A disposable work light including an electrically non-conductive base provided with an electrically conductive terminal adapted to be detachably coupled to a complementally formed electrical socket. An elongate hollow electrically non-conductive cylindrical housing is cantileverly mounted on the base and includes a reflector on one lateral side of a lamp and a translucent housing portion on the laterally opposite of the lamp for passing the reflected, concentrated light to a work site. A transversely disposed, resilient vibration dampener and seal plate is mounted on the base for sealing the work light to the socket and for vibrationally isolating the lamp from the socket.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a portable work light and more particularly, to a disposable work light having a protective and reflectorized housing permanently mounted on the housing lamp.
2. Description of Prior Art and Advantages
Traditionally, trouble lights, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,435 issued to Henry M. Dora on Jun. 23, 1981; U.S. Pat. No. 2,861,175 issued to O. W. Schweikle on Nov. 18, 1958; U.S. Pat. No. 2,677,753 issued G. W. Heinz on May 4, 1954; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,062 issued to Raymond L. Trueblood on Feb. 20, 1979, include incandescent lamps which are threadedly received in a complementally formed electrically conductive, threaded, metal light bulb socket that is disposed in, and transversely moveable relative to, a surrounding rubber handle in which the socket is disposed. Incandescent lamps are fragile. If the traditional trouble light is dropped or bumped, the incandescent lamp filament is easily broken. It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a portable work light which will resist lamp breakage due to drops and bumps.
A substantial amount of heat radiates from incandescent bulbs causing the bulbs to be very hot and subject the user to being burned. The generated heat can also ignite certain inflammable gases and liquids, if inadvertently introduced to the heated incandescent lamp. A hot incandescent lamp can explode if splashed with even one drop of water.
To overcome these problems, trouble lights have been made with linear fluorescent light sources, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,719 issued to Paul J. Reiff, et al on Nov. 2, 1999; U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,736 issued to Paul J. Reiff, et al on May 14, 2002; U.S. Pat. No. 2,489,686 issued to J. L. Suter on Nov. 29, 1949; U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,080 issued to Frank Summa on Jun. 4, 1974 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,874,270 issued to H. E. Douglas, et al on Feb. 17, 1959. Such elongate, linear light bulbs are bulky, clumsy and limited in their light output. Linear light sources are not concentrated in a short length for a given voltage as are spiral fluorescent bulbs, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,279,635 issued to J. Morley on Apr. 14, 1942 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,761 issued to Thomas Lo Giudice on Apr. 27, 1976. For example, a 15 watt fluorescent bulb is as bright as a 75 watt incandescent bulb which is generally the upper acceptable recommended watt limit for most trouble light fixtures.
A typical trouble light socket includes a curvilinear metal reflector, fixed to the trouble light handle, extending on one lateral side of the incandescent lamp and a hinged, wire cage along the laterally opposite side of the lamp to protect the lamp from breakage. The prior art housing is mounted on a rubber handle and moveable therewith relative to the bulb subjecting the bulb to breakage. It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a trouble light having a housing which is inseparably fixed to the base of the bulb to limit relative movement therebetween.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a reflector housing of the type described which has a relatively short reflectorized portion and a reduced diameter section mounted on the base of the lamp.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide a portable work light including a partially reflectorized protective housing cantileverly inseparably mounted to the lamp.
The housing, constructed according to the present invention, contemplates a pair of semi-cylindrical halves which are permanently mated to each other and to laterally opposite sides of the base of a fluorescent light bulb with one of the semi-cylindrical halves including a light reflecting portion on one lateral side of the bulb and the other half including a translucent section on the laterally opposite side of the bulb for transmitting the reflected light rays emanating from the light source.
The present invention contemplates a new and novel work lamp which has a fluorescent light with an electrically non-conductive base, including a ballast and starter, and a rotary electrically conductive base for being detachably rotatably received in a complementally formed electrical socket and an elongate cylindrical housing fixed to the base for disposal with the lamp when the lamp has outlived its useful life.
Existing trouble lights include an annular gap between the electrically conductive rotary base of the light source and the electrically non-conductive handle, which provides a ready ingress window for flammable gases and liquids that can be ignited. The present invention contemplates a resilient annular guard received by the base of the lamp and projecting radially outwardly therefrom to provide a cover which will span the gap between the lamp and the handle and thus, eliminates inadvertent passage of liquid, such as water, and/or explosive gases therebetween. The radially outer portion of the resilient vibration dampening guard is a resilient seal clamped between the terminal end of the electrically non-conductive handle and the opposing end of the cantileverly supported lamp housing. When the spiral fluorescent light bulb incorporated in the present invention exceeds it useful life and is disposed, the resilient shield and housing will be disposed therewith. Accordingly, it is another advantage of the present invention to provide a disposable work light including a resilient annular safety shield having a bore therethrough received on the base of a fluorescent lamp bulb and spanning the gap the between the bulb and the electrically nonconductive portion of the handle surrounding the base of the bulb.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide an annular resilient shield which is resiliently mounted on the base of the light source and bears against the end of the electrically non-conductive light mounting handle for stabilizing the bulb and absorbing any shock or force that would otherwise be transmitted from the handle to the bulb.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a resilient safety ring which mounts on the base of a lamp and seals to the mounting handle for keeping gas and/or fumes out of electrical contact with the handle supported electrical socket.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to mount a housing and a reflector on the light source as opposed to mounting the reflector on the handle in which the light source is threadedly mounted.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a replacement for an incandescent light bulb used in a mechanic's work light and to provide an enhanced versatile work light that is safe to use and provides a variety of light intensities in a compact arrangement.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent as the descriptions hereof proceeds:


An air or gaseous fluid lubricated penetrometer reduces friction between the soil and the push rod string. Air is pumped into the interior of the string and is directed by exit ports into the annular space between the soil and the outer walls of the string. Without damaging the soil, the air prevents the soil from adhering to the sides of the string and thereby reduces frictional forces that restrict the downward movement thereof. The exit ports in the string are located above the instrument housing so that accurate measurements can be made on the soil properties.

This invention relates to a cone penetrometer system for conducting a Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT). In particular, the invention is directed to an apparatus for lubricating the push rod portion of a cone penetrometer upstream of the instrumentation package to thereby improve measurement accuracy and test depth without damaging the soil.
The so-called Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT) has been used to classify soils and characterize sites in various applications including, for example, dam construction and maintenance and other major construction projects. See for example, "Site Characterization Using the Cone Penetrometer Test", Olsen et al., ASCE Specialty Conference, Use of In-Situ Testing in Geothechnical Engineering, Jun. 22-25, 1986 and "Soil Classification and Site Characterization Using the Cone Penetrometer Test", Olsen et al., First International Symposium on Penetrometer Testing, Mar. 20-24, 1988. The standard equipment and methodology is described in "Standard Test Method for Deep Quasi-Static, Cone and Friction-Cone Penetration Tests of Soil" ASTM D 3441-86.
In General, the cone penetrometer test data may be analyzed to provide information on soil strength and soil classification. CPT data can be normalized with respect to vertical effective stress for comparison of data from various depths in soil.
The typical CPT test, as performed in the United States, is illustrated in FIG. 1 and generally comprises pushing a known 3.57 centimeter diameter electrical CPT probe 10 into the earth 11 at 2 cm/sec using one or more interconnected 1 meter hollow push rods 12 in a string 13 driven with the reaction force of a large mass such as a truck 14. The probe 10 includes an instrument housing 16 at the distal end 18 of the push rod string 13. A conical tip 20, connected to the housing 16, penetrates the earth. A tubular section of the penetrometer, called the friction sleeve 21, is located directly above the cone tip 20, but it is physically separated from it. A cone support 23 connects the tip 20 to the instrument housing 16. The friction sleeve 21 surrounds the cone support and carries one or more sensors, e.g. strain gauges 25, forming a load cell 27 there-in. The sensors measure local side friction resistance developed between the friction sleeve 21 and the surrounding soil 11 independently of the force exerted on the tip 20. Devices (not shown) in the instrumentation package 16 are responsive to the sensors and are coupled to equipment in the truck 14 by means of wires 22 which run up to the surface inside the string 13 of the hollow push rods 12.
Generally two measurements are recorded, namely, cone resistance q.sub.c which is an end bearing stress and sleeve friction resistance f.sub.s, which is a localized large-strain index of sheer strength. Both measurements are usually reported in terms of tons per square foot (tsf) although metric units may also be used if desired.
In the past, the metal penetrometer rod was forced into the soil with no lubrication. The depth of penetration is determined by the point in which the point penetration resistance and the total side wall friction resistance equal the weight of the reaction mass (typically 20 tons) being used to drive the penetrometer into the ground. This system is inefficient because the total side wall friction on the rod sections 12 in the ground 11 quickly limits the depth of penetration even when the tip resistance is low. Some penetrometers have been built with ports for ejecting drilling mud 32 into the area between the string 13 and the soil 11. However, these units are complicated and cumbersome to use because of the problems associated with the handling of drilling mud and the mud injection system. More importantly, however, drilling mud under pressure can cause damage or fracture 34 the soil 11. Fractures 34 are unacceptable, especially if a test is performed at a dam site where such damage may propagate. Finally, drilling mud is dangerous and difficult to clean up because it creates slippery surfaces.

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


This invention provides an image reading device capable of precise detection of the optical signal over a wide wavelength range, by forming a photoelectric converting unit for converting the visible light into an electrical signal and a photoelectric converting unit for converting the invisible light into an electrical signal, in monolithic manner on a single semiconductor chip.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading device adapted for use in an image information processing apparatus such as a facsimile, an image scanner, a copying machine or the like, and more particularly to an image reading device and a photoelectric converting element capable of converting optical signal not only of visible spectral region but also of invisible spectral region into electrical signal.
2. Related Background Art
In the field of image reading device, there are already known a charge-coupled device (CCD), a MOS device and an amplifying device formed by connecting a capacitative load to the emitter of a phototransistor, as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,469 granted to the inventors T. Ohmi and N. Tanaka.
Also there are recently conceived various applications, and image reading devices having novel functions are being required.
For example the copying machine is required, in addition to the improvement in image quality and the color image reproduction, to have the ability to recognize, reproduce and record an invisible image to the human eyes.
An example of such invisible image is the image formed with ink absorbing infrared light.
In general, the sensor for detecting the invisible light is an individual device, and requires a new design concept for effecting image detection, in combination with a sensor for detecting the visible light.
As a basic design concept, the present inventors already found a technology of incorporating a sensor for visible light detection and a sensor for invisible light detection in a single semiconductor chip. However, said technology still has a room for improvement.
On the other hand, the image quality improvement and the color copying capability of the copying machine has brought the danger of forgery of banknotes, stamps, valuable securities etc. into reality. For this reason, in the recognition of banknote or the like, there have been devised various methods such as detection of the stamp pattern on the banknote.
Also utilizing the fact that the pattern of the original image is formed with certain color hues, the present applicant already proposed a method of recognizing the banknote etc. from the color hue of said original pattern.
Also certain banknotes enable recognition of the true one and the false one, by printing a predetermined mark with fluorescent ink which emits visible light when irradiated with ultraviolet light.
Also for forming such predetermined mark, tile use of ink capable of absorbing infrared light was also proposed by the present applicant.
In such infrared light detecting device, the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 4-286350 of which U.S. counterpart is U.S. Ser. No. 139,174 entitled xe2x80x9cImage Processing Apparatus and Method Thereforexe2x80x9d filed on Oct. 21, 1993 proposing to achieve making compact of the device and easy optical adjustment by a monolithic structure of a sensor for ordinary color image formation and a sensor for infrared light detection, thereby enabling to use a common optical system.
However, such conventional system is difficult to design in common for plural valuable securities, because a visible pattern is the target of recognition. Therefore, for distinguishing the valuable securities of N kinds, it has been necessary to select the features of N kinds in advance and to independently recognize each security, and it has been difficult to realize such apparatus inexpensively.
Also a CCD sensor for reading the images of visible and infrared regions by separating the spectral regions additionally requires, in comparison with the conventional sensor, an optical filter for reading the infrared light and an increased number of elements or lines of the sensor, whereby the sensor itself and the post-processing system therefor become complex and a decrease in the light-receiving area of the sensor or an increase in the size of the sensor is unavoidable.
Also, since the sensor elements for the visible light and those for the infrared light are arranged on a same plane, at least one of the sensors may become out of focus, due to the difference in the focus position.
Also in case of using such sensors for respectively reading the infrared information and the visible information, it becomes necessary to clearly separate the visible information and other information.
Furthermore, for obtaining a satisfactory resolving power on a monolithic CCD sensor over a wide spectral range from visible to near-infrared region or from visible to near-ultraviolet region, there is required a significantly increased number of lenses, leading to an increased cost and a larger space of the device. Also in an optical system employing a short-focus lens array, it has been impossible to maintain a constant resolving power over a wide spectral range, because such lens array is composed of single lenses.
Also the conventional image reading device employed in the office equipment such as copying machine is composed for example of a CCD or a MOS sensor requiring a long optical path, or a contact image sensor employing amorphous silicon, and such image reading device is sometimes combined with color filters for the color image reproduction.
However, such photoelectric converting device combined with filters is not necessarily superior, in terms of spectral sensitivity and resolving power for infrared light detection, to the device for visible light detection, and still has a room for improvement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the object of the present invention is to provide a compact image reading device capable of detecting the optical signal over a wide spectral range from visible to invisible region, and not giving much burden on the designing of the optical system.
The above-mentioned object can be attained, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by an image reading device in which the light-receiving face of a first sensor for converting the optical signal of the visible region into a first electrical signal and that of a second sensor for converting the optical signal of the invisible region into a second electrical signal are provided in different positions with respect to the incident direction of light.
According to another embodiment, there is provided an image reading device comprising reading means in which the light-receiving face of a first sensor for converting the optical signal of the visible region into a first electrical signal and that of a second sensor for converting the optical signal of the invisible region into a second electrical signal are provided in different positions with respect to the incident direction of light, image forming means for forming an image based on said first electrical signal, discrimination means for effecting discrimination based on said second electrical signal and a reference signal, and control means for controlling the function of said image forming means based on the output of said discrimination means.
This embodiment enables highly precise image reading over a wide spectral range, since the light-receiving face of the visible light sensor and that of the invisible light sensor can be independently positioned at optimum conditions.
Still another embodiment of the present invention provides an image reading device for secure recognition of a specified original image.
Still another embodiment of the present invention enables reading of the original image in the visible light region and the infrared region, inexpensively and securely in a simple configuration.
The above-mentioned object can be attained, in said embodiments, by an image reading device provided with means for recognizing that an object pixel is a specified image, based on the image information in the visible region and that in the infrared region, in the position of the object pixel and in the positions of the pixels in the vicinity, wherein the image information of said visible region and infrared region are read by common use of a same image reading sensor or a part thereof, by switching an optical filter for limiting the absolute light amount or a specified spectral region.
Also there is provided an image reading device provided with means for recognizing that an object pixel is a specified image, based on the image information in the visible region and that in the infrared region, in the object pixel and in the pixels in the vicinity, comprising a switchable optical distance correcting filter for correcting the difference in the focus position between said visible region and infrared region.
Still another embodiment of the present invention provides an image reading device capable of satisfactorily reading the light of visible region and that of an invisible region.
The image reading device of this embodiment comprises a filter for intercepting the invisible light only between a sensor for reading the visible information and the original image, in reading the visible and invisible information by focusing on a solid-state image sensors formed in monolithic manner on a same substrate.
Also there is provided means for correcting the difference in focus position between the visible and invisible information, in reading the visible and invisible information by focusing on a solid-state image sensors formed in monolithic manner on a same substrate.
Still another embodiment of the present invention provides a photoelectric converting device improved in spectral sensitivity and resolving power.
According to this embodiment, there is provided a photoelectric converting device for converting the optical signal of infrared region into an electrical signal, comprising a photoelectric converting element for converting the optical signal of visible region into an electrical signal, and infrared-visible light conversion means for selectively generating an optical signal of visible region to irradiate said photoelectric converting element, based on the optical signal of infrared region.
An electrical signal improved in spectral sensitivity and resolving power can be obtained by detecting the visible light generated according to the intensity or the presence or absence of the infrared light, instead of the conventional selective detection of the infrared light within a wide spectral range covering from the visible to infrared region.


Disclosed herein is a system for monitoring high speed interchip (HSIC) universal serial bus (USB) signals in a device comprising a USB controller configured to output first USB transceiver macro-cell (UTMI+) signals, an HSIC PHY transceiver configured to receive first UTMI+ signals from the USB controller and to convert and transmit received first UTMI+ signals as first HSIC signals, and to receive second HSIC signals and transmit them as second UTMI+ signals to the USB controller, a UTMI+ conversion block configured to receive first and second UTMI+ signals and to transform the received first and second UTMI+ signals to corresponding first and second ULPI signals, and transmit first and second ULPI signals, the first and second ULPI signals being equivalent to the first and second HSIC signals, and a ULPI PHY transceiver configured to receive the first and second ULPI signals and transmit corresponding first and second USB signals.

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification was originally released in 1996, updated in 1998, and enhanced for high speed data operations in 2000. USB originally allowed simple devices like keyboards, mice, and web-cameras, to be connected to complex hosts like personal computers (PCs) using cables up to 15′ in length, at up to 480 Mbps signaling speed. In addition, connected devices could be powered from the host.
USB is the most successful interconnect specification ever developed for consumer electronics (CE) as measured by the number of devices using USB. About 10 billion USB devices now exist, and USB is used for most CE products like personal computers, audio and video devices, MP3 players, mass storage, television sets, and satellite and cable decoders. USB is also used for professional electronics, test and measurement devices, personal health equipment, among many other types of electronic devices. Essentially any type of electronic device that requires the transfer and/or storage of data uses a USB interface. Various standalone apparatus easily connect using USB.
The success of USB has led to new and simpler types of hosts, as well as more complex multifunction devices. One such example includes a TV set as a host that can be used to show the movie recorded by a mobile phone. Or, a mobile phone that can be used as a host that can output the same video to a monitor. Mobile phones now account for 30-50% of the 2-3 billion USB devices that are currently shipped each year.
USB is also increasingly being used inside systems and devices. A typical example is to (permanently) connect, for instance, an integrated fingerprint reader and video camera in a laptop PC. This approach, however, is not without its problems.
First, standard USB signaling is not trivial to fully integrate in the complex system-on-chip (SoC; or an integrated chip) solutions made using today's advanced silicon processes. Therefore, the USB transceiver macro-cell interface (UTMI+) Low PinCount Interface (ULPI) specification was published in 2004 to allow the analog transceiver ("PHY" or physical interface/layer responsible for handling USB signaling) to be moved to a separate chip made in a different and more suitable silicon process than what is used to manufacture the digital SoC.
Second, standard USB signaling is not power efficient. This was not a major concern for use in desktop PCs or similar types of products. However, power efficiency is important in general in many other types of devices, and especially vital for portable devices. Minimizing power consumption means increasing battery life, longevity, and provides a better user experience.
As a result, the High Speed InterChip (HSIC) specification was released in 2007 to address the concerns of analog-versus-digital technologies, and power consumption. The HSIC specification describes how standard USB signaling can be replaced by HSIC signaling using a digital PHY. That is, instead of a separate analog transceiver, an integrated component, a digital transceiver, which is much more similar to the rest of the circuitry it is connected to, is used for USB interfaces within devices. This allows a power optimized connection of up to 4″ in length to be used between chips and modules inside a system with the digital HSIC transceiver integrated in the digital SoC. Apart from the electrical differences, HSIC and standard USB uses the same lower level and higher level USB protocols.
Because of the adoption and use of the HSIC specification, HSIC is increasingly being used in portable devices such as mobile phones. For example, one manner of using HSIC is to connect a wireless modem to the application processor in an advanced mobile phone. As discussed above, power optimization and integration are key factors in marketing successful products (i.e., small size, long battery life and enhanced user experience are key requirements). The HSIC modem and the application processor or host USB functionality is quite complex. An effective development, test and verification environments for HSIC is therefore mandatory for these products.
Unfortunately, HSIC signaling is not robust. Preparing the printed circuit board (PCB) for connection to test and verification equipment will affect HSIC signal integrity, sometimes to the extent that HSIC communications are no longer possible. The market for specialized HSIC test equipment is very small and in practice non-existent. Furthermore, as explained in greater detail below, standard USB analyzers cannot be used. This means effective development, test and verification of USB communications for products using HSIC has been, to this point in time, been virtually impossible.
It is useful to understand how high speed USB components are inter-connected and how standard USB communications are monitored to understand the problems with testing HSIC signals and the general inventive concept.
By way of example, a USB controller in a wireless modem has a Universal Transceiver Macrocell Interface (UTMI+) for connection to a USB transceiver. In the year 2000, most, if not all USB transceivers in commercial products were macro-cells and integrated on the same SoC as the USB controller.
A UTMI+ interface uses between 50 and 60 pins depending on which level of Plus-functionality is needed. As a result, UTMI+ is not very useful for external transceivers, as pin-count must be minimized for size, cost, and power reasons in the digital SoC. To connect to an external ULPI transceiver, a ULPI wrapper on the UTMI+ interface is added. The ULPI wrapper provides a means for reducing the pin count on the UTMI+ interface, yet still provides the same functionality.
In the figures described below, only the data paths are shown, and not the control paths. According to exemplary embodiments, the arrows in the figures indicate the general direction of data transfers.
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a standard USB device (USB device) 7 (comprising USB controller 2, ULPI wrapper 4 and ULPI PHY 6, among other components, not shown) connected to a standard USB host 8, with a USB analyzer 10 for debug attached to the interface between the USB host 8 and ULPI PHY 6.
It is useful to understand the basic concepts of a USB transaction: A USB transaction consists of token, data, and handshake packets. When USB host 8 has data to send to USB device 7, it will first send a token indicating that data is going follow. USB host 8 then sends the data. USB device 7 answers with a handshake to indicate that data was received. When USB host 8 wants to receive data from USB device 7, it sends a token indicating that data is expected. If USB device 7 has data to send, it sends it and USB host 8 answers with a handshake to indicate that data was received. If USB device 7 does not have data to send to USB host 8, USB device 7 returns a "no data" handshake and USB host 8 will request data sometime later. Thus, communications between USB host 8 and USB device 7 involves a series of token transmissions, exchanges of data, and handshakes to complete and verify the successful transfer of data.
Standard USB device 7 comprises USB controller 2, the output of which is a UTMI+ signal and is connected to ULPI wrapper 4, the output of which are ULPI signals. The purpose of ULPI wrapper 4 is to reduce the amount of signals being used to transmit and receive data from USB controller 2 and USB host 8. ULPI PHY (transceiver) 6 is also part of standard USB device 7 (as discussed above, it is physically separated from the other components of standard USB device 7, as it is comprised of analog circuitry, which is very difficult to integrate with digital circuitry on a single integrated circuit; this is why ULPI PHY is shown enclosed by the dashed lines within standard USB device 7), and receives the ULPI signals output by ULPI wrapper 4, and transmits them to USB host 8 through USB analyzer 10, and conversely receives USB signals from USB host 8 and directs them to the ULPI wrapper to be converted to UTMI+ form to be received and processed by USB controller 2.
USB analyzer 10 is a passive "sniffer" type device. Some implementations use a high impedance pass-through mode allowing connection of USB analyzer 10 with more than one standard USB cable 14. This kind of connection approach has been used since the first USB analyzers were developed together with the USB specifications. USB signals from standard USB device 7 are transmitted by ULPI PHY 6 through one cable, 14a, to USB analyzer 10. At USB analyzer 10, high impedance tap-off 42 can be seen connected to the short trace that connects a first connector and a second connector at USB analyzer 10. The very short high impedance tap off 42 has virtually no effect on the substantially longer low impedance USB signal run that includes USB cable 14a and a second cable, 14b. Here, the second connector at USB analyzer 10 is connected to USB host 8 via second USB cable 14b.
All USB traffic, regardless of direction from USB host 8 to USB device 7, or from USB device 7 to USB host 8, can be captured by USB analyzer 10 and transferred to USB analyzer host 12 for e.g. pre-processing and display. Powerful software tools, coupled with sophisticated hardware designs, have been developed by the industry and included in USB analyzers to provide for highly functional monitoring and error detection. USB analyzer 10 can be set up to filter and trigger on certain conditions, including various types of errors and certain transactions, and only capture traffic that is relevant for the problem to be investigated. USB analyzer 10 might also output a trigger signal when a certain condition is met. Cross-triggering with existing software development tools on USB host 8 and/or USB device 7 allows the capture of a sequence of processor instructions that leads to a USB error. The sequence that leads to the error can then be investigated.
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of first modified USB device 9 with selectable ULPI or HSIC capability, connectable to either standard USB host 8 or standard HSIC host 18. First modified USB device 9 comprises USB controller 2, ULPI/HSIC switch/mux 20, ULPI wrapper 4, ULPI PHY 6, and HSIC PHY 16. USB controller 2, the output of which is a UTMI+ signal, is connected to ULPI/HSIC switch/mux (switch/mux) 20. The UTMI+ signals output from USB controller 2 can therefore be input to HSIC PHY (a transceiver) 16 or to ULPI wrapper 4. The output of ULPI wrapper 4 is input to ULPI PHY 6, as with standard USB device 7. HSIC PHY 16 transmits and receives signals to/from HSIC host 18 via HSIC cable 34, and ULPI PHY transmits and receives signals to/from USB host 8 via USB cable 14.
Some SoCs have the capability to use either standard USB or HSIC signaling, as shown in FIG. 2. When an internal HSIC transceiver (HSIC PHY 16) is integrated on the same SoC, as shown in FIG. 2, switch/mux 20 is used to connect either HSIC PHY 16 to USB controller 2, or ULPI wrapper 4 to USB controller 2. Simultaneous operation of both HSIC and standard USB is not possible. The output of switch/mux 20 is normally selected based on the product the SoC is used in. Furthermore, selecting USB or HSIC on a session-by-session basis depending on the use and/or application is also possible.
When developing the HSIC specification, it was believed that advanced HSIC debug and test would not be needed, as existing USB software, protocols, and applications would be reused. However this is not always feasible due to the different requirements and capabilities between an embedded host, as exemplified by a mobile phone application processor, and a non-embedded USB host, as exemplified by a personal computer.
FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of second modified USB device 11 (with some components omitted for the dual purposes of clarity and brevity). The USB device 11 is connected to a standard HSIC host 18 via a proposed HSIC analyzer 22. The HSIC analyzer 22 is furthermore connected to HSIC analyzer host 24 for debug. It would appear to one of ordinary skill in the art that, in accordance with the configuration shown in FIG. 1, a similar test set-up would work in a fashion similar to that shown in FIG. 1. However it has been found that the configuration shown in FIG. 2 does not work. It has been determined that even preparing for an HSIC tap-off to HSIC analyzer 22 will interfere with HSIC communications. Connecting HSIC analyzer 22 to the circuit shown in FIG. 3 often interferes to the extent that HSIC communication fails. There are several reasons why there is such difficulty in testing HSIC communications. The most significant reason is that when the specification was developed for HSIC, it was very inclusive and broad, to allow for significant flexibility in manufacturing SoCs to include HSIC capabilities. Unfortunately, this had the unintended consequence of making it very difficult, and therefore expensive, to adequately design test equipment. In effect, because there is so much discretion in designing the HSIC communications interface, a test equipment manufacturer would have to almost know the exact specifications of the equipment under test. That would make it prohibitively expensive to design and manufacture the test equipment, as the test equipment manufacturer would not know how many other possible customers are using the same or similar specifications. Consequently, there is virtually no affordable HSIC test equipment capable of testing all HSIC communication interfaces. FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of third modified USB device 11 connected to standard HSIC host 18, in a setup similar to that shown in FIG. 3, with HSIC analyzer 22 for debug attached to between HSIC host 18 and HSIC PHY 16. In the configuration shown in FIG. 4, however, HSIC host 18 is connected to HSIC PHY 16 via a very short printed circuit board trace (with a length "I1"), and external HSIC analyzer 22 is connected to HSIC host 18 and HSIC PHY 16 via a very long USB interconnect 14b (with a length I2, typically such that I2>>I1). The influence of the "tap-off" 14b is significant in that it is very long, and a high-impedance connection. The energy that is transmitted from either HSIC PHY 16 or HSIC host 18 is reduced due to reflections that will occur at HSIC analyzer 22 resulting from the substantial differences in impedance between the much longer tap off 14b and the shorter (lower impedance) printed circuit board interconnect 14a. These reflections will introduce distortions in the HSIC signals transmitted between HSIC PHY 16 and HSIC host 18.
Not being able to test and debug HSIC communication has been found to be a major problem for HSIC product development and means that further development and verification of HSIC products are virtually impossible. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus to facilitate monitoring and protocol analysis of HSIC USB signaling without connecting to and thus compromising HSIC signal integrity.

High speed interchip HSIC USB monitoring


A novel three-way valve comprising a valve body, a valve sleeve for adjustable position mounting within the body, and a valve stem movable so as to selectively form a pathway between line recesses in the valve sleeve. Three line recesses are used to form a three way valve and the front and rear line recesses are provided around the diameter such that an increased number of apertures may be provided while reducing the diameter of the apertures themselves to provided the necessary fluid flow with a reduced throw requirement for the valve stem. Exhaust valves are provided to relieve pressure on the unused fluid path. Preferably, the apertures are equi-spaced around the recesses diameter to create a more efficient fluid flow. The valve has a knob and/or a hex key for making fine adjustments to the position of the valve sleeve for optimal efficiency.

In conventional systems, three-way valves are known, and may include a valve body forming an operating valve controlled by a valve stem. In these valves the relative movement of the valve stem to the body has the effect of directing fluid in a particular direction.
The valve will typically have three or more holes along its length with each hole separated from the other holes by a ridge or projection on the stem which seals with the valve body. Typically the ridge or projection includes an o-ring seal associated with each ridge or projection to ensure adequate sealing to prevent fluid flow. Each hole or aperture in the valve body will have a consistent diameter to ensure sufficiency of fluid flow for effective operation of the valve to enable it to process sufficient volume of fluid flow to carry out the necessary operations.
While conventional three way valves in the art may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they fail to address all of the needs in the art and they would not however be suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.

Three-way valve for use with paintball markers


A system for protecting against erosion the surface of a body which is subjected to an airflow and consists essentially of a fibrous material or a fiber-reinforced plastic material, such as a rotor blade, has a metallic coating which, in the respective area to be protected, covers the surface in several layers. The primary layer of the coating consists of aluminum or a similar material with a modulus of elasticity that is approximately identical to that of the material on the surface of the body. The primary layer, in the form of a sheet glued to the surface, is coated with a two-phase material, in which particles of metallic oxide and/or metallic carbide and/or metallic nitride compounds are embedded in a finely distributed manner in a ductile, solid-solution-hardened matrix of a metallic but non-ferrous material.

This invention relates to a system for protecting against erosion and, in particular, to protecting a surface of a body which is subject to airflow. The body may consist essentially of a fibrous material or of a fiber-reinforced plastic material, such as for a rotor blade, having a metallic coating which, in the respective area to be protected, covers the surface in several layers. The primary layer of the metallic coating consists of aluminum or a similar material with a modulus of elasticity that is approximately identical to that of the material on the surface of the body.
A protective covering of this type, which comprises an outer layer, for example, made of silver, which is applied to the primary aluminum layer by means of metal spraying, according to the German Patent Document DE-PS 674 727, has not been successful in the case of wooden propellers because of a lack of sufficient elasticity and strength of the selected metals. For helicopter rotor blades made of fiber-reinforced plastic materials, according to the German Patent Document DE-OS 37 12 705, erosion shields (also so-called erosion protection shells) made of corrosion-resistant steel or titanium are provided. These metals, however, require a hot forming of the individual erosion shield in order to adapt it with sufficient precision to the blade surface to be protected. Since, in addition, the metals have a relatively high modulus of elasticity in comparison to the composite material of the helicopter rotor blade, while the helicopter rotor blade is stressed, high tensions cannot be excluded in the adhesive connection between the erosion shield and the blade surface. This also applies to the cold-formable titanium alloy which is suggested in German Patent Document DE-OS 37 12 705 for erosion shields and in which the proportion of titanium amounts to only 76%. So far, the most frequent failure criterion for rotor blades, specifically detachments of the erosion shields, cannot yet be sufficiently reduced.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an erosion protection system of the above-described type, i.e., with a primary layer made of a material having an approximately identical modulus of elasticity as the material on the surface to be protected, and which, at the same time, has an erosion resistance with respect to rain, sand particles and the like and which at least corresponds to the erosion protection system consisting of steel or titanium.
For an erosion protection system of the above-described type, this object is achieved by providing a metallic coating which, in the respective area to be protected, covers the surface in several layers. The primary layer of the metallic coating consists of aluminum, or aluminum alloy or a similar material with a modulus of elasticity that is approximately identical to that of the material on the surface of the body. The primary layer, in the form of a sheet glued to the surface, is coated with a two-phase material, in which particles of metallic oxide and/or metallic carbide and/or metallic nitride compounds are embedded in a finely distributed manner in a ductile, solid-solution-hardened matrix of a metallic but non-ferrous material. Therefore, the erosion protection according to the present invention has on the one hand the advantage that virtually an expansion compatibility exists between the protected surface and its "metal sheet" primary layer, and therefore an overstressing of its adhesive connection while stressing the protected body (such as the rotor blade) is impossible. On the other hand, the hard particles (so-called "dispersoids") in the coating of the metal sheet ensure a high resistance to erosion even when the stress by rain and sand particles varies. In addition, even in the case of damage to the coating, the metal sheet still ensures protection of the pertaining surface. Thus, the erosion protection according to the present invention still has so-called emergency running characteristics in the case of the rotor blade. Furthermore, any erosion damage is easily recognized because of the color difference between the coating and the metal sheet. If necessary, the erosion damage is even simply eliminated "on site", as illustrated by applying the two-phase material to the sheet via a high-speed flame spraying operation. Thus, not only the costs for repair and materials are reduced, but mainly the repair time is shortened which, in the case of the rotor blade of a helicopter or the like, results in longer operating intervals and thus in reduced operating costs.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

System to protect against erosion a body subjected to an airflow


An extended band, multiple channel multiplexer 10 well-suited for use with satellite communications systems. The multiplexer utilizes a low attenuation, contiguous diplexer 18 containing contiguous diplexer filters 18a to combine two sections 11a, 11b of the multiplexer respectively containing contiguous channel filters 14a, 14b. The multiplexer comprises low attenuation, contiguous diplexer filters 18a tuned in tandem with channel filters 14a, 14b to provide contiguous multiplexing. This approach takes advantage of the constructive interaction between these filters to realize an equivalent contiguous multiplexer. This enables realization of a wide band contiguous multiplexer, which heretofore was impossible to tune. The contiguous diplexer eliminates spurious modes of the channel and diplexer filters, spurious waveguide modes, and out of band interaction between the two portions of the multiplexer. Therefore, tuning of the multiplexer is possible.

The present invention relates generally to multiplexers, and more particularly, to extended band, multiple channel satellite multiplexers.
One conventional multiplexer required the use wide band frequency gap between some of the channels of the multiplexer to realize a multiplexer/diplexer combination, which is pseudocontiguous. Additional directional filters were required to fill the frequency gap and to create contiguous multiplexer. In particular, the prior art approach used a high attenuation diplexer and a directional filter to realize contiguous multiplexing.
It would be desirable to eliminate the directional filters to provide a contiguous multiplexer. Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide for an extended band, multiple channel satellite multiplexer. It is an objective of the present invention to provide for a contiguous multiplexer that provides wide band performance using low attenuation, contiguous diplexer filters tuned in tandem with channel filters.

Wide band contiguous multiplexer having a contiguous diplexer


A method of defining an acoustic channel in a vehicle or other environment involving providing a respective definition of in-vehicle sound sources, the definitions including a definition of a respective sound associated with each sound source and a respective location within the vehicle associated with each sound source. Segments corresponding to the sounds are identified in an output signal of a microphone located in the vehicle. Definitions of acoustic channels are generated from the output signal segments in respect of the location associated with the respective sound source. The sounds relate to intrinsic parts of the vehicle, for example a door closing or a windshield wiper operating. A map of acoustic channels is maintained and used to compensate audio signals for distortion caused by a relevant acoustic channel. The acoustic map can be updated while the vehicle is driving in response to detection of sounds from the sound sources.

Vehicle manufacturers are introducing speech recognition technology into vehicles for both voice command control of vehicle equipment and as a natural language interface to wider internet-based services. This technology currently performs well with a close-talking microphone but performance drops significantly when the microphone is placed at a distance from the speaker. Sound from the speaker's mouth takes a multi-path route to the microphone because the sound is reflected off different in-vehicle surfaces and reverberated before finally entering the microphone capsule. The microphone also has a characteristic electrical response to the acoustic waves and this cascade of systems leads to distortion of the original speech, making the function of speech recognition more difficult. A similar problem arises during mobile (cellular) telephone conversations when the microphone is remote from the speaker's mouth.
Audio and speech content reproduction technology is well established in the modern vehicle but the quality and intelligibility of the reproductions is often poor. Original recordings are made in environments that are acoustically very different from that inside the vehicle and sounds that appeared bright in the recording studio may be dulled inside the vehicle because the in-vehicle environment acoustically damps out critical component frequencies. Other frequency components of sound may also be boosted by the acoustic environment inside the vehicle to the point that they dominate and create an unnatural or unbalanced listening experience for the user.
Audio capture and reproduction systems offer manufacturers potential to add new value to their vehicles and it would be desirable to provide such systems with the ability to model and correct for the distortion of sound in the vehicle by estimation of acoustic channels.

Audio distortion compensation method and acoustic channel estimation method for use with same

QUALCOMM TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, LTD.


The present invention relates to a system device and method for monitoring infant oral motor kinetics (OMK), which can be used to assess the functional significance of the different sucking components, i.e., the plasticity of infant sucking skills in relation to their oral feeding performance, at a particular time, during the developmental period and/or during preventive or therapeutic intervention programs. It is a unique system and apparatus that provides a means to study the nonnutritive and/or nutritive sucking skills, i.e., the Suction and/or Expression components of sucking, of infants in the natural setting, i.e., during a normal feeding session. OMK sensors, tracked in real-time by the monitoring system, include miniature pressure transducers, or pressure sensitive pads, attached to the nipple for measuring intraoral pressure pulses during Suction, and for measuring compression/stripping pressure pulses during Expression; and a miniature flow sensor for measuring fluid flow rate, which can be integrated over time to determine the volume of milk removed (bolus) per suck. Other signals, such as respiration, swallowing, thermal, optical, and acoustic signals can be recorded and compared along with the instrumented-nipple signals, in an OMK monitoring system.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to improved systems, methods, and devices for monitoring the oral motor kinetics of an infant during nutritive sucking (NS) and non-nutritive sucking (NNS).
Introduction
As the ability of an infant/newborn to feed by mouth safely and efficiently is dependent on the proper development of his/her oral feeding skills, researchers have developed a number of systems for monitoring infant sucking. Sucking is the mechanism used by an infant to feed in order to obtain milk/nutrition. Sucking comprises two components, Suction and Expression. Suction corresponds to the generation of a negative pressure in the oral cavity (intraoral) which draws the liquid into the mouth. Expression corresponds to the generation of a positive pressure when the tongue squeezes the nipple against the hard palate which ejects the liquid into the mouth. The systems for monitoring infant sucking fall into three categories. The first category measures the number of sucks by the number of pressure changes inside the nipple/bottle (1-3). The second monitors only the Suction component of sucking (4, 5). The third system monitors both components of sucking, Suction and Expression (6-9). Suction is defined as the negative intra-oral pressure exerted to draw milk from a bottle or breast into the mouth. Expression, is defined as the compression and/or lengthwise stripping of the nipple (bottle or breast) by the tongue, pushing up against the infant's hard palate to eject milk into the mouth (10, 11).
As the infant's oral motor skills develop, it has been shown that the Expression component appears first, followed by the Suction component (9). Infants using the Expression component alone can feed by mouth safely and successfully, albeit not as efficiently as when using a rhythmic alternation of Suction and Expression (8, 9); the latter being recognized as the full-term sucking pattern (6, 7, 9). These studies demonstrate the physiologic and functional importance of the Expression component of sucking. It has been speculated that compression primarily occurs with immature Expression, while stripping which also includes compression occurs with mature Expression. In brief, studies using monitoring systems that do not include both components of sucking, and in artificial settings, lead to an incomplete understanding of oral motor kinetics and feeding skills. This not only threatens the infants' safety and competence when feeding by mouth, but it also provides an inaccurate knowledge base for the development of oral feeding interventions.
Background of the Present Invention
An embodiment of the present invention measures oral motor kinetics of an infant. Both the Suction and Expression components of sucking were measured using a miniature pressure transducer for each component (total of 2 transducers), during normal oral feeding sessions (FIG. 1). The first system allowed monitoring with a standard bottle as used in nurseries, and in which infants obtained milk regardless of the sucking pattern they used, Expression alone or alternation of Suction/Expression. The individual Suction and Expression pressure traces were recorded simultaneously; and the overall oral feeding performance was characterized by evaluating two parameters, the percent of overall milk transfer [(volume taken/volume to be taken)×100] and the rate of milk transfer over the entire feeding period (ml/min) (8). Referring now to FIG. 1, pressure transducer plates 103 are associated with the nipple of instrumented bottle 101. A soft Silastic tubing 105 provides covering for the transducer 103 when transducer 103 is partly located outside of the nipple of bottle 104. This prevents the transducer 103 from being in direct contact with infant's oral cavity. Gray shading 102 indicates fluid for delivery through the nipple. Transducer 103 may measure negative pressure (Suction) or positive pressure (compression) or both. Suction pressure signal 109 and Expression pressure signal 111 are transmitted via wires in communication with signal processor 113. The wires are located within tubing 107. The tubing may be for example PE. In one embodiment the tube 105 is connected to tube 107. However, the signal may be transmitted wirelessly also. The processed signal [−] or [+] is displayed on monitor 115. The negative pressure is detected at transducer 103 (illustrated as a dot connected to wire 112 in the lower portion of the tip of the nipple).
The stages of infant feeding were recorded. A 5-point scale (1A; 1B; 2A; 2B; 3A; 3B; 4; 5) characterizing five developmental stages of nutritive sucking during bottle feeding, beginning with the appearance of only the Expression component, followed later by that of the Suction component (FIG. 2), was validated. Immature sucking is characterized primarily by the use of Expression-alone (Stage 1, which is less efficient); while mature sucking, as seen in infants born at term gestation, is characterized by the rhythmic alternation of Suction/Expression (Stage 5, which is more efficient). A direct relationship was demonstrated to exist between these developmental stages and the oral feeding performance parameters, as defined above (9).
The understanding of the maturation process in infant sucking skills, gained with measurements from the first OMK system, has allowed the development of preventive and therapeutic interventions to assist infants with oral feeding difficulties (12-16).

Systems for monitoring infant oral motor kinetics during nutritive and non-nutritive feeding


A propulsion system for creating a propulsive force has a combustion chamber, a pair of electrodes within the combustion chamber and a power supply attached to the electrodes to create a high voltage field within an initiation zone of the combustion chamber, and an injector for introducing a propellant, preferably in atomized form, into the high voltage field for creating the propulsive force. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the propellant is hydrogen peroxide. In another embodiment of the present invention, a second propellant is introduced into the combustion chamber for increasing the propulsive force.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a propulsion system for creating a propulsive force for a vehicle and more particularly to a propulsion system which involves the detonation of propellants, with or without secondary propellants, through electrostatic initiation of detonation, or exothermal decomposition.
(2) Prior Art
Rocket propulsion using propellants such as liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, and liquid hydrogen peroxide has been around for decades. Typically, the propellants are mixed in a combustion chamber and ignited to create a propulsive force. In some hypergolic systems, two propellants are mixed in a combustion chamber to create a propulsive force without the use of any electrical ignition.
Despite the existence of these systems, there remains a need for new rocket propulsion techniques which generate more propulsive force.


Novel colloidal calcium thio-phosphorous products are described which can be obtained by a process comprising adding at least one phosphorus sulphide to colloidal lime in the presence of solvent, then heating the mixture, with stirring, then eliminating the solvent. These products can be used as anti-wear and extreme pressure additives in lubricating oils.

There is a great deal of prior art describing the preparation of overbased colloidal products and the transformation of such products aimed at incorporating certain elements such as sulphur, phosphorus and/or boron into them.
Thus, for example, our French patent FR-B-2 645 168 describes thio-phosphorous compounds obtained by reacting at least one overbased compound with a phosphorus sulphide. The overbased compound can consist of an alkali or alkaline-earth metal salt of an acid such as a sulphonic acid, overbased by treating a reaction mixture containing that salt and at least one alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal oxide or hydroxide with a weak acid such as carbon dioxide. More particularly, the overbased compound can consist of a calcium sulphonate overbased by calcium carbonate. The overbased compound thus defined is reacted with a phosphorus sulphide such as P.sub.4 S.sub.7, P.sub.4 S.sub.9 or P.sub.4 S.sub.10, generally used in a proportion of 0.002 to 0.15 moles of phosphorus per base equivalent.
We have now discovered that colloidal thio-phosphorous products with improved properties can be prepared from lime Ca(OH).sub.2 in a colloidal form rather than from an alkali or alkaline-earth metal carbonate.
Colloidal lime has been described in our French patent application FR-A-2 722 117.
The thio-phosphorous products of the invention can generally be defined by the fact that they are the result of carrying out a process comprising the following steps:
a) adding at least one phosphorus sulphide to colloidal lime in the presence of at least one volatile organic solvent; PA0 b) heating with stirring to a temperature which can be, for example, up to the reflux temperature of the volatile solvent; and PA0 c) eliminating the volatile solvent, for example using reduced pressure. PA0 aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as hexanes or heptanes; PA0 cycloaliphatic hydrocarbons, such as cyclohexane; PA0 aromatic hydrocarbons, such as toluene or xylenes; PA0 halogenated hydrocarbons, for example chlorinated hydrocarbons such as monochloro- or dichlorobenzene, or dichloro- or trichloroethane; or PA0 heterocyclic compounds such as tetrahydrofuran.
Colloidal lime can be prepared, for example, as described in French patent application FR-A-2 722 117 cited above, by reacting calcium oxide or hydride or calcium metal with water in an organic medium and in the presence of a surfactant, for example a calcium alkylarylsulphonate.
Organic media in which the colloidal lime can be formed in step a) are:
The surfactant can be an alkylarylsulphonate of an alkali metal (sodium or potassium) or an alkaline-earth metal (magnesium, calcium or barium). It is usually a calcium alkylarylsulphonate. In the latter case, the alkylarylsulphonate can be formed in situ by reacting an alkylarylsulphonic acid with the calcium hydroxide formed in the medium.
The reaction can advantageously be carried out in the presence of a promoter, for example an aliphatic mono-alcohol such as methanol. It can also be carried out in a mineral or synthetic diluting oil. The reaction temperature is generally in the range 0.degree. C. to 80.degree. C., normally in the range 5.degree. C. to 45.degree. C.
The colloidal lime prepared generally has a calcium content whice can be as much as about 35% by weight with respect to the active matter (core of the micelle constituted by calcium hydroxide+surfactant, excluding any diluting oil). The basicity reserve of the product in its diluted form in an oil at a concentration of 30% to 60% by weight of active matter corresponds to a TBN (Total Base Number) of about 100 to 500, normally 200 to 400 mg of potassium hydroxide per gram of product. The structure of the lime constituting the core of the micelle is confirmed by infra-red analysis.
Finally, the sulphur content of the product, which originates from the alkylarylsulphonate used as the surfactant, can be, for example, 1% to 5% by weight with respect to the active matter.
In step a) of the process for the production of thio-phosphorous products of the present invention, a phosphorus sulphide such as P.sub.4 S.sub.7, P.sub.4 S.sub.9 or P.sub.4 S.sub.10, more particularly tetraphosphorus decasulphide P.sub.4 S.sub.10, is added to the colloidal lime, for example in a proportion corresponding to a phosphorus to calcium atomic ratio of 0.1 to 2.5, preferably 0.5 to 2. The colloidal lime is generally in the form in which it is obtained from the process described in French patent application FR-A-2 722 117, i.e., the composition used comprises at least one surfactant, in general a calcium alkylarylsulphonate, a volatile organic liquid, more particularly selected from those mentioned above, and a diluting oil.
Then in step b), the reaction mixture is heated with stirring, for example to the reflux temperature of the volatile solvent.
In step c), it is heated under reduced pressure to eliminate the volatile solvent.
The products of the invention are colloidal products which are in the form of inverse micelles (water-in-oil), for example at a concentration of 30% to 60% in the diluting oil used. At these concentrations, they can have a sulphur content of 1% to 15% by weight and a phosphorus content of 0.2% to 7% by weight.
They are soluble and stable in both mineral and synthetic lubricating oils, in which they can be used as anti-wear and extreme pressure additives. To this end, they can be used at concentrations of 0.5% to 20% by weight, preferably 1% to 5% by weight, for example.

Colloidal thio-phosphorous products derived from colloidal lime, their preparation and uses


Provide is a method of using a topoisomerase I inhibitor in treatment of cancer to reduce bone marrow suppression. The method includes administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition. The composition has at least one hydrophobic topoisomerase I inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugated phospholipid, wherein the molar ratio of said PEG conjugated phospholipid to said hydrophobic topoisomerase I inhibitor or said pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said hydrophobic topoisomerase I inhibitor is about 0.45:1 to about 1.05:1.

Topoisomerase I inhibitors are potent anticancer agents that interfere with the topoisomerase I, which is an essential enzyme modifying DNA structure.
Among topoisomerase I inhibitors, camptothecin ((S)-4-ethyl-4-hydroxyl-1H-pyrano-[3′4′:6,7]indolizino [1,2-b]quinoline-3,14(4H,12H)-dione)) ("CPT") and its derivatives are known for its broad-spectrum anticancer activities. However, such compounds, as well as many other topoisomerase I inhibitors, have low water solubility, low bioavailability and poor storage stability. In addition, these compounds have severe adverse reactions such as bone marrow suppression, which can result in anemia, neutropenia and/or thrombocytopenia. Therefore, the clinical applications of topoisomerase I inhibitors are limited.
In view of the deficiencies outlined above, there is a need for providing pharmaceutical compositions of topoisomerase I inhibitors with improved drug solubility, extended shelf life and in-use stability and reduced side effects.

Pharmaceutical compositions of hydrophobic camptothecin derivatives


A liquid crystal display and method of making. The display includes a layer of support material stabilizing a layer of liquid crystal material in dimensional thickness and uniformity. The invention is particularly well suit for making heat-sensitive display labels.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a liquid crystal device for displaying information and to a method from producing such a device. More specifically, to a device having liquid crystal material stabilized by a support layer of material. In one embodiment, the support layer acts as a light shutter for information supplied underneath the liquid crystal support layer. For example, the liquid crystal material is coated on at least one side of a layer of absorptive material such as paper to dimensionally stabilize the thickness and uniformity of the liquid crystal material to provide an effective light shutter in the completed device. Examples of a liquid crystal device according to the present invention include a temperature sensitive label, a variable information display for example to be fixed substantially permanently on an instrument or part, and other types of fixed or variable information display devices.
2. Prior Art
Liquid crystal displays are in common use today such as on calculators, portable computers, office equipment including printers and copiers, etc. These displays are used on these devices for providing variable information to users such as numbers, letters, other indicia such as, sensing indicator displays and other types of information. Most of these common devices provide a variable information display by activating a layer of liquid crystal material by changing the electrical and/or magnetic field, or changing the temperature such as by heating specific points in the layer of liquid crystal.
Typically, in these prior art devices liquid crystal cells are implemented for the display. The liquid crystal cells are defined by structure for containing a layer of liquid crystal due to the liquid nature of this material. The container is necessary to provide a layer of liquid crystal of sufficient thickness to provide an effective display in combination with maintaining the thickness of the layer throughout the entire plane of the display. Improved liquid crystal cells are constructed by providing ground glass particles or beads of a specific layer thickness for maintaining a fixed distance between the plates of the cell during construction and use of the display.
Other displays provide uniform thickness liquid crystal layers by microencapsulating liquid material in a matrix such as plastic resin, which is cast or machined into a uniform layer. Still others devices appear to form a liquid crystal composition that includes chemical components to dimensionally stabilize the layer by changing the phase of the material to a solid.


A chip includes a dielectric layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, a first semiconductor layer overlying and bonded to the top surface of the dielectric layer, and a first Metal Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) transistor of a first conductivity type. The first MOS transistor includes a first gate dielectric overlying and contacting the first semiconductor layer, and a first gate electrode overlying the first gate dielectric. A second semiconductor layer is underlying and bonded to the bottom surface of the dielectric layer. A second MOS transistor of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type includes a second gate dielectric underlying and contacting the second semiconductor layer, and a second gate electrode underlying the second gate dielectric.

In present semiconductor technology, Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) devices, such as n-type Metal oxide Semiconductor (MOS) transistors and p-type MOS transistors, are typically fabricated on semiconductor wafers. The semiconductor wafers are typically silicon wafers. Most of today's semiconductor devices are built on silicon substrates having a (100) crystal orientation, which substrates are referred to as (100) substrates.
Electrons are known to have high mobility in silicon substrate having a (100) silicon crystal orientation, and holes are known to have high mobility in silicon substrate having a (110) crystal orientation. Typically, the electron mobility in a (100) silicon substrate is roughly two times to about four times higher than the hole mobility values in the same substrate. On the other hand, the hole mobility in a (110) silicon substrate is about two times higher than that in a (100) silicon substrate. Therefore, the p-type MOS transistors formed on a (110) surface will exhibit significantly higher drive currents than the p-type MOS transistors formed on a (100) surface. Unfortunately, the electron mobility on (110) surfaces are significantly degraded compared to that on (100) surfaces.
In addition, p-type MOS transistors and n-type MOS transistors have different preferences regarding the strains. The performance of a MOS transistor can be enhanced through a stressed-surface channel. This technique allows the performance of a MOS transistor to be improved at a constant gate length, without adding complexity to circuit fabrication or design. Research has revealed that a tensile stress in the channel-length direction can improve the performance of n-type MOS transistors, and a compressive stress in channel length-direction can improve the performance of p-type MOS transistors.

Double sided NMOS/PMOS structure and methods of forming the same

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


This invention provides a fastener (20) that is adapted to be mounted in a hole provided in a wall (not shown). The improved fastener comprises: an elongated tubular body (21) having a first end (23) and a second end (24), having an outwardly-extending flange (25) adjacent the first end, having an intermediate portion (27), and having a distal marginal end portion (37) adjacent the second end, the body also having an abutment surface (32) facing toward the second end; and a member (22) adapted to be inserted into the body through the second end, the member having an abutment surface (40) adapted to bear against the body abutment surface, and having an outer polygonal surface (41); and wherein the body marginal end portion (37) is adapted to be plastically deformed about the member to hold the member within the body.

Fasteners exist in a myriad of different forms and shapes.
With a rivet, a tubular portion is generally passed through an opening in a wall. A head on the rivet engages one side of the wall, an intermediate portion passes through the wall opening, and a marginal end tubular portion extends beyond the wall. This marginal end portion is thereafter deformed into tight engagement with the wall.
It is sometimes necessary to provide a threaded portion on such a member. Such a portion may be either internally or externally threaded, as desired.
Accordingly, there is believed to be a need for an improved rivet-like fastener having a threaded portion thereon.

Fastener assembly having marginal end portion of body deformed about captured nut


The present disclosure is directed to a panel for secure display of articles. In one embodiment, a panel is formed of recyclable material and configured to display an article on a holder, the article having a receiving loop integrally formed thereon. The panel includes an internal tab coplanar with the panel and extending into an opening in the panel, the tab having a narrow section defining at least one hook portion extending from the tab, the hook portion abutting an interior edge of the panel, the hook portion cooperating with the interior edge of the panel to allow the loop to be received over the tab and to retain the loop in engagement with the narrow section.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to packaging for the display of articles and, more particularly, to recyclable header cards for securely displaying articles on racks, hooks, hangers, and the like, and to a system in which an integrally formed receiving loop on the article cooperates with a hooked tab formed on the header card.
2. Description of the Related Art
Non-recyclable packaging on consumer goods contributes to the worldwide problem of post-consumer waste. Current packaging systems for displaying articles at the point of sale require various combinations of materials. For example, products are attached to header cards with various types of fasteners, usually with material dissimilar to the header card material. In many instances the fasteners pass directly through the product in order to attach the product to the header card. This requires the fastener to puncture the product, which at a minimum can compromise the integrity of the product as well as damage the appearance of the product. When such fasteners are removed, they can further damage the product as well as make it difficult to recycle the waste.
Other methods for attaching an item to a header card include adhesive, such as glue, or plastic wrapping. While providing a high level of security for the product, these materials prevent the consumer from easily removing the product from the header card without damaging the product. In addition, it is desirable that products on display at a point of purchase facilitate examination by the consumer. For example, in order to ensure proper fit, consumers will attempt to insert their hand into a glove while the glove is attached to the header card. While some current methods for displaying articles from header cards facilitate trying on small clothing products, they are not environmentally responsible.


The field of the invention relates generally to a method for preparing very-high or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. More particularly, the present invention related to a method of preparing very-high or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene using a supported catalyst comprising a support, an activator and a metal-ligand complex, as well as the catalyst itself. The present invention additionally relates to a method of using a supported catalyst comprising a support, an activator and co-supported metal-ligand complexes to obtain a bi-modal molecular weight distribution of polyethylene.

The field of the invention relates generally to a method for preparing very-high or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of preparing very-high or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene using a supported catalyst comprising a support, an activator and a metal-ligand complex, as well as the catalyst itself. The present invention additionally relates to a method of using a supported catalyst comprising a support, an activator and co-supported metal-ligand complexes to obtain very-high or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene with a bi-modal molecular weight distribution.
Ancillary (or spectator) ligand-metal coordination complexes (e.g., organometallic complexes) and compositions are useful as catalysts, additives, stoichiometric reagents, solid-state precursors, therapeutic reagents and drugs. Ancillary ligand-metal coordination complexes of this type can be prepared by combining an ancillary ligand with a suitable metal compound or metal precursor in a suitable solvent at a suitable temperature. The ancillary ligand contains functional groups that bind to the metal center(s), remain associated with the metal center(s), and therefore provide an opportunity to modify the steric, electronic and chemical properties of the active metal center(s) of the complex.
Certain known ancillary ligand-metal complexes and compositions are catalysts for reactions such as oxidation, reduction, hydrogenation, hydrosilylation, hydrocyanation, hydroformylation, polymerization, carbonylation, isomerization, metathesis, carbon-hydrogen activation, carbon-halogen activation, cross-coupling, Friedel-Crafts acylation and alkylation, hydration, dimerization, trimerization, oligomerization, Diels-Alder reactions and other transformations.
One example of the use of these types of ancillary ligand-metal complexes and compositions is in the field of polymerization catalysis. In connection with single site catalysis, the ancillary ligand typically offers opportunities to modify the electronic and/or steric environment surrounding an active metal center. This allows the ancillary ligand to assist in the creation of possibly different polymers. Group 4 metallocene based single site catalysts are generally known for polymerization reactions. See, generally, "Chemistry of Cationic Dicyclopentadienyl Group 4 Metal-Alkyl Complexes", Jordan, Adv. Organometallic Chem., 1991, Vol. 32, pp. 325-153 and the references therein, all of which is incorporated herein by reference. One application for metallocene catalysts is in the production of polyolefins, such as in the production of polyethylene.
A type of polyethylene of particular value is ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene ("UHMWPE"). Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene is a valuable engineering plastic, with a unique combination of abrasion resistance, surface lubricity, chemical resistance, and impact strength, and very high tensile strength as a fiber. See, for example, Stein, H. L., Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), pp. 167-171, in ENGINEERED MATERIALS HANDBOOK, Volume 2: Engineering Plastics, ASM International, 1998. Industrial uses include, for example, liners for bulk material handling, nautical rope, truck bed linings and metal shaft bushings. UHMWPE is the product of a cheap monomer (ethylene) and a relatively simple process (typical slurry HDPE processes), using fairly conventional Ziegler catalysts. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,440 and EP 0575840 B1.
Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene may typically be characterized by a molecular weight of at least about 3×106 g/mol, with molecular weights from about 3×106 g/mol to about 10×106 g/mol being typical. In contrast, very-high molecular weight polyethylene may typically be characterized by a molecular weight from about 1×106 g/mol to less than about 3×106 g/mol and high molecular weight polyethylene may typically be characterized by a molecular weight of greater than about 3×105 g/mol to less than about 1×106 g/mol. Conventional UHMWPE resin does not exhibit a measurable melt index and cannot be processed using conventional polyolefin melt processing techniques such as, for example, injection molding, blow molding, rotomolding or film blowing or casting. Rather, UHMWPE is conventionally processed by compression molding or ram extrusion. Compression molding and ram extrusion are relatively slow processing techniques and require products to be machined from the resulting sheets or rods. The main limitation to wider use of UHMWPE is the difficulty of processability.
Broad or bimodal molecular weight distribution polymer compositions are compositions that typically include one or more high molecular weight polymers and one or more low molecular weight polymers. In bimodal molecular weight distribution polymer compositions, the weight fraction of the high molecular weight polymer may range from, for example, 0.10 to 0.90. The relative amount of high molecular weight polymer in the polymer composition can influence the rheological properties of the composition. One such measurable rheological property of bimodal polymer compositions is its melt flow rate (e.g. I21, measured at 190° C., with a 21.6 kg load according to ASTM D-1238). By increasing the weight fraction of low molecular weight polymers in the polymer composition, the polymer composition may generally exhibit improved flow characteristics.
Conventional techniques to improve the processability of UHMWPE involve the melt blending of a lower molecular weight polymer with UHMWPE compositions, or involve use of two reactors in series. Such techniques have generally proven to be insufficient due to difficulty in uniformly dispersing the lower molecular weight polymer into the composition. Such poorly blended compositions are characterized by a decrease in impact strength and wear resistance compared to unblended UHMWPE.
While the melt processability to the UHMWPE can be greatly improved by blending with lower molecular weight polymers, this comes at the price of reduction in the key desirable properties of UHMWPE. One problem is the difficulty of achieving a homogeneous blended product. The extremely low melt viscosity of the UHMWPE makes it very difficult to fully dissolve & disperse the UHMWPE particles, resulting in a "pumpable slurry" in the worst cases. This results in a marked decrease in impact strength and wear resistance compared to unblended UHMWPE. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,110,391, U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,070, U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,687, U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,935, U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,287, U.S. Pat. No. 5,393,473, U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,061, U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,061, U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,992, U.S. Pat. No. 6,521,709, U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,923, and WO 02/046297.
Melt-processable blends of UHMWPE and HDPE (high density polyethylene) have also been prepared using 2-stage reactor technology. Typically, ethylene is polymerized in the absence of hydrogen to produce UHMWPE in the first stage, then in the presence of hydrogen to produce lower molecular weight HDPE in the second stage. Resulting granular products are intra-granular blends. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,687, EP 0274536 B2, both employing conventional Ziegler catalysts.
It has been demonstrated that bimodal polyethylenes may be prepared by simultaneous polymerization of ethylene (and optionally α-olefin comonomer(s)) to produce a lower molecular weight polyethylene component and a high molecular weight polyethylene component by use of co-supported "bimetallic" catalysts in a single reactor (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,562, U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,076, U.S. Pat. No. 5,614,456, U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,525, WO 02/090393, WO 02/44222, and WO 03/048213, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all relevant and consistent purposes). The resulting compositions possess a high degree of dispersion due to the intra-granular blending that occurs during the simultaneous polymerization. Compared to series-reactor products, improved intra-granular blending is possible by growing both components simultaneously. While these in-reactor blends produced by use of co-supported catalysts in a single reactor have been demonstrated for polyethylenes with regular and high molecular weights, catalyst systems capable of producing bimodal ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene have not been effectively demonstrated.
UHMWPE fibers are typically produced using a gel spinning process, typically using a 2-step process that produces fibers with highly oriented UHMWPE chains, resulting in superb tensile strength. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,394, U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,138, U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,110, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,807. UHMWPE compositions with narrow molecular weight distributions may offer improved properties for fiber applications.
In view of the foregoing, a need continues to exist for catalyst compositions that may be used to prepare ultra-high molecular weight polyolefins, and in particular UHMWPE compositions, with desirable molecular weight distribution (MWD), either narrow MWD (e.g. for fiber applications), or bimodal MWD (e.g. for improved melt flow properties). Additionally, a need exists for catalyst compositions that may be used to produce UHMWPE compositions with a bimodal molecular weight distribution, thus avoiding the need for blending and problems associated therewith. A further need exists for methods of producing UHMWPE that provide for the production of such polymers that have a specific target molecular weight and molecular weight distribution.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for producing very-high or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene


The invention relates to a measuring device for a portable ultrasonic flow measuring system, which measuring device comprises two sensor heads. Each of the sensor heads comprises a sensor housing on which there is provided a sensing surface intended to be placed on or against a measuring tube. An ultrasonic transceiver is provided in each sensor housing for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves through the sensing surface. Additionally, the measuring device comprises a control and evaluation device for measuring a transit time difference for ascertaining the velocity of flow of a medium flowing through a measuring tube. Provision is made for each ultrasonic transceiver in the sensor head to be disposed therein parallel to the sensing surface in the sensor housing. The invention further relates to a measuring tube adapted for use with the measuring device of the invention and an information carrier that contains information concerning the measuring tube.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a portable ultrasonic flow measuring system.
2. Background
Various measuring methods are known for ascertaining the rate of flow through a tube. The invention relates to the ascertainment of the rate of flow by means of ultrasound. Such measuring systems are also referred to as ultrasonic flow measuring systems. Two methods are prevalent for ascertaining the rate of flow by means of ultrasound: the ultrasonic Doppler method that implements the Doppler Effect and the ultrasonic transit time method that ascertains differences in transit times of transmitted signals and, based on the same, ascertains the velocity of a fluid or medium flowing through a measuring tube. The invention relates to substantially ultrasonic flow measuring systems operating according to the ultrasonic transit time method.
The principle of the ultrasonic transit time method is explained below in greater detail with reference to FIG. 11. For execution of this measuring method, basically at least two ultrasonic transceivers 151, 152 are required, which are used for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The two ultrasonic transceivers 151 and 152 are attached to a measuring tube 153 such that one transceiver 151 is disposed slightly more downstream than the other. Ultrasonic signals are then transmitted by the first ultrasonic transceiver 151 to the second ultrasonic transceiver 152, and a transit time T1 is measured. Similarly, ultrasonic signals are transmitted by the second ultrasonic transceiver 152 to the first ultrasonic transceiver 151, and again a transit time T2 of the ultrasonic signal is measured. It is necessary for the two ultrasonic transceivers 151 and 152 to be appropriately aligned with each other.
The path of the sound between the two ultrasonic transceivers 151 and 152 is referred to as the signal path 154. An exact alignment of the two ultrasonic transceivers 151 and 152 with each other is important, since otherwise the transmitted signals cannot be received. It might also happen that the signal received is not the direct signal but one reflected by the wall of the measuring tube. This would falsify the measurement.
In FIG. 11, the direction of flow of the fluid flowing through the measuring tube is denoted by an arrow. When ultrasonic signals are now transmitted by the transceiver 151 to the transceiver 152, they move in the direction of flow. The ultrasonic signals transmitted by the transceiver 152 to the transceiver 151 move against the direction of flow. Due to the direction of flow, there is a time difference between the transit time of the ultrasonic waves in the direction of flow T1 and the transit time of the ultrasonic waves against the direction of flow T2. This difference in the transit times is dependent on the velocity of flow. Therefore, the velocity of flow of the medium can be determined by means of the equation
  v  =                    (                              T            2                    -                      T            1                          )                              T          1                                  T          2                      ·          L              2                          cos                                (            α            )                              where v is the velocity of flow of the medium, T1 is the transit time of the ultrasonic signal in the direction of flow, T2 is the transit time of the ultrasonic signal against the direction of flow, L is the length of the ultrasonic signal path, and a is the angle of the ultrasonic signal to the direction of flow.
The volumetric rate of flow can be ascertained from the thus determined velocity of flow of the medium in the measuring tube and from the diameter or cross-sectional area of the measuring tube.
Apart from the direct sound path, as denoted by the solid line in FIG. 11, it is also possible to use a signal path reflected on the wall of the measuring tube or a signal path that includes the reflection thereof by the wall of the measuring tube. The reflected signal path is denoted by the dashed line in FIG. 11. In this case, the transceiver 152 would not be used, but rather, a transceiver 152′ would be used in its place. The increased length of the measured distance results in fundamentally more accurate measured values.
However, due to the variables required for computing the velocity of flow such as the angle α and the length L of the ultrasonic signal path, it is important to detect the geometry of the measuring set-up with a high degree of accuracy. Also situations in which the number of reflections is not known should be avoided, since otherwise the length of the ultrasonic signal path would be misjudged.
Basically, two different types of ultrasonic flow measuring systems operating according to the transit time measuring system are known. The first of these consist of permanently installed systems. In these systems, the ultrasonic transceiver is located permanently on or in the measuring tube. This allows the transceivers to be geometrically arranged to a high degree of accuracy. However, the disadvantage of this system is that the sensors must basically remain in or on the tube and thus involve increased capital expenditure. Such systems are mostly used only when substantially continuous monitoring of the flow is required.
By contrast, so-called clamp-on flow meters are known in which ultrasonic sensor heads of an ultrasonic flow measuring system are attached to a measuring tube from outside. This measuring system can be dismantled on completion of the measurement and set up again at another measuring point. However, the disadvantage thereof is that the high requirements of accuracy concerning the geometrical orientation and the transmission of the ultrasonic signals call for a laborious process of installation and adjustment. In addition, the data measured by means of clamp-on devices are far less accurate than data provided by permanently installed systems.
A development of the measuring systems having permanently installed sensors is disclosed in DE 10 2008 033 701 A1. In this case, a special measuring tube is provided, to which an ultrasonic measuring device can be fixed mechanically. The system described in this citation is employed particularly in fields in which continuous measurement is necessary. The advantages of this system are that it is not necessary to remove the complete tube for the purpose of calibrating the measuring system, as is the case in permanently installed measuring sensors, but rather, it is possible to remove only the ultrasonic measuring device. However, in order to ensure that only one specific ultrasonic measuring device can be positioned on a specific measuring tube so as to effect calibration of the tube, additional mechanical identification elements are provided.
However, the ensuing disadvantage is that the ultrasonic measuring device can only be used on this measuring tube, and there is no possibility of flexible use thereof as in the case of clamp-on measuring devices.
US 2008/0236297 A1 describes an ultrasonic measuring device for examining blood vessels. The ultrasonic device comprises a measuring head comprising ultrasonic transceivers that form a measuring path through a central open region of the measuring head, where the blood vessel being examined is fixed in position by means of an inner sleeve attached to an interior surface of the measuring head.
WO 2009/071960 A1 discloses a device for ascertaining the velocity of flow in a tube by means of ultrasound. This is achieved by placing an ultrasonic transmitter on the measuring tube so as to oppose two ultrasonic receivers. Either the transmitter emits wide-angle radiation or it comprises two obliquely disposed transmitters for transmitting ultrasonic waves to the two receivers.
DE 2006 036 720 A1 describes a tube comprising an information carrier that is capable of recording and storing information.

Portable ultrasonic flow measuring system having a measuring device with adjustable sensor heads relative to each other