The machine element selection support system comprises a database apparatus and a selection support server, while the selection support server is connected to a network. A customer, who wishes to select a machine element, gains access to the selection support server using a customer terminal. The selection support server receives, from the customer terminal, information relevant to the specifications and operating conditions of machine elements to be selected, the purchase conditions of the machine elements, and machine element selection information including information relevant to the output mode of information relevant to selection candidates, extracts selection candidates in accordance with not only the specifications and operating conditions information but also information stored in the specification databases and, in accordance with an output mode received, outputs to the customer terminal information relevant to the selection candidates that can satisfy purchase conditions of the extracted selection candidates.

The present invention relates to a machine element selection support system for supporting the selection of a machine element such as a rolling bearing (which is hereinafter referred to as a bearing simply).
For the optimum design of a machine apparatus, it is important to select a machine element which is used in the machine apparatus. Conventionally, to select a machine element such as a bearing, for example, there is taken such a procedure as shown in FIG. 12. That is, a customer creates information necessary for selection of a bearing (selection information) (Step 301), the customer conveys the selection information in writing to a person in charge of sales of a bearing in a bearing manufacturer (Step 302), the person in charge confirms the contents of the selection information (Step 303), the person in charge inquires the incomplete items of the contents of the selection information from the customer if necessary and adds the inquired and corrected items to the contents of the selection information (Step 304), and the person in charge transmits the selection information to a person in charge of design (Step 305). The person in charge of design selects the optimum bearing based on the selection information (Step 306). The selection results by the person in charge of design are transmitted to the person in charge of sales (Step 307), and the selection results are then transmitted to the customer (Step 308). The customer checks whether the selection results presented satisfy the business conditions (the cost and the appointed time of delivery) or not (Step 309). In case where the selection results satisfy the business conditions, the customer places an order based on the selection results presented (Step 310). In case where the selection results does not satisfy the business conditions, the selection information is reexamined and a similar procedure to the above is repeated.
Generally, in the case of a machine element such as a bearing, there does not always exist a ready-made machine element which can satisfy the need of a customer and thus, as the need arises, a new machine element must be designed. Also, even in case where there exists a ready-made machine element which can satisfy the need of the customer, the machine element may be out of stock, or, on account of the production line of a manufacturing factory, the appointed time of delivery may be delayed. In this case, the customer has to change the specifications of the machine element. In a conventional system, the delivery of the bearing selection information between as well as the presentation of the bearing selection results between the customer, the person in charge of sales and the person in charge of design depend on the human-to-human communication; and thus, the selection of the bearing according to the need of the customer cannot be made immediately.

Machine element selection support system


A chair with variable pitch having a frame set to rest on the floor, at least one central element that creates a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis supported by the frame, a seat supported by the central element, one pair of first stiles parallel to each other and set at the ends of the central element, and a backrest that has its top connected to the first stiles through first flexible couplings and its bottom connected to the seat through a second flexible coupling. The seat is connected to the central element through swivel means that allow the planar rotary-transverse movement of the seat, combined with a rotary rocking movement of the backrest around a longitudinal axis created by the flexible couplings.

The invention concerns a chair designed to take on variable pitches or attitudes under the push exerted on the seat and on the backrest by the seated person.
The market offers several types of chairs that have a variable pitch obtained by exploiting the flexing deformability of the structure making up the seat or backrest, or otherwise in some cases, fitting flexible parts between the structural components of the chair itself.
The pressure that the seated person exerts on the seat or on the backrest, or on both together, modifies the pitch of the chair permitting change of the seating position as desired.
It is common knowledge that by frequently changing from a leaning forward position to stretching backwards, the user tends to rub against the surface of the seat with inevitable inconveniences and discomfort.
What""s more, the most natural positions that the user tends to assume are often limited by the sole intrinsic flexing deformability of the components that make up the chair without any possibility of adjustment.
With the scope of eliminating these inconveniences, the same applicant filed an Italian patent application published with reference number V197AOOO183 and granted as IT01296682, which describes a chair with variable pitch that allows the seated person to change from a leaning forward position to more or less stretching backwards by simply pushing on the seat or on the backrest or both together, without having to rub on the surface of the seat.
What""s more, the range in variation of pitch can be modified by regulating special adjustments.
However, even the chair with variable pitch described in the aforementioned patent has the inconvenience of only permitting the seat to perform forward or backward linear movements.
The present invention intends to overcome the aforementioned limitation.
The scope of this invention is to produce a chair with variable pitch that allows greater degrees of freedom in the seat""s movement.
Such scope is achieved by producing a chair with variable pitch that has a frame set to rest on the floor; at least one central element that creates a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis X, supported by the frame; a seat supported by the central element; one pair of first stiles parallel to each other and set at the ends of the central element; and a backrest that has its top connected to each of the first stiles through first flexible couplings and its bottom connected to the seat through at least one second flexible coupling, it is characterised in that the seat is connected to the central element through swivel means designed to allow a planar rotary transverse movement of the seat combined with a rotary rocking movement of the backrest around a longitudinal axis created by the first flexible couplings.
According to a preferred form of execution the frame is made up of one pair of front legs connected to the ends of the central element as a continuation of the first stiles, and at least one pair of back legs parallel to each other and also each being connected to one of the ends of the same central element.
According to a variant in execution the frame has a single, substantially upright supporting body that has its top connected to the central element and its bottom provided with a floor standing structure.
According to both of the forms of execution, each of the swivel means that allow a rotary-transverse movement of the seat include a first swivel element fixed to the seat and a second swivel element that slides over the central element along the latter""s longitudinal axis. The swivel elements are connected together through flexible couplings and have contact surfaces that touch together.
By a combination of the reciprocal sliding movement of the contact surfaces over each other in combination with the longitudinal movement of the swivel elements around the central element, a planar rotary-transverse movement of the seat is generated parallel to the level on which the seat rests when in its idle position.


The invention relates to a method of driving a shaft by reaction of silanes, preferably silane oils, with air in a double combustion chamber and an assiciated drive mechanism. The hydrogen of the silanes reacts in the first combustion chamber with an insufficient level of oxygen of the air supplied, thereby producing high temperatures. At said high temperatures, the nitrogen from the air supplied reacts with the silicon of the silane to form silicon nitride. The resultant combustion gases and dust and the non-combusted hydrogen are mixed in the second combustion chamber with a large quantity of cold compressed air, the hydrogen undergoing late burning, and they subsequently enter a turbine chamber to actuate turbine blades connected to a shaft. The method is particularly environmentally-friendly since no toxic or polluting waste gases are produced.

From DE-OS-22 31 008 it is known to use tetrasilane (Si.sub.4 H.sub.10) as a rocket propellant. DE 42 15 835 c2 also describes silicon hydrides, preferably silane oils, as rocket propellants. The production of such silane oils is described in DE-PS 21 39 155. In the systems described in these publications the silane oils are burned together with liquid oxygen, liquid chlorine or liquid fluorine.
In the non-published German patent application P 44 37 524.7 (see also U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,390 of Mar. 24, 1998) a method for operating a reaction-type missile propulsion system and a drive mechanism for carrying out such method are described. The drive mechanism is operated in such a manner that silicon hydride compounds are reacted with nitrogen and/or nitrogen compounds at increased temperatures in the presence of an oxidizing agent for the hydrogen of the silicon hydride compounds. Preferably, the nitrogen and the oxydizing agent can be taken from the atmosphere of the earth so that a corresponding oxidizing agent for the silicon hydride compounds need not be carried along in the missile. Preferably, silane oils are burned as silicon hydride compounds.

Method and apparatus for operating a gas turbine with silane oil as fuel


A method and apparatus are disclosed that assist a user in performing proper setup of a vehicle suspension. A user may utilize a device equipped with an image sensor to assist the user in proper setup of a vehicle suspension. The device executes an application that prompts the user for input and instructs the user to perform a number of steps for adjusting the suspension components. In one embodiment, the application does not communicate with sensors on the vehicle. In another embodiment, the application may communicate with various sensors located on the vehicle to provide feedback to the device during the setup routine. In one embodiment, the device may analyze a digital image of a suspension component to provide feedback about a physical characteristic of the component.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to vehicle suspensions and, more specifically, to a system for adjusting operational characteristics of a vehicle suspension system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vehicle suspension systems typically include a spring component or components and a damping component or components. Often, mechanical springs, like helical springs, are used with some type of viscous fluid-based damping mechanism, the spring and damper being mounted functionally in parallel. In some instances a spring may comprise pressurized gas and features of the damper or spring are user-adjustable, such as by adjusting the air pressure in a gas spring. A damper may be constructed by placing a damping piston in a fluid-filled cylinder (e.g., liquid such as oil). As the damping piston is moved in the cylinder, fluid is compressed and passes from one side of the piston to the other side. Often, the piston includes vents there-through which may be covered by shim stacks to provide for different operational characteristics in compression or extension.
Despite efforts to educate product managers, retailers, and end consumers on the importance of proper initial vehicle suspension set up, it is evident at event support and trail side encounters that many vehicles such as mountain bikes and motorcycles are ridden with improper initial suspension settings. An important initial setting is suspension "sag," which is the measured distance a shock absorber compresses while the rider, preferably wearing intended riding gear, is seated on, e.g., a bicycle, motorcycle, or four-wheeled vehicle in a riding position compared to a fully extended suspension position. Suspension sag also applies to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), trucks, and other vehicles equipped with a suspension. Getting the sag setting correct allows the wheels or vehicle suspension to react to negative terrain features (i.e., dips requiring suspension extension) without the entire vehicle "falling" into such terrain features. Often any attention that is paid to the initial sag setting is focused on the rear suspension, especially in motorcycle applications, but making sure that both the front and rear sag settings are correct is equally important.
Another important initial setting is the rebound damping setting for the rear and front vehicle suspensions. Rebound damping dissipates stored system spring energy after a suspension compression event and results in a controlled rate of return of the suspension to a more extended condition. Preventing the suspension from rebounding too quickly is an important aspect of the quality of vehicle suspension setup. In the case of rear suspension, an improper amount of rebound damping can result in the rear of the vehicle "kicking" off the ground and pitching the rider forward after encountering a bump or sharp compression obstacle, also known as "bucking." In the case of front suspension, an improper amount of rebound damping can cause impact to the rider's hands as the front suspension kicks back directly toward the rider. Conversely, preventing the suspension from rebounding too slowly is also an important aspect of the quality of vehicle suspension setup. An improper amount of rebound damping, where the amount of damping is too high, can result in the suspension not returning quickly enough to respond to the next bump in a series of bumps, ultimately causing the suspension to "ratchet" down into a compressed state. Such a "ratcheting" sequence is commonly referred to as suspension packing. Packing can result in the suspension being overly stiff due to retained compression through the middle to the end of a series of bumps, causing the back of the vehicle to kick off the ground and pitch the rider forward (in the case of the rear suspension) and causing the suspension to get overly stiff and steering geometry to get steep and unstable (in the case of the front suspension). Compression damping settings are similarly important.
As the foregoing illustrates, what is needed in the art are improved techniques for assisting the operator of a vehicle to prepare and adjust one or more operating parameters of the vehicle for an optimum riding experience.

Methods and apparatus for suspension set up


A connector that is configured to be installed on a printed circuit board (PCB) and electrically connected to an external terminal is provided. The connector may include a first port that is disposed on the PCB and is configured to accept a first external terminal into the first port in a first direction, and a second port that is layered on top of the first port and is configured to accept a second external terminal into the second port in a second direction that is formed at an angle from the first direction.

1. Field
Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a connector and an electronic device including the same, and more particularly, to a connector and an electronic device including the same which provides improved usability with multi-layer connectors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic devices such as a television (TV), a monitor, a computer, and a mobile terminal may perform various functions including outputting images, web-surfing, games, photos, and recording video. Further, the electronic devices may be connected to an external device in a wired manner and transmit data thereto. For example, a TV may be connected to a universal serial bus (USB) memory stick and receive and output movies, music, photos and other data stored on a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory stick. To do so, a USB port should be provided in the TV to connect the USB memory stick to the TV.
An electronic device may use a cable that includes USB and high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) terminals configured to be connected to an external storage medium or another electronic device. Thus, the electronic device has a connector to which the USB and HDMI terminals are inserted and electrically connected. A related art connector of an electronic device is a single-layer connector, or a multi-layer connector into which external terminals are inserted in the same direction.
In the case of a single-layer connector, the connector may be located within a circumference of a printed circuit board (PCB) in order to connect the external terminal thereto. In this case, if there are many external connection materials, the connector should be arranged along a circumference of the PCB, and this may increase the size of the PCB.
In the case of a multi-layer connector, external terminals may be inserted as multi-layers in the same direction, and the PCB may not become larger. However, due to the multi-layer connector, the electronic device becomes thicker.
Referring to FIG. 1, in a related art multi-layer connector, two ports 1 and 2 are provided as multi-layers, and an external terminal 3 inserted into a first-layer port and an external terminal 4 inserted into a second-layer port are inserted in the same direction. The gap between the first and second ports 1 and 2 is minimized by taking into account the thickness of the electronic device. In this case, the external terminals 3 and 4 may interfere with each other when they are inserted into or removed from the first and second ports 1 and 2.

Connector and electronic device including the same


One aspect of the present invention provides a system for controlling display cells modulating light based on image data. The system comprises an input controller and a display controller. The input controller is configured to receive a series of image data groups with each image data group having N bits arranged in subgroups, wherein each subgroup has a subgroup value and a subgroup position corresponding to one cell of a group of cells. The input controller is configured to determine a comparison value for each subgroup position based on subgroup values at corresponding subgroup positions of a current image data group and a preceding image data group. The input controller is further configured to provide an update signal based on the comparison values, and to provide an update image data group having less than N bits and representative of the current image data group when the update signal indicates reduced data transmission. The display controller is configured to receive the update signal and the update image data group, and to update the group of cells based on the update signal with N bits of data from at least one of: the update data group, the preceding data group, and a function of the update and preceding data groups.

Digital projection systems generally utilize individual light modulating cells arranged to from some type of light modulating array to display an image, with each cell displaying at least a portion of a pixel in response to image data representative of the displayed image. Data updating, or refresh, schemes for such light modulating arrays typically involve updating each individual cell of the array with image data for each frame of the displayed image.
One refresh scheme employed when the individual cells of a light modulating array are arranged in rows and columns involves "writing" updated image data to each of the columns of the array and then enabling an update of the image data to each light modulating cell of a selected row. This process is repeated sequentially through each row to update the entire array with image data for a given frame. However, updating high-resolution digital projection systems in this fashion requires a high data rate to the array.
Consequently, system designers often expend significant effort on developing algorithms designed to decrease these high data rates. However, such algorithms often utilize image interpolation or other schemes that introduce color errors or other visual artifacts into the projected image, and can also limit image special resolution and color depth. Furthermore, even when employing such algorithms, each cell of the array is refreshed with new image data for each frame even though much of the individual cell data often does not change from frame-to-frame. Consequently, a significant portion of system bandwidth is often used in re-writing unchanged image data.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An interface apparatus is provided having a first register device and a second register device, which is connected in parallel with it. The register devices are configured to receive a data word. The interface apparatus includes a synchronization circuit, to which a first and a second clock signal is supplied and which is configured to emit a selection signal, which is derived from the first clock signal, for selection of the first or second register device for storage of a data word. The synchronization circuit is also configured to emit a control signal derived from the selection signal and the second clock signal, at a control output. The control output is coupled to a selection circuit, by means of which the output of one of the two register devices can be connected to the data output of the interface apparatus. Comparison of the selection signal with the second clock signal means that there is no need for an additional registration device.

In clocked systems, data frequently has to be interchanged between two different circuit blocks. The individual circuit blocks may in this case, for example, interchange data which is then processed further in the respective circuit blocks. The two circuit blocks are each clocked with a clock signal at the same frequency. In order to avoid data errors during the data interchange, the data interchange must be carried out synchronously, that is to say the data to be interchanged must always be applied to the circuit blocks at the correct times.
Because the circuit blocks are arranged at different locations, delay-time differences can occur between the two clock signals from the circuit blocks. Lines of different lengths for the two clock signals likewise lead to delay-time differences. A delay-time difference results in a phase difference between the clock signals from the two circuit blocks. In addition, an unknown phase difference between the two clock signals is caused by a slight random variation, which is referred to as "a jitter" and by different frequency-processing measures. If the frequencies of the clock signal are the same, but originate from different signal sources, then the phase angles between them are generally unknown.
When data is being interchanged, a circuit block emits the data to be interchanged at its output during one clock cycle, for example on a rising flank of its clock signal. The second circuit block reads the data applied to its input, for example on a rising clock flank of its clock signal, and processes this data further. Because of the phase difference between the two clock signals in the circuit blocks, the production at the data output and the reading process at the data input each take place at different times. It is thus possible for a read cycle to have already started before the first circuit block has produced the data to be transferred at its data output. This results in a loss of data, and thus to an error in the data transmission between the blocks.
In order to avoid such loss of data, synchronization circuits and, in particular, so-called FIFO buffers (FIFO=First-in, First-out) are connected between the individual circuit blocks. The buffer circuits temporarily store the data to be transferred in flipflop circuits, and emit it again when required. In this case, the data that is the first to be stored in the buffer is also the first data that is output again.
FIG. 3 shows one example of a synchronous interface with a FIFO buffer. The synchronization circuit 3 is in this case connected between the two circuit blocks 1 and 2. The circuit block 1 emits a data word at its output during each clock period of its clock signal. The data word comprises one or more data items and is stored in one of the three parallel-connected register banks 32. The register banks 32 in this case each have a plurality of parallel-connected flipflop circuits, which each store one data item from the data word. The selection of which of the three register banks 32 is used to store the data word of the circuit block 1 is made by the control device 31. The stored data word is read via a multiplexer unit 33, which uses a control signal from the control unit 31 to connect one of the three register banks 32 to the output of the synchronization circuit 3, and thus supplies the data word to the second circuit block 2. In this case, the data word is emitted in the sequence in which it was also stored in the register banks 32.
After the process of reading from a data bank and production at the second circuit block, the contents of the register bank are deleted, and this register bank is enabled for another writing process again. The reading and writing processes are synchronized via the control device 31, to which the clock signals from the circuit block 1 and from the circuit block 2 are supplied.
If the data reading and writing processes are carried out using two different clock signals at the same frequency, there must be at least three memory locations for each data item to be synchronized. 3*N memory locations are therefore required for synchronization of n parallel data items which form a data word. Each of the described register banks 32 thus contains n memory locations. The third register bank is required in order to ensure that major fluctuations in the phase angle between the clock signal of the first circuit block and the clock signal of the second circuit block are coped with in both the positive and negative directions. Particularly in the case of circuit blocks whose data word to be synchronized comprises a very large number of parallel data items, the need for a third memory location per data item in the synchronization circuit leads to a large number of memory locations. This increases the space requirements and results in additional costs.

Interface apparatus and method for synchronization of data


The invention is directed to labeled drug hapten analogues comprising:. (A) a label, of the type used in immunoassays, having an amine or sulfhydryl group; PA0 (B) a drug hapten nucleus selected from barbiturates or hydantoins and PA0 (C) a linking chain linking the 3-position of the drug hapten nucleus to the label through a carbonyl bridge.

Immunoassays, which take advantage of natural immunological reactions, have found wide-spread use as analytical techniques in clinical chemistry. Because of the specificity of the reactions, they are particularly advantageous in quantifying biological analytes that are present in very low concentration in biological fluids. Such analytes include, for example, antibodies, therapeutic drugs, narcotics, enzymes, hormones, proteins, etc.
In competitive binding immunoassays, a labeled ligand, including immunocompetent derivatives and analogs of the ligand, is placed in competition with unlabeled ligand for reaction with a fixed amount of the appropriate binding material (called a receptor herein). Unknown concentrations of the ligand can be determined from the measured signal of either the bound or unbound (i.e. free) labeled ligand. The reaction proceeds as follows:
______________________________________ ligand + labeled ligand + receptor .fwdarw. ligand-receptor + labeled ligand-receptor. ______________________________________
Conventional labels include radioactive tags, enzymes, chromophores, fluorophores, stable free radicals, and enzyme cofactors, inhibitors and allosteric effectors.
Consistent with the foregoing an immunoassay for drug derivatives, such as phenobarbital and phenytoin, in serum can be based on competition of an enzyme labeled analogue of such drugs with the drug in the patient serum for immobilized antibody binding sites.
Specific requirements for the labeled drug hapten analogues(hereafter sometimes LDH) include: 1) at least 65% of the LDH can be bound by excess immobilized antibody; 2) affinity of the LDH for immobilized antibody is such that competition of a fixed amount of LDH with the drug occurs in a therapeutically relevant drug concentration range; and 3) stability of the LDH against hydrolysis of its enzyme label under storage conditions.
Requirements imposed on the drug hapten analogue include: 1) accessibility of the analogue to the immobilized antibody following conjugation with the enzyme label; 2) specific recognition of the labeled analogue by the antibody to the drug; and 3) sufficient reactivity of the analogue with the enzyme label, either directly or following activation of the enzyme or the analogue, under conditions that do not adversely affect enzyme activity.
Glucose oxidase (GOD) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme labels coupled to phenobarbital and phenytoin hapten analogues disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,752,568 gave adequate enzyme labeled analogues for conducting effective competitive immunoassays in the desired format.
The problem is that the labeled phenobarbital and phenytoin analogues disclosed in the above patent were unsatisfactory for conducting competitive immunoassays when the enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used as the label. The coupling reactions between such analogues and HRP were both slow and incomplete. Moreover phenobarbital and phenytoin HRP labels were bound very weakly so that much higher concentrations of label or antibody binding sites would be required to give a readable signal.

Labeled drug hapten analogues for immunoassays


An ankle brace includes an upper extension shell pivotably connected to and projecting upwardly from the medial shell along left and right lateral was by first and second snap-together pivot means.

The present invention relates to an ankle brace. More particularly, it relates to an ankle brace that can be converted for use at different stages of treatment of an ankle.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,524,295 "Peters et al." discloses a convertible ankle brace which may be used in one configuration, including an upper extension shell, for providing substantial support to treat an acutely injured ankle and then, after the ankle has improved, the upper extension shell can be removed, and the brace can be used during normal athletic activities to protect against future injury.
One embodiment provides for the upper extension shell to connect to the medial shell with a snap-fit connection that rigidly secures the upper extension shell to the medial shell in order to provide an increased level of support and stability.

Ankle brace including a snap-together pivoting upper extension shell


An adjustable hinge block includes first and second complementary members, each defining therein a first and a second slit respectively. The members are adapted to mate with each other such that the first and second slits at least partially align with each other to define a third slit. First and second wing members protrude from the members respectively such that the wing members lie on opposite sides of the third slit when the members mate with each other. The wing members each define therein a first and a second aperture respectively, which first and second apertures are adapted to receive a fastener. First and second side members, each define therein a third and a fourth aperture respectively, such that the third and fourth apertures is adapted to align with the first and second apertures respectively.

In some cases, such as in a submarine, structural posts are welded between the floors and ceilings. The areas between the posts are called "bays" and may be used to install electronic and other equipment. Doors may be mounted between the structural posts to protect the equipment and sometimes to create an air tight seal. These bays may be cooled by heat exchangers and thus, it is important to keep bays cool and not allow cool air to escape out of the bays.
A hinge block, such as one illustrated in FIG. 1, has been used to mount two doors on a single structural post. This method works well only if all the structural posts are "true" or orthogonal with respect to the floors and ceilings and simultaneously parallel to each other. If there is even a slight misalignment between two posts, installation of two doors on two bays, between three structural posts becomes difficult and laborious. Adjusting each door then requires extra labor and force which may result in damage to the hardware as well as to the doors themselves, which may become warped. Alternatives are desired.


A multi-layer label for displaying information is disclosed which includes at least two layers which may be repeatedly partially separated and re-adhered to one another, such that a portion of the outer surface of a lower layer is exposed upon separation of a portion of an upper layer from it. The inner surface of the upper layer of the label is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive. To form a lift tab for the upper layer at least one corner of the inner surface is either coated with varnish to deaden the adhesive, or alternatively, a corner is not coated with adhesive. The outer surface of the lower layer is selectively coated with an adhesive release material such that the coated portion releasably bonds to the inner surface of the upper layer, and, the portion of the outer surface of the lower layer not coated with the adhesive release layer permanently bonds to the upper layer thus forming a hinge between the two layers. A method and apparatus for manufacturing a multi-layer label is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-layer or multi-page label formed from a plurality of label layers and a method and apparatus for printing information on a plurality of label layers and for laminating the layers to form a hinged label which is securable to, for instance, an article of manufacture.
More particularly, the invention relates to a multi-layer label that is constructed in such a manner as to allow an outer layer to be partially and repeatedly separated from an underlying layer to expose a portion of the underlying layer.
2. Description of Related Art
A number of multi-page separable and re-adherable hinged labels are known. For instance, United Kingdom Published Patent Application Nos. 2,223,476 and 2,212,474 A and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,592,572 and 4,744,161 each disclose labels which have been produced as a multi-page label for use on an article of manufacture where the fold in a folded single label piece defines the hinge of the label. In the manufacturing process of these labels, an adhesive is selectively applied to a predetermined portion of the label, such as along one of the pages thereof, thus allowing the label to be permanently bonded to the article of manufacture. A second, predetermined area or page is coated with adhesive to facilitate a releasable bond with another area or page, thereby allowing the label to be peeled open, read and later re-sealed to a closed position. The manufacturing process of these known labels includes a number of label folding, printing and other processing steps in order to facilitate manufacture of the label that may make label fabrication unduly complex. A further example of a complex label configuration and fabrication procedure is disclosed, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,572, in which the label is folded at least three times in order to form the multipage label. Likewise, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,161, the label is folded in at least two places along a single sheet in order to form the multipage label. Further, after opening and reading the printed matter printed on the label, the multiple folds make the task of reclosing the label difficult. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,161, a first folded portion of the label is selectively coated with an adhesive release material. A second portion of the label is selectively coated with adhesive. The adhesive coated portion co-acts with the adhesive release coated portion such that the two label portions may be separated and re-adhered repeatedly. However, a deficiency of this design is the degree of care that must be expended upon label closure to ensure accurate folding of the first portion and alignment of the adhesive with the release material.
An alternate arrangement was made upon the concept of having a multi-page label in United Kingdom Patent Application No. 2,154,539, in which two separate label layers are joined together to form a two page label that does not include any folds. In order to form the multipage label, a first region of an upper layer is coated with a permanent adhesive to form a permanent bond between the upper layer and a second layer. Spaced apart from the first region of the upper layer is a second region that is coated with a releasable adhesive. The second layer is coated with a release material which co-acts with the releasable adhesive to allow the upper layer to be repeatedly peeled away from the lower layer and re-adhered thereto. When the upper layer is separated from the lower layer in the foregoing manner, printed material on the second layer becomes exposed. However, there are a number of disadvantages to this arrangement which are similar to those mentioned above. One disadvantage is that selective printing of information and the application of two separate regions of adhesive is costly and requires precision in manufacture. In addition, when coating the label with adhesive, care must be taken to align the two separated adhesive regions with the area of the label containing the printed matter. Further, as with previous arrangements, considerable care must be taken to ensure proper layer alignment upon label re-closure. If the adhesive on the upper layer does not align with the adhesive release material on the lower layer, the upper layer may permanently bond to the lower layer in the area having printed matter, thus making re-opening of the label difficult, if not impossible.


An automatic brake control system brakes a driving vehicle according to a target brake control amount calculated by a neural network. The system detects vehicle speed of the driving vehicle, and detects the actual distance between the driving vehicle and a vehicle ahead of the driving vehicle. The system calculates a reference distance defined as a physically preferred distance between the driving vehicle and the vehicle ahead of the driving vehicle according to the vehicle speed, and normalizes the actual distance with the reference distance in order to obtain a normalized distance in a dimensionless quantity. The neural network calculates target brake control amount according to the vehicle speed and the normalized distance, and the automatic brake control system brakes the driving vehicle according to the target brake control amount.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic brake control system and a method thereof and more particularly to an automatic brake control system having a learning capability employing neural networks and the method thereof.
2. Prior Arts
As an example of known automatic brake control systems, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Toku-Kai-Hei 5-305839 discloses a technique in which engine power and brake force of a vehicle are automatically controlled based on its vehicle speed, acceleration, deceleration and distances between the vehicle and another vehicle running ahead. Further, as an example of technique introducing a neural network into automobiles, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Toku-Kai-Hei 4-138970 proposes a rear wheel steering system in which a yaw rate and other control parameters are estimated by a neural network learned by the back-propagation method and a target steering angle of the rear wheel is determined based on these estimated control parameters. Furthermore, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Toku-Kai-Hei 6-286630 discloses a technique in which a road friction coefficient is estimated from a vehicle speed and other parameters by employing the neural network.
It can be considered that the neural network is applied to the estimation of control parameters of the vehicle for determining a target amount of brake control. However, it is insufficient to apply the neural network only for estimating the control parameters of the vehicle. The automatic brake control system is dependent on not only the vehicle characteristics but also human factors such as a driver's driving habits. More specifically, for example, the timing or the way of pressing a brake pedal differs from person to person. Some drivers press the brake pedal rather early but the way of depression is moderate and some drivers press the brake pedal rather late but the way of depression is aggressive.
Consequently, it is impossible to realize an automatic brake control system which is preferable to every driver as far as a target brake control amount is determined based on the vehicle parameters only. The automatic brake control is operated too slowly for a driver having a habit of applying brake rather early and it is operated too fast for a driver having a habit of applying brake rather late. Further, since some drivers may feel awkwardness depending upon the transient condition of the vehicle during pressing of the brake pedal, only correcting parameters of a given calculation formula brings an insufficient result.
Therefore, it is more important to apply the neural network directly to the calculation itself of the target brake control amount than to the estimation of vehicle parameters. Namely, the automatic brake control can be provided with a greater flexibility and a higher adaptability by introducing a learning function into calculating means for calculating the target brake control amount.
However, in applying the neural network to the calculation of the target brake control amount, using a small size of network for the calculation without taking any measures leads to an insufficient accuracy of the result of the calculation. Further, there are difficulties in ensuring the compatibility of the control with the learning or in how to select learning contents properly.

Automatic brake control system and the method thereof


The present disclosure relates to a battery management system for at least one battery cell, for example a lithium-ion battery cell, and to a motor vehicle and to a battery system. A battery management system for at least one battery cell is configured in such a way that, in reaction to a triggering signal, said battery management system can make available a current path between poles of the at least one battery cell. In this context, the current path is configured in such a way that by making available the current path a light arc in a fuse of the at least one battery cell after the triggering of the fuse is prevented or ended. This increases the protection against hazards which can arise from a battery cell in hazardous situations for a vehicle.

Battery cells, for example lithium-ion battery cells, can be found, for example, in battery systems of motor vehicles, for example electric motor vehicles or hybrid motor vehicles in conjunction with drives of the motor vehicles.
Battery systems for use in the drive train of motor vehicles are also referred to as traction batteries. Such battery systems can be embodied as systems composed of battery cells and battery management system. In order to provide the power output which is required in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, battery cells, the elementary voltage sources, are connected in series and partially also in parallel. In the case of electric vehicles, battery systems have in some cases voltages above 450 V, and even in the case of hybrid vehicles the voltage of 60 V, which is assumed as a safety threshold for contact with people, is exceeded. If such battery systems are short-circuited as a result of external events, such as accidents or a malfunction in the actuation of a power switch, currents, with current strengths which may cause the battery to burst or to catch fire, may be produced in the battery cells.
FIG. 1 shows a basic circuit diagram of a traction battery 5 according to the prior art, such a traction battery 5 being known, for example, from laid-open patent application DE 10 2009 000 682. FIG. 1 shows two poles 10 and 20 which are electrically connected via a current path 30 on which battery cells 15, as voltage sources, are arranged in series, with the result that a voltage which is made available cumulatively by the cells 15 can be tapped via the poles. In addition, the module has a charging and disconnecting device 40 at the positive pole 10, a disconnecting device 50 at the negative pole 20 and a service plug 60.
FIG. 2 shows a basic circuit diagram of a battery cell 15 according to the prior art, such a battery cell 15 being known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,217. Said figure shows two poles 100 and 200 via which the voltage which is made available by means of the cell 15 can be tapped from a voltage source 300. In addition, the cell has a fuse 400 at the positive pole 100. The fuse 400 has the function of reliably disconnecting the voltage source 300 from the positive pole 100 in the case of an abnormal state of the temperature or current flow in the battery cell 15.
International Patent Application WO1993010589 discloses a device for balancing out the charge states of subunits of a battery. Each subunit is provided with a discharge circuit with resistors and fuses connected in series. The discharge circuit can be switched.

Battery management system, motor vehicle and battery system


A vehicle outside mirror includes a base that is fixed to a body of a vehicle; a shaft that is fixed to the base; and a mirror assembly that is retractably installed on the shaft. The mirror assembly includes a mirror housing with one side opened and other side closed; a mirror unit that is provided in an opening portion of the mirror housing, having a reflecting surface; and a cover that is fixed to a closed portion of the mirror housing to cover the closed portion. The mirror housing includes a fixed portion that is fixed to the shaft retractably around the shaft via a retractable mechanism; and a wall portion that is provided in such a manner that the shaft and the retractable mechanism are invisible from the opening portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle outside mirror that is retractable toward a vehicle body (door).
2. Description of the Related Art
As this type of vehicle outside mirror, there is, for example, a technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-234393. A conventional vehicle outside mirror includes a base fixed to a vehicle body, a retractable shaft (4) fixed to the base, and a mirror assembly retractably provided in the retractable shaft (4) through a retractable mechanism. The mirror assembly includes a mirror body of which one side is opened (or having an opening portion) and the other side is closed (or having a closed portion), a mirror disposed in the opening portion of the mirror body through an operating unit so that a mirror angle is controllable, and a cover that is fixed to the closed portion of the mirror body and covers the closed portion.
The conventional vehicle outside mirror, however, has some problems on its appearance because the shaft and the retractable mechanism (such as a spring, a washer, and a plate) provided in the mirror body are seen from the opening portion of the mirror body through a space between an edge of the opening portion of the mirror body and an edge of the mirror.

Vehicles outside mirror with wall portion hiding shaft


Disclosed is a sewing system including a plurality of sewing machines and a controlling device which is electrically connected with the plurality of sewing machines for transmitting control commands to the plurality of sewing machines. The controlling device includes a memory device which stores identification data for identifying each of the plurality of sewing machines, a data registering device, which is used for registering arbitrarily registered data in relation to the identification data stored in the memory device for identifying each of the plurality of sewing machines, and a displaying device having a display screen. The controlling device displays the arbitrarily registered data on the display screen for identifying each of the plurality of sewing machines, and the control commands are transmitted to sewing machines identified by the arbitrarily registered data displayed by the displaying device.

The present invention relates to a sewing system such as an embroidering system having a plurality of sewing machines and a host computer for controlling the plurality of sewing machines.
Recently, in factories for sewn products, a sewing system (e.g., an embroidering system) in which a plurality of sewing machines (e.g., embroidering machines) are controlled by a single host computer has been employed. In such a sewing system, the host computer is electrically connected to the plurality of sewing machines, and identifies each sewing machine and transmits various control commands to each of the plurality of sewing machines to create sewn products.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,896 discloses an embroidering system which is provided with a host controller connected with control units of a plurality of embroidering machines. The host controller is provided with a display device, an input device, and a control device. The control device stores image data and embroidery data corresponding to a plurality of embroidery patterns. A display screen of the display device is divided into a predetermined number of display areas on which the plurality of embroidery patterns are displayed. The plurality of embroidery patterns displayed on the plurality of the display areas are transmitted to a plurality of embroidering machines, respectively.
In the above-described conventional embroidering system, the host controller assigns identification numbers such as EM1, EM2, . . . , to the plurality of embroidering machines, and stores the assigned numbers for identifying each embroidering machine. When, for example, embroidery patterns to be embroidered by four embroidering machines, EM1, EM2, EM3 and EM4, are displayed on the display device, the identification numbers are also displayed.
Although the conventional embroidering system displays the identification numbers for a plurality of embroidering machines as described above, it was impossible to register names of the embroidering or sewing machines and display the same.
Sometimes, the operators of the sewing system (e.g., the embroidering system) assign a name to each embroidering machine, and call each sewing machine by the assigned name such as TOM, or the like. Even in such a case, the sewing system identifies each sewing machine only by the identification number, and accordingly it is sometimes difficult for the operators to relate the identification numbers to the assigned names. In a worse case, the operators may relate a wrong identification number to a certain name mistakenly, and refer to a wrong sewing machine.
It is unfavorable if a control command is transmitted from the host controller to a wrong sewing machine in view of safety in the facility since the sewing machine may malfunction, and further, quality of products may become worse. On the other hand, when a sewing system is newly installed in the sewn products factory, the sewing machines may not be assigned with names intrinsic to respective sewing machines. In such a case, in order to identify each sewing machine, the identification number should be assigned to each sewing machine.

Sewing system having a data registering device


A device and a method are provided for machining running surfaces on head end pieces of revolving flats. The device has a base frame with a longitudinal axis and is provided with clamping devices for fixing the revolving flat at at least two points distributed on the longitudinal axis. The device comprises two chip-removal machining devices which are arranged outboard the clamping devices viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis. A sliding guide is provided for accommodating the clamping devices in the device.

In a carding machine, the flat area together with the drum forms the main carding zone and has as its function the breaking down of tufts to form single fibers, the separation of dirt and dust, the elimination of very short fibers, the breaking down of neps, and the parallelization of the fibers. Because of their function, the flats become blocked with dirt and fibers and it is therefore necessary to clean them. For this reason, the revolving flat was developed, wherein the flats are held together by means of a chain or belt and combined to form an endless, rotating strip. During a rotation of the flats, also referred to as the flat passage, part of the flat is always in direct use opposite the drum fittings. The remaining part of the flat is transported back face upwards over deflector rollers and can be cleaned and, if necessary, ground during this phase.
A narrow gap, known as the carding gap, is formed between the fittings of the flat and the fittings of the drum. This is produced in that the revolving flats, guided by means of curved strips, so-called flexible arcs, are guided along in the circumferential direction of the drum at a distance from one another determined by these flexible arcs. In a revolving flat carding machine, the size of the carding gap lies between 0.10 to 0.30 mm for cotton or up to 0.40 mm for chemical fibers. Precise guiding of the revolving flats by the flexible arcs is therefore of central importance. The carding gap must also be of uniform size over the whole working width of a carding machine in order to achieve good carding performance. This places high demands on the linearity and the dimensional stability of the revolving flats.
The head end pieces of the revolving flats rest on the flexible arc on both sides of the carding machine. To enable these head end pieces to be accurately guided on the surface of the flexible arcs, the running surface of the head end pieces which faces the flexible arc is adjusted in shape to match the radius of the guide surface of the flexible arcs. The running surfaces of the head end pieces are subject to wear over an extended operating period. This is rectified by periodically re-machining the running surfaces. Revolving flats which have head end pieces with replaceable slide elements, so-called sliding shoes, are known from the prior art. However, when these slide elements are changed, it is also necessary to match the shape of their running surfaces to the flexible arc.
It is known from the prior art to machine the running surfaces of the head end pieces with a cylindrical milling cutter which is moved at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the revolving flat. DE 634 651 shows a device for grinding the contact surfaces at the ends of head end pieces with a grinding disc. With both methods, machining the running surfaces of the head end pieces leads to a flat shape of the running surfaces. At the same time, the flat running surface created by machining is parallel to the plane of the contact surface of the fittings. The disadvantage is that, in operation, the revolving flat with a flat running surface has to be guided over a flexible arc which has a radius. This results in a linear contact of the revolving flat on the flexible arc, which leads to inaccurate guiding of the revolving flat and increased wear of the running surfaces of the revolving flat.
DE 42 43 807 discloses a device for checking the flatness of a revolving flat. For this purpose, the flat bar with the running surfaces is placed on bearing blocks and measured at a plurality of measuring points over its length. The measurements are evaluated by a computer and the flatness of the revolving flat determined therefrom. A decision can be made relating to the further use of the revolving flat based on the evaluation.

Device for machining revolving flats used in a textile carding machine


The present invention relates to the use of pyrroloquinoline quinine (PQQ), its derivatives and/or salts for the preparation of drugs for the treatment and/or prevention of endometriosis including adenomyosis, chocolate cyst of ovary, deeply infiltrating endometriosis and other type of endometriosis. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of PQQ in combination with one or more the following antioxidants: N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, vitamin E or vitamin C for the preparation of drugs for inhibiting the proliferation, oxidative stress status, invasion and migration of endometrial stromal cell. The use of PQQ in combination with NAC shows a synergistic effect on inhibiting cell proliferation: significantly inhibiting the proliferation of endometrial stromal cell in vitro; significantly reducing the damaged size of tissue caused by endometriosis in vivo; significantly reducing the infiltration of endometrial stroma and glands; significantly reducing the dose of NAC as well. PQQ is beneficial for fertility, and increases the chances of getting pregnant. PQQ alone or PQQ in combination with NAC generally shows no side effects and will not interfere with pregnancy.

Endometriosis (EM) is a disease (or a series of lesions and symptoms) caused by the growth of viable endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity, including adenomyosis, chocolate cyst of ovary, deeply infiltrating endometriosis, and is an estrogen dependant disease. The common clinical symptoms include dysmenorrhea, infertility, chronic pelvic pain, algopareunia, pelvic mass, acute abdomen and even canceration. EM is a common disease in women of productive ages with prevalence rates of up to 10%-15%. In recent years, the prevalence of EM continues to show a significant upward trend. Nearly a half of the EM patients are infertile. What is even worse is that though EM is a benign disease, but ectopic endometrial tissues exhibit malignant behaviour like infiltration, diffusion and distant metastasis. The disease can invade many parts of the body (such as nasal cavity, lung, kidney, ureter, bladder, intestine, and so on) and therefore it is also called "benign cancer", which seriously affect the patient's health in both physical and mental aspects.
It is generally accepted that the backward flow of menstrual blood and endometrial implantation are the main causes of endometriosis. For endometrial cells to successfully backward flow, implant and grow outside of the uterine cavity, the following four basic conditions must be met: (1) Endometrial cells must enter into the abdominal cavity through the fallopian tube; (2) Endometrial cells in the fragment of backward-flowing menstrual blood must be viable; (3) Endometrial cells must be able to implant on the pelvic tissues and organs; (4) The distribution of endometriosis in pelvic anatomy must be consistent with the planting principle of exfoliated endometrial cells. Therefore, the biological behaviour similar to tumor metastasis such as metastasis, implantation and growth of ectopic endometrium may be crucial in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
Currently, the therapy method for EM consists of two major classes, i.e. surgical and drug treatment. Routine surgical treatment of EM is a conservative treatment method, which removes the endometriosis lesions, while retains uterus and normal ovarian tissue. The recurrence rate of EM after the surgery is very high. Radical surgery has a good therapeutic effect, but need to remove the uterus and bilateral accessory, which makes women completely lost the endocrine function of ovarian function and fertility, so it is not suitable for patients of reproductive age. The commonly used drugs for EM are composed of four classes: progesterone, testosterone derivatives, danazol and nemestran, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonis (GnRH-a). These drugs achieve the treatment goals mainly by regulating the hypothalamic pituitary ovarian axis, directly or indirectly interfering with estrogen level and creating pseudo pregnant or pseudo menopause. So these drugs can not be used for a long time, which makes it harder to get pregnant during drug treatment. Moreover, during drug treatment estrogen in the patient's body is still maintained at a certain level and performs physiological functions to a certain extent. Since the deeply infiltrating ectopic tissue is independent on the estrogen in peripheral blood, which can produce estrogen by itself, the ectopic tissue still exists during the drug treatment. Once these drugs are ceased, ectopic tissue is very likely to reappear. According to statistics, the recurrence rate of EM after drug treatment is about 25%-67%.
Previous study showed that the increase in the cell proliferation is associated with the elevated level of oxygen free radicals, and oxidative stress plays an important role in the formation and development of EM (Murphy et. al., Semin Reprod Endocrinol. 1998; 16:263-73). Activated macrophages in the peritoneal cavity can than areas with high oxidative stress, where lipid peroxides and their degradation products are included (Agarwal et. al., Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2006; 18:325-32). The high oxidative stress state will further lead to inflammatory reaction, promote the secretion of inflammation and transforming growth factors, releasing them into the peritoneal fluid of the patients (Van Langendonckt et. al., Fertile Steril. 2002; 77:861-70). These factors, in turn, can constantly drive the implantation and growth of endometrial tissue in the abdominal cavity. (Santanam et. al., Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002; 955:183-98).
It has been reported that the production of O2− in stromal endometriotic cells is significantly higher than that in stromal control cells (Ng{hacek over (o)} et. al., Am J Pathol. 2009 July; 175(1):225-34) EM tissue, the increase in the concentration of O2− in turn promotes the proliferation of stromal endometriotic cells by activating the mTOR/AKT pathway (Leconte et. al., Am J Pathol. 2011 August; 179(2): 880-9).
Studies described above showed that proliferation and invasion of EM cells are positively associated with oxygen free radicals and increased inflammation level. Therefore antioxidation and anti-inflammation may become a new approach for EM treatment (Transl Res. 2013 March; 161(3): 189-195). The key to achieving this goal is to find out proper antioxidants.
N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) is a precursor of glutathione in vivo and an important antioxidant. Studies in mouse models of endometriosis have demonstrated that NAC at a daily dose of 1.3 g/kg/day can significantly inhibit the growth of EM lesions (C Ngo et. al., Am J Pathol, July 2009; 175(1): 225-34). A recent clinic study showed that after three months of treatment with NAC, cysts sizes within EM patients were reduced significantly, which is better than those treated with hormone (Porpora et. al., Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013; vol 2013: ID 240702). A Chinese patent application (CN 102665707 A) revealed an antioxidant drug called N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) for the treatment of EM, wherein the required NAC dose must be greater than 20 mg/kg body weight/day. The treatment of EM with NAC has obvious deficiency in clinical application. Specifically, the stability of NAC in vivo is not high enough, so its antioxidant capacity is limited and a larger dose is required to ensure its efficacy. Meanwhile, the daily dose of NAC is up to 1.8 grams in human trials. As NAC is an acidic substance, taking NAC at such high dosage may cause digestive symptoms in some patients. Moreover, according to the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (2010 edition), NAC as a well-known expectorant has many other adverse reactions, even causes poisoning in some serious cases.
Therefore, it is necessary to seek more stable, safe and powerful antioxidants, which may be used either alone or in combination with small doses of NAC for the treatment of endometriosis.

Pharmaceutical use and pharmaceutical composition of pyrroloquinoline quinine, its derivatives and/or its salts


A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor element provided on a semiconductor layer; a light-blocking wall provided around the semiconductor element; and a wiring layer electrically coupled to the semiconductor element and extended from an aperture not having the light-blocking wall to an outside of the light-blocking wall; wherein the wiring layer has a pattern containing a first section positioned in the aperture and a second section which has a width not narrower than a width of the aperture by providing a branched portion intersecting with an extension direction of the wiring layer; and wherein a surface of the branched portion facing outside of the light-blocking wall includes thereon a convex part.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device containing a semiconductor element having characteristics changeable upon receipt of light.
2. Related Art
Semiconductor elements whose characteristics change upon receipt of light are, for example, a MOS transistor and a nonvolatile memory having a floating gate electrode. If these semiconductor elements receive incident light while packaging a bear chip or the like by a COG packaging method, in particular, the MOS transistor may change its on/off characteristics, and the nonvolatile memory may lose electrons injected into the floating gate electrode. In order to avoid these characteristic changes in the semiconductor elements, a light blocking layer to prevent irradiation of light is provided in the upper part of a region where these devices are provided.
One technique for blocking the light is disclosed in JP-A-2003-124363. In JP-A-2003-124363, a light-blocking region is provided surrounding a memory cell array effective region and its periphery and has a via layer and a contact layer provided at different levels. These via layer and contact layer are arranged in zigzag so as to suppress the light entering from lateral and diagonal directions.
However, even when the blocking region is provided surrounding the memory cell array effective region in order to reduce the light entering from the diagonal and lateral directions, there is a need, for example, to extend wires such as a signal line to outside the light-blocking region. Therefore, the via layer and the contact layer arranged in zigzag may not be able to completely surround the memory cell array effective region.


A system is provided for the holding of a membrane in tension, that system having: a frame; a plurality of frame members with longitudinal anchoring channels, the channels having first and second channel flanges. Also provided is a retention strip disposed upon at least a part of the periphery of the membrane, wherein the retention strip engages the first and second channel flanges.

Typical attachment of tension-membrane/fabric to frames wraps the fabric around the frame. Examples include canvas stretched around a wooden frame and tacked or nailed on the back of the frame, like the traditional painting canvases. Other systems include plastic splines or clips attached to fabrics and secured to the face surface of the frame, whereby the fabric is pulled parallel to the surface of the frame. In both known systems, the tension on the fabric applies a shear force to the fasteners. Complex frames require complex and difficult-to install constructions of fabric. There are several modular frame systems on the market which are used for exhibits, events, architecture, museums and retail environments. These frame systems can be structural or decorative. Most are made of aluminum extrusions. Most use some kind of clamp to assemble one frame member to another. These clamps typically engage the flanges of a groove or channel in the adjacent frame member. This groove is also used to retain panels which can be finished with wall coverings or graphics. With the recent increase in the use of tension fabric in these applications, the benefits of a way to attach fabric directly to the frame, substituting for a rigid panel, are apparent.
What is needed, therefore, are techniques for removably attaching a tensioned fabric to a tensioning display frame.

System for holding a membrane in tension


A drawing system has software (SW) providing tools to enable a user to create geometric objects in a display, and to select and drag the objects in the display. An assembly engine is a part of the SW, and monitors properties of objects and movement of objects in the display. The assembly engine monitors features and properties of a first object selected and dragged, and features and properties of second objects in the display, determines compatible geometric features that might be joined in assembly between the first and second objects, and upon compatible features for join being moved within a preprogrammed threshold distance (TD) in the display, affects a join operation, bringing the compatible features of the first and the second object together in an assembly and redrawing the assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the technical area of image generation and display, and pertains more particularly to a system and methods for joining elements in assembly to create images of articulated apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
It is well known in the imaging arts to display images using software executing on computerized appliances. Audio-video renditions, cartoons, movies, PowerPoint presentations and the like are examples of such imaging techniques. It is also well-known to create images using a drawing program for any of a variety of purposes. Programs are commercially available, for example, for machine designers, architects and the like to create drawings of machine and assembly views of machines from the individual elements.
There are broadly two sorts of drawing programs, termed raster and vector (object-oriented). In a raster program, one moves a cursor in a display, employing, for example, a trackball or a pointer device like a computer mouse, and the software follows the movements, and alters the display of pixels in the image in the path of the cursor. The cursor in such a program, sometimes called a Paint program, may be implemented as a point object, a broad brush, an eraser, or any of a broad variety of other shapes and effects as the cursor moves and pixels are programmed.
Raster images are pixel matrices, and as such, may be edited by erasure, group selection and movement or group effect editing. Such programs are mostly useful in artistic endeavors and not so useful in technical areas like machine design.
The other broad category of computer aided-drawing programs is the category of vector programs, also called object-oriented programs. In this sort of program geometric elements are defined in the program, such as lines, arcs, rectangles, circles, and many other geometric shapes. One may select in a tool bar a line tool, for example, then click at a first point on the display and drag to a second point and release. The programming is such that a line appears between the two points. The user may select a default line weight and color, and once the line is displayed, the user may select the line by any of a variety of ways, and cause the line to display handles at the end points, or even at other points along the line. The user may them grab a handle (by click and drag) and lengthen, shorten or reorient the line.
Further the user may select an arc tool or a circle or rectangle tool, or any of several other tools, and create other objects in the display. The user can join these objects to create pictures, such as representations of machine elements and the like. In such systems typically a developing image is displayed in real time, and each element is "remembered" by the drawing program, as well as its placement in the display, and the overall assemblies of atomic elements are remembered as well. The picture may be saved with a file name, copied, printed, sent to others over the Internet network and the like. Any such created drawing may be opened by a user utilizing the object-oriented drawing program that created it, or by another compatible program. There are commercially available object-oriented drawing programs that may open drawing files created by any one of several different programs. There is a wealth of reference literature available regarding object-oriented drawing programs which go into far greater detail than this simple explanation.
A very important distinguishing feature of object-oriented programs is that each element and assembly of elements is remembered as an object. That is, each element and assembly has stored properties, uniquely associated (by an ID number for example). For a straight line the properties may include length, width (line weight), color, dash effects, end treatment (ends may be squared, pointed or rounded, for example. The placement of the line in a particular drawing is remembered as well. This way, when the program is directed to open a drawing file, every element and assembly (objects) in the drawing may be properly rendered in the drawing, by reference to the properties and placement coordinates of the objects.
The present inventor is involved in the technology of computerized gaming, wherein persons (displayed as avatars), mechanical devices, landscapes, structures, water and many other elements may be dynamically displayed, and wherein a player, through input devices like the mentioned pointer device, as well as joysticks, rollers, buttons and the like, and even through hand and body gestures, may influence the movement and activities of avatars and other elements in the game display. In such a game environment physics simulation is used with virtual elements, objects, avatars and the like to create a dynamic image that appears as nearly as possible to conform to real expectations. A ball caused by a player to be struck, like a golf ball, for example, should move in the display, and react with other objects and surfaces as would be expected in the real world. This is, as may be expected, a computer-intensive process, requiring considerable software sophistication and computer power.
In the development of new computer games the present inventor is desirous of providing new and exciting capabilities to players. One such desired capability is for a player to be able to create apparatus (machines) with joined, moving parts, and to save these user-created gadgets as tools, weapons and the like, and to use them in games created by the user or others. A user might wish to create, for example, a jointed throwing stick comprising two rods joined by an elbow, having a cup for a ball on one rod end away from the joint, and a handle for an avatar to grip on the other rod end away from the elbow joint, such that an avatar might place or pick up a ball in the cup, and then throw the ball using the jointed throwing stick, enjoying a considerable mechanical advantage by virtue of the length and the joint of the throwing stick. This is a very simple example of what might be done by a player, if the necessary tools were provided in the gaming software. One might consider also creating vehicles, jet packs, swimming and other water gear for use by avatars in various ways.
In another example, it is a common practice in gaming and other virtual world systems to provide a capability for a player to build landscapes, buildings and other structures, and often standardized "blocks" may be provided for the player to incorporate into such organization. Virtual LEGO is a case in point.
In considering this desire for additional capability, and how it might be provided, the inventor has been aware of the fact that object-oriented drawing programs are in many case very sophisticated, such a Autodesk™ and Solidworks™, by which a designer may create images of very sophisticated machines, and all of the piece parts and sub-assemblies that go together (assemble) to make such a machine. Being that game players in many cases are younger people without engineering training and experience, one challenge is to simplify some of the intensive task flow that is necessary in use of known object-oriented drawing programs. What is clearly needed are software solutions to make it easier and more intuitive for a user to create structures and jointed, moving apparatus in a display, that may then be activated, used, and treated by physics simulation to operate in a gaming or other virtual environment appearing as "real' as possible.


A plug for sealing high pressure tubes is made from a memory-shape alloy. The plug is formed having a diameter greater than the inner diameter of the tube and is shaped by cooling to its martensite finish temperature and bending its wings in opposing directions such that at a later time, it will fit within the tube. After insertion into the tube, the plug is heated to its austenite finish temperature, restoring its wings to almost their original shape, thereby exerting force onto the tube walls, sealing the tube from leakage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for sealing tubes and more particularly to sealing high-pressure tubes such as used in heat exchangers.
2. Description of the Related Art
In high pressure applications, especially where high pressure steam is present, conventional methods of sealing high pressure tubes are not always practical. Welding is one method, but tight working spaces often make it difficult to weld an individual high-pressure tube.
Various plugs have been used successfully, each with their limitations. The particular problems encountered in the industry are very well articulated in prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,307 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,789, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The present invention is an improvement over the embodiments disclosed in these prior patents. A method of repairing a leaking feed water heater is to seal both the inlet and outlet ends of the leaky U-shaped tube at the tube sheet. This is much faster and substantially more economical than replacing the entire tube or the tube bundle. It has been shown that a feed water heater may be operated economically even when up to 10% of the tubes within the feed water heater have been plugged. If more than 10% of the tubes are plugged, the efficiency of the system declines to a level at which it is more economical to replace or repair the U-shaped tube bundles. Even when more than 10% have been plugged, the removal of the feed water heater from service and subsequent repair or replacement may be planned in advance and executed in an economical, orderly, non-crisis manner.
The plug described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,789 has several limitations. This plug must be cooled at the job site to a temperature below −20° to 30° C. using a mixture of alcohol and dry ice. The plug must then be shaped or formed using a jig or tool, also at the job site. It is then inserted into the tube and allowed to return to room temperature, at which time it restores to its original shape, sealing the tube. Creating the temperature required to form the plug at the job site not only uses volatile chemicals that can be dangerous to handle, precise forming of the plug is very difficult and any deviation from the required shape may result in a weak plug that will fail under pressure.
What is needed is a plug that can be completely manufactured and formed in a factory then packed, shipped and ready to install right off the shelf a method of manufacturing the plug and a method of installing the plug at the job site using readily available tools.

Method and apparatus for sealing high pressure tubes


Disclosed herein is a composition suitable for use in the production of a fuel cell bipolar plate having improved electrical conductivity and mechanical strength. The composition for a fuel cell bipolar plate can include about 100 parts by weight of a basic resin composition including about 10 to about 50 parts by weight of polyphenylene sulfide as a thermoplastic resin and about 50 to 90 parts by weight of a conductive filler and about 0.01 to about 30 parts by weight of a disulfide compound. The composition can improve impregnation of the conductive filler into the thermoplastic resin.

Fuel cells directly convert chemical energy of a fuel gas (i.e., hydrogen (H2)) into electrical energy.
Fuel cells are capable of generating direct current. Fuel cells continuously generate electricity using fuel and air supplied from the outside, in contrast with conventional electric cells.
In particular, fuel cells are an electric generator which directly converts chemical energy of a fuel gas into electrical energy via electrochemical reaction using hydrogen (H2) contained in a hydrocarbon compound, such as methanol or natural gas, and oxygen (O2) in air, as fuel gases.
Fuel cells are a clean energy converter with high efficiency that use both electricity, generated by electrochemical reaction of a fuel gas with an oxidizing gas without any combustion, and heat as a by-product thereof.
Based on the electrolyte used, fuel cells are divided into phosphoric acid fuel cells operating at a temperature of about 150 to 200° C., polymer electrolyte fuel cells and alkaline fuel cells operating at a temperature range of about room temperature to 100° C. or less, molten carbonate fuel cells operating at a high temperature of about 600 to 700° C., and solid oxide fuel cells operating at a high temperature of about 1,000° C. or more.
These fuel cells have similar operation mechanisms, but they are different from each other in terms of fuel type, operation temperature, and catalyst and electrolyte used.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating an electricity generation mechanism in a unit cell of a fuel cell.
As shown in FIG. 1, a unit cell of the fuel cell includes of a drying layer 16 made from a Nafion solution, Nafion films 15, 15′ arranged on the opposite sides of the drying layer 16, platinum/carbon catalyst layers 14, 14′ acting as electrodes, teflon-treated carbon cloths 13, 13′, bipolar plates 12, 12′ and metallic endplates 11, 11′, which are laminated in this order.
FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the bipolar plates 12, 12′ in FIG. 1.
The electricity generation mechanism of the fuel cell will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
Hydrogen (H2) gas, acting as a fuel gas, which is supplied from a gas flow channel C in one bipolar plate 12, reacts with a platinum/carbon catalyst of a positive electrode 14 and releases electrons to form hydrogen ions.
The hydrogen ions pass through polymer electrolytic films 15, 15′ and the Nafion drying layer 16 to the opposite negative electrode 14′.
Oxygen (O2) gas supplied from a gas flow channel C′ in another bipolar plate 12′ is reduced by the electrons, which are introduced into the negative electrode 14′ via an external circuit, thereby forming an oxygen ion. The oxygen ion (O2−) reacts with the hydrogen ions (H+) in the negative electrode 14′ to generate water (H2O) on the surface of the negative electrode 14′.
This water is discharged together with remaining oxygen gas into an exit of the gas flow channel C′. At this time, electrons generated by the catalyst reaction move through the external circuit to generate electricity.
The performance of the bipolar plates 12, 12′ serving as the gas flow channels C, C′ has a great influence on the generation system of fuel cells. The bipolar plates 12, 12′ must have superiority in various characteristics, such as electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, corrosion resistance and thermal stability.
In conventional cases, metallic bipolar plates, carbon bipolar plates, and carbon composite bipolar plates were commonly used as the bipolar plates.
The metallic bipolar plates have the disadvantage of poor corrosion resistance. Disadvantages of the carbon bipolar plates are high production costs and low mechanical strength. The carbon composite bipolar plates have a problem with low electrical conductivity.
Thermoplastic resin-based bipolar plates were developed in an attempt to solve the problems associated with conventional bipolar plates. Thermoplastic resin-based bipolar plates are produced by filling a thermoplastic resin matrix with a conductive filler to obtain electrical conductivity.
Thermoplastic resin-based bipolar plates use a polymeric thermoplastic resin as a matrix, and thus can be mass produced using injection molding techniques.
Thermoplastic resin-based bipolar plates continue to be the subject of active research and development efforts as an alternative to conventional bipolar plates because they have high corrosion resistance and mechanical strength, due to the inherent characteristics of the polymers used.
A thermoplastic resin-based bipolar plate can be produced by impregnating a conductive filler into a molten thermoplastic resin. The thermoplastic resin has inherently high viscosity, thus making it impossible to obtain a desired degree of impregnation of a conductive filler into the resin (Specifically, a theoretical value of maximum impregnation degree is 67% by volume, but an experimental value thereof is not more than 40% by volume).
When a bipolar plate is produced using a thermoplastic resin having a low degree of impregnation by a conductive filler, the resultant bipolar plate has low conductivity, thus limiting its commercial feasibility. Typically, for a bipolar plate to be commercially feasible, the bipolar plate should have an electrical conductivity of 50 S/cm or more.
In addition, a bipolar plate prepared with a low degree of impregnation can have a low flexural strength due to the inherent flowability of thermoplastic resins, thus making it difficult to obtain a desired mechanical strength.


A new and distinct cultivar of Viburnum plant named ‘JWW1’, characterized by its narrowly upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; numerous white-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Viburnum plant, botanically known as Viburnum plicatum and hereinafter referred to by the name 'JWW1'.
The new Viburnum plant originated from an open-pollination in 2002 of Viburnum plicatum 'Pink Beauty', not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Viburnum plicatum as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Viburnum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in 2005 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands.
Asexual reproduction of the new Viburnum plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled environment in Hazerswoude-Dorp, The Netherlands since 2006 has shown that the unique features of this new Viburnum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.


The overall operating efficiency of processing objects, which are placed in a selected one of several available queues for subsequent processing at respective processing sites, is improved using a model relating the total time for processing to time of waiting in queue and processing. A deicing decision support tool uses the model for estimating completion times for deicing aircraft.

Smooth operation of the National Airspace System depends on the ability of flights to take off on time. Deicing is necessary at airports located throughout the northern third of the United States and at airports around the world at comparable latitudes. In these regions, a snowstorm or other cold-weather event can severely disrupt the carefully planned flight schedules at busy airports and impact air travelers throughout the country and around the world. In particular, a storm may cause substantial delays in the departure of flights due to the need for deicing prior to take-off. The extra time needed for an aircraft to be deiced (including waiting time) is extremely difficult to predict.
In general, the deicing process works as follows. An airplane is assigned to a deicing pad to be deiced. A deicing pad has multiple positions where the aircraft can be deiced. The positions can be of different sizes. (Some airports have more than one deicing pad, each containing several deicing positions.) An airplane is driven or towed to the queue of the assigned deicing pad and waits for a sufficiently large position to become available. Once an appropriate position is open, the leading aircraft in the queue taxis into that position. The airplane is then sprayed with a mix of chemicals combined to accomplish the rapid melting of ice, snow, or freezing rain that has accumulated on the aircraft. Moreover, supplementary chemicals may be sprayed to prevent additional accumulation. Once an aircraft is in a deicing position, the time required to spray a particular aircraft is a function of its size, the experienced efficiency of the specific deicing position, the accumulation of ice/snow on the aircraft, and the severity of the snowstorm/weather event.

Method, apparatus and system for aircraft deicing and estimating deicing completion times

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


A novel dielectric cap structure for VTFET device fabrication is provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a VTFET device includes: patterning fins in a substrate using fin hardmasks, including a first fin(s) and a second fin(s); depositing a liner over the fins and the fin hardmasks; selectively forming first hardmask caps on top of the fin hardmasks/liner over the first fin(s); forming first bottom source and drain at a base of the first fin(s) while the fin hardmasks/liner over the first fin(s) are preserved by the first hardmask caps; selectively forming second hardmask caps on top of the fin hardmasks/liner over the second fin(s); and forming second bottom source and drains at a base of the second fin(s) while the fin hardmasks/liner over the second fin(s) are preserved by the second hardmask caps. A device structure is also provided.

As opposed to planar complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices, vertical transport field-effect transistor (VTFET) devices are oriented with a vertical fin channel disposed on a bottom source and drain and a top source and drain disposed on the fin channel. VTFET devices have been pursued as a potential device option for scaling CMOS to the 5 nanometer (nm) node and beyond.
During VTFET device fabrication, the vertical fin channels for devices of one polarity (i.e., either n-channel FET (NFET) or p-channel FET (PFET)) are masked, while the bottom source and drains are formed on the opposite device. The mask is removed and the process is repeated to form the bottom source and drains of the previously masked devices.
The masking is typically done using materials such an organic planarizing layer (OPL) material. However, during the etch to open the OPL material over the NFET or PFET fins a substantial erosion of the fin hardmasks often occurs. Depending on the configuration of the fin hardmasks, this erosion can undesirably expose underlying hardmask layers.
Further, during formation of the bottom source and drains a pre-epi clean etch is typically performed prior to growth of the epitaxial source and drains at the base of the fins. This pre-epi clean can cause further erosion of the fin hardmasks, especially when the underlying layers of the hardmask are already exposed by the OPL open.
Thus, techniques for preventing hardmask erosion during VTFET device fabrication would be desirable.

Dielectric structure to prevent hard mask erosion

International Business Machines Corporation


Unitary one-piece frameless overpressure vent panel assembly (10) includes a rigid, generally planar primary support member having a central relief opening (26), a rigid, generally planar secondary support member (44) provided with a central relief aperture (46), and a frangible vent panel (30) between the support members in full closing relationship to the relief opening and the aperture. A sealant element (48) may be provided between the vent panel and at least one of the support members in circumscribing relationship to the relief opening or aperture. At least one line of weakness (34) may be provided in the vent panel. A flexible gasket (58) secured to the secondary support member assures a fluid tight seal between the vent panel assembly and the structure defining a protected zone. Alternatively, a knife blade or the like may be provided adjacent the vent panel to effect severing thereof under a predetermined overpressure in lieu of a line of weakness in the panel.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a unitary, one-piece, integrated, non-fragmenting overpressure vent panel assembly that may be installed in covering relationship to the pressure relief area of a combined zone to be protected from the buildup of uncontrolled overpressures, and to then be removed as a unit for replacement with a similar vent panel assembly after actuation thereof. The vent panel assembly is especially useful for instantaneously venting dangerously high internal pressures which result from an explosion in a manner to preclude catastrophic buildup of pressures within a confined area that is normally exposed to relatively low operating pressures. The vent panel assembly has utility for use in protecting equipment such as bag house dust collectors, cyclones, conveyors, bucket elevators, dryers, vacuum receivers, electrostatic precipitators, silos, storage bins, large pipes, and ducting.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Burst membranes or panels have been used for many years to provide protection against explosions producing unpredictable dangerously high internal pressures which not only would be destructive to the zone requiring protection, but also to surrounding equipment, processes and personnel. The burst panels are fabricated to rupture at a predetermined overpressure in order to vent the protected zone and prevent the buildup of pressures therein which in the case of an explosion could completely destroy the structure defining the protected zone.
Deployment of explosion vents has significantly increased in recent years because of the promulgation of ever more strict government regulations regarding the level of permissible particulates emissions that may be discharged into the atmosphere. The mandated adoption of dust collectors has correspondingly increased the risk of explosion inherent in the provision of such dust collecting equipment. The rise in the number of explosions attributable to particulates explosion has made it incumbent upon industry to provide effective means for adequately controlling the explosion problem. The need for explosion protection with improved dust collection equipment is exacerbated by the fact that the dust collectors tend to be less rigidly constructed and not as able to withstand internal explosions than was once the case. As a result, vent panels for venting the interior of dust collection apparatus must reliably rupture at a relatively low pressure in order to adequately vent the confined area to be protected before excessive pressure has built up within that area.
Examples of explosion vent devices that have been previously proposed include the vent panels and burst membranes illustrated and described in the assignee hereof U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,067,154, 4,662,126, 4,777,974, 4,821,909 and 6,070,365. Although these vent units have been found to be satisfactory for protection of a variety of dust collection applications where there is exposure to an unpredictable catastrophic explosive event, the prior vent panel devices have involved a multiplicity of parts which must be assembled in place over the vent opening of the confined zone to be protected, and to then be disassembled piece by piece upon venting of the burst panel of the explosion vent for replacement of the burst panel.
Typically, the operator of the dust collecting equipment has been responsible for providing suitable frame structure for receiving a burst panel with the supplier of the panel furnishing a burst membrane which complies with the dimensional specifications of the user's mounted in place frame structure. In the case of an initial installation, it is not uncommon for the burst panel supplier to provide the user with dimensional specifications for fabrication of frame structure required to mount a burst panel of standard configuration and dimensions established by the supplier. The burst panel is then mounted in place on the structure to be protected using hardware and fasteners supplied by the user.
Upon actuation of a burst panel by an overpressure condition in the structure to be protected, the actuated burst panel had to be removed from the structure defining a confined zone part by part, usually involving a number of steps and disconnection of a series of fasteners such as bolts and the like. Replacement of the panel required the same number of operations and steps to refit another burst panel over the pressure relief opening in the dust collecting structure.

Unitary overpressure vent panel structure