A system for testing a circuit comprises scan chains, a controller configured to generate a bit-inverting signal based on child test pattern information, and bit-inverting circuitry coupled to the controller and configured to invert bits of a parent test pattern associated with a plurality of shift clock cycles based on the bit-inverting signal to generate a child test pattern during a shift operation. Here, the plurality of shift clock cycles for bit inverting occur every m shift clock cycles, and the child test pattern information comprises information of m and location of the plurality of shift clock cycles in the shift operation.

Behind the rapid development of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and self-driving vehicles is massive processing of sensors-generated data. This trend, in turn, fuels the flourishing automotive electronics market where more advanced technology nodes are being introduced at an accelerated rate. With the fast-growing number of complex safety-critical components, integrated circuits (ICs) in this area must adhere to the most stringent requirements for high quality and long-term reliability driven by functional safety standards such as ISO 26262 and its Automotive Safety Integrity Level D (ASIL D) targets. In addition to the high quality of manufacturing test, an ASIL D compliance for automotive ICs requires advanced and complementary test solutions to address the challenges posed by automotive parts and to support one or more of the following test requirements: (1) the ability to run in-system tests during functional operations, (2) short test application times due to strict limits on key-on, key-off, and especially idle times deployed for periodic on-line tests, (3) low test power, (4) low silicon area, (5) the ability to deal with defect sensitivities unknown at the time of IC manufacturing, and (6) the potential to scale up easily.
Logic built-in self-test (LBIST) is more and more often used with on-chip test compression to keep up with demands of new technologies for a viable in-system test alternative. LBIST typically employs scan as its operational baseline to run high quality at-speed power-aware tests and uses simple external devices to provide power and clock signals. With the mass market driving safety critical systems, the concept of combining LBIST and test data compression has allowed several test schemes to rival conventional manufacturing test techniques. High test coverage attainable in a very short period of time, including system level and in-field test procedures, has already become crucial for efficient and reliable operations of devices destined for long-term deployment. However, new more complex defects and reliability risks inevitably pose the questions of how sustainable the current test schemes are, and what design-for-test methods may soon be needed.
Some conventional LBIST schemes use weighted random patterns to deal with unacceptably low fault coverage numbers given a feasible pattern count. Alternatively, desired stimuli could be obtained by perturbing pseudorandom vectors. The bit-flipping and its applications may serve here as examples. Unfortunately, these schemes are heavily dependent on target test sets and have to be substantially resynthesized every time test patterns changed due to logic Engineering Change Orders (ECO). Other aspects of LBIST functionality need to be worked out, too. For example, an LBIST scheme should be less vulnerable to unknown states, or should produce low power test patterns in a programmable fashion. Relevant conventional solutions, however, still handle primarily pseudorandom test data. With these test patterns, it becomes increasingly difficult to achieve desired test quality when targeting advanced fault models. In addition, random pattern resistant failures routinely need insertion of test points to improve test coverage.
As noted previously, the hybrid BIST schemes can overcome the bottleneck of test data bandwidth. In a hybrid BIST scheme, deterministic top-up patterns (used to detect random-resistant faults) is stored on a tester in a compressed form, and then the existing BIST infrastructure can be used to perform a vector decompression. The underlying encoding scheme typically takes advantage of test cubes' low fill rates. Solutions in this class include linear-feedback shift register LFSR coding, static and dynamic LFSR reseeding.
Techniques based on perturbing pseudorandom test patterns can be replaced with the use of clusters of patterns comprising a deterministic parent vector and its random or deterministic derivatives. For example, bits of parent test patterns generated by ATPG can be selectively flipped. One conventional scheme requires complex test logic that makes use of scan order, polarity between the neighboring scan cells, control points inserted between them, and a waveform generator. With these features the scan chains behave like a ROM capable of encoding several deterministic test vectors. In another scheme, a fully deterministic test compression uses both the EDT-based compression and deterministic inversion of decompressed test patterns. While the storage size for parent patterns in this scheme is low, the number of child patterns required to achieve a certain test coverage is considerably high. A new method that uses not too complex logic and offers a flexible trade-off between test application time and parent test data volume is highly desirable.

Deterministic stellar built-in self test


A method for providing a dedicated software framework for exception and event management in an embedded software system is disclosed. In one embodiment, each of exceptions/events originated from users are uniquely identified and severity of the exceptions/events is categorized. The users are software subsystems, software layers and software modules in the embedded software system. Further, information regarding the exceptions/events is reported through various layers, subsystems and modules for use by an application. Furthermore, information associated with one or more of the reported exceptions/events is logged using a logging framework. In addition, the exceptions/events are handled to keep applications running without causing an unexpected behavior in the embedded software system.

Typically, for an embedded software system, reliability of operation is critical, especially in the field usage. Any failures or aberrations from the expected behavior (exceptions) need to be reported and handled. This is also relevant in the development and testing phases of systems so that their behavior can be closely monitored, and any improvements made to improve the system reliability are ensured when deployed. Additionally, when special events happen, for example, battery level goes low, in a mobile device, while in use, they need to be reported to the user. In embedded systems, number of such events happening could be more than a few, and they generally require careful management. Further, during development and debugging phases of the products, exception records can provide valuable information regarding the sources of these exceptions, which can facilitate in reducing the time needed for debugging.
Currently, there are no standardized guidelines for how various parts of the software system should generate and report such exceptions and events in embedded software systems. Given that such systems typically comprise of a multitude of layers and components, they pose a considerable challenge to maintain consistency in how these exceptions and events are identified, reported, logged and handled throughout the multitude of layers of software stack. This becomes even more of a concern as the multitude of layers and components may be developed by different teams or developers. In the absence of a unified way to manage these exceptions and events, the reliability of the embedded software systems usually gets limited to the integrator's expertise and attention. Also, in the absence of a pre-defined way to manage these exceptions or events, it is more likely that some of these go unhandled, thus resulting in compromising the reliability of the embedded software system.
The systems and methods disclosed herein may be implemented in any means for achieving various aspects. Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follow.

Method and architecture for exception and event management in an embedded software system


A handle assembly for a cart with a power assist function can sense the direction that a user's force is applied, and provide assist power in the corresponding direction, such that the user can easily move the cart. A cart including the handle assembly allows the user to conveniently move the cart.

In a large retail store, a department store, an airport and the like, various types of carts are used for users to carry heavy objects or luggage.
A cart used in a space for shopping, such as a large retail store or department store, has a plurality of wheels installed at the bottom of a basket for storing items, and is moved by a user who pushes or pulls a handle. As a cart used in an airport, a similar cart to the above-described cart or a cart which additionally has a brake function may be used.
Since the cart enables a user to move without carrying a large quantity of items or heavy items in person, the cart is necessary for the user's convenience. However, when a large quantity of items or a heavy item needs to be carried on the cart, the user needs to apply a large force to move the cart, even though the cart is used.
When a sensor is applied to sense the direction of a force applied to move the cart, vibration occurs in the vertical direction as well as the front-to-back direction depending on the movement of the cart, because the cart is operated on the ground. Therefore, complex control may be required for accurate sensing. Thus, there is a need for the development of a cart which can avoid complex control while accurately sensing a force applied to the cart.

Handle assembly for cart with power assist function and cart having the same


A swivel for use in a rotator is disclosed. The swivel includes an inner member having a cylindrical portion and an annular outer member arranged around the inner member and rotatably connected thereto via a bearing. At least one of the inner member and the outer member is provided with an annular fluid channel, one of the members having a fastening flange with an upper and a lower flange surface. The flange includes attachment structure configured to fix the flange to a support structure. A first fluid path extends through the flange from a first opening in a circumferential face of the fastening flange, to the fluid channel. A second fluid path at least partially extends through the inner member in a substantially axial direction from the fluid channel to a second opening.

Fluid-powered work tools that are mounted on a machine via a rotator are known. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0017528 ("the '528 publication") discloses a hydraulic rotator that is connected to a crane arm via a hinged link. A log grapple is supported by the rotator. The rotator comprises a slew bearing that is driven by a drive motor and a hydraulic swivel that is accommodated within the central opening of the slew bearing. The slew bearing is surrounded by a protective housing and a widened inner annular part of the swivel is connected via bolts to a ring-shaped support of an open hinge bearing. Flexible hydraulic lines on the arm side of the machine are connected to axially extending fluid connectors of the swivel, whereas the grapple is connected to radially extending connectors of the swivel.
Although the mechanism of the '528 publication may enable desired relative rotational movement, the mechanism may be problematic. In the mechanism of the '528 publication, the connection of the arm to the rotator is of a relatively complex open hinge design in order to accommodate the hydraulic lines connecting the fluid source on the machine to the axially oriented fluid connectors on the swivel. The fluid connectors of the known swivel are situated between the hinge plates of the open hinge, which position is relatively difficult to reach during coupling and uncoupling. Furthermore, the known swivel is completely surrounded by a protective housing and is attached to the housing in a relatively complex manner, such that detaching the swivel for maintenance, inspection or exchange is relatively difficult.
The present disclosure is directed to one or more improvements in the existing technology.

Swivel and rotator mechanism for fluid controlled machines


An atomic layer deposition apparatus for depositing a film in a continuous fashion is described. The apparatus includes a downwardly sloping process tunnel, extending in a transport direction and bounded by at least two tunnel walls. Both walls are provided with a plurality of gas injection channels, whereby the gas injection channels in at least one of the walls, viewed in the transport direction, are connected successively to a first precursor gas source, a purge gas source, a second precursor gas source and a purge gas source respectively, so as to create a series of tunnel segments that—in use—comprise successive zones containing a first precursor gas, a purge gas, a second precursor gas and a purge gas, respectively. The downward slope of the process tunnel enables gravity to drive the floatingly supported substrates through the successive segments, causing the atomic layer deposition of a film onto the substrates.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a thin film deposition method that allows for the deposition of films having thicknesses on the order of nanometers in a precisely controlled way. Typically, ALD uses two or more gaseous precursors that are alternately and repeatedly applied to a substrate. A series of sequential steps in which a surface of the substrate is exposed to all precursors is called a deposition cycle. Each deposition cycle grows a single monolayer of film, or a fraction of a monolayer. This is due to the fact that, in ALD, film growth depends on chemisorption, a process whereby a precursor molecule adheres to a substrate's surface through the formation of a chemical bond (without further thermal decomposition of the precursor molecule taking place). Chemisorption stops naturally when all substrate surface sites available for chemical bonding with a precursor have been covered. Consequently, ALD is a self-limiting layer-by-layer deposition method that offers highly conformal coating and excellent thickness control. These characteristics make it a method of interest to various industries, among which in particular the semiconductor, and more specifically, the solar cell industry.
In the solar cell industry, ALD may be used to deposit aluminum oxide (Al2O3) films for the passivation of advanced mono-Si solar cells. To this end typical film thicknesses of 5-15 nm are required, which can be achieved using traditional single or multi-wafer ALD systems. Currently, the throughput of the most efficient multi-wafer ALD systems at said film thickness is about 60 wafers per hour. The amount of surface area to be treated in order to obtain—for example—a solar cell panel for use on a rooftop, is considerable however. And with the demand for solar cell panels on the rise, there is an increasing need for ALD apparatus featuring a higher throughput. Of course, the solar cell industry is exemplary only, and merely one of many industries in which the continual pressure for ALD equipment having an increased throughput is felt.
Such higher throughput is preferably achieved using apparatus that are relatively simple from a constructional point of view. This is because, typically, the simpler an apparatus is, the more economically it may be built, the more reliable it is and the less servicing it requires. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device and a method for atomic layer deposition offering an improved throughput capacity at a minimum level of constructional complexity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for high-throughput atomic layer deposition


Provided herein is a method for homologous end cloning using a 5′-exonuclease. One aspect provides a method of generating a recombinant DNA molecule comprising 5′ exonuclease digestion of DNA molecules, exonuclease inactivation, annealing of 3′ overhangs to form a annealed complex. Also provided is a method a method of generating a recombinant DNA molecule comprising 5′ exonuclease digestion of DNA molecules, exonuclease inactivation, annealing of 3′ overhangs to form a annealed complex, and extension of 3′ ends to fill gaps corresponding to exonuclease removal to form a substantially non-gapped annealed complex. Also provided is a one reaction method in which no further additions need be made to the reaction mixture and the reaction mixture is only manipulated thereafter as to incubation time and incubation temperature. Complexes formed according to methods described herein can be transformed into a host cell without further in vitro processing.

Methods for cloning recombinant DNA began with restriction enzymes and ligase to join vector replicon such as a plasmid with target passenger DNA to be cloned. PCR allows the ready generation of the target and/or vector DNA fragments with short overlapping sequence homology at their ends, enabling so-called ligase independent cloning (LIC). These methods obviate to lesser or greater extents that any particular sequence or recognition site be present at the ends of the DNA regions to be joined. An early LIC method required a certain sequence simplicity at the ends to be joined (only 3 bases complexity(1)) and single-strand ends were produced by the plus method (2) which involves treatment with 1 dNTP and the 3′-exonuclease of a DNA polymerase.
Other LIC methods make use of specially prepared, special vectors with special site-specific sites (3-5) or 2 sizes of both vector and target, followed by complete denaturation and reannealing (6).
Ribocloning (7) requires special PCR primers for both target and vector that end in a ribo-U or a ribo-C at their 3′-ends, treatment by RNAse in low salt, and removal of the released primers for maximum efficiency.
Some LIC methods use an overlap of normal DNA nucleotides, but employ digestion on the 3′-end by any of several exonucleases, such as ExoIII (8), T4 DNA polymerase (9-11), or vaccinia virus DNA polymerase (12), creating 5′-sticky end single strands.
It was reported in one of the T4 DNA polymerase methods (10) that the 5′-exonucleases encoded by phage T7 and lambda are less effective and reproducible.

In vitro recombination methods using 5′ exonuclease


A stowaway armrest for a seat assembly for a vehicle which is pivotable about a single pivot on a seat back between a normal horizontal use position adjacent the side of the seat assembly and a horizontal stowed position behind the seat back. The single pivot has a pivot axis which is skewed with respect to a horizontal plane and vertical planes extending laterally and longitudinally through the vehicle so that the armrest is caused to rotate through a predetermined arcuate path when pivoted between its use and stowage positions and vice versa.

The present invention generally pertains to an armrest for a seat assembly, and especially to a vehicle seat having an armrest that is adjustable to a remote stowage position.
It is well known that flexibility with regard to interior space is a favored vehicle characteristic. Of the recent vehicle types, the minivan class is probably the most adept at utilizing interior space and novel features to maximize vehicle flexibility. Whereas a typical passenger car has fixed seating arrangements, minivans offer adaptive seating and storage configurations designed to improve vehicle utility. However, despite their popularity and features, minivans still exhibit certain shortcomings that decrease user satisfaction.
One common problem found in minivans is the inability to easily move around once inside the vehicle. Passengers who want to fully utilize the vehicle's flexibility often need to move between the front and rear seating positions. However, this act is not always easy or graceful because of narrow aisle widths caused by the trend toward smaller vehicles and wider seats. Additionally, armrests located at the side of the seats intrude into the aisle and further reduce the aisle width.
To facilitate movement, it is desirable to increase the effective aisle width. One way to do so is by allowing the seat armrests to be moved out of the way. It is known that armrests can be moved to facilitate seat ingress and egress. This is typically done with a horizontal Pivot that allows the armrest to be stowed in a vertical orientation adjacent to the seat backrest. Although acceptable for certain applications, when used in minivans, these types of armrests obstruct the aisle and inhibit movement of passengers between seating positions.
Other armrests have been proposed that have multi-axis Pivots to move the armrests to remote, non-intrusive stowage positions. However, these designs are elaborate and do not minimize intrusion by the armrest into the aisle. For example, the armrest shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,958 can be stowed behind the seat backrest but, as shown in FIG. 2, actually intrudes further into an aisle when in its stowed position. U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,606 also presents an armrest that can be stowed behind the seat backrest but, as shown FIG. 4, provides only limited relief from intrusion because, even in its stowed position, the armrest that is still partially usable by a seated passenger. Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,191 shows a thin armrest that is stored adjacent to the side of a seat backrest, but still intrudes into an aisle and, because of its necessary thinness, compromises comfort.
The above noted armrests all use complex mechanisms that do not fully minimize the affect of a stowed armrest on aisle clearance. In several of these armrests, large and unsightly pivot means are exposed to viewing by the passengers. Additionally, their operation is cumbersome because they usually require multiple motions through independent planes to reach their stowage positions.
In contrast to the above multi-axis pivot armrests, the present invention uses only a single pivot to move the armrest out of the aisle. The pivot means is small and unobtrusive and, therefore, able to be easily styled into the vehicle. The novel armrest has a pivot axis that is skewed to a horizontal plane and vertical planes extending laterally and longitudinally through the vehicle. This skewed pivot axis generates a single arcuate path for the armrest that does not lie solely in any one primary vehicle plane. Armrest motion begins up and away from the side of the seat cushion and ends in a downward facing direction toward the rear of the seat backrest. The invention is such that, when the armrest is stored behind the seat backrest, neither the armrest or pivot means intrude into the aisle.
In the preferred embodiment, the armrest unit itself is a conventional design having an elongate support structure, resilient padding for comfort, and an aesthetic first or outer surface. The support structure has a bend adjacent to its pivot end such that the armrest is properly oriented in its use and stowage positions and also so the armrest cooperates with the skewed pivot axis during rotation.
The present invention requires a predetermined path through the vehicle that must be clear of obstructions. Locations for other seats, "B" and "C" pillars, consoles, and the roof must also be considered when developing the path that the armrest will follow. For this reason, the armrest of the present invention is affixed to the side of the seat that is adjacent to an aisle, thereby providing the necessary clearances for motion. For example, in a front bucket seat application, the armrest is at the inboard side. However, if used on a rear bench seat, the armrest is positioned on the outboard side at the rear aisle. The remaining seat armrests, if any, can be conventional horizontal pivot types to allow for seat ingress and egress.
During continued vehicle operation, passengers will normally keep the armrest at their side for comfort. However, when a passenger wants to move to another seating position within the vehicle, he can do so by simultaneously lifting up and pushing the armrest away from its use position at the side of the seat. The armrest, with continued force applied as necessary to overcome gravity, will eventually settle into its stowage position against the rearward side of the seat backrest. With the aisle cleared of this obstruction, the passenger can exit his seat and move through the aisle. Similarly, when a passenger desires the comfort of a stowed armrest, he can reach around the backrest and move the armrest from its stowage position, through its arcuate path, and back to into its use position.
The preferred embodiment uses only stops and gravity to keep the armrest in its two positions. Therefore, the passenger need only lift the armrest as described above to effect motion thereof. If desired, however, a lock could be applied at the pivot such that the passenger had to release it before the armrest could be moved.
The skewed pivot means provides a novel armrest system that is advantageous to vehicle passengers. Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to facilitate movement through aisles by selectively moving armrests out of such aisles to maximize clearance space. Another object of the invention is to offer a stowable armrest that meets traditional comfort requirements. Still another object is to offer unobtrusive and simplified pivot means for stowing an armrest behind a seat backrest. These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


An electrical switching apparatus comprises: a first terminal; a second terminal; separable contacts electrically connected between the first terminal and the second terminal; an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts; and an arc fault trip circuit cooperating with the operating mechanism and structured to trip open the separable contacts responsive to an arc fault condition. An inductor is electrically connected in series between the first terminal and the second terminal. A capacitor includes a first lead electrically connected between the inductor and the second terminal, and a second lead electrically connected to a ground or neutral conductor. The inductor and the capacitor are structured to cooperate with a power circuit impedance downstream of the second terminal to form a filter trap circuit.

1. Field
The disclosed concept pertains generally to electrical switching apparatus and, more particularly, to electrical switching apparatus, such as arc fault circuit interrupters. The disclosed concept also pertains to power distribution systems including arc fault circuit interrupters.
2. Background Information
Electrical switching apparatus include, for example, circuit switching devices; and circuit interrupters, such as circuit breakers and network protectors. Electrical switching apparatus such as circuit interrupters and, in particular, circuit breakers of the molded case variety, are well known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,191.
Circuit breakers are used to protect electrical circuitry from damage due to an overcurrent condition, such as an overload condition, a short circuit or another fault condition, such as an arc fault or a ground fault. Molded case circuit breakers typically include a pair of separable contacts per phase. The separable contacts may be operated either manually by way of a handle disposed on the outside of the case or automatically in response to a detected fault condition. Typically, such circuit breakers include an operating mechanism, which is designed to rapidly open and close the separable contacts, and a trip unit, which senses a number of fault conditions to trip the breaker automatically. Upon sensing a fault condition, the trip unit trips the operating mechanism to a trip state, which moves the separable contacts to their open position.
Industrial circuit breakers often use a circuit breaker frame, which houses a trip unit. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,910,760; and 6,144,271. The trip unit may be modular and may be replaceable, in order to alter the electrical properties of the circuit breaker.
It is well known to employ trip units which utilize a microprocessor to detect various types of overcurrent or other fault conditions and provide various protection functions, such as, for example, a long delay trip, a short delay trip, an instantaneous trip, an arc fault trip or a ground fault trip. The long delay trip function protects the load served by the protected electrical system from overloads and/or overcurrents. The short delay trip function can be used to coordinate tripping of downstream circuit breakers in a hierarchy of circuit breakers. The instantaneous trip function protects the electrical conductors to which the circuit breaker is connected from damaging overcurrent conditions, such as short circuits. The arc fault trip function protects the electrical circuit from series and/or parallel arc faults. As implied, the ground fault trip function protects the electrical circuit from faults to ground.
The over current trip coordination between circuit breakers can be achieved by zone interlocking in which a circuit breaker lower in the protection hierarchy sends a fault detection signal to the upstream circuit breaker to temporarily desensitize the trip curve in a region (e.g., short delay) of the upstream circuit breaker, giving the downstream circuit breaker time to respond.
During sporadic arc fault conditions, the root-mean-squared (RMS) value of the fault current is too low to activate the thermal-magnetic trip mechanism. A conventional circuit breaker will therefore not trip. The addition of electronic arc fault sensing to a circuit breaker can provide the protection for a sputtering arc fault. Ideally, the output of an electronic arc fault sensing circuit directly trips (i.e., opens) the circuit breaker. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,710,688; 6,542,056; 6,522,509; 6,522,228; 5,691,869; and 5,224,006.
Arc faults can be series or parallel. Examples of series arcs are: a broken wire where the ends of the broken wire are close enough to cause arcing, or a loose or relatively poor electrical connection. Parallel arcs occur between conductors of different potentials or between the power conductor and a ground. Unlike a parallel arc fault, series arc faults almost never create an increase in current since the fault is in series with the load. In fact, a series arc fault results in a reduction in load current and cannot be detected by the normal overload and overcurrent protection of conventional protection devices. Even the parallel arc, which can draw current in excess of normal rated current in a circuit, produces currents which can be sporadic enough to yield RMS values less than that required to produce a thermal trip, or at least delay operation. Effects of the arc voltage and line impedance often prevent the parallel arc from reaching current levels sufficient to actuate the instantaneous trip function. In addition, damage from such an effect is aggravated by the concentrated nature of such faults.
A coordinated trip response to fault conditions is desired to assure that the circuit breaker closest to the fault trips opens while the upstream circuit breaker does not trip, thereby minimizing the disturbance to the whole system by isolating the fault.
For arc fault circuit interrupter coordination, it is desired to isolate the arc fault (minimize the system disturbance). However, there is no known coordinated arc fault circuit interrupter that provides arc fault trip coordination between upstream and downstream arc fault circuit interrupters.
There is room for improvement in electrical switching apparatus, such as arc fault circuit interrupters.
There is also room for improvement in power distribution systems including arc fault circuit interrupters.

Power distribution system and electrical switching apparatus employing a filter trap circuit to provide arc fault trip coordination


A closure container that can house a preset drug applicator in an easily accessible manner with tamper evidencing means. The closure container contains a plurality of dosing ribs and a retainer to retain the syringe in a preset dosage amount and preferably has a window to view the barrel of the syringe.

Success rates with respect to action taken in response to an emergency situation almost always improve with proper preparation, access to the proper equipment, and speed. This could not be more true than in the case of providing a dose of fluid (e.g., epinephrine to a patient experiencing a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)). According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, early treatment with epinephrine is beneficial to patients having an anaphylactic episode because the patient could experience a rapid decline in health or death within 30 to 60 minutes. Such early treatment may also be beneficial in patients experiencing seizure activity.
In addition to quick administration of treatment, accurate dosing is crucial because not enough medicine may be ineffective and too much may cause health risks, such as dangerously high blood pressure, stroke, or death. During an anaphylactic event, for example, a health provider may need a larger or smaller dose depending on the size or age of the patient and fumbling with a vial and a needle may add precious seconds before treatment and potential dosing errors.
Further, sterilization is important whenever it comes to administering a drug to a patient through a needle and a health care provider has to know if the needle being used and the drug being administered have not been tampered with. Accordingly, the art of emergency treatment could benefit from a device that promotes quick access to a drug applicator which may be stored in pre-set doses and provides evidence of tampering.


A magnetic resonance imaging magnet includes a ferromagnetic frame. A pair of generally toroidal superconducting coil units overlie interfaces of side walls incorporated in the frame. Each coil unit may include a vessel having hollow support extensions extending into recesses in the side walls. The coil units may further include elongated, low-thermal conductance supports disposed within the support extensions. The frame may include pole stems projecting inwardly from the side walls, and the coils may be disposed in close proximity to the pole stems. Cryocoolers may be mounted to the frame so that the cryocoolers are substantially mechanically isolated from the coils of the coil units, but are in thermal communication therewith. The cryocooler mountings may be arranged for convenient servicing and installation of the cryocoolers.

In magnetic resonance imaging, the body of a subject is positioned in a primary field magnet and subjected to a strong, constant magnetic field. Radio frequency signals are applied to the subject, which causes the spin axes of certain atomic nuclei within the body of the subject to precess or rotate around axes parallel to the direction of the magnetic field. The precessing nuclei emit weak radio frequency signals referred to herein as magnetic resonance signals.
By applying small magnetic field gradients to the subject along with the static magnetic field, the magnetic resonance signals can be spatially encoded so that it is possible to recover information about individual volume elements or "voxels" within the subject's body from the magnetic resonance signals. The information can be used to reconstruct an image of the internal structures within the body. Because magnetic resonance imaging does not use ionizing radiation, it is inherently safe. Moreover, magnetic resonance imaging can provide excellent images depicting structures which are difficult to image using other modalities.
The quality of a magnetic resonance image depends strongly on the quality of the static magnetic field. To provide an optimum image, the static magnetic field must be both strong (typically on the order of 0.5 Tesla or more) and uniform to about 1 part in a million or better, desirably about 1 part in 107 or better. Some magnetic resonance imaging instruments employ air core superconducting static field magnets. These magnets typically have electromagnet coils formed from superconducting materials arrayed along an axis so that the coils cooperatively form an elongated solenoid surrounding the axis. The coils are cooled to cryogenic temperatures, typically about 4.2° Kelvin (approximately −267° C. or −450° F.). At these temperatures, the coils have no electrical resistance. The superconducting coils can conduct large currents and provide a strong magnetic field.
Magnets of this type typically have a housing defining an elongated bore extending along the axis and require that the patient enter into this bore. The bore may be about 1 meter in diameter. Thus, the patient is subjected to a highly claustrophobic experience during imaging, akin to lying on a stretcher inside a drain pipe. Moreover, these magnets cannot be used to image patients who are extremely obese, or who require bulky life support equipment during imaging. Additionally, air core magnets have strong fringe fields extending outside of the magnet housing. These fields can attract ferromagnetic objects in the vicinity of the magnets with such strength that the objects turn into deadly missiles. Despite stringent precautions taken by imaging centers to prevent entry of ferromagnetic objects into the danger zone surrounding a magnet, accidents have occurred resulting in injuries and deaths.
Iron core magnets use a ferromagnetic frame defining a flux path and usually include ferromagnetic poles projecting towards a patient-receiving space from opposite sides, so that the pole tips define the patient-receiving space between them. The ferromagnetic frame effectively eliminates the fringe field outside of the frame. Moreover, the ferromagnetic frame serves to concentrate the field within the patient-receiving space and provides a low-reluctance flux path. Ferromagnetic frame magnets can provide the requisite field strength using essentially any source of magnetic flux, including superconducting coils, resistive coils, or masses of permanent magnet material.
One particularly desirably ferromagnetic frame magnet is disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 6,677,753, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. As disclosed in preferred embodiments of the '753 patent, the frame includes ferromagnetic side walls extending generally vertically and flux return structures extending generally horizontally above and below the patient-receiving space. Poles project from the side walls toward the patient-receiving space. As described in greater detail in the '753 patent, a patient may be positioned within the patient-receiving space in essentially any orientation relative to gravity, and may be moved relative to the frame so as to position essentially any part of the patient's body within the patient-receiving space, in the vicinity of the magnet axis extending between the poles.
Preferred magnets according to this general structure can provide extraordinary imaging versatility. For example, a patient may be imaged lying in a recumbent, substantially horizontal position and then imaged again while in a substantially vertical position such as standing or sitting. Comparison of these images can yield significant information about certain conditions. Also, these magnets provide an open environment for the patient.
As mentioned above, a ferromagnetic frame magnet can use any source of magnetic flux, including superconducting coils. A magnet using superconducting coils in conjunction with the ferromagnetic frame can provide very high field strength with good uniformity. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,323,749 and 4,766,378, for example, disclose certain arrangements for mounting superconducting coils on ferromagnetic frame magnets.
Despite all of this progress in the art, still further improvement would be desirable. As mentioned above, superconducting coils must be maintained at cryogenic temperatures, typically at the temperature of liquid helium (about 4.2° Kelvin or below). Typically, the coils are provided with refrigeration units referred to herein as cryocoolers, which can abstract heat from the coil and from associated components even at this very low temperature. However, the cryocoolers have only a very limited capacity, typically on the order of a few watts or less at this temperature. Therefore, the coils must be surrounded by very efficient thermal insulation. Most commonly, the coils are enclosed in vessels which are maintained under hard vacuum. The coils must be supported and held in place within the vessels. The structures hold the coil must resist not only the weight of the coil but also the magnetic forces generated during operation. Depending on the particular coil design and the design of any adjacent ferromagnetic frame elements, these forces can be on the order of tons. The coil vessel and supporting structure should be compact so as to minimize the size and weight of the apparatus. Design of a compact coil enclosure and supporting system has presented a challenge heretofore.
Cryocoolers typically induce mechanical vibrations. Transmission of such vibrations to the coils and associated structures tends to degrade the uniformity and stability of the static magnetic field. However, it is generally desirable to position portions of the cryocooler in proximity to the coil enclosure. This further complicates design of such a system. Additionally, the superconducting coils used heretofore typically have not been arranged for optimum co-action with the ferromagnetic frame. Thus, further improvement would be desirable.

Ferromagnetic frame magnet with superconducting coils


Systems and methods for evaluating gemstones are disclosed. The system includes a gemstone holding case, an illumination pad and an image capturing and gemstone evaluation device. The case includes a transparent viewing window in a top wall, a translucent bottom wall and a compressible light-diffusing pad for receiving gemstones thereon. The case and pad are dimensioned such that, when closed, the viewing window presses the gemstones into the pad holding them in place and level and allowing for in situ gem imaging. The illumination pad includes embedded LEDs for selectively illuminating the portion of the pad on which the case is placed. The controllable lighting, translucent case and diffusive pad serves to evenly light the gems and reduce unwanted light thereby improving the images and analysis performed using the image capturing and gemstone evaluation device. Methods for analyzing gemstones under diffuse lighting using the system is also disclosed.

Jewelry items, such as diamonds and other gemstones, are often kept in boxes with a clear top window to show the "face up" look of the gemstones. When these boxes go out for processing or to customers for viewing, they may have to be left with the third party, even for a short time. As such, when the gemstones arrive back to the owner they are typically checked to verify the received gemstones are the same ones that were shipped out. Currently verification typically involves manually removing each gemstone from the box to manually compare each gemstone individually to a previously saved record, capturing an image of each gemstone for comparison with the preexisting record, or analyzing each gemstone using an automated gemstone analysis system. However, there is no convenient way for performing batch processing (e.g., verification) of gemstones, or gemstone verification without removal from the box.
Imaging gemstones is time consuming and, as the sizes get smaller it is harder to get a clear image of what's inside a gem. For example, it is hard for more ubiquitous devices like a smart phone camera to perfectly focus on a gemstone due to its reflective nature and shape of the gemstone. This is for example due surface heights and curves and depths and due to depth of field or perception. Additionally, bad or improper lighting can spoil the quality of a gemstone image making it difficult to perform verification of the imaged gemstone using the image.
Additionally, multiple gemstones stored in a box might often have different physical parameters including, different types, heights, shapes, sizes, cuts, reflective indexes and the like. This can make focusing on multiple gems at the same time difficult for conventional imaging devices such as those found on a smartphone.
Additionally, in the situation where a gemstone is part of a jewelry item (e.g., set in prongs of a ring or bracelet) there is no way of easily bifurcating the gem from the jewelry item in an image. This can be due to lighting or imaging constraints. This further makes it very difficult to process multiple gemstones on a jewelry item, or multiple gemstones on multiple jewelry items in batches. Indeed, it is hard to do so even with high tech instruments like laser scanners because the light reflects off the shiny metal surface or the gems like diamonds and facets.
Another practical challenge associated with existing gemstone boxes is that the boxes typically have an opaque plastic bottom (e.g., black or colored plastic) that can be labeled on the bottom using sticky labels. The labels are hard to remove and leave adhesive residue on the box. As a result, existing boxes are not easily re-used and are often discarded, creating waste and increased costs.
It is in regard to these and other problems in the art that the present disclosure is directed to provide a technical solution for holding, illuminating and imaging of gemstones and an associated evaluation technique that overcome these and other problems inherent to current systems.

Gemstone container, lighting device and imaging system and method


Rewriteable electronic fuses include latches and/or logic gates coupled to one or more nonvolatile memory elements. The nonvolatile memory elements are configured to be programmed to memory values capable of causing associated electronic circuits to settle to predetermined states as power-up or reset signals are applied to the fuses. Although not required, the nonvolatile memory elements used in the rewriteable electronic fuses may comprise floating-gate transistors. An amount of charge stored on the floating gate of a given floating-gate transistor determines the memory value and, consequently, the state to which a fuse settles upon power-up or reset of the fuse.

Electronic fuses are commonly used in integrated circuits to define or alter the configuration or operation of the integrated circuits following fabrication. For example, in random access memories (RAMs) electronic fuses are typically used to enable redundant memory banks in place of memory banks determined to be defective during testing.
FIG. 1 shows a typical two-terminal electronic fuse 10. A low resistance material 12 such as nichrome metal or polysilicon is disposed between first 14 and second terminals 16. The electronic fuse 10 presents itself as a short circuit when not "programmed" and as an open circuit after it is programmed. The fuse 10 is programmed (i.e. is "blown") by forcing a high current through the low resistance material 12. The high current causes the low resistance material 12 to melt or rupture, thereby forming an open circuit between the first 14 and second terminals 16.
Another commonly used fuse element is the antifuse. An antifuse is, in effect, the opposite of a fuse, and presents itself as an open circuit when not programmed and as a short circuit after being programmed. FIG. 2 shows a typical antifuse element 20. A first metal or polysilicon terminal 22 of the antifuse is separated from a diffusion region 24, which embodies the second terminal of the antifuse, by a thin insulating layer 28 formed over a semiconductor substrate 26. Prior to being programmed the antifuse 20 presents itself as an open circuit. If during programming a sufficient voltage is applied across the polysilicon and diffusion terminals 22, 24, the thin insulating layer 28 melts, thereby shorting the polysilicon and diffusion terminals 22, 24 together.
In addition to being used to enable redundant memory in RAMs, fuses and antifuses are commonly used in programmable logic structures such as programmable logic devices (PLDs), programmable array logic (PAL), programmable logic arrays (PLAs), and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Integrating fuses or antifuses with such logic structures allows a chip manufacturer to design a generic logic chip having uncommitted logic gates and circuits, which it can sell to many different users having varying circuit designs. A particular user can then configure (i.e. customize) the programmable chip by programming selected ones of the integrated fuses or antifuses as needed to implement the user's desired circuit design.
Programming a two-terminal fuse or antifuse element of the type described above is permanent. In many applications, however, it is desirable to have the ability to reprogram the fuse or antifuse elements. To satisfy this desire efforts have been made to provide a fuse technology that allows the logic gates and other circuit elements (e.g., as in an FPGA) to be reprogrammable. One known reprogrammable fuse approach uses a static RAM (SRAM) cell (or "memory element", the terms "cell" and "memory element" being used interchangeably herein) to control a switching element. Because the SRAM cell can have one of two output states, these two states can be used to control the opening or closing of the switch, thereby effectively implementing a fuse function. Whereas the SRAM/switch structure has the benefit of being reprogrammable, one drawback of its use relates to the fact that SRAM cells are volatile. This means that the fuse is unable to maintain its latched state after power is removed. A second problem with the SRAM/switch approach is that the state of the fuse is not immediately available upon power-up. In other words, the SRAM must first be programmed before the switching element can be configured to its intended state.
To overcome the volatility problem associated with the SRAM/switch structure, another known fuse technology approach uses bits stored in nonvolatile memory arrays, for example EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read only memory) arrays to control the state of switches. Although this approach overcomes the volatility associated with the SRAM/switch approach, the problem remains that the states of the switches are not immediately available upon power-up. In other words, even if nonvolatile memory arrays such as EEPROM arrays are used, the bits must be first read out of the memory array and applied to the switches before the states of the switches are actually configured to their desired states.


A cable tray accessory section adapted to combine two or more sections of a cable tray system. The cable tray accessory section includes a base and side walls adapted to removably combine with each other via a locking tab connection means. The ends of the accessory section combine with the cable tray sections by weaving flexible members between cross members of the tray sections.

This invention relates generally to cable tray systems used to support electrical wiring, cables, conduit and data transmission lines (collectively "cables"), and more particularly to junctions which connect two or more cable tray components.
Cable trays systems generally provide support for cables as the cables extend from a first location to a second location. Cable tray systems can be comprised of metal, plastic, or other suitable types of materials. One exemplary type of cable tray is referred to as a "mesh" or "basket" cable tray. These types of cable trays are comprised of interconnected metal bars or wires. Most mesh cable trays include space apart U-shaped cross members which are connected by lateral support members. The cables are generally supported by the bottom portion of the cross members as the cable tray system carries the cable from one point to another point.
Most cable trays are adapted to join with one or more other cable trays at intersections such as T-intersections or four-way intersections to create the cable tray system. Further, sometimes a radius or bend section is necessary to allow a single cable tray to turn a corner. Other accessories used to connect portions of a cable tray system include reduces, benders, risers, and cross pieces. Collectively, these various accessories are sometimes referred to herein as "accessory sections."
Most mesh or basket cable trays are designed to be field configured out of straight sections, meaning no accessory sections exist. For the few that do, they are bulky and expensive to ship in that they are created as a single section at the factory, and difficult to assemble/install. There is therefore a need for an improved accessory section which overcomes these and other deficiencies in the prior art.

Accessory section for a cable tray system


An entire view volume in a virtual three-dimensional game space to be displayed on a display unit is divided into a front view volume closer to a view point and a back view volume away from the view point. In a first frame of two successive frames, polygons in the back view volume are rendered to generate a back image. In a second frame, with the back image being taken as a background, polygons in a front view volume are rendered to form an entire image. With this, in a portable game machine including a relatively small-sized three-dimensional image processing circuit, polygons more than those that can be generated in one frame by the three-dimensional image processing circuit can be displayed.

Description of the Background Art
Recent computer systems include a large-sized processing circuit for calculating three-dimensional coordinates, thereby increasing the number of polygons that can be displayed in one frame.
A technology for reducing a load of a three-dimensional image processing process in one frame in order to perform another process in one frame is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-228725 (hereinafter referred to as a patent document). In the patent document, when many polygon models similar in shape formed of a plurality of polygons have to be simultaneously displayed, as is the case of representing bushes, a polygon model having a typical shape is rendered in advance and its image is prepared, and that image is pasted on a polygon, thereby displaying each bush in a simplified manner. Thus, the number of polygons per frame is reduced, thereby increasing a frame rate.
In recent years, in the above-described computer system and a non-portable video game machine an advanced three-dimensional image processing circuit using more realistic game images with higher definition, that is, using a large number of polygons, has been adopted, to the extent that it has a large share of the market. For example, video game machines capable of processing twenty million polygons per frame have been available.
An advanced three-dimensional image processing circuit is also desirable for incorporation in portable game machines. However, with an increase in the circuit size of such an advanced three-dimensional image processing circuit, problems occur, such as an increase in the area of a semiconductor chip, an increase in the cost required for research and development of the image processing circuit, and an increase in heat, leading to a huge increase in the size of the housing of the game machine. Therefore, in the portable game machines, which are desirably provided in small sizes and at low costs, in the interest of portability and availability, such an advanced three-dimensional image processing circuit is more problematic than preferable.
As such, the portable game machines has incorporated therein a three-dimensional image processing circuit that is smaller than that in the computer system described above. In such a small-sized three-dimensional image processing circuit, however, the number of polygons processable per frame is relatively small (for example, several thousands polygons processable per frame). Therefore, what can be displayed is limited to non-realistic three-dimensional images.
Also, the technology disclosed in the above-described patent document is effective when rendering a scene in which many polygon modes similar in shape to one another are present, but is not effective in reducing the number of polygons to be processed when no polygon models similar in shape to one another are present. Moreover, in the technology disclosed in the above-described patent document, many polygon models similar in shape to one another are approximately displayed by using the image of a typical polygon model. Therefore, although the number of polygons to be processed may be reduced, scenes cannot be displayed with a high degree of fidelity.
Furthermore, as is the case of the conventional technology, increasing the frame rate through a simplified polygon process is effective when, for example, a game image including a subject moving at high speed in a game space is displayed, as in a race game. However, a liquid crystal display generally adopted to the portable game machines has a response speed slower than that of a CRT display or the like. Therefore, increasing the frame rate may not be as effective, depending on the liquid crystal display. Also, in a game in which subjects do not move much or move as rapidly as they do in a simulation, it might be desirable to display fine images with many polygons, even at the expense of the frame rate.

Program and image processing system for rendering polygons distributed throughout a game space


A method and a system for providing synchronization in a stream of messages. In such a method and system, the stream of messages is arranged in fictitious sequences of messages, in which messages of a predetermined type may only occupy a certain number of locations within a sequence. In this way, the messages of the predetermined type are concentrated in a part of the sequence, which allows a receiver to use the time during which the remaining part of the sequence is transmitted for other purposes, such as scanning of the reception band, etc.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for broadcasting a stream of messages, including messages of a predetermined type.
The invention also relates to a system for transmitting and receiving a stream of messages.
The invention further relates to a transmitter for transmitting a stream of messages, including messages of a predetermined type.
Furthermore, the invention relates to a receiver for receiving a stream of messages, including messages of a predetermined type.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a method and system are known from "Specification of the radio data system (RDS)", EN50067:1992, by CENELEC, Brussels. The Radio Data System is a system for broadcasting digital RDS data together with an analog signal. This RDS data may comprise several kinds of information, for example, data on the network transmitting the program signal, data on networks linked to the present network for, e.g., traffic information (Enhanced Other Networks), paging data, radio text, etc. In fact, the RDS allows various kinds of data services to be provided to a listener, especially through the newly defined Open Data application, which allows an RDS group type to carry any kind of data service allocated to that group type with a 3A group. Normally, a receiver receiving RDS data is continuously tuned to a particular network (using the AF feature provided by RDS) and is capable of practically continuous reception of RDS data. Sometimes the receiver has to switch over to another tuning frequency, for instance, when the Enhanced Other Network feature, indicated in groups of type 14, signals that traffic information is broadcast on another network. The switch-over may also be used for checking reception quality on other frequencies. During such a switch-over, the receiver cannot receive the RDS data provided at the original frequency to which the receiver was tuned. For example, when a listener is interested in RDS TMC messages, which are provided in group type 8A, the listener may miss some of these RDS TMC messages, which were broadcast at the original frequency during the time the receiver has switched over to another frequency.

Method and system for providing synchronization in a stream of messages and a transmitter and a receiver for use in such a system


A load levelling device for adjusting the pitch of a first towing vehicle relative to a ground surface when the first towed vehicle is coupled to a second towed vehicle includes: a towing pillar having a longitudinal axis; a towing tongue adapted for attachment to the first towing vehicle and mounted on the towing pillar for sliding engagement therewith; a clutch housing radially supported on the towing pillar beneath the towing tongue for sliding engagement with the towing pillar, the clutch housing including a blade recess in a lateral portion thereof, the blade recess extending orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the towing pillar; a tensioning blade having a leading end and a trailing end, the leading end adapted for being removably securable in the blade recess of the clutch housing and the trailing end being adapted for attachment to the second towed vehicle; and a user operational force application device for selectively applying a vertical force to the trailing edge of the tensioning blade. An upwardly applied force on the trailing edge of the tensioning blade imparts a counter-clockwise moment to the tensioning blade, which counter-clockwise moment is transmitted through the clutch housing, the towing pillar and the towing tongue, so as to level the pitch of a first towing vehicle to which the load levelling device is attached, relative to the ground surface.

Coupling devices have been developed to connect together a first towing vehicle to a second towed vehicle. For example, they are used to connect locomotives, to wagons, trucks and automobiles to towed vehicles and trailers on rail, road and off-road. Known tow coupling technologies have generally been categorised by the following characteristics:
1 A structure attached to the rear part of the first towing or powered vehicle, so as to allow the fitment of a pillar, post or pintle in a secure manner so as to accommodate all conceivable towing loads to be imposed on it.
2 A post, pillar or pintle, which engages with the towed part of the towing coupling and allows articulation in one or more planes of the towed vehicle relative to the towing vehicle.
3 A body, receiver or hook of the tow coupling, to allow the above described articulation and to connect with a further body mounted on the towed vehicle. This connection may allow for a further axis of articulation between the towing and towed vehicles.
4 A hitch-body mounted on the towed vehicle, connected to the body, receiver or hook.
Towing speeds have increased as a result of single and double-axle trailers being towed behind high speed vehicles on good quality roads and highways. The dynamics of towed vehicles generally, and particularly at higher speeds, are such that to form a stable dynamic system in the horizontal plane, the centre of gravity of the towed vehicle should generally be located forward of the axle line of the towed vehicle. This necessitates a considerable downwards load being imposed by the tow coupling onto the rear axle of the towing vehicle.
This downwards load on the rear axle of the towing vehicle is exacerbated by the distance the load is applied rearwards of the rear axle, which also produces an uplift at the towing vehicle front axle. These two forces, acting together as a moment, can cause problems for the towing vehicle, such as a lack of rear suspension travel, additional loads on towing vehicle components, headlight alignment difficulties with respect to oncoming traffic, loss of control at the front steering wheels, as well as severe instability of the entire towing system under sudden heavy braking.
Over a series of longitudinal undulations in the road surface taken at speed, the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle can begin to oscillate with respect to each other in a vertical plane, i.e. in pitch, out of phase by 180 degrees relative to one another.
In addition, due to an inadequate margin of stability of the towing/towed vehicle system, sway or oscillation of the towed vehicle in the horizontal plane relative to the direction of forward travel of the towing vehicle may be possible. The sway or oscillation may develop spontaneously, without external perturbations being necessary, or may be excited by external forces such as cross winds, traffic travelling in the opposite direction at speed, or other stochastic forces acting on the towed or towing vehicles. This oscillatory sway or cyclic yawing across the direction of travel is highly dangerous, as it can cause a loss of the control of the entire towed vehicle system, resulting in an out-of-lane or off-road excursion, accident and possible injury or death to the occupants of the towing vehicle or other motorists or bystanders.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.

Load levelling device for towed vehicle couplings


An air-tight sealing arrangement used in a handy pneumatic power saw comprised of a casing, an actuating member mounted in an actuating chamber in the casing, an end block unit fastened to one end of the casing and coupled to the actuating unit, a saw blade connected to a piston rod of the actuating unit, and a trigger for operation control, the air-tight sealing arrangement including an annular metal member mounted around the piston rod of the actuating unit and retained between an air cylinder of the actuating unit and a front side wall of the actuating chamber of the casing, and a flexible sealing gasket mounted around the piston rod of the actuating unit and retained between the annular metal member and the front side wall of the actuating chamber.

The present invention relates to a handy pneumatic power saw, and more specifically to an air-tight sealing arrangement for a handy pneumatic power saw which presents an air leakage, and ensures a positive reciprocating motion of the saw blade.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a handy pneumatic power saw according to the prior art. This structure of handy pneumatic power saw is generally comprised of a casing 10, an actuating unit 11, a saw blade 12, an end block unit 13, and a trigger 14. The casing 10 defines a longitudinal sliding hole 100 and an actuating chamber 101. The longitudinal sliding hole 100 and the actuating chamber 101 have different diameters, and are longitudinally aligned. The actuating unit 11 is mounted in the actuating chamber 101, comprised of a piston rod 110, a piston 111 fixedly mounted on one end namely the rear end of the piston rod 110, an air cylinder 112, two rubber cushions 113 fastened to front and rear sides of the piston 111, a valve 115 fastened to one end namely the rear end of the air cylinder 112, and a gasket 130 retained between the end block unit 13 and the casing 10. An opposite end namely the front end of the piston rod 110 is inserted through the longitudinal sliding hole 100, and connected to the saw blade 12. The saw blade 12 is fastened to the front end of the piston rod 110 by a chuck 114. The end block unit 13 is fastened to the rear open end of the casing 10 by screws. The trigger 14 is pivoted to the end block unit 13. By means of operating the trigger 14, the mechanism of the end block unit 13 which is comprised of spring holder means, bolt means, socket means, push rod means, etc., is driven to close/open the air passage, and therefore the piston rod 110 is moved with the piston 111 to reciprocate the saw blade 12. This structure of the handy pneumatic power saw is not durable in use because the moving parts wear quickly with use. When the moving parts of the handy pneumatic power saw begins to wear, an air leakage may occur, thereby causing the saw blade 12 unable to be smoothly reciprocated. Because the piston rod 110 and the piston 111 are reciprocated to compress and release air pressure, the reciprocating movement of the saw blade 12 becomes unstable when an air leakage occurs. When the actuating unit 11 is installed in the actuating chamber 101, the air cylinder 112 is forced by the valve block 115 against the front side wall of the actuating chamber 101. However, because the air cylinder 112 and the valve block 115 both are made from metal, they are not compressible. When the piston 111 is reciprocated, the front rubber cushion 113 is intermittently forced to strike against the front side wall of the actuating chamber 101, causing a backward force to be produced and transmitted to the end block unit 13. Frequently giving a backward force to the end block unit 13 causes the mounting screws of the end block unit 13 to be loosened and a gap to be produced between the end block unit 13 and the casing 10. When a gap occurs between the end block unit 13 and the casing 10, a leakage of air becomes inevitable.

Air-tight sealing arrangement of a handy pneumatic power saw


Processes and intermediates for preparing 2-substituted piperidines such as 2-substituted d-threo piperidines are provided. In preferred embodiments, the processes of the invention comprise the steps of reacting a 2-substituted pyridine with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst in an alkanoic acid, and adding an alkyl alkanoate to the resulting mixture of threo and erythro 2-piperidine stereoisomers to precipitate alkanoate salts of the erythro stereoisomers preferentially with respect to alkanoate salts of the threo stereoisomers. The erythro salts then are reacted with aqueous base to form the corresponding mixture of erythro amide free bases, which are reacted with a suitable organic acid resolving agent in an alkyl alcohol solvent to form acid salts of the l-erythro stereoisomers preferentially with respect to the d-erythro stereoisomers. The 1-erythro acid salts are then reacted with aqueous base to form the 1-erythro piperidine amide free base which, in turn, is epimerized to produce the desired d-threo product by treating it in an organic solvent with an alkali metal alkoxide.

Substituted piperidines have found use in the treatment of many nervous system disorders. For example, methylphenidate has been used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and cognitive decline in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS Related Complex (ARC) patients. (See, e.g., Greenhill, Child & Adol. Psych. Clin. N.A., 1995, 4, 123, and Brown, Intl. J. Psychl. Med., 1995, 25, 21).
Many currently available synthetic routes to methylphenidate and other substituted piperidines involve preparation of racemic mixtures. (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,507,631, to Hartmann, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 2,957,880, to Rometsch, et al.). There are, however, a number of disadvantages associated with racemic mixtures of such drugs. Current administration of racemic methylphenidate often results in notable side effects such as anorexia, weight loss, insomnia, dizziness and dysphoria. Additionally, racemic methylphenidate produces a euphoric effect when administered intravenously or through inhalation, and thus carries a high potential for substance abuse in patients.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,507,631 and 2,957,880 disclose synthetic procedures wherein methylphenidate, alternatively known as methyl .alpha.-piperid-2-ylphenylacetate, is prepared through a multi-step process in which 2-chloropyridine and phenylacetonitrile initially are coupled to form .alpha.-pyrid-2-ylphenylacetonitrile. The resulting .alpha.-pyrid-2-ylphenylacetonitrile then is hydrated in the presence of acid to yield .alpha.-pyrid-2-ylphenylacetamide which, in turn, is either: (a) catalytically hydrogenated to yield .alpha.-piperid-2-ylphenylacetamide and then converted to methyl .alpha.-piperid-2-ylphenylacetate, or (b) converted to methyl .alpha.-pyrid-2-ylphenylacetate which, in turn, is hydrogenated to yield methyl .alpha.-piperid-2-ylphenylacetate.
In the first embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 2,507,631 and in the process described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,957,880, .alpha.-piperid-2-ylphenylacetamide is first separated into the threo and erythro diastereomeric racemates. This is accomplished through evaporation of the solvent utilized in the hydrogenation (i.e., acetic acid), addition of sodium hydroxide to precipitate the .alpha.-piperid-2-ylphenylacetamide free base, recrystallization of this amide from ethyl acetate, and preferential crystallization of the erythro form by passing gaseous hydrogen chloride through an ethanolic solution of the amide. The isolated erythro racemate then is resolved through formation of the l-tartrate salt, repeated recrystallizations of this salt from 96% ethanol are performed until a constant rotation is obtained, and the l-erythro form of .alpha.-piperid-2-ylphenylacetamide is precipitated with sodium hydroxide. The l-erythro form of .alpha.-piperid-2-ylphenylacetamide thus obtained is said to be subjected to epimerization to yield the desired d-threo diastereomer of .alpha.-piperid-2-ylphenylacetamide through treatment with 6 M potassium hydroxide. According to the disclosed procedure, the .alpha.-piperid-2-ylphenylacetamide thus obtained is converted to d-threo methyl .alpha.-piperid-2-ylphenylacetate through hydrolysis and esterification.
Some in the art have raised doubts as to whether the procedures disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,507,631 and 2,957,880 do, in fact, produce the desired d-threo isomer. Indeed, J. R. Scares, "Stereochemical Studies On Potential Central Nervous System Active Agents and Studies On The Chemistry Of Some 3-Benzoylpiperidines," 1971, Columbia University Ph.D. dissertation, p. 115, discloses that "all attempts to epimerize the resolved erythro-amides to the corresponding threo-amides by the procedure outlined in [U.S. Pat. No. 2,957,880] failed completely."
Consequently, there remains a need in the art for alternative synthetic procedures for the preparation of methylphenidate and other substituted piperidines.

Processes and intermediates for preparing 2-substituted piperidine stereoisomers


A method and apparatus for facilitating controllable switching an interface between a reflective state in which light incident upon the interface undergoes total internal reflection, and a non-reflective state in which total internal reflection is prevented at the interface. The apparatus incorporates a member (preferably an elastomer) which is deformable with respect to the interface. The member's Young's Modulus in portions of the member adjacent the interface is substantially greater (i.e. stiffer) than the member's Young's Modulus in portions of the member away from the interface. The stiffened portion of the member adjacent the interface may be in the form of a microstructure. A pair of electrodes coupled to a voltage source can be provided to controllably deform the member into optical contact with the interface, within a continuously variable range of optical contact values, to produce the non-reflective state in selectably varying degrees.

It is well known that light travels at different speeds in different materials. The change of speed results in refraction. The relative refractive index between two materials is given by the speed of an incident light ray divided by the speed of the refracted ray. If the relative refractive index is less than one, then light will be refracted towards the surface, e.g. light emerging from a glass block into air. At a particular angle of incidence "i", the refraction angle "r" becomes 90.degree. as the light runs along the block's surface. The critical angle "i" can be calculated, as sin i=relative refractive index. If "i" is made even larger, then all of the light is reflected back inside the glass block and none escapes from the block. This is called total internal reflection. Because refraction only occurs when light changes speed, it is perhaps not surprising that the incident radiation emerges slightly before being totally internally reflected, and hence a slight penetration (roughly one micron) of the interface, called "evanescent wave penetration" occurs. By interfering with (i.e. scattering and/or absorbing) the evanescent wave one may prevent (i.e. "frustrate") the total internal reflection phenomenon.
In a number of applications, it is desirable to controllably frustrate the phenomenon of total internal reflection. For example, if total internal reflection is occurring at an interface "I" as shown in FIG. 1A, the degree of reflection can be reduced by placing a dielectric material close to interface I such that dielectric D interacts with the evanescent wave penetrating beyond interface I, as shown in FIGS. 1B, 1C, and ID, in which the extent of frustration of total internal reflection is gradually increased, culminating in complete frustration (FIG. 1D).
It is desirable that dielectric D be an elastomeric material. Inevitably, at least some foreign particles "P" (FIG. 2A) are trapped between dielectric D and interface I; and/or, the opposing surfaces of dielectric D and interface I have at least some dimensional imperfections "X" (FIG. 2B) which prevent attainment of a high degree of surface flatness over substantial opposing areas of both surfaces. Such foreign particles, or such surface imperfections, or both, can prevent attainment of "optical contact" between dielectric D and interface I. Optical contact brings dielectric D substantially closer than one micron to interface I, thereby scattering and/or absorbing the evanescent wave adjacent interface I, thus preventing the capability of interface I to totally internally reflect incident light rays. If dielectric D is formed of an elastomeric material, the aforementioned adverse effects of such foreign particles and/or surface imperfections are localized, thereby substantially eliminating their impact on attainment of the desired optical contact. More particularly, as seen in FIGS. 2C and 2D, the elastomeric nature of dielectric D allows dielectric D to closely conform itself around foreign particle P and around surface imperfection X, such that optical contact is attained between dielectric D and interface I except at points very close to foreign particle P and around surface imperfection X. Since such points typically comprise only a very small fraction of the opposing surface areas of dielectric D and interface 1, sufficiently substantial optical contact is attained to facilitate frustration of total internal reflection as described above.
However, if an elastomeric material makes optical contact with a surface, the elastomeric material tends to stick to that surface and it is difficult to separate the two. This is because elastomeric materials are sufficiently soft that the material can deform into intimate atomic contact with the atomic scale structure present at any surface; and, because the resultant Van der Waals bonds have sufficient adhesion that it is difficult to remove the material from the surface. These factors make it difficult to use an elastomeric material to frustrate the total internal reflection phenomenon; and, they make it especially difficult to use an elastomeric material to control or vary the degree of total internal reflection. It is desirable to control the degree of frustration of total internal reflection by varying an interfacial pressure applied between dielectric D and interface I; and, in general, it is desirable to achieve such control with the least possible amount of pressure. The aforementioned Van der Waals bonding can require negative pressures of order 10.sup.4 Pascals for release, which is desirably reduced. The present invention addresses the foregoing concerns.

Method and apparatus for controllable frustration of total internal reflection


A method for injection molding a material consisting of a suspension of particles. The suspension of particles moves through convergent passages in an obturator and an injection channel so that the particles remain in suspension. The press has a head in which a portion of the feed channel and a portion of the injection channel, when the channel is open, is formed by a passage in an externally controlled obturator, the controlled obturator for the feed channel and the one for the injection channel being one and the same or adjacent, and disposed close to the injection orifice.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to machines for injecting a material into a mold.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Such a machine is already known, designed for plastics and notably for elastomers, and includes an injection head having:
an axial cavity divided into a cylindrical injection chamber in which a piston is able to move and an injection channel connecting the injection chamber to an orifice for injecting into a mold, the injection channel being convergent at each end, that is on the one hand at its junction with the injection chamber and on the other hand just before the injection orifice, inside a removable nozzle;
a feed channel which opens out into the axial cavity and which is connected at the other end to a plasticizing cylinder which has heating means on the outside, while a worm rotates in its bore;
a non-return ball valve provided on the feed channel, which leaves the latter open when the piston moves In the injection chamber away from the injection orifice, so that the chamber is then fed with elastomer from the plasticizing cylinder, and which closes the feed channel under the effect of the injection pressure when the piston moves towards the injection orifice, so that the elastomer is then expelled through the injection orifice; and
a controlled obturator disposed on the injection channel, in order to close off the latter when the piston moves in the injection chamber away from the injection orifice, and to leave the injection channel open when the piston moves in the opposite direction.
The invention aims to provide an injection molding machine which is suitable in particular for a suspension of particles, such as metallic or ceramic particles, and for mixture thereof, of the type described in the documents WO-A-8807902 and WO-A-8807903, and more generally sludges or plastics loaded with materials liable to form deposits.
The inventors have in fact found that, even by eliminating the plasticizing means, conventional injection molding machines, including the one mentioned above, are not capable of functioning correctly with such suspensions of particles.

Method of injection molding a suspension of particles


A radio-controlled timepiece, including: a radio wave reception unit that receives satellite waves and extracts an incoming code sequence formatted in a prescribed format from the received satellite waves; and a processor that generates in advance an expected code sequence that is expected to be part of the incoming code sequence and detects the expected code sequence within the incoming code sequence by sequentially comparing the expected code sequence with the incoming code sequence, the processor determining a present date/time, as indicated by the satellite waves, in accordance with a timing at which the detected code sequence occurs within the incoming code sequence as measured by time kept by the timepiece, wherein the expected code sequence includes codes that change with a transmission period during which time-related information that includes satellite date/time contained in the satellite waves, which is formatted in the prescribed format, is transmitted.

The present invention, in one aspect, relates to a radio-controlled timepiece that obtains date/time information by receiving radio waves from a positioning satellite, a method of obtaining date/time information, and a storage medium.
Conventionally, there is an electronic watch (radio-controlled timepiece) that accurately maintains the date/time that the watch counts by receiving radio waves from a navigation satellite (positioning satellite) related to GNSS (global navigation satellite system) and obtaining date/time information therefrom. Such a radio-controlled timepiece does not require manual operation by the user and can count date/time at various locations in the world and accurately maintain the displayed date/time.
However, in an electronic watch, the load involved in receiving satellite waves is significantly greater than the load involved in counting and displaying date/time. Dealing with the reception of satellite waves gives rise to the problem of increased battery size and other associated problems such as increase in the size and weight of the electronic watch. To address such problems, various types of technologies for reducing energy consumption have been developed so far.
One such technology for reducing energy consumption includes shortening the time required for receiving radio waves. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-36748 discloses a technology that receives a predefined portion of the signal including date/time information according to a signal format (navigation message) transmitted by the GPS satellites and that temporarily pauses reception while the GPS satellites are transmitting unnecessary information, for example.
In this process, to avoid misidentifying date/time, parity data for the data block that includes the predefined portion of the signal described above is obtained to ensure the integrity of the incoming data.
However, part of the data unrelated to the date/time information does not necessarily need to be obtained accurately. A reception method that demands the integrity of these unnecessary data using parity data is less efficient in obtaining the date/time information.

Radio-controlled timepiece, method of obtaining date/time information, and recording medium


A self-contained multimodal data input device for remotely entering data into a record-keeping system provides: wireless transmission and receipt of data; a pen-like profile; controls for emulating the left and right-click functions of a computer mouse and at least one command key of a standard keyboard; means for determining the orientation and movement, of the input device in space; and means for detecting at least one biometric characteristic of a user. In a system, the multimodal data input device connects and communicates with a gateway device according to the proximity of the input device to the gateway device in a many-to-many relationship. The system provides means for authenticating the input device and the user to the system by one-factor or two-factor authentication.

Electronic medical record (EMR) systems provide an electronic record of health-related information on an individual patient that can be shared among clinicians within a health care organization. Such electronic records are created, gathered, and managed through systems of data devices, such as desktop computers, tablets, and personal digital assistants, and are typically stored on systems of servers, whether on site or in remote locations (e.g., the "cloud"). EMR systems have the potential to facilitate workflow and improve the quality of patient care and safety, and doctor-patient interactions.
Despite technical developments that have taken place since the early 2010's, the existing clinical workflow of the EMR system still has numerous inefficiencies which take time and attention away from the practice of care. Typically, a clinician will interact with many patients or other health care consumers over the course of a workday, in many patient rooms, using many disparate workstations, input devices, and consulting rooms, or at a central location remote from the patient's location. In such arrangements, the clinician must position and orient him or herself at the device, manually log in at a keyboard, enter the patient's identifying information at a keyboard, and update the patient's records using a keyboard and/or mouse. In situations where the workstation is remote from the patient's room, some entry errors may be missed or information overlooked during the lag between interacting with the patient and reaching the workstation. In such cases, data might be entered by someone other than the clinician, thus increasing the possibility of lost or incorrectly entered data. In situations where the work station is in a fixed location in a patient's room or consulting room, the clinician may be distracted by moving back and forth between the patient and the workstation, or may interact with the patient from a seat at the workstation.
Some facilities mitigate the inefficiencies described above by using touch screens, or by using portable devices, such as laptop computers or tablets, which the clinician carries from room to room. Records may be stored on the device for download at a later time, or transmitted wirelessly to central servers at the time that it is collected. Even in such systems, it is still necessary for the clinician to interact with devices through the use of a mouse, keyboard or touch screen. It may often be necessary for the clinician to leave the portable device on a counter or table during the interaction, resulting in the same restrictions on the clinician's movement that result from using fixed workstations. Further, portable devices may be lost or stolen, putting the security of patient data at risk.

Multimodal input device and system for wireless record keeping in a multi-user environment


A fuel injection valve which injects fuel from a nozzle hole includes a cavitation generation flow path in which a cavitation bubble is generated in fuel flowing inside the injection valve, and a bubble storage flow path which is connected to the cavitation generation flow path and the nozzle hole and which stores the cavitation bubble generated in the cavitation generation flow path. A fuel containing the cavitation bubble stored in the bubble storage flow path is injected from the nozzle hole so that atomization of an injected fuel spray is enhanced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel injection valve which injects a fuel from a nozzle hole, and more particularly to a fuel injection valve which generates a cavitation bubble in fuel flowing inside an injection valve.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fuel injection valves which generate cavitation bubbles in fuel flowing inside an injection valve in order to enhance atomization in a fuel spray have been proposed. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-83205, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-19481, and N. Tamaki et al., "Atomization Enhancement of the Spray and Improvement of the Spray Characteristics by Cavitation and Pin Inserted in the Nozzle Hole", ICLASS, 2003 describe related art of such a structure. The fuel injection valve of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-83205 has a cavitation generator which generates cavitation bubbles in the fuel and a cavitation eliminator which eliminates the cavitation bubbles generated by the cavitation generator. In the fuel injection valve of this reference, disturbance is caused in the fuel flow within the nozzle hole by an impact pressure which is generated during disappearance of the cavitation bubbles to enhance atomization of the fuel spray.
In a fuel injection valve according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-19481, the nozzle hole is separated into a first nozzle hole portion on the upstream side and a second nozzle hole portion on the downstream side. By setting the cross sectional area of the second nozzle hole portion to be larger than the cross sectional area of the first nozzle hole portion, a storage portion which stores the fuel is formed between the inner wall of the second nozzle hole portion and the fuel jet flowing from the first nozzle hole portion. Cavitation bubbles are generated within a shearing layer which is created by a velocity difference between the fuel stored in the storage portion and the fuel jet flowing from the first nozzle hole portion. In this manner, cavitation bubbles are formed near an outer peripheral surface of the fuel jet and the energy when the cavitation bubbles collapse is used for atomization of the fuel spray.
In the fuel injection valve of N. Tamaki et al., the nozzle hole is configured so that a gap portion is provided between an upstream nozzle hole and a downstream nozzle hole. Cavitation bubbles generated by the upstream nozzle hole collapse in the gap portion due to attenuation of the fuel flow and recovery of pressure. In addition, because a projecting pin is provided inside the nozzle hole, the cavitation bubbles also collapse in the downstream nozzle hole. A disturbance is caused in the fuel flow within the nozzle hole by the collapse of the cavitation bubbles so that the atomization in the fuel spray is enhanced.
In order to effectively achieve the atomization enhancement effect of the fuel spray by cavitation collapse over the entire region of the fuel jet after injection, it is desirable to inject fuel in which the cavitation bubbles are uniformly mixed (or mixed in an approximate uniform manner) from the nozzle hole.
In the fuel injection valves of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-83205 and N. Tamaki et al., because the cavitation bubbles disappear within the injection valve, only the fuel in liquid from is present in the fuel jet downstream of the exit of the nozzle hole. Therefore, the atomization enhancement effect of the fuel spray by the cavitation collapse cannot be obtained in the fuel jet after injection.
In the fuel injection valve of Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-19481, although fuel in which the cavitation is mixed can be injected from the nozzle hole, the formation region of the cavitation bubbles is limited to a region near an outer peripheral surface of the fuel jet and a core of liquid phase remains around the center of the fuel jet. Because of this, the atomization enhancement effect of the fuel spray by the cavitation collapse cannot be obtained in a wide area in the fuel jet after injection.