained by reacting sand with sodium hydroxide solution in a molar ratio of SiO.sub.2 to Na.sub.2 O of (2.0 to 2.3) : 1 at temperatures of 180.degree. to 240.degree. C. and pressures of 10 to 30 bar. This water glass solution having at least 20% by weight of solids is treated in a spray drier with hot air at 200.degree. to 300.degree. C. with the formation of a pulverulent amorphous sodium disilicate having a water content (determined as loss on heating at 700.degree. C.) of 15 to 23% by weight and a bulk density of at least 300 g/l. The spray-dried pulverulent, amorphous sodium disilicate is ground. The ground sodium disilicate is introduced into a rotary kiln equipped with devices for moving solids, externally heated via the wall and having in its interior a plurality of different temperature zones, and is treated therein at temperatures of 400.degree. to 800.degree. C. for 1 to 60 minutes with formation of crystalline sodium disilicate.

German Offenlegungsschrift 4,031,848 discloses a process for the preparation of crystalline sodium silicates having a laminar structure, a molar ratio of SiO.sub.2 to Na.sub.2 O of (1.9 to 2.1) : 1 and a water content of less than 0.3% by weight from a water glass solution having at least 20% by weight of solids. In this case the water glass solution is obtained by reaction of quartz sand with sodium hydroxide solution in the molar ratio of SiO.sub.2 to Na.sub.2 O of (2.0 to 2.3) : 1 at temperatures of 180.degree. to 240.degree. C. and pressures of 10 to 30 bar. This water glass solution is treated in a spray drying zone with hot air at 200.degree. to 300.degree. C. with formation of a pulverulent amorphous sodium silicate having a water content (determined as loss on heating at 700.degree. C.) of 15 to 23% by weight and a bulk density of more than 300 g/l. The pulverulent, amorphous, water-containing sodium silicate is introduced into an inclined rotary kiln equipped with devices for moving solids and is treated therein with flue gas at temperatures of more than 500.degree. to 850.degree. C. for 1 to 60 minutes in counter-current flow with formation of crystalline sodium silicate. Finally, the crystalline sodium silicate leaving the directly heated rotary kiln is comminuted with the aid of a mechanical crusher to particle sizes of 0.1 to 12 mm.
A disadvantage of the known process is the difficult establishment of a reproducible temperature profile in the rotary kiln because of the variations of the flue gas with respect to its quantity per unit time and its temperature, by which means crystalline sodium disilicate of varying quality is produced.

Process for the production of crystalline sodium disilicate in an externally heated rotary kiln having temperature zones


Bi-directional (longitudinal and angular) three-dimensional volumetric microwave scanning of a whole roll or pallet of paper (FIGS. 3, 4), including three-dimensional volumetric mapping of internal properties and characteristics (moisture content, density, material uniformity, defects and types thereof, and variabilities thereof) of the roll or pallet of paper. Transmitted microwaves propagate through longitudinally and angularly defined portions of individual cross-sectional volumetric segments of the roll or pallet of paper. Microwave parameters (amplitude, phase) are perturbed by, and are a function of the internal properties and characteristics of, the contents of volumetric segment portions of the roll or pallet of paper. Microwave differential parameters (amplitude attenuation, phase shift) are calculated and used for calculating and determining values, relationships, two-dimensional graphs and maps, and, three-dimensional volumetric graphs and maps (FIGS. 5, 6), of the internal properties and characteristics of at least part of the roll or pallet of paper.

The present invention relates to microwave methods of measuring and analyzing internal properties and characteristics, such as moisture content, density, material uniformity, and, defects and types thereof, and variabilities thereof, of commercial sized whole rolls or pallets of paper, and more particularly, to a method of bi-directional (longitudinal and angular) three-dimensional microwave scanning of a whole roll or pallet of paper. The method of the present invention enables, and further includes, three-dimensional volumetric mapping of internal properties and characteristics of the whole roll or pallet of paper.
The present invention is particularly relevant and applicable to manufacturers, users, or/and further processors, of commercial sized 'whole' rolls or pallets of paper. Herein, a 'whole' roll or pallet of paper refers to a roll or pallet of paper as manufactured in its whole or entire final form, for example, having relatively bulky geometrical dimensions (diameter, height, length, width) on the order of about 1 meter. This is in contrast to a single portion or section of paper cut from a partly unrolled whole roll of paper, or, a single square or rectangular sheet or piece of paper separately taken from a whole pallet of stacked paper. Depending upon the thickness of the paper, a whole roll of paper having such geometrical dimensions can be unrolled to a total length of on the order of tens, or even hundreds, of meters. Similarly, a whole pallet of stacked paper having such geometrical dimensions can be unstacked to a total length of on the order of tens, or even hundreds, of meters.
Such relatively large sized whole rolls and pallets of paper are ordinarily manufactured in paper mills from bulk quantities of wood pulp or/and wood chips formed from cut lumber obtained from harvested and processed trees. Commercial sized whole rolls and pallets of paper serve as raw material for manufacturing paper and paper products, which involve subjecting the whole rolls or pallets of paper to a variety of different processes. Such processes typically involve cutting various lengths of unrolled paper from a whole roll of paper, or unstacking separate sheets or pieces of paper taken from a whole pallet of paper, pressing, additional cutting, printing, and packaging, and any number of other processes associated with manufacturing paper and paper products.
Herein, internal properties and characteristics, such as moisture content, density, material uniformity, and, defects and types thereof, and variabilities thereof, of a whole roll or pallet of paper refer to the global, bulk, or macroscopic, internal properties and characteristics, such as moisture content, density, material uniformity, and, defects and types thereof, and variabilities thereof, of a specified volumetric segment or number of volumetric segments of the whole roll or pallet of paper, including bulk or macroscopic volume occupied by air and moisture throughout the whole roll or pallet of paper, making up or forming the whole roll or pallet of paper. These internal properties and characteristics of the whole roll or pallet of paper are to be clearly distinguished from the local, molecular, or microscopic, properties and characteristics, such as molecular density, molecular structure, microscopic defects, and microscopic impurities, and variabilities thereof, of only the paper, excluding bulk or macroscopic volume occupied by air and moisture, making up or forming the whole roll or pallet of paper.
Once manufactured, each whole roll or pallet of paper has internal properties and characteristics, such as moisture content, density, material uniformity, and, defects and types thereof, and variabilities thereof, whose values may be outside of acceptable ranges or/and may undesirably change prior to the whole roll or pallet of paper being sent to, or used in, the next manufacturing process. During or/and following such a manufacturing sequence, it is critically important that these internal properties and characteristics of the whole roll or pallet of paper be determined and monitored, such as by employing quality control and quality assurance procedures. Data and information obtained from the quality control and quality assurance procedures are used for controlling or/and adjusting the internal properties and characteristics of the whole roll or pallet of paper, such as by employing process control and process feedback procedures, prior to the whole roll or pallet of paper being sent to, or used in, the next manufacturing process or storage, in order to assure proper characteristics and performance of the finished paper or finished paper products.
In particular, if one or more of the above indicated internal properties and characteristics of a given portion or section of the whole roll or pallet of paper is outside of established quality control or quality assurance values, use of such a portion or section of the whole roll or pallet of paper is expected to lead to downstream intermediate products, or stored roll or pallet of paper, similarly failing their established quality control values, potentially causing undesirable rejection of material, manufacturing down time, and added cost to an overall sequence of manufacturing paper or paper products. For example, in the case of manufacturing paper or paper products, if one or more of the above indicated internal properties and characteristics of a given portion or section of the whole roll or pallet of paper is outside of established quality control values, at least that portion or section of the whole roll or pallet of paper needs to be made note of for non-use or/and removal prior to the whole roll or pallet of paper continuing into further downstream processing or storage, otherwise, there will either be down time due to one or more paper press breaks, or 'below quality' paper or paper products ending up in the consumer marketplace, clearly undesirable to a manufacturer of paper or paper products, as well as undesirable to consumers of the paper or paper products.
Currently, manufacturers, users, or/and further processors, of commercial sized whole rolls and pallets of paper, employ point or localized types of non-invasive measurement and analysis methods, based on measuring and analyzing individual test points located on the external surface of a whole roll or pallet of paper, or located on a single portion or section of paper cut from an unrolled whole roll of paper, or located on a single square or rectangular piece of paper separately taken from a whole pallet of stacked paper. These non-invasive types of methods are capable of only roughly estimating internal properties and characteristics of a whole roll or pallet of paper. Such measurement and analysis methods are incapable or/and inapplicable for determining or generating three-dimensional volumetric maps of internal properties and characteristics, such as moisture content, density, material uniformity, and, defects and types thereof, and variabilities thereof, of a 'whole' roll or pallet of paper.
There is thus a need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have a method of bi-directional (longitudinal and angular) three-dimensional microwave scanning of a whole roll or pallet of paper. Additionally, there is need for such an invention which also enables, and further includes, three-dimensional volumetric mapping of internal properties and characteristics of the whole roll or pallet of paper.

Bi-directional three-Dimensional microwave scanning and volumetric mapping of a whole roll or pallet of paper


An optical disk apparatus includes an optical pickup and a disk-rotation driving unit configured to rotationally drive the optical disks. The optical pickup includes a first emission unit configured to emit a first wavelength beam; a second emission unit configured to emit a second wavelength beam; a third emission unit configured to emit a third wavelength beam; an objective lens configured to focus the first to third wavelength beams emitted from the first to third emission units, respectively, at a signal recording surface of an optical disk; a light-path combining unit configured to combine an optical path of the first wavelength beam emitted from the first emission unit and an optical path of the second and third wavelength beams emitted from the second and third emission units, respectively; and an aberration correcting unit provided on the optical path of the second and third wavelength beams.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical pickup and an optical disk apparatus including an optical pickup that are capable of recording and replaying information signals using one objective lens for three different types of disk recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
As next-generation optical disk format, a known optical disk capable of high-density recording (hereinafter referred to as a high-density recording optical disk) in which recording and replay of a signal is carried out using an optical beam having a wavelength of approximately 405 nm generated by a blue-violet semiconductor laser has been proposed. As such a high-density recording optical disk, a disk having a thin protective substrate layer for protecting the signal recording layer of, for example, 0.1 mm has been proposed.
To provide an optical pickup supporting these high-density recording optical disks, it is desirable a provide an optical pickup that has compatibility with optical disks having different formats, such as a known compact disk (CD) having a usable wavelength of approximately 785 nm and a protective substrate layer with a thickness of approximately 1.2 mm or a digital versatile disc (DVD) having a usable wavelength of approximately 660 nm and a protective substrate layer with a thickness of approximately 0.6 mm. In this way, an optical pickup and an optical disk apparatus having compatibility with optical disks having different formats with different disk structures and different laser specifications are in need.
As a known method of recording and replaying an information signal for optical disks having three different types of format, a method of switching among objective lenses included in an optical pickup having a plurality of optical systems corresponding to the usable wavelengths has been proposed.
However, to provide various different optical systems requires a mechanism for switching among various different objective lenses and requires various different components including actuators. Therefore, the overall size of the apparatus is great, and the structure of the apparatus becomes complex.
To simplify the structure, an optical pickup may employ a common optical path and common optical components for all wavelengths. To provide such an optical pickup, the optical path must be the same for all wavelengths and the common objective lens must not generate aberration by optical beams having different wavelengths and different disk thicknesses have to be provided.
With such an optical pickup, when a working distance of at least 0.3 mm is provided for each optical disk, such as a CD having a great usable wavelength and a thick protective substrate layer, the aperture for a high-density recording optical disk having a small usable wavelength and a thin protective substrate layer increases to approximately 4 mm, and the objective lens becomes large and heavy. Therefore, the tracking ability is reduced, and the size of other optical components increases together with the increase in the aperture. Thus, there is a problem in that the overall size of the apparatus increases.
To avoid this problem, an optical beam of a CD or a DVD may be diverged with an optical element and be incident on an objective lens. However, due a reduction in the light intensity caused by the diffraction efficiency and transmittance of the optical element, it has been extremely difficult to carry out excellent recording and replay for an optical disk using three different wavelengths.
For a known optical pickup, for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2003-177226.

Optical pickup with beam generating and focussing


Protective devices are provided subjacent to the filler port within an aircraft's wing fuel tank so as to protect the lower wing skin from being struck by a nozzle associated with refueling equipment. When inserted into the filler port, the nozzle is brought into contact with the protective device which serves to deflect the nozzle in laterally (e.g., in an inboard direction) to thereby prevent the nozzle from striking the lower wing skin. Thus, when initially inserted into the filler port in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to a horizontal plane, the terminal end of the nozzle will contact with the arcuately concave inner surface of the device such that continued insertion of the nozzle into the filler port will cause the nozzle to assume an angularly canted condition in an inboard direction (i.e., a direction toward the aircraft's fuselage).

Aircraft carry an on-board supply of engine fuel by means of fuel tanks defined by an internal volume of the aircraft's wing structure between the wing's upper and lower structural panels (known in the art as "skins"). Sometimes the wing tanks may include a fuel bladder located within the wing structure between the upper and lower wing skins so as to contain a desired quantity of fuel. In either the wet wing tank design or a bladder wing tank design, the wing tanks may be replenished with fuel by ground based refueling equipment (e.g., fuel tanker vehicles) through capped filler ports. In gravity fill systems, these capped filler ports are located in the upper wing skin and adapted to receive a filler nozzle associated with the refueling equipment.
It can therefore be appreciated that care must be taken to prevent the filler nozzle from being inserted into the filler port to an extent that would cause contact with, and thus potential damage to, the lower wing skin. In order to minimize or prevent such damage, aircraft manufacturers have developed devices located internally within the wing tank that limit the extent to which a filler nozzle may be inserted therein. These conventional devices tend however to be structurally complex (and hence expensive) since they typically include a cylindrical basket-type structure subjacent to the filler port designed to permit fuel to flow therethrough but to provide a structural barrier limiting the extent to which the fuel filler nozzle may be inserted into the wing tank.
It would therefore be desirable if more simplified structures and techniques could be provided which serve to protect an aircraft's gravity filled wing tanks from potential damage from a fuel filler nozzle. It is towards fulfilling such needs that the present invention is directed.
Broadly, the subject matter disclosed herein provides for protective devices for an aircraft fuel filler port associated with an aircraft wing tank that include a wall structure defining a dependent surface which slopes downwardly and laterally relative to the aircraft's longitudinal centerline. As such, a fuel filler nozzle when inserted into the fuel filler port will be angularly oriented laterally (preferably in an aircraft inboard direction). According to some preferred embodiments, the wall structure defines an arcuately concave surface which extends downwardly and laterally relative to the fuel filler port. In such a manner, the nozzle associated with refueling equipment is prevented from striking a lower wing skin of the aircraft wing when inserted into the fuel filler port. The protective device may include an upper annular collar for attachment to an upper wing skin of the aircraft wing so that the device is dependently fixed in coaxial alignment with the fuel filler port. The wall structure may include apertures for the purpose of weight reduction.
According to some embodiments, the wall structure of the device is comprised of a mirror image pair of wall members each defining an arcuate concave surface, the wall members being joined to one another along an edge corresponding to a central vertical plane of the device. The wall structure preferably defines a generally U-shaped forward edge.
An aircraft fuel filler port may include a cap ring defining a fuel filler port opening, a cap for closing the fuel filler port opening, and a protective device for dependent attachment to the cap ring. The protective device preferably has a wall structure extending downwardly into an aircraft's fuel tank and defining a surface, preferably an arcuately concave surface, which slopes downwardly and laterally relative to the filler port opening. As such, the sloped surface prevents the fuel filler nozzle from striking and potentially damaging a lower wing skin of an aircraft's wing when inserted into the fuel filler port. An aircraft may therefore be provided with a wing fuel tank which comprises such a fuel filler port.
These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent after careful consideration is given to the following detailed description of the preferred exemplary embodiments thereof.

Protective devices for aircraft fuel filler ports

EMBRAER - Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A.


Methods of controlling a variable speed wind turbine generator connected to a power grid. The method may include measuring the frequency, f, of the power grid, controlling the speed of the generator for optimizing the power delivered to the power grid, and setting limits for the generator speed. The setting of the limits for the generator speed is performed in dependency of the measured frequency of the power grid. This provides a dynamical set of limits providing improved possibilities of optimizing the power production.

Typically, such wind turbines have been controlled in generator speed to deliver maximum power to the power grid and certain fixed maximum and minimum speed limits have been imposed in order to limit the load on the turbine components, e.g., the converter, drive train, generator, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,118 discloses a variable speed induction generator-motor with controllable excitation frequency, in which the slip frequency is kept constant during variations of the power grid frequency.

Method of controlling a variable speed wind turbine generator


A throttle valve control device is composed of a stator core with a solenoid and a rotor carrying a throttle valve. The rotor has a pair of poles which is composed of one or a plurality of rare-earth-metal permanent magnets magnetized in the radial thickness direction. The stator core has an inner periphery sorounding the rotor, and the inner periphery is smooth with no slot so that uniform distribution of magnetic flux can be formed in the inner periphery, thereby reducing the detent torque.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a throttle valve control device for controlling an air-intake passage.
2. Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,835 discloses a throttle valve control device for controlling an air-intake passage in which the throttle valve is driven by a torque motor. In order to increase the response speed of the throttle valve, a return spring for biasing the throttle valve in one direction is omitted.
A drawing of U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,835, shows a stator core of an actuator with no slot on the inner periphery surrounding a rotor. However, the drawing is only a diagrammatical view and there is no description on the inner periphery of the stator core in the specification. A stator core illustrated in another drawing has a separated N-pole stator section and an S-pole stator section, and slots or cut portions are formed between two sections. If the rotor is equipped with a permanent magnet made of rare-earth metal such as neodyum, samarium or cobalt, distribution of magnetic-flux density in the stator becomes more uneven than the distribution of magnet-flux density caused by the rotor equipped with a ferrite magnet. Accordingly, a large detent torque is applied to the rotor when the driving coil is turned off.
In an actuator which has a return spring for returning the rotor to the fully closed position to prevent the throttle valve from opening if the current control device of the torque motor becomes out of order, a large spring force is necessary to return the rotor to the fully closed position against the detent torque if there is a slot on the inner periphery of the stator surrounding the rotor. That is, large electro-magnetic force and, accordingly, a large-sized torque motor are necessary to drive the throttle valve against the spring force.
Although it is desired that the permanent magnet for magnetic poles on the rotor is magnetized in the radial directions, cracks may be formed during the step of cooling the permanent magnet if the magnetic poles of the permanent magnet are formed of a large number of sintered radially-magnetized particles. Thus, the yield rate decreases and the production cost increases.


A projection lens for use with LCD or DMD panels is provided. The lens has three lens units, the first unit having a weak power, at least one aspheric surface, a high dispersion negative lens element, and a low dispersion positive lens element, the second lens unit having a positive power, and the third lens unit having a negative power and an overall meniscus shape. The projection lens satisfies the following relationships: EQU 0.3>D.sub.23 /f.sub.0 >0.1, EQU .vertline.f.sub.1 .vertline./f.sub.0 >1.3, and EQU BFL/f.sub.0 >0.3. where (i) f.sub.0 is the effective focal length of the combination of the first, second, and third lens units; (ii) f.sub.1 is the effective focal length of the first lens unit; (iii) D.sub.23 is the distance between the second and third lens units; and (iv) BFL is the back focal length of the combination of the first, second, and third lens units for an object located at infinity along the long conjugate side of the projection lens.

Projection lens systems (also referred to herein as "projection systems") are used to form an image of an object on a viewing screen. The basic structure of such a system is shown in FIG. 4, wherein 10 is a light source (e.g., a tungsten-halogen lamp), 12 is illumination optics which forms an image of the light source (hereinafter referred to as the "output" of the illumination system), 14 is the object which is to be projected (e.g., a matrix of on and off pixels), and 13 is a projection lens, composed of multiple lens elements, which forms an enlarged image of object 14 on viewing screen 16. The system can also include a field lens, e.g., a Fresnel lens, in the vicinity of the pixelized panel to direct the exit pupil of the illumination system towards the entrance pupil of the projection lens.
FIG. 4 is drawn for the case of a LCD panel where the output of the illumination system strikes the back of the panel and passes through those pixels of the panel which are transparent. DMDs, on the other hand, work by reflection and thus the output of the illumination system is routed to the front of the panel by a prism or similar device.
Projection lens systems in which the object is a pixelized panel are used in a variety of applications, including data display systems. Such projection lens systems preferably employ a single projection lens which forms an image of either a single panel having, for example, red, green, and blue pixels, or three individual panels, one for each color. In some cases, two panels are used, one for two colors, e.g., red and green, and the other for one color, e.g., blue. A spinning filter wheel or similar device is associated with the panel for the two colors and the panel is alternately fed information for the two colors in synchrony with the rotating filter.
There exists a need for a projection lens for use with a pixelized panel which simultaneously has at least the following properties: (1) a long focal length; (2) a long back focal length; (3) the ability to operate at various magnifications while maintaining an efficient coupling to the output of the illumination system and a high level of aberration correction; (4) a relatively small size, including a small number of lens elements, a relatively small barrel length, and a relatively small maximum lens diameter; (5) a high level of color correction; (6) low distortion; and (7) low sensitivity to temperature changes.
A long focal length is needed for projection systems which are to be used in theaters, conference halls, and the like. In such settings, the projection system is typically located at the back of the hall so that the throw distance from the lens to the viewing screen is long. For a given panel size and screen size, i.e., a given magnification, the longer the focal length, the longer the throw distance. Accordingly, for a given range of magnifications, the focal length of the lens must increase as the throw distance increases.
A long back focal length, i.e., the distance from the last lens surface to the pixelized panel, is needed, especially where multiple panels are used, to accommodate the optical elements, e.g., filters, beam splitters, prisms, and the like, used in combining the light from the different color optical paths which the lens system projects towards the viewing screen. In addition, a long back focal length allows the output of the illumination system to be in the vicinity of the projection lens for output distances which are relatively large. Relatively large output distances are desirable since they provide relatively shallow entrance angles for the light at the pixelized panel which is especially important in the case of LCD panels.
A projection lens which can efficiently operate at various magnifications is desirable since it allows the projection system to be used with screens of different sizes and halls of different dimensions without the need to change any of the components of the system. Only the object and image conjugates need to be changed which can be readily accomplished by moving the lens relative to the pixelized panel. The challenge, of course, is to provide efficient coupling to the output of the illumination system and a high level of aberration correction throughout the operative range of magnifications.
A relatively small projection lens is desirable from a cost, weight, and size point of view. Large numbers of lens elements and elements having large diameters consume more raw materials, weigh more, and are more expensive to build and mount. Long barrel lengths normally increase the overall size of the projection system, which again leads to increased cost and weight. Accordingly, a lens with a minimum number of relatively small lens elements, located relatively close to one another, is desired.
A high level of color correction is important because color aberrations can be easily seen in the image of a pixelized panel as a smudging of a pixel or, in extreme cases, the complete dropping of a pixel from the image. These problems are typically most severe at the edges of the field. In general terms, the color correction, as measured at the pixelized panel, should be better than about a pixel and, preferably, better than about a half a pixel to avoid these problems.
All of the chromatic aberrations of the system need to be addressed, with lateral color, chromatic variation of coma, and chromatic aberration of astigmatism typically being most challenging. Lateral color, i.e., the variation of magnification with color, is particularly troublesome since it manifests itself as a decrease in contrast, especially at the edges of the field. In extreme cases, a rainbow effect in the region of the full field can be seen.
In projection systems employing cathode ray tubes (CRTs) a small amount of (residual) lateral color can be compensated for electronically by, for example, reducing the size of the image produced on the face of the red CRT relative to that produced on the blue CRT. With a pixelized panel, however, such an accommodation cannot be performed because the image is digitized and thus a smooth adjustment in size across the full field of view is not possible. A higher level of lateral color correction is thus needed from the projection lens.
It should be noted that color aberrations become more difficult to correct as the focal length of the projection lens increases. Thus, the first and fifth criteria discussed above, i.e., a long focal length and a high level of color correction, work against one another in arriving at a suitable lens design.
The use of a pixelized panel to display data leads to stringent requirements regarding the correction of distortion. This is so because good image quality is required even at the extreme points of the field of view of the lens when viewing data. As will be evident, an undistorted image of a displayed number or letter is just as important at the edge of the field as it is at the center. Moreover, projection lenses are often used with offset panels, the lenses of FIGS. 1-3 being, for example, designed for such use. In such a case, the distortion at the viewing screen does not vary symmetrically about a horizontal line through the center of the screen but can increase monotonically from, for example, the bottom to the top of the screen. This effect makes even a small amount of distortion readily visible to the viewer.
In order to produce an image of sufficient brightness, a substantial amount of light must pass through the projection lens. As a result, a significant temperature difference normally exists between room temperature and the lens' operating temperature. In addition, the lens needs to be able to operate under a variety of environmental conditions. For example, projection lens systems are often mounted to the ceiling of a room, which may comprise the roof of a building where the ambient temperature can be substantially above 40.degree. C. To address these effects, a projection lens whose optical properties are relatively insensitivity to temperature changes is needed.
One way to address the temperature sensitivity problem is to use lens elements composed of glass. Compared to plastic, the radii of curvature and the index of refraction of a glass element generally change less than those of a plastic element. However, glass elements are generally more expensive than plastic elements, especially if aspherical surfaces are needed for aberration control. As described below, plastic elements can be used and temperature insensitivity still achieved provided the powers and locations of the plastic elements are properly chosen.
The projection lenses described below achieve all of the above requirements and can be successfully used in producing relatively low cost projection lens systems capable of forming a high quality color image of a pixelized panel on a viewing screen.


A weatherproof outlet plate cover assembly provides a weatherproof a universal lid that is diagonally hinged at a corner of the cover plate for unobstructed lateral and downward routing of electrical cables in either a horizontal of vertical location. The universal lid carries a sealing gasket that is spring biased against a projecting rim that circumscribes a center panel provided with a center opening(s) for use with either duplex or GFCI receptacles. The hinge design allows the use of one product in each formal for two applications—vertical plus horizontal mounting.

Electrical outlets are generally placed about the exterior of a residential home for enabling outdoor electrical service. Inasmuch as the outlets are exposed to weather conditions and adversely affected by moisture and contaminants, various covering devices have been used to weatherproof the electrical components. Where longer term connections are desired, hinged housings have been proposed wherein the weatherproofing is maintained when the outlet is in service. Examples of such approaches are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,028,268; 6,133,531; 3,813,640; D460,421; and D486,452. When continuous or extended term exterior service is required, dedicated in ground is commonly used as an alternative.
The majority of exterior residential uses are only temporary applications, such as seasonal lighting and power tool operation. Where electrical shorts may be experienced, electrical safety is readily provided by substituting a ground fault current interrupter (GFCI) for a conventional duplex receptacle. Weatherproofing for the receptacle is nonetheless desirable for ongoing protection, and hinged receptacle covers meeting applicable standards, such National Electric Code and/or the Underwriters Laboratory approvals, are widely available. While these covers provide generally satisfactory results, certain deficiencies are apparent. Many use a separate cover for each receptacle outlet. In others, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,063 a single side cover is provided. As the receptacle may be mounted in either a horizontal or vertical orientation, the covers can restrict the free downward and lateral routing the electrical cord. In order to provide convenient routing in both situations, side mount and top mount covers have been proposed. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,831 discloses a universal cover plate having pairs of side and top hinge tabs that may be selectively used for the cover. The hinge tabs not required for the desired application are removed. The tabs and the cover project outwardly of the frontal profile of the cover plate and may not be compatible with recessed or limited access locations.


A method and apparatus for compression molding plastic articles include a plurality of tools mounted in opposed pairs with the tools of each pair including opposed first and second actuators that define a mold cavity in which a charge of plastic is compression molded. The tooling is preferably carried by a rotary turret so that first and second actuators of each tooling pair are moveable relative to each other between an open position permitting formed articles to be removed from the tooling and to receive fresh charges of plastic, and a closed position to compression mold the charges of plastic.

Various plastic articles, such as plastic closures for containers, have been formed by a compression molding process. Some compression molding machines have a plurality of tools mounted in a circumferential array on a rotatable turret in a plurality of opposed coacting pairs. The tools of each pair carry opposed male and female mold sections that when closed together form a cavity mold for compression molding the desired articles. The turret rotates adjacent a machine frame that carries cams for moving the tools of each pair toward each other during a portion of each revolution of the turret for compression molding articles between the tool pairs, and away from each other during another portion of the each turret revolution for releasing articles molded between the tools and to receive fresh charges of plastic into the mold cavities.
So that the opposed pairs of tooling can move relative to each other and the turret, the tooling is typically mounted on elongate rods by bushings and bearings to permit slidable movement of each half of a tooling pair relative to the other half of the pair. A defined clearance is required between each rod and its associated bushings and bearings to permit relative sliding movement of the mold tooling relative to the rod without undue friction and typically, to receive a lubricant to facilitate that relative movement. The required clearance reduces accuracy in the alignment of the opposed halves of the tooling pair and can increase wear of the bushings bearings, rod and other tooling components, and the need to maintain lubrication increases the maintenance burden for the apparatus.
After the opposed halves of the tooling pair are mated together to form a charge of plastic into its desired shape. It is desirable to lock the mated halves of the tooling pair together so that the desired compression molding force is maintained between the halves of the mated tooling pair without having to continually apply an external force to maintain the tooling halves together. However, the plastic being molded will shrink as it cools and cures, and it is desirable to reduce the size of the mold cavity in proportion to the shrinkage encountered during cooling of the plastic to maintain a desired pressure within the mold cavity and acting on the plastic material throughout the compression molding process. In view of the relatively high pressure and force utilized during the compression molding process, it is also desirable to provide a mechanism or assembly to protect the tooling and compression molding machine in general should a failure occur, such as may happen if a previously formed part is not adequately removed from the mold tooling, or if an overly large plastic charge is delivered into a mold cavity, for example.

Method and apparatus for compression molding plastic articles


Method for the disinfection and the quality control of the disinfection of the hands of a user comprising the steps of:                dispensing a predetermined amount of the mixture of a disinfectant substance and a light reflection modifying substance on the hands to be disinfected,        allowing the user to smear and rub the mixture on his/her hands,        inserting the hands one after the other into an imaging compartment (11) of an apparatus (10) for disinfection quality control;        illuminating the inserted hand with light sources (14) emitting light having a predetermined spectral distribution and intensity;        recording the image of the hand (9) from both sides by cameras (16);        processing the recorded image to provide distinction between areas of the hand contacted and non-contacted by the mixture, wherein the light reflection modifying substance is a substance that absorbs light in at least a predetermined range a wavelength which is added to the disinfectant substance in an amount that decreases light absorption of areas treated by the mixture and retains at the same time disinfectant properties; the light source emits light to cover the predetermined range and the cameras have sensitivity in that range, furthermore, in the processing step areas of the hand (9) are made brighter which were not contacted previously by the mixture.

Hospital-acquired infections (HAI), also referred to as healthcare-associate infections or nosocomial infections, are one of the leading causes of death in the United States and Europe. The major source of HAI is the improper hand disinfection. HAI generate unnecessary expenses, reduces the quality of life of the patients, prolongs recovery and promotes the resistance of pathogens against antibiotics. Furthermore, hand hygiene has outstanding importance at nursing homes, veterinarian clinics, clean manufacturing plants, biotechnological production, food service stations and in the hospitality industry.
The applied methods of hand disinfection have been widely discussed in recent studies such as in Behre M. et al., "Measurement and feedback of infection control process measures in the intensive care unit: impact on compliance" (American Journal on Infection Control, Vol. 34, no. 8, 2006, pp. 537-539), World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care (WHO First Global Patient Safety Challenge Clean Care is Safer Care, 2011) and (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) CDC guidelines (How-to Guide: Improving Hand Hygiene A Guide for Improving Practices among Health Care Workers, CDC, 2006). However, despite the numerous disinfection stations and the spread of antibacterial soaps, the insufficient hand washing remains a major problem in health care and causes several infection-related problems at general households as well. In the medical environment, appropriate hand disinfection is required to keep HAI rates low, especially as the new mutant germs—such as the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1 (NDM-1), Carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CPE)—show high resistance to antibiotic treatment. Also in the general practice, proper hand hygiene helps to maintain a healthy life, and to prevent or reduce the spread of epidemics (e.g., Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Influenza A (H1N1), etc).
Document US 2013/0215245 A1 discloses a method for hand disinfection quality control, the method comprising the steps of providing a hand disinfectant medium containing light reflecting particles responsive to light mostly outside the visible spectral range of light, applying the hand disinfectant medium on the hands in a prescribed manner for a prescribed time, and illuminating the treated hands by means of a light source providing light in a spectral range for activating the reflecting particles. The method further comprises the steps of recording digital images of the hands from both sides, and evaluating the recorded images by a computer program, in order to determine the extent of cleanness of the hands. The aforementioned document also discloses an apparatus for implementing the aforementioned method and assessing hand disinfection quality. The apparatus comprises a rigid case with side walls enclosing a light source for providing light of a predetermined spectral range mostly outside the visible range. The case is further provided with an opening on the front wall for receiving the hands to be exposed to the light of the light source. An imaging device is also attached to the case for taking images of the illuminated hands.
The above described method and apparatus have the drawback that the use of light reflective particles in the disinfectant medium allows only a negative signaling method, wherein the presence of the disinfectant medium on the hands provides high intensity in the recorded images, whereas the untreated areas appear with low intensity in the images and therefore these regions are often hardly distinguishable from the background of the recorded image. This means that the untreated regions are just hard to be exactly identified.
A further drawback of the above method is that the light reflective particles, which are typically UV-reflective particles, can also be easily observed visually, thus the light reflective particles that are not removed from the hands after their treatment, can still be seen under UV light. This might be inconvenient for those who must stay at a place where UV light is necessary to be used (e.g., in clubs, tanning salons, in front of some windows, etc), moreover it prevents further objective measurements until the UV-reflective particles are completely removed from the hand.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device which enables a faster and more efficient disinfection of the hands of medical doctors, nurses and other medical staff and which is free of unwanted detectable tracks on the hands, and the device is not only good for controlling the quality of disinfection but takes a record about it.

Method for the disinfection and the quality control of the disinfection of the hands of a user and apparatus for carrying out the method


A system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium are provided for training and applying defect classifiers in wafers having deeply stacked layers. In use, a plurality of images generated by an inspection system for a location of a defect detected on a wafer by the inspection system are acquired. The location on the wafer is comprised of a plurality of stacked layers, and each image of the plurality of images is generated by the inspection system at the location using a different focus setting. Further, a classification of the defect is determined, utilizing the plurality of images.

Inspection system processes are used at various steps during a semiconductor manufacturing process to detect defects on wafers. Further, as the dimensions of semiconductor devices decrease, inspection becomes even more important to the successful manufacture of acceptable semiconductor devices because smaller defects can cause the devices to fail.
Typically, an inspection system (i.e. tool) captures images of a wafer, and defects are detected from those images. The images may also be referred to as signals generating from inspecting the wafer. However, information beyond simple defect detection is also often generated during inspection system processes, including specifically the classification of such defects. For example, each of the detected defects may be classified as a defect of interest (DOI) or a nuisance (i.e. not an actual defect or a defect that a user does not care about and thus is not a DOI). Each of the detected defects, or the DOIs, are further often classified into different groups (i.e. defect types). In one such example, after finding defects, the defects may be classified into different groups based on characteristics of the defects such as size, magnitude, and/or location. The defect classifications can then be fed back to the inspection system, for the purpose of tuning the inspection system. The tuning may be performed in order to make the defect detectable with the inspection system. For example, tuning the inspection system may include altering one or more optical parameters of the inspection system and/or one or more defect detection (output processing) parameters of the inspection system.
Defect classification many times cannot be performed based on just images or information generated by the inspection system. In these instances, additional information may be generated using an additional review system, and defect classification is then determined based on the additional information. In some such instances, defects found by an inspection system may be reviewed using a high resolution scanning electron microscope (SEM) review tool. Traditionally, a relatively large numbers of SEM images (e.g. signals) is collected, and further each of these images may be displayed on a computer screen for a user to determine if there is a visible defect present in the image. If a defect is detected by eye, the defect can then be classified by the user into one of several categories depending on its shape, size, location or other attributes.
Some review systems have been developed to automate the classification of defects, for example as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,293,298 to Jan A. Lauber entitled "Defect discovery and inspection sensitivity optimization using automated classification of corresponding electron beam images." While these automated review systems have improved prior systems requiring manual classification subject to human error, these automated review systems still exhibit limitations. In particular, defect review systems, such as those described above, have been unable to classify defects in wafer having stacked layers, such as a three-dimensional (3D) NAND wafer, when those defects are below the top layer of the wafer. This is because existing defect review systems cannot obtain images of the underlying layers of the wafer. Instead, to obtain the required images of any underlying layer, the above layers would need to be physically removed, thus destroying the wafer.
There is thus a need for addressing these and/or other issues associated with the prior art.

System, method for training and applying defect classifiers in wafers having deeply stacked layers


An electric power supplying apparatus includes an alternating-current generator having a stator and a rotor, a rotary driving mechanism engaging with a rotor of the alternating-current generator to be rotatable for driving the rotor to rotate so as to put the alternating-current generator in operation for generating electric power, and a voltage to current convertor connected between an output end of the alternating-current generator and a load for supplying the load with the electric power obtained from the alternating-current generator in such a manner that an output voltage of the alternating-current generator is arranged to be relatively high and an output current of the alternating-current generator is arranged to be relatively small.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an electric power supplying apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus for supplying a load, such as a secondary battery, a condenser for accumulating electric power and so on, with electric power generated by a generator which has a rotor driven to rotate by a manual rotary driver.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There has been proposed an electronic equipment, such as a portable radio receiver or the like, which is provided with a manual rotary driver and a generator having a rotor and operative to generate electric power when the rotor is driven to rotate by the manual rotary driver. When such an electronic equipment is put into actual use, for example, the manual rotary driver is rotated manually by a user to drive the rotor of the generator to rotate, so that the generator is put to operation for generating electric power. The electric power obtained from the generator is supplied to a secondary battery or a condenser for accumulating electric power, such as an electrical double layer condenser, connected with the generator as a load. The electronic equipment, such as the portable radio receiver or the like, is operative to work with a power source of the secondary battery or the condenser for accumulating electric power in which the electric power from the generator is stored or accumulated.
Since such an electronic equipment containing the generator as mentioned above generates electric power for itself as occasion demands, it can be put into operation without any external power source and without being concerned about consumption of a battery contained therein. Accordingly, it is spontaneously considered that the electronic equipment containing the generator is used for countermeasures against various calamities. For example, under a situation where a commercial electric power supplying system is visited by a calamity, such as a big earthquake, a big fire and so on, and an inconvenience in which it is very difficult to obtain new batteries is raised by the calamity, the electronic equipment containing the generator can be operative to function normally.
Consequently, it is required for the electronic equipment containing the generator to be made portable and easily carried and used with simple operations by a user when a calamity occurs. It is further desirable that the generator contained in the electronic equipment, the manual rotary driver for driving the rotor of the electronic equipment to rotate and a portion for supplying a load provided to the generator with electric power is miniaturized in weight and size so that high efficiency is obtained.
Under such circumstances, a previously proposed electronic equipment containing a generator, for example, a radio receiver containing a generator comprises a direct-current generator, a rotary driving mechanism which can be rotated manually, and an accelerating mechanism for increasing the rotation of the rotary driving mechanism and transmitting the increased rotation of the rotary driving mechanism to the rotor of the direct-current generator. When the rotary driving mechanism is rotated manually, the rotation of the rotary driving mechanism is increased 40 to 50 times by the accelerating mechanism and the increased rotation is transmitted to the rotor of the direct-current generator so as to cause the direct-current generator to generate electric power. The electric power obtained from the direct-current generator is directly supplied to a secondary battery to be stored in the same.
In the radio receiver containing the generator as mentioned above, when the rotary driving mechanism is rotated manually by a user, the rotation of the rotary driving mechanism is increased 40 to 50 times by the accelerating mechanism and transmitted to the rotor of the direct-current generator so as to rotate the same. In this case, since a torque necessary for rotating the rotor of the direct-current generator is relatively large usually, there has been a problem that the user who rotates manually the rotary driving mechanism is required to spend a relatively great deal of labor.
That is, an initial torque necessary for the incipient stage of the rotation of the rotor of the direct-current generator is especially increased by reason that the rotation of the rotary driving mechanism is increased 40 to 50 times by the accelerating mechanism. In addition, since the electric power obtained from the direct-current generator is directly supplied to the load, electric power required by the load is supplied from the direct-current generator in such a manner that the output voltage of the direct-current generator is arranged to be relatively low in consideration of an allowable voltage between the input terminals of the load and the output current of the direct-current generator is arranged to be relatively large. Therefore, the torque necessary for rotating the rotor of the direct-current generator becomes relatively large in response to the relatively large output current of the direct-current generator by reason of the following.
Generally, in a generator having a stator and a rotor, such as the direct-current generator mentioned above, for example, a coil wound on a magnetic core is provided on the stator and a permanent magnet opposite to the magnetic core on which the coil is wound is provided on the rotor. When the permanent magnet provided on the rotor is moved relative to the magnetic core on which the coil is wound, electro motive force is generated in the coil and a current based on the electro motive force flows through the coil to form an output current of the generator on condition that a load is connected with the generator. When the current flows through the coil, the magnetic core on which the coil is wound is magnetized by that current, so that magnetic attractive force and magnetic repulsive force are generated between the magnetic core and the permanent magnet provided on the rotor an electro-magnetic brake acts on the rotor. Accordingly, a torque overcoming the electro-magnetic brake acting on the rotor is necessitated to rotate the rotor. The larger the current flowing through the coil wound on the magnetic core, namely, the output current of the generator is, the larger the electro-magnetic brake acting on the rotor becomes. Consequently, the larger the output current of the generator is, the larger the torque necessary for rotating the rotor becomes.
Besides, in the direct-current generator, since the polarity of the output voltage depends on the direction of rotation of the rotor, it is required for the rotary driving mechanism to be accompanied with a device for preventing the rotor from rotating reversely. This results in that the structure of the rotary driving mechanism is complicated.
Further, in the direct-current generator, since the electric power is obtained through a switching rectification by brush elements, noises in generation result from the switching rectification. Therefore, when the radio receiver containing the direct-current generator is put to operation for receiving a radio broadcasting signal under a condition in which the direct-current generator is operating to generate electric power, undesirable noises are mixed in a reproduction output from the radio receiver.


A process for converting carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon fuels using solar energy harnessed with a solar thermal power system to create thermal energy and electricity, using the thermal energy to heat a fuel feed stream, the heated fuel feed stream comprising carbon dioxide and water, the carbon dioxide captured from a flue gas stream, converting the carbon dioxide and water in a syngas production cell, the syngas production cell comprising a solid oxide electrolyte, to create carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and converting the carbon monoxide and hydrogen to hydrocarbon fuels in a catalytic reactor. In at least one embodiment, the syngas production cell is a solid oxide fuel cell. In at least one embodiment, the syngas production cell is a solid oxide electrolyzer cell.

The use of fossil fuels for power generation grows increasingly problematic. First, petroleum consumption has increased even as world-wide petroleum reserves have declined. For example, Saudi Arabia's domestic petroleum consumption due to power generation is expected to be 8 million barrels/day by 2028, which means a reduction of the quantities available for export. Second, concerns about air quality may result in stringent regulations such as a carbon tax aimed at reducing carbon emissions.
Given Saudi Arabia's abundant quantities of solar radiation energy, solar power capture coupled with solar storage represents an opportunity to address both issues. Conventional solar storage and capture systems include photovoltaics and solar thermal systems.
Photovoltaics convert solar energy into electrical current due to the photovoltaic effect of certain substances, such as silicon or organic solar materials. Photovoltaics are capital intensive, but excellent for small scale electricity generation, for example, homes, outdoor lights, highway signs. For larger systems, such as those that contribute to the electricity grid, solar thermal systems, or concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, are preferred. Existing CSP systems include, for example, the linear Fresnel reflector system, the trough system, the dish system, and the tower system.
CSP systems convert solar radiation energy into thermal energy using heliostats. Heliostats are mirrors, typically flat, which are mounted such that they move on an axis to track the movement of the sun during daylight hours. Heliostats concentrate the solar radiation (sunlight) onto a receiver, which uses the thermal energy from the solar radiation to heat a working fluid. The working fluid, a heat transfer fluid, such as water (H2O) or molten salt, exits the heliostat/receiver system where it exchanges heat with H2O to generate steam. When H2O is the working fluid, the steam is generated directly from the heated working fluid. The steam runs a steam turbine, which drives a generator to produce electricity.
All CSPs operate under the same basic principles, the differences lie in the shape and layout of the heliostats and the spatial relationship of the heliostats to the receiver. For example, in a linear Fresnel reflector system, the heliostats are long flat tracks of mirrors. The receiver is a tube fixed in space above the mirrors. A trough system uses parabolic mirrors and a tube positioned along the focal line of the reflectors, requiring a large number of reflectors. Dish system CSPs also use parabolic shaped reflectors; a large parabolic dish covered in mirrors directs sunlight to a receiver mounted on the dish along the focal line of the mirrors. A dish system CSP produces relatively little electricity compared to other CSP systems. Tower system CSPs employ large numbers of heliostats typically arrayed in lines. The receiver sits on the top of a tall tower and the heliostats focus the solar energy onto the receiver. A tower CSP is capable of producing up to 200 megawatts of electricity.
In addition to the ability to generate large amounts of electricity, another advantage of solar thermal systems over photovoltaics is the ability to store thermal energy in the working fluid. The working fluids may be stored in tanks until the thermal energy is needed for electricity generation. Thus, allowing generation even when there is no direct sunlight, such as at night or in stormy weather. Even still, the storage of a working fluid is not a long term solution, due to the size of the tanks needed for storage and eventual heat loss. Thus, the conversion of solar thermal energy to fuel is an attractive alternative.
The emission of CO2 into the atmosphere is increasingly under attack. Carbon capture technologies are being explored as a way to remove and store the CO2 from waste gas. Carbon capture technologies are broadly categorized as to whether the capture technology is post-combustion, pre-combustion, or oxyfuel combustion. Post-combustion technologies typically include solvent capture systems, which use a solvent to absorb CO2 from a waste gas stream and then use heat to remove the absorbed CO2 from the solvent stream. The resulting stream is a nearly pure stream of CO2. Post-combustion technologies are commonly used with fossil fuel burning power plants. Other post-combustions technologies include, for example, calcium looping cycle or chemical looping combustion.
Current storage (or sequestration) schemes most commonly include geological sequestration, in which the carbon is stored in underground formations. Depleted oilfields, unmineable coal deposits, and saline formations provide naturally occurring formations appropriate for the storage of CO2. These formations, however, suffer from setbacks including, for example, their locations, the costs to inject the CO2 into the ground, and the concerns about leakage out of the formation at some later point.
An alternative to sequestration of CO2 is to convert the CO2 to other useful components. One way to achieve conversion is using a fuel cell to convert the CO2 with the added benefit of generating electricity. Fuel cells contain three sections: an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. Redox reactions occur at the anode and the cathode. In many cases, the overall effect is to convert H2O to hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2).
Fuel cells are categorized by their electrolyte. One category of fuel cells uses a solid oxide electrolyte. Solid oxide fuel cells reduce oxygen on the cathode side, a current is applied to the cathode so that it is negatively charged and conductive. The oxygen ions diffuse through the cathode, the solid oxide electrolyte, and the anode so that oxidation reactions occur on the anode side. The oxidation reactions generate electrons which can be carried through the anode to generate an electricity supply. The anode, cathode, and solid oxide electrolyte of solid oxide fuel cells are composed of ceramic materials and operated at temperatures above 500° C. to ensure the proper functioning of the ceramic materials. The ceramic materials can be porous. Porosity is not required for the passage of oxygen ions from the electrode to the electrolyte. The porosity of the anode impacts the electrolyte/electrode/gas interface area (three phase boundaries), and thus impacts oxygen ion formation rate. The porosity also enhances the diffusivity of molecular oxygen from the gas phase to the three phase boundaries. Solid oxide fuel cells have been shown to have high efficiencies.
A solid oxide fuel cell run in a "regenerative" mode is often called a solid oxide electrolysis cells. Solid oxide electrolysis cells electrolyze components by a reduction process on the cathode side, thus capturing oxygen ions, which diffuse through the cathode, the solid oxide electrolyte, and the anode to form oxygen molecules on the anode side of the cell. The electrolysis of H2O is endothermic, thus the high operating temperatures of a solid oxide electrolysis cell make the electrolysis reaction thermodynamically favored. In addition, the high temperature increases the kinetics of the reaction. High temperature electrolysis has the advantage of high conversion efficiency, above 90% conversion of CO2 is expected according to some estimates.

Carbon dioxide conversion to hydrocarbon fuel via syngas production cell harnessed from solar radiation


A method of transporting asynchronous transfer mode cells and time-division multiplexed information over a common fiber ring includes receiving a plurality of incoming signals comprising asynchronous transfer mode cells, legacy data, or time-division multiplexed information, formatting the plurality of incoming signals into a first plurality of incoming transport signals comprising asynchronous transfer mode cells and a second plurality of incoming transport signals comprising time-division multiplexed information, constructing from the first plurality of incoming transport signals a first outgoing synchronous transfer mode signal comprising at least one asynchronous transfer mode cell, constructing from the second plurality of incoming transport signals a second outgoing synchronous transfer mode signal comprising time-division multiplexed information, and transmitting the first and second outgoing synchronous transfer mode signals over a common fiber ring.

The present invention relates to the field of communications systems, and more particularly to a system and method for facilitating hybrid ATM/TDM transport over a common fiber ring.
Communication networks employing fiber optic rings as transmission media are typically limited to transmitting time division multiplexed information, making no provision for the transmission of asynchronous transfer technologies, such as asynchronous transfer mode (xe2x80x9cATMxe2x80x9d) cells. Those systems that do attempt to communicate ATM traffic over a fiber ring typically map ATM cells into synchronous transport mode (STM) signals, and provide no ATM layer processing at nodes residing on the ring. These systems only provide switching of the STM signals carrying the ATM cells, not of the cells themselves.
In accordance with the present invention, a method of transporting ATM cells and TDM information over a common fiber ring comprises receiving a plurality of incoming signals comprising ATM cells, legacy data, or TDM information, formatting the plurality of incoming signals into a first plurality of incoming transport signals comprising ATM cells and a second plurality of incoming transport signals comprising TDM information constructing from the first plurality of incoming transport signals a first outgoing STM signal comprising at least one ATM cell, constructing from the second plurality of incoming transport signals a second outgoing STM signal comprising TDM information and transmitting the first and second outgoing STM signals over a common fiber ring.
Technical advantages of the present invention include a system and method for efficiently communicating signals carrying asynchronous transfer mode cells and signals carrying TDM information over a common fiber ring. Through a variety of configurations and modes of operation, the invention provides flexibility in the distribution of bandwidth between ATM and TDM traffic. In facilitating various bandwidth allocations between TDM and ATM traffic, the invention provides significant advantages in terms of network flexibility and adaptability to future processing demands. In addition, by providing ATM layer processing functionality at at least some of the nodes residing on the fiber ring, the invention facilitates a high granularity in switching ATM information carried in STM signals.
Other technical advantages are readily apparent to one of skill in the art from the attached figures, description, and claims.

Hybrid ATM/TDM transport over a common fiber ring


A power tool having an internal combustion engine with a muffler and a combined muffler exhaust outlet and exhaust gas deflector connected to the muffler. The combined outlet and deflector is a single one-piece member. The one-piece member is connected to the muffler by interlocking capture of a portion of the member by the muffler and attachment of a single fastener between the member and the muffler.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to a combined exhaust outlet and exhaust deflector for a muffler.
2. Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,855 discloses a shield mounted on a muffler. U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,270 discloses a jet pipe that mixes cool ambient air with hot gases. The mixed gases are blown out of the front. U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,221 discloses a muffler with a cooling pipe and discharge hoods into the cooling pipe.

One-piece combined muffler exhaust outlet and exhaust gas deflector