A secure fastener for joining fiber optic cables, is presented. The fastener includes a first segment having a first plurality of grooves to accommodate portions of the fiber optic cables, a first plurality of posts, a first plurality of apertures, and a first raised contoured portion and a second segment having a second plurality of grooves to accommodate portions of the fiber optic cables, a second plurality of posts, a second plurality of apertures, and a second raised contoured portion. The first plurality of posts of the first segment cooperates with the second plurality of apertures of the second segment and the second plurality of posts of the second segment cooperates with the first plurality of apertures of the first segment to secure the first and second segments to each other to form the fastener. The first and second raised contoured portions are configured to damage the fiber optic cables if the fastener is tampered with.

In the field of security fences, in particular, fasteners, sometimes referred to as "buttons," are used to join or bundle a single fiber optic cable or multiple fiber optic cables together in a net-like configuration. Buttons may be configured with grooves or channels to accommodate the outer circumference of the fiber optic cables to avoid pinching or crushing optical cables, when joined. In most applications, the buttons typically comprise two halves, which are joined together.
In applications involving seurity fences, it is desirable to have the buttons remain permanently closed and in place once the fiber optic cable or cables are joined to prevent the buttons from being removed, once positioned. To assure that the buttons cannot be removed, the two portions of the buttons are usually subjected to a sealing process. That is, the two portions are either fused together by a heat treatment or ultrasonically welding or, in some cases, permanently adhered together, to yield a unified, sealed junction that is virtually incapable of being opened or unfastened.
Where security fences are involved, it is desirable for the buttons to be permanently secured so that an intruder cannot remove the buttons and, thereby, attempt to breach or to breach the perimeter secured by the fence. If not secured, it is theoretically possible that an intruder might be able to remove several of the buttons without triggering an alarm. If so, the intruder theoretically could establish a hole in the security fence so that a person could pass therethrough.
As would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the measures used in permanently joining fiber optic cables not only complicates and delays the fabrication and assembly process, it increases costs as well.
Accordingly, a need has developed for a fastener, or "button," that does not require a plurality of steps to secure the fastener to the fiber optic cable or multiple fiber optic cables.
However, security concerns remain a paramount concern that cannot be overlooked.


Thermoplastic elastomers having improved low temperature properties are provided by incorporating suitable low molecular weight ester plasticizer into blends of crystalline polyolefin homopolymer or copolymer and olefinic rubber. The rubber component of the composition is at least partially cured.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to thermoplastic elastomers having improved low temperature performance characteristics. A thermoplastic elastomer is generally defined as a polymer or blend of polymers that can be processed and recycled in the same way as a conventional thermoplastic material, yet has properties and performance similar to that of vulcanized rubber at service temperatures. Blends or alloys of plastic and elastomeric rubber have become increasingly important in the production of high performance thermoplastic elastomers, particularly for the replacement of thermoset rubber in various applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
Polymer blends which have a combination of both thermoplastic and elastic properties are generally obtained by combining a thermoplastic polyolefin with an elastomeric composition in a way such that the elastomer is intimately and uniformly dispersed as a discrete particulate phase within a continuous phase of the thermoplastic. Early work with vulcanized compositions is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,037,954 which discloses static vulcanization as well as the technique of dynamic vulcanization wherein a vulcanizable elastomer is dispersed into a resinous thermoplastic polymer and the elastomer is cured while continuously mixing and shearing the polymer blend. The resulting composition is a microgel dispersion of cured elastomer, such as butyl rubber, chlorinated butyl rubber, polybutadiene or polyisobutene in an uncured matrix of thermoplastic polymer such as polypropylene. This patent describes the use of oil additives derived from coal tar, pine tar or petroleum in the composition.
In U.S. Pat. No. Re. 32,028 polymer blends comprising an olefin thermoplastic resin and an olefin copolymer rubber are described, wherein the rubber is dynamically vulcanized to a state of partial cure. The resulting compositions are reprocessible. The addition of various lubricants to the cured blend at about one phr is taught to be useful for improving extrusion quality of the compositions.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,130,534 and 4,130,535 disclose thermoplastic elastomer compositions comprising butyl rubber and polyolefin resin, and olefin rubber and polyolefin resin, respectively. The compositions are prepared by dynamic vulcanization and the rubber component is cured to the extent that it is essentially insoluble in conventional solvents. The addition of plasticizers and aromatic, naphthenic and paraffinic extender oils to the blend is suggested. No details are given regarding the choice or suitability of any particular class or type of plasticizers. It is well known that different rubbers are compatible with certain types of plasticizers and that not all plasticizers are suitable with all rubbers.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,081 a dynamically vulcanized blend is described comprising a first butyl rubber based elastomer and a second ethylene-propylene polymer elastomer in a matrix of polyolefinic resin. Rubber process oils derived from petroleum fractions may be included, and a general suggestion is made that organic esters and other synthetic plasticizers can be used.


A battery stopper stops a battery from slipping from a battery compartment in a frame of a vehicle. The battery compartment has a side opening which enables the battery to be taken in and out of the battery compartment. The battery stopper includes a stopper member capable of closing the side opening so as to cross the side opening. The stopper member is pivotally supported by a pair of frame-side fixed members that are located on both sides of the side opening, thereby enabling the side opening to be opened and closed.

The present invention relates to a battery stopper with which a vehicle, in which a battery is mounted, is equipped, and more particularly to the battery stopper with which a battery forklift truck, in which a battery is mounted as a drive source, is equipped.
This type of battery stopper is described with reference to FIGS. 10 through 13. FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing a forklift truck whose stopper member is in a closing state. FIG. 11 is a partial plan view showing the stopper member in the closing state. FIG. 12 is a schematic side view showing the forklift truck whose stopper member is in an open state. FIG. 13 is a partial plan view showing the stopper member in the open state.
As shown in FIG. 10, a frame 102 of a battery forklift truck 101 is provided with a battery compartment 112 in which a battery 110 is stored. The battery compartment 112 is provided by a front wall 113, a rear wall 114, one side wall (such as a left side wall) 115 (refer to FIG. 11) and a bottom wall 116 (refer to FIG. 10) that are formed on the frame 102. The battery compartment 112 has a right side opening 118 and a top opening 119. The side opening 118 of the battery compartment 112 enables the battery 110 to be taken in and out of the battery compartment 112 in a lateral direction of the forklift truck 101 (in a direction of an arrow in FIG. 13).
Still referring to FIG. 10, the top opening 119 of the battery compartment 112 is covered with a battery hood 122. The battery hood 122 is provided at the rear side thereof on the frame 102 through a hinge mechanism (not shown) for enabling the pivotal movement of the battery hood 122. By the pivotal movement of the battery hood 122, the position of the battery hood 122 is variable between a closing state (refer to FIG. 10), in which the battery hood 122 covers the top opening 119 of the battery compartment 112, and an open state (refer to FIG. 12), in which the battery hood 122 leaves the top opening 119 of the battery compartment 112 open. The battery hood 122 has formed thereon a driver's seat 123 (refer to FIG. 10) in which a driver is seated while driving the forklift truck 101.
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the frame 102 is provided with a battery stopper 130. The battery stopper 130 closes the side opening 118 of the battery compartment 112 while enabling the side opening 118 of the battery compartment 112 to be opened (refer to FIGS. 12 and 13), thereby stopping the battery 110 from slipping from the battery compartment 112. The battery stopper 130 has a stopper member 132. One end of the stopper member 132 is pivotally supported through a supporting pin 140 by a single fitting portion 124 on the side of the frame 102 that is located on one side of the side opening 118, such as the front side of the side opening 118, thereby enabling the side opening 118 to be opened and closed.
Still referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, when the stopper member 132 is in the closing position, the side opening 118 is closed, thereby stopping the battery 110 from slipping from the battery compartment 112 through the side opening 118, for example, when the forklift truck 101 is revolved.
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in the state where the battery hood 122 is open and when the stopper member 132 is in the open position, the side opening 118 is open, thereby enabling the battery 110 to be taken in and out of the battery compartment 112. Taking the battery 110 in and out of the battery compartment 112 is performed, for example, by another forklift truck (not shown). Such a battery stopper 130 is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-219093.
According to the battery stopper 130 of the cited reference, however, the stopper member 132 is supported through the supporting pin 140 by the single fitting portion 124 on the side of the frame 102. Therefore, the stopper member 132 is not effectively used except that the stopper member 132 stops the battery 110 from slipping from the battery compartment 112.


An optical apparatus includes a driving part for driving an optical member such as a lens or the like to move along its optical axis, a rotary operation member arranged to determine the moving direction of the optical member by the rotating direction of the rotary operation member, a switching part arranged to permit switching a relationship between the rotating direction of the rotary operation member and the moving direction of the optical member, and a control part arranged to control the driving part to cause the optical member to move in one of two opposite directions according to the rotating direction of the rotary operation member and the switching position of the switching part.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optical apparatus of the kind arranged to convert the result of a manual operation into an electrical signal or the like and to move an optical member such as a lens by driving a power source such as a motor according to the electrical signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to arrange a power focusing device or a power zooming device to permit a manual rotating operation on a focus ring or a zoom ring, to convert the result of the manual operation into an electrical signal and to move a focusing lens or a power varying lens by driving a power source according to the electrical signal, as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,864,344. Interchangeable lenses which are equipped with the power focusing or zooming devices of this kind for single-lens reflex cameras are now on the market. The lens moving direction in relation to the rotating direction of the focus or zoom rings of these interchangeable lenses, however, varies with the manufacturers of them. While an interchangeable lens made by a manufacturing company A is arranged, for example, to move a lens unit forward when the ring is manually rotated clockwise, an interchangeable lens made by another manufacturing company B is arranged to move the lens unit backward when the ring is manually rotated in the same direction.
Since the moving direction of the lens in relation to the rotating direction of the rotary operation ring of the commercially available interchangeable lenses which are of the kind having a power manipulating type lens-driving device such as a power focusing device or a power zooming device varies with the manufacturers of them, as mentioned above, a camera operator accustomed to using an interchangeable lens made by one manufacturing company A tends to erroneously operate an interchangeable lens made by the other manufacturing company B. The product of the manufacturing company B, therefore, cannot be adequately used even if the operator wishes to use it.


An elastic pressure member is disposed between adjacent first elastic contacts arranged on a base member such that the elastic pressure member corresponds to second contacts arranged on a cover member. Parts of the plurality of leads arranged on an electric part are given contact pressure by elasticity of the first contacts, and the remainder of the leads are given contact pressure against the second contacts by elasticity of the elastic pressure member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a connector, and more particularly to a connector having a base member provided with contacts and a cover member likewise provided with contacts, the contacts on the base member and cover member being capable of contacting mutually different leads arranged on an electric part, wherein both the contacts on the base member and cover member can be contacted with the leads in a positive manner.
2. Prior Art
There has been known a connector having a contact structure for contacting IC contacts from opposite sides, having a base member constituting a connector body, and a cover member, the cover member being closed onto the base member after an IC is placed on the latter, so that contact relation can be maintained while holding the IC, wherein contacts are separately arranged on the base member and cover member in order to cope with a known requirement for a very small pitch arrangement of the leads of an IC, thereby enabling the contacts on both the base member and cover member to be alternately contacted with upper surfaces and under surfaces of the leads when the cover member is closed onto the base member.
In the above connector, the contacts on both the base member and cover member are provided with elasticity in order to obtain contact pressure against the leads.
By virtue of the arrangement that the contacts are alternately arranged on the base member and cover member, the above connector has the advantages that while the contact pitches on both the base member and cover member are large, the requirement for a very small pitch arrangement of the leads is satisfied. However, this conventional connector has the problem that the leads tend to be deformed. This problem will be described with reference to a conceptual view shown in FIG. 11. When the cover member 2 is closed on the base member 1, the leads 5 are urged against the elastic contacts 3 on the base member 1 by the cover member 2. Then, the leads 5 are flexed downwardly while compressing the contacts 3. On the other hand, the leads 6, which are urged against the elastic contacts 4 on the cover member 2, are flexed upwardly while compressing the contacts 4. Since reverse bending forces are applied to the leads 5, 6, the leads 5, 6 are subjected to a thermal test, etc. in that state. As a result, the leads 5, 6 are incapable of returning to their original states even after the pressure is removed. This means that the leads 5, 6 suffer from so-called "permanent deformation", which also causes vertical irregular arrangement of the leads, thus jeopardizing flatness. In recent years, leads of IC, etc. have been formed smaller and smaller, and they are becoming more and more fragile. Therefore, it is indispensable to obviate the above-mentioned problems.


A system and method of processing a markup language based electronic mail includes identifying in a head section of markup language code any style rules for rendering the markup language based e-mail and sorting the style rules in order of reference in the markup language code, interleaving the style rules for placement in a body section of one or more blocks of markup language code corresponding to one or more sections of the markup language based e-mail, wherein interleaving is based on predetermined rules, and storing the one or more blocks of markup language code including the interleaved style rules as separately downloadable blocks of data corresponding to sections of the markup language based e-mail. The method may also include receiving, at a mobile communication device, a block of markup language code for rendering a section of the markup language based e-mail on a display, identifying in the block of markup language code any style rules interleaved therein for rendering the section of the markup language based e-mail on the display, processing the interleaved style rules identified in the block of markup language code, and rendering the section of the markup language based e-mail on the display based on the processed style rules.

Enhanced e-mail containing markup language (e.g. HTML e-mail) has been increasing in popularity due to its enhanced appearance and functionality. In comparison to text only e-mail, HTML e-mail allows the sender to display richer fonts, colors, borders, backgrounds, graphic designs and other enhanced visual features. However, HTML e-mail consumes significantly more processing and memory resources for rendering them for display.
When attempting to display HTML e-mail on devices with limited system or bandwidth resources, such as wireless handheld devices, rendering HTML e-mail may take a significant amount of time, resulting in a noticeable delay and a poor user experience. What is needed is an improved system and method for rendering HTML e-mail, particularly on resource limited devices.

System and method for processing and rendering markup language based electronic mail


An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit heating an image formed on a recording medium and disposed along a conveying path conveying the recording medium. The conveying path includes a first guide plate, discharge guide plate portions and second guide plate portion as conveyance guide plates guiding the recording medium. Partition walls and vertical walls are disposed at positions facing these guide plate portions. The air current guide portion guides air taken in from intake ports through an intake guide portion between the respective guide plate portions and each walls.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus configured to be able to form an image on a recording medium such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, and a multifunction printer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, there is disclosed an image forming apparatus configured such that an exhaust port exhausting exhaust heat of the image forming apparatus is provided within an intra-body sheet discharge portion as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-70459. This configuration improves usability of the apparatus because it permits to reduce influences of heat and sound otherwise generated from an exhaust port provided near a side surface of the apparatus. This configuration also improves installability of the apparatus because it permits to reduce an installation space by allowing a side surface of the apparatus to be placed closely to a wall of a room.
However, because the image forming apparatus of JPA No. 2005-70459 described above is configured such that the exhaust port is mounted in the intra-sheet discharge portion and the exhaust heat within the apparatus is merely exhausted through this exhaust port, there is a possibility that it is hard to assure an enough required air quantity for each heat generating source depending on disposition of the heat generating sources and on configuration of air channels for exhausting the heat. It is conceivable to separate an air channel from each heat generating source to the exhaust port by ducts for instance in order to avoid such possibility. However, costs and size of the apparatus increase if new ducts are added.
Meanwhile, what is influential as a heat generating source of the image forming apparatus is a fixing unit, i.e., an image heating portion, heating an image formed on a recording medium. The fixing unit is disposed along a conveying path through which the recording medium is conveyed. The recording medium passing through the fixing unit also becomes a heat generating source because it is heated by the fixing unit.


A method and apparatus for monitoring particulate matter in a gas sample and the air quality associated therewith is provided.

Particulate matter (particulates) is the generic name used to describe small particles of solid or semi-solid materials, liquid droplets, aerosols and combinations thereof that are present in the ambient air. Total suspended particulates (TSP) refer to those airborne particulates that are less than 100 microns in diameter, which is the approximate thickness of a typical human hair. Particulates less than 10 microns in diameter are designated as PM10. Particulates originate from many sources, including combustion; poor industrial dust containment of such materials as coal dust, fly ash, and carbon black; automotive exhaust, especially diesel; and windblown or fugitive dust from roadways, fields, construction sites, and soil erosion. Photochemical reactions of certain gaseous pollutants in the presence of ultraviolet light also produce airborne particulates in the form of aerosols. These aerosols tend to be less than one micron in diameter. This is smaller in size than either fugitive dust or particulates from industrial sources, which tend to be greater than one micron in diameter.
Particle size distributions can affect visibility, as well as human respiratory functions. Those particles with diameters in the size range of 0.1 to 1.0 microns are the most efficient at scattering visible light which is, generally, light having a wavelength from about 0.4 to 0.7 microns. This scattering is a primary contributor to reduced visibility. When these particles combine with water vapor at high humidity they may, for example, create haze and smog. Larger particles, in the range of 0.5 to 5.0 microns, can be inhaled but are normally deposited in the bronchi before reaching the alveoli or air sacks of the lungs. With the exception of fibrous materials such as asbestos, particles smaller than 0.5 microns, are generally understood to be capable of reaching the avioli.
In addition to reducing visibility and causing respiratory problems, cancer, and heart attacks, airborne particulates can cause corrosion of metals and electrical equipment, as well as soiling of textiles and building materials.
Epidemiological studies in the U.S. and abroad have shown associations between mortality and morbidity and human exposure to ambient particulate matter (Schartz and Dockery, Am. Rev. Resp. Dis. 145:600, 1992; Pope et al., Am. Rev. Resp. Dis. 144:668, 1992). To date, there is limited knowledge about the physical or chemical property of particulate matter that is responsible for these health effects. In addition, there is an increasing interest in developing accurate measurements for particulate matter.
In order to determine air quality, the air may be monitored. Monitoring may be effected in a variety of ways. Typically, samples of air are collected at specific locations for a given period of time, followed by the analysis of the samples using any number of known analytical techniques.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes a need to develop techniques for the continuous measurement of inhalable particulate matter, such as PM10 and PM2.5, which are particulate matter of less than 10 microns and 2.5 microns in diameter, respectively. The majority of the current particulate mass measurement methods use a size selective inlet to remove particles above a certain size, usually 10 microns in diameter (PM10). Most of the available data on PM10 and PM2.5, have been obtained using gravimetric methods. The collected particles are weighed using microbalances under constant specified temperature and relative humidity conditions. However, gravimetric methods are not sensitive enough to measure samples collected in short periods needed to provide a continuous measurement.
The Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM) is a recently developed method that originally appeared to be very promising, as reported in Patashnick and Rupprecht, Continuous PM-10 Measurements Using the Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance, J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc. 41:1079, (1991). According to this method, the air sample is heated up to 50° C. to remove moisture, and particles are subsequently collected on a TEFLON® filter that oscillates at the top of a metal rod. The amplitude of the oscillation decreases as the mass of the particles collected on the filter increases. Although this method is highly sensitive, measurements are subject to a number of interferences. Significant losses occur for semivolatile organic and inorganic compounds that in some areas can represent relatively large fraction of the total particulate matter. This problem is more pronounced for PM2.5, which includes unstable compounds such as ammonium nitrate and carbonaceous aerosols. For areas such as California and large urban environments, this method may significantly underestimate particle mass concentrations. Also, as the composition of the air sample changes, the partitioning of air pollutants between the gas and particle phase changes. Therefore, absorption and/or desorption processes can take place on the filter, depending upon whether the air sample becomes more or less polluted. Due to the sensitivity of the method, these phenomena can cause either negative or positive artifacts. The gains and losses of mass on the filter are a serious problem, not just of the TEOM, but of any method that collects particles on a filter over a prolonged period of time, for example, over a period of days. Finally, this method presents oscillations or noise in its response. The noise cancels out if a large number of measurements are added to determine a multi-hour concentration estimate; however, over shorter time intervals the measurement errors due to this oscillation can exceed 20–30%.
Short-term measurement of particle size distributions is at least as important as short-term measurement of total particle mass concentrations. In fact, particle size distribution is frequently the most important measurement parameter, since the majority of the physical processes governing the behavior of particles depend on particle size. Particle sizes vary with particle sources, formation mechanisms, and chemical composition. The airborne lifetime of particles is affected by particle sizes. Moreover, the uptake, retention and clearance of particles by the human respiratory system is a function of particle size. Thus, obtaining short-term measurements of particle size distribution, particularly those with diameters smaller than 2.5 microns, could substantially improve exposure assessment and, thus, environmental or regulatory decision-making.
To date, there is no adequate monitoring technique that determines the size distribution of particles based on mass on a continuous basis. Quartz crystal piezobalances are commonly used to determine particulate mass indirectly through particle impaction on an oscillating quartz surface, as reported in Lundgren, D. A., In Fine Particles, edited by B. Y. H. Liu, Academic Press Inc., New, York, (1976); and Chuan, R. L., In Fine Particles, edited by B. Y. H. Liu, Academic Press Inc., New, York, (1976). In these devices, a quartz disk oscillates in an electric circuit at a highly stable resonant frequency which is inversely proportional to the particulate mass impacting and adhering onto the quartz disk.
The piezobalances suffer from the various potential shortcomings. First, the relationship between frequency and mass becomes non-linear for high particulate loadings. Second, since the quartz disk collects particles by impaction, the instrument response depends upon the sharpness of collection efficiency, for example, as affected by the extent of particle bounce and internal particle losses. Finally, carbonaceous aerosol particles, which are composed of long stable chains of very small primary particles, cannot be determined with piezobalances. These chain aggregates contact the sensor at 2 to 3 points, but most of the particulate mass is suspended above the sensor surface where it cannot be measured, for example, as reported by Lundgren, D. A. and Daley, P. S., Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J., 581–588, 1977.
Other direct-reading methods to determine particle concentration and size distribution include optical and electrical counters. Most of the optical systems count light pulses scattered from particles that flow through an intensely illuminated zone. One limitation is the dependence of the instrument's response on the particle refractive index. Measurement error is introduced where particles vary in composition and refractive index. In addition, the art confronts instrument sensitivity problems requiring complex solutions when ambient air contains particles that are larger and smaller than about 0.2 to 0.3 microns, for example, as reported in U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,211 issued to Wells et al.
Another type of particle counter is the aerodynamic particle sizer (APS), for example, Model 3310 sold by TSI Inc. of St. Paul, Minn., which is described by Wilson, J. C. and Liu, B. Y. H., J. Aersol. Sci. 11:139–150 (1980); and Baron, P., Aerosol Sci. and Technol. 5:56–67, (1985). The APS sizes and counts particles by measuring their time-of-flight in an accelerating flow field. Particle measurement is based on particulate inertia, hence the system determines the aerodynamic particle diameter. The main shortcoming of the APS is that it cannot determine size for particles smaller than about 0.7 microns
More generally, electrical counters have been used to determine particle sizes by charging the sampled aerosols and measuring the ability of particles to traverse an electrical field. The most widely used instrument of this type is the Differential Mobility Analyzer (DMA) (Model 3932, TSI Inc., St. Paul, Minn.). This technology is limited to measuring aerosols in the size range 0.01–0.5 microns. Using the DMA in conjunction with an optical counter or the APS would make it possible to determine a broad size range of atmospheric particles. Nevertheless, there are still three other shortcomings. First, both optical and electrical counters determine the number size distribution of particles which they subsequently convert to volume distribution. Since the density of particles varies significantly (in the range of +/−30% of the mean value), and since mass concentration is directly proportional to the density, large uncertainties can result from using these methods to determine particle mass concentrations as a function of size. Second, these techniques require conversion of the size distribution, by number, to a corresponding volume size distribution. The size distribution, by number, of particles is dominated by ultrafine particles (i.e., smaller than 0.1 microns). The coarser the particles, the smaller the concentration becomes. However, when converting a number to volume distribution, a 1.0 micron particle weighs as much as 103 of 0.1 micron particles and 106 of 0.01 micron particles. Counting errors are substantial for large particles, due to their relatively low number concentrations combined with electronic noise in the instrumentation. There are significant uncertainties in volume and, consequently, mass as a function of particle size. Finally, these instruments are very expensive, costing for example up to $100,000 for the combined optical/electrical counter. There are also relatively high maintenance costs, so these devices are generally unsuited for large-scale field studies.
A continuous ambient mass monitor (CAMM) apparatus has been developed at the Harvard School of Public Health, as reported in an Abstract of presentation at conference entitled Measurement of Toxic and Related Air Pollutants, Research Triangle Park, N.C., Cosponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Air and Waste Management Association, May 7–10, (1995). This apparatus provides for the real time measurement of particulate matter in a gas, and is based on monitoring a pressure drop across a porous membrane filter over a period of time. However, this method is limited to the measurement of the mass of ambient fine particles, generally, less than about 2.5 microns in diameter.
Other particle counters are known, but generally fail to overcome the aforementioned problems of high cost, accuracy and sensitivity. U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,795, issued Aug. 3, 1999, provides a method and apparatus for the continuous monitoring of ambient particle mass in a gas sample using a series of particulate matter collectors where the particle size is from 2.5 to 10 microns. U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,945, issued Nov. 5, 1996, provides a method and apparatus for measuring particulate matter in a gas which employs pressure sensors. U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,479, issued Jan. 4, 2000, provides a personal continuous air monitor capable of sensing radiation. This air monitor employs a filter or detector head with a radiation detector and a series of signal processing units. U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,596, issued Feb. 13, 2001, provides a visual airborne contaminant indicator employing a colored pH indicator, which may be used with an adsorptive filter. U.S. Pat. No. 6,248,153, issued Jun. 19, 2001, provides a diffusional gas transfer system for removing airborne particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,014 shows a particle measurement device characterized as a cascade impactor. Cascade impactors are generally used for the classification of aerosols according to size and for possible subsequent chemical analysis. Air is drawn through a series of orifices of decreasing size. Air low is usually normal to collecting surfaces on which aerosols are collected by inertial impaction. The particles are separated stepwise by their momentum differences into a number of size ranges, and may be collected simultaneously. One commercially available in-stack cascade impactor is the Graseby Anderson Mark III™ made by Clean Air Analytical Service of Palatine, Ill.
Continuous monitoring of PM concentrations in smoke stacks started during the 1960s in Germany. During the 1970s, studies unsuccessfully attempted to correlate PM concentrations to opacity monitor readings in the United States. More recent studies have evaluated several types of continuous PM monitors including optical, beta gauge, and triboelectric devices. These devices have, with varying degrees of success, continuously monitored total particulate, but have not been used to measure specific size fractions.
It would be a significant contribution to the art to provide an improved, versatile method and apparatus for monitoring the mass of particulate matter in a gas.

Method and apparatus for monitoring particles in a flowing gas


The systems and methods according to this invention disclose that coverage for an ad hoc sensor network is fundamental to the deployment and utilization of such networks. The invention provides a method which characterizes the coverage of an ad hoc sensor network by defining a sensing field over the space within which the physical phenomenon of interest occurs. Its value at any given point reflects the ability of the sensor network to estimate the phenomenon and/or event, of interest at this point. A statistical method is presented to determine such a field based on sensor layouts and sensor models. The system and methods of the invention define well monitored regions and sensor holes, information that can be used to characterize the quality of service that the network provides for different applications. A graphical user interface may be provided to display this information to the user for monitoring in health management of the network. The systems and methods of the invention apply to fixed as well as mobile sensors.

1. Field of Invention
The systems and methods of this invention are directed to ad hoc sensor networks.
2. Description of Related Art
Ad hoc sensor networks have potential impact on many applications such as intelligent infrastructures, environmental monitoring, and battlefield monitoring. The characterization of a network's ability to perform a sensing task is a fundamental problem for the deployment and use of such systems. Traditional sensors are characterized by specifications such as range, resolution, and accuracy. These specifications are used to decide if a sensor is suitable for the task and system at hand. The simplicity and elegance of these specifications make the use of individual sensors a very easy task. Similar specifications for sensor networks currently do not exist and extensive testing is necessary to assess the capability of sensor networks and then their suitability for a particular task.
One approach which tackles coverage problems of sensor networks is described by Meguerdichian et al., "Coverage Problems in Wireless Ad Hoc Sensor Networks," IEEE Infocom 2001, vol. 3, pp. 1380–1387, April 2001. This publication uses the distance from the sensor nodes as the only metric that characterizes the sensing ability. It does not take into consideration any sensor characteristics. Accordingly, this results in the same coverage characterization independent of the type and capabilities of the individual sensors used in the network. Moreover, this approach computes a maximal breach path using a geometrical characterization that is not necessarily related to the sensing capabilities of the network.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,471 to Stiles et al. discloses dynamic optical sensor employment for searching an area. U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,763 to Thomson et al. discloses a method for optimizing the coverage area of a sensor. In both of these patents, coverage characterization of sensing systems is of great significance.

Systems and methods for characterizing the coverage of ad hoc sensor networks


An aircraft-based synthetic vision system (SVS) is disclosed. In embodiments, the SVS includes avionics processors in communication with onboard lightning detection sensors, which provide the SVS with real-time lightning data (e.g., bearing to, and distance from, the aircraft) about proximate lightning strikes. Based on the real-time lightning data, the avionics processors generate flight deck effects (FDE) corresponding to identified areas of lightning activity (e.g., a sufficient quantity of strikes, exceeding a strike threshold, within a particular airspace during a time window), each FDE having a particular bearing to and distance from the aircraft. The FDE data is processed by a display system aboard the aircraft (e.g., a cockpit-based primary flight display (PFD) or head-worn/heads-up display (HWD/HUD)) which incorporates the generated FDEs into the SVS status display provided to the flight crew or pilot at the appropriate bearing and distance relative to the aircraft.

Modern primary flight displays (PFD) may provide a limited amount of weather information to the cockpit crew via synthetic vision systems (SVS) that also provides visual information about terrain, landmarks, and obstacles near the aircraft. However, onboard weather radar (WXR) may only provide information about precipitation (e.g., rain and hail) and precipitation-related turbulence, but no information about nearby lightning strikes. In some cases, the aircraft itself may trigger a lightning strike if flying through particularly charged cloud cover. While commercial aircraft may incorporate extensive safeguards to protect passengers and aircraft fuel systems from lightning, the associated power surges may still result in damage to the aircraft or to its extensive electrical systems. Similarly, while some onboard systems may display atmospheric data with respect to predicting wind shear conditions, these systems may operate only during certain flight segments or altitudes (e.g., landing/initial climb, final descent/takeoff).

Real-time lightning monitor for synthetic vision systems (SVS)


A remote sound monitor includes a receiver unit and a transmitter unit. The transmitter unit includes a sound transducer that receives the sound input and converts the sound input to the audio signal, and an audio transmitter that transmits the audio signal. The receiver unit includes an audio receiver that receives a transmitted audio signal having a parameter that corresponds to an amplitude of a remote sound input, and a display that provides a visual indication of the parameter of the audio signal. The display providing the visual indication can flash, strobe, or change colors in response to a change in amplitude of the sound input. The receiver unit can also include an audio speaker with a user-actuated amplification stage to provide remote audio output of the sound input.

There are many situations in which it is advantageous to monitor sounds emitted at a remote location. For example, certain machinery, such as compressors or electrical generators, makes characteristic sounds when operating properly. A change in this characteristic sound is often an early indication of malfunction. This machinery can't always be monitored locally, at least not on a consistent basis. Reproducing the sound at a remote location where the presence of personnel is more constant allows for better supervision of the machinery.
Likewise, the supervision of a sleeping infant can also be performed more reliably when the infant's sounds are monitored remotely. While the infant is sleeping, a parent or babysitter can relax in another room while still monitoring sounds that the infant makes. If the infant wakes up momentarily, the parent is notified and can make sure that the infant gets back to sleep. When the infant is ready to end his nap, or is finished resting quietly and wants to be fed, the parent can hear the infant crying and get him out of his crib.
One advantage to having a remote reproduction of the infant's sounds is that the person supervising the infant can hold a conversation at a normal level, or watch television, without worrying that the sound level will cause the infant to wake up. However, this means that the monitor sound level must be turned up to be heard over any other sound, which can be distracting, particularly because at high sound levels, many conventional monitor receivers have poor sound quality. Further, if a babysitter is engaged in a telephone conversation or other activity that requires her to listen and commands her attention, supervision of the infant could be compromised.
It would therefore be beneficial to provide a remote sound monitor that provides an indication of the sound being monitored, but doesn't always require the supervisor's hearing or direct attention. For example, a visual indication that gives an immediate indication of a change in sound level being monitored and that can be observed from various vantage points in the vicinity of the receiver would be advantageous.

Remote sound monitor and receiver therefor


The invention comprises a robotic microscope system and methods that allow high through-put analysis biological materials, particularly living cells, and allows precise return to and re-imaging of the same field (e.g., the same cell) that has been imaged earlier. This capability enables experiments and testing hypotheses that deal with causality over time intervals which are not possible with conventional microscopy methods.

Inverted microscope configurations and computer control for automatic focusing and microscope stage positioning have been used for imaging of biological samples, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,417 discloses a computer automated system for blood cell counts and blood cell morphology studies. The system provides automated x-y stage translation, auto-focusing, and an automated meander search pattern system for cell finding. The system also provides for memorization of x-y positions for re-insertion of slides and re-viewing of previously viewed cells on previously used slides. U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,964 discloses an automatic microscope slide inspection system with a controllable stage positioner for scanning slides for pathogenic protozoa. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,705,949 and 4,974,952 disclose cell chambers or holders microscopy of living cell specimens. U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,053 discloses a method for micromanipulation of living cells using an inverted microscope, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,028 discloses an automated spectral imaging system for cell classification. Ultramicroscopy 2001, April; 87(3): 155–64 discloses a method of two-photon 4Pi confocal fluorescence microscopy for imaging of live cells. Environmental Health Perspective 1999, November; 107(11) discloses a technique for imaging of living cells using an integrated optical magnetic resonance microscope. Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2001;39(2):75–85 discloses the use of confocal microscopy for fluorescently labeled thick specimens of stained living cells without requiring physical sectioning of samples.
Additional patents of interest include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,920,053, 5,991,028, 4,705,949, 5,594,235, 6,005,964, 5,861,985, 4,000,417, 6,049,421, 6,246,785 and 4,958,920, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Publications of interest include Anal Biochem Jun. 15, 2001;293(2):258–63, Ultramicroscopy 2001, April;87(3): 155–64, Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2001;39(2):75–85, Trends Cell Biol 2001 August;11(8): 329–34, J Microbiol Methods 2000 October;42(2):129–38, J Immunol Methods Nov. 19, 1999;230(1–2): 11–8, and Environmental Health Perspective 1999, November; 107(11); and Nature 2001 May; 411: 107–110. the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Still, no available microscopy systems effectively provide for high throughput techniques for observation of living cells, with imaging of living cells carried out in a multi-well format. Particularly, no microscopy systems allow rapid imaging of living cells in a multi-well format without harm to the living cells, or allow quick and easy re-imaging of previously viewed living cells. The present invention satisfies these needs, as well as others, and overcomes deficiencies found in the background references.

The Regents of the University of California


A delivery head is adapted for use in a fiber placement system for laying a plurality of tows, forming a band, onto a mandrel to form an irregular shaped object. The delivery head has cut and add sections and includes a plurality of pathways for guiding a respective plurality of tows from an inlet to an outlet of the delivery head. The cut and add section is provided in the form of a module which includes apparatus for selectively actuating any of a plurality of cutting elements and for selectively actuating any of a plurality of advancing devices for advancing respective ones of the tows toward the outlet of the delivery head.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a filament placement system having a head for applying filaments to a mandrel for forming tubular articles.
2. Description of Background and Other Information
In present filament winding systems, fibrous rovings or tows, impregnated with a thermosetting resin, are wound in a helical pattern in a number of superimposed layers onto a mandrel to produce a tubular article. In most types of filament winding operations, the rovings pass through a delivery eye or from a delivery roller across an air space onto the part. In such systems, tows cannot be added or deleted during operation to adjust to the varying contours of the part being wound. Furthermore, such systems are limited to geodesic or natural path fiber patterns. Conventional tape laying systems generally provide positioning of the rovings on flat or slightly contoured surfaces. However, these systems cannot wind three dimensional contours without fiber gaps or overlaps, unless an impracticably narrow band is employed. Tape layers cannot vary the band width without terminating the entire band.
The inability to alter bandwidth while winding parts with non-uniform cross-section, such as fuselages, tapered wing skins, domes or missile nose cones, results in overlapping or gapping of the winding band. The inability to accurately place fiber at the optimum angle results in heavier than necessary designs. In some cases, this results in a design that cannot be automated and provides no cost or weight savings compared to a corresponding metal part.
Co-pending application Ser. No. 07/275,313, filed Nov. 23, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,147 discloses a fiber placement system that overcomes many of the disadvantages of filament winding systems. The system disclosed therein is capable of selecting any or all of thirty-two available tows and terminating and adding them on the mandrel tooling upon computer command. This system allows for the band width to be automatically varied between one and thirty-two tows, and also allows for a full band termination and restart.
A limitation of this design has been encountered due to the cable actuation system utilized for the cutting and adding device. The actuation system of this design consists of remotely located pneumatic cylinders linked to flexible cables which transmit the mechanical force to the delivery head. This cable system has been found to restrict the actuation speed, which can be critical particularly in the cutter mechanism. The presence of the cable system also makes delivery head change-out slow and difficult.
A more desirable delivery head would have an actuation method that would facilitate head installation and removal and, at the same time, providing faster actuation speeds. The delivery head would also be easy to disassemble and clean, thereby reducing down-time.
An additional limitation of the known design has been found to be fiber buildup at the groove openings of the guide trays. In the known design, there had been sharp corners that would tend to catch the tows and cause buildup.

Fiber placement delivery system with modular cut/add actuators


A conductive film element precursor can be used to provide conductive silver lines from silver halide in a non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer. This precursor has a substrate having, in order on at least one supporting side: a non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer comprising a silver halide at a coverage of less than 5000 mg Ag/m2, and a hydrophilic overcoat disposed over the non-color hydrophilic photosensitive layer. This hydrophilic overcoat is the outermost layer and comprises silver halide in an amount of at least 5 mg Ag/m2 and up to and including 150 mg Ag/m2. The noted hydrophilic layers can be disposed on both supporting sides of the substrate to form a duplex conductive film element precursor. After imagewise exposure, the resulting exposed silver halide is developed and fixed to provide silver metal in conductive lines on either or both supporting sides of the substrate.

Rapid advances are occurring in various electronic devices especially display devices that are used for various communicational, financial, and archival purposes. For such uses as touch screen panels, electrochromic devices, light emitting diodes, field effect transistors, and liquid crystal displays, conductive films are essential and considerable efforts are being made in the industry to improve the properties of those conductive films.
There is a particular need to provide touch screen displays and devices that contain improved conductive film elements. Currently, touch screen displays use Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) coatings to create arrays of capacitive areas used to distinguish multiple point contacts. ITO coatings have significant short comings. Indium is an expensive rare earth metal and is available in limited supply from very few sources in the world. ITO conductivity is relatively low and requires short line lengths to achieve adequate response rates. Touch screens for large displays are broken up into smaller segments to reduce the conductive line length to an acceptable resistance. These smaller segments require additional driving and sensing electronics. In addition ITO is a ceramic material, is not readily bent or flexed, and requires vacuum deposition with high processing temperatures to prepare the conductive layers.
Silver is an ideal conductor having conductivity 50 to 100 times greater than ITO. Unlike most metal oxides, silver oxide is still reasonably conductive and this reduces the problem of making reliable electrical connections. Silver is used in many commercial applications and is available from numerous sources. It is highly desirable to make conductive film elements using silver as the source of conductivity, but it requires considerable development to obtain the optimal properties.
U.S. Patent Application Publication 2011/0308846 (Ichiki) describes the preparation of conductive films formed by reducing a silver halide image in conductive networks with silver wire sizes less than 10 μm, which conductive films can be used to form touch panels in displays.
In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,822 (Blake) describes the use of a silver halide emulsion in a photographic element to form a conductive silver surface image by development and one or more treatment baths after development.
Improvements have been proposed for providing conductive patterns using photosensitive silver salt compositions such as silver halide emulsions as described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 8,012,676 (Yoshiki et al.). Such techniques involve the treatment using hot water baths containing reducing agents or halides.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,943,291 (Tokunaga et al.) describes photosensitive materials that can be used to prepare conductive silver-containing films. One or more layers for example an outermost protective layer can include various conductive fine particles such as metal oxide particles in a binder.
Thus, it is known to provide conductive silver patterns on transparent films and to put protective non-photosensitive overcoats over those conductive silver patterns. While known protective non-photosensitive overcoats provide physical protection for the conductive patterns, they also act as an insulating barrier between the conductive pattern and external electrical contacts used in a various display devices. Such insulating properties can render display device manufacture unreliable.
Thus, there is a need to create conductive patterns in conductive articles designed for display devices in which a protective non-photosensitive overcoat has finite electrical conductivity only in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the conductive article used as a touch screen sensor film. Such a protective non-photosensitive overcoat would enable effective electrical contact between external electrical circuits and underlying conductive silver patterns. Conductivity in the two in-plane directions must be avoided to prevent cross-talk between circuitry elements. It with these needs in mind, that the present invention was discovered.

Silver halide conductive element precursor and devices


An (18, 9) error correction code that is simultaneously double error correcting and triple error detecting is disclosed. The code is defined by the following parity check matrix:

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, in general, to error correction codes for computers and data communications, and in particular to a special double error correcting and triple error detecting code for computer memory.
2. Description of the Related Art
Error correction codes (ECCs) have long been used in computers as well as data communications. Typically, such codes are constructed by appending r=n−k check symbols to k message symbols to form an n-symbol code word, using a linear matrix transformation of the form:C=MG,where C=(c0, c1, . . . , cn−1) is a 1×n row vector representing the n-symbol code word, M=(m0, m1, . . . , mk−1) is a 1×k row vector representing the k-symbol message or data word, and G is a k×n matrix known as a generator matrix. (Alternatively, if C and M are assumed to be column vectors, the transformation becomes C=GtM, where Gt is the transpose of G.) Although the symbols need not be bits, they are usually bits, and bits will be referred to in the discussion that follows. The code word C is either written to a storage medium or transmitted over a communication channel. Both the storage medium and the communication channel in the narrow sense may be regarded as "communication channels" in the broad sense.
On the decoding side, an n-bit word R is either retrieved from a storage medium or received over a communication channel. This word R is the sum of the originally generated code word C and an n-bit error word E (which may be zero) representing any errors that may have occurred. To determine whether the received word accurately represents the original code word C, the received word R is used to generate a k-bit syndrome vector using a matrix transformation of the form:S=RHt,where S is the syndrome vector and Ht is the transpose of an r×n matrix H known as a parity check matrix. (Alternatively, if S is assumed to be a column vector, the transformation becomes S=HRt, where Rt is the transpose of R.)
The parity check matrix H is selected so that its row vectors lie in the null space of those of the generator matrix G (i.e., GHt=0), so that for an original code word C,CHt=0.
Since R=C+E,S=(C+E)Ht=CHt+EHt=0+EHt=EHt.
In other words, the syndrome vector S is independent of the original code word C and a function only of the error word E. The decoder uses the syndrome vector S to reconstruct the error word (following maximum likelihood criteria), which is subtracted from the received word R to regenerate the code word C.
A code is the set of code words C generated from a given set of data words M. (Even if two generator matrices differ, their code spaces may be the same.) Codes are commonly classified by the number of symbols in their data word M and code word C. Thus, an (n, k) code has a code word of n symbols generated on a data word of k symbols.
The ability of a code to detect and correct errors depends on the so-called Hamming distance between different code words of the code. In general, the Hamming distance between two code words is the number of symbols in which the two code words differ. If the minimum Hamming distance of a code is t+1, then the code can detect up to t errors, since if the code word has t or fewer errors, it will not have changed into any other code word. Similarly, if the minimum Hamming distance of a code is 2t+1, the code can correct up to t errors, since a received word having t or fewer errors will be within a Hamming distance of t symbols on one and only one code word, and thus can be unambiguously decoded as that code word.
Furthermore, if the minimum Hamming distance of a code is 2t+2, the code can correct up to t errors and also can detect t+1 errors, since a received word having t+1 errors will not be within a Hamming distance of t symbols from any code word and thus will be detected as having uncorrectable errors (UEs). From the foregoing, it will be apparent that to correct 2 or fewer errors and simultaneously detect 3 errors, a code must have a minimum Hamming distance of 6 symbols. Such codes are commonly referred to as double error correcting and triple error detecting (DEC-TED) codes. To give another example, codes with a minimum Hamming distance of 4 symbols can correct a single error and detect up to 2 errors, and are known as single error correcting and double error detecting (SEC-DED) codes.
Single error correcting and double error detecting (SEC-DED) codes have been widely used to protect computer memory subsystems from failures. As certain critical data such as storage protection keys in computers requires a higher level of error protection, SEC-DED codes may not be adequate. In this case, a double error correcting, triple error detecting (DEC-TED) code may be desired.
Error correction codes capable of correcting double errors and detecting triple errors can be constructed based on the well-known BCH (Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem) theory (see W. Peterson and E. J. Weldon Jr., Error-Correcting Codes, 1972, MIT Press). A primitive BCH DEC-TED code of length n=2m−1 with 2m+1 check bits is obtained with a parity check matrix, each column vector k of which consists of 1, αk and α3k, where α is a primitive element of the finite field of 2m elements. Olderdissen describes a rapid decoding of the primitive BCH DEC-TED codes in U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,977. On the other hand, a non-primitive BCH DEC-TED code of length n=2m+1 with 2m+1 check bits can be obtained with a parity check matrix, each column vector k of which consists of 1 and βk, where β is a primitive root of xn−1 in the finite field of 22m elements. A non-primitive BCH DEC-TED code provides two more data bits than a BCH DEC-TED code with the same number of check bits. One drawback of the Olderdissen decoding scheme is that it is not applicable to non-primitive BCH DEC-TED codes. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,117,458, Burghard and Coletti describe a decoding scheme based on a brute force table-look-up approach for a non-BCH code of length 17 (=24+1) with 8 data bits and 9 check bits. In addition, their error detection scheme is limited to triple errors. The decoding table does not detect multiple errors beyond three that are theoretically detectable.
Recent ECC design for computer applications requires the ability to detect memory address errors as well as the ability to isolate component failures with invalid data indicators (see for examples U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,154 for memory address error detection and U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,736 for failure isolation of computer components with invalid data indicators). For memory address error detection, extra data bits are required for encoding the parity of a memory address. A special data invalid indicator, also known as a special UE (SPUE) indicator, is generated when the data sent out of a particular computer component to the memory is known to be bad. As the special UEs come from different computer components, it is desirable to be able to identify the source that generates a particular special UE when the data associated with the special UE is fetched from the memory. To meet this requirement, extra data bits are also required for the encoding of the special UEs. In the prior art, a plurality of data bits are reserved for multiple special UEs, which is inefficient in the usage of ECC data bits, especially when the number of available ECC data bits is limited.

(18, 9) Error correction code for double error correction and triple error detection

Abstract: β      1              3                                                        β      1        6                          β      1        12                                            β          1                7                                                                            β      1        14                          β      1        11                          β      1        5                          β      1        1                          β      1        2                          β      1        4                          β      1        8                                                                    β            1        16                          β      1        15                          β      1        13                          β      1        9                                                    0                                        1                              β      1        10                    1          1      ,      where β is a root of the polynomial x17−1 in the finite field of 256 elements. Logic circuitry for efficiently determining the locations of single and double errors as well as for detecting the presence of uncorrectable errors is also disclosed.

International Business Machines Corporation


A linear center rail structure for a sliding door includes a linear center rail, a roller part, a base, and an arm. The linear center rail is disposed on a side outer panel of a vehicle. The roller part is guided by the center rail, slid along the center rail, and has hinge holes formed at an end portion thereof. The base is fixed to a sliding door panel and has slots formed in a pop-up direction of the sliding door panel. The arm has one end at which a first hinge shaft rotatably coupled to the hinge holes of the roller part is disposed and the other end at which a second hinge shaft fitted into the slots of the base to thereby be slidably and rotatably coupled to the base is disposed.

A sliding door used as a side door of a van is opened or closed while being slid frontward and rearward along a rail of a vehicle panel.
FIG. 1 is a view showing a state in which a top rail, a bottom rail, and a center rail are mounted on a side outer panel according to the prior art; and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a center rail mounting part of FIG. 1.
A rail structure for a sliding door according to the prior art will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The front, which is a position at which the sliding door is closed, of a side outer panel 10 is installed with a top rail 70 and a bottom rail 80, and a side surface of the side outer panel 10 is installed with a center rail 90 lengthily extending from the position at which the sliding door is closed to the rear of the side outer panel 10.
The top rail 70, the bottom rail 80, and the center rail 90 have a top roller 75, a bottom roller 85, and a center roller 95 slidably coupled thereto, respectively. The top roller 75, the bottom roller 85, and the center roller 95 are fixed to a sliding door panel.
However, as shown in FIG. 2, the center rail according to the prior art is configured of a linear part 94, a curved part 93, and an inwardly directed part 92. Here, since the inwardly directed part 92 and the curved part 93 are formed in a left and right direction of a vehicle, the center roller 95 moves in the left and right direction of the vehicle in the inwardly directed part 92 and the curved part 93. Therefore, when a user wants to open the sliding door, the user should pop up the sliding door while pushing the sliding door in the left and right direction and then slide the sliding door rearward.
However, in the center rail of the sliding door according to the prior art as described above, the curved part 93 excessively invades the interior of the vehicle to deteriorate dwelling ability. Moreover, since an operation direction of a handle and an opening or closing direction of the sliding door do not coincide with each other at the inwardly directed part and the curved part to disperse handle operation force, operability is deteriorated. Furthermore, since dispersion of a cross section of a curved bent part is large in a process of bending the curved part of the center rail, it is difficult to secure good quality.

Linear center rail structure for sliding door


An automatic telephone scheduling system (20) includes a data server (22), a dial server (24), and a plurality of agent workstations (28) which communicate with each other through messages transmitted over a local area network (30). The data server (22) has stored in its memory a plurality of account information records to be utilized for one or more calling campaigns. The dial server (24) includes an independent intelligent processor (80) which functions as a master to the data server (22) but as a slave to the agent workstations (28). The dial server (24) further includes a plurality of audio MUXes (88) and dialers (90) for automatically dialing and connecting calls to the agent workstations (28). In various embodiments, a plurality of data servers and/or a plurality of dial servers are employed.

1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to method and apparatus for the automated scheduling and placement of numerous telephone calls.
2. Prior Art and Other Considerations
For many businesses, telephonic communication is now the foremost mode of contacting customers, clients, or other patrons. Businesses which must contact a large number of persons generally employ skilled human operators, often salespersons or account managers, for making and handling the telephonic contact. The operators may call an existing potential customer for such purposes as to promote a new product, to resolve billing or payment issues, or to gather research or market information, for example.
Years ago the human operators were provided merely with a list of names and telephone numbers, and a telephone upon which to place telephone calls. Nowadays, several human operators are usually each situated at individual computerized workstations (or "terminals") equipped with a CRT screen, a keyboard, and a telephone audio headset. Through an automated process, other centralized equipment places (e.g., selects, dials, and monitors) each telephone call and, when a call is answered, connects one of the operators to the answered telephone line.
In relatively advanced prior art systems, known as predictive dialing systems, the centralized equipment determines the frequency at which calls should be placed in order to optimally utilize the human operators. In this regard, a pacing scheme or the like is employed so that the human operator will not spend much time listening to ringing telephones, busy signals, and the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,899 to Norwich discloses a telephone scheduling system wherein a control unit receives telephone number-inclusive code words from storage and transfers the code words to a plurality of registers. The control unit further directs one of the registers to transmit (via a switching unit) the telephone number of its code word to a single, automatic dialer shared by all the registers. The automatic dialer places the call on a telephone system, which includes a signal generator for generating a signal indicative of the status of the dialed line. In accordance with the generated status signal, through the switching unit the control unit functionally couples a register with an available operator station and the answered telephone line with the available operator station.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,493 to Cave shows a host computer which extracts a group of telephone numbers from customer data records and sends the telephone numbers to a central controller of telephone control system. The telephone control system makes and monitors the telephone calls. For answered calls the control system connects an operator audio unit to the answered telephone line, and sends the telephone number and operator terminal identification back to the host computer. The host computer controls the operation of the operator terminals. Updating of customer record information from the operator terminals occurs directly to the host computer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,911 to Szlam et al. discloses a mainframe computer which sends batches of customer account information to a system controller via a data controller. The system controller directs trunk interface units to dial the customer's telephone number and monitor the status of the outgoing calls. When the appropriate trunk interface unit advises the system controller that an outgoing call has been answered, the system controller ultimately directs a switch to connect the answered trunk to an available operator terminal, and supplies abbreviated customer account information to the terminal. The operator terminal can then requests the full customer account information from the mainframe computer via the data controller.
A prior art system known as the Teledirect CTS-515 comprised a command center connected to a plurality of operator terminals or workstations. Each workstation had a dial/monitoring board as well as its own on-board processor. The command center included a data base of customer records. The command center periodically sent each processor entire data records for a batch of customers. Each terminal processor extracted the telephone number from a data record and directed the dial/monitor board to place an outgoing call. When a response was detected to an outgoing telephone call, the operator whose workstation placed the call was notified. The operator could then either take the call, or put the call on a network for another operator to answer.
In prior art telephone scheduling systems such as those described above, both the dialing apparatus and the operator terminal have functioned as slaves under the control of a centralized unit (labeled by such terms as "control unit", "system controller", "host processor", or "command center". Paths of data flow under the control of prior art centralized units do not afford optimum efficiency and organization for a predictive dialing system.
Moreover, of the prior art telephone scheduling systems which utilize multiple dialers, all dialers were under the control of a common centralized unit, which inaccurately affects the pacing scheme.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide method and apparatus for affording greater efficiency in the automatic dialing of telephone calls.
An advantage of the present invention is the provision of an automatic telephone dialing apparatus wherein a plurality of independent, intelligent dialers can simultaneously operate with respect to one or more sources of account information records.

Method and apparatus for automatic telephone scheduling system


A self-alignment filling level detecting device has a reflector and a sensor detachable from each other. The sensor has a light emitter, a light sensor, and a controller. The light sensor receives different light intensities when the reflector is assembled to the sensor and when the reflector is not assembled to the sensor. Thus, the controller determines whether the reflector has been accurately engaged and aligned with the sensor or not based on sensing results of the light sensor. Since the reflector and the sensor are detachable from each other, either the reflector or the sensor can be replaced individually if any one of them malfunctions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a self-alignment filling level detecting device, and more particular to a self-alignment filling level detecting device comprised of a reflector and a sensor detachable from each other.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Optical level detecting devices are widely used in many different fields such as petrochemical industry, foodstuff industry, iron and steel industry, cement industry, etc. to measure a filling level of raw material or liquid stored in a container.
With reference to FIG. 18, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,921,911, entitled "Method and device for optically determining a filling level in liquid-filled containers", provides a detecting device 80 to be mounted on a wall 91 of a container. The detecting device 80 comprises a body 81 and a circuit board 82.
The body 81 has multiple stepped portions 811, which are connected by reflection faces 812, 812′. The stepped portions 811 and reflection faces 812,812′ have different diameters, wherein the stepped portion 811 at top has a greater diameter than a diameter of the stepped portion at bottom. Each reflection face 812, 812′ corresponds to an individual liquid level. Further, the bottom-most reflection faces 812′ at a lower end of the body 81 form a V-shape in cross-section.
The circuit board 82 has a light source 821 and a light sensor 822. The light source 821 emits collimated light beams to the reflection faces 812, 812′. In this example, only the bottom-most reflection face 812′ is immersed in liquid 92 while other reflection faces 812 are exposed in air. Therefore light beams impinging on the reflection faces 812 in air experience total reflection and are reflected to the light sensor 822. On the other hand, the light beam incident on the bottom-most reflection face 812′ is not reflected to the light sensor 822 but is refracted into the liquid 92. Thus, the circuit board 82 can determine the liquid level in the container based on reflected light beams received by the light sensor 822.
To obtain a precise light reflection path, the body 81 and the circuit board 82 are integrally formed together to ensure that the light incident on the reflection faces 812 can be totally reflected. Thus, the body 81 and the circuit board 82 are mounted in the container at the same time. When either the body 81 or the circuit board 82 fails, the entire detecting device 80 should be replaced with a new one.
If the body 81 and the circuit board 82 are separated from each other instead of integrally formed together, the accuracy of light reflection may be adversely affected because of the incorrect or improper alignment between the body 81 and the circuit board 82, thus causing level detecting error.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a self-alignment filling level detecting device to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

Self-alignment filling level detecting device


A system and method for preventing fraudulent credit card or debit card transactions by coupling a smart phone to the credit card or the debit card, and transmitting identification information from the smart phone to the card. The card is normally disabled such that no transaction may take place unless the card is enabled. The card receives the transmitted identification information and compares that information to corresponding information stored on the card. If the received information matches the stored information, the card is enabled thus allowing the transaction to take place.

Credit cards and debit cards are sometimes lost or stolen. Credit cards, for example, may subsequently be used by someone to make a fraudulent purchase at a retailer, since retailers do not generally ask for identification when processing a credit card purchase. Furthermore, even though debit cards require entry of a PIN in order to authenticate a transaction, in some cases an unauthorized person may somehow acquire the PIN, possibly by using a skimmer at an ATM, for example. For that reason, even debit cards may be vulnerable to fraudulent activities.
Nowadays, most credit cards and debit cards include a chip on the cards that must be read by a chip reader in order to approve a transaction. A user inserts the card in the chip reader. The chip reader then obtains information from the chip, and combines the chip information with information from the chip reader to create a token that is unique to the specific transaction. The token is then used to verify that it came from the chip on the user's card, and the chip reader approves the transaction. Nevertheless, even cards with chips may be vulnerable to fraudulent transactions.
For these reasons, there is a need for systems and methods that further minimize the likelihood of a fraudulent transaction being approved.

Systems and methods for preventing fraudulent credit card and debit card transactions

United Services Automobile Association (USAA)


In a LED driver using a depletion mode transistor to serve as a current source, the depletion mode transistor is self-biased for providing a driving current to drive at least one LED, thereby requesting no additional control circuit to control the depletion mode transistor. The driving current is independent on the supply voltage coupled to the at least one LED, thereby requesting no additional voltage regulator, reducing the circuit size, and lowering the cost.

LEDs are so easy and cost-effective to use that they are widely applied in various portable apparatus. However, when several LEDs are used for providing a light source, a control circuit is requested for all the LEDs to have uniform brightness. The brightness of a LED is proportional to the driving current flowing through the LED, and therefore the control of the driving current for a LED is the control of the brightness of the LED. Generally, cost is an important concern when providing a current source for driving a LED.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional LED driver 100 comprising several light sources, LEDs 104 and 106, LEDs 108 and 110, LEDs 112 and 114, LEDs 116 and 118, and LEDs 120 and 122, coupled together in parallel, and each light source thereof is coupled in series with a resistor 102. When coupled with a supply voltage VCC, based on the Ohm's law, the LED driver 100 will have the light sources each flowing with a driving current
                              I          n                =                              Vcc            -                          Vd              n                                R                                    [                  EQ                                -                              1                ]            where n=1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, Vdn is the forward-bias voltage across the respective light source, and R is the resistance of the resistor 12. From the equation EQ-1, the currents I1-I5 supplied for the LEDs 104-122 are dependent on the respective forward-bias voltages Vdn. The forward-bias voltages Vdn varies with the size of the LED, the process to manufacture the LED, and the temperature of the LED in the respective light source, it is therefore hard for the currents I1-I5 to be uniform.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,204 to Su, a current mirror using resistor ratios in CMOS process is provided by using an additional control circuit (i.e., operational amplifiers) to unify the driving currents flowing through several light sources. However, the driving current flowing through a light source is dependent on the battery voltage supplied to the light source, and the additional control circuit will increase the cost. Proposed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,538,394 to Volk et al., current source methods and apparatus for light emitting diodes further employ an adjustable power supply for providing a stable supply voltage to generate driving currents for each of several light sources, in addition to a control circuit to maintain the driving currents of the light sources uniform. This circuit also requires more cost.
Therefore, it is desired a low-cost LED driver.


According to one embodiment, an information collection system comprises a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter emits a signal. The receiver receives the signal. The processor calculates a distance between the transmitter and the receiver from a strength of the signal received by the receiver. The processor calculating the distance between the transmitter and the receiver from the strength of the signal for each of the signals received during a first interval, and using an average distance as the distance between the transmitter and the receiver, the average distance being obtained by averaging the plurality of calculated distances.

Conventionally, in a production site, it has been necessary for an operator to perform an input operation into an information system to obtain the information of what operation has been performed by the operator and where the operation has been performed. To reduce such a burden, methods are being investigated to collect the information automatically by using a transmitter and a receiver that is capable of receiving a signal from the transmitter.
However, when the methods are used in a production site having many disturbances, etc., it is difficult for the receiver to receive the signal accurately.

Information collection system and information collection method


A dump valve apparatus is configured to inflate and deflate an air cushion on a bed having an articulating deck movable from a first generally horizontal position to a second angled position. The dump valve apparatus is coupled to the deck and includes an elongated housing having an interior region. The housing has first and second open ends and a central opening located between the first and second open ends. The central opening is coupled to the air cushion. The first end of the housing is coupled to an air supply. A piston is slidable within the interior region of the housing of the housing as the deck moves to its angled position to permit air to pass from the air bladder, through the central opening, and through the open second end of the housing to deflate the air bladder.

The present invention relates to a bariatric bed. More particularly, the present invention relates to improved patient support surfaces for use on a bed and an improved apparatus for controlling inflation and deflation of support surfaces on the bed.
Bariatric beds are designed for use by obese patients. Bariatric beds typically include a very heavy duty frame and side rails which can be pivoted outwardly to accommodate large patients. Obese patients confined to a bed for a long period of time are particularly susceptible to skin chafing which can lead to skin sores.
One area of an obese patient's body that is particularly susceptible to chafing is between the patient's legs. Often a caregiver will place items such as a towel between the patient's legs to keep them from rubbing together. The present invention is designed to provide an improved air cushion to reduce the likelihood of skin chafing in the legs of a patient.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a cushion is provided for supporting legs of a patient on a bed. The cushion includes an air bladder having a bottom surface, a side wall, and a contoured top surface. The top surface of the air bladder has a central elevated portion configured to define first and second spaced apart zones for receiving and separating first and second legs, respectively, of the patient.
In the illustrated embodiment, the top surface includes opposite first and second elevated side portions. The central elevated portion is located between the first and second side elevated portions to form first and second recessed portions therebetween for receiving the first and second legs, respectively.
The air bladder includes a front edge and a rear edge. The first and second side elevated portions and the central elevated portion extend between the front edge and the rear edge of the top surface. In the illustrated cushion, at least one strap is coupled to the bottom surface of the air bladder. The at least one strap is configured to couple the air bladder to a deck of a bed.
Typically, when the siderails of a bed are pivoted outwardly to accommodate an obese patient, foam blocks or pillows are positioned between the patient and the siderails. Such supports tend to move and also tend to cause perspiration which can lead to skin problems. The present invention also provides an improved support surface for supporting sides of the patient.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a cushion apparatus is provided for use on a bed having a frame, a body support surface located on the frame, a siderail coupled to the frame, and an air supply. The cushion apparatus includes at least one low air loss air bladder coupled to the siderail of the bed. The low air loss bladder is also coupled to the air supply. The air bladder includes at least one strap configured to couple the air bladder to the siderail.
The present invention also provides an improved apparatus for deflating air cushions on the bed. Particularly, the apparatus of the present invention automatically deflates a foot cushion of the bed as the bed frame moves to a chair orientation using a mechanical valve.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a cushion is provided for use on a foot section of an articulating deck of a bed to support the legs of a person on the bed. The foot section of the deck is movable from a generally horizontal bed position to a generally vertical chair position. The cushion includes an air bladder configured to be inflated when the deck is in its horizontal bed position and deflated when the deck is in its generally vertical chair position, a cover surrounding the air bladder, and an elastic cord coupled to the cover. The elastic cord is configured to gather the cover and the air bladder toward the foot section of the deck as the air bladder is deflated.
The illustrated cover includes a front wall, a rear wall, and spaced apart first and second side walls. The cord has a first end coupled to the rear wall of the cover adjacent the first side wall. The cord extends to the front wall adjacent the first side wall and is coupled to and extends along the front wall of the cover between the first and second side walls. A second end of the cord is coupled to the rear wall of the cover adjacent the second side wall.
In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic cord is stretched when the air bladder is inflated and retracted when the air bladder is deflated. The cover includes a bottom cover portion and a top cover portion coupled to the bottom cover portion.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a dump valve apparatus is provided for selectively inflating and deflating an air cushion on a bed having an articulating deck movable from a first generally horizontal position to a second angled position. The dump valve apparatus includes an elongated housing having an interior region extending along a longitudinal axis. The housing has first and second open ends and a central opening located between the first and second open ends. The central opening is configured to be coupled to the air cushion. The apparatus also includes a mounting portion configured to couple the housing to the deck so that the longitudinal axis of the housing is aligned at an angle relative to the deck to position the second end of the housing below the first end of the housing when the deck is in its generally horizontal position. The apparatus further includes a connector coupled to the first end of the housing to couple the housing to an air supply, and a piston located within the interior region of the housing. The piston is slidable within the interior region of the housing from a first position adjacent the second end of the housing when the deck is in the generally horizontal position to permit air to pass from the air supply into the interior region of the housing, through the central opening, and into the air cushion to inflate the air cushion. The piston is also slidable within the housing to a second position located adjacent the first end of the housing as the deck moves to its angled position so that the piston blocks air flow from the air supply into the first end of the housing. In its second position, the piston permits air to pass from the air bladder, through the central opening, and through the open second end of the housing to deflate the air bladder.
In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus includes an L-shaped member having a first open end coupled to the second end of the housing. The L-shaped connector has a second, downwardly facing open end.
A mounting plate is located on an opposite side of the deck from the mounting portion. A swivel plate is coupled to the mounting plate to selectively open and close the central aperture of the housing.
Also in the illustrated embodiment, the piston is made from a metal material. Preferably, the piston is plated with a nickel material. The piston is formed to include a helical groove to provide an air bearing surface on the piston.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the connector is coupled to the second end of the housing to couple the housing to an air supply. The first end of the housing remains open to the atmosphere in this embodiment. The piston located within the interior region of the housing is slidable within the interior region of the housing from a first position adjacent the second end of the housing when the deck is in the generally horizontal position so that the piston blocks air flow from the air supply into the first end of the housing. The piston permits air to pass from the air bladder, through the central opening, and through the open first end of the housing to deflate the air bladder when the piston is in its first position. The piston is also slidable within the housing to a second position located adjacent the first end of the housing as the deck moves to its angled position to permit air to pass from the air supply into the interior region of the housing, through the central opening, and into the air cushion to inflate the air cushion.
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.


A two-channel spectrometer has a shared objective and a pair of slits at a common image plane. Each of the slits receives a portion of the output beam of the shared objective and is optimized for transmitting different wavelengths. A shared double-pass reflective triplet receives the output beams of the slits. The output of the reflective triplet is incident upon a beamsplitter, which sends a collimated first reflective triplet output of a first wavelength to a first dispersive element, and a collimated second reflective triplet output of a second wavelength to a second dispersive element. The outputs of the dispersive elements are directed back to the beamsplitter and the reflective triplet to imaging detectors located at two different locations of the common image plane.

Imaging spectrometers that form high-resolution images in a wide range of spectral bands are used in scientific, military, and resource-sensing applications. Such spectrometers provide an image and also a spectral analysis of the image in a selected wavelength band. However, the existing designs have limitations on the wavelengths that may be analyzed. In developing the present invention, the inventor has observed that in some applications it would be useful to simultaneously assess the image in two spectral bands that are disjoint and well separated. For example, the reflective/emissive spectral band of 0.5-5 micrometers wavelength yields visible and mid-infrared information, and the long wavelength infrared band of 7.5-12.5 micrometers yields thermal information. These two types of information, taken together and possibly with a broad band visible-light image, allow analysis of the features of the scene not possible with existing imaging spectrometers.
The existing designs of imaging spectrometers do not permit hyperspectral imaging in two different disjoint, well-separated spectral bands such as those discussed. There is a need for such a capability. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.

Two-channel imaging spectrometer utilizing shared objective, collimating, and imaging optics


Access to a shared resource by a plurality of execution units is organized and controlled by issuing tickets to each execution unit as they request access to the resource. The tickets are issued by a hardware atomic unit so that each execution unit receives a unique ticket number. A current owner field indicates the ticket number of the execution unit that currently has access to the shared resource. When an execution unit has completed its access, it releases the shared resource and increments the owner field. Execution units awaiting access to the shared resource periodically check the current value of the owner field and take control of the shared resource when their respective ticket values match the owner field.

Multiple computer programs, processes, applications, and/or threads running on a computer or processor often need to access shared data or hardware, such as a memory block, register, device driver, or other common resource. To avoid data collisions and data corruption, locks are typically used to limit access to a shared resource to only one process at a time. This prevents multiple users from concurrently modifying the same shared data. For example, a group of processes may each have to acquire a lock before accessing a particular shared resource. When one process has acquired the lock, none of the other processes can acquire the lock, which provides exclusive access and control of the shared resource to the process that first acquired the lock.
Where multiple execution units try to acquire the same lock, the ability to acquire the lock may depend in part upon how fast an execution unit accesses the lock and how often the execution unit reattempts to acquire the lock when a first attempt is unsuccessful. For example, an execution unit that is remote from other execution units may be at a disadvantage due to the transmission delay of lock acquisition signals compared to the delays associated with closer execution units. If two units begin an attempt to acquire the lock at approximately the same time, the closer execution unit is likely to always have its request arrive first, and requests from a farther execution unit are likely to be too late. Additionally, when an execution unit cannot acquire a lock that was already in use by another device, the execution unit may back off for a period and will reattempt to acquire the lock at a later time. In the meantime, other devices may acquire the lock before the execution unit has reattempted acquiring the lock. As a result, if a number of other devices are attempting to acquire the lock, the execution device may have difficulty acquiring the lock in a timely manner.

Controlling access to shared resource by issuing tickets to plurality of execution units