A printed wiring board includes resin insulation layers, conductive layers formed on the resin insulation layers respectively such that each of the conductive layers is formed on a surface of each of the resin insulation layers, and via conductors penetrating through the resin insulation layers respectively such that the via conductors are connecting the conductive layers through the resin insulation layers. Each of the resin insulation layers includes a modified resin layer formed by plasma treatment such that the modified resin layer is forming the surface of each of the resin insulation layers, each of the conducive layers includes a modified conductive layer formed by the plasma treatment such that the modified conductive layer is forming the surface of each of the conductive layers, and the modified resin layer has a surface modification different from a surface modification of the modified conductive layer.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printed wiring board formed by alternately laminating a conductive layer and a resin insulation layer, and to a method for manufacturing such a printed wiring board.
Description of Background Art
In JP2000-307225A, an insoluble type of resin containing soluble particles and insoluble particles is used to form an interlayer resin insulation layer, and the soluble particles exposed on a surface of the interlayer resin insulation layer are dissolved so as to form a roughened surface with concaves shaped therein. In addition, a roughened surface is formed on a conductive layer through oxidation-reduction treatment. The entire contents of this publication are incorporated herein by reference.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Printed wiring board and method for manufacturing printed wiring board


Various examples are provided related to end effectors for use in, e.g., automation of sewing robots. In one example, among others, a compliant perimeter end effector includes a mounting bracket having a contact mounting flange, a plurality of compliant material contact elements coupled about a perimeter of the contact mounting flange. The mounting bracket can couple to a manipulator including, e.g., an industrial robot or other manipulation assembly. The compliant material contact elements can include a contact interface that can engage with a piece of material. The compliant material contact elements can precisely transfer material on a workspace with surface irregularities while equally distributing force to the material.

In automated production of sewn materials, improper handling of the material by robotic end effectors to manipulate materials on a worksurface can result in production of out-of-spec products, which has an immediate economic impact. For example, slip between the material being sewn and the end effector controlling the movement of the material can produce flawed and unacceptable product. Material slip can be especially prevalent for products with non-slip or high friction backings (as is common in mats and rugs) as the end effector must apply substantially more force to the product to move it across a worksurface.
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also correspond to implementations of the claimed technology.


The present invention relates to a cable truss system for supporting a mine roof. The system includes at least one cable bolt secured in at least a pair of spaced boreholes. A leading end of each cable bolt is secured within the borehole and the trailing end extending out of the borehole. At least one splice tube is coupled to the trailing end of each cable bolt. Each splice tube includes an elongated conduit between a pair of spaced ends with the conduit adapted to receive at least a pair of cables therethrough. Cable attachments are provided on the trailing end of each cable bolt at a position on the cable bolt such that the splice tube is positioned between the cable attachment and the borehole. The cable attachment has a diameter larger than the inner dimensions of the conduit of the splice tube such that the cable attachment is adapted to abut against one end of the conduit of the splice tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an underground mine roof supporting system and, more particularly, to a cable truss system.
2. Prior Art
Roof trusses, or roof support systems for mines, are well-known methods for providing support to the immediate roof strata. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,946,315 and 5,018,907 disclose typical roof truss systems utilizing interconnected tie rods extending between rigid roof bolts. U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,498 discloses a mine roof support system utilizing a flexible cable in place of tie rods extending between rigid rock anchors or bolts.
Cable mine roof bolts have become popular due to several advantages over a more rigid rebar-type rock anchor. Cable bolts generally require a smaller diameter borehole, are easier to transport into the mine and easier to insert in applications with low seam height due to the bending of the cable. Additionally, cable bolts do not require couplings for long boreholes as rebar type rock anchors.
A variety of cable truss systems have been developed such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,265,571; 5,462,391 and 5,466,095. U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,087 discloses a variety of mine roof support systems including systems utilizing cable mine roof bolts and more rigid rebar-type mine roof bolts. However, the difficulty with the above-described prior art cable mine roof trusses is that they do not provide cost-effective cable truss systems for a variety of applications. Much of the prior art requires highly specialized pieces, making the resulting truss system overly complicated, impractical and noneconomical to manufacture.


The healthful shoe includes a shoe sole having inclined front and rear cutouts respectively formed on front and rear sides of the shoe sole, a shoe upper attached to an upper portion of the shoe sole to cover a foot, and front and rear recesses respectively formed on the boundary surfaces between the front and back cutouts. The front and rear recesses formed on the front and rear cutouts can achieve a triple-time stepping to reduce the fatigue and to provide the smooth circulation of blood. Since the inside of the shoe sole has a height lower than that of the outside, a pedestrian walks with the inside of the foot sole in a lower position than the outside, so that the pedestrian's "O"-shaped legs can be corrected to "II"-shaped legs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a healthful shoe, of which the front and rear portions have a height lower than its middle portion, thereby dispersing and relieving the loads caused by the weight of a wearer on walking as well as promoting the circulation of blood.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, shoes mitigate the transmission of the impact force produced from the weight of a pedestrian to the pedestrian vertebra.
An ideal walking gait, so called "a triple-time stepping", is well known that a procedure of landing is followed from a heel to toes on the ground.
A conventional shoe has a heel attached to the rear portion of a shoe sole which is formed on a flat bottom surface. The conventional shoe has several drawbacks that a load caused by the weight is concentrated on the heel on walking and transmitted to the vertebra to induce pain in a waist, shoulder, neck and the like, and toes are deformable. Also, since no triple-time stepping is achieved, the pedestrian becomes fatiguable.
In view of the matter described above, a shoe has been proposed that the rear portion of a shoe sole has a height lower than that of the remainder portion. This conventional shoe comprises, as shown in FIG. 1a, a shoe sole 10 of which the rear portion is cut to form a fat cutout 12, and a shoe upper 14 attached onto the sole 12. With the above construction, the cutout 12 is firstly touched on the ground on walking, thereby increasing a muscular strength and reforming a walking gait.
Also, as shown in FIG. 1b, there has been proposed another shoe having on its rear portion a curved cutout 12a to get out an undesired fatty portion of a calf by repeatedly applying a force to the calf on walking.
Although the above-described conventional shoes have an effect of relieving the impact force produced when the heel touches on the ground, however, the shoes have the disadvantage of easily feeling the fatigue in either walking or standing for a long time.


An internal reflection element for a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer employs a single lens providing refraction and internal reflection of an infrared beam so as to focus the beam on a centrally located sample surface and to collect and focus radiation reflected from this sample surface for analysis.

The present invention relates to Fourier transform infrared spectrometer's (FTIR spectrometers) and, in particular, to a stage for use with such a spectrometer for making attenuated total reflectance (ATR) measurements.
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is a technique for studying the composition of matter by measuring the characteristic absorption of specific wave lengths of infrared radiation. The sample may be measured either with transmitted or reflected radiation.
In transmission spectroscopy, a beam of infrared radiation of known and time variant spectral composition is passed through a transmissive sample. The resulting transmission absorption spectrum is then compared to standard transmission absorption spectra to identify spectral absorption characteristics of the sample permitting identification of the sample's constituents.
With opaque samples, the technique of specular reflection spectroscopy may be used. In reflection spectroscopy, the beam of infrared radiation is directed against the surface of a sample at a predetermined angle of incidence. The spectrum of the energy reflected at an opposing reflection angle is then measured. As with transmission spectroscopy, the resulting reflection absorption spectrum may be compared to known reflection absorption spectra to reveal information about the composition of the sample or the coating of the surface of the sample. One type of specular reflection measurement is termed attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy.
Making ATR measurements of a material involves placing the material against the sample surface of an infrared transmitting crystal. Infrared light is introduced into the crystal and made to internally reflect off the sample surface. During this reflection, the sample may absorb some of the energy of the infrared beam which interacts with the sample. A successful measurement requires that the sample be in intimate contact with the crystal since this interaction with the infrared beam only occurs over a few microns from the surface of the crystal. These crystals are sometimes referred to as internal reflection elements (IRE).
IREs that allow for a single internal reflection are called single-bounce IREs. Single-bounce IREs may come in a variety of shapes including trapezoidal shape prisms, cylindrical rods or hemispherical domes. They offer the advantages of requiring only a small sample and of needing only low clamping forces to hold the sample against the sample surface. The drawback to single-bounce IREs is that there is only one interaction between the sample and crystal and the resulting spectrum may be weak.
In order to increase the light energy coupled to the sample, multi-bounce IREs may be used. In multi-bounce IREs, multiple reflections occur against the side of the crystal contacting the sample to increase the amount of attenuation and improve the obtained spectra. Unfortunately, such multi-bounce crystals require that the sample be held in close proximity to the crystal over a relatively broad area increasing the total force which must be applied to the sample.
Single and multi-bounce crystals are typically limited to having a single transmissive element so as to reduce Fresnel reflection losses occurring when light passes into or out of a transmissive element. One problem with both types of crystals is that not all the light passing through the IRE strikes the sample surface. The light that does not strike the sample surface is commonly termed stray light and may distort the spectral features that are being investigated.

Imaging stage for fourier transform infrared spectrometer


The invention provides a device for towing a motorcycle behind a land vehicle with a front wheel of the motorcycle off the ground. The device has a platform connectable via a support bar to a hitch receiver of the towing vehicle. The platform is pivotally connected to the support bar in order to allow the motorcycle to tilts as the towing vehicle turns. The platform has a stationary front stopper for the front side of the motorcycle wheel supported by the platform and a rear stopper which is pivotally connected to the platform and which forms a mechanism for automatically locking the front wheel of the motorcycle from behind when the rear stopper is turned during loading the wheel onto the platform.

To the present time devices for towing motorcycles and the like behind a vehicle have been complex and/or expensive and/or inconvenient. Typically, it has been necessary to secure the motorcycle to a trailer specifically adapted to carry a motorcycle.
It has been proposed to tow a motorcycle behind a vehicle by securing a front wheel of a motorcycle to a tow bar so that the wheel is fixed relative to the vehicle. The steering head of the motorcycle is allowed to rotate so that the motorcycle tilts as the vehicle turns. This arrangement has the disadvantage during backing or a tight turn that the motorcycle may tip over if the steering head is allowed to rotate too far.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,308 issued on Sep. 8, 1992 to Vaughn, et al., discloses a motorcycle towing apparatus for use with a towing vehicle having a support bar which slidably engages a hitch receiver carried by the towing vehicle and having a ramp pivotally connected to the rear end of the support bar wherein the ramp is movable from a first position in which the ramp extends downwardly to the ground to a second position in which the ramp is elevated off the ground to provide clearance for towing, and also having a wheel cradle carried by the support bar to support the front wheel of the motorcycle. A single person can load and unload a motorcycle from the device. However, the tilt is not disconnectable and the motorcycle is not prevented from tilting and tipping over on sharp turns.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,813 issued on Jun. 12, 2001 to Cataldo discloses a motorcycle towing device including a platform member with a front end for attachment to the trailer hitch of a land vehicle. An upright member is perpendicularly affixed to the rear end of the platform member. An elevator is selectively raised and lowered upon the upright member by means of a jackscrew positioned atop the platform member. The elevator has a head tube and a pair of pivot bearings positioned at the top and bottom of the head tube. The head tube carries a pivot member. The pivot member has a carriage plate and a pair of pivot arms extending forwardly from the top and bottom thereof for pivotal engagement with the pivot bearings. A pair of wheel engagement arms, for supporting a motorcycle wheel, extend rearwardly from the carriage plate. However, this device has a rather complicated construction.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,197 issued on Apr. 15, 1997 to Howes discloses a towing apparatus for a two-wheeled or three-wheeled motorcycle, The apparatus has a support bar which slidably engages a hitch receiver connected to the towing vehicle and having a pivotally connected ramp which, when in a towing position, supports the front wheel. The towing apparatus includes two embodiments, one employing a hydraulic ram to raise the pivotable ramp and the other employing an eye bolt and nut to draw down an arm attached to the pivotable ramp. In either case, support straps are used to create a self-loading, one-person operable device which can be used for running and non-running two-wheeled or three-wheeled motorcycles. This device has the capability of being disassembled and, in such state, this relatively lightweight device is easily stored in its own carrying case. However, the device is made in the form of a kit that requires assembling and disassembling.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,075,012 issued on Dec. 13, 2011 to Perez, et al. discloses a towing device for towing a motorcycle comprising a base having a first end that slides horizontally into a receiver hitch of the vehicle; a platform extending outwardly from a second end of the base; an arc-shaped cradle for cradling a front wheel of the motorcycle. The cradle is divided into a front portion attached atop the platform and a ramp pivotally attached to the front portion of the cradle via a hinge. The ramp can pivot to an up position and a down position, wherein the down position allows the front wheel of the motorcycle to be rolled into the front portion of the cradle, the ramp can be secured in the up position via a securing means. The device also contains a side support component that extends upwardly from the platform and that has a support component for supporting the front wheel of the motorcycle when this wheel is in the cradle.
Thus, in spite of a great variety of motorcycle towing devices, a need still exists in a device of that kind that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy in use, and possesses a function of automatically locking the front wheel in place when it is installed into the front wheel support.


In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an instep strap would be used to increase tension on a cord that would substantially encircle a circumference of an ankle portion of a shoe. In the exemplary embodiment, a first end of the cord would be attached to an instep portion of a first side of a shoe upper; a second end of the cord would be attached to an instep portion of a second side of the shoe; and the cord would pass through at least one channel substantially disposed around the circumference of the ankle portion of the shoe. In an alternative exemplary two-cord embodiment of the present invention, an instep strap would be used to increase tension on two cords. By tightening and fastening the instep strap, both cords would be somewhat distorted and a tension would be created, or increased, thereby causing a snug fit of the shoe.

In order to climb or maneuver rock or other formations, climbers, mountaineers and other sports enthusiasts sometimes engage the back of the heel of one of their shoes with a rock, ledge or other surface in order to climb. This maneuver is sometimes referred to in sports as "heeling." FIG. 1 depicts a close-up view of the back of the heel 2 of a climber's 3 shoe 1 engaging a rock surface 4 in a heeling maneuver. The heeling maneuver creates a force against the back of the heel 2 that tends to urge the shoe 1 off of the climber's 3 foot. Partial dislodging, or complete removal, of the shoe can substantially endanger the climber's safety. Some way is needed to better secure a shoe to a climber's foot to minimize dislodgement of the climber's shoe(s) as a result of heeling maneuvers.
When walking, a walker may experience what is sometimes referred to in the shoe industry as "heel lift." Heel lift is the slight slipping of the heel of a shoe away from the foot of the wearer. When walking, as the wearer's foot pivots from the heel of the foot to the ball of the foot, the wearer's shoe may slightly slip down on the heel of the wearer. When the wearer's heel next contacts the surface on which the wearer is walking, the heel of the shoe is urged back onto the foot. Heel lift causes blisters. Heel lift is often more prominent in stiff-soled shoes, such as hiking and climbing shoes. Some way is needed to better secure a shoe to a walker's foot to minimize heel lift.


Method of regulating the level of a given element in an atmosphere of an enclosure to a value below a predetermined upper limit (L.sub.h), comprising the steps of:. a) providing at least a first gas source and a second gas source, the level of said element in the first source being greater than the level of the element in the second source; PA1 b) under nominal conditions, using the first gas source to supply the enclosure with a nominal flow rate Q.sub.n ; PA1 c) measuring the level of the element in the atmosphere of the enclosure at at least one point in the enclosure to obtain a measurement; PA1 d) if the result of the measurement taken during step c) is greater than a first predetermined upper threshold (L.sub.h -.epsilon.), cutting the supply to the enclosure from the first gas source and supplying the enclosure from the second gas source at a flow rate equal to, or substantially equal to, Q.sub.n ; PA1 e) measuring the level of the element in the atmosphere of the enclosure at at least the point in the enclosure to obtain a measurement result, and cutting the supply to the enclosure from the second source in order to resume the supply to the enclosure under nominal conditions as soon as the result of the measurement is less than a second predetermined upper threshold (L.sub.h -.alpha.).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the regulation of the composition of an atmosphere in an enclosure, for example a furnace or oven.
By way of illustration, mention may be made here of the example of regulating the oxygen level in nitrogen-based atmospheres used for heat treatment applications carried out on metal or ceramic articles, or alternatively for soldering operations.
2. Description of Related Art
Selecting an atmosphere of given composition, for carrying out a certain operation in the enclosure (for example a heat treatment operation), most often entails definition of at least one maximum level of a given element in this atmosphere.
By way of example, selecting a nitrogen-based atmosphere for a specific process very often entails definition of a maximum oxygen level in this atmosphere. A case which may be considered by way of illustration is that of mounting electronic components on a printed circuit using a soldering paste, in so-called reflow ovens, for which the use of certain soldering paste formulations gives rise to recommendations in terms of the maximum tolerable oxygen level in the soldering atmosphere.
It will therefore be understood that the required nitrogen-based atmosphere will always be obtained from a nitrogen source in which the oxygen level is less than the maximum acceptable level in the process atmosphere, in view of the conventional precautions taken in terms of injection and regulation (the flow rates which are used, the geographical distribution of the injections, the leak tightness of the enclosure, etc.).
It is further known that, for a given gas source and a given configuration of the enclosure and the setting of the operating parameters of this enclosure, the level of oxygen (and more generally of the element in question) in the process atmosphere will often vary, in particular on the basis of the production rate of the processing enclosure, or alternatively because of external conditions such as the creation of air currents in the workshop where the enclosure in question is located.
Even so, a clear desire is increasingly being felt by users to gain better control over their processes, in order to achieve better reproducibility in the quality of the articles delivered from the enclosure.
Process control of this type necessarily involves controlling the atmosphere which is used inside the enclosure, it clearly being insufficient just to control the quality of the gas sources which are supplied.
With regard to the example of nitrogen-based atmospheres having a controlled oxygen level, existing solutions for providing such atmosphere control can essentially be put into two categories:
Solution No. 1: Excess quality
According to this first solution, use is made of regulation (flow rate and distribution of the injections) and a nitrogen source with given oxygen purity, which are such that, for any variations or disturbances which occur in the process, the residual oxygen level measured in the process atmosphere is always less than the maximum acceptable level.
By way of example, a high flow rate of cryogenically produced nitrogen could be used here, even though the user process could readily tolerate a few thousands, or even a few tens of thousands of ppm of residual oxygen.
Solution No. 2: Atmosphere control by flow rate regulation
According to this second solution, use is made of a degree of regulation (flow rate and distribution of the gas injections) and a source of nitrogen with given oxygen purity, which are limited enough for there actually to be variations or disturbances in the operation of the enclosure, which may cause the maximum acceptable residual oxygen level to be exceeded in the process atmosphere.
The gas source is then used in combination with a regulation system which, when the residual oxygen level measured in the atmosphere of the enclosure exceeds a given upper threshold, makes it possible to increase the flow rate of gas into the enclosure (which is then in an "excess atmosphere" situation), the flow rate of gas injected into the enclosure being reduced again only when the oxygen level measured in the process atmosphere has returned below the threshold.
It can therefore be seen that, on the one hand, the first solution, like all solutions using excess quality, is needlessly expensive, and yet without completely eliminating the risk of an unexpected disturbance leading to the maximum acceptable residual oxygen level being exceeded in the process atmosphere.
For its part, the second solution does indeed allow the purity of the gas source and/or the flow rate used to be adapted better to the actual process requirements, but may nevertheless in the long term lead to a relatively high total gas consumption. It may further be noted that the fact that modification the flow rates used in the enclosure in this way when the oxygen threshold is exceeded, inevitably entails instability phenomena in the process:
the induced flow rate variation is, on the one hand, a source of turbulence which promotes air being taken into the enclosure; PA1 such a variation in the flow rate used further leads to a variation in the (convective) heat transfer produced inside the enclosure when the enclosure is the site of such a heat treatment operation.
Mention may further be made of the fact that even though, in most cases, the selection of a controlled atmosphere for a process entails definition of a maximum level of a given element in this atmosphere, there are cases in which it is necessary to define not only a maximum level but also a minimum level, which is equivalent to defining a tolerable range for the element in question in the atmosphere. Mention may be made here by way of illustration of the case of soldering electronic components onto a printed circuit using a soldering paste, for which the observation, in the case of soldering under nitrogen as a replacement for air, of a number of new defects such as the tombstoning effect, also referred to as the Manhattan effect (an electronic component lifting off during the soldering phase, leading to opening of the electrical circuit), has led to the adoption of tolerable intervals for the oxygen level in the nitrogen, in order to avoid the presence of these defects. This application example will be dealt with in more detail below in the scope of the present application.

Method and plant for regulating the composition of the atmosphere in an enclosure

L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude


A rotation monitoring system may be attached to a limb and can identify ranges of motion that are associated with injuries or poor performance. In some embodiments, the device is designed to monitor flexion and orientation of joints and limbs, developed specifically around identifying stress concentrating behavior on the ACL. Tests performed show that the designed device can read flexion and orientation of the knee, is durable enough to be used in real-world conditions, and does not impede on the subject's movements.

Preventable injuries in sports and physical activities are often caused by improper form. By some estimates, about 50-70% of all athletic injuries in college sports are preventable.
Recovery is often sub-optimal because many patients do not fully follow at-home exercises recommended by trainers and physical therapists.
Strain is the mechanical phenomenon of the relative deformation of a continuum in response to an applied force that obeys Hooke's Law. A continuum is a material with uniform, but not necessarily constant, properties. Strain sensors have been used for decades to measure deformations in rigid continuums (e.g. metals and ceramics) by being attached to the surface of said continuum and experiencing the deformation of that surface. This deformation mechanically distorts electrically active portions of the sensor, changing the sensor's interaction with an electrical signal in a way that is directly proportional to the strain experienced by the sensor. The deformation in the strain sensor can be equated to that in the continuum because the strain sensor and the continuum are elastic materials placed in parallel relative to the applied force, meaning they must share a similar deformation.
With advances in elastomer materials (highly elastic polymers), strain sensors have become less rigid, can move similarly to non-rigid continuums (e.g. skin and cloth), and can be made to double in size or more, but these nonrigid sensors can only make meaningful measurements while they are taut. The development of a soft, strain sensing monitor has led to an interest in the measurement of joint rotations on living bodies, particularly human bodies. Doing so entails using a strain sensor to monitor the deformation in an area of skin and attributing said deformation to the angular change experienced in a joint. This has been accomplished with rotations orthogonal to the axial direction of limbs and the spine (including, but not limited to, flexion/extension and abduction/adduction). The axial direction refers to the distal/proximal direction of limbs or the superior/inferior direction for the spine. A typical arrangement of a one degree of freedom (DOF) monitor like this would entail the attachment of a strain sensor to both ends of a synovial joint for the limbs (or one end near the pelvis and the other near either the sternum, C7 protuberance, or axillary region for the spine) to measure the deformation of the skin overlaying the joint(s) of interest. This displacement is correlated to the angular change experienced in the joint(s) of interest.
A better way for trainers/coaches to monitor their subjects is needed for safer and more effective results.


A catheter device useful for treatment of the pleural space. The device includes a catheter tube having an internal end and an external end and is sized for use in the pleural space. The tube has a central bore forming a first lumen with a flared suction engaging portion on the external end and a tapered portion on the internal end for providing access to the pleural space. Also included is a stylette sized for insertion in the first lumen, the stylette having less flexibility than the tube. Forming part of the device is a second lumen axially extending in the catheter tube from the external end to a closed terminal point proximate the internal end of the tube and having a substantially smaller diameter than the first lumen, the second lumen having at least one opening proximate the closed terminal point, the second lumen being fitted with a flexible tube having an injection port at its exterior end and an open end bonded to the internal wall of the second lumen. The device further includes an axially extending radiopaque stripe extending along the tube at a location 180.degree. from the second lumen.

Catheters have been used for many years to remove body fluids, whereby a sharp pointed instrument is fitted with a cannula and used to insert the cannula into a body cavity as a drainage outlet. Trocar catheters are used for evacuation of fluid, blood and air from the pleural space. Interpleural irrigation is one technique used following thoracotomy to reduce cough and sign reflexes.
This is a common practice of placing an intake into a body cavity of a patient and to place the tube in communication with a vacuum source to drain fluids from the cavity. The vacuum may be a manually operated syringe but more commonly is a wall outlet of a vacuum system if that is available. One such device is shown in Friend U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,546 in which a reservoir is used in communication with passages to accumulate fluids, particularly the bladder in this case. This patent is intended to prevent discharge of drainage fluid without releasing the fluid to the environment when normal discharge is interrupted. A special reservoir is used for this purpose.
Another design which employs a second lumen is shown in Sheridan U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,641. This design does not employ a stylette and is not open on the distal end. It has no injection port for secondary treatment and employs a single molded part. This patent is designed to have quick and sterile connections for multiple purposes. While these designs are useful in surgical procedures, such designs have not met with commercial success in some uses because of the difficulty of precisely inserting and locating the catheter.
Allen U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,244 discloses an improved trocar having plural cannula for washing and draining under microscopic observation. It is specifically designed for extremely small procedures, usually under microscopic observation, whereby two cannula are connected so that wash fluids may be added by one and removed by the other to provide a continuous circuit of fluid flow. The particular procedure which is of interest in Allen is extraction of oocyctes from follicles in human ovaries, and the device uses inner and outer cannula so that the inner cannula can penetrate the follicle being drained. The outer ends of the cannula are connected.
Other catheter devices which are used in the medical field are shown in: Roberts U.S. Pat. No. 3,459,188 for abdominal use; Gay et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,018 for heart procedures; Rudie U.S. Pat. No. 3,804,097 for abscess treatment; and Kopp U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,297 for arterial and vein insertion.
None of the prior art designs are directed at the very serious problems incurred in pleural surgery where large quantities of fluids, blood and air are to be removed from patients of various ages and sizes. The discomfort and pain caused by loss of vacuum at any time can seriously affect procedures being performed on the patient. Nevertheless, there is often a need to give pain relief just at the time when vacuum is most needed. Also, antibiotic treatment is often performed simultaneously with evacuation of fluids, sometimes requiring two catheters to be inserted if treatment cannot be given by syringe. Here particularly, direct application at the point of need is not possible using a syringe.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a safe and simple method to apply vacuum to pleural cavities.
Another object of this invention is to provide a device which is suitable for simultaneous evacuation and irrigation of the interior pleural region of the body without additional discomfort and without interference with either procedure.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of locally administering drugs and pain relief at a point of need while that region is being evacuated by vacuum.
Other objects will appear hereinafter.


A call connection management equipment for decreasing the required time from a call connection request to a call connection establishment in a wireless mobile communication network. This call connection management equipment registers generated call connection information to a connection registration part, and stores call connection history, such as connection count. The call connection management equipment uses the already registered connection information when the call connection history satisfies a predetermined condition, and generates a new connection information when the call connection history does not satisfy the predetermined condition. When the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the connection information is deleted. The connection information is also deleted when a wireless base station to accommodate a calling terminal is switched, or when an interface to accommodate a called terminal is switched.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a call connection management equipment. The call connection management equipment of the present invention is applied to a wireless mobile communication network where an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) system is used for wire communication, for example.
2. Description of Related Art
In a wireless mobile communication network, wireless communication is executed between a base station and a mobile terminal, and wire communication is executed between base stations or between a base station and another network. Therefore the wireless mobile communication network comprises a wireless mobile communication system and a wire communication system.
A known wireless mobile communication system is, for example, PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) and GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications). In these wireless mobile communication systems, a service providing area is divided into many zones, and a wireless base station is disposed for each zone. Each wireless base station accommodates mobile terminals which are positioned in a zone covered by the base station. Therefore regardless which zone where mobile terminals are positioned, communication with a network is always established. In a wireless mobile communication system, a base station which accommodates a terminal is switched along with the movement of the terminal. Therefore when the terminal transmits a call connection request, the base station which receives the request is not always the same. In addition, when the terminal receives a call, the base station which calls is not always the same. Therefore the wireless mobile communication system uses a unique technology which does not exist in the wire communication system.
As a wire communication system, an ATM communication system, for example, is used. In ATM communication, VPI (Virtual Path Identifier) and VCI (Virtual Channel Identifier) are used. VPI and VCI are defined based on the OSI (Open System Inter-connection) reference model, for example. VPI and VCI are generated when a call communication is requested. VPI and VCI are identifiers for the destination, and are used for routing. In other words, connection between a calling terminal and a called terminal is established using VPI and VCI.
Routing using VPI and VCI is executed each time a call connection is requested. Some processing time is required from the request of call connection to the establishment of connection. In addition, if call connection requests from many mobile terminals concentrate, load on the network increases and processing time increases. The shorter the processing time for establishing connection the better.

Call connection management equipment for wireless mobile communication network


A swingable skate board device. The device includes handles, a handle supporting rod, two pedal plates, a front wheel, a supporting rod, and two rear wheels. The handles are horizontally extending from the handle supporting rod. The handle supporting rod is fixed with the supporting rod. The front wheel is pivotally connected at an end of the supporting rod. Two frame rods of two pedal plates are pivotally disposed on the supporting rod. Two rear wheels are disposed on the pedal plates. One frame rod has a curved recess and the other frame rod has a protrusion engaging with the curved recess for limiting a swinging angle between these two pedal plates.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a skate board device, especially to a swingable skate board device with a limited swinging angle. In which, its open and close swinging movements can be totally controlled by the user""s mind with good stability and excellent safety.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The outdoor exercises are quite popular in nowadays society. Many devices related to exercising or recreational activities were invented. The skate board device is very popular for most people in these years, especially for the youth. The earlier skate board is designed as a single pedal plate type. Now, the most fashionable skate board device is the swingable two pedal plate type. The major attraction includes its technical requirement for driving it and its feeling of high speed during skating. However, safety still is the most important factor that a designer will consider to. For the conventional swingable skate board device, many youths are hurt during skating. One reason is that the handling skill is not good. The other reason is that the design of the swingable skate board device is improper.
As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional swingable skate board device mainly comprises two handles 11, a handle supporting rod 13, a turning section 15, two pedal plates 17 and two rear wheels 19.
The handles 11 are horizontally extended from a top end of the handle supporting rod 13. The turning section 15 is fixed on the handle supporting rod 13. By means of ball bearings (not shown) and fastening elements (not shown), two frame rods 21 of the pedal plates 17 can be simultaneously rotated with the turning section 17. A spring 23 is set between these two frame rods 21. So, when these two pedal plates 17 swing outward, this spring 17 will draw them back. Thus, repeated open and close swinging movements can be created. That is, the user can drive this conventional swingable skate board device moving. Although this convention device can achieve the purpose of recreational exercise, it still has the following disadvantages.
1. The open/close swinging movements are created by the frame rod 21, the turning section 15, and the spring 23. Such open/close movements are repeated and continuous. Because the spring 23 will compulsively draw these two pedal plates 17 inward, it is hard to maintain these pedal plates 17 in an open state. In case the user wants to bypass a hole or a block on the road, it is very difficult for the user to maintain such open state. Thus, without such bypassing the hole or the block, the user might be dropped or injured.
2. The open/close swinging movements are created by the frame rod 21, the turning section 15, and the spring 23. It can achieve the purpose of moving forward. But, except the spring 23, there is no any element for limiting the swinging angle between these two frame rods 21. If the spring 23 is failed due to mechanical fatigue, these two pedal plates 17 might open to an uncontrollable state. This will lead to another dangerous condition for the user.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a swingable skate board device with a limited swinging angle. It can be totally controlled by the user""s mind with good stability and excellent safety.
The second object of the present invention is to provide a swingable skate board device with a limited swinging angle. Under a simple operation, the user can use his/her feet to easily control the open/close swinging movements of the pedal plates. Thus, it is more technical and more challenging for a professional skater or user.


The disclosure concerns an applicator for applying a coating agent (e.g. sealing agent) to a component, in particular for sealing or bonding a flanged seam to the motor vehicle body component. The applicator in accordance with the disclosure first has a nozzle for dispensing the coating agent in a specific jet direction onto a component surface of the component to be coated. In addition, the applicator has a nozzle carrier for positioning the nozzle. The nozzle carrier is hollow on at least part of its length to pass the coating agent. Furthermore, the nozzle carrier comprises a plurality of limbs arranged one behind the other and angled relative to each other. The nozzle is arranged on the nozzle carrier, in particular on the distal limb of the nozzle carrier. The disclosure provides that a spacer, which projects from the distal limb in the jet direction and rests on the component surface of the component to be coated in the coating operation, is mounted externally on the nozzle carrier and thereby sets a predetermined application distance between the nozzle and the component surface.

Motor vehicle body components (e.g. doors or hoods) often have so-called flange seams in which one sheet metal part is flanged around an edge of another sheet metal part, whereby the two sheet metal parts can then be glued together. There is a risk that moisture will penetrate into the gap between the two sheet metal parts and lead to corrosion. It is therefore known to apply a sealing compound to the flanged seam between the two sheet metal parts in order to seal the flanged seam and thus reliably prevent the penetration of moisture and associated corrosion.
An applicator is known from U.S. Pat. No. 9,505,020 B2, which makes it possible to coat a flanged seam on the back of a motor vehicle door without having to open the door. This applicator has a nozzle carrier with several limbs that are angled relative to each other. This allows the nozzle carrier to pass through the gap between two adjacent, laterally overlapping motor vehicle body components (e.g. door and fender), so that the nozzle is then on the rear side and the flanged seam can be coated. This applicator usually works without contact, i.e. contact between the applicator on the one hand and the vehicle body component on the other hand should be avoided.
This contactless application method is associated with various disadvantages, which are briefly described below.
A problem with the non-contact application method is that the flanged seam to be coated is located on the rear side of the vehicle body components and is therefore not directly visible, which makes programming ("teaching") the application paths more difficult.
In addition, the alignment of the coating nozzle relative to the component surface is not visible, but can only be guessed at, which makes programming more difficult.
The programming of the desired application path is therefore only iterative in practice. The first step is to carry out programming that is as good as possible. Then coating agents are applied with the initial programming. The application picture is then examined, for example by opening the motor vehicle door and looking at the flanging seam on the inside of the motor vehicle door. This inspection of the quality of the sealed flange seam then allows conclusions to be drawn in order to optimize the programming. For example, motion parameters of the robot and application parameters can be adjusted to optimize the coating result. This iterative optimization of the programming is carried out until the application result is satisfactory.
An alternatively possible offline programming does not solve this problem because the tolerance chains are too large when transferring offline programming to a real coating situation. In practice, the vehicle body components to be coated are conveyed by a conveyor along a paint sealing line, whereby the conveyor only has a relatively rough positioning tolerance when positioning the vehicle bodies, which leads to correspondingly large positioning inaccuracies. Added to this is the positioning tolerance of the multi-axis application robot that guides the applicator. Further influences on the tolerance chain result from the manufacturing tolerances of the respective body. Part of this tolerance chain can be eliminated by using (optical) measurement systems. These systems measure relevant body geometries, such as edges of the doors to be coated. However, these measuring methods also have limited accuracies, so that only a part of the described tolerance chain can be compensated.
Programming is therefore very time- and cost-intensive in practice.
As an alternative to the non-contact application method described above, state-of-the-art tactile application methods are also known in which the applicator is in contact with the component to be coated during application. In a manual application, for example, the operator can place a suitably designed nozzle against the edge of the door to be coated and then pull the nozzle along the edge of the component as the material leaves the nozzle opening. By placing the nozzle against the component edge, reproducible guidance is ensured. For example, the nozzle opening and thus the applied path have the same distance from the door edge. However, the nozzle carrier must be of a correspondingly stable design. This usually leads to a relatively large diameter of the nozzle needle, so that in practice it is not possible to guide the nozzle carrier through the door gap when the door is closed. In practice, the doors are therefore usually opened by the operator in order to be able to coat a flanged seam on the rear side. This also has the advantage for the operator that he can simultaneously view the quality of the application result.
Furthermore, it is known from the state of the art that this tactile process is used in conjunction with application robots that automatically guide the applicator. Here, the applicator is attached to the application robot by means of a flexible joint, whereby the flexible joint allows an evasive movement of the applicator in order to avoid mechanical overloads during contact between the applicator and the component to be coated.
These tactile procedures, which are also well known, also have certain disadvantages, which are briefly described below.
First of all, it should be noted that flanging seams on the rear side of motor vehicle doors are generally not accessible when the doors are closed if body parts overlap in these areas. The reason for this is that, for reasons of rigidity, the diameter of the nozzle carrier is usually larger than the gap width between the adjacent components.
In practice, it is therefore necessary to open the respective door in order to coat a flanged seam on the rear side of a motor vehicle door. However, this requires a cycle time which is lost for the actual application. Thus, it may not be possible to completely coat a vehicle body in one cycle, which requires further cycles and thus further investments.
In addition, an additional handling robot ("door opener") is usually required to open and close the vehicle doors, which entails additional investment costs and additional space requirements in the paint shop.
If, on the other hand, the car body doors are opened and closed by the application robot itself, no additional handling robot is required, but gripping tools (e.g. hooks) must be attached to the application robot in order to be able to grip the door. However, these additional tools impair the actual application process and are therefore also disadvantageous. Furthermore, in this case an additional mechanical device must be installed which locks the opened door in the desired position. In addition to the additional investment costs, this also requires additional space.
Further disadvantages result from the fact that in the tactile application process the nozzle is placed directly on the flanging seam. As a result, the nozzle opening cannot rest directly on the flanged seam, but must be inclined at an angle of, for example, 45° in order to be able to apply the sealant by pulling. As a result, the energy of the spray jet when it hits the component surface is comparatively low, which can lead to flaws (e.g. air inclusions).
Furthermore, due to the contact between the nozzle and the component surface, there is a risk that the nozzle will get caught on elevations, which can be caused by welding spots or adhesive leaks, for example. This can cause the applicator to vibrate or chatter further along the application path, which also impairs the quality of the application. In the worst case, ductile deformation or breakage of the nozzle needle may occur.
Finally, no material overlap and no hem can be coated with the tactile method, which is, however, particularly necessary at component corners.
The applicator according to the disclosure initially has a mounting flange 1 that can be mounted on a multi-axis application robot.


To provide a manufacturing apparatus of an electronic component using an interposer, having high installation flexibility and high production efficiency. The electronic component manufacturing apparatus includes a converter unit configured to place an interposer on a surface of a base circuit sheet, and an interposer supply unit configured to continuously convey carriers holding the interposers and supply the interposers to the converter unit. The interposer supply unit has the carriers that hold the interposers, and is configured to convey the interposers via the carriers.

There has been known an electronic component in which, for example, an interposer having a semiconductor chip mounted on a resin film is bonded to a surface of a sheet-like base circuit sheet made of resin film. Such an electronic component includes, for example, an RFID medium in which an interposer having an IC chip mounted thereon is bonded to a base circuit sheet having an antenna pattern. A manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing the RFID medium includes, for example, an apparatus that cuts individual pieces of interposers from a continuous sheet having semiconductor chips continuously mounted thereon, and successively bonds the cut interposers to a base circuit sheet (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
However, the conventional electronic component manufacturing apparatus has the following problems. Specifically, a cutting unit for cutting the individual pieces of interposers and a converter unit for transferring the interposers to an antenna sheet need to be placed adjacent to each other, and therefore, design flexibility of the manufacturing apparatus may not be sufficiently increased. Thus, the manufacturing apparatus has less flexibility in layout of the apparatus, and is sometimes difficult to apply to a manufacturing site. Further, in the manufacturing apparatus, a cutting step of the interposers may need to be performed in synchronization with a bonding step of the interposers. This may prevent sufficient increase in production efficiency of the electronic component.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-281491
The present invention is achieved in view of the conventional problems, and has an object to provide a manufacturing apparatus of an electronic component using an interposer, having high installation flexibility and high production efficiency.

Electronic component manufacturing apparatus


Methods and apparatuses are provided, in which a magnetic field is measured using a coil in a first operating mode and a magnetic field is generated using the coil in a second operating mode in order to test a further magnetic field sensor.

Magnetic field sensor apparatuses are used in different applications to measure magnetic fields. In some applications, the measurement of a magnetic field is used to indirectly measure another variable. One example are motion sensors for capturing a linear movement or a rotational movement. In this case, one or more magnets are fastened, for example, to a movable element, with the result that the movement of the movable object generates a variable magnetic field which is then captured. Another example is the measurement of currents. In this case, a current flow generates a magnetic field which is then measured.
In some applications, a magnetic field may be captured over a wide frequency range. One example is again the measurement of currents if the current is not a direct current, but rather the frequency of the current can vary over a wide range. In these cases, in some implementations, a magnetic field sensor apparatus contains a plurality of magnetic field sensors which operate in different frequency ranges. For example, for high frequencies, a coil can be used as a magnetic field sensor for measuring the magnetic field, whereas, at lower frequencies, a further magnetic field sensor, for example a Hall sensor, is used to measure the magnetic field. Signals from the coil and from the further magnetic field sensor are then combined in order to obtain an output signal.

Magnetic field sensor apparatus and method


A cleaning compound formed of a mixture of hydrated sodium borate and sodium chloride. If desired, an aroma such as lemon may be added to provide a pleasant scent during the use of the product. The cleaning compound is sprinkled over moist or damp residual food material in a pot or on another surface to be cleaned. The user rubs the cleaning compound around the pot forming small balls. The small balls are a combination of the residual food material and the cleaning compound, which is then disposed of by garbage disposal, ordinary drain, trash can, etc.

Typically, when a user wishes to clean an object of dirt or debris, soap and water is applied to the surface of the object to be cleaned. Then, the object is rubbed. The soap decreases the surface tension of the water, allowing the water to more quickly penetrate, pick up, and carry away the dirt or debris being removed. Soap is generally an organic substance which is formed of a fat or oil and an alkali.
Sodium borate, commonly referred to as borax, has been added to soap to enhance the cleaning effectiveness of the soap. Literature suggests that the addition of borax adds in the cleaning process by conditioning the water and thereby allowing the soap to work more effectively.
Borax alone has also been advertised as a cleanser which may be used on delicate surfaces such as porcelain and aluminum. The user is directed to sprinkle the borax on the surface, then rub with a damp dishcloth.
However, none of the existing cleaning materials successfully and easily remove sticky residue. Therefore, a substance which would remove residue on dishes and other surface would be of great benefit to cleaning technology.


Logic activation circuit for switching a logic circuit having at least one supply voltage line on or off, said logic activation circuit having:    (a) at least one voltage supply switching device for connecting a supply voltage to a supply voltage line of the logic circuit in a manner dependent on a changeover control signal that is applied to a control terminal of the voltage supply switching device; and having    (b) a charge equalization switching device which, in a manner dependent on a control switching pulse, connects the supply voltage line of the logic circuit to the control terminal of the voltage supply switching device for the duration of the control switching pulse so that charge equalization is effected between the supply voltage line and the control terminal of the voltage supply switching device in order to generate the changeover control signal.

FIG. 1 shows a logic activation circuit in accordance with the prior art for activating a logic circuit which contains at least one integrated supply voltage line. The logic circuit receives logic input signals E and emits processed logic signals A on output lines. The logic activation circuit in accordance with the prior art (as illustrated in FIG. 1) activates the logic circuit by using a voltage supply switching device or a switching transistor ST to connect a virtual or switched negative supply voltage line (VVSS) to a negative supply circuit VSS. After the switching transistor ST has been switched on, the positive supply voltage VDD and the negative supply voltage VSS are applied to the logic circuit, the voltage difference between the two supply voltage potentials being 1 V, for example.
The switching transistor ST in the conventional logic activation circuit in accordance with the prior art is driven using buffer circuits which are connected in series. The buffer circuits each contain two complementary MOSFETs P, N, the gate terminals of which are connected together and are connected to the output node of the preceding buffer circuit. The first buffer circuit is driven using a selection signal SEL. The buffer circuits are supplied with the positive supply voltage VDD Buffer and with the negative supply voltage VSS Buffer.
In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, a logic high drive signal SEL gives rise to a logic high potential at the control node S or gate of the switching transistor ST. On account of the high potential at the control terminal S of the switching transistor ST, the NMOS switching transistor ST is switched on and the virtual voltage supply line VVSS is thus pulled to the negative voltage potential VSS, with the result that the logic circuit is switched on. Alternatively, the switching transistor ST is provided between the positive supply voltage VDD and a virtual positive supply voltage line VVDD of the logic circuit.
A principal drawback of the logic activation circuit in accordance with the prior art (as illustrated in FIG. 1) is that, when generating the changeover control signal at the control terminal S of the switching transistor ST, a charge Q is drawn from the supply voltage potential VDD via the PMOS transistor (which is switched on) in the last buffer circuit. This means that the supply voltage is loaded with the charge Q flowing to the control terminal S. In particular, if the logic circuit is in a mobile terminal and the logic circuit is thus supplied using a battery, this severely shortens the standby times or operating times of the mobile terminal. However, the load on the voltage supply source VDD is also disadvantageous in devices which are not mobile since, as a result of reversing the charge, energy is drawn from the voltage supply source, which leads to heating. In large scale integrated circuits, in particular, this can lead to major problems which can usually only be overcome using complex cooling devices.
In many applications, the logic circuit illustrated in FIG. 1 is switched off using the logic activation circuit in order to save energy. The conventional logic activation circuit (as illustrated in FIG. 1) uses so much energy that it is worthwhile switching off the logic circuit only for relatively long switch-off times, that is to say if the energy saved by switching off the logic circuit is higher than the energy used by the logic activation circuit. In many cases, the minimum switch-off time, as of which it is worthwhile switching off the logic circuit, is too long on account of the large amount of energy used by the logic activation circuit.
The increasing miniaturization in integrated logic circuits and the resultant increased leakage current increase the power loss and thus reduce the available operating times and increase the standby power of integrated logic circuits of this type. In high-performance applications, the proportion of leakage current in the total power loss is up to 50%. Although the proportion of leakage current is considerably smaller in mobile low-power systems, reducing the leakage current constitutes an important design task as regards a long service life of the mobile terminal.
In order to effectively reduce both subthreshold currents and gate tunnel currents in the MOSFET transistors which are connected in the logic circuit, it is expedient to use the switching transistor ST in the logic activation circuit to switch off a logic circuit block that is currently not required. The leakage current within the logic circuit does not dip immediately after the logic circuit has been switched off but rather approaches a particular residual leakage current over a particular period of time. This profile is described, to a good approximation, by an exponential decay. On the other hand, the operation of driving the logic activation circuit requires additional energy which is largely needed to charge the gate capacitance of the switching transistor ST. This gate capacitance is generally very high since the switching transistor or cut-off switch has a very wide channel width in comparison with the logic transistors provided in the logic circuit. The switching transistor is designed to have a very wide channel width in order to keep the delay degradation of the logic circuit small in the active state, said delay degradation being caused by the finitely high on-resistance of the switching transistor.
For the abovementioned reasons, it is not possible to switch off the logic circuit for any desired short interval of time. On the one hand, the maximum potential saving, that is to say the minimum residual leakage current, is established only after a certain amount of time and, on the other hand, the energy used to drive the switching transistor ST and to drive the switch-off logic unit must be compensated for before a saving in energy noticeably occurs on the outside.


A bubble jet fitting for use in a spa provides for a lay-length short enough to allow its installation within a six-inch dam wall. The bubble jet fitting has an outlet portion which in one use provides for solvent welding within a standard size of PVC pipe. A pipe extender has end portions similarly sized and configured to solvent weld within end portions of adjacent pipe sections which are connected through the pipe extender.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of plumbing apparatus. Particularly, the invention relates to plumbing apparatus designed and made for use with water. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to plumbing fittings configured for solvent bonding with plastic piping to form a water circulation system. The plumbing apparatus is particularly suited to use in connection with a water circulation system of a swimming pool, hot tub, or spa, for example. One embodiment of the present invention provides a plumbing fitting have an advantageously short assembled length with other fittings and pipe.
2. Related Technology
It is conventional in spas and hot tubs to have a pump which draws water from the spa, circulates this water through a heater, and delivers the heated water back to the spa. Particularly at the point or points of introduction of the heated water back into the spa, it is conventional to provide one or more water-powered aspirators. An aspirator of this type is commonly referred to as an "air jet" or a "bubble jet", or just as a "jet", and functions to ingest ambient air. The heated water and air are introduced together into the spa in order to make the spa bubbly. Commonly, the "jet" of bubbly water is introduced into the spa via a pipe stub ending flush with a side wall of the spa. Alternatively, the "jet" is introduced into the spa water via an "eye ball" fitting set into the side wall of the spa. Such "eye ball" fittings allow the jet of water and air to be adjusted to best suit the wishes of the users of the spa, dependent upon the number of people using the spa and the seating locations within the spa water, for example.
In spas which share a water supply with and are adjacent to a pool, it is conventional to have a wall between and common to both the pool and the spa. Such a common shared wall is generally referred to as a "dam wall." The dam wall of a pool/spa is generally only about six inches thick in order to utilize the generally available size of decorative tile. In such cases, the generally available plumbing fittings make it very difficult or impossible to install bubble jets in the dam wall. In order to allow the installation of bubble jets in the dam wall, some pool/spa installations undesirably utilize a dam wall that is thicker than six inches. In such cases, the dam wall may be as thick as nine inches or even twelve inches. Such a thick dam wall necessitates an increase in the materials used to construct the pool/spa, and increases the costs of materials and construction.
It is also conventional to utilize a fitting referred to as a "pipe extender" in order to allow a plastic pipe to be extended, or to be joined to a fitting. The generally available pipe extender is a plastic tubular structure providing a spigot at each of its opposite ends. That is, the pipe extender has a spigot at one end which is to be solvent welded within the end of a plastic pipe. At its other end, the generally available pipe extender includes a spigot section of larger diameter which has the same outside diameter as the plastic pipe. This section of larger diameter forms another spigot which can be solvent welded directly into the socket of a pipe fitting. However, in order to use this pipe extender to actually extend a pipe, a coupling is required. The conventional pipe extender will not directly join two sections of pipe.


Systems and methods for reducing or eliminating timing errors in a quantum key distribution (QKD) system (100) are disclosed. The QKD system has a pulse generator with retimer (PGRT) that includes a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) (or FPGA output) which is used as a timing generator (TG). While an FPGA has the desired degree of programmability for use in a QKD system, it also suffers from undue amounts of jitter in the digital output. The present invention utilizes emitter-coupled logic (ECL) to reduce the timing jitter from the FPGA by coupling two ECL delays (ECL delay 1 and ECL delay 2) to the FPGA and to retiming block, and by using an ECL logical AND gate to set the pulse width of the various synchronization signals. An embodiment of the present invention includes multiple clock domains having individual clocks (CLK), phase-lock loops (PLLs), retiming circuits (RT) and timing generators (TG) for robust jitter reduction and hence highly accurate QKD system timing.

Quantum key distribution involves establishing a key between a sender ("Alice") and a receiver ("Bob") by using weak (e.g., 0.1 photon on average) optical signals transmitted over a "quantum channel." The security of the key distribution is based on the quantum mechanical principle that any measurement of a quantum system of an unknown state will modify its state. As a consequence, an eavesdropper ("Eve") that attempts to intercept or otherwise measure the quantum signal will introduce errors into the transmitted signals. The resulting errors end up revealing Eve's presence.
The general principles of quantum cryptography were first set forth by Bennett and Brassard in their article "Quantum Cryptography: Public key distribution and coin tossing," Proceedings of the International Conference on Computers, Systems and Signal Processing, Bangalore, India, 1984, pp. 175-179 (IEEE, New York, 1984). A specific QKD system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,410 to Bennett (the '410 patent), which patent is incorporated herein by reference.
The Bennett-Brassard article and the '410 patent each describe a so-called "one-way" QKD system wherein Alice randomly encodes the polarization of single photons, and Bob randomly measures the polarization of the photons. The one-way system described in the '410 patent is based on a two-part optical fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Respective parts of the interferometer are accessible by Alice and Bob so that each can control the phase of the interferometer.
QKD systems include an "optics layer" having one or more optical circuits and an electronics layer having one or more electronic circuits. Proper operation of the QKD system requires precise and repeatable timing, which involves making sure that electrical signals in the electrical circuits are at the correct values when the quantum signal (photon) is at particular point in the optical circuit. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a generalized prior art two-way QKD system 10A, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,438,234, showing a number of elements critical to the timed operation of the system. Those elements not critical to the timing operation of the system have been omitted for the sake of illustration. The optical paths are indicated by dark lines and the electrical paths are indicated by lighter lines.
FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a generalized prior art one-way QKD system 10, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,648, showing a number of elements critical to the timed operation of the system. Those elements not critical to the timing operation of the system have been omitted for the sake of illustration. The optical paths for single photons are indicated by dark lines and the electrical paths are indicated by lighter lines.
QKD system 10A of FIG. 1A includes a laser source LS optically coupled to a modulator M1 via an optical fiber section F1, and a modulator M2 optically coupled to modulator M1 via an optical fiber section F2. Modulator M1 is optically coupled to two single-photon detectors SPD1 and SPD2 via respective optical fiber sections F3 and F4. Laser source LS is electrically coupled to a timing generator TG that controls the timing of the emission of a light pulse LP. A clock CLK is electrically coupled to timing generator TG to provide a clock signal for system timing. System 10 also includes two discriminators D1 and D2, where discriminator D1 is coupled to detector SPD1 and to timing generator TG, and discriminator D2 is coupled to detector SPD2 and to the timing generator.
In the operation of system 10A, clock CLK provides a clock signal S1 to timing generator TG to serve as a timing reference. Timing generator TG then generates a timed signal S2 to laser source LS to initiate the activation of laser source LS to emit light pulse LP. Timing generator TG also generates a first modulator signal S3 timed to activate modulator M1 when light pulse LP is passing therethrough. Likewise, timing generator generates a second modulator signal S4 timed to activate modulator M2 when light pulse LP is passing therethrough.
In addition, timing generator TG generates detector signals S5 and S6 to SPD1 and SPD2, respectively, and corresponding signals S7 and S8 to discriminators D1 and D2, respectively. The detector signals S5 and S6 are timed to activate detectors SPD1 and SPD2 at the expected arrival time of light pulse LP at one of the detectors (the arrival of light pulse LP at one of the detectors depends on the modulation imparted to the light pulse LP). In response to a detection event ("click"), SPD1 and SPD2 generate respective SPD signals S9 and S10 that are sent to discriminators D1 and D2, respectively. The discriminator signals S7 and S8 are timed to correspond to SPD signals S9 and S10 to discriminate against detection events other than those caused by the expected arrival of modulated light pulse LP.
The operation of system 10B of FIG. 1B is similar to the operation of system 10A, with two single-photon detectors SPD1 and SPD2 optically coupled to modulator M2.
In systems 10A and 10B, there is a finite time delay between the elements that varies due to, for example, the length of the optical path connecting the various optical elements, and the length of the electrical path (e.g., wires) connecting the various electrical elements.
Timing generator TG is an electrical circuit that includes an inherent amount of timing error. Timing generators that have the ability to generate the type of signals needed—whether they be a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other type of circuit—typically do not have as low a jitter as desired due to the type of logic families used, mostly CMOS and NMOS. While the best of these (FPGAs and ASICs) are good enough to use for classical telecommunications timing applications, they are not good enough for practical (e.g., commercial or non-laboratory) QKD systems. In practical QKD systems, variations in timing that would otherwise be acceptable in a classical telecommunications application are not acceptable in a QKD system because they result in unacceptably high error rates and potential security breaches.
Accordingly, there is a need for timing systems and methods for QKD systems that provide stricter limits on timing variations (e.g., jitter) than are presently used for classical telecommunication applications.


A dental capsule that requires a capsule body defining a reservoir that is loaded with predetermined amounts of one or more materials to be mixed, sealed by a removable plug having flexible gripping flange fingers extending laterally relative to the axis of the capsule to facilitate the removal of the plug. Subsequent to the mixing of the materials within the capsule by amalgamation, the capsule is placed in a suitable ejector or syringe whereby the mixed materials can be readily extruded therefrom and directly placed in or about a prepared tooth whereby the flexible gripping flange fingers function as a base for storing the capsule in a vertical position and which flexible fingers are capable of being deflected so as to be pushed through the capsule as the plug is displaced to extrude the mixed material.

In dentistry, it is common to use various dental materials such as cements, impression materials, composites and the like which consist of two or more parts, one of which includes an activating ingredient that initiates a chemical reaction when the non-activated material or part is mixed with the activating ingredient or part to render the mixed material operative for effecting the dental procedure. Heretofore, such dental materials were separately packaged in bulk containers from which a dentist would dispense a predetermined amount of said materials or ingredients onto a pad and manually mix the dispensed amounts by hand to form a homogeneous mass. Thereafter, the dentist would apply the homogeneous mass with a spatula or other suitable hand instrument.
To eliminate the tedious effort of hand mixing such dental material and the waste incidental to such manual mixing, efforts have been made to package such materials into a capsule with predetermined measured amounts of the respective non-activated and activating materials. In such efforts, it was necessary to construct the capsule so that the respective ingredients are maintained separated one from the other therein until ready to be mixed. The constructions of such known capsules comprise relatively complex arrangements and/or structures that are costly and complex to manufacture and/or load. Illustrative examples of such known prior efforts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,273,591; 3,425,598; 3,595,439; 3,684,136; 3,739,947; 4,515,267; 4,941,751; 5,026,283; RE 33,801 and 5,172,807.

Dental mixing capsule for dispensing a multiple component dental material


A track assembly is adapted to be coupled beneath eaves of a building. The track assembly has forward and return. A slot is provided in the lower surface of the forward track. Spaced balls are provided in each track. A primary cord is in a continuous loop extending through the forward and return tracks. A plurality of secondary members is adapted to depend from the primary cord through the slot to beneath the track assembly. A spool is provided in proximity to the track assembly and primary cord. A motor rotates the spool and moves the primary cord in a first direction to position the secondary members in the forward track in an operative orientation and in a secondary direction to position the secondary members in an inoperative orientation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lighting system and more particularly pertains to retractable illumination components adapted to selectively depend beneath the eaves of a building.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of lights of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, lights of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of providing illumination through known methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,407 issued Aug. 14, 1973 to Baugh related to a Christmas Tree Ornament and Decoration Device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,687 issued Oct. 6, 1998 to Tapp related to a Method and Apparatus for Hanging Christmas Lights. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,092 issued Jan. 25, 2005 to Taylor related to a Lighting Fixture Device for a Building Structure.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a lighting system that allows retractable illumination components adapted to selectively depend beneath the eaves of a building.
In this respect, the lighting system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of retractable illumination components adapted to selectively depend beneath the eaves of a building.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved lighting system which can be used for retractable illumination components adapted to selectively depend beneath the eaves of a building. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


The present invention provides a charge pump circuit capable of achieving desired boosting operation even when a high-side switch for precharge or a low-side switch for driving output is constructed by a low-withstand-voltage transistor. The high level of a drive input signal for driving a high-side switch for precharge and a low-side switch for driving output in response to a clock signal is set to the level of a boosted output voltage. The low level of the drive input signal is set to the level of an input voltage, not ground potential.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit having a booster circuit constructed by a charge pump circuit and, more particularly, to a technique useful to reduce a chip occupying area of the booster circuit.
In a booster circuit constructed by a charge pump circuit, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-57860, a high-side switch for precharge and a low-side switch for precharge are connected to one end and the other end of a capacitor, respectively, and a high-side switch for driving output and a low-side switch for driving output are connected to the other end and the one end of the capacitor, respectively. The four transistors as four switches are driven by clock signals. The period of one of levels of the clock signal is a precharge period in which the booster circuit constructed by a charge pump circuit charges the capacitor with an input voltage to be boosted. The period of the other level of the clock signal is an output driving period in which the booster circuit constructed by a charge pump circuit outputs a boosted voltage obtained by adding a charge voltage of the capacitor to the input voltage. In the precharge period, the high-side switch for precharge connected between the input voltage and the one end of the capacitor is on, and the low-side switch for precharge connected between base potential (ground potential) and the other end of the capacitor is on. Therefore, the charge current flows from the input voltage to the base potential (ground potential) via the capacitor, so that the charge voltage between the one end of the capacitor and the other end increases. In the output driving period, the high-side switch for driving output connected between the input voltage and the other end of the capacitor is on, and the low-side switch for driving output connected between the one end of the capacitor and the output terminal is on. Therefore, the boosted voltage obtained by adding the charge voltage of the capacitor to the input voltage is output from the output terminal. The clock signal changes repeatedly in the sufficient number of cycles between one of the levels and the other level, thereby increasing the charge voltage of the capacitor to the input voltage. Consequently, the boosted voltage from the output terminal is about twice as high as the input voltage.


A locking device for a container lid is provided, in particular for the lid of a storage compartment in a motor vehicle, with a spring-loaded closing cam which is arranged in a projecting manner at the free end of the lid and which, when the lid is closed, engages releasably in a latching recess of a latching recess housing arranged on the storage compartment, with a transducer element which is likewise arranged on the storage compartment and can be triggered via a central locking system with a view to locking and unlocking, and with a reversing linkage, mounted at one end on the transducer element and at the other end on the latching recess housing, for actuating a closing hook which can be pivoted into a latching opening of the closing cam.

The invention relates to a locking device for a container lid, in particular for the lid of a storage compartment in a motor vehicle.
DE 42 30 242 A1 discloses a storage compartment designed as a central console for a motor vehicle, with a lid designed as an arm rest, the lid being raisable after a locking device has been released. Although the subject of DE 42 30 242 A1 has proved successful per se in practice, it is criticized for lacking protection against unauthorized opening of the lid.
The state of the art also includes, however, storage compartments with a lid which have become known through public use. In most cases, these lids may be locked by means of a cylinder lock which is to be actuated by a key, which, however, is considered to be inconvenient.


A voltage controlled oscillator provides a trimming stub (3) for adjusting a free-running frequency in parallel to a microstrip line resonator (4). This arrangement makes it possible to easily perform fine adjustment of a free-running frequency used in the voltage controlled oscillator capable of supplying 2 GHz or higher oscillating frequency.

If the voltage controlled oscillator applies to communication equipment, the oscillator needs to have a function of adjusting a free-running frequency.
Two typical high-frequency voltage controlled oscillators are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. The function of the oscillator will be described as referring to the drawings. Those voltage controlled oscillators both are a clap type. As shown, 1 is an input terminal at which a frequency-controlling voltage is applied. 2 is a varactor, 3 is a trimming stub for adjusting a free-running frequency, 4 is a microstrip line resonator, 5 is a supply-voltage terminal, 6 is an output terminal, and 7 is a trimmer capacitor for adjusting a free-running frequency.
At first, a supply voltage is applied at the terminal 5 and a voltage for controlling a frequency is applied at the terminal 1. The application of these voltages provides the varactor 2 with a constant capacitance C.sub.4. At this time, the voltage controlled oscillator has an oscillating frequency represented by: ##EQU1## Hence, by adjusting the voltage applied to the varactor C.sub.4, it is possible to vary the oscillating frequency. In the operation, the microstrip line resonator 4 serves as inductance L.sub.1.
The frequency-controlling voltage applied at the terminal 1 has a predetermined range so that the free-running frequency is required to be adjusted according to the range. For adjusting the frequency, in the voltage controlled oscillator shown in FIG. 2, the oscillating frequency may be varied by adjusting C.sub.5 with the trimmer capacitor 7, because the change of the trimmer capacitor 7 equally leads to change of C.sub.4. In the voltage controlled oscillator shown in FIG. 3, on the other hand, the oscillating frequency may be varied by adjusting the length of the microstrip line with the trimming stub 3.
However, the former voltage controlled oscillator needs the trimmer capacitor 7 having a capacity for the wide range of the oscillating frequency. The critical performance of the trimmer capacitor results in limiting the realized oscillating frequency to about 1.5 GHz. Further, the latter voltage controlled oscillator has difficulty in minutely varying the frequency because the length of the microstrip line resonator 4 is adjusted by the trimming stub 3 for adjusting the oscillating frequency. The oscillator has additional difficulty in selecting one of the increase and decrease of the frequency.
To solve the difficulties, it is an object of the present invention to provide a high-frequency voltage controlled oscillator which has a trimming stub for adjusting a free-running frequency and the microstrip line resonator located in parallel to the trimming stub.

High-frequency voltage controlled oscillator

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A system for recovering degraded images captured through atmospheric turbulence, or other atmospheric inhomogeneities, such as snow, rain, smoke, fog, or underwater fluctuations, is provided having an imager for capturing through such turbulence both a degraded image of a scene having at least one object, and an image of a point source associated with the object. The imager converts the degraded image into first image data signals representing the degraded image, and converts the image of the point source into second image data signals representing a point spread function. A computer of the system receives the first and second image data signals and produces third image data signals representing a recovered image of the object of the degraded image in accordance with the first and second image data signals. In another embodiment, the imager captures a degraded image through atmospheric turbulence of a scene having a known reference object and an unknown object, and converts the degraded image into first image data signals. After receiving the first image data signals, the computer identifies in the first image data signals such image data signals representing the reference object. The computer produces image data signals representing a recovered image of the degraded image in accordance with the first image data signals, the image data signals representing the reference in the first image data signals, and image data signals representing an undegraded image of the reference. The computer may output the image data signals representing a recovered image to an output device to display or print the recovered image.

Typically, atmospheric turbulence, such as caused by the weather, can cause degradation in the quality of images taken by telescopes and cameras. Several approaches have been used to deal with the problem of imaging through turbulence. In the area of astronomy, adaptive optics correct each frame by sensing the wavefront distortion induced by the turbulence and providing a servo-controlled phase screen, often referred to as a rubber-mirror. The use of such adaptive optics is described, for example, in H. W. Babcock, Publ. Astron. Soc. Pac. 65 (1953) 229, and R. K. Tyson, PRINCIPALS OF ADAPTIVE OPTICS, 1991. Imaging systems using adaptive optics to correct for atmospheric turbulence are complex and expensive.
Another approach for imaging through turbulence is speckle interferometry. Using a large sequence of frames taken at short exposure times through a telescope, the effect of atmospheric turbulence are reduced by processing the frames through Fourier transforms. Speckle interferometry is described, for example, in A. Labeyrie, Astron. Astrophys. 6 (1970) 85, K. T. Knox et al., "Recovery of Images from Atmospherically Degraded Short-Exposure Photographs," Astrophys. J. 1993 (1974) L45, and F. Roddier, The effects of atmospheric turbulences in optical astronomy, in: Process in Optics XIX, 1981.
More recently, digital processing techniques are being used to correct images for atmospheric turbulence. In an article by B. R. Frieden, "An exact, linear solution to the problem of imaging through turbulence," Opt. Comm. 150 (1998) 15, a sequence of two short-exposure intensity images is taken without any reference point sources, and the images are Fourier transformed and divided by linear equations based on two random point spread functions. The result is inverse filtered to provide an image of an object. One problem with this method is that the point spread function associated with the turbulence is not known in an image due to the lack of any reference, which can cause difficulty in recovering an image taken through turbulence. Accordingly, it would be desirable to more accurately recovery degraded images by using a reference point source or object in each image captured, which can be used to characterize the atmospheric turbulence as a point spread function.
In the area of digital image coding and compression, digital images may be processed as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,844 using a random blurring function consisting of numerous, irregularly spaced delta functions. The patent provides for secure transmission of coded images.


A method of making a syringe assembly includes providing a first syringe component defining a first sliding surface that is substantially free of lubricant. The first sliding surface is contacted with water. The first sliding surface and the water in contact with the first sliding surface are heated at a temperature of at least 121° C. The first sliding surface is dried.

Syringes used for delivery of medicaments are principally constructed of a barrel and a stopper. The stopper is slidably fitted within the syringe barrel and may have a stopper rod affixed to it for actuation of the syringe and delivery of medicament. The stopper is generally constructed of an elastomer, with silicone oil applied. The silicone oil is applied to the stopper or barrel to reduce sliding friction between the stopper and barrel and to improve the seal between them, which can be helpful in ensuring a full dose is administered. Ease of sliding can be important for proper operation of pens and so-called auto injecting syringes. The oil helps prevent jamming of such devices, which can otherwise lead to trauma at the site of injection. The improved sealing provided by silicone oil can also help ensure no foreign contaminants, such as bacteria, enter the syringe.
Recently there has developed a trend favoring pre-filled syringes which function to both store and deliver medicaments. Such pre-filled syringes may offer cost savings to the pharmaceutical industry and may improve safety, convenience and efficacy of medicament delivery. Biopharmaceuticals are an important class of pharmaceuticals that may increase the use of pre-filled syringes and related devices (pens, auto injectors and the like). Such biopharmaceuticals may include insulin, vaccines, antibodies, blood products, hormones, cytokines, and the like. As more pharmaceuticals and particularly biopharmaceuticals utilize delivery in pre-filled syringes and similar devices, the challenges of conventional syringe technology multiply.
Several aspects of traditional syringe construction present a challenge for their use as pre-filled syringes. The use of silicone oil is a concern, because the oil may degrade the medicament and because a small amount of silicone may be injected with it. The oil is of particular concern with regard to biopharmaceuticals because it may cause aggregation of certain proteins.
Another issue that arises in pre-filled syringes is that the elastomer of the stopper may contain leachable and extractable contaminants. These may also contaminate the medicament upon long term storage in syringes. Trace amounts of residual monomer or plasticizer or other impurities from the stopper can adversely affect the therapeutic function or can have an adverse impact on the patient once injected.
Among the many other considerations affecting pre-filled syringe devices and similar devices and their components are the need to be sterilized, stability with transport and storage for up to a few years, optical clarity, the need to integrate into existing filling equipment (including the durability requirements for stopper cleaning and insertion into the syringe barrel), leachables and extractables of all components of the syringe, and the need to maintain sterility from filling through administering of the contents, and finally user preferences and ergonomic considerations. For a variety of considerations the pre-filled syringe market uses both glass and plastic barrels.
Friction between stopper materials and syringe barrels can be significant. As described above, lubricants such as silicone oil are problematic. There is a need to reduce friction between stopper and barrel without the use of oils or other lubricants that have undesirable effects.

Method of reducing friction between syringe components