The present invention provides a strictly non-blocking WDM cross-connect that utilizes a relatively small number of wavelength interchangers. In accordance with one embodiment, the WDM cross-connect utilizes n1k1 wavelength interchangers, where n1 is an integer equal to the number of wavelengths carried on an input optical fiber associated with the WDM cross-connect and k1 is the total number of input optical fibers to the WDM cross-connect. Each of the wavelength interchangers is connected to exactly one input port of the fabric and each input port of the fabric is connected to exactly one wavelength interchanger. The input optical fibers of the WDM cross-connect are connected to k1 optical switches of the cross-connect that separate out the n1 wavelengths onto n1 optical fibers, which are input to respective wavelength interchangers. Therefore, each wavelength interchanger receives exactly n1 optical fibers. The fabric has output ports that are connected to k2 output optical fibers, where k2 is an integer equal to the number of output optical fibers that are connected to the output ports of the fabric. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the WDM cross-connect comprises two fabrics and one or more wavelength interchangers that interconnect the fabrics. The cross-connect in accordance with this embodiment can be rendered strictly non-blocking by utilizing a number of wavelength interchangers equal to (k1+k2)xe2x88x921, where k1 and k2 correspond to the number of input and output optical fibers, respectively, of the WDM cross-connect. In accordance with both of these embodiments, the number of input and output optical fibers of the strictly non-blocking WDM cross-connect can be unequal.

The present invention relates to a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) cross-connect device for use in optical networks. More particularly, the present invention relates to a WDM cross-connect device that may be configured to be strictly non-blocking.
A wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) cross-connect device, hereinafter referred to as a WDM cross-connect, is a network of fibers connected to various optical components that allow a set of input fibers to be connected to a set of output fibers. Each fiber in the network can support some number n of wavelength channels. In other words, at any time there can be up to n signals along a fiber with each signal using a distinct wavelength. WDM cross-connects are capable of performing wavelength interchanging by connecting a wavelength channel on an input fiber to a different wavelength channel on an output fiber. WDM cross-connects comprise components that are capable of switching an incoming wavelength channel onto any different wavelength channel on an outgoing fiber. These components are commonly referred to as wavelength interchangers.
Another type of component comprised by WDM cross-connects is known as an optical switch. An optical switch has an arbitrary number of fibers passing into it and out of it and any wavelength channel on any incoming fiber can be switched to the same wavelength channel on any outgoing fiber, assuming the wavelength channel is not already being used. The WDM cross-connect also comprises optical fibers that are connected to the optical switches and to the wavelength interchangers at nodes. The optical fibers provide directed paths through the WDM cross-connect in the sense that the signal on any optical fiber only travels in a forward direction through the cross-connect and can never meet itself.
When a request for a connection in a WDM cross-connect is made, the WDM cross-connect must perform two fundamental tasks. First of all, a route or path must be found in the WDM cross-connect from the requested input fiber to the requested output fiber. Secondly, for each fiber in the route, an unused wavelength channel must be assigned so that (1) the wavelength channels assigned on the input and output fibers are the requested wavelength channels, and (2) the wavelength channels assigned on any two consecutive fibers in the route are the same, unless there is a wavelength interchanger connecting the two consecutive fibers.
WDM cross-connects have been proposed that have xe2x80x9cnon-blockingxe2x80x9d properties. The term xe2x80x9cnon-blockingxe2x80x9d corresponds to the ability of the WDM cross-connect to satisfy requests for connections, i.e., the requests are not xe2x80x9cblockedxe2x80x9d as a result of an unavailable route or wavelength channel. Some of these WDM cross-connects are rearrangeably non-blocking, which means that satisfying requests for new connections may require changing the paths and/or the wavelength channels of already-configured connections. In a WDM cross-connect, disrupting connections in order to create new connections is undesirable since doing so requires buffering of the connections that are to be rearranged.
A WDM cross-connect is considered to be pathwise rearrangeably non-blocking in cases where connection requests can be routed through the cross-connect, but any additional requests received after routing the original set of requests may require some of the previously routed requests to be re-routed. Some WDM cross-connects are considered to be pathwise wide-sense non-blocking. These WDM cross-connects employ a routing algorithm that enables any sequence of connection requests and withdrawals to be satisfied without disturbing any of the currently routed requests. Pathwise strictly non-blocking cross-connects are known that enable any set of requests to be routed through the cross-connect without disturbing the routes associated with previous requests.
A request for a connection requires not only a route from the input fiber to the output fiber, but also a wavelength channel assignment along the route that only changes wavelength channels at wavelength interchangers and that begins and ends on the requested wavelength channels. These requests for connections between wavelength channels on input and output fibers are commonly referred to as demands. When a demand is made following a previously routed demand, the routes and/or the wavelength channel assignments associated with the previously routed demands may need to be changed. The definitions of wavelength rearrangeably non-blocking, wavelength wide-sense non-blocking and wavelength strictly non-blocking are analogous to the definitions provided above for pathwise rearrangeably non-blocking, pathwise wide-sense non-blocking and pathwise strictly non-blocking, respectively.
A WDM cross-connect that is both pathwise and wavelength strictly non-blocking will be referred to hereinafter as a strictly non-blocking WDM cross-connect. One known type of strictly non-blocking WDM cross-connect that it is capable of handling new requests for connections without disturbing those already existing utilizes k log k wavelength interchangers, where k corresponds to the number of input fibers and output fibers. Therefore, the number of wavelength interchangers utilized in this type of WDM cross-connect is relatively large. Since the overall cost of a WDM cross-connect is primarily attributable to the costs associated with the wavelength interchangers, it is desirable to minimize the number of wavelength interchangers incorporated into the WDM cross-connect. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a strictly non-blocking cross-connect that minimizes the number of wavelength interchangers that are needed to provide the WDM cross-connect with strictly non-blocking properties.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a WDM cross-connect 1 that is commonly referred to as a standard design WDM cross-connect. The fabric 2 between the input optical fibers 3 and the output optical fibers 4 of the WDM cross-connect 1 includes a plurality of nodes (not shown) and a plurality of optical fibers (not shown) that interconnect the nodes. Each of the nodes is comprised of a wavelength granularity switch that switches signals received by the fabric 2 on the input fibers 3 onto selected output fibers 4. The WDM cross-connect 1 comprises a controller 6 that controls the operations of the fabric 2 and of the wavelength interchangers 5. The controller 6 causes the wavelength granularity switches to select an appropriate output fiber 4 so that the wavelength of the signal routed onto the output fiber 4 will not be the same as the wavelength of a signal that already exists on the output fiber 4.
The WDM cross-connect 1 comprises k wavelength interchangers 5, where k is a positive integer equal to the number of input fibers 3 and output fibers 4. Each wavelength interchanger 5 is connected to a single input fiber 3. Each input fiber 3 is capable of simultaneously carrying signals at n wavelengths, xcex1 through xcexn , where xcex denotes wavelength and n is a positive integer. Therefore, each input fiber supports n wavelength channels. Each of the wavelength interchangers 5 is capable of permuting the wavelength of a signal on the input fiber 3 to a different wavelength. The fabric 2 then causes the signal to be routed onto a selected output fiber 4. The controller 6 controls the selection of the wavelength channels by the wavelength interchangers 5.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a WDM cross-connect 7 that is commonly referred to as a modified standard design WDM cross-connect. The WDM cross-connect 7 is a modification of the design shown in FIG. 1 and includes a wavelength interchanger 8 connected to each of the output fibers 4. The WDM cross-connect 7 comprises 2 k wavelength interchangers. The additional wavelength interchangers 8 connected to the output optical fibers 4 enable the wavelength channel utilized by a signal on any of the output optical fibers 4 to be permuted. This enables demands to be handled that specify a particular output wavelength, which is not the case with the WDM cross-connect 1 shown in FIG. 1.
The additional wavelength interchangers 8 provide the WDM cross-connect 7 with improved versatility. However, 2 k wavelength interchangers are utilized by the WDM cross-connect 7, which significantly increases the cost of the cross-connect in comparison to the cost associated with the cross-connect shown in FIG. 1. The cross-connects 1 and 7 are, at best, rearrangeably non-blocking.
Accordingly, a need exists for a strictly non-blocking WDM cross-connect design that minimizes the number of wavelength interchangers that are needed to provide the WDM cross-connect with strictly non-blocking properties. A need also exists for such a WDM cross-connect that is suitable for use in a heterogeneous network, i.e., in a network that is comprised of sub-networks that are produced by different manufacturers. In accordance with the present invention, the number of input and output fibers of the WDM cross-connect may be different and/or the number of input and output wavelengths of the WDM cross-connect may be different. Furthermore, the input wavelengths may be different from the output wavelengths. Thus, in situations where downstream equipment or sub-systems require different wavelengths, a different number of wavelengths, a different number of fibers, a different number of wavelengths per fiber, etc., the WDM cross-connect of the present invention can be configured to meet those needs and to do so in a strictly non-blocking manner.
The present invention provides a strictly non-blocking WDM cross-connect that utilizes a relatively small number of wavelength interchangers. The present invention provides two embodiments for the strictly non-blocking WDM cross-connect, each of which is capable of utilizing different numbers of input and output optical fibers. The first embodiment of the WDM cross-connect of the present invention utilizes n1k1 wavelength interchangers whereas the second embodiment utilizes (k1+k2)xe2x88x921 wavelength interchangers, where k1, n1 and k2 are integers equal to the number of input optical fibers of the cross-connect, the number of wavelengths carried on each input optical fiber of the cross-connect, and the number of output optical fibers of the cross-connect, respectively. With respect to the first embodiment, n1k1 wavelength interchangers are used for situations where k2 is greater than k1. In situations where k1 is greater than or equal to k2, the WDM cross-connect in accordance with the first embodiment can be rendered strictly non-blocking by utilizing n2 k2 wavelength interchangers.
In accordance with the first embodiment, for the scenario where k2 is greater than k1, the WDM cross-connect comprises a single fabric, n1k1 wavelength interchangers and k1 optical switches. Each of the wavelength interchangers is connected to exactly one input port of the fabric and each input port of the fabric is connected to exactly one wavelength interchanger. The input optical fibers of the WDM cross-connect are connected to the k1 optical switches of the cross-connect, which separate out the n1 wavelengths onto n1 optical fibers, which are input to respective wavelength interchangers. Therefore, each wavelength interchanger receives exactly n1 optical fibers. The fabric has output ports that are connected to k2 respective output optical fibers. An analogous WDM cross-connect design can be configured for the scenario where k1 is greater than k2, but n2k2 wavelength interchangers and k2 optical switches will need to be used in combination with the fabric to render the cross-connect strictly non-blocking. Those skilled in the art will understand the manner in which this alternative configuration can be provided.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the WDM cross-connect comprises two fabrics and one or more wavelength interchangers that interconnect the fabrics. The cross-connect in accordance with this embodiment can be rendered strictly non-blocking by utilizing a number of wavelength interchangers equal to (k1+k2)xe2x88x921, where k1 and k2 correspond to the number of input and output optical fibers, respectively, of the WDM cross-connect.
In accordance with both of these embodiments, the number of input and output optical fibers of the strictly non-blocking WDM cross-connect can be unequal, although it is not required that they be unequal. This enables the WDM cross-connect of the present invention to be utilized with equipment located downstream of the WDM cross-connect that is configured to receive a different number of input optical fibers than the number of input optical fibers received by the WDM cross-connect.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, drawings and claims.

Strictly non-blocking wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) cross-connect device for use in a heterogeneous network


The disclosed method encompasses moving an object such as a medical device or instrument to a desired spatial position based on tracking data provided by a tracking system. Once it is determined from the tracking data that the object has reached the desired spatial position, a projection image is generated, which is registered with the desired spatial position and shows the object. Based on the image data, it is possible to verify whether the object has actually reached the desired position, or whether the object's actual position deviates from the desired position due to errors or inaccuracies, allowing measures to be taken to compensate for these errors or inaccuracies.

In the field of computer assisted surgery (CAS), radiosurgery and similar medical fields, determining the spatial position (spatial location and/or spatial orientation) of anatomical structures as well as of devices and instruments with respect to each other is a recurring object which is regularly taken over by so-called tracking systems, for example optical tracking systems, electromagnetic (EM)-tracking systems or ultrasound tracking systems. Such tracking systems are adapted to recognize so-called tracking markers that are rigidly attached to the objects the spatial position of which is to be determined or tracked over time. Before the spatial position of the actual object can be calculated on the basis of the detected spatial position of an attached tracking marker, a so-called registration procedure is necessary for most cases, which is to determine the spatial position of the actual object with respect to the spatial position of the tracking marker attached thereto.
As in any technical appliance, tracking procedures may be subject to errors resulting from measuring inaccuracies due to limited technical capabilities and/or unfavorable environmental conditions.
While during the tracking procedure as such, i.e. during the observation of the spatial position of objects over time based on the detection of tracking markers, possible tracking errors are usually less disruptive since the underlying sources of error such as ill-detection of markers and other detrimental environmental conditions basically remain the same over time, it is an initial positioning of objects preceding the actual tracking procedure where errors such as ill-detection of markers may have a heavy impact on the overall outcome of the medical procedure, and which may eventually lead to the spatial position of tracked objects being wrongly calculated.
The present invention has the object of providing an approach that compensates for errors or inaccuracies which in particular may occur during an initial positioning of objects.
The present invention can be used for any kind of Computer Assisted Surgery (CAS)-procedures e.g. in connection with an imaging device such as Loop-X®, a product of Brainlab AG.
Aspects of the present invention, examples and exemplary steps and their embodiments are disclosed in the following. Different exemplary features of the invention can be combined in accordance with the invention wherever technically expedient and feasible.


A method of constructing a stub shaft for conveyor pulleys, comprising forming an annular exterior periphery on an inward portion of a shaft member. Forming an annular ring with a complimentary interior peripheral surface having substantially the same dimensions as at least a portion of the annular exterior periphery of the shaft. Placing the annular ring over the shaft wherein the formed interior peripheral surface of the annular ring is in abutment with the formed annular exterior periphery of the shaft. Machining the inner side of the annular ring to be complementary to the outer side of the hub. Machining the exterior periphery of the inward portion of the shaft to a reduced diameter thereby forming an inwardly facing shoulder thereon flush with the machined inner side of the annular ring, and wherein the reduced diameter is substantially the same diameter as the opening in the hub. Bolting the annular ring to the hub, thereby preventing relative movement between the main shaft, the annular ring and the hub.

Stub shafts have been used for conveyor pulleys for a number of years, for example as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,286,152; 3,074,288; and 4,098,137. Typically these stub shafts are machined from one large cylindrical piece of steel. This is an expensive, labor intensive job which requires considerable precision because of small tolerance requirements.
Accordingly, there is a need for a quicker, cheaper, and dependable way to produce a stub shaft for conveyor pulleys.

Method of constructing stub shafts for conveyor pulleys


An output control apparatus capable of appropriately switching screens depending on a current situation, and a reproduction apparatus and a television performing the same. The television includes a tuner receiving a television broadcast, a data input I/F receiving video or audio from a DVD recorder, and a command input I/F receiving a command from the DVD recorder. Further, the television includes a user input unit receiving an instruction from a user, a switch selecting the tuner or the data input I/F, an output processing unit controlling an output of video or audio from the switch, and a control unit (i) switching the switch to the tuner when the switch selects the data input I/F when a first command is inputted from the command input I/F and (ii) not switching the switch when the switch does not select the data input I/F.

Nowadays, the use of televisions is not limited to the reception and viewing of television broadcasts, and they are used for a variety of purposes. For example, by connecting a digital video recorder (DVR) such as a video tape recorder (VTR) and a DVD recorder to a television, it is possible to view contents reproduced by these external devices, and by connecting a home-use game machine, it is possible to enjoy playing games. For this reason, many televisions are equipped with one or more external input terminals, in addition to an antenna terminal for receiving television broadcasts. A user can switch between these input terminals by operating buttons on a remote control or the television body.
Televisions equipped with a number of external input terminals (many of which are high-end televisions) have an advantage of being able to simultaneously connect to a number of external devices such as a DVR and a home-use game machine. On the other hand, there is a drawback in that operations become complicated since it is necessary to manually switch inputs.
Meanwhile, many recent VTRs and DVRs include a tuner, and thus are capable of receiving television broadcasts. When contents reproduction is not carried out in such a VTR and a DVR, it is common that a television broadcast received by the tuner is outputted to the television.
As thus described, it is possible to view a television broadcast even when the input of the television is set to the VTR. However, in the case where the recording of an analog terrestrial television broadcast is carried out, for example, when the input of the television is set to the VTR, it is not possible to view an analog terrestrial television broadcast of another channel. In other words, in order to view a television broadcast of a desired channel, it is easier to use the tuner of the television than using the tuner of the VTR or DVR. In view of this, there exists technology for automatically switching the input of the television by transmitting a command between the television and an external device.
For example, a reproduction device disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2000-350131 sends an instruction signal to a television when the reproduction device starts reproduction. This instruction signal is a signal for switching the input of the television to an output terminal of the television to which the output terminal of the reproduction device is connected. Furthermore, when entering a power-off state, this reproduction device sends, to the television, a signal to instruct that the input of the television should be switched to the antenna or tuner. This makes it possible to display the reproduced video onto the screen of the television, when the reproduction device starts reproduction, and to display the video received by the antenna or tuner of the television onto the screen of the television, when the reproduction device enters a power-off state.
Note that the AV.link standard (CENELECAV.link (EN50157-1, EN50157-2-1, EN50157-2-2, EN50157-2-3)) specifies commands to allow the interoperability between a television, a VTR, and the like. According to this standard, the VTR issues a predetermined command to the television, when the VTR starts reproduction or when the VTR displays a menu screen. This makes it possible to cause the television to transit from the stand-by state to a state in which the television can display a screen of the VTR.

Output control apparatus controlling an output of video or audio by automatically switching an input of a reproduction device and an output control system, a reproduction apparatus and a television for performing the same


An LED illumination system includes control circuitry and first, second and third colored LEDs. The control circuitry sequentially drives the first, second and third colored LEDs in a color cycle frame with relative duty cycles having a known relationship that achieves a color balance. The control circuitry also operates to introduce at least one spoke period in the color cycle frame, during which the first, second and third LEDs are driven in a manner that is controlled to provide brightness adjusting light that matches the color balance achieved by the relative duty cycles of the first, second and third LEDs during sequential driving thereof.

Projection display systems can include a source of light, illumination optics, an image-forming device, projection optics and a projection screen. The illumination optics collect light from a light source and direct it to one or more image-forming devices. The image-forming device(s), controlled by an electronically conditioned and processed digital video signal, produces an image corresponding to the video signal. Projection optics then magnify the image and project it onto the projection screen. White light sources, such as arc lamps, in conjunction with color wheels have been and still are used as light sources for projection display systems. However, recently light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been introduced as an alternative source of light. Some advantages of LEDs include longer lifetime, higher efficiency and superior thermal characteristics.
Examples of image-forming devices frequently used in digital light processing systems are digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs) and liquid crystal type imaging devices such as liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) and high temperature polysilicon (HTPS) imagers. These imagers feature an array of individually controllable elements, with the states of the elements being individually controlled by the data loaded in a memory cell associated with each element, to steer reflected or transmitted light and spatially map a pixel of video data to a pixel on a projection screen. Light reflected or transmitted by an element in an ON state passes through the projection optics and is projected onto the screen to create a bright field. On the other hand, light reflected or transmitted by an element in an OFF state is not passed through the projection optics, which results in a dark field. A color image may also be produced using these imagers, such as by utilizing color sequencing or alternatively by using three imagers, one for each primary color (red, blue and green).

Light emitting diode (LED) illumination control system and method


A plug gauge for checking shape errors, in particular, the roundness of a valve seat. The plug gauge comprises seating surfaces adapted for cooperating with the surface of the valve seat, and a pneumatic circuit with an annular nozzle at the seating surfaces. The gauge comprises two coaxial cylindrical elements, one of the two housed within the other, that can reciprocally translate in an axial direction and that comprises associated resting surfaces, such that both cylindrical elements may rest on the seat surface to be checked. The annular nozzle is substantially defined by an internal and an external cylindrical portion of said two reciprocally movable elements.

The valve seats in the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine house associated valves that have the purpose of sealing the induction and exhaust conduits that lead to the combustion chamber. In order to assure the proper performance of the engine, the sealing that each valve provides must be, as a principle, absolutely airtight. However, in practice, owing to manufacturing reasons, the seating surface of the valve and that of the associated seat are subject to unavoidable shape errors that generally prevent an accurate sealing along a theoretic seating circumference, and thus generate non-contact zones where combustion air or gas leaks are formed between the conduits and the combustion chamber. These leaks determine both a drop in the performance of the engine and, owing to a faulty combustion, a rise in the amount of pollutant dispersion into the atmosphere.
In order to evaluate, before assembling a cylinder head, the extent of the sealing accuracy of the valves over their seats, it is conventional in the art to perform checkings of the geometric features of each valve seat, in particular checkings of the roundness of the conical surface of a valve seat.
There are known "plug" type devices for accomplishing geometric checkings of the conical surfaces of valve seats, disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,553,129 and in German patent DE-C-2836925.
The devices disclosed in both the hereinbefore mentioned patents have a similar structure, with a central body comprising a reference surface with rotational symmetry for cooperating with the valve seat, and a cylinder-like guide stem, coaxially arranged with the body and intended for housing in the valve guide for centering the device.
The plug disclosed in the US patent has a conical reference surface and detecting means including two concentric annular rows of electric contacts in the formerly mentioned conical surface for contacting the valve seat at two distinct circumferential areas. The contacts form part of associated electric circuits that, depending on the number of contacts actually touching--in the course of the checking--the surface of the conical seat, provide indications as to possible defects, or imperfections in the valve seat.
The plug disclosed in the US patent has a structure that calls for extremely accurate machining for the reciprocal arrangement of the contacts, with respect to both the other contacts belonging to the same annular row and those belonging to the adjacent annular row.
Furthermore, as the contacts are spaced apart from one another, no complete inspection along all the points of the circumferential area is carried out.
The German patent discloses, instead, a plug with a spherical reference surface and a pneumatic detecting system with a circular slit formed in the spherical surface in correspondence with the theoretical circumference of contact. The circular slit is connected to a pneumatic circuit that leads to suitable devices that feed it and detect pressure variations.
The disclosed application requires an extremely accurate machining of the spherical surface intended for resting on the conical surface of the seat to be checked, and, above all, of the circular opening for the emission of air, the position of which must be defined with great accuracy in order to guarantee the proper operation of the plug. Thus, the structure of the plug involves high costs and inevitable inaccuracies.

Plug gauge for checking geometric features of parts with rotational symmetry


A method for increasing ease-of-use of a touch screen application by dynamically resizing touch screen input areas is disclosed. The touch screen application includes a user interface that displays one or more touch screen input areas. Each of the touch screen input areas include a viewable area and a clickable area, wherein a user's touch of the clickable area activates the corresponding touch screen input area. Aspects of the present invention include collecting coordinates of touches on the display in response to user interaction, and analyzing the touch coordinates to determine how often the user has missed the input areas. In response to the number of missed touches reaching a predetermined threshold, both the size of the viewable area and the clickable area of at least one of the input areas, and possibly all areas of a similar size or type, are increased so that the input areas will be easier to touch.

Most software applications are designed to be used with only one pointing device, such as a mouse or stylus. Touch screen applications, however, are typically designed to be used with a variety of pointing devices, such as a user's finger, and various types of styluses. Devices that run such touch screen applications are becoming increasingly smaller in size and have small LCD's on which to display the user interface of the touch screen applications. Examples of such devices include ATMs, PDAs, and cellphones, for instance. Therefore, many touch screen applications are difficult to use. Even well designed touch screen applications can be difficult to use by someone with large fingerprints or diminished motor skills.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,079 discloses a touch screen user interface for a reprographic machine that expands the area of a touch zone on a touch screen when selected to improve accuracy of selection thereof. Although this system is beneficial to the user, the system will not aid the user who continually misses the intended touch zone, the touch zone is expanded only after selected by the user.
Accordingly, what is needed is an improved method and system for increasing the ease-of-use of a touch screen application.

Dynamic resizing of clickable areas of touch screen applications

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed are compositions prepared by free-radical-driven grafting onto hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon ethers of olefinically unsaturated fluorocarbons containing sulfonyl fluoride, fluorosulfonate, fluorosulfonimide, or fluorosulfonyl methide groups, wherein the grafting step is followed by a hydrolysis step in the case of sulfonyl fluoride.

In electrochemical cells such as lithium batteries, the charge carrying entity of interest is the metallic cation, such as lithium, while the anion is not involved with the current-producing electrochemical processes at either electrode. Any transport of charge by the counterion, (the anion in the case of a lithium battery) is undesirable because it leads to concentration polarization of the electrolyte in the cell reducing the charge/discharge rate capability of the cell. In the ideal lithium cell with high power density, lithium ions would be of high concentration and exhibit high mobility, resulting in high conductivity while the counterion would exhibit virtually no mobility, thereby resulting in a high lithium transference number where lithium transference number refers to the number of moles of Li+ transferred for the passage of 1 faraday of electricity.
Rechargeable lithium-ion cells typically use liquid or gelled polymer electrolytes consisting of inorganic lithium salts, such as LiPF6, in an organic solvent. Such electrolytes exhibit high conductivity but the anions have high mobility, often exhibiting a Li transference number of around 0.3.
Similar trade-offs exist when solutions of organic salts having larger counterions, such as perfluoroalkylsulfonates, sulfonimides, and sulfonyl methides such as are disclosed in Waddell et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,493. With most of these salts the transference number of Li is lower than 0.5.
Another approach is to employ solid polymer electrolytes, where the lithium ion is a labile ion attached to a polymeric chain which acts as the anion. See, for example, Narang et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,098 and DesMarteau, U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,005. These materials typically provide very high lithium transference numbers and the cells would exhibit virtually no concentration polarization under load. However, low inherent ionic conductivities, insufficient electrochemical stability, and difficulty in processing limit their usefulness.
Hamrock et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,522 discloses solutions of hybrid fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon imide and methide salts. Included are polymers formed by free-radical polymerization of monomers having hydrocarbon backbones and pendant groups of fluorinated sulfonyl imides linked thereto by carbonyl or phenylsulfonyl connecting groups. Also included are copolymers formed by copolymerizing said monomers with low polarity olefinic comonomers.
Grafting of various monomers onto hydrocarbons by free radical methods is disclosed in J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. (1997), 35, 3517, Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. (1999), 37, 3817, and Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. (2000), 38, 2456. In these studies hydrocarbons were used as models for polyolefins. No mention of fluorocarbon monomers is made.
Cripps, U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,306 discloses free radical grafting of perfluoroalkenes and perfluorovinyl ethers onto hydrocarbons having at least four carbon atoms. Examples include hexafluoropropylene and perfluoropropyl vinyl ether monomers. No mention is made of monomers containing perfluoroalkylsulfonate, sulfonimide, or sulfonyl methide groups.


A soap bar holder for having a plurality of compartments, each compartment being for holding a single soap bar. A removable shelf and tray further provide a means for easily cleaning the soap bar holder. The device includes a housing having a partitioned interior. The tray is slidably receivable within either one of an opening formed in a housing side wall and is designed to catch dissolved soap. The shelf is slidably receivable upon the tray and is designed to support a plurality of soap bars contained within the compartments of the partitioned housing interior.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to soap bar holders and more particularly pertains to a new soap bar holder having a plurality of compartments, each compartment being for holding a single soap bar. A removable shelf and tray further provide a means for easily cleaning the soap bar holder.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of soap bar holders is known in the prior art. Soap bar holders are generally designed to provide access to the soap bar while keeping the soap bar from coming into contact with water, as such contact can lead to loss of soap through the dissolving action of the water upon the soap.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,054,211 describes a soap holder for supporting a cake of soap upon a base and within a retaining member. The retaining member is pivotally mounted upon the base so that the cake of soap may be retained against inadvertent movement out of the base but may easily be removed therefrom when the soap retaining member is swung laterally upon its pivot axis. An upper face of the floor portion of the base is provided with upwardly standing webs to hold the cake of soap above the tray portion of the base floor.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,450 discloses a portable soap caddy assembly having a toiletry receptacle for holding various toiletries and having an auxiliary receptacle with an opening and sidewalls. The auxiliary receptacle is utilized to carry bar soap.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,794 discloses a soap holder and dispenser wherein the soap is placed in a container through an opening in the top of the container. A pivotally connected enclosure positions the soap on a holding shelf and shelters the soap from direct and indirect contact with water. The shelf has at least one drain for allowing water to drain from the soap and not pool and collect around the soap. When soap is needed, the user pivots the enclosure which pushes the soap semiautomatically to an exit opening.
Additional soap bar holders are described and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,572 and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 359,867.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new soap bar holder having the features of the present invention. The inventive device includes a housing having a top wall, a back wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and a pair of side walls, the front wall having an open portion defined by a front edge of the top wall, a pair of front edges of the side walls, and a front wall bottom portion, the bottom wall having an open portion defined by a pair of bottom wall flanges, a first bottom wall flange extending inwardly from a back wall bottom edge and a second bottom wall flange extending inwardly from a front wall bottom edge, and each side wall having an inside surface, a bottom portion, a bottom edge and an opening formed proximate thereto, each opening having a top edge and being formed in such manner that each side wall bottom portion comprises a bottom wall flange outer portion. A tray having a pair of outwardly extending flanges is receivable within either opening, the outwardly extending flanges being slideable upon a pair of bottom wall flange top surfaces. A shelf is receivable within the opening and is slideable upon a top surface of the tray outwardly extending flanges. A lid having a top edge is pivotally mountable to each side wall inside surface in such manner that the lid top edge abuts the front edge of the top wall. The housing further includes a plurality of spaced partition members formed within an interior of the housing and a means for mounting the housing to a mounting surface.
In these respects, the soap bar holder according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of having a plurality of compartments, each compartment being for holding a single soap bar. A removable shelf and tray further provide a means for easily cleaning the soap bar holder.


In one embodiment, a probe for testing integrated circuits includes a body having a tip and a hardening material on the tip. The hardening material helps improve the hardness of the tip. The hardening material thus allows the probe to reliably penetrate a layer to make a good electrical connection with a contact point under the layer, for example. In one embodiment, an electrically conductive coating is deposited over the hardening material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for testing integrated circuits.
2. Description of the Background Art
A system for testing integrated circuits may include a tester, a probe card, and a prober. The tester is typically a commercially available automated test equipment (ATE), such as those available from Advantest Corporation, for example. The prober supports and houses the integrated circuit being tested, which is also referred to as the "device under test" or DUT. The prober may also house the probe card. The probe card electrically couples the tester to the DUT, thereby allowing the tester to send and receive electrical signals to and from the DUT.
A typical probe card includes a wired connection to a tester. A probe card also includes a removable connection to a DUT. This removable connection, referred to as a "probe", is attached to the probe card. During testing, the probe is touched down on a contact point such as a metal pad on the DUT. Because the tester is electrically coupled to the DUT via the probe, it is desirable to have a probe that makes a good electrical connection with a contact point.


A casket includes two side panel structures, two end panels, and a bottom panel. Each end panel is operably coupled to both of the side panel structures. The bottom panel, the two side panel structures and two end panels form, at least in part, a casket container configured to receive adult human remains. Each side panel structure includes a fixed member and a movable member. Each movable member is coupled to one of the fixed members such that each movable member is rotatable relative to the fixed members between a first position and a second position. When each of the movable members is in the first position, the outer surfaces of the movable member and the fixed member are substantially coplanar. When each of the movable members is in the second position, the outer surfaces of the movable member and fixed member are not substantially coplanar.

Caskets are a standard part of many traditional memorial and funeral services and ceremonies. Over time, the range of materials and styles that are available for caskets has increased. Now more than ever, friends and families are able to choose a casket for their loved one that fulfills their aesthetic wishes, meets their budgetary limitations, and/or fits their functional needs. Another option that is increasingly available for caskets is a larger size. Larger sized caskets include a larger interior width than a standard casket to accommodate a greater variety of body shapes and sizes. A larger sized casket also enables accommodation of a larger sized person within the casket while maintaining a dignified and restful appearance. However, larger caskets are typically more expensive, due in part to additional materials costs, and also due in part to the fact that they are a non-standard size, and therefore a specialty item. It is desirable to provide a casket with a larger interior width than a standard casket that is also less expensive than a specialty sized casket and further also has a distinguished and respectable appearance.
Another issue with larger caskets is that they may not be compatible with other equipment and spaces used in memorial and funeral services and ceremonies. In particular, larger caskets may be too wide for equipment and spaces that were made to accommodate standard sized caskets. Handles for lifting and transporting the casket are typically formed on the outside walls of the casket. Accordingly, handles add further width to the casket, exacerbating the incompatibility issue of larger caskets. Put another way, handles take up some amount of the overall width of a casket. The farther the handles protrude from the outside walls of the casket, the more of the width of the casket they occupy, which leaves less width in the interior of the casket to accommodate the deceased. It is desirable to provide handles for a casket that maximize the width available in the interior of the casket.


The output of a commercially available integrated high gain differential amplifier that already has reasonable linearity is connected back to the (−) input to obtain the well known circuit configuration for a non-inverting amplifier, whose gain may be unity or greater, and whose linearity in response to the (+) input is to be improved. We operate the part with power supplies that are dynamically varied to always be the amplifier input+N volts and that input−N volts. This allows the part to remain a low voltage swing part (±N volts) even though the actual output might swing several times that ±N volts. It improves linearity because the part is almost always operating at nearly ‘the same operating point’ relative to the perceived power supplies. The dynamically tracking power supplies maybe obtained from plus and minus higher voltage work supplies and the use of symmetrical current mirrors to produce matched ±N volt offsets that are referenced to the input of the amplifier.

There are many electronic applications for a unity gain amplifier, which manner of electronic circuit is also often referred to as a unity gain buffer, as well as for amplifiers that have a gain greater than unity. One application that places relatively high demands for good performance upon such an amplifier or buffer is at the 'front end' of a laboratory quality high accuracy DC DVM (Digital Volt Meter). Nowadays, high accuracy usually means seven to nine digits of resolution, with perhaps just a few counts of error in the least significant digit. Most DC DVMs also measure AC with reduced accuracy for pure sinusoids having frequencies up to about one to, in some cases, as high as ten megahertz. The 'front end' of a DVM is a location therein after any input attenuation, but before the actual measurement mechanism.
It is immediately clear that any unity gain buffer in such a location does indeed have stringent performance requirements, since it generally is not possible to subsequently distinguish between what the input to be measured actually is and an error introduced by the buffer. Whether the gain is EXACTLY unity is probably not the real issue—calibration can be expected to take care of any uniform gain error. Instead, there are other issues, such as stability and ageing. Does it maintain whatever gain it has over time and with variations in temperature, etc? Assuming those concerns can be adequately addressed, another important issue is linearity. That is, does the gain remain the same for inputs of various amplitudes?
One of the mechanisms that, regardless of their gain, some amplifiers exhibit that causes such behavior is a change in output voltage as input voltages that actually are equal vary over their allowed range. This phenomenon has a name: Common Mode Rejection, or CMR. It is commonly expressed as a ratio, and a value in the range of 80-120 dB is common. The internal causes within the amplifier that limit its CMR can also operate to make it to appear that the gain of the amplifier is not constant over different levels of input. (CMR can be modeled as an input that affects the output, and an incorrect output will appear to be of the wrong gain.) Gain that is not constant when it should be is an issue of non-linearity.
This lack of linearity can be a serious problem, as the input buffer to an eight digit DVM probably needs to faithfully reproduce inputs over at least the range of ±10 VDC, and preferably ±12 VDC. Good stability is wasted if the circuit cannot operate with sufficient linearity to avoid the introduction of error ahead of the actual measurement circuitry, and a suspected or known lack of linearity is very difficult to correct once it is on the loose! The preferred choice is to not introduce any non-linearity in the first place. One the other hand, as purveyors of fine quality electronic test equipment that must compete in the marketplace, we also experience the urge to control the manufacturing cost of our products, among which are laboratory grade high accuracy DVMs. It seems that we need a low cost high linearity fairly wide range unity gain amplifier, with a decided emphasis on high linearity. To be specific, we'd like a unity gain buffer having a CMR of 140 dB, or more, or at least 15 ppb (parts per billion, with a 'b'!) linearity over ±12 VDC for the lowest possible cost, and that will also work respectably up to, for one particular case of interest, 150 kilohertz for AC measurements. We can also readily appreciate that there are comparable situations in other applications where the amplifier is expected to have a gain greater than unity. What to do?


An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a device and method to deliver direct ionic current safely to target neural tissue, while also eliminating interruptions in the output of the device that can result from the non-ideal operation of the valves used to control the current flow in the device. The device includes two valve-operated systems that work in tandem. The first and second current producing systems are configured to be used together in order to eliminate the periodic interruptions in current flow. In use, one system drives current through the target tissue, while the other system closes all of the valves first and then opens its valves in sequence. This intermediate step of closing all of the valves prevents unintended current shunts through either system. The device also includes two conductors to direct the flow of direct current into the target tissue.

While effective in treating some neurological disorders, neural prostheses are limited because they can excite neurons but not efficiently inhibit them. Direct current (DC) applied to a metal electrode in contact with neural tissue can excite or inhibit neural activity; however, DC stimulation is biologically unsafe because it causes electrochemical reactions at the metal electrode-tissue interface. To avoid these safety hazards, neural prostheses generally deliver alternating current (AC) pulses to evoke action potentials.
While cochlear and retinal prostheses use AC pulses to encode sensory information by modulating firing rate of the afferent fibers above their spontaneous activity, other neural prosthesis applications have substantial difficulties achieving effective treatment with excitation alone. A prosthesis to assist micturition, for instance, requires both excitation of sacral nerves to activate the detrusor muscle and simultaneous inhibition of lumbar nerves to relax the urethral sphincter. For proper balance as well, inner ear vestibular afferent fibers require not only excitation to encode head motion toward the stimulated side of the head, but also inhibition to encode head motion away from it. In restoring normal physiology, therefore, the ability for a neural prosthesis to both inhibit and excite neurons would be useful. Furthermore, several disorders characterized by high neural firing rates such as tinnitus, chronic pain, and epilepsy could be effectively treated by prostheses capable of neural inhibition. Gradual modulation of extracellular potential rather than evoking or inhibiting spikes could further extend the capabilities of neural prostheses to treating disorders such as autism by addressing excitatory vs inhibitory imbalance, and DC potential support to treat strial hearing loss.
At low amplitudes, DC can achieve graded control of neural activity by altering the extracellular electric field near the electrode. By altering the electric field, DC modulates neural firing thresholds, increasing or decreasing the likelihood of spike initiation. At higher DC amplitudes, cathodic current excites neurons, while anodic current inhibits them. DC stimulation that does not produce electrochemical reactions at the electrode-saline interface could enable more versatile treatments of neurological disorders than what is currently possible.
A solution to the problem of DC stimulation safety is to direct the DC flow of ions into the target tissue by switching mechanical valves in phase with AC square waves applied to the electrodes, which are immersed in an ionic solution. This approach removes DC from the electrode-saline interface, while maintaining DC ionic current through the tissue. FIG. 1A shows the two potential states of the system. FIG. 1B shows the output of the fully-functioning SDCS as the valves operate in synchrony with AC delivered to the electrodes. One important aspect of this device is that it works in a bipolar configuration so that the ions flowing into one tube are replenished by the same types of ions flowing out of the other tube thus resulting in net zero ionic change in the tissue between the two tubes. This configuration addresses pH changes that could potentially be harmful to the neural tissue.
The fidelity of the DC signal is degraded by periodic interruptions in current flow due to non-ideal behavior of the mechanical valves used in the device, as illustrated in FIG. 1B. The interruptions occur because ionic current bypasses the tissue when the valves are temporarily and simultaneously either open or closed during open-to-close and close-to-open transitions. For example, if B2 and A2 are both closed during a transition, no current will flow through the tissue. The duration of the interruptions depends on the speed of the valve transitions from open-to-close and from close-to-open states. Any interruption in the DC current flow however will cause the undesirable volley of neural activity in the target neurons.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a method to remove the interruptions in the ionic direct current flow.

Artifact control and miniaturization of the safe direct current stimulator for neural prostheses


Thioalkylated aromatic amines are prepared by reacting a mixture of an aromatic amine, an organic disulfide and a Lewis acid or organometallic catalyst to form a product mixture and adding to said product mixture a poly(oxyalkylene)polymer or by reacting a mixture of an aromatic amine, an organic disulfide and a Lewis acid or organometallic catalyst in the presence of a poly(oxyalkylene)polymer for the purpose of easy handling of the catalyst residue for recycling.

As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,453 (Ranken et al.), it is known that various (hydrocarbylthio) aromatic amines are useful as intermediates in the preparation of biologically active materials, polyurethanes, etc., and they can be prepared by reacting an aromatic amine with a hydrocarbyl disulfide in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst. The preferred catalysts of Ranken et al. are metal halides, such as aluminum chloride, boron trifluoride, boron trichloride, ferric chloride and zinc chloride.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,670,597 (Ranken et al.) discloses the preparation of (hydrocarbylthio) aromatic amines by the hydrocarbylthiolation of aromatic monoamines with a hydrocarbyl disulfide in the presence of Lewis acid catalysts selected from hydrogen iodide, ammonium iodide, and copper iodide.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,751,330 (Davis) discloses the preparation of (hydrocarbylthio) aromatic amines by the hydrocarbylthiolation of aromatic amines in the presence of metal or metal halide catalysts, with particularly good results noted with the use of copper, zinc, or ferric, ferrous, or aluminum chloride.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,002 (Davis) discloses removal of a Lewis acid contaminant from a (hydrocarbylthio)aromatic amine by mixing a solid alkali metal hydroxide with a solution of the Lewis acid in the (hydrocarbylthio)aromatic amine, preferably at about 110.degree.-120.degree. C., and then filtering said solids from the mixture.


The invention relates to a process for nylon depolymerization, in which process a multi-component material, comprising nylon and one or more non-nylon components, is fed to a depolymerization zone in which depolymerization of at least part of said nylon is effected, resulting in a product stream and a residue, said product stream containing monomers of said nylon, said residue containing non-nylon components, wherein the nylon content in the residue is measured and used to control the depolymerization process.

The invention relates to a process for nylon depolymerization, in which process a multi-component material, comprising nylon and one or more non-nylon components, is fed to a depolymerization zone in which depolymerization of at least part of said nylon is effected, resulting in a product stream and a residue, said product stream containing monomers of said nylon, said residue containing non-nylon components.
Such a process is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,952. In this publication a continuous process is described, where a multi-component, nylon 6 waste material and steam are fed continuously to a reactor. In the reactor depolymerization of nylon 6 takes place, and caprolactam may be recovered overhead, while a nylon 6 depleted bottom stream (residue) may be discharged from the bottoms. Since the composition of the feed material, in particular if the feed material is a multi-component waste material, is usually not constant, it is difficult to control the depolymerization process.
In view of the above it is an object of the present invention to provide an effective way to control a process for nylon depolymerization, in which process a multi-component material, comprising nylon and one or more non-nylon components, is fed to a depolymerization zone in which depolymerization of at least part of said nylon is effected, resulting in a product stream and a residue, said product stream containing monomers of said nylon, said residue containing non-nylon components.
According to the invention this object is achieved in that the nylon content in the residue is measured and used to control the depolymerization process. We have found that an efficient production of nylon monomers is possible according to the invention since the nylon content of the residue shows considerable variations with relatively small changes in depolymerization process conditions and with relatively small changes in the composition of the multi-component material which is fed to the depolymerization zone.
It is noted that WO-A-9749652 describes a process in which depolymerization of polyamides is effected in the presence of non-polymer contaminants. In the examples a batch process is described in which depolymerization of a glass-filled nylon 6,6, is effected, resulting in a product stream which contains monomers and in a residue, which contains glass fibers. In the examples the extent of the reaction is monitored by analyzing the product stream. The weight of the reactor residue is determined in order to calculate the polymer conversion. The nylon content in the residue is not used to control the depolymerization process.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cmulti-component materialxe2x80x9d denotes materials or articles that include at least one type of nylon and at least one non-nylon component. By xe2x80x9cnon-nylon componentxe2x80x9d is meant any material, excluding nylons, nylon depolymerization products, depolymerization agents, stripping agents, or depolymerization catalysts. By xe2x80x9cdepolymerizing agentxe2x80x9d is meant a solid, liquid or gas that will react with the amide linkage of the nylon to break the linkage, thus lowering the molecular weight of the nylon. Examples of depolymerizing agents are water, steam, alcohols, ammonia, amines. By xe2x80x9cstripping agentxe2x80x9d is meant a material which is in the gas phase at reaction temperature and which is able to carry away volatile reaction products of the depolymerization, e.g. monomers. The stripping agent may be the depolymerizing agent itself, such as for instance steam, gaseous ammonia or gaseous alcohol, or an inert gas, such as for instance nitrogen. By xe2x80x9cdepolymerizing catalystxe2x80x9d is meant a solid, liquid or gaseous material which catalyzes the breaking of amide bonds, such as for instance phosphoric acid, boric acid, phosphate salts, alkali metal oxides and alkali metal hydroxides. By xe2x80x9cnylon depolymerization productsxe2x80x9d is meant monomers or oligomers of nylon. The non-nylon components of the xe2x80x9cmulti-component materialxe2x80x9d may for instance be non-hydrolyzable polymers, such as for instance polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and copolymers thereof with butadiene, inorganic or organic materials, such as for instance fillers, pigments, dyes and/or other additives, or other types of materials. The non-nylon components may for instance constitute from about 2 to about 98, preferably from about 5 to about 95, more preferably from about 10 to about 90, and most preferably from about 20 to about 80 weight percent of the multi-component material which is fed to the depolymerization zone. These weight percentages are given with respect to the total weight of the nylon plus the non-nylon components in the multi-component material. The nylon may be any type of nylon, for instance nylon-6, nylon 6,6, nylon 4,6 as well as mixtures thereof. The nylon may for instance constitute from about 2 to about 98, preferably from about 5 to about 95, more preferably from about 10 to about 90, and most preferably from about 20 to about 80 weight percent of the multi-component material which is fed to the depolymerization zone. These weight percentages are given with respect to the total weight of the nylon plus the non-nylon components in the multi-component material. Preferably, at least 40 wt. %, more preferably at least 50 wt. %, in particular at least 75 wt. % and more in particular at least 90 wt. % of the total amount of nylon in the multi-component material is one type of nylon. Preferably, at least 40 wt. %, more preferably at least 50 wt. %, in particular at least 75 wt. % and more in particular at least 90 wt. % of the total amount of nylon in the multi-component material is nylon 6.
The nylon content of the residue may be measured using any technique that allows the determination of the nylon content in the residue. The nylon content in the residue may be expressed by any characteristic from which the amount of nylon in the residue relative to the amount of other components in the residue, preferably relative to the amount of non-nylon components in the residue can be derived. Examples of suitable measurement techniques are high performance liquid chromatography, density measurements, Raman spectroscopy and near infrared spectroscopy. Preferably, measurements techniques are used in which the analysis time is not too long, preferably less than 1 hour. Most preferably, near-infrared spectroscopy is used. Using this technique a quick and acurate measurement of the nylon content is possible.
According to the invention the content of a specific type of nylon in the residue may be determined, for instance the nylon 6 or the nylon 6,6 content. According to the invention it is also possible to measure the total content of all nylons in the residue.
As used herein, xe2x80x9cmeasuring the nylon content of the residuexe2x80x9d, denotes the determination of the nylon content of the residue during the depolymerization process, either continuously or at intervals. If the nylon content is determined at intervals, it is preferred that frequency of the measurements of the nylon content is sufficiently high that adjustments to the process parameters may be made on time. In order to be able to make adjustments to the process parameters as quickly as possible, it is desired that the time, required for the determination of the nylon content is as short as possible. If the process is very stable, the time interval between two measurements may be longer than if the process is less stable.
The value of the nylon content, e.g. expressed in weight percent nylon, is used to control the depolymerization process. Preferably, the control of the depolymerization process is carried out by comparing the measured nylon content in the residue with a desired value, and adjusting at least one process variable in accordance with the difference between the nylon content in the residue and the desired value. Examples of such process variables are the temperature at which depolymerization is conducted, the rate at which the multi-component material is fed to the depolymerization zone, the feed rate of steam, water alcohol, ammonia and/or amines to the depolymerization zone, the reactor pressure, and/or residence time, but the invention is not limited thereto. The conversion of nylon-6 to caprolactam may for instance be enhanced by increase of steam flow, increase of steam temperature, increase of the temperature at which the depolymerization is conducted, and increase of residence time in the depolymerization zone, which may for instance be achieved by a decrease of the rate at which the multi-component material is fed to the depolymerization zone. If the nylon content in the residue is found to differ too much from the desired value, at least one process variable may be adjusted in such a way that the nylon content in the residue obtains the desired value again. These adjustments may be made manually by an operator, but it is also possible to have the adjustments made in an fully automated way.
The process according to the invention can be carried out batchwise or continuously. The process according to the invention is preferably carried out continuously, since the control of the depolymerization is than particularly effective.
Advantageously, the nylon content in the residue is determined using near infrared spectroscopy. We have found that this technique allows a quick and accurate measurement of the nylon content in the residue, even if the nylon content in the residue is low.
A description of near infrared spectroscopy the application of this technique can for instance be found in manuals of commercial infrared spectrometers. Any type of near infrared spectrometer may be used. A dispersive near infrared spectrometer is preferred.
Typically, a predictive model is created for the value of the nylon content in the residue. Said predictive model gives a correlation between the nylon content of samples of the residue and the near infrared spectra of said samples. In order to create such a predictive model, near infrared spectra of residue samples having various nylon contents may be measured, the nylon contents of said samples having been measured by independent means, for instance by HPLC. Preferably, a spectral pretreatment is applied to the near infrared spectra to obtain, for instance, first or second derivatives of the raw data. However, other spectral pretreatments are also possible. Based on these data, the predictive model may then be calculated using well-known mathematical techniques which, for instance, include Multi-Linear Regression (MLR) and Partial Least Square (PLS) models. However, other mathematical techniques are also possible. For these calculations, commercial software may be used which is often supplied by the supplier of the spectrometer. In order to measure the nylon content of the residue during the process, near infrared spectra of the residue may be obtained. The nylon content of the residue may then be calculated using the predictive model. These calculations are preferably carried out using a computer which is connected to the spectrometer. Preferably, the near infrared spectra of the residue are subjected to a spectral pretreatment to obtain, for instance, first or second derivatives of the raw data.
We have found that the color of the residue may differ for different feed materials. Advantageously, the near infrared spectroscopy is performed using different predictive models for different colors of the residue. In this embodiment different predictive models are created for different colors of the residue. The nylon content of the residue may then be determined by measuring the near infrared spectra, and by calculating the nylon content using a predictive model, said predictive model being selected depending on the color of the residue. Said selection may be done in a fully automated way since the color may usually be derived from the near infrared spectra. The use of different predictive models for different colors of the residue improves the accuracy of the measurements of the nylon content of the residue, if the color of the residue varies. Typical colors of the residue are brown or black, though other colors are possible.
Preferably, near infrared spectra are obtained in the range between 1100-2500 nm. For the determination of the nylon 6 and nylon 6,6 content in the residue, preferably spectral information in the range of 2000 to 2200 nm is used, since in this range the interference with spectra of non-nylon components, such as for instance Styrene-Butadiene Rubber and/or polypropylene is relatively small.
The residue may be available as a continuous molten stream, since the depolymerization is usually conducted at elevated temperatures. The residue may also be available in the solid state. Such a residue may for instance be obtained by cooling and solidifying the molten stream. In a preferred embodiment the near infrared spectroscopy is performed on residue which is molten. This embodiment is in particular advantageous if the measurements of the nylon content in the residue are carried out continuously. In another preferred embodiment the near infrared spectroscopy is performed on residue which is in the solid state, e.g. in flake form. Preferably, the near infrared spectroscopy is performed on residue which is a granulate or powder, the particle diameter preferably being below 1 mm. Such a granulate or powder may for instance be obtained by milling the flakes. This gives a more accurate result, since small inhomogenities are averaged during the milling operation.
Preferably, the nylon content of the multi-component material which is fed to the depolymerization zone is measured, and used to control the depolymerization process. If the data for the nylon content in the multi-component material which is fed to the depolymerization zone and the nylon content in the residue are combined, a very accurate control of the depolymerization is possible, especially when the composition of the feed is not constant. In practice, the nylon content of the feed may vary, if the feed is waste material and if different sources and/or suppliers of the waste material are used. For instance, if the waste material is beneficiated carpet, its nylon content is likely to be dependent on the beneficiation process. The measurement of the nylon content in the multi-component material is not limited to a specific method. Preferably, near infrared spectroscopy is used.
As a result of the depolymerization in the depolymerization zone, a product stream and a residue are obtained.
The product stream contains monomers of the nylon obtained by the depolymerization. Monomers of nylon 6 include xcex5-caprolactam. Monomers of nylon 6,6 include hexamethylenediamine, aminocapronitrile and adiponitrile. Typically, the product stream includes as a major constituent monomers of the nylon. By xe2x80x9cmajor constituentxe2x80x9d it is meant that the monomers are the largest constituent of the product stream by weight, excluding depolymerizing agents, stripping agents and depolymerizing catalysts.
The residue contains at least one non-nylon component. By xe2x80x9cnon-nylon componentxe2x80x9d is meant any material, excluding nylons, nylon depolymerization products, depolymerization agents, stripping agents, or depolymerization catalysts. Typically, the residue contains residual non-nylon components. By xe2x80x9cresidual non-nylon componentsxe2x80x9d is meant materials which originate from the non-nylon components in the multi-component material, and which remain after exposure to the conditions at which depolymerization of the nylon is effected. Typically, the residue is depleted of nylon. By xe2x80x9cdepleted of nylonxe2x80x9d is meant that the weight percentage of nylon in the residue is smaller than that in the multi-component material which is fed to the depolymerization zone. Said weight percentages denote the weight percentage of nylon in respect of the total weight of the nylon plus non-nylon components.
In general, it is desirable that the nylon content in the residue is as low as possible, since a lower value of the nylon content in the residue corresponds to a higher conversion of nylon into nylon monomers for a constant flow and contents of the multi-component material. In that case the process parameters may be adjusted, if the nylon content in the residue is found to exceed a certain value. However, it will be clear that it is also possible that the nylon content in the residue is allowed to vary between a certain maximum and minimum value. The desired value of nylon content of the residue will usually be in the range of 0-30 wt. %, preferably from 0.5-20 wt. % and more preferably in the range of 1-10 wt. %. These percentages are given as the weight percentage of the nylon in the residue with respect of the total weight of the nylon plus non-nylon components in the residue.
The depolymerization is not limited to a specific method. Usually, the depolymerization is conducted at a temperature of more than 250xc2x0 C., preferably more than 280xc2x0 C., more preferably more than 300xc2x0 C. Typically, the depolymerizaton is conducted at a temperature of below 400xc2x0 C., preferably below 350xc2x0 C., more preferably below 340xc2x0 C. In a preferred embodiment the depolymerization is carried out in the range of 280-340xc2x0 C. The depolymerization may be carried out at reduced, atmospheric or increased pressure. Preferably, the depolymerization is carried out in the presence of a depolymerizing agent, such as for instance water, steam, alcohol, ammonia, or amines. Most preferably, the depolymerization is carried out in the presence of water or steam. The depolymerization may be effected in the presence or in the absence of a catalyst. Any type of reactor in which nylon may be depolymerized may be used, such as for instance a continuous stirred tank reactor, a tubular reactor or a series of reactors.
In the depolymerization zone the depolymerization may be effected in many ways. Examples of suitable processes have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,952, EP-A-737666, WO-A-9749652, WO-A-9618612, WO-A-9406763, WO-A-9706137, WO-A-9618613. In the depolymerization zone, depolymerization may for instance be effected resulting in a vapor stream containing monomers of the nylon and in a residue. The multi-component material may for instance be contacted with a vapor, for instance steam, gaseous ammonia, or gaseous alcohol, resulting in a vapor stream containing monomers of the nylon and in a residue. The nylon content of said residue may then be measured and used to control the depolymerization according to the invention. In another embodiment a mixture comprising water and the multi-component material is subjected to an elevated temperature and pressure to form a liquid aqueous solution which includes monomers of the nylon and a water insoluble portion, and the liquid aqueous solution and the water insoluble portion are separated. Such a process has for instance been described WO-A-9706137, WO-A-9618613. The nylon content of said residue, i.e. the water insoluble portion, may then be measured and used to control the depolymerization according to the invention.
The process according to the invention is in particular suitable if the multi-component material includes nylon 6 and if the depolymerization is conducted in the absence of added catalyst with superheated steam at a temperature of about 250 to 400xc2x0 C., preferably at a pressure within the range of about 0.1 MPa to about 10 MPa and substantially less than the saturated vapor pressure of water at said temperature. As a result a vapor stream which contains caprolactam is obtained. Said process has been described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,952. The nylon content of said residue may then be measured and used to control the depolymerization according to the invention.
Preferably, the multi-component material is nylon-containing waste material or nylon-containing processed waste material, waste material meaning material or articles which has been, is intended to be, or would have been discarded by a consumer, manufacturer, distributor retailer, installer and the like. Preferably, the waste material is waste carpet material, and more preferably waste carpet material that includes nylon 6 face fibre and non-nylon components. Carpets include a face fibre that is adhered to a backing (support) material which may include jute, polypropylene, latex (such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR)) and a variety of inorganic materials such as calcium carbonate, clay or hydrated alumina fillers. As used herein, xe2x80x9ccarpet materialxe2x80x9d denotes carpet which has not been subjected to any mechanical separation (referred to herein as xe2x80x9cwhole carpetxe2x80x9d), as well as any mixture of carpet components that is a product of separation, mechanical or otherwise, of whole carpet (referred to herein as xe2x80x9cbeneficiated carpetxe2x80x9d). xe2x80x9cWaste carpet materialxe2x80x9d denotes carpet material that has been, is intended to be, or otherwise would have been discarded by a consumer, manufacturer, distributor, retailer, installer and the like.


Exemplary method, system, and computer program product embodiments for efficient one-pass cache-aware compression are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, an output of a fast compressor to Huffman encoding for achieving the one-pass cache-aware compression by using a predetermined Huffman-tree upon determining by the fast compressor a final representation of each data byte.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computers, and more particularly, to efficient one-pass cache-aware compression in a computing storage environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
In today's society, computer systems are commonplace. Computer systems may be found in the workplace, at home, or at school. Computer systems may include data storage systems, or disk storage systems, to process and store data. In recent years, both software and hardware technologies have experienced amazing advancement. With the new technology, more and more functions are added and greater convenience is provided for use with these electronic appliances. The amount of information to be processed nowadays increases greatly. One popular method of handling large data files is to compress the data for storage or transmission. Therefore, processing very large amounts of information is a key problem to solve. Therefore, a need exists to improve the compression of data in computing systems.

Efficient one-pass cache-aware compression


In a transmission path transmitting high-frequency signals each signal contains a frequency component of over 8 GHz. The transmission path includes a nickel-phosphorus layer containing nickel and phosphorus, and a phosphorus concentration of the nickel-phosphorus layer is over 0 mass % and less than 8 mass %. Such a structure enables the transmission path to have little loss even when a signal at a frequency of over 8 GHz is transmitted.

In recent years, a technology relating to a wiring substrate where semiconductor elements or the like are mounted has attracted attention due to increased speed and increased capacity of communication. Copper is usually used for a transmission path of the wiring substrate, and there is a case when a nickel-phosphorus layer is deposited on a surface of copper, and a gold layer is further deposited on a surface of the nickel-phosphorus layer.
In recent years, in an antenna device dealing with millimeter waves and microwaves, a microstrip antenna, excellent in mass productivity and economic efficiency, is widely used because the microstrip antenna is possible to be formed in a planar shape on a substrate by using an integrated-circuit technology or a printed-wiring technology.
Copper is usually used for a radiation element and a ground conductor plate of the microstrip antenna. There is a case when a structure where a nickel-phosphorus layer and a gold layer are sequentially deposited on copper is used. The microstrip antenna transmits and receives high-frequency signals in millimeter-wave and microwave bands through the radiation element.
Patent Document 1 discloses a technology where a loss of a high-frequency signal is reduced by setting a concentration of phosphorus of the nickel-phosphorus layer to 8 to 15% to cause non-magnetization of nickel. It is possible to improve transmission characteristics and gain at a transmission/reception time also in the transmission path and the antenna device due to the technology as stated above.

Transmission path for transmitting high-frequency signals greater than 14ghz, where the transmission path includes a nickel-phosphorous layer with phosphorous concentrations between 0 mass% to 8 mass%


An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED display comprises a display substrate, an encapsulation substrate, and at least one spacer. The display substrate includes a non-pixel area, wherein a plurality of via holes is formed in the non-pixel area. The encapsulation substrate is formed over the display substrate. The spacer is formed between the display substrate and the encapsulation substrate so as to maintain a gap therebetween, wherein the spacer at least partially covers at least one of a plurality of via holes.

Field
The described technology generally relates to an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.
Description of the Related Technology
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is a self-emissive display device provided with an OLED including a hole injection electrode, an electron injection electrode, and an organic emission layer formed therebetween. In the OLED display, light is generated as excitons due to the combination of holes injected from the hole injection electrode and electrons injected form the electron injection electrode.
The OLED display does not require an additional light source, and thus can be made thin and light and driven with low voltage. Furthermore, the OLED display has a wide viewing angle, high contrast, and high response speed. Due to such high-grade characteristics, the OLED display has received attention as a next-generation display apparatus.
In general, the OLED display includes a plurality of pixels that emit different colors to display an image.
A pixel represents the smallest unit of an image displayed on a display device. A gate line for driving each pixel, a data line, a power line, and an insulating layer such as a pixel defining layer for defining an area or the shape of each pixel can be formed between adjacent pixels.

Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display having a plurality of spacers covering one or more via holes


Apparatus, systems, and methods provide for a zero-moment fitting for securing a fluid conduit to a structure. According to various embodiments, a fitting may include a spherical bearing and a bearing housing. The spherical bearing may include a conduit aperture for receiving a fluid conduit through the spherical bearing. The bearing housing may be configured to encompass and retain the spherical bearing within the bearing housing, allowing for rotation of the spherical bearing within the bearing housing. The bearing housing may be fixedly attached to the structure to secure the fitting to the structure.

Aircraft and other vehicles commonly have various fluid conduits (e.g., fuel lines, hydraulic lines, air lines, etc) extending throughout the vehicle. These conduits may traverse bulkheads and other structures as they route fluid between source and destination locations. The conduits are typically routed through openings in the bulkheads and secured to the bulkheads at these locations with fittings to prevent abrasion and other damage to the fluid conduits that could occur due to contact between the conduit and the bulkhead.
Fuel lines and other fluid conduits are often pressurized. As pressurized fluids travel through the conduits, the geometry or configuration of the lines and the various couplings associated with the fluid conduits creates various loads and moments that may be transferred to the bulkheads or to the fittings that attach the fluid conduits to the bulkheads. Pulse loads or shear loads that align with a central axis of the fluid conduit may not be problematic. However, loads that create a twisting of the fluid conduit around the central axis or at a non-zero angle with respect to the central axis provide a moment on the fitting and/or bulkhead. These moments may lead to fatigue or failure of the fitting over time.
It is with respect to these considerations and others that the disclosure made herein is presented.


An apparatus and method for converting between a full memory address and a compressed memory address. For example, one embodiment comprises one or more translation tables having a plurality of translation entries, each translation entry identifiable with a pointer value and storing a portion of a full memory address usable within the processor to address data and instructions; and address translation logic to use the translation tables to convert between the full address and a compressed version of the full address, the compressed version of the full address having the pointer value substituted for the portion of the full memory address, wherein a first portion of the processor performs operations using the compressed version of the full address and a second portion of the processor performs operations using the full address.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of computer processors. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for compressing a memory address.
2. Description of the Related Art
The maximum memory space supported by a CPU can be determined by the number of bits needed to uniquely identify a specific byte. Each instruction or data byte within a CPU is associated with its external memory address, so this mapping is needed in many structures such as caches and pipeline buffers. Due to the quantity and usage of these bits, an implementation that modifies the supported memory space can significantly impact factors such as frequency, area, and power. Therefore the virtual memory space supported by x86 processors is currently limited to 48-bits due to the cost of these physical constraints.

Apparatus and method for compressing a memory address


A clutch assembly having an overall diameter and overall axial length. Both the axial length and the ratio of the length to the diameter are reduced. A translatable clutch piston is in communication with a pressure chamber and is movable between a piston neutral position and a piston activated position in response to air pressure. A cone clutch member is moved from a clutch engaged position to a clutch disengaged position in response to the translatable clutch piston moving from the piston neutral position to the piston activated position. The cone clutch member engages the rotating drive shaft when in the clutch engaged position. A clutch spring member biases the cone clutch member into the clutch engaged position with a clutch engagement force. The clutch spring has a primary spring ratio of a wire diameter to a spring diameter optimized such that a maximum spring force is achieved while minimizing the spring length. A movable carrier member for the spring member has an increased axial length to reduce and limit abrasion damage to the piston and member. The bearing assembly has a reduced axial length limited by the ratio of its length to its inner diameter.

Vehicle engines commonly utilize cooling assemblies to remove excess heat from the engine and maintain an optimal operating temperature. The cooling assembly pumps a coolant through the engine and other components in order to control engine temperature. Heat generated within the engine and other components is absorbed by the coolant and dispersed into the surrounding atmosphere through the use of a radiator. In order to improve dispersal by the radiator, it is common to utilize fan assemblies to draw or force air past the radiator to assist in temperature transmission.
It is not always desirable for such fan assemblies to be run continuously. At times, it is desirable for the temperature within the coolant to increase rather than decrease. Additionally, continuous operation when unnecessary places an non-required draw on the engine and thereby reduces efficiency. To compensate for this, present fan assemblies utilize fan clutch assemblies that allow for the selective engagement of the fan to the engine such that the fans are engaged only when necessary. The fan clutch assemblies may be operated in a plurality of configurations including hydraulic and air-pressure actuated. It is common for these systems to be biased towards fan operation such that when failure occurs in the clutch assembly, the fan continuously operates to keep the engine cool.
An issue with these fan assemblies and associated clutch assemblies stems from their location within the engine compartment. These assemblies must share space within the compartment with a variety of engine related systems. The assemblies, therefore, can be placed under severe dimensional restraints. However, fan clutch drives are commonly dimensionally constrained by the internal workings of the clutch which limits reduction of the drive assembly. This dimensional constraint, especially realized in clutch length and diameter, limits the applications wherein a pneumatic clutch can be utilized.
It would therefore be highly desirable to have pneumatic clutch fan assembly with a unique internal design wherein reduction in some of the external dimensions could be realized, along with corresponding reduction in material cost and weight. It would further be highly desirable for such a clutch assembly to provide optimal performance and operation while reducing or minimizing size and weight.