A security infrastructure and methods are presented that inhibit the ability of a malicious node from disrupting the normal operations of a peer-to-peer network. The methods of the invention allow both secure and insecure identities to be used by nodes by making them self-verifying. When necessary or opportunistic, ID ownership is validated by piggybacking the validation on existing messages. The probability of connecting initially to a malicious node is reduced by randomly selecting to which node to connect. Further, information from malicious nodes is identified and can be disregarded by maintaining information about prior communications that will require a future response. Denial of service attacks are inhibited by allowing the node to disregard requests when its resource utilization exceeds a predetermined limit. The ability for a malicious node to remove a valid node is reduced by requiring that revocation certificates be signed by the node to be removed.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) communication, and in fact all types of communication, depend on the possibility of establishing valid connections between selected entities. However, entities may have one or several addresses that may vary because the entities move in the network, because the topology changes, or because an address lease cannot be renewed. A classic architectural solution to this addressing problem is thus to assign to each entity a stable name, and to "resolve" this name to a current address when a connection is needed. This name to address translation must be very robust, and it must also allow for easy and fast updates.
To increase the likelihood that an entity's address may be found by those seeking to connect to it, many peer-to-peer protocols, including the Peer Name Resolution Protocol (PNRP), allow entities to publish their address through various mechanisms. Some protocols also allow a client to acquire knowledge of other entities' addresses through the processing of requests from others in the network. Indeed, it is this acquisition of address knowledge that enables successful operation of peer-to-peer networks. That is, the better the information about other peers in the network, the greater the likelihood that a search for a particular resource will converge.
However, without a robust security infrastructure underlying the peer-to-peer protocol, malicious entities can easily disrupt the ability for such peer-to-peer systems to converge. Such disruptions may be caused, for example, by an entity that engages in identity theft. In such an identity theft attack on the peer-to-peer network, a malicious node publishes address information for identifications (IDs) with which it does not have an authorized relationship, i.e. it is neither the owner nor a group member, etc. A malicious entity could also intercept and/or respond first before the good node responds, thus appearing to be the good node.
Commonly, P2P network attacks may attempt to disrupt or exhaust node or network resources. In PNRP, a malicious entity could also obstruct PNRP resolution by flooding the network with bad information so that other entities in the network would tend to forward requests to nonexistent nodes (which would adversely affect the convergence of searches), or to nodes controlled by the attacker. PNRP's name resolution ability could also be degraded by modifying the RESOLVE packet used to discover resources before forwarding it to a next node, or by sending an invalid RESPONSE to back to the requester that generated the RESOLVE packet. A malicious entity could also attempt to disrupt the operation of the peer-to-peer network by trying to ensure that searches will not converge by, for example, instead of forwarding the search to a node in its cache that is closer to the ID to aid in the search convergence, forwarding the search to a node that is further away from the requested ID. Alternatively, the malicious entity could simply not respond to the search request at all. The PNRP resolution could be further hampered by a malicious node sending an invalid BYE message on behalf of a valid ID. As a result, other nodes in the cloud will remove this valid ID from their cache, decreasing the number of valid nodes stored therein.
While simply validating address certificates may prevent the identity theft problem, such is ineffective against an attack that impedes PNRP resolution. An attacker can continue to generate verifiable address certificates (or have them pre-generated) and flood the corresponding IDs in the peer-to-peer cloud. If any of the nodes attempts to verify ownership of the ID, the attacker would be able to verify that it is the owner for the flooded IDs because, in fact, it is. However, if the attacker manages to generate enough IDs it can bring most of the peer-to-peer searches to one of the nodes it controls. Once a malicious node brings the search to controlled node, the attacker fairly controls and directs the operation of the network.
A malicious node may also attempt a denial of service (DoS) attack. When a P2P node changes, it may publish its new information to other network nodes. If all the nodes that learn about the new node records try to perform an ID ownership check, a storm of network activity against the advertised ID owner will occur. Exploiting this weakness, an attacker could mount an internet protocol (IP) DoS attack against a certain target by making that target very popular. For example, if a malicious entity advertises an Internet Website IP address as the updated node's ID IP, all the nodes in the peer-to-peer network that receive this advertised IP will try to connect to that IP to verify the authenticity of the record. Of course, the Website's server will not be able to verify ownership of the ID because the attacker generated this information. However, the damage has already been done. That is, the attacker convinced a good part of the peer-to-peer community to flood the IP address with validation requests and may have effectively shut it down.
Another type of DoS attack that overwhelms a node or a cloud by exhausting one or more resources occurs when a malicious node sends a large volume of invalid/valid peer address certificates (PACs) to a single node (e.g. by using FLOOD/RESOLVE/SOLICIT packets). The node that receives these PACs will consume all its CPU trying to verify all of the PACs. Similarly, by sending invalid FLOOD/RESOLVE packets, a malicious node will achieve packet multiplication within the cloud. That is, the malicious node can consume network bandwidth for a PNRP cloud using a small number of such packets because the node to which these packets are sent will respond by sending additional packets. Network bandwidth multiplication can also be achieved by a malicious node by sending bogus REQUEST messages to which good nodes will respond by FLOODing the PACs, which are of a larger size than the REQUEST.
A malicious node can also perpetrate an attack in the PNRP cloud by obstructing the initial node synch up. That is, to join the PNRP cloud a node tries to connect to one of the nodes already present in the PNRP cloud. If the node tries to connect to the malicious node, it can be completely controlled by that malicious node. Further, a malicious node can send invalid REQUEST packets when two good nodes are involved in the synchronization process. This is a type of DoS attack that will hamper the synch up. Because the invalid REQUEST packets generate FLOOD messages in response, initial node synch up may be hindered.
There exists a need in the art, therefore, for security mechanisms that will ensure the integrity of the P2P cloud by preventing or mitigating the effect of such attacks.

Peer-to-peer name resolution protocol (PNRP) security infrastructure and method


A number of embodiments for suspension units for snowmobile drive belts that provide a compact assembly and yet permit the use of a single cushioning unit that can extend horizontally within the frame so as to provide large suspension travel in a relatively small area.

This invention relates to a snowmobile and more particularly to an improved drive belt suspension system for a snowmobile.
As is well known, most conventional snowmobiles employ a drive belt that is driven by the engine through a transmission for propelling the snowmobile along the body of terrain over which it is traversing. The drive belt conventionally runs over a guide rail or guide rail assembly that backs up the portion of the drive belt that engages the ground. This guide rail assembly is suspended by some form of suspension system for suspension movement relative to the frame. Conventionally, the guide rail is suspended by front and rear suspension units each of which load a respective cushioning arrangement. In order to maintain a compact assembly, the suspension units and cushioning elements are generally positioned within the confine of the belt.
A conventional type of snowmobile drive belt suspension system is depicted in FIG. 1 and will be described by reference to that figure in order to explain the problems attendant with the prior art type of construction.
As seen in FIG. 1, the snowmobile is comprised of a frame assembly that is shown partially in phantom and is identified generally by the reference numeral 11. This frame assembly journals a driving sprocket 12 which is driven from an engine through a transmission which are of any conventional type and which engine and transmission are not illustrated.
The drive sprocket is engaged with a drive belt 13 which is suspended for suspension movement relative to the frame assembly 11 by a suspension system, indicated generally by the reference numeral 14 and comprised of a front unit 15 and a rear unit 16. These suspension units 15 and 16 support a guide rail assembly 17 which is primarily comprised of a pair of spaced apart guide rails and which engage the backside of the portion of the drive belt 13 that engages the ground over which the snowmobile is traveling.
The guide rail assembly 17 journals a plurality of backup rollers 18 and a larger, idler roller 19. In addition, further rollers 20 and are carried by the frame assembly 11 so as to define the path over which the drive belt 13 travels.
The front suspension unit 15 includes a pair of links 21 that are pivotally connected at one end to the guide rail 17, via brackets 22. The other end of the links 21 are connected to lever arms 23 that are fixed to a tube 24 that is pivotally carried by the frame assembly 11 for pivoting the levers 23 upon suspension travel of the front of the guide rail 17. These levers are connected by a pivot pin 25 to one end of a combined hydraulic shock absorber and coil compression spring assembly 26. The other end of this assembly is connected by a further bracket 27 to the guide rail 17 so as to load the opposite ends of the assembly 26 upon suspension travel of the front portion of the guide rail 17.
The rear suspension unit 16 includes a pair of first links 28 that have pivotal connections 29 at one end to the sides of the guide rail assembly 17. A further pivotal connection 31 connects the opposite end of links 28 with respective second links 32. The other ends of the links 32 are fixed to a frame tube 33 that is journalled on the frame 11. A bracket 34 is coupled to this end of the links 32 and cooperates to load a second suspension unit 35.
The second suspension unit 35, like the suspension unit 26, is comprised of a tubular shock absorber and surrounding coil spring. The bracket 34 has a pivotal connection 36 to one end of the suspension unit 35. A link 37 connects the other end of the suspension unit 35 with the bracket 34 through a pivot pin 38. The link 37 is connected to a lever arm 39 that is pivoted on a further frame tube 41. Hence, the suspension unit 16 loads both ends of the cushioning unit 35 upon suspension travel of the rear of the drive belt.
It should be readily apparent that this prior art type of construction is quite complicated in nature. Also, because of the manner in which the cushioning units 26 and 35 are positioned within the confines of the drive belt 13, the amount of suspension travel is somewhat limited. It is important to be able to obtain relatively large movements of the cushioning units 26 and 35 and of the guide rail 17 and drive belt 13 relative to the frame 11. By having large suspension travel, small bumps can be softly cushioned and yet larger more severe bumps can be cushioned over a larger stroke and with progressively increasing rates as to improve the ride and handling of the vehicle.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved drive belt suspension arrangement for a snowmobile.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a simplified compact and yet highly effective suspension system for a snowmobile drive belt.
It is a yet further object of this invention to provide an improved drive belt suspension system for a snowmobile wherein a single cushioning unit can be provided for damping both the front and rear portions of the guide rail and to obtain large suspension travels and yet have a compact assembly.


A portable rack for drying or storing articles, and a support arm device therefor. The support arm devices are pivotably secured to an external post so that the support arm can be pivoted from a supportive position to a position of non-use.

There has been a great need for painters, finish carpenters, tradesman, and other construction workers to have a quick setup, multi-functional, well-organized rack structure for trim drying and/or storage which can easily be set up on the job site. There has also been a great need for clothing racks for home use, for dormitory rooms, for point of sale devices, etc.
The prior art is exemplified by Kollinger Metalbau GmbH European Patent Publication EP 0 865 747 A2; Gingrich U.S. Design Patent 412,414; and Dumont U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,924.
One of the primary desideratum of the present invention is to avoid the animadversions of the prior art and conventional methods and techniques, and to provide novel and unique rack structures for drying and/or storing items, support arms therefor, and methods of constructing and utilizing same.

Portable racks for drying or storing items, support arms therefor, and methods of constructing and utilizing same


A low noise frequency synthesizer 10 that uses uses frequency dividers 13, 15, at least one of which(divider 15) is incrementable and decrementable in half integer steps, and analog gain compensation in a phase/frequency detector 14 to achieve lower noise, lower spurious levels and faster switching speed than traditional methods of frequency synthesis. The key features of the present invention are its half integer dividers 13, 15 and the ability to adjust the phase detector gain to compensate the loop for varying divide numbers. The synthesizer 10 comprises two dividers 13, 15 that provide two reference frequency signals that are a function of an input signal and an output signal of the synthesizer 10. A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 18 provides the output signal (f.sub.O) of the frequency synthesizer 10. A phase/frequency detector 14 compares the reference frequency signals and provides a phase error output signal that drives the VCO 18. A digital controller, comprising a PROM 11 and a digital to analog converter 12, adjusts the gain of the phase detector 14 to compensate for varying divide numbers, and selects the divide numbers. The synthesizer 10 has lower phase noise, lower spurious levels and faster frequency channel switching. To generate a frequency step of a given size, the divide number is half the step size. With a divide number of half the step size, the noise contribution from the divider is reduced by that much. The phase margin is improved with a corresponding reduction in loop peaking in the noise spectrum. A missile radar system employing the present synthesizer is also disclosed.

The present invention relates generally to low noise frequency synthesizers, and more particularly, to a low noise frequency synthesizer using half integer dividers and analog gain compensation.
Traditional methods of frequency synthesis utilize either direct analog or indirect M over N, or pulse swallowing techniques. For missile applications, the size and volume constraints in the missile are incompatible with the direct analog synthesizers due to the large number and physically large sizes of all the frequency multipliers and high Q bandpass filters needed therein. Synthesizers employing normal M over N or pulse swallowing suffer primarily from higher spurious levels, so the design must be done very carefully.
Gain compensation is normally done by using a finite number of analog switches to switch in different resistor combinations to vary the loop gain. The drawback with this is only a finite number of steps are available and the resolution of these limited number of steps is gross. In addition the parasitic capacitances of these extra components can cause stability problems.
Accordingly, it would be an advantage in the frequency synthesizer art to have a low noise frequency synthesizer that provides for lower phase noise, lower spurious levels and faster switching speed than traditional methods of frequency synthesis.

Low noise frequency synthesizer using half integer dividers and analog gain compensation


The subject invention pertains to methods and compositions for protecting feline animals from infection by FIV using immunogens derived from primate immunodeficiency viruses, including HIV and SIV. Methods for vaccinating feline animals with the subject vaccine compositions are described. Feline animals vaccinated according to the methods and compositions of the subject invention exhibit protective humoral and cellular immune responses to FIV when challenged with FIV. The subject invention further concerns methods and compositions for protecting humans and other animals against infection by immunodeficiency viruses, such as HIV and FIV.

Domestic cats are subject to infection by several retroviruses, including feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline sarcoma virus (FeSV), endogenous type C oncoronavirus (RD-114), and feline syncytia-forming virus (FeSFV). Of these, FeLV is the most significant pathogen, causing diverse symptoms including lymphoreticular and myeloid neoplasms, anemias, immune-mediated disorders, and an immunodeficiency syndrome that is similar to human acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Recently, a particular replication-defective FeLV mutant, designated FeLV-AIDS, has been more particularly associated with immunosuppressive properties.
The discovery of feline T-lymphotropic lentivirus (now designated as feline immunodeficiency virus, FIV) was first reported in Pedersen et al. (1987). Characteristics of FIV have been reported in Yamamoto et al. (1988a); Yamamoto et al. (1988b); and Ackley et al. (1990). Seroepidemiologic data have shown that infection by FIV is indigenous to domestic and wild felines throughout the world. A wide variety of symptoms are associated with infection by FIV, including abortion, alopecia, anemia, conjunctivitis, chronic rhinitis, enteritis, gingivitis, hematochezia, neurologic abnormalities, periodontitis, and seborrheic dermatitis. The immunologic hallmark of domestic cats infected with FIV is a chronic and progressive depletion of feline CD4+ peripheral blood lymphocytes, a reduction in the CD4:CD8 cell ratio and, in some cases, an increase in CD8-bearing lymphocytes. Based on molecular, biochemical and immunopathologic characteristics, FIV infection of cats is now considered to be a better feline AIDS model than FeLV-FAIDS.
Cloning and sequence analysis of FIV has been reported in Olmsted et al. (1989a); Olmsted et al. (1989b); and Talbott et al. (1989). Hosie and Jarrett (1990) described the serological response of cats infected with FIV. FIV virus subtypes can be classified according to immunotype based on the level of cross-neutralizing antibodies elicited by each strain (Murphy and Kingsbury, 1990). Recently, viruses have been classified into subtypes according to genotype based on nucleotide sequence homology. Although HIV and FIV subtyping is based on genotype (Sodora et al., 1994; Rigby et al., 1993; and Louwagie et al., 1993), little is known about the correlation between the genotype and immunotype of subtypes. FIV viral isolates have been classified into four FIV subtypes: A, B, C and D. (Kakinuma et al., 1995). Infectious isolates and infectious molecular clones have been described for all FIV subtypes except for subtype C (Sodora et al., 1994). Subtype C FIV has originally been identified from cellular DNA of cats from Canada (Sodora et al., 1994; Rigby et al., 1993; Kakinuma et al., 1995). FIV strains identified in the art include (subtype of the strain is shown in parenthesis) Petaluma (A), Dixon (A), UK8 (A), Dutch113 (A), Dutch19K (A), UK2 (A), SwissZ2 (A), Sendai-1 (A), USCAzepy01A (A), USCAhnky11A (A), USCAtt-10A (A), USCAlemy01 (A), USCAsam-01A (A), PPR (A), FranceWo, Netherlands, Bangston (A/B), Aomori-1 (B), Aomori-2 (B), USILbrny03B (B), TM2 (B), Sendai-2 (B), USCKlgri02B (B), Yokohama (B), USMAsboy03B (B), USTXmtex03B (B), USMCglwd03B (B), CABCpbar03C (C), CABCpbar07C (C), CABCpady02C (C), Shizuoka (D), and Fukuoka (D).
Although major strides have been made with antiviral drug therapy, the development of an effective vaccine against HIV-1 is still considered central to the control of the AIDS epidemic (Calarota et al., 2003). Multiple HIV vaccine designs using different HIV-1 strains are currently in various phases of clinical trials (Calarota et al., 2003; Cohen, 2003; IAVI Report. Ongoing trials of preventive HIV vaccines (last updated: Dec. 14, 2004). IAVI Report Online Special Features: www.iavireport.org/specials/OngoingTrialsofPreventiveHIVVaccines.pdf). Even in light of these clinical trials, it is still unclear what HIV-1 epitopes and immune mechanisms are essential for vaccine protection (Calarota et al., 2003; McMichael et al., 2003). Similar issues were faced during the development of an FIV vaccine for domestic cats (Uhl et al., 2002). As a means to broaden FIV vaccine efficacy, a dual-subtype vaccine was developed using FIV strains from long-term nonprogressor cats (Uhl et al., 2002; Yamamoto et al., 2002). This vaccine demonstrated moderate to significant protection of cats against both homologous and heterologous FIV challenges (Uhl et al., 2002; Yamamoto et al., 2002, Pu et al., 2001; Pu et al., 2005). Furthermore, this vaccine induced not only broad neutralizing antibodies (Pu et al., 2001) but antibodies cross-reactive to HIV-1 proteins, especially to HIV-1 core protein (p24) and group-specific antigens (Gag) (Pu et al., 2002). The FIV epitopes responsible for providing the dual-subtype vaccine protection have yet to be determined.
Gag and other antigens conserved among viruses from the same subfamily frequently induce antibodies that cross-react with other subfamily members (Pu et al., 2002; Matsuo et al., 1992; Nath et al., 2001; Zvelebil et al., 1988; Murphy, 1996). Some cross-reactive antigens have been used as immunogens for vaccine against viruses from the same subfamily (Henderson et al., 2004; Yazbak et al., 2002). Classic examples of such vaccines are the use of vaccinia virus vaccines for smallpox in humans and human measles vaccines for canine distemper in puppies (Henderson et al., 2004; Yazbak et al., 2002). Consequently, protective vaccines based on cross-reactive antigens have been shown to provide broad immunity, and may be useful against viruses that are currently evolving in a new host, such as HIV infection of humans.
Although cross-protection against HIV-1 with prior HIV-2 infection has been reported in multiple retrospective studies (Travers et al., 1995; Greenberg et al., 1996), controversy still exists with multiple studies reporting no protection (Norrgren et al., 1999; Schim van der Loeff et al., 2001). Even though amino acid (aa) sequences of the structural gene products exhibit only limited identity (<60%) between HIV-1 and HIV-2 (Guyader et al., 1987), some of the cross-reactive epitopes between these two major HIV groups have been reported to induce cross-neutralizing antibodies and cross-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activities (Robert-Guroff et al., 1992; Bottiger et al., 1990; Nixon et al., 1990; Rowland-Jones et al., 1995). Moreover, poxvirus-vectored recombinant HIV-1 vaccine priming followed by HIV-1 protein boost, conferred cross-protection against HIV-2 challenge in macaques (Abimiku et al., 1995). However, cross-reactive antigen-induced protective immunity has not been reported against distinct heterologous-species viruses (HIV-1 and FIV).

Materials and methods for immunizing against FIV infection

University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


A fluid power device having at least one pressure regulator whose regulator housing is fitted at the end side with a manometer. In order to ensure readability of its display face when looking at it from different angles the manometer is able to be positioned at different alignments in relation to the regulator housing. For this purpose the manometer is mounted on a holder, which is able to be pivoted in relation to regulator housing about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to the upright axis of the pressure regulator to present different display positions.

The invention relates to a fluid power device fitted with at least one pressure regulator having a longitudinal axis and an upright axis perpendicular thereto, the housing of said pressure regulator being fitted with a manometer at an end thereof, said manometer indicating the secondary pressure tapped via a tapping duct from the regulator housing and being able to be positioned with different alignments in relation to the regulator housing in order to ensure readability of its display face from different directions of viewing.

Fluid power device with a pressure regulator


A mobile communication device is provided that uses an accelerometer to sense when the mobile communication device is dropped and impacts a hard surface, such as a floor or table, with a force hard enough to bend or deform an external metal antenna. Once such an impact is detected by the mobile communication device, the mobile communication device is further configured to determine whether an antenna has become detuned from its respective transceiver and then retune the antenna prior to the user picking up the dropped mobile communication device.

Portable communication devices, such as mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and tablets have become extremely popular and for many users are now considered indispensable.
One of the most important components of portable communication devices (hereinafter referred to as "UE"s) are their antennas, which are configured to radiate and receive electromagnetic waves so as to transmit and exchange wireless information signals between the UE and other locations. Such antennas must be designed to work with multiple frequency bands such as those used in present day wireless communication networks. Wireless communication device users continue to demand increasingly thinner, lighter and miniaturized devices. Such demands place additional physical limitations on the antennas used in portable wireless communication devices. As a result, multi-band antenna design for mobile communication devices continues to become more complex.
The housings of portable communication devices or user equipment (UE) may accommodate one or more antennas that support wireless communications. A UE may use long-range wireless communication systems such as cellular telephone systems, to send and receive communications. Such cellular or other long-range wireless communication systems may include, the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) telephone bands, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE); General Packet Radio System (GPRS); CDMA, such as IS-95; CDMA2000; WCDMA or Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution (LTE); other wide area network communication systems; PrivateMobile Radio (PMR); Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX); WLAN; other 3G or 4G networks; or the like. UEs may also use short-range wireless communication protocols to support communications with nearby devices. Such short rang protocols may include Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) and Bluetooth protocols.
The positioning and placement of antennas in UEs having smaller and thinner housings present additional design challenges. Handheld communication devices have largely abandoned antenna designs that have an antenna projecting outward from the housing. Mobile communication device housings are now routinely designed with internal antenna elements. However, when antennas are positioned within or and along an edge of the device housing, the presence of a user's hand can degrade antenna performance. Regardless, antennas are routinely located along an inner edge of the device housing despite the increased likelihood of these detrimental effects.
Additionally, when an antenna is included as part of an exterior surface of a UE chassis, such as a metal band about the edge of the UE chassis, dropping the UE may result in damaging, bending, deforming or generally moving aspect of the antenna from its previous location to another location. Since these antennas are impedance tuned or matched with a transceiver of the UE in order to help maximize transmission power and reception of radio signals, a damaged, bent, deformed or antenna that is moved relative to other metal elements of the UE may result in a change impedance and/or capacitance of the antenna relative to the transceiver circuit that it has been matched or tuned to. As such, what is needed is a method and circuitry adapted to correct or rematch the impedance of a deformed metal band antenna with the transceiver related circuitry of the UE.


An apparatus and method for sealing an underground junction between a lateral service line and a main pipeline from the inside-out. One embodiment provides a substantially rigid patching apparatus which may be positioned and installed with a robotic device within a main pipeline. The patching apparatus has a flange shaped to fit the internal diameter of the main pipeline and a tubular stem or sleeve which penetrates into the lateral service line. The patching apparatus contains an interconnection substrate such as felt, sponge or other similar material. The interconnection substrate may be impregnated with a bonding agent which sealingly interconnects the patching apparatus to the main pipeline and lateral service line. The seal provided by the inverted-tee patch effectively eliminates most water intrusion or the influx of plant roots and other matter which can seriously damage or obstruct the main pipeline. A remote control robotic arm is used in conjunction with a support cage to apply the patch to the underground junction between the main pipeline and lateral service line from within the main pipeline.

Sewer lines, water lines and other types of buried pipelines can develop leaks over time. These leaks are a result of decaying materials such as the clay used in the construction of the pipeline, obstructions which may clog a line, chemical exposure or crushing due to overburden pressure due to the inferior materials used in very old pipelines. Many older lines require repair to prevent exterior leaking and possible ground water contamination. Additionally, without proper repair ground water can infiltrate into the broken sewer lines, thus causing significant increase in the volume of throughput and the expense of chemicals and other materials used for treatment of the sewer water.
Repairing leaking sewer lines and other forms of fluid transmission lines is very expensive due to the previous necessity of digging a trench from the surface to physically remove the pipe. The removal and replacement of this pipe from the surface is time-consuming, expensive and not practical in many old commercial and residential neighborhoods due to narrow alleyways, heavy traffic and the volume of pipe located below existing buildings or other obstructions.
Thus, "trenchless technology" was developed which utilizes machinery and methods of repairing sewer pipe and other buried transmission lines from the inside-out. This process eliminates the need for digging expensive trenches aboveground. In brief, the existing main pipeline is repaired by installing a plastic liner which is inserted into the existing pipeline. The plastic liner is then bonded to the internal surface of the existing pipeline by heating or other methods. The existing lateral service lines which feed the main pipeline are then located by the use of a robotic device with an optical camera. Once identified, a hole is drilled by the robot mechanism into the existing pipeline, thus providing access into the lateral service line.
Unfortunately, the hole drilled into the existing lateral service line does not provide a satisfactory seal, thus permitting significant volumes of groundwater, as well as plant roots, dirt and other foreign objects to infiltrate the main pipeline at the junction point between the lateral service line(s) and the main pipeline. Additionally, contaminants within the main pipeline can potentially leak and pollute the adjacent groundwater. Thus, a need exists to provide a reliable patching mechanism to seal the junction point between the lateral service line and main pipeline which can be operated remotely and which functions from within the small internal confines of the main pipeline.
Others have attempted to seal the junction between the main pipeline and lateral service line, but known approaches have considerable disadvantages. U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,063 to Endoh exemplifies a technique where a flexible tubular liner is inserted into a lateral line so that the entire lateral line receives a lining. Air or liquid pressure is needed to insert the reversed flexible liner into the lateral. Once the liner is extended by the air pressure from the junction to the other end of the lateral pipe, access to that other end of the lateral line is required to cut away any excess liner. In this way, the entire lateral pipe is lined from one end to the other.
As those skilled in the art can appreciate, installing a flexible liner in a lateral service line is very time consuming and difficult. The apparatus required for installation has many moving parts and is complex to operate. Additionally, access to the distal end of the lateral line (i.e., the end away from the main pipeline) is needed to cut away the excess liner. The complex setup required makes sealing the junction of the main pipeline and lateral service line both time consuming and expensive.
Further, the results achieved by the flexible liners are erratic because the lateral service line is not a controlled environment. For example, the lateral may contain debris which will obstruct the flexible liner so that when the liner is hardened, the obstructions will permanently interfere with the flow in the lateral line. Additionally, the environment in which the flexible liner must be installed into is subject to wide temperature swings which further encumbers achieving consistent results. Therefore, there is a need for quickly and inexpensively sealing the junction between a main pipeline and lateral service line with consistent results. This is especially needed in situations where it is difficult or impractical to obtain access to the distal end of a lateral service line.

Apparatus and method for the robotic repairing of an underground pipe junction


Disclosed is a peel-off apparatus comprising: a first holding unit configured to hold a first substrate of a superimposed substrate; a second holding unit configured to hold a second substrate of the superimposed substrate; and a moving unit configured to move a part of outer periphery of the first holding unit to be separated from the second holding unit. The first holding unit includes: a plate type elastic member connected to the moving unit; and a plurality of adsorbing units provided in the elastic member to adsorb the first substrate. An outer periphery adsorbing unit which becomes a peel-off beginning point includes: a pad member whose adsorbing surface of the first substrate is open to form a hollow portion; and a support member fitted into the hollow portion of the pad member having a hardness higher than that of the pad member.

In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, the diameter of a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon wafer or a compound semiconductor wafer has been increased and the thickness thereof is being reduced. A semiconductor substrate having a large diameter and a small thickness may be bent or cracked at the time of conveyance or a polishing process. Therefore, after reinforcing the semiconductor substrate by bonding a supporting substrate thereto, the conveyance or polishing process is performed, and then the supporting substrate is peeled off from the semiconductor substrate.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2013-149655 discloses a method which adsorbs and holds a semiconductor substrate by a first holding unit and moves the outer periphery of a second holding unit in a vertical direction while maintaining an adsorbed and supported state of the supporting substrate by the second holding unit to peel off the supporting substrate from the semiconductor substrate.

Peel-off apparatus, peel-off system, peel-off method and computer storage medium


At least one of a first device, a second device, and a relay device compensates for wavelength dispersion in a first optical wavelength path. The first or second device changes a wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first or second device so that wavelength dispersion in a second optical wavelength path is compensated. The relay device changes a wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the relay device so that a total amount of wavelength dispersion of the signal light compensated in the first optical wavelength path does not change substantially with the change in the wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first or second device. The first optical wavelength path is switched to the second optical wavelength path after the wavelength dispersion compensation amount at the first or second device is changed to a value that can compensate for the wavelength dispersion in the second optical wavelength path.

An optical communication system that uses a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) scheme of multiplexing optical signals of different wavelengths is known.
Such an optical communication system can configure a complex topology such as a ring interconnection and a mesh by using an optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) that realizes adding/dropping and path switching of an optical signal for each wavelength.
Moreover, in the optical communication system, the bit rate of multiplexed optical signals is increasing and diversified optical signal modulation schemes are used. Thus, in order to cope with the increasing bit rate and the diversified modulation schemes, a method of flexibly allocating a wavelength bandwidth according to the bit rate and a modulation scheme of an optical signal.
In an optical communication system in which such a method is applied, in order to improve the utilization efficiency of the wavelength bandwidth, rearrangement of allocated wavelengths, switching of wavelength paths, and the like are performed frequently. Thus, it is necessary to change the allocated wavelength and path of a wavelength path in service. Here, the wavelength path means a communication path between two points connected by an optical signal of each wavelength.
For example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-147416 proposes a method of preventing a deterioration of signal quality after a path is switched in the 1+1 protection scheme by setting a wavelength dispersion compensation amount in a present optical path to be the same as a wavelength dispersion compensation amount in a reserve optical path in advance or setting a residual dispersion amount to zero.

Wavelength path switching method, optical communication system, optical communication device, optical repeater, and network management device


The invention relates to foam structures with enhanced physical properties which can be used in the areas of packaging, athletics, water sports, and construction. In general, the structures are laminated polymer foams that include a core of a low density foam and one or more skins of relatively high density foam covering the core. The skins provide improved physical properties to the foam structures by improving the flexural strength, resistance to bending, and resulting damage from bending in the laminated foam structure while modestly increasing the weight of the laminated structure, for example. Uses of the foam structures include, but are not limited to, packaging materials, gym mats, body boards, or eaves fillers. The skin can act as a hinge to fold a die cut piece into a collapsible packaging system.

The invention relates to polymer foams. In particular, the invention relates to polymer foams having low densities with enhanced physical properties.
Foam structures are useful in the areas of packaging, athletics, water sports, and construction. In general, the foams are low density polymeric materials with good physical properties that are capable of supporting loads without adverse deformation. In general, the physical properties required by these applications suggest the use of high density foams. It is generally required that the foams have good proportional limit, compressive properties, shear properties, fatigue properties, and buckling limits, as defined, for example, in "Machinery's Handbook," E. Oberg, et al., Green, Ed., Industrial Press Inc., New York, 1992, pages 166, 168 and 253.
Physically-blown foams, particularly foams with enhanced physical properties are useful, for example, in packaging, automotive, construction, contact sports, water sports, exercise, and appliance applications. It is important to maintain good foam properties (e.g., cushioning and resistance to creasing) at low foam densities.
Packaging design has focused on the use of systems such as end caps which fit on opposite ends of the packaged product (e.g., televisions, computers, and electronic equipment, or high value artifacts such as glass vases or fragile art work) and suspend the product in the center of a container during shipping and storage. Previous suspension-type packaging systems have been composed of corrugated or paperboard materials, molded low density foams such as polystyrene, protective films or sheeting, wood, plastic, organic or inorganic fill, or combinations of the above materials that are glued together. Molded packaging materials, such as styrofoam end caps, are bulky to transport and store. It is most desirable for the structure to provide the required packaging protection with the lowest amount of added weight.

Laminated foam structures with enhanced properties


Slurries of relatively fine particles of solids wastes and similar materials are disposed of through injection wells which penetrate earth formation disposal zones which have a minimum in situ compressive stress generally less than an overburden zone and an underburden zone adjacent to the disposal zone. The disposal zone preferably has a permeability greater than the overburden and underburden zones. The slurry is injected through a disposal well intersecting all of the zones and having perforations preferably communicating the slurry with the underburden zone to provide for lateral growth of the hydraulically fractured disposal zone as the solids filter cake plates out on the fracture faces of the disposal zone without substantially penetrating the overburden zone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to disposal of slurried solids wastes and the like in a hydraulically fractured earth formation in a relatively permeable disposal zone disposed below a relatively impermeable overburden zone and above an underburden zone having higher in situ compressive stresses than the disposal zone.
2. Background
One suitable way of disposing of solid waste materials comprises reducing the particle size of the solids material, slurrying the finely ground solids with a suitable disposal or carrier liquid and injecting the slurry into a relatively deep earth formation zone which will prevent uncontrolled movement of the waste material into zones from which fluids such as fresh water may be produced. U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,929, issued Jul. 24, 1990, to Malachosky, et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,933, issued May 5, 1992, to James E. Jackson, both assigned to the assignee of the present invention and U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,226, issued Apr. 28, 1992 to Jennings, Jr. describe methods for disposing of slurries of solids particles and a suitable carrier liquid such as fresh or salt water by injection of the slurries into deep wells and fracturing an earth formation to provide for disposal of a suitable quantity of the waste material.
Moreover, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/910,381, filed Jul. 8, 1992, in the name of Thomas K. Perkins and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/008,375, filed Jan. 25, 1993 to Winton G. Aubert, et al, both assigned to the assignee of the present invention, describe certain improvements in techniques for disposal of liquid and slurried solids waste in deep earth formation disposal zones. The method described in application Ser. No. 07/910,381 is unique in that formation zones having alternate layers of permeable and relatively impermeable material may be advantageously utilized to dispose of relatively large quantities of slurried solids wastes. However, deep earth disposal zones which have the characteristics which may be taken advantage of in the method described and claimed in application Ser. No. 07/910,381 may not be readily available in locations which may otherwise be desired for disposing of wastes which generally comprise slurries of relatively small particles of solids material.
It is more common to find earth formations having one or more relatively permeable zones of substantial thickness or vertical span which are located below a formation zone comprising overburden of relatively impermeable material and which may exhibit an in situ compressive stress field generally greater than the more permeable zone. Such formations also, generally, exhibit gradual or significantly increasing in situ compressive stress with depth even though certain zones at different depths may have relatively lower in situ compressive stresses than either the overburden or the underburden of the particular zone in question. Such earth formation zones may be advantageously used for the disposal of slurried solids wastes in accordance with the present invention.

Waste disposal in hydraulically fractured earth formations


A sensor assembly (5) for a fluid meter (100) is provided. The sensor assembly (5) comprises a sensor assembly body (6) and one or more circumferential grooves (303) formed in the sensor assembly body (6). Two or more retaining components (105, 106) are removably coupled together around at least one of the one or more circumferential grooves (303) with a portion of the two or more retaining components engaging the circumferential groove. A flange (104) is also provided that surrounds at least a portion of the sensor assembly body (6) and is retained around the sensor assembly body (6) by the first and second retaining components (105, 106).

Fluid meters, such as Coriolis flow meters, vibrating densitometers, piezoelectric flow meters, etc. typically include one or more tubes for containing a fluid. The fluid may be flowing such as in a Coriolis flow meter or stationary such as in a vibrating densitometer. The fluid may comprise a liquid, a gas, or a combination thereof. In some situations, the fluid may include suspended particulates. Typically, the fluid tubes are enclosed in a case in order to protect the tubes and associated electrical components as well as provide a more stable environment.
In many situations, a portion of the fluid tubes extend out of the case and are joined to a pipeline interface, such as a manifold. The fluid tubes are generally joined to the manifold by welding. The manifolds are then typically brazed to case ends in a vacuum brazing operation. Once the appropriate electrical sensors are attached to the fluid tubes, the case ends are then welded to the case. Flanges are then generally welded to the case ends or the manifold in order to subsequently couple the fluid meter to the pipeline carrying a process fluid.
Obtaining adequate and reliable connections between the various components is often a problem with prior art fluid meters. One reason is due to thermal expansion of the materials used for the various components of the fluid meter. As the components are being coupled to one another, high temperatures are often involved, which can result in significant changes in the components' dimensions. This is especially true when the various components comprise metals that are coupled by welding, brazing, soldering, etc., which can require an excessive amount of heat. While this may not create a problem if all of the components are formed from the same material or materials with similar coefficients of thermal expansion as the components will expand and contract in unison, this is not always feasible. In many situations, the fluid tubes are formed from a different material than the case, the case ends, and the flanges. For example, when the process fluid in the fluid meter comprises a highly corrosive fluid, the fluid tubes need to be formed from a material that is highly corrosion resistant, such as titanium, tantalum, or zirconium. Similarly, any other portion of the wetted path should also be formed from high corrosion resistant materials. For example, in a dual fluid tube meter, the manifold is included in the wetted fluid path. Therefore, the manifold would also need to be formed from a highly corrosion resistant material. While the case, the case ends, and the flanges would ideally be formed from the same material as the fluid tubes and the manifold, such an approach is typically cost prohibitive as titanium, tantalum, and zirconium are expensive metals. Therefore, portions of the fluid meter that are not in contact with the fluid are generally made from less expensive materials, such as stainless steel.
Although the different materials used to form the fluid meter may not be a problem when the fluid meter is at or near a predetermined temperature, such as room temperature, the differences in their coefficients of thermal expansion can create serious manufacturing problems as various portions of the meter are subjected to extreme temperature variations. A similar problem can be experienced in situations where the fluid is at an extreme temperature compared to the surrounding environment resulting in the wetted fluid path being subjected to a much higher temperature. The embodiments described below overcome these and other problems and an advance in the art is achieved. The embodiments described below provide an improved fluid meter that can combine various components having differing coefficients of thermal expansion without the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Method and apparatus for retaining a flange on a fluid meter


A dual cycle engine which includes both a steam turbine and a gas turbine. The engine includes an air compressor and a combustion chamber connected to the air compressor for burning fuel with air from the air compressor to generate a first gaseous output which drives a gas turbine. The engine also includes a heat recovery system for recovering heat from the gaseous output of the gas turbine after the gaseous output has passed through the gas turbine. The heat recovery system includes a heat exchanger for extracting heat from the gaseous output and for heating an input water stream to generate steam. The steam is heated further in a superheater that burns fuel and air at the same pressure as the combustion chamber to generate a second gaseous output that is combined with the output of the combustion chamber prior to the output from the combustion chamber being passed through the gas turbine. The steam from the superheater is expanded in a steam turbine to generate work therefrom. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchanger is a supercritical heat exchanger. The water input stream is preferably generated by condensing water from the gaseous output after the gaseous output has passed through the heat exchanger. The superheater may be constructed by utilizing a heat exchanger in the combustion chamber. In embodiments of the present invention that utilize a steam injected gas turbine, the steam injection is provided by the output of the steam turbine.

In a conventional single shaft gas turbine engine, a compressor introduces air into a combustion chamber in which the air is mixed with the burning fuel to produce gases that drive a turbine. The turbine drives a load consisting of the compressor and an external load. In a dual shaft gas turbine, the compressor is driven by a turbine that is separate from the load turbine. The two turbines are not mechanically connected. They are only gas dynamically connected. The gases from the first turbine pass through the second turbine after leaving the first turbine. The compressor is usually driven by the high pressure turbine with the combination of the compressor and turbine being referred to as the gas generator. However, schemes in which the compressor is driven by the low pressure turbine are also known. To simplify the following discussion, a single shaft turbine will be used; however, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the teachings of the present invention may be equally applied to a dual turbine configuration. The efficiency of such a turbine design improves with increasing operating temperatures; however, there is a limit to the operating temperature dictated by the temperature at which the turbine blades and related systems fail.
To further increase the efficiency of the engine, the energy that is discarded in the exhaust gases from the turbine must be reclaimed. Schemes in which the exhaust gases are used to heat water in a boiler to generate steam for a steam turbine are known to the art. The efficiency of the steam turbine is determined by the temperature of the steam which, in turn, is determined by the temperature of the exhaust gases leaving the gas turbine. Since the exhaust gases are typically at a temperature of 1000.degree. F., prior art systems utilize steam turbines that operate at temperatures of 1000.degree. F. or less. Since the efficiency of the steam turbine cycle is determined by the temperature of the input steam, any increase in the steam inlet temperature without changing the exhaust temperature will further improve the efficiency of the combined engine.
As noted above, to maintain the temperature below this maximum temperature of the turbine blades, the fuel to air ratio in the combustion chamber is maintained below the point at which stoichiometric combustion of the fuel is achieved. The additional air maintains the gases below the maximum operating temperature. Unfortunately, the energy needed to compress this additional air reduces the overall efficiency of the engine.
These observations have led to gas turbine designs in which steam and/or water is injected into the combustion system. For example, Dah Yu Cheng (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,978,661, 4,128,994 and 4,297,841) recognized that steam addition to the Brayton cycle can significantly increase the power and efficiency of the engine provided heat is recovered from the exhaust gases. The power generated by the drive turbine at any given temperature is determined by the specific heat of the gases expanding through the turbine. Since steam has about twice the specific heat of air, the use of steam as the coolant significantly improves the power that can be generated by the turbine.
Unfortunately, the amount of heat that leaves the system in the exhaust gases also increases when steam is used. The exhaust gases generated in a steam injected engine leave at a higher temperature and have a higher specific heat. Hence, in the absence of some form of heat recovery system, the overall efficiency of the engine decreases. Cheng used a heat recovery boiler to recover the heat from the exhaust gases of the turbine to produce steam. Because of the pinch point limitation on the operating pressure of the heat recovery boiler, and hence the operating pressure ratio of the turbine, the maximum achievable efficiency was limited in this system. Patton and Shouman (U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,721) solved the pinch point problem by operating the combustor of the gas turbine at a pressure above the supercritical pressure of water. They replaced the boiler by a series of regenerative feed water heaters. Shouman (U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,968) describes a combustion system composed of a wet oxidation reactor to which is added, in series, a second stage combustor to produce the desired turbine inlet temperature. This combustion system replaces the conventional gas turbine combustor when a wet oxidation reactor is used.
Broadly, it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved heat recovery system for use in a gas turbine engine system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a heat recovery system that improves the efficiency of water/steam injected gas turbine systems.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

Dual cycle turbine engine having increased efficiency and heat recovery system for use therein


A spoked wheel for a bicycle is described, including a hub, a rim, and a plurality of spokes, which connect the hub to the rim. The spokes are arranged in groups set at an angular distance from one another. At least two spokes of each group, viewed in the direction of the axis of the wheel, cross over one another.

Recent studies and research have been aimed at identifying new configurations of spoked wheels for bicycles leading to better performances of the wheel, as well as creating an original and innovative aesthetic effect.
Technically speaking, research in the field of spoked wheels for road racing bicycles has been directed to identifying solutions that on the one hand reduce weight, which is increasingly desirable in road racing, and on the other hand increase the static and dynamic stability of the wheel. Structural strength, particularly as it results in a reduction in the risks of failure of the spokes of the wheel, is also desired.
In road racing wheels especially, the spokes make a substantial contribution to achievement of the desired results. In fact, the spokes contribute to maintaining static and dynamic stability of the wheel. Furthermore, in rear wheels, the spokes are responsible for performing the important function of transmitting the driving torque from the wheel hub to the rim of the wheel. The driving torque transmission should occur with the maximum possible efficiency, and with minimum deformations, so as to not dissipate the energy exerted on the pedals by a cyclist. Finally, the desired results should be achieved with the minimum weight possible and without introducing risk factors for failure of the wheel spokes. From this standpoint, a particularly critical factor is the tensioning of the spokes during wheel assembly. One of the purposes of said tensioning is to guarantee that the rim will always remain "centered" or "true", i.e., it will not shift away from a median plane of the wheel orthogonal to the axis of the hub and equidistant from the ends of the hub itself. Thus, the spokes of a typical spoked wheel include a first set of spokes on one side of the wheel, connected to a first hub portion, and a second set of spokes on the other side of the wheel, connected to a second hub portion, set at an axial distance from the first portion. Consequently, the spokes on the two sides of the wheel have an inclination or camber angle with respect to the median plane of the wheel. This inclination causes the spoke tensioning to give rise to components of force in the direction parallel to the axis of the wheel. Balancing in the components of force keeps the rim in the centered or true condition. Spoke tensioning is most critical in wheels where the spokes on the two sides of the wheel present different camber angles. This is typically the case for spokes of the rear wheel, where the wheel hub carries a sprocket cassette, where spokes set on that side have a considerably smaller inclination angle than the inclination angle of the spokes on the other side. Obviously, the spokes with smaller inclination angles must be tensioned more than the spokes on the other side in order to guarantee the centered position of the rim. Said higher tensioning gives rise to a greater risk of failure of the individual spoke. The problem of a different camber angle of the spokes on the two sides of the wheel exists not only for rear wheels. This problem exists in any wheel where that hub is partially utilized, for example, by the disk of a disk brake.
In order to solve the above mentioned problems, the applicant has already proposed and developed (see European patent application No. EP-A-1 201 458) a spoked wheel for a bicycle. The present invention sets forth another solution to the aforementioned problem.

Bicycle wheel having spokes arranged in groups


A method and apparatus for drawing an optical waveguide fiber which minimizes fiber bow caused by differential stresses in the cladding layer of the fiber are disclosed. The fiber is drawn from a preform which is heated in a draw furnace. Gases introduced at the top of the furnace form a boundary layer adjacent to the fiber which passes through the furnace, along with the fiber, into a tube. The tube isolates the fiber from the ambient atmosphere so that the boundary layer of gases established in the furnace remains substantially uniform until the viscosity of the cladding layer of the fiber is high enough to minimize differential stresses around the circumference of the fiber.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for drawing an optical waveguide fiber from an optical waveguide prefrom with reduced diameter variations and reduced fiber bow.
Methods and devices for drawing optical waveguide fibers from optical waveguide preforms are well known in the art. The devices typically consist of a heat source for softening the preform, a fiber diameter measurement device, a unit for applying protective coatings to the fiber, and a fiber take up unit.
It has long been recognized that dimensional variations in optical waveguide fibers significantly impact optical properties. For example, it has been shown that a 3% relative variation in fiber diameter can result in an attenuation contribution of up to 0.8 dB in the first kilometer of length. Montierth, "Optical Fiber Drawing Techniques", Optical Spectra, pages 42-48, 43, October, 1978. As early as 1978, it was stated that fiber diameter variations would need to be reduced to a 3.sigma. range of .+-.1% or better to produce fibers which would compete with traditional copper twisted wire pairs in the telecommunications market. Id. at 43.
Another issue to which fiber drawing technology has been directed has been the improvement of fiber strength. For example, the cleanliness of the draw devices has been improved by the introduction of gas flows into the heat source or furnace. This gas flow prevents updrafts of ambient air from entering the furnace from the bottom of the furnace where the fiber exits the furnace. Such updrafts can carry particles into the vicinity of the softened portion of the preform. These particles can adhere to the softened preform or fiber and may result in weaker points in the fiber which may break below the required limit. The gas flow also flushes materials which may evolve from the furnace or heated preform. See, for example, Bailey U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,436.
However, the introduction of the gas causes diameter variations in the fiber if the gas is not uniformly heated when it reaches the tip of the preform from which fiber is drawn because of turbulence caused by the rapid non-uniform heating of the gas in the vicinity of the preform tip. One solution to this problem of non-uniform heating is the addition of a thin, cylindrically-shaped channel adjacent to the preform which causes the gas to be uniformly heated when it reaches the tip of the preform. See, for example, Bailey '436. Also, it has been shown that the presence in the furnace of a gas such as helium may stabilize the temperature at the tip of the preform from which the fiber is drawn. This stabilized temperature at the tip of the preform has been shown to reduce the diameter variation in the fiber. See, for example, Bailey U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,592.
We have found that differential cooling of a drawn fiber before the viscosity of the cladding layer of the fiber is high enough to substantially prevent differential stresses in the drawn fiber may cause the fiber to bend. This bending, or fiber "bow", causes difficulty when the fiber is spliced to other fibers, resulting in high loss splices which are detrimental to the overall performance of an optical fiber-based telecommunications system. The effects of bow are compounded in ribbon fiber applications where one ribbon array of fibers must be spliced to an opposing array.
We have also found that room air circulating around the fiber as it exits the draw furnace differentially cools the fiber. This causes a high frequency and random diameter oscillation; typically, this variation is less than that allowed in the specification for the fiber diameter. However, these diameter oscillations are of sufficient magnitude to hide an imperfection in the fiber known as an "airline". An airline is a hole in the fiber and is identified by a sudden change of small magnitude in fiber diameter.
We believe that bow results from differential cooling of the fiber before the viscosity of the cladding layer of the fiber is high enough to substantially prevent differential stresses in the drawn fiber. As a fiber cools, the cladding layer cools rapidly relative to the core region. This rapid cooling of the cladding layer induces high tensile stresses into the cladding layer of the fiber. Any differential cooling of the cladding layer before the viscosity is high enough to minimize differential stresses in the cladding layer will result in tensile stresses which are not uniformly distributed around the circumference of the fiber, thereby inducing bow.
During the drawing process, a boundary layer of helium (or other gas used in the furnace) forms adjacent to the fiber surface. This boundary layer will travel with the fiber through the exit of the furnace unless it is disrupted by other forces such as additional gases introduced intentionally or inadvertently to the furnace atmosphere. Since helium is an extremely efficient heat transfer medium, this boundary layer can provide substantially symmetric temperatures around the circumference of the fiber so long as the boundary layer remains intact. We believe that the disruption of the boundary layer by currents in the ambient atmosphere contributes to the differential cooling which can lead to fiber bow or diameter oscillations.
Van der Giessen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,427 discloses the use of nitrogen, argon, or oxygen to prevent thermally induced stresses in a fiber. These stresses increase the attenuation of the fiber and are caused by large temperature gradients when the fiber is cooled from about 1800.degree. C. to about 1200.degree. C. The gas is introduced into the furnace and is heated to approximately the temperature of the preform. As the fiber is drawn from the heated preform into an attached tube, the gas flows from the furnace into the tube. Additional gas is introduced into the tube at a flow rate to produce a laminar flow profile inside the tube. The length of the tube is dependent on draw speed as the fiber must be resident in the tube for at least 0.1 sec to achieve the desired affect. Col. 1, lines 54-65.
Japanese Patent Application No. 62-246,837 ("JPA '837") discloses the use of a tube at the fiber outlet end of a draw furnace to reduce the diameter variation of the fiber. Inert gas is introduced into the draw furnace. This inert gas is heated to a temperature close to that of the preform and flows out of the furnace into the tube as the fiber is drawn from the furnace into the tube. There is also a shutter provided between the furnace and the tube to prevent the heating of the tube by radiant heat from the furnace.
The tube in JPA '837 is equipped with a medium for cooling the inert gas flowing into the tube from the furnace. JPA '837 also discloses means for introducing additional inert gas directly into the tube. The inert gas in the tube is cooled such that the temperature difference between the inert gas exiting the bottom of the tube and the ambient atmosphere will be negligible. This is designed to prevent ambient air from entering the cooling tube, and therefore, the furnace. It is stated that the introduction of ambient air into the furnace causes turbulent flows in the vicinity of the tip of the preform from which fiber is drawn which will cause variation in the diameter of the fiber due to uneven temperature profiles within the turbulent flows.
Shang European Patent Application No. 0,321,182, published Jun. 21, 1989, discloses and claims a method o to decrease the temperature of a drawn fiber in a controlled manner to result in relatively low absorption losses in the fiber. In Shang the tubular recovery chamber is used to achieve this controlled decrease in temperature.
The tubular recovery chamber of Shang may be heated, or a gas at an elevated temperature may be introduced into the chamber. Col. 6, lines 50-53. The temperature at the exit of the chamber is about 200.degree. C. Col. 7, lines 8-11. Shang discloses a seal between the draw furnace and the recovery chamber to prevent the ingress of uncontrolled ambient air into the chamber adjacent to the furnace. Col. 6, lines 18-21. Shang also discloses the addition of additional gas into the furnace near the seal between the furnace and the recovery chamber. This gas stream will tend to disrupt any boundary layer which may have formed adjacent the fiber, and it is believed that this disruption will cause differential cooling of the fiber which could result in diameter variations or fiber bow. Also, Shang does not disclose nor suggest the use of any device to prevent the ingress of ambient air to the exit end of the recovery chamber.
Shang is directed toward reducing draw-induced absorption losses caused by broken bonds in the glass structure. The recovery chamber of Shang causes the fiber to be exposed to a temperature profile Which allows the broken bonds to reestablish prior to exposure to the ambient air. This prevents "freezing" the broken bonds into the glass structure of the fiber.
Various other fiber cooling devices have been disclosed. These devices are used to cool the fiber for the purpose of applying protective coatings. Claypoole et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,200 discloses a liquid fiber cooler comprising an elongated chamber through which the fiber passes. The elongated chamber is surrounded by a coolant jacket which lowers the temperature of the cooling liquid in the container.
Miller U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,870 discloses a fiber cooler comprising an elongated tube through which the fiber passes and into which cool dry helium is introduced.
Darcangelo et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,514,205 discloses a fiber cooler comprising an elongated tube through which the fiber passes. As in Miller, Darcangelo et al. discloses the introduction of cool dry helium into the elongated tube. However, Darcangelo et al. further discloses the use of a chamber containing a liquified gas with a coil submerged therein through which the cool dry helium is passed before being flowed into the elongated tube.
Claypoole et al., Miller, and Darcangelo et al. all disclose fiber cooling devices which are located after the diameter measurement device. These cooling devices are, therefore, unsuited for reducing diameter variations in the fiber.
Paek et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,088 discloses a liquid fiber cooler located between a draw furnace and an apparatus for coating the drawn fiber. It appears that the liquid fiber cooler of Paek et al. is located at a position after the fiber has passed through a fiber diameter measurement device, although Paek et al. only explicitly locates the liquid fiber cooler between the furnace and the coating device. Paek et al. does not disclose or suggest the use of furnace gases for cooling the fiber. Also, Paek et al. is concerned with cooling the fiber to a temperature below 80.degree. C. prior to the application of protective coating materials.

Method and apparatus for drawing optical fibers


A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of storing, in a consumer purchase history database, identities of items purchased by a consumer. The method also includes the step of receiving, with a processing device of a recipe suggestion server, a recipe request signal from the consumer after said storing step. The method also includes the step of maintaining, in a recipe database, a plurality of recipes wherein each recipe is defined by a plurality of ingredients. The method also includes the step of comparing, with the processing device, the identities of items purchased by the consumer with the respective plurality of ingredients associated with one or more of the plurality of recipes. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, at least one of the plurality of recipes to the consumer wherein the plurality of ingredients of the at least one of the plurality of recipes is correlated with the identities of items purchased by the consumer.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present invention relates generally to a system and method for suggesting one or more recipes to a consumer based on previous purchases by the consumer.
2. Background
The cost of feeding a family tends to increase over time. Generally, buying groceries and preparing meals at home can be less expensive than eating at a restaurant. However, in many families, all of the adults are employed outside the home. It can be desirable for the adults to spend available free time interacting with other family members such as children rather than cooking, so relatively little time can be spent developing cooking skills. Also, when the results of cooking tend to be disappointing, the adult attempting to cook for the family can become discouraged and expend even less effort when cooking future meals. In short, consistently cooking meals that are enjoyable and doing so efficiently can be challenging.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. 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 various embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure.


A method of manufacturing an electronic component utilizing an ink jet method using an ink including water or organic solvent, and one of metal powder, ceramic powder, magnetic powder, glass powder, and resistor powder with particle size of 0.001 xcexcm or more to 10 xcexcm or less, dispersed in this water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less.

The present invention relates to an ink for electronic component used in various electronic appliances such as laminate ceramic capacitor, LC filter, and complex high frequency component, a manufacturing method of electronic component by using this ink for electronic component, and an ink jet device.
In a laminate ceramic electronic component which is a conventional example of electronic component, an electrode ink is printed and formed in a specified pattern as an internal electrode on. a ceramic green sheet composed of ceramic powder, polyvinyl butyral resin, and a slight portion of plasticizer, and a specified number of sheets are laminated, cut, and baked, and an external electrode is formed. As such electrode ink, various types have been proposed for screen printing, including, for example, an ink for internal electrode of laminate ceramic capacitor for screen ink prepared by kneading nickel metal powder by three rolls as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 5-205970, and an electrode ink for screen ink using ceramic powder coated with palladium proposed in Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 5-275263.
Further in Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 5-55075, a conductor paste containing nickel oxide is proposed for screen printing technology. In Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 5-90069, it is proposed to add rosin to a conductive paste for screen. Also in Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 5-226179, it is proposed to add scaly powder to a conductor paste for screen. In Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 5-242724, similarly, a conductive paste for screen by adding organic phosphoric acid is proposed. In Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 5-275263, coating zirconia powder with nickel or other base metal, a conductive paste for screen printing is proposed. In Japanese Laid-open Patent No. 5-299288, using polyether urethane resin, a manufacturing method of laminate ceramic capacitor for screen printing of internal electrode is proposed.
In the manufacturing method of laminate ceramic electronic component such as laminate ceramic capacitor, the internal electrode has been printed and formed by screen printing, but in order to lower the cost and enhance the performance, a gravure printing process is proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-25381 or Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-8200. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,319, a calender processing of electrode by gravure printing for laminate ceramic capacitor is proposed.
In the conventional electrode inks (whether for screen printing or for gravure, etc.), since an organic solvent is used as the main solvent, when printed on a ceramic green sheet, the ceramic green sheet may be swollen or dissolved again by the organic solvent contained in the electrode ink. Accordingly, as far as the thickness of the ceramic green sheet is 20 xcexcm or more, it rarely causes shorting, but when the thickness of the ceramic green sheet is less than 15 xcexcm, the shorting probability is very high.
To solve this problem, hitherto, a manufacturing method of ceramic electronic component by direct gravure printing on the green sheet has been proposed, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-8200. In this case, however, the shorting probability is high when the ceramic green sheet is thin, and accordingly Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-25381 proposes a method of transferring a gravure printed pattern on the ceramic green sheet because the ceramic green sheet may be swollen or damaged when the electrode is directly printed on the ceramic green sheet. Thus, regardless of the printing method, in the conventional electrode ink, the ceramic green sheet was damaged, and the shorting problem was caused in thin ceramic green sheets of 15 xcexcm or less.
In the conventional ink jet device, it was designed to print by filling an ink cartridge of a commercial ink jet printer with an ink. When printed by this ink jet device, the ink often precipitated or gathered near the ink jet nozzle for injecting the ink, causing the problem of ink clogging.
The invention is to solve the problems of the prior arts, and it is hence an object thereof to present an ink for electronic component capable of preventing re-dissolving of ceramic green sheet and baking, a manufacturing method of electronic component by using this ink for electronic component, and an ink jet device.
To achieve the object, the invention comprises water or organic solvent, and one of metal powder, ceramic powder, magnetic powder, glass powder, or resistor powder with particle size of 0.001 xcexcm or more to 10 xcexcAm or less, dispersed in this water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less.
Or it comprises water or organic solvent, and a resin dispersed in this water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less.
The method comprises the steps of repeating a plurality of times of a process of forming a specified ink pattern on a ceramic green sheet by an ink jet method by using an ink prepared by dispersing metal powder with particle size of 0.001 xcexcm or more to 10 xcexcm or less, in at least water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less, laminating a plurality of the ceramic green sheets forming this ink pattern to form a raw laminated body of ceramic, cutting to specified shape and baking, and forming an external electrode.
Or the method comprises the steps of repeating a plurality of times of a process of forming a specified first ink pattern on a ceramic green sheet by an ink jet method by using a first ink prepared by dispersing metal powder with particle size of 0.001 xcexcm or more to 10 xcexcm or less, in at least water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less, and forming a specified second ink pattern by an ink jet method by using a second ink prepared by dispersing ceramic powder with particle size of 0.001 xcexcm or more to 10 xcexcm or less, in at least water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less, laminating a plurality of the ceramic green sheets forming these ink patterns to form a raw laminated body of ceramic, cutting to specified shape and baking, and forming an external electrode.
Further, the method comprises the steps of repeating a plurality of times of a process of forming a specified ink pattern on a ceramic green sheet by a gravure printing method by using an ink prepared by dispersing metal powder with particle size of 0.001 xcexcm or more to 10 xcexcm or less, in at least water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less, laminating a plurality of the ceramic green sheets forming this ink pattern to form a raw laminated body of ceramic, cutting to specified shape and baking, and forming an external electrode.
Or the method comprises the steps of repeating a plurality of times of a process of forming a specified first ink pattern on a ceramic green sheet by an ink jet method by using a first ink prepared by dispersing metal powder with particle size of 0.001 xcexcm or more to 10 xcexcm or less, in at least water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less, forming a specified second ink pattern by an ink jet method by using a second ink prepared by dispersing ceramic powder with particle size of 0.001 xcexcm or more to 10 xcexcm or less, in at least water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less on the upper surface of the ceramic green sheet so as to cover this first ink pattern, and forming a ceramic layer integrated with the ceramic green sheet, laminating a desired plurality of the ceramic green sheets having the ceramic layer to form a raw laminated body of ceramic, cutting to specified shape and baking, and forming an external electrode.
Also, the method comprises the steps of forming a pair of upper electrode layers on a confronting upper side of a substrate by an ink jet method, forming a resistance layer so as to straddle over the upper electrode layers by an ink jet method by using an ink prepared by dispersing resistance powder with particle size of 0.001 xcexcm or more to 10 xcexcm or less, in at least water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less, and forming a glass projective layer at least to cover this resistance layer by an ink jet method by using an ink prepared by dispersing glass powder with particle size of 0.001 xcexcm or more to 10 xcexcm or less, in at least water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less.
Also, the method comprises the steps of forming a pair of upper electrode layers on a confronting upper side of a substrate by an ink jet method, forming a resistance layer so as to straddle over the upper electrode layers by an ink jet method by using an ink prepared by dispersing resistance powder with particle size of 0.001 xcexcm or more to 10 xcexcm or less, in at least water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less, and forming a glass projective layer at least to cover this resistance layer by an ink jet method by using an ink prepared by dispersing a resin, in at least water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less.
Also, the method comprises the steps of injecting a magnetic ink prepared by dispersing magnetic powder with particle size of 0.001 xcexcm or more to 10 xcexcm or less, in at least water or organic solvent, by 1 wt. % or more to 80 wt. % or less, at viscosity of 2 poise or less, and an electrode ink alternately in a specified pattern by an ink jet method, forming a block body of a three-dimensional structure having the electrode ink printed inside in a coil form so as to cover the electrode ink with the magnetic ink, and cutting this block body into a specified form and baking.
Also, the method comprises the steps of forming a ceramic green sheet having an electrode pattern by repeating a plurality of times of a process of injecting an electrode ink by an ink jet method from the upper surface of a ceramic green sheet having a base film with a penetrating via hole and forming an electrode pattern on the upper surface of this ceramic green sheet and in the via hole, and a process of filling at least the via hole with the electrode pattern and peeling off the base film, laminating a desired number of the ceramic green sheets having the electrode pattern so as to connect between the upper and lower electrode patterns electrically to form a raw laminated body of ceramic, cutting into a specified shape and baking, and forming an external electrode.
The invention also presents an apparatus comprising an ink tank filled with an ink, a first tube for sucking the ink in this ink tank through a suction mechanism, an ink injection unit connected to this first tube for injecting a required amount of the ink, and a second tube connected to this ink injection unit for circulating the ink not injected from the ink injection unit into the ink tank.
Also, the apparatus comprises a dispersing machine filled with an ink, a first tube for sucking the ink in this dispersing machine through. a suction mechanism, an ink injection unit connected to this first tube for injecting a required amount of the ink, and a second tube connected to this ink injection unit for circulating the ink not injected from the ink injection unit into the dispersing machine.

Method of forming an electronic component using ink

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method for providing a network portal including: collecting network data for at least one network provider; analyzing the network data; determining a user role of a user accessing the network portal to review the network data; and providing a visualization of the analyzed network data based on the user role of the user accessing the portal. A system for providing a network portal including: a data collection module configured to collect network data for at least one network provider; an analysis module configured to analyze the network data; a user module configured to determine a user role of a user accessing the network portal to review the network data; and a reporting module configured to provide a visualization of the analyzed network data based on the user role of the user accessing the portal.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other network operators are generally looking for intelligent ways to efficiently manage their network traffic in a more granular fashion. For example, ISPs are attempting to balance higher bandwidth demands with limited operating budgets while improving subscriber quality of experience. As more subscribers access greater levels of content online, ISPs are frequently required to balance various demands to ensure subscribers' needs are being met. It is often difficult to monitor the performance and operation of the network and receive appropriate analytics that would allow the network operator to make informed network planning decisions. It is, therefore, desirable to provide an improved method and system for monitoring network traffic and communicating information regarding the network traffic, for example, by providing a network traffic portal.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

System and method for providing a network traffic portal


A safety device for an industrial boiler (CHA) including relays (REn) which are connected to form an electromechanical safety chain (CH1). Each relay (REn) is mounted on a printed circuit board (CIA, CIB, CIC, CIP). As a result of the arrangement, the relays can be mounted in a compact box that may be sealed so that it is impossible for an operator to access a relay in order to block it.

The invention relates to a safety device for an industrial boiler, the device comprising electromechanical relays connected to form an electromechanical safety chain.
The invention applies in particular to industrial boilers comprising a gas burner for producing steam or superheated water, for example. These boilers are fitted with a safety device that is located between one or more sensors and one or more actuators mounted on the boiler and triggers shutting down of the boiler via the actuators when at least one sensor detects a malfunction of the boiler. The fault may be an excess pressure, a low water level, or a problem with the burner flame.
A safety device of the above kind is more particularly adapted to open a power supply circuit of the actuators on detection of a fault by a sensor. The actuators, which may be solenoid valves, for example, are designed to trigger shutting down of the boiler as soon as they are no longer supplied with power by the power supply circuit. Each sensor supplies an alternating electrical current at 230 volts to the safety device if the boiler is operating normally and does not supply this current if a fault is detected. This kind of arrangement provides what is known as "positive" safety, in that interruption of the electrical power supply triggers shutting down of the boiler.
In the above safety device, there corresponds to each sensor a relay that is live when it receives the current supplied by the corresponding sensor, and the contacts of the relays corresponding to the various sensors are connected in series, for example, to form an electromechanical safety chain in the form of hardwired logic. The electrical circuit corresponding to this electromechanical safety chain is closed if the boiler is operating normally and is opened if there is any anomaly in the operation of the boiler. It is known in the art, in this kind of safety device, to add to the electromechanical safety chain a so-called logic safety chain operating in parallel and in a manner that is redundant with respect to the electromechanical safety chain if automatic control and regulation of the boiler become complex and necessitate the use of an industrial programmable automatic controller. The logic safety chain generally consists of a data processing circuit, such as a microprocessor, which receives as input electrical signals produced by the sensors and converted into logic signals at 5 volts, and which feeds the electrical power supply circuit of the actuators via a transistor controlling a relay. The output of the data processing circuit is wired in series in the electromechanical safety chain that constitutes the main safety chain, for example.
Standards require periodic verification that the safety sensors and their associated relay are operating correctly. This requirement leads to the installation of extensive facilities that are generally provided partly in the form of hardwired relay circuits for everything that relates directly to safety and partly in the form of a microprocessor-based system for everything that relates to the procedures and to monitoring them. When two redundant safety chains are provided, the second (logic) safety chain is generally implemented in the microprocessor-based system, but the latter system must be independent of and separate from any boiler control and automation equipment. Consequently, the measures to be taken at present and installed are increasingly extensive and complicated, with relays, dedicated units, wiring, microprocessor-based systems communicating only via wired electrical contacts. Additionally, there is the risk of an operative interfering with the hardwired logic of the electromechanical safety chain when verifying correct operation of the safety sensors, to the extent of jamming a relay in the closed position, which very seriously compromises safe operation of the boiler.
Moreover, the French standard NF D36504 more particularly specifies (see section 4.2) that the operational reliability of a logic safety chain must be evaluated by a specific test procedure that injects errors directly into the equipment to simulate an internal fault, namely failure of all the memory bits taken one by one. A test of this kind takes a particularly long time to execute and adds considerably to the tests that precede the commissioning of this kind of boiler and increase costs commensurately.
The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks.

Safety device for an industrial boiler comprising relays mounted on a printed circuit board


In a security camera system, the power to the illumination system is controlled based on the quality of the images generated by the imaging system. Specifically, the images in the frames detected by the imaging chip of the security camera are analyzed to determine whether or not there is adequate or inadequate power to the illumination system. The controller then changes the power to the illumination system until optimal illumination of the scene is achieved. Generally the power to the illumination system is reduced in response to increasing blur in the images or halos around edges in the images.

Many modern security camera systems have illumination systems for illuminating the scene from which the security camera captures images. Often, these illumination systems are activated at night so that parking lots or darkened hallways can be monitored even in the absence of other light sources.
It is also common that these security camera illumination systems used infrared diodes to illuminate the scene. Diodes are very power efficient. And, the use of infrared light illumination ensures that the cameras do not have a detrimental effect on individuals within the scene. The use of infrared illumination also reduces the obtrusiveness and visibility of the security camera systems.
Generally, to minimize the power consumed by the security camera systems and to provide optimal imaging conditions, the power to the illumination systems is controlled based on available light. As a result, if only moderate supplemental illumination is required, then the illumination systems of the security camera systems will only be operated at low power. Other times when the power to the illumination systems should be controlled are when the scene imaged by the security camera systems changes such that there are objects that are closer to the security camera or are possibly more reflective of infrared light. In these cases, the power to the illumination systems should be reduced to avoid saturating the imaging sensors or chips within the security camera systems that captures the frames of the scene.
Some security camera systems include photo sensors that detect light reflected from the scenes and then controllers of the security camera systems control the power to the illumination systems based on this reflected light. As result, when an object moves close to the security camera and reflects excessive light from the illumination system back into the imaging sensor, this reflected tight is detected by the photosensor. The controller then reduces the power to the illumination system.

Security camera system and method for eliminating video aberrations from excessive IR illumination