A method and computer system for auto-routing of multi-hop pseudowires is presented. A first Provider Edge (PE) device receives an advertisement from a layer 2 (L2) capable network device, the advertisement including routing state for reaching the L2 device. A first Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) table is populated with the routing state for the L2 capable network device which is reachable by way of an address family reserved for L2 end point reachability information. The first PE device advertises the first BGP table information within a first Service Provider (SP) network such that a multi-hop Pseudowire is capable of being established which includes the L2 capable device.

Computer networks have become ubiquitous. Computer networks include the Internet, Service Provider (SP) networks, private networks, and Local Area Networks (LANs). A network such as an SP network may include peripherally located Provider Edge (PE) routers, each of which couples to one or multiple Customer Edge (CE) routers. The PE routers are used to maintain routing and forwarding context for each customer. The CE routers may couple to private LANs associated with one or multiple customers. The private LANs are also referred to as core networks. The PE routers learn local customer routes from the CE routers and distribute remote customer routes to the CE router. The PEs use Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) to distribute customer routes to each other. To support operation, the PE routers typically maintain Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) information in a table (a VRF table) dictating how to route and forward traffic through the shared physical network to support corresponding Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for the different customers. Typically, the SP network selectively couples the LANs to each other through links created between its PE routers. For the core network, an ingress PE uses BGP functions to determine the egress PE. The ingress PE puts the packet in a two-level Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) stack. The top label is used to tunnel packets to the egress PE to accomplish MPLS forwarding through the core network. The bottom label is used by the egress PE to identify the outgoing route for the packet.
VPNs provide a secured means for transmitting and receiving data between network nodes even though a corresponding physical network supporting propagation of the data is shared by many users (and VPNs). In a typical networking environment used for routing data, the environment may include a number of Customer Edge (CE) routers, a number of Provider Edge (PE) routers and a packet-switched network (PSN). Data, encapsulated in layer-2 frames, may be forwarded from a first CE router to a first PE router, from the first PE router across the PSN to a second PE router, and from the second PE router to a second CE router. A Pseudowire (PW) may be utilized to transfer data across the PSN. A Pseudowire is a mechanism that emulates attributes of a service such as Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Frame Relay (FR), Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), High Level Data Link Control (HDLC), Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) Frames or Ethernet over a PSN. The functions provided by the PW include encapsulating Protocol Data Units (PDUs) arriving at an ingress port, carrying them across a path or tunnel, managing their timing and order, and any other operations required to emulate the behavior and characteristics of the particular service. In a particular embodiment, PWs are used to carry ingress layer-2 traffic from an ingress PE router to an egress PE router, and then forward the layer-2 traffic out of an egress port of the egress PE router.
In conventional systems, a PDU (e.g., a frame) traverses the networking environment beginning at a first CE router and ending up at a second CE router. The first CE router sends a layer-2 PDU to an ingress PE router. The ingress PE router receives the PDU and encapsulates the PDU with MPLS labels which are used to identify the individual port/circuit and the egress layer-3 PE router. The encapsulated PDU is then forwarded on the PW, across the packet-switched network, to an egress layer-3 PE router. The egress layer-3 PE router removes the MPLS label that identifies the port/circuit that was added by the ingress PE router and forwards the layer-2 PDU to the second CE router.

Method for auto-routing of multi-hop pseudowires


A function monitor (10) broadly comprises a detector (14) to sense a condition, a transmitter (18) to monitor the detector (14), and a base unit (20) to receive a status signal from the transmitter (18) indicative of the detector's status. The detector (14) may comprise a pressure switch, a position switch, a level switch, a temperature switch, and/or virtually any device that may be used to electrically monitor the condition. The transmitter (18) preferably receives power through a wireless connection to the base unit (20). The base unit (20) preferably receives the status signal from the pallet transmitter (18) over the wireless connection and actuates a output (30) according to the status signal. The output (30) that may be used to warn an operator of the condition, or take other necessary actions, such as preventing a pump from running.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to function monitors. More particularly, the present invention provides a wireless function monitor capable of conveniently monitoring a condition or function and reporting the condition with no physical connections.
2. Description of Prior Art
Current methods of monitoring functions, such as fluid pressure, require wiring function detectors to signaling devices. However, detectors and signaling devices are typically mounted in different locations. For example, detectors are typically mounted below eye level near workpieces while signaling devices are typically mounted at eye-level in order to signal operators. This requires cabling between the detectors and signaling devices. Unfortunately, such cabling is often in the way of operators and obstructs vision and movement. Additionally, cabling is often damaged because it must frequently flex during machining which leads to fatigue and failure. Thus, cabling can be troublesome and must be replaced frequently.
Similar issues may arise in many other situations, thereby making it desirous to monitor a function without physical connections. For example, it is often impractical, if not impossible, to monitor conditions on moving vehicles.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved function monitor that overcomes the limitations of the prior art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Disclosed is a device for cooling and/or rinsing at least one steel wire and/or tape, with a member for conveying at least one steel wire and/or tape, a basin which contains a cooling and/or rinsing liquid and is provided with outlets from which a certain number of successive liquid curtains flow in a turbulent manner, the at least one steel wire and/or tape being conveyed through the liquid curtains, and an adjustor for adjusting the number of successive curtains to be penetrated by the at least one steel wire and/or tape according to the cooling and/or rinsing that is to be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for cooling and/or rinsing at least one steel wire and/or ribbon.
2. Description of Background Art
Cooling baths for wires intended for quenching steel wires with a view to obtaining transformation thereof have been known for a long time. It is possible to cite for example the patenting of steel wires comprising an isothermal quenching, that is to say a rapid cooling of tyres brought at the austenitic temperature into a perlitic formation zone where the wires are maintained more or less isothermally in order to ensure the substantially complete decomposition of the austenite and a detensioning of the steel.
Methods are known making use of molten lead or salt baths in which the wires to be cooled are immersed. These methods, which are very effective, are to be proscribed at the present time for reasons of toxicity and hazard to the environment.
Methods are also known making use of aqueous baths. During immersion in such a water bath, with laminar non-turbulent flow, a film of vapour forms all around the wires to be cooled, which slows down the cooling (see for example EP-A-0 216 434).
In order to judiciously control the intensity and speed of cooling, as well as keeping the wires as isothermal as possible during their perlitic transformation, it has also been proposed to make the wires pass through several laminar-flow water baths, with on each occasion the formation of a film of vapour around the wires to be cooled, and, between various aqueous baths, in alternation a cooling by air, during which the vapour film disappears (see for example EP-B-0 524 689). Such a method has the drawback of being technically very difficult to apply and to calculate in order to correctly determine when the steel wires have reached the required temperature.
Devices for cooling steel wires are also known comprising nozzles from which high-pressure water jets can be applied to the wires to be treated (see BE-A-832391). This fairly complex device does not allow fine adjustment of the cooling temperature, requires the use of a high-pressure circulation pump and a circuit of pipes, reservoirs and nozzles which are susceptible to problems of blockage.
Aqueous baths are also known whose purpose is the rinsing of steel wires for example before and/or after an acid pickling bath.
It should be noted that all these liquid baths according to the prior art require a liquid pumping system which consumes a great deal of energy.

Device for cooling and/or rinsing steel wires and/or tapes


An inking or dampening unit includes an applicator roll mounted on levers so that the application roll can be pivoted about a distributor cylinder onto a form cylinder with a controlled throwing-on force.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an inking or dampening unit of a rotary press, having at least one applicator roll pivotally mounted on levers so that the applicator roll is pivotable onto a form cylinder of the rotary press.
2. Description of the Prior Art
GB 2132944 discloses an inking unit, in which an ink applicator roll can be pivoted about a distributor cylinder and can be thrown onto a form cylinder at the same time. The applicator roll is mounted on both sides in levers. Adjustable stops against which the levers can be moved serve to adjust the applicator roll on the form cylinder. A disadvantage is the complexity of the setting and subsequent adjustment of the stops.

Inking or dampening unit including adjustable throw-on force for setting imprint width


A flexible, user-friendly computer-implemented image processing system is provided. The system includes a process to receive an image rendering request. The image rendering request includes an indication of raw image data and an indication of desired rendering output characteristics. A rendering process is configured to process the raw image data to generate at least one rendered image, based on an indication of a particular image acquisition device employed to generate the raw image data. In accordance with some embodiments, the rendering process includes a plurality of rendering sub-processes. Each sub-process corresponds to a separate image acquisition device, and the rendering process is configured to process the raw image data based on the sub-process corresponding to the indication of the particular image acquisition device employed to generate the raw image data.

Photography is a complex art in which the final products—photographs—are produced (typically on paper) from photo-optical information about subject scenes, as sensed by photographic film with the aid of a camera. It has long been recognized, e.g. by L. A. Jones in the 1930s, that a rendered reproduction whose brightness or reflectance ratios objectively matches the scene luminance ratios is not a very "good" photograph. Rather, it is desirable to "render" measured scene luminance to an artistically and psycho-visually preferred reproduction. In the field of black-and-white photography, this approach was developed to a high degree by Ansel Adams with his "zone system" of photography. A combination of techniques involving the camera, the scene lighting, the film, the film developing, and the film printing give the photographer a great deal of control over how a scene is rendered to produce an aesthetically pleasing photographic reproduction. The same techniques, and more, are applied in color photography.
Even standard "one-hour" or "drugstore" photo processing labs, and the design of standard films and papers, incorporate years of experience of making rendering decisions in an attempt to give the user an acceptable reproduction for most typical situations. Modern digital cameras and scanners similarly incorporate automatic rendering intelligence in an attempt to deliver acceptable image files—at least in the case of typical scenes. These approaches take the rendering decisions out of the hands of the photographer and, therefore, are not universally acceptable to serious professional and amateur photographers. Furthermore, the image files thus produced lead to degraded images if the tone curve is subsequently modified, as one might do with an image editing program such as Adobe Photoshop. This degradation is due to re-quantization noise. The degradation is very bad if the file is stored using lossy image compression such as JPEG, but is still significant even for files stored as uncompressed RGB data such as 8-bit TIFF, especially if the initial rendering has caused clipping of highlights, shadows, or colors.
Networked storage, retrieval, processing, and printing services related to image data are known in the art. Conventionally, images uploaded to such centralized services are generally regarded as "rendered images", such as are typically generated locally by image acquisition devices such as digital cameras or by film scanners; that is, the uploaded digital image data are representations of an intended reproduction, such as a print or a screen display. Adjustments to the rendered images may be supported within the service, but rendering decisions that have already been committed in the image acquisition device limit the range of adjustments possible, and limit the quality of reproductions that differ from the original rendering (since information of the original scene has been eliminated).
Digital cameras that save raw (unrendered) scene data are also known in the art. By saving raw scene data, instead of processed rendered images, flexibility is retained to generate high-quality rendered images later, after interactive specification of rendering parameters such as tone curves, sharpening, and color adjustments. Conventionally, software to perform such interactive specification of rendering parameters, and rendering from the raw scene data according to the specified rendering parameters, is typically provided in a unique form by each camera manufacturer that offers a "raw data file" option.
For example, professional digital cameras such as the Foveon II camera manufactured and sold by Foveon, Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif., have the capability to create raw data files and to save the raw data files locally (e.g., on an attached computer). A corresponding processing program, such as FoveonLab for the Foveon II camera, allows the user to control the rendering interactively. The raw data files created by the camera of each manufacturer are typically in a format proprietary to that manufacturer. As a result, there is a dearth of third-party software available for generating rendered images from the raw data files. In addition, the programs of the various manufacturers typically operate differently enough from each other that a proficient user of one such program must endure a rather steep learning curve before becoming a proficient user of another such program. Furthermore, whereas some such programs may have features that are particularly useful or function well for a particular purpose, a user cannot easily utilize these features with other programs.
With respect to access to raw data, the computer processing the raw data requires access to the raw data. As a result, the user must either manage the raw file storage locally, or the data should be accessible from a storage server at a reasonable data rate to support the interaction. Such raw data files are not widely readable or interoperable. As a result, the raw data files are not generally compatible with software applications nor are they generally suitable for sharing via a network.
In addition, after the user renders the image to an output file, of the desired artistic style and quality level, the rendered image is typically sent again over the network to a print server, at a remote site, to obtain a high-quality print. The user may also manage the mapping, or re-rendering, of data representing his desired reproduction into a specialized colorspace for the target printer, and therefore may need to manage several different output files to target different printers. The proliferation of raw and rendered files for the user to create, store, view, manage, and send to others creates an undesired complexity.
What is desired is a user-friendly system to flexibly and efficiently manage quality image rendering from raw image data.

Flexible image rendering system utilizing intermediate device-independent unrendered image data


A positive pressure test apparatus for fit testing a facepiece respirator having an exhalation valve, including a cover portion having a central bore with an inwardly directed shoulder at the base. A plunger is provided having a stem, a button portion on one end and a flange portion on the opposite end. The stem is situated within the central bore, the button portion extending above the surface of the cover portion in a rest position, and the flange portion extending below the inwardly directed shoulder. Bias means are located in engagement with the button portion and the shoulder for biasing the plunger from the rest position to a depressed position, wherein the button is flush with the surface of the cover portion and the flange portion seals the exhalation valve. A mounting means is provided to attach the positive pressure test apparatus to the respirator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a positive pressure test apparatus and, more particularly, to a facepiece respirator including a positive pressure test apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Facepiece respirators are commonly used as protection against inhaling airborne contaminants. The airborne contaminants may be gaseous or liquid droplets or solid particulates entrained in a gas such as air. Dusts, paint spray, mist, fumes and gaseous organic solvents are examples of such substances. These respirators are either of the positive pressure type where clean air is forced under pressure into the respirator for breathing by the user, or the negative pressure type where the inhalation of the user draws ambient environment into the respirator for breathing. In the latter instance, the respirator is provided with means, such as one or more filter cartridges, which extract airborne contaminants from the environment as it is drawn into the respirator, thereby rendering the environment suitable for breathing. Both types of respirators utilize exhalation valves, which are one-way valves used to prevent airborne contaminants from entering the respirator as the user exhales.
Leakage of contaminated ambient environment into the respirator, such as between the peripheral edges of the respirator and the user's face, is a serious consideration. Such leakage defeats the purpose of the respirator and results in the user inhaling the contaminant.
Three agencies are involved with the control, regulation or recommendation as to the acceptable practice in regard to respirator protection. These agencies are the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and American Congress of Governmental Industrial Hygiene (ACGIH). NIOSH has the principal responsibility for testing and certifying respiratory protection equipment to include both face pieces, cartridges and assemblies testing. Criteria is established by NIOSH based upon extensive medical evaluation of exposure levels for occupational substances.
OSHA has been mandated by Congress to establish safe workplace conditions and to promulgate laws to enforce such conditions. OSHA has public hearings before promulgation of such occupational levels. Once the law has been instituted by Congress, OSHA is mandated to enforce the newly passed legislation. Traditionally OSHA has promulgated laws to reflect the permissible exposure levels (PEL's) which establishes the average conditions employees cannot exceed.
ACGIH is an agency which has established occupational exposure levels to hazardous substances in the workplace since the 1930's. ACGIH has been a consensus industry standard and generally has established "Ceiling Concentrations" and Threshold Limit Values (TLV's) which define concentration levels to which nearly every worker can be exposed without any deleterious health effect. Time Weighted Average (TWA), another related measurement of concentration, is used within the health discipline to refer to average concentration per limit of time, normally an eight hour work day.
Respirators are typically tested against the TWA and/or TLV of a particular hazardous substance to establish the efficiency of the respirator. Each respirator and filter combination is tested for typical airborne contaminants for which the respirator and filter are intended to be effective.
The effectiveness of the negative pressure type respirators is largely determined by the filters used, as well as the fit of the respirator on the user's face. Alternatively, because a positive pressure type respirator utilizes clean air forced under pressure into the respirator without filters, the primary factor in determining its effectiveness is the leakage allowable. Leakage of a respirator of the positive pressure type can be determined by the fit of the respirator to the face of the user. The term "leakage" refers to the passage of the ambient environment into the interior of the respirator. To aid in establishing an effective seal between the respirator and the user's face, the respirator is provided with a resilient peripheral rim for engaging the face, and is held in position by a series of adjustable straps. An initial fitting operation involves selecting an appropriately sized respirator, applying the respirator to the user, placing the user in a controlled challenge atmosphere, causing the user to breath, and capturing a portion of the gas from inside the respirator for analysis for the "challenge" substance. This process, or other suitable quantitative test, is repeated as many times as necessary, with intervening fit adjustments until an acceptable level of the challenge substance is detected within the respirator.
Typically, qualitative fit tests of facepiece respirators are performed to verify that the respirator has been applied properly to the face. The tests should be performed in uncontaminated air, immediately before entering the contaminated area. If any leakage is detected, the respirator must be readjusted until there is no leakage. The procedure involves temporarily covering the outlet openings to the exhalation valve with one or two hands, or with a piece of tape, plastic film, paper or the like, and exhaling into the mask. The mask will become slightly distended if the seal to the user's face is acceptable. The fit is satisfactory if the facepiece remains in the distended condition for a period of about ten seconds and no outward leakage of air is detected. While blocking the exhalation valve is an effective method to fit check facepiece respirators of the positive pressure type, it is noted that the procedure can be difficult for the user, particularly when the user is wearing safety gloves or other safety equipment or carrying tools or the like. A respirator user's hands may be too small to cover the exhalation valve completely, or a piece of tape, paper or the like may not be immediately available. Additionally, the user's hands or gloves may be contaminated with a material which could damage the respirator mask.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a positive pressure test apparatus which is easy to use, readily available and sanitary. It is a further object of this invention to provide a respirator including a facepiece and a positive pressure test apparatus mounted to the facepiece.

Positive pressure test apparatus for facepiece respirator


An A/V receiving apparatus is disclosed. The A/V receiving apparatus includes a first interface connected to a display apparatus, a second interface connected to an audio signal output apparatus, and a controller configured to, when a video signal and an audio signal are received, transmit an audio signal return request to the display apparatus along with the video signal and the audio signal, when the audio signal is returned from the display apparatus, calculate an output time difference of the video signal and the audio signal based on a return timing of the audio signal, delay the audio signal according to the output time difference and transmit the audio signal to the audio signal output apparatus.

1. Field
Aspects of the exemplary embodiments relate to an A/V receiving apparatus, which delays output of an audio signal, a method thereof, and an A/V signal processing system, more particularly to an A/V receiving apparatus that delays output of an audio signal in consideration of time required to process a video signal in a display apparatus, a method thereof, and an A/V signal processing system thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display apparatus outputs a video signal on a screen after going through certain processing procedures. In this case, a display apparatus may process a video signal along with an audio signal, and output the audio signal through a speaker embedded inside.
Recently, in order to obtain images in various modes and sound in high quality, an image can be displayed by using a display apparatus, and sound can be heard by using a separate audio apparatus connected to the display apparatus. As such, if an image and sound are output by using different and separate apparatuses, an output time difference can occur between the image and the sound.
Specifically, a display apparatus, in order to provide a user with more functions, has provided various screen modes on an image to be displayed. For example, a screen mode such as a 3D mode with which a user can view a 3D image and a high definition mode for improved definition of a screen are provided. Accordingly, a display apparatus processes a video signal to be matched with a screen mode selected by a user, and displays the video signal as an image. In this process, a lot of time needs to be spent in processing a video signal, consequently delaying display of an image. As such, if display of an image is delayed, an image will not be matched with the corresponding sound, and thus a user experiences inconvenience in using the display apparatus.
For example, when a display apparatus processes a video signal and displays an image, and an A/V receiving apparatus connected to a display apparatus processes an audio signal and outputs sound, the time required for processing signals in each apparatus is known to each other and may be different, and thus synchronization between a video signal and an audio signal is not aligned.
In order to align sync between a video signal and an audio signal, a user has directly set a delay value of an audio, but in this case, a user depends only on the user's visual and auditory senses, and thus it is hard to set an accurate delay value.
In addition, when a format of a video signal or an audio signal changes, a signal processing method changes accordingly, and consequently time required to process a signal can change. In this case, sync between a video signal and an audio signal becomes mis-aligned again, and therefore, a user has to re-set a delay value for an audio signal.

A/V Receiving apparatus and method for delaying output of audio signal and A/V signal processing system


A system and method for performing robust depth calculations with time of flight (ToF) sensors using multiple exposure times is disclosed. A three-dimensional (3D) depth sensor assembly captures a first array of n point values, where each point value of the first array has a respective first-array depth component and a respective first-array quality component. The 3D depth sensor assembly then captures a second array of n point values, where each point value of the second array has a respective second-array depth component and a respective second-array quality component. A processor then renders a 3D point cloud comprising a third array of n point values, where each point value of the third array has a respective third-array depth component. The respective third-array depth component for each point value of the third array is based on either the corresponding respective first-array depth component or the corresponding respective second-array depth component.

In commercial trailer loading, often Time of Flight (ToF) sensors are used to determine loading metrics. However, when acquiring three-dimensional (3D) images using ToF sensors, a high range of depths in the ToF sensors' field of view (FOV) can pose a serious problem for measurement accuracy. Typically, this results in saturation of part of a scene (e.g., the part closest to the sensors), a lack of depth data for parts of the scene disposed further from the sensors, or both. Conventional methods use an auto-exposure feature in an attempt to determine the optimal exposure time, but this method has significant drawbacks.
Accordingly, there is a need for a trailer monitoring unit that can perform accurate depth calculations without the use of a single exposure length auto-exposure feature.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

System and method for robust depth calculation with ToF sensors using multiple exposure times


A blast joint resistant to erosion including an inner pipe joint having a substantially smooth outer surface and an upper end and a lower end. A cylindrical lower assembly having an exterior surface suitable for gripping with power tongs is mounted on the lower end of the inner pipe joint with a torque transfer assembly for transferring torque from the lower assembly to the smooth outer surface of the inner pipe joint. A cylindrical upper assembly having an exterior surface suitable for gripping with power tongs is mounted on the upper end of the inner pipe joint. A plurality of erosion resistant rings are concentrically mounted on the inner pipe joint in a vertically continuous arrangement from a point near the lower end to a point near the upper end of the inner pipe joint without a vertical gap between the rings. A hydrostatic piston and cylinder loader provides a vertical load on the plurality of rings to prevent separations between the rings.

In the drilling and production of oil and gas wells, it is frequently necessary to penetrate one or more production zones to reach an underlying zone with production tubing. Each production zone is served by its own string of production tubing which then must penetrate the overlying production zones to reach the surface. At the point where each string of production tubing penetrates an overlying production zone, the tubing can be subjected to severe erosion.
Particularly where the production zone being penetrated produces high pressure gas, abrasive materials entrained in the gas can quickly erode the surface of the production tubing penetrating that zone. High pressure gas moves at very high velocities when the zone is producing and it can contain such entrained erosive materials as grains of sand or drops of liquid. Where the high velocity gas enters the well bore, it impinges upon the penetrating production tubing from an underlying zone and, depending upon the material from which production tubing is made, the high velocity gas can quickly damage or even penetrate the wall of the production tubing.
When the wall of the production tubing has been penetrated in an overlying zone, communication is established between two different production zones through the failed production tubing string. Communication between zones can be highly undesirable, and isolation between the zones must be maintained. Isolation between the zones in the well bore is generally obtained by the use of packers about the production tubing between production zones. When erosion of production tubing has reached an advanced state, it becomes necessary to replace the eroded section or sections of tubing. This requires removing the production tubing string from the well bore, replacing the failed joints of tubing and reinserting the tubing string into the well bore along with any necessary replacement of packers.
Different tubing materials will erode at different rates and to different degrees depending upon the velocity of the impinging fluid as well as the type and amount of abrasive materials entrained in the fluid. Some materials are considered highly erosion resistant, and various methods have been used to incorporate these materials into the design of the production tubing where the tubing must penetrate overlying production zones. Joints of pipe or tubing have been designed which incorporate a jacket of a highly erosion resistant material, such as tungsten carbide, over the production tubing. Various methods are used to insure that the tungsten carbide will surround the tubing at the areas where the high velocity fluid enters the well bore. The tungsten carbide is generally installed in stacks of relatively short rings and held in place longitudinally by various types of sleeves and collars. In some designs, the rings are kept pressed together by the installation of a spring, such as a coil spring, around the tubing to press against the end of one of the tungsten carbide rings.
A major problem with the use of a highly erosion resistant material, such as tungsten carbide, is that such materials, while being very hard, are also very brittle and therefore subject to damage when placed under radial or axial loads. When making up a tubing string for insertion into a well, it is necessary to support the top joint of the string at the well head and to hold that joint against rotation while threading the next joint to the top joint of the string. Power tongs or similar tools are normally used to thread the two joints together. The top joint of the tubing string is held against rotation while the power tongs rotate the next joint being installed. Such power equipment necessarily bites into the surface of the tubing joint in order to apply the necessary torque to either hold the joint against rotation or to rotate the joint in making up the thread. If such power tools are used on a surface of the blast joint where the erosion resistant material, such as tungsten carbide, is exposed, the torque is not efficiently transferred to the tubing and the tungsten carbide rings can easily become chipped and cracked, resulting in a loss of protection against abrasion once placed into service in a production zone.
Another operation frequently encountered which can result in damage to the tungsten carbide rings is the gripping of a blast joint from above with pipe slips having upwardly canted internal teeth. These teeth must necessarily dig into the surface of the joint to achieve their gripping action in order to pull the blast joint or other piece of equipment out of the well bore. Gripping of a blast joint by such a slip, if the slip teeth contact the tungsten carbide rings, can result in cracking or breaking of the rings as mentioned before in the case of power tongs, by the application of radial or axial forces, through the slip teeth.
Some blast joints, using tungsten carbide rings, incorporate thin metal sleeves on the outside of the tungsten carbide rings, but these sleeves are of insufficient strength to withstand the radial and axial stresses imparted by power tools, and the sleeves typically are not mounted to the inner production tubing with sufficient mechanical strength to transfer the necessary torque or axial force to the tubing itself. These thin sleeves are generally only effective at protecting the tungsten carbide rings during assembly and handling which does not involve the use of the aforementioned power tools.
Another disadvantage of blast joints having exterior carbide rings occurs when the operator wishes to insert the blast joint through a snubber unit. A snubber unit allows a pressurized well to be reworked without first plugging or killing the well. Killing the well is undesirable because it can be difficult and expensive to resume production from a well that has been killed. The snubber unit is mounted on the wellhead of a well which is to be reworked under pressure. The snubber unit establishes and maintains a pressure seal around the tubular goods coming out of or going into the well at the wellhead. It is typically mounted atop one or more blowout preventers. In addition to maintaining the pressure seal, the snubber unit grips any tubular goods being inserted and forces them into the well against the wellhead pressure, which can approach several thousand pounds per square inch. Alternatively, the snubber unit can be used to grip a tubular good being extracted from the well to limit or control its outward movement under wellhead pressure.
This gripping of the tubular goods can be accomplished by pipe slips or other devices which place highly concentrated mechanical loads on the goods being gripped. In addition, the pressure seal can only be effective if applied to a relatively smooth surface which is capable of maintaining its pressure integrity under the pressures experienced at the wellhead. It can be seen, then, that a typical carbide blast joint cannot be inserted into a well with a snubber unit. If this were attempted, the carbide rings would immediately deteriorate or even fail completely, and the pressure seal could not be maintained. A very expensive and dangerous blowout would occur.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,921 discloses a blast joint which can be handled as a normal section of production tubing using power tongs, pipe slips, or other power equipment and which can also be used with a snubber unit. The blast joint has a continuous protective sheath of tungsten carbide rings mounted on a specially machined pipe joint. The specially machined pipe joint onto which the carbide rings are mounted adds to the cost and time required to fabricate the blast joints.
A further problem often encountered is a sanded-up well having a blast joint with exterior tungsten carbide rings resting against the wall of the well bore. Typically, a washover assembly having a milling shoe made up on the bottom joint of a washover pipe is lowered into the borehead around the production tubing. The milling shoe is rotated to cut away the obstruction. However, the milling shoe is not capable of cutting through tungsten carbide rings if they are in contact with the wall of the well bore. Thus, it may not be possible to remove the obstruction which may result in the well being shut in and a new well drilled.
It is desirable to design a blast joint which can be fabricated from a standard oilfield pipe joint and which provides protection against erosion for its full length without any gaps. It is further desirable that the blast joint can be handled by the use of power tongs and pipe slips without any unusual degradation of the blast joint and also be used with a snubber unit. It is further desirable to design such a blast joint which can be threaded into place in a production tubing string as if it were simply another joint of production tubing, either as a single joint or as a string of consecutive joints having a continuous protective sheath of tungsten carbide rings without any gaps in between. Additionally, it is further desirable to design such a blast joint which will maintain the erosion resistant rings away from the wall of the well bore.

Blast joint with torque transferring connector


A method and a system are for simulating a surgical procedure on a bodily object, such as an organ, in a virtual environment. The virtual environment includes a three-dimensional mathematically described model of the bodily object which reflects geometrical and mechanical properties, and a virtual instrument that is controlled by a physical feeding device, which makes it possible to affect the model. The method includes the steps of representing a two-dimensional projection of the model by way of a video sequence containing a recorded view of a real bodily object, wherein engagement with the virtual instrument only involves interacting with the model. In addition, a method is for simulating an operation containing several surgical procedures.

In modern surgery minimal invasive techniques are used in more and more applications. The development of technology within this relatively new field advances quickly, which results in great training requirements for surgeons. One way of rendering the training more effective is to use computer simulations. Known techniques of providing a credible simulation are very complicated and expensive with respect to computer utility in the form of processor and memory. Moreover, the result is not sufficient to provide a realistic simulation environment. The visual properties that the anatomy exhibits in reality are difficult and time-consuming to recreate in a simulation.
Within the field of laparoscopy a camera is used to supply picture information from the patient to the surgeon. The display screen shows the picture that the camera catches of the inside of, for example, the abdominal cavity. All the instruments and the anatomy with which the surgeon works are reproduced by way of the camera and the display screen. The surgeon uses the information on the display screen to control and operate his or her instruments and carry out the procedures which are required to perform the surgical operation. Since the minimal invasive techniques supply information to the surgeon via a display screen, the three-dimensional reality is reduced to two dimensions on the display screen. The picture therefore lacks, among other things, the information as to depth that exists in reality. The surgeon has to make up for this loss of information by studying lighting conditions, colours, etc.
By use of modern computer engineering, it is possible to provide realistic training situations in a virtual environment created by a computer program. In the computer program, a three-dimensional model of the object which the simulation concerns is provided. The user is provided with a projection thereof which should correspond to the picture information which in a real situation is caught by a camera. Thus, all visual information, such as instrument and anatomy, is drawn by the computer. However, there are still considerable differences between the picture information that the computer tries to recreate and the actual picture that a camera catches. A large part of the picture information that the surgeon uses in real life, for example light effects and anatomic structures, factors such as breathing and beat of the pulse, which are present in the real situation are difficult to recreate realistically in the computer.
Many complicated processes within the field of surgery are expensive, if not impossible, to fully simulate in a computer. This indicates that the simulation can only consist of short procedures which lack the continuity that is usually present when the process is carried out. For instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,907, Ramshaw et al disclose a system for simulation of an entire operation. This solution is founded on a database of recorded video sequences which visualise different procedures in an operation. The actual simulation then includes the user being introduced to a video sequence which shows a separate procedure. Subsequently, the user is asked a number of questions. Then a video sequence is played showing the continuation of the operation which is determined by the answers to the questions.

Method and system for simulation of surgical procedures


A bi-static radar system configured for coherent detection of a radar-signal includes a plurality of radar-transceivers, a controller, and a communications device. The plurality of radar-transceivers is characterized as physically spaced apart with respect to each other. The controller is in communication with the each of the radar-transceivers and is configured to coherently operate each of the radar-transceivers. The communications device communicates both a reference-clock signal and a frame-sync signal from the controller to each of the plurality of radar-transceivers whereby the plurality of radar-transceivers operate coherently. Alternatively, the system may include a reference-signal generator, a transmitter, and a plurality of receivers. The reference-signal generator generates a reference-signal characterized by a reference-frequency proportional to a fraction of a radar-frequency of a radar-signal transmitted. The transmitter generates the radar-signal at the radar-frequency based on the reference-signal. The plurality of receivers operates coherently to detect the radar-signal based on the reference-signal.

Bi-static radar is useful for various purposes, including improved probability of detection, formation of a larger antenna aperture through the combination of signals received from multiple radar-transceiver, etc. An important motivation for larger antenna aperture, and perhaps the primary motivation for coherent bi-static radar, is much improved angle capability (accuracy and discrimination). Coherent radar-transceiver operation will provide improved performance for bi-static radar compared to those operating with independent VCOs. A known method to make multiple homodyne receivers coherent is to distribute the Local Oscillator signal (LO) to each receiver for down conversion. However, at millimeter wave-length frequencies, this can be expensive or impractical when the receivers have significant separation. A known method for VCO control is a Fractional N PLL, in which the VCO frequency is divided and then compared to a reference oscillator. A known technique for generating frequency modulation of the VCO is for the divider in the Fractional N PLL to be varied over time. One example is a linear FM sweep. It is common that the reference oscillator for the Fractional N PLL is also used as a clock source to control frequency modulation and data acquisition with an ADC. Any difference in the time that the FM sweep is started in two sensors will appear as a range delay. This can be calibrated out through processing of received signals.


An arrangement of magnetic liners for the bit lines or word lines of an MRAM device that reduces or eliminates stray magnetic fields at the ends of the magnetic liners, thereby reducing the occurrence of offset fields over portions of the MRAM device due to the magnetic liners is described. The orientation of magnetization of adjacent magnetic liners is alternated, causing the end poles of the magnetic liners to cancel each other. The shapes of the ends of the magnetic liners are alternated to vary their switching fields. Methods are described that use this ability to vary the switching fields to alternate the orientation of magnetization of the magnetic liners.

One emerging technology for non-volatile memory is magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM). At present, the most common form of MRAM is based on the tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) effect, in which each memory cell includes a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). Such an MTJ may be formed from two ferromagnetic metal layers, with an insulating layer placed between the metal layers. When a voltage is applied between the metal layers, a tunnel current flows. The tunnel resistance varies based on the relative directions of magnetization of the metal layers. The tunnel resistance is small when the directions of magnetization are parallel (typically representing a "0"), and large (approximately 30%-300% higher, at room temperature) when the directions of magnetization are anti-parallel (typically representing a "1 ").
The metal layers in a typical MRAM MTJ include a "hard" layer, in which the direction of the magnetization is fixed, and a "soft" layer, in which the direction of the magnetization can be switched by application of currents. These currents are applied through conductive write lines referred to as bit lines and word lines, which are disposed so that the bit lines are orthogonal to the word lines. In an MRAM array, an MTJ memory cell is located at each intersection of a bit line with a word line.
To switch the direction of magnetization of the soft layer of a particular cell, currents are applied through the bit line and the word line that intersect at that cell. The direction of these currents determines the direction in which the magnetization of the soft layer will be set. The combined magnitude of the currents through the word and bit lines must be sufficient to generate a magnetic field at their intersection that is strong enough to switch the direction of magnetization of the soft layer.
In some MRAM devices, the bit and word lines may be partially surrounded by a magnetic liner (also called cladding), which serves to focus the magnetic field in the direction of the soft layer. Through use of such a liner, the amount of current that is required to generate a magnetic field sufficient to switch the direction of magnetization of the soft layer is substantially reduced. Additionally, use of a magnetic liner on the word and/or bit lines may partially shield the magnetic field from adjacent memory cells, preventing inadvertent switching of adjacent memory cells.
However, use of magnetic liners for the bit and/or word lines may cause difficulties, because the magnetic liners produce stray magnetic fields originating from their end regions. These stray fields may cause an inhomogeneous offset field over portions of the MRAM array. This could cause, for example, areas of the array that are near the ends of the magnetic liner to require a different current to generate a magnetic field sufficient to switch the direction of magnetization in memory cells, which may cause cells in these regions to be inadvertently switched.
One approach to avoiding the problems associated with stray fields caused by the use of magnetic liners is to extend the liners beyond the region in which MTJ memory cells are present. Using this approach, the areas around the ends of the liner, which are subject to stray magnetic fields, are not used for memory cells. While this will avoid the difficulties associated with use of liners, it also substantially reduces the area of a device that is usable for MTJ memory cells.
Another way in which these difficulties may be avoided is through use of circuitry that offsets the effects of the stray magnetic fields in regions of the MRAM device that are near the ends of the magnetic liners. The stray magnetic fields may be measured, and circuitry added to the MRAM device to compensate for their effects. Of course, this added circuitry will increase the complexity of the MRAM device, and will require space on the device, reducing the space that may be used for MTJ memory cells.
What is needed is a design for magnetic liners for the word and/or bit lines of an MRAM that substantially reduces the stray fields originating at the ends of the liners, without substantially increasing the complexity of the MRAM device, or reducing the area of the device that is usable for memory cells.

Magnetoresistive random access memory device with alternating liner magnetization orientation


A two paste glass ionomer type dental cement system, with both pastes being, preferably, of similar consistency. The first paste represents primarily a suspension of an inert filler in a water solution of polyacrylic acid, or its copolymers with other ethylenically unsaturated acids, having molecular weight of 25,000 to 100,000 and, optionally, various additives, such as filler suspending agents, coloring agents, agents influencing working/setting time (retardants or accelerators), Theological agents, pH modifiers, etc. The other paste represents primarily a particulate glass flux containing silicon and aluminum oxides, calcium fluoride and, optionally, other inorganic salts, including aluminum phosphate, and sodium, barium and aluminum fluorides, suspended in a liquid medium consisting primarily of a water solution of a hydrophilic acrylic monomer or polymer. In order to achieve a desirable consistency, organic or inorganic thickening agents may be added in suitable quantities.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of dental cement compositions, and in particular to two-component glass ionomer type dental cements which are novel in form, composition, and method of handling, featuring improved strength, handling, and reproducibility of properties over conventional glass ionomer cements.
2. Background of the invention
Prior art glass ionomer cements are formulated as a two-part system, one part being in a liquid form and the other in a powder form. The liquid is typically a solution of oligomers or copolymers of acrylic acid. The molecular weight of such polymers is usually in the range of 40,000 to 50,000, and their concentration may vary from about 40% to 60%. The powder is composed of fine alkaline glass particles, and its chemical composition includes, as essential ingredients, silicon and aluminum oxides, calcium fluoride, and modifying additives which may include aluminum, sodium or barium fluorides, alkaline metals or alkaline earth oxides, aluminum phosphate, zinc, zirconium, and titanium oxides.
Powder/liquid systems are the least desirable forms of self (chemically) cured dental cements and restoratives. Maintaining the proper proportion between the two components of a two-part cement system is, in the case of glass ionomers, critical for achieving acceptable reproducibility of the relevant characteristics of the cured material. However, it is extremely difficult to meet such a requirement with powder/liquid systems, taking into consideration the small amounts of materials involved in the preparation of mixes for dental applications and the imprecise tools used for these purposes.
Moreover, dental assistants and clinicians are accustomed to other powder/liquid type cements and restoratives which do not require a high level of precision in dispensing, and have little understanding of the difference in requirements when glass ionomer type materials are involved. Imprecise dispensing may, however, have a detrimental effect on the mechanical properties, resistance to the oral environment, curing characteristics, ability to bond to dentin and tooth enamel, and tissue compatibility of glass ionomer cements.
Generally, an excess of liquid will result in slower setting cements which are more susceptible to deterioration when exposed to saliva and more likely to irritate pulp and mucosa. Also, due to their light consistency, such mixes are unsuitable for applications requiring firmer consistencies and greater mechanical strength.
An excess of powder causes mixes to be too dry and may not allow sufficient working time. The consistency of such mixes may make them unsuitable in applications where flowability of the mix is mandatory, such as in a capacity as cavity liners, orthodontic band cements, and crown and bridge cements. Also, after cure, such cements are likely to be excessively brittle and their ability to bond to the tooth structure will be impaired.
Minor variations in the characteristics of the liquid or powder, such as variations in the molecular weight of the polyacrylic acid and particle size of the glass, may make the originally designed dispensing system unsuitable. Moreover, changes in ambient temperature influence the viscosity and surface tension of the liquid and, consequently, affect the powder/liquid ratio because of variations in drop sizes when dispensed in the customary way from dropper-type bottles. The usual way of dispensing powder by scoop represents an intrinsically imprecise method because the bulk density of the powder may vary with time due to settling and the way the powder is handled (shaking, vibration, pounding, etc.). All these factors may significantly affect the properties and, in some instances, the safety of the cements to such a degree that their suitability for an intended purpose may be questionable.
Additional problems related to variations in the particle size of the powder may also be encountered. Manufactured batches of powders consist of difficult to reproduce blends of particles of different sizes. Variations in the distribution of particle sizes are virtually unavoidable within batches of commercial products. Larger particles tend to migrate to the bottom of the container, leaving smaller particles on top. Using the same dispensing system for powders consisting of different-sized particles will result in mixes of varying consistencies and unpredictable working and setting times. It is generally recognized that smaller sized glass particles will shorten the working time and result in mixes characterized by denser consistencies.
A common characteristic of glass ionomer compositions is their undesirably short working time. In order to assure the best properties of the cured cement, mixing of the components and application should be accomplished before the blend starts to show signs of setting. However, preparation of powder/liquid mixes is time-consuming, leaving clinicians with little latitude to complete the application within the allowed working time for the cement.
Powder/liquid systems are also undesirable from the point of view of economy because substantial waste of the material is unavoidable. Dispensing cannot be accomplished in a way which closely approximates the amount of material the clinician needs. Usually, a large part of the cement is wasted.
To alleviate the shortcomings of powder/liquid versions of glass ionomers, a solution has been offered, derived from a technique used in packaging more expensive brands of dental amalgams. This system is comprised of a two-compartment capsule, separated by a breakable diaphragm. One of the compartments is filled with a measured amount of the powder, and the other with the liquid component of the glass ionomer cement. After the diaphragm is broken, the capsule is vigorously shaken using a vibrator-type machine for a specified period of time, producing relatively homogeneous mixes of more consistent quality. This solution eliminates some of the shortcomings of conventionally dispensed two-part glass ionomer cements, assuring better reproducibility of the properties of the cured cements and simplifying handling. However, it dramatically increases the cost per application and further increases waste. Also, handling of the material, although much easier when compared to individually dispensing the powder and liquid components, still remains complex, and the working time remaining after removal of the capsules from the vibrator is unconveniently short.
Attempts to formulate glass ionomer cements in a different form than the conventional powder/liquid system were, up to now, unsuccessful. The major advantages of glass ionomers in clinical applications are their ability to bond to the tooth structure, without the necessity of acid etching, and to protect the tooth structure from decay because they provide a sustained release of fluoride. Preservation of these characteristics, combined with the need to meet requirements related to mechanical strength, curing characteristics and safety, has imposed severe restrictions on the chemical composition of the cement components, their concentration, molecular weight, and physical form. These factors also severely limited freedom in incorporating various additives which, although highly desirable otherwise, were believed to have a detrimental effect on the properties of the cement, because of the necessity of operating in a narrow range of parameters and sensitivity of the fundamental components to even minor changes in their chemical composition, physical form, and concentration in the final mix.
Efforts have been undertaken to change the physical form of commercial glass ionomer cements in order to make them more convenient to use, which resulted in modifications of their compositions. These modified cements, while encompassing some of glass ionomer's fundamental components, have differed, however, from the original concept of glass ionomers in important aspects, including their basic chemistry and curing mechanism. Consequently, the major advantages of glass ionomers, including their ability to bond to the tooth structure, to maintain a high level of Fluoride release, and to prevent tooth decay, were severely compromised.
Most common examples of such modified formulations are comprised of blends of methacrylate monomers with glass ionomer-type powders used as fillers. They represent light-cured one-component or self- (chemically-) cured two component systems. Their mechanism of cure relies, however, on chain-forming of ethylenically unsaturated methacrylate monomers, while the curing of glass ionomers depends on the reaction of the carboxylic group present in polyacrylic acid with alkaline sites of glass powder. This distinctive mechanism of cure and the presence of water in glass ionomer formulations are critical to preserving their main advantages: their ability to bond to an unconditioned tooth structure and to provide sustained Fluoride release.
Some prior publications relating to the field of this invention include the following U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,922 issued May 28, 1996 to Gasser, Oswald and Guggenberger, Rainer; U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,725 issued May 28, 1996 to Kato Shin-Ichi et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,284 issued Jan. 17, 1995 to Thomas J. Arnold; U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,002 issued Nov. 22, 1994 to Huang Chin-Teh et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,253 issued Nov. 5, 1991 to Akahane Shoji et al.


A method for an internal combustion engine includes the steps of collecting exhaust gas in a volume (902) and flowing exhaust gas out of the volume in a first and a second portions (904). The first portion forms a tailpipe gas stream (906), and the second portion forms an EGR gas stream (908). The tailpipe gas stream goes through a turbine (910). The EGR gas stream is catalyzed by an oxidizer coating in a heat exchanger, and thermal energy is transferred from the EGR gas stream to the tailpipe stream in the heat exchanger (916).

Internal combustion engines generate heat during operation that is released into the environment through exhaust gas emissions. Modern emission controls systems may utilize energy, in the form of heat from the exhaust gas, to operate various components, for example, Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF). In other cases, heat may be undesirable and removed by use of other components and systems.
One example of a case where additional heat is desirable for the operation of an engine is the operation of a DPF, which depends on a reaction that occurs internally to the DPF and burns particulates that have accumulated therein. Some engines incorporate thermal shielding on their exhaust systems to contain exhaust heat and make it available for emissions components. Heat makes the regeneration of the DPF more efficient. One example of a case where removal of heat is required for proper operation of the engine is in an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, which recirculates cooled exhaust gas into an intake of the engine. EGR systems typically use exhaust gas coolers to remove heat from an exhaust gas stream during recirculation.
Even though heat input may be desirable for some engine systems, heat removed from other systems that is typically rejected back to the engine is undesirable. Heat rejected and/or generated internally to the engine is removed from the engine by a cooling system. Typical cooling systems promote efficient operation of the engine and protect heat sensitive systems. Thermally conductive fluids, that include for instance oil or engine coolant, carry heat collected from within the engine and/or engine components to a radiator, which then expels the heat to the environment.
Exhaust gases from internal combustion engines can typically contain hydrocarbons (HC), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM). Oxidation catalysts, typically comprising a platinum group metal dispersed on a refractory metal oxide support are known for use in treating exhaust gases to remove these pollutants by catalyzing the oxidation of these pollutants to carbon dioxide and water.
In EGR systems, HC and PM can precipitate out of exhaust gases and collect on surfaces of EGR system components such as coolers, valves, and pipes, and on down stream systems, such as intake manifolds, intake ports, and intake valves. EGR Coolers may become "fouled" as a result and lose heat transfer effectiveness and flow area. EGR valves can become fouled with deposits and become inoperable or sluggish. Deposits in downstream systems can also change their intended characteristics, or performance. As such, reduction of HC and PM in the EGR system is desirable. Some EGR system designs, therefore, incorporate an oxidation catalyst upstream of the EGR cooler and valve, advantageously removing some of the HC and PM.
A disadvantage of this approach is that the catalytic oxidation of pollutants in the EGR exhaust stream releases heat. This additional heat load must be compensated for by the EGR cooler and vehicle radiator.

Oxidation catalyst coating in a heat exchanger

International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC


An economical spark plug for an internal combustion engine which has a long service life and by which a reduction in the discharge voltage and the use of the minimum amount of a noble metal can be achieved. The spark plug has an insulator, a center electrode supported by the insulator, and an earth electrode facing to the center electrode. A narrowed portion is arranged on a tip of an electrode material of at least one of the center electrode and the earth electrode. The narrowed portion includes a projection formed by extending the electrode material and a noble metal chip firmly connected to a terminal end of the projection. The electrode material is a nickel-base heat-resisting alloy. The noble metal chip is made of a Pt--Ir alloy essentially consisting of 90-100% by weight Pt and 0-10% by weight Ir. A diameter D of the narrowed portion is in a range of 0.6-1.2 mm. A thickness t of the noble metal chip is in a range of 0.16-0.8 mm. A length L of the narrowed portion including the thickness t of the noble metal chip is in a range of 0.8-1.5 mm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a spark plug for an internal combustion engine provided with a noble metal chip in an ignition section.
2. Description of the Related Art
These days, engines are becoming of more and more high performance, of supercharging design, and adapted to be of a lean-burn type and have higher compression ratios, and accordingly, an increase in the discharge voltage of a spark plug is unavoidable, which might result in the risk of exceeding the voltage generated at power source. Further, engines free from maintenance are coming into great demand, and it is also highly demanded that the life of the spark plugs be prolonged.
Conventionally, in order to satisfy a reduction in the discharge voltage and an increase in the life of the spark plugs as stated above, a spark plug has been proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-62870. Such a spark plug is constructed such that an elongated bar-shaped noble metal chip which is extremely excellent in wear-resisting properties is attached to a tip of an electrode material forming at least one of a center electrode and an earth electrode.
Such a noble metal chip is made of a Pt--Ir alloy essentially consisting of 70-90% platinum and 30-10% iridium, or a Pt--Ni alloy essentially consisting of 80-90% platinum and 20-10% nickel. The electrode material is made of a nickel-base heat-resisting alloy.
When the noble metal chip is secured to the tip of the electrode material as stated above, a recess which is slightly wider than the diameter of the noble metal chip is first formed on the tip of the center electrode, and then, the noble metal chip is fit into such a recess. Subsequently, they are pressed, and also welded by using a laser or an electron beam, or the like, whereby an end of the noble metal chip is expended to have the shape of a flange and firmly welded to the recess of the center electrode.
The noble metal chip uses expensive materials such as a Pt--Ir alloy or a Pt--Ni alloy. However, a large portion of the noble metal chip has to be disposed of, although it is intact, when the life of the spark plug comes to an end.
More specifically, only a small portion of the noble metal chip wears due to discharge voltage. However, when a spark gap exceeds a predetermined size (the gap size occurring when the discharge voltage exceeds the voltage generated at power source), that is, when the life of the spark plug comes to an end, a large portion of the noble metal chip has to be disposed of together with the spark plug. This is undesirable not only for economical reasons but also from the respect of protecting the natural environment.
Also, there is a big difference between the coefficient of linear expansion of the noble metal chip and that of a Nickel-base heat-resisting alloy composing the electrode material.
Thus, after the spark plug is used in an engine at a high temperature over a long period, a crack 91 might occur due to thermal stress at a noble metal chip 9 developed in the vicinity of a contact surface 98 between an electrode material 8 and the noble metal chip 9, as illustrated in FIG. 13. When the crack 91 becomes greater, there is caused such a risk that the noble metal chip 9 will peel and fall off from the electrode material 8, as shown in FIG. 14.
Further, when a cooling load is applied to the engine at a high temperature, tensile stress is produced in the electrode material having the greater coefficient of linear expansion due to the thermal stress during cooling. At this time, a swelling 83 is caused at the electrode material 8 due to plastic deformation, as illustrated in FIG. 15. Such a swelling 83 is further expanded by repeating the application of the cooling load.
Moreover, stress corrosion occurs at the electrode material due to such an excessive stress, and when the corrosion is extremely aggravated, the noble metal chip might peel and fall off as shown in FIG. 14, which results in shortening the life of the spark plug.

Long life spark plug having minimum noble metal amount


The present invention relates to the use of a CD24 protein for treating Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus, SLE).

Systemic lupus erythematous (lupus, SLE) is the most common autoimmune disease and has an extremely strong gender bias towards women. SLE is a chronic, inflammatory, connective tissue disease that can affect the joints and many organs, including the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, and nervous system. It is a complex disease with variable clinical manifestations; however, not everyone with systemic lupus erythematosus has all of the symptoms. Typically, lupus is characterized by periods of illness, called flares, and periods of wellness, or remission. It is difficult to estimate how many people have the disease, because its symptoms vary widely and its onset is often hard to pinpoint. Although SLE usually first affects people between the ages of 15 and 45 years, it can occur in childhood or later in life as well. Many more women than men have lupus. Lupus is more common in African American women than in Caucasian women and is also more common in women of Hispanic, Asian, and Native American descent. African American and Hispanic women are also more likely to have active disease and serious organ system involvement. In addition, lupus can run in families, but the risk that a child or a brother or sister of a patient will also have lupus is still quite low. SLE patients display a 4.6 fold increased mortality compared with age-matched population, decreased work productivity, mood disorders and deteriorated organ function. However, compared with other autoimmune and allergic diseases, progress in the development of drugs for the treatment of SLE has been slow and there is an urgent and unmet medical need to identify new therapeutic targets.

Methods of use of soluble CD24 for treating lupus nephritis


Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for displaying search results referencing resources of two different types. In an aspect, a search system receives a search query for a search of a first resources. The search system determines a second resource score for the search query. The second resource score is measure of relatedness of the query to the second resources and is independent of a search property ratio of the query. If the second resource score meets a threshold, then the search system conducts a full search of second resources in addition to the search of the first resources.

This specification relates to search query processing.
The Internet provides access to a wide variety of resources, for example, webpages, image files, audio files, and videos. A search system selects one or more resources in response to receiving a search query that a user submits to satisfy the user's informational needs. The search queries are usually in the form of text, e.g., one or more query terms. The search system selects and scores resources based on their relevance to the search query and on their importance relative to other resources, and provides search results that link to the selected resources. The search results are typically ordered according to the scores and presented according to this order.
The different types are resources are often indexed according to a corpus, and search engines are used to search these corpora. As used herein, a corpus is a collection of resources. Each corpus can include resources of one or more types. For example, a general web corpus can include HTML documents, images documents, videos, etc., while an image corpus, on the other hand, can be limited to a collection of images and metadata for the images. Thus there are different types of corpora that a search engine searches. For example, a search engine searches a general resource corpus index to search resources based on the textual content of the resources and relative authority ratings of the resources. Search results resulting from a search of the general resource corpus index typically include a title of the resource, a snippet of text from the resource, and a link to the resource. Likewise, a search engine searches an image corpus index to search for images that are responsive to a search query. The image corpus index may index the images based on labels (or text) associated with the images, similarity of the images to other images, click through rates of images with respect to queries, and authority ratings of the images. Search results resulting from a search of the image corpus index typically include a thumbnail version of the image, an embedded link to the image, or a web page in which the image is referenced, and optionally label text associated with the image.
Most search engines provide the users options to search a particular corpus. Some search engines, however, provide search results for different corpora if the query is indicative of those different corpora. For example, a search engine may provide image search results with general web search results, even though the query was submitted for a search of the general web corpus. Typically the search results for the other corpus (or corpora, if multiple corpora are searched) are shown in a fixed configuration display area and show a fixed number of search results identifying resources in the other corpora that are responsive to the search query.
One way that a search system decides to search a second corpus during a search of a first corpus is to evaluate an "intent" of a query. For example, a query submitted for a search of a general web corpus may have a high "image intent" (e.g., the query may read "puppy photos"). One way of determining an intent of a query is to analyze the history of the query and for which corpora users submitted the query for searches. However, if a query is unique or occurs relatively infrequently in a search volume of queries (commonly referred to as a "long tail" query), then discerning the intent of the query may be impossible, or subject to a high degree of error.


The present invention provides a probability generating apparatus offering unexpectedness and an excellent unfair act preventing function. The probability generating apparatus includes a parallel random number generator offering uniformity and consecutively generating random numbers.

The use of random numbers is essential in advanced technical calculations, game machines, enciphering processes, or the like. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for a probability generating apparatus using a very accurate natural random number (essential random number) generator which offers uniformity (no variations in the probability value and incidence of random numbers) and which is free from the regularity of appearance of random numbers, the correlation between consecutive random numbers, periodicity, or the like.
FIG. 47 schematically shows the common configuration of such a probability generating apparatus 1. The probability generating apparatus 1 is composed of a parallel random number generator 2 that consecutively generates uniform random numbers each composed of n bits, in synchronization with a synchronous signal (clock) SS, a register 4 that sets a random number PS when a trigger signal TS is generated (for example, in the case of a game machine, the trigger signal TS is generated on the basis of a hit signal generated by prizewinning sensor), and a comparator 6 which compares the set data in the register 4 with range data specified by probability lower limit data DL and probability upper limit data DU and which outputs a probability signal PS by generating a High signal, which is indicative of a "win", if the set data is within this range, while generating a Low signal, which is indicative of a "loss", if the set data is out of this range.
In particular, for a probability generating apparatus 1 used for pinball machines, pinball slot machines, games, or the like, it is very important to offer the unexpectedness of win data based on random numbers, which enhances the gambling nature of the game machine, as well as an unfair-act preventing function of inhibiting external unfair acts.
However, with the probability generating apparatus 1, as shown in the timing waveform diagram in FIG. 48, a random number corresponding to the time (t0) when a trigger signal is generated is used directly as data for generation of probability. Accordingly, for example, timings for reading data can be easily set, and the contents of data can be easily determined because the probability lower limit data (DL) and probability upper limit data (DU), required to generate probability, are fixed and always have the same values. Thus, disadvantageously, external unfair acts are easily committed.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a probability generating apparatus which solves these problems, offers enhanced unexpectedness and an excellent unfair-act preventing function.
Furthermore, in general, for game machines (for example, pinball machines), the popularity of a certain machine type depends significantly on the level of a player's interest in that pinball machine (how the player can enjoy the pinball game). On the other hand, the popularity also depends markedly on the gambling nature of the pinball machine. Thus, in recent years., efforts have been made to increase the number of visitors by enhancing the gambling nature of the game, while maintaining players' interests in the game.
However, in general, with a probability generating apparatus configured as described above, when the relationship between the number of lotteries and the value of the probability of a loss at a specified probability is calculated, the results indicate that the probability of a loss tends to be high compared to the number of lotteries as shown in Table 6. Table 6 shows that, for example, at a probability of 1/500, even if 1,000 lots are drawn, no prizes are won in 13.5% of all the cases.
When the probability value is defined as p and the number of lotteries (the number of consecutive losses) is defined as n, the probability of a loss P0 at a specified probability as described above can be calculated as follows:P0=(1−p)n
The above tendency indicates that conventional game machines may cause players heavy losses, thus impairing fair speculativeness. Consequently, to further increase the number of visitors, it is a very important object to solve these problems while enhancing the gambling nature, so that a player has much hope of prizewinning and enjoys fair speculativeness (prevention of a heavy loss).
The present invention is provided in view of these circumstances. It is an object of the present invention to provide a probability generating apparatus which offers enhanced unexpectedness and an excellent unfair-act preventing function as well as an additional function of increasing probability on the basis of the number of lotteries (the number of consecutive losses), so that not only unexpectedness is enhanced but also the player has much hope of prizewinning and enjoys fair speculativeness (prevention of a heavy loss) notably when the apparatus is used for applications such as game machines.
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a probability generating apparatus which offers enhanced unexpectedness and an excellent unfair-act preventing function as well as an additional function of fluctuating a win probability, so that a player has much hope of prizewinning and gets a thrill out of a game, while ensuring a fair probability notably when the apparatus is used for applications such as game machines.


Disclosed herein is a verbena plant which has a broad spreading growth habit and long stems. The plant forms flowers in clusters with a great profusion of blooms. The blooming period is late April to November and flowering duration is long. The entire plant remains in bloom for an entended period of time. The flower size is large and the petals of the flowers are red-purple. The plant is highly tolerant to heat, and exhibits a high resistance to pests and diseases, particularly powdery mildew, and a high resistance to rain.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Verbena hybrida plant obtained from crossing a Verbena hybrida plant named `Showtime Purplered` (non-patented in the United States) (.female.) and a wild type of verbena plant Verbena peruviana (.male.) native to Brazil.
The verbena is a very popular plant and is used for flower bedding and potting in the summer season. There are only a few varieties of verbena plants which have a spreading growth habit, much branching, a large number of flowers in a cluster and which have a high resistance to rain, heat, cold, and diseases. Accordingly, this invention was aimed at obtaining a new variety having a spreading growth habit, strong branching, a large number of flowers in a cluster, a flower of large diameter, a high tolerance to heat and cold, and resistance to diseases and pests, and also having purplish red colored petals.
The new variety of verbena plant according to this invention originated from crossing a Verbena hybrida named `Showtime Purplered` (.female.) and a wild type of verbena plant Verbena peruviana (.male.) native to Brazil.
Initially, 45 seedling were obtained in the autumn of 1994, from crossing `Showtime Purplered` as the female parent and a wild type of verbena plant (Verbena peruviana f. rosea) as the pollen parent in May of 1994. From this crossing, 7 seedlings were selected in view of their spreading growth habit, were propagated by cuttings, and then were grown as a trial in flower beds and planters beginning in the spring of 1995. Finally in the autumn of 1995 the botanical characteristics were examined, using the similar varieties `Sunmariba` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,801) and `Derby Salmon Rose` (non-patented in the United States) for comparison, one seedling was selected. As a result, it was concluded that this verbena is distinguishable from any other variety, whose existence is known to us, and is uniform and stable in its characteristics. The new variety of verbena plant of the present invention was named `Sunmariwaba`.
In the following description, the color-coding is in accordance with the Horticultural Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England (R.H.S. Colour Chart), and the Inter-Society color Council-Nation Bureau of Standard Color Name (I.S.C.C.--N.B.S. Color Name). A color chart based on The Japan Color Standard for Horticultural Plant (J.H.S. Color Chart) is also added for reference.
`Showtime Purplered` was used as the female parent when obtaining this new variety `Sunmariwaba`. `Showtime Purplered` has an erect growth habit and is publicly available.
The pollen parent used in obtaining this new variety `Sunmariwaba` was a wild type of Verbena peruviana native to South Brazil. This wild type of verbena plant is presently maintained at the Hakushu Nursery Center of SUNTORY Ltd., 2913-1 Torihara, Hakushu-cho, Kitakoma-gun, Yamanashi-ken, Japan. The main botanical characteristics of this pollen parent are as follows when grown at the same location.
Plant: PA0 Stem: PA0 Leaf: PA0 Flower: PA0 Physiological and ecological characteristics: High resistance to diseases and pests, and high tolerance to heat and cold. PA0 Plant: PA0 Stem: PA0 Leaf: PA0 Flower: PA0 Physiological and ecological characteristics: High resistance to diseases and pests, particularly powdery mildew. High tolerance to heat and cold. High tolerance to rain. PA0 Plant: PA0 Stem: PA0 Leaf: PA0 Flower: PA0 Physiological and ecological characteristics: Weak resistance to diseases, heat and cold. Moderate resistance to pests.
Growth habit.--Spreading. PA2 Plant height.--10-20 cm. PA2 Plant width.--100-150 cm. PA2 Diameter.--1.0-2.0 mm. PA2 Anthocyanin pigmentation.--Present. PA2 Branching.--Medium. PA2 Pubescence.--Medium. PA2 Length of internode.--3.0-4.0 cm. PA2 Phyllotaxis.--Opposite. PA2 Shape of blade.--Hastate. PA2 Length.--3.0-4.0 cm. PA2 Width.--1.5-2.0 cm. PA2 Depth of incision.--Shallow. PA2 Color.--Moderate olive green (R.H.S. 146A, JHS 3509) PA2 Pubescence.--Slight. PA2 Facing direction.--Upward. PA2 Outward curvature of petal.--Slightly curved. PA2 Diameter.--2.0-3.0 cm. PA2 Height.--20-30 mm. PA2 Color.--Strong reddish purple (R.H.S. 77B , JHS 8911). PA2 Color presentation.--Substantially even. PA2 Overlapping of petals.--Opened. PA2 Flower cluster.--30-40 mm in length; and 50-60 mm in diameter. PA2 Calyx.--1.5-2.0 cm in length. PA2 Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.--Absent. PA2 Peduncle.--1-2 mm in thickness; and 3.0-5.0 cm in length. PA2 Number of flowers.--Plentiful (approximately 10-14) PA2 Reproductive organs.--1 pistil and 4 stamens. PA2 Flower fragrance.--Absent. PA2 Flowering duration.--Short. PA2 Growth habit.--Spreading. PA2 Plant height.--10-20 cm. PA2 Plant extension.--60-80 cm. PA2 Growth.--Very vigorous with abundant branching and great profusion of blooms; and with the entire plant remaining in bloom for an extended period of time. PA2 Diameter.--3.0-4.0 mm. PA2 Anthocyanin pigmentation.--Present. PA2 Branching.--Abundant. PA2 Pubescence.--Medium. PA2 Length of internode.--2.0-4.0 cm. PA2 Phyllotaxis.--Opposite. PA2 Shape of blade.--Hastate. PA2 Length.--4.0-5.0 cm. PA2 Width.--2.0-3.0 cm. PA2 Depth of incision.--Shallow. PA2 Color.--Medium olive green (R.H.S. 146A, JHS 3508). PA2 Pubescence.--slight. PA2 Facing direction.--Upward. PA2 Outward curvature of petal.--Slightly curved. PA2 Diameter.--1.5-2.0 cm. PA2 Height.--20-30 mm. PA2 Color.--Vivid reddish purple (R.H.S. 80A , JHS 8906). PA2 Color presentation.--Substantially even. PA2 Overlapping of petals.--Opened. PA2 Flower cluster.--30-50 mm in length; and 40-60 mm in diameter. PA2 Calyx.--1.0-2.0 cm in length. PA2 Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.--Absent. PA2 Peduncle.--1-2 mm in thickness; and 4.0-5.0 cm in length. PA2 Number of flowers.--Plentiful (approximately 13-17). PA2 Reproductive organs.--1 pistil and 4 stamens. PA2 Flower fragrance. --Absent. PA2 Flowering duration.--Long. PA2 Growth habit.--Semi-erect. PA2 Plant width.--Medium. PA2 Anthocyanin pigmentation.--Absent. PA2 Branching.--Medium. PA2 Pubescence.--Medium. PA2 Length of internode.--Medium. PA2 Phyllotaxis.--Opposite. PA2 Length.--Medium. PA2 Width.--Medium. PA2 Blade incision.--Absent. PA2 Color.--Dark green. PA2 Pubescence.--Medium. PA2 Facing direction.--Upward. PA2 Outward curvature of petal.--None. PA2 Diameter.--Large PA2 Height.--Medium. PA2 Color.--Vivid red (R.H.S. 52A, JHS 0106). PA2 Color presentation.--Substantially even. PA2 Overlapping of petals.--Closed. PA2 Flower cluster.--Medium in length; and medium in diameter. PA2 Anthocyanin pigmentation of calyx limb.--Present. PA2 Peduncle.--Medium in thickness; and medium in length. PA2 Number of flowers.--Medium. PA2 Reproductive organs.--1 pistil and 5 stamens. PA2 Flower fragrance.--Absent. PA2 Flowering duration.--Medium.
The `Sunmariba` variety was used as a comparison for this new `Sunmariwaba` variety. The main botanical characteristics of the `Sunmariba` variety are as follows when grown at the Hakushu Nursery Center of SUNTORY Ltd., 2913-1 Torihara, Hakushu-cho, Kitakoma-gun, Yamanashi-ken, Japan.
The `Derby Salmon Rose` variety was used as a comparison for this new variety `Sunmariwaba` variety. The main botanical characteristics of the `Derby Salmon Rose` variety are as follows when grown at the Hakushu Nursery Center of SUNTORY Ltd., 2913-1 Torihara, Hakushu-cho, Kitakoma-gun, Yamanashi-ken, Japan.
This new `Submariwaba` variety of verbena plant was asexually reproduced by cuttings at the aforementioned Hakushu Nursery Center of SUNTORY Ltd., 2913-1 Torihara, Hakushu-cho, Kitakoma-gun, Yamanashi-ken, Japan, and the homogeneity and stability thereof were confirmed. The characteristics of the new variety are fully stable following such asexual reproduction.


A stowage latch assembly for an auger includes a hopper for holding granular material and an auger barrel which is swingably movable in an auger-stowing path from a hopper-unloading position, where the auger barrel extends outwardly from the hopper, to an auger-stowage position, where the auger is positioned adjacent a sidewall of the hopper. An auger-latching support assembly is provided, which includes a gate member openable for receiving the auger barrel when the barrel is moved from the hopper-unloading position to the auger-stowage position. The gate member is locked in a closed position when the auger is in the stowage position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an auger assembly movable from a hopper-unloading position to an auger-stowage position.
2. Description of the Background Art
It is known to mount an auger on an agricultural grain gravity box so as to provide an auger-unloadable grain cart or wagon. With such grain carts, the augers can be made movable from a hopper-unloading position to an auger-stowage transport position.
In the past, the operator was required to simultaneously operate a winch and position the auger above a transport bracket. Then, while holding the auger in place with one hand, the operator would lower the auger into the bracket utilizing the winch with the other hand.
There remains a need in the art for improvements in stowage latch assemblies for augers.