An external cavity laser may be swept rapidly in frequency and cavity length to prevent formation of modes providing improved spectral response and light characteristics.

The present invention relates to lasers and more particularly to a laser providing a rapidly sweeping light frequency without laser modes.
Spectroscopic studies evaluate the "spectrographic" response of a material to different frequencies of light. The spectrographic response may be light absorption, reflectivity, scattering, fluorescence or other features.
Spectrographic studies may be used to investigate gases, liquids, aerosols, solids, particulates, and the like, as their physical properties change in response to temperature, pressure, velocity, composition, size, stress and strain. Similar techniques may be used to monitor sensors incorporating materials whose spectrographic responses change as a function of a physical parameter to be measured.
Spectroscopic studies may use a "wavelength-agile" light source providing a spectrally narrow light beam that may be quickly and controllably swept in frequency. One implementation of a wavelength-agile light source employs a laser incorporating a spectral filter into its optical cavity and changing the frequency of that filter during operation of the laser.
One common spectral filter is a diffraction grating. The diffraction grating may be tipped with respect to an incident laser beam to adjust the effective spacing of the grating's rule lines along the beam and hence the frequency of light preferentially reflected by the grating. As the grating is moved to change the frequency of the laser beam, the length of the optical cavity is ordinarily adjusted to match the beam's wavelength to maintain optical resonance. This optical resonance, resulting from standing light waves created by laser cavity elements such as mirrors, is termed a "mode". At any given laser mode, stimulated emissions by the laser material produce a phase coherence in the emitted light. This phase coherence can produce a phenomenon termed "speckle" in which light from the laser constructively adds or destructively cancels at given points.
A laser system providing simultaneous adjustment of a diffraction grating for frequency selection and optical cavity length to preserve optical resonance is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,668 hereby incorporated by reference.
Spectrographic analysis of short optical phenomena with a wavelength agile laser requires the ability to rapidly change the laser frequency. This speed of frequency change can be limited by mechanical constraints incident to coordinated movement of the optical grating and change in cavity length. At high speeds of frequency change, the laser may "mode hop" jumping from one mode to another mode separated by a substantial wavelength difference. Such a problem is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,683,895, at col. 2, lines 27 through 30.


A gas powered fluid gun for propelling a stream or slug of a fluid at high velocity toward a target. Recoil mitigation is provided by a cavitating venturi that reduces or eliminates the associated recoil forces, with minimal or no backwash. By launching a quantity of water in the opposite direction, net momentum forces are reduced or eliminated.

The present invention relates to methods and structures for disrupting targets using a gas powered (pressurized) fluid gun.
In order to disrupt improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or rioting individuals, breach doors or structures, and arrest the movement of unauthorized vehicles, it would be desirable to have a stand off device that could be carried via backpack, carried by vehicle (e.g., car, truck, aircraft, or trailer), or emplaced at a critical locations (e.g., an embassy) to accomplish such tasks. While this has been accomplished with solid projectile firing guns (e.g., firing bean bag rounds or rubber bullets), water cannons (fire trucks), and nets, there are serious limitations to each of these technologies.
Relevant prior art inventions that use pressurized air to propel water from a storage container include a fire extinguisher (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,745,700 to Phalen), and toy water guns (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,987 to D'Andrade; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,162 to Johnson et al.). None of these patents teach structures or methods for mitigating or eliminating momentum-induced recoil forces.

Gas powered fluid gun with recoil mitigation


A microphone mask to be worn in front of the mouth of an underwater diver has a microphone assembly and a teethpiece assembly mounted in a rubber waterproof enclosure. The enclosure has an air passage extending from an inlet opening to a rear outlet opening. The teethpiece assembly includes a plastic insert with a vertical plate mounted in the enclosure. The vertical plate has openings for the air passage as well as to allow sound to travel from the diver's mouth to the microphone assembly. A teeth member extends rearwardly out of the outlet opening into the diver's mouth where it is held between the diver's teeth. The teeth member is connected to the insert by resilient spring members which draw the enclosure rearwardly against the diver's face. There is a sealing surface around the outlet opening, and this seals it around the outside of the diver's mouth. This eliminates the need for a headband and facilitates the use of the microphone mask for the combination of breathing and speaking.

This invention relates generally to underwater diving apparatus and more particularily to a mouth mask to accomodate a microphone for underwater communication.
In the past, it has been well known to mount a diver's respirator on a mouthpiece which has teethpieces which are engaged between the diver's teeth to hold it in place. However, both the mouth piece and the teethpieces are in the diver's mouth, and the waterproof seal is between the mouthpiece and the inside of the diver's lips. An example of this is seen in Curtin U.S. Pat. No. 4,304,229. A similar arrangement providing for underwater communication between two divers is shown in European Patent Publication No. 0 122 878 to Gross filed Apr. 2, 1984. Disadvantages of this arrangement are that it is difficult to speak with the mouthpiece in the mouth and the air supply is interrupted if the mouthpiece is taken out of the mouth.
It is also known to provide a diver's mask with a microphone which is held in place in front of the diver's mouth by an elastic headstrap which extends around the back of the head of the diver. One example of this is shown in the Divecomm Model USC - 101 Communicator brochure. While this provides improved communication, the position of the headstrap is uncomfortable and it is inconvenient, particularly in association with another mask to cover the eyes.


Provided are non-woven constructions and fabrics comprising polypyridazole short fiber; the short fiber characterized by an average filament tenacity of at least 15 grams per denier; an average filament modulus of at least 500 grams per denier; an average filament density of at least 1.6 grams per cubic centimeter; an average filament length of 30 to 100 millimeters; and an average filament denier per filament of 0.1 to 10; wherein the construction is substantially free of matrix.

Personal ballistic body armor, particularly vests, helmets, and other articles, are formed generally of materials which serve to prevent penetration of a bullet or other projectile, and any other object that is forcefully applied to the armor, such as a knife. These articles are primarily used for the armed forces, but also have police and civilian applications. There is a growing demand to improve the wearability and the overall effectiveness of armor systems used by soldiers and police offices in combative environments. Overall thickness and weight of armor systems can effect wearability, but reducing these parameters in currently known systems can compromise the armor's effectiveness against penetration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,528 discloses a non-woven layer having short polyolefin fibers. The fibers are reported to have a length of 40-100 mm, a tensile strength of at least 1.2 GPa and a modulus of at least 40 GPa.
PCT Patent Application No. WO94/21450 discloses a ballistic resistant material containing at least two types of fibrous materials. Polyaramid and polyethylene blends are described. The materials are blended and consolidated together into a single layer of nonwoven, composite material.
PCT Patent Application No. WO2005/001373 teaches a ballistic-resistant material having a exterior layers formed of a ballistic-resistant non-woven textile and an interior layer of ballistic-resistant woven textile arranged between the exterior layers.
There is a need in the art for continued improvements in the construction of ballistic fabrics and articles.

Matrix free non-woven layer of polypyridazle short fiber


An orthotic protective device collectively including a base unit connected to a metacarpal unit by a hinge system designed to protect and prevent hyperextension and hyperflexion movements of the metacarpal, carpal, radius and ulna regions. The base unit and metacarpal unit includes a longitudinal support member and a casing, respectively, lined with at least one pad having a tongue. At least one releasable fastener is mated to the support member and casing and extends to the tongue of the pad.

A wide range of activities such as playing a musical instrument, playing golf, opening a bottled drink or even laying bricks are all impossible activities to execute without the health of a user's arm, wrist and hands. Nevertheless, these physiological areas are most prone to injury in the human body.
Today, a number of physical therapists and physicians deal with two major types of injuries: (1) repetitive motion injuries and (2) traumatic injuries. The repetitive motion injuries develop over a period of time where consistent use of the arms, wrists and hands are required, such as assembly line tasks. Such repetitive motion injuries are treated by developing plans to address muscle and joint stress and weakness and redesigning workstations, tools and equipment.
However, traumatic injuries such as fractures and lacerations require immediate medical care. One type of traumatic injury is a sprain which can take weeks to heal properly. A physician or therapist focuses on restoring strength and mobility and on preventing the creation of adverse scar tissue which can permanently affect the function of the hand, wrist or any joint.
Another type of traumatic injury is the result of sporting accidents, such as inline skating accidents. Here, if a sporting enthusiast falls on his/her outstretched hand, the enthusiast may suffer a Colles' fracture, a fracture of the bones of the forearm (the radius and the ulna) near the wrist (or carpal bones). In order to prevent such an injury from occurring, the enthusiast should wear protective gear including wrist protectors.
Examples of such a device is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,148 (hereinafter called '148) issued to Carr-Stock on Dec. 26, 2000. The '148 patent provides for a wrist/hand/finger orthosis having a splint member extending from forearm to fingertips, a cover enclosing the splint member and a plurality of releasable straps connected to the cover.
An advancement in the orthotic industry was to combine elastic and non-elastic fabric in the construction of wrist braces. An example of a device incorporating these fabrics is depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,969 (hereinafter called '969) issued to Bell on Feb. 13, 2001. The '969 patent is a wrist brace having a sheet of flexible material having a first portion which is substantially non-stretchable and a second portion which is stretchable. The first and second portions allow the brace to vary the compression on the proximal portion of the wrist which is sought to be immobilized.
Protection aids for hands and wrists have continued to develop as is evident with U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,159 (hereinafter called '159) issued to Ahlbaumer on Aug. 28, 2001. The '159 patent describes a hand and wrist protective aid comprising a first protective element to be arranged on the region of the hand palm situated near the wrist. A second protective element is arranged on the inside portion of the wrist and is connected to the first protective element via a connecting element. However, the forearm of a user is left exposed and unprotected.
In 2003, a wrist brace was designed to fixedly link a user's hand to a user's forearm in a rigid fashion whereby the wrist is held in a relatively neutral position as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,710 issued to Cruz on Apr. 1, 2003. The '710 patent provides for a brace, namely a one-piece unit designed to fit on top of the hand and forearm.
Aside from the physical structure of the brace, other developments have involved the evolution of the materials. An example of this enhanced material is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,080,121 (hereinafter called '121) issued to Madow on Jun. 27, 2000. The '121 patent describes a laminated orthopedic brace made of a unique blend of material combining Airprene™ with Coolmax™ material as a liner. This material blend allowed for breathability, compression and heat retention.

Abstract: Apertures of the base unit are mated and connected to apertures of the hinge system which form an articulated joint allowing the hinge system to move in an upward manner allowing for natural extension of the user's wrist and in a downward fashion for unlimited flexion motion. The base unit and the hinge system may both have at least one stop formed thereon; and as these stops come into contact with one another, it limits the flexion, extension and radial-ulnar deviation. Further, an aperture of the metacarpal unit is mated and fastened to an aperture in the hinge system by a swivel joint which allows for lateral movement of the user's wrist.


The invention is directed to techniques for monitoring organ rejection. An implanted device monitors the impedance of the transplanted organ. When the impedance measurements indicate that the organ is being rejected, the device provides early warning of rejection.

Transplantation of organs has become a widely practiced medical procedure. Organs such as a heart, lungs, kidney, pancreas and liver may be harvested from a donor and transplanted in a recipient. Although the risk of organ rejection has been reduced by the discovery of immunosuppressant drugs such as cyclosporine, organ rejection remains a major complication for patients undergoing organ transplantation.
A body receiving a donated organ naturally treats the organ as foreign tissue. The immune system of the recipient, which protects the body from infection, attacks the transplanted organ and tries to destroy it. Immunosuppressant drugs suppress the immune system so that the new organ will not be attacked and damaged. Organ recipients take immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of their lives to ward off rejection.
Even with immunosuppressive therapy, however, the immune system may try to reject the organ. Consequently, transplant recipients should be monitored for signs of rejection. Rejection typically manifests itself as inflammation in the organ, accompanied by edema. Conventional monitoring of organ rejection may be invasive or non-invasive. Conventional non-invasive techniques generally monitor rejection indirectly, such as by monitoring changes in blood chemistry. A conventional invasive technique is a tissue biopsy, in which a physician inserts a biopsy needle through the skin into the organ, and takes a sample of the transplanted organ for inspection under a microscope. Following transplant surgeries, biopsies may be performed frequently, but biopsies are usually performed less frequently following recovery.


A plug counter including a housing sized to receive and pass plugs. A helix sleeve rotatably positioned relative to the housing. The helix sleeve including a helical track having a plurality of consecutive turns. A key positionable relative to the helical track and responsive to movement of the helix sleeve in a first rotational direction, wherein the key prevents further movement of the helix sleeve in the first rotational direction after a selected number of plugs pass through the plug counter.

In the Drilling and completion industries it is often desirable to affect tools or formations at a great distance from a surface located facility such as a rig. One example of an operation intended to affect a formation is a fracturing operation. In order to perform such an operation, hydraulic pressure is built within a tubing string until the pressure exceeds formation capability for holding that pressure and fractures form in the formation. This type of operation is most effective if done in small incremental sections of a borehole for reasons related to control and distribution of fractures to serve the ultimate purpose of the borehole. Such purposes include hydrocarbon production, Carbon Dioxide sequestration, etc.
In the art, fracturing discrete locations of the borehole tends to require a number of tools related to the pressuring of discrete locations. Such tools increase expense initially and generally create other issues to be overcome after the fracturing process is complete such as removal of the tools that enabled the pressuring of a discrete location. Where multiple fracturing locations are contemplated, generally a staged system must be built and administered correctly for it to work. One such system uses progressively larger seat diameters from the toe back to surface and then progressively increasing diameter balls. While the system works well, it is limited by the number of different size balls that can be used. Tolerance is also required in any system (due to such things as irregular shape of tubing secondary to borehole irregularity), which therefore further limits the number of diameters usable in a particular system.
Since fracturing and other operations where it is desirable to isolate discrete locations continue to become more prevalent and ubiquitous, alternate systems for accessing and manipulating the downhole environment is always well received.


A device and a method for manufacturing a synthetic yarn, in which at least two yarn plugs (1), (2), (3) are produced by texturing, are placed in a first zone (A) on the cooling surface (6c) of a rotating cooling drum (6), moved to a second zone (B) and form more than one winding (I),(II), in which the yarn plugs are kept in the second zone (B) by a gas stream (FB) on the cooling surface (6c), and in which no gas stream or a less powerful gas stream is generated in an intermediate zone (C) in order to prevent the yarn plugs (1), (2), (3) from leaving the second zone (B).

During the production of synthetic yarns, separate filaments are produced from a thermoplastic, such as e.g. polypropylene, polyester or polyamide. This is performed using an extrusion process. A number of these filaments are combined to form a so-called multifilament yarn. It is known to improve the properties of a multifilament yarn through texturing in order to make it more suitable for certain applications. This is achieved, for example, by bringing a heated gaseous medium, such as hot air, near the filaments at high speed in a texturing channel. As a result thereof, the filaments are moved in the texturing channel and are deformed in a downstream part of the texturing channel. Subsequently, the yarn is set, so that a crimped yarn is obtained. This makes the yarn more voluminous and gives it a better covering power, which is highly advantageous for synthetic yarns which are used for weaving or tufting carpets.
Known texturing devices comprise a texturing unit in which two or more texturing channels are provided next to each other. In each channel, a respective multifilament yarn is introduced via a supply opening into the channel. Each channel is provided with an air inlet via which hot air is blown into the texturing channel at great speed. This air has a temperature which is sufficiently high to bring the synthetic material to a processing temperature at which the plastic is soft and deforms easily. In a well-defined zone, the texturing channels are wider and provided with outlet openings via which the air can escape. The yarn is carried along by the hot air in the texturing channels. In the wider zones of these channels, the speed of the air and the yarn decreases significantly, as a result of which the yarn is compressed to form a yarn plug, and from that point on moves in the channel as a yarn plug and eventually leaves the texturing channel via a discharge opening. Subsequently, the yarn plugs are placed in the form of a continuous supply from the texturing unit onto the cylindrical cooling surface of a cooling drum to cool down, and then, after more than one turn, they are lead away again from the cooling surface to be subjected to additional treatments and ultimately wound onto bobbins as a crimped textile yarn. In this case, the yarn is lead away from the cooling surface at a greater speed than the supply speed of the yarn plugs, so that the yarn plugs are converted to a stretched crimped yarn.
In a texturing device which is known from Belgian patent BE 1 021 905, the sleeve surface of the cooling drum which functions as a cooling surface is flat and uninterrupted and the cooling surface is provided with perforations which are evenly distributed across the entire surface. Under the sleeve surface, a drawing-in device is provided by means of which air can be drawn in to generate an air stream which flows from the top side of the cooling surface through the perforations. This air stream which is directed towards the cooling surface exerts a force on the yarn plugs which are situated on the cooling surface, as a result of which the yarn plugs are pushed against the cooling surface. The air stream also ensures a quick and even cooling of the yarn plugs. As a result of the cooling, the deformations of the filaments are set.
The simultaneously produced yarn plugs are placed in a first zone of the perforated cooling surface of the slowly rotating cooling drum, so that they run alongside each other, and are carried along by this rotating sleeve surface for more than one complete turn. Just before the second turn starts, the yarn plugs running alongside each other are moved laterally by a guide surface situated above the cooling surface. At the start of the second turn, the yarn plugs are consequently in a second zone of the perforated cooling surface, next to the first zone.
Subsequently, after they have been carried along over the cylindrical sleeve surface for more than one turn, the yarn plugs running alongside each other are lead away from this surface. The yarn plugs are not necessarily on the cooling drum for an integer number of turns and may be lead away from the transport surface at any location before the last turn is completed, for example after 1.3 turns or after 1¾ or after 2½ turns. The number of turns is determined as a function of the speed of rotation of the cooling drum and of the time which is required to allow the yarn plugs to cool down sufficiently.
At each turn, the two or more yarn plugs originating from the various texturing channels run next to each other in a group. In this case, the yarn plugs always maintain the same sequence within the group. A first part of these yarn plugs running alongside each other, with a length which essentially corresponds to the circumference of the cylinder sleeve, makes a first turn, a second part makes a second turn, a third part makes a third turn, etc. After they have made a complete first turn, the second parts of the yarn plugs running alongside each other are moved laterally, so that they come to lie next to their first parts running alongside each other which are making the first turn on the sleeve surface. The third parts running alongside each other which are making the third turn run next to the second parts running alongside each other which are making the second turn, etc.
The properties of such a textured yarn are determined, inter alia, by the circumstances in which the yarn cools down after completing the texturing process. If two or more yarn plugs produced together cool down when running alongside each other, it is very important that they cool down in essentially identical circumstances and are treated in the same way in order to prevent excessive differences in the yarn quality of the simultaneously produced crimped textile yarns.
It has been found that, despite the existing measures to this effect, the yarn quality of the simultaneously produced textile yarns sometimes still differs to an excessive degree with the known texturing devices. It has been found that, when the texturing process is modified in order to limit these differences, small modifications to the process can result in significant differences in the yarn quality.

Device and method for manufacturing crimped textile yarn and cooling drum for such a device


A tubular connection includes a pin member and box member. The pin member includes a pin thread formed on a small step and a large step and a first seal surface formed between the small step and the large step. The box member includes a box thread formed on a small step and a large step and a second seal surface formed between the small step and the large step. The pin thread and the box thread are wedge threads. The small step and the large step of both the pin member and the box member are formed on a single taper. Upon a selected make-up of the pin member with the box member, a seal is formed between at least a portion of the first seal surface and the second seal surface.

Casing joints, liners, and other oilfield tubulars are often used in drilling, completing, and producing a well. Casing joints, for example, may be placed in a wellbore to stabilize a formation and protect a formation against high wellbore pressures (e.g., wellbore pressures that exceed a formation pressure) that could damage the formation. Casing joints are sections of steel pipe, which may be coupled in an end-to-end manner by threaded connections, welded connections, and other connections known in the art. The connections are usually designed so that a seal is formed between an interior of the coupled casing joints and an annular space formed between exterior walls of the casing joints and walls of the wellbore. The seal may be, for example, an elastomer seal (e.g., an o-ring seal), a thread seal, a metal-to-metal seal formed proximate the connection, or similar seals known in the art.
In FIG. 1, a connection having a metal-to-metal seal at an intermediate position is shown. Such a connection is disclosed as an embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,816 issued to Noel. That patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The connection includes a pin member 101 and a box member 102, each with a single tapered thread, 18 and 19 respectively. The pin thread 18 and the box thread 19 are interrupted at an intermediate position to form corresponding seal surfaces, which form a metal-to-metal seal 20 when a sufficient contact pressure exists therebetween. The metal-to-metal seal 20 shown in FIG. 1 is commonly referred to as a "mid-seal" due to its intermediate position, as opposed to other types of metal-to-metal seals located on the end of the pin member or the box member. To ensure that the desired contact pressure exists to form metal-to-metal seal 20, a positive stop is provided by pin nose 23 on the pin member 101 and shoulder 22 on the box member 102.
One type of thread commonly used to form a thread seal is a wedge thread. In FIG. 2, a connection having a wedge thread is shown. "Wedge threads" are characterized by threads, regardless of a particular thread form, that increase in width (i.e., axial distance between load flanks 225 and 226 and stab flanks 232 and 231) in opposite directions on the pin member 101 and box member 102. The rate at which the threads change in width along the connection is defined by a variable commonly known as a "wedge ratio." As used herein, "wedge ratio," although technically not a ratio, refers to the difference between the stab flank lead and the load flank lead, which causes the threads to vary width along the connection. A detailed discussion of wedge ratios is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,436 issued to Mallis, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. That patent is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Wedge threads are extensively disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. RE 30,647 issued to Blose, U.S. Pat. No. RE 34,467 issued to Reeves, U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,954 issued to Ortloff, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,605 issued to Mott, all assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference. Continuing with FIG. 2, on the pin member 101, the pin thread crest 222 is narrow towards the distal end of the pin member 101 while the box thread crest 291 is wide. Moving along the axis 105 (from right to left), the pin thread crest 222 widens while the box thread crest 291 narrows. In FIG. 1, the thread surfaces are tapered, meaning that the pin thread 106 increases in diameter from beginning to end while the box thread 107 decreases in diameter in a complimentary manner. Having a thread taper improves the ability to stab the pin member 101 into the box member 102 and distributes stress in the connection.
Generally, thread seals are difficult to achieve with non-wedge threads having broad crests and roots, however, the same thread forms may have thread seals when used for wedge threads. Wedge threads do not have any particular thread form. One example of a suitable thread form is a semi-dovetailed thread form disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,239 issued to Klementich, and incorporated herein by reference. Another thread form includes a multi-faceted load flank or stab flank, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,706 issued to Church, and incorporated herein by reference. Each of the above thread forms is considered to be a "trapped" thread form, meaning that at least a portion of the corresponding load flanks and/or corresponding stab flanks axially overlap. An open (i.e. not trapped) thread form with a generally rectangular shape is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,880 issued to Watts. The above thread forms are examples of thread forms that may be used for embodiments of the invention. Generally, open thread forms such as buttress or stub acme are not suitable for wedge threads because they would impart a large radial force on the box member. A generally square thread form, such as that disclosed by Watts, or a trapped thread form does not impart an outward radial force on the box member. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the teachings contained herein are not limited to particular thread forms.
For wedge threads, a thread seal is accomplished by the contact pressure caused by interference over at least a portion of the connection between the pin load flank 226 and the box load flank 225 and between the pin stab flank 232 and the box stab flank 231, which occurs when the connection is made-up. Close proximity or interference between the roots 292 and 221 and crests 222 and 291 completes the thread seal when it occurs over at least a portion of where the flank interference occurs. Generally, higher pressure may be contained with increased interference between the roots and crests ("root/crest interference") on the pin member 101 and the box member 102 and by increasing flank interference. This particular connection also includes a metal-to-metal seal that is accomplished by contact pressure between corresponding seal surfaces 103 and 104, respectively located on the pin member 101 and box member 102.
Wedge threads typically do not have a positive stop torque shoulder on the connection. For wedge threads that do not have a positive stop torque shoulder, the make-up is "indeterminate," and, as a result, the relative position of the pin member and box member varies more during make-up for a given torque range to be applied than for connections having a positive stop torque shoulder. As used herein, "make-up" refers to threading a pin member and a box member together. "Selected make-up" refers to threading the pin member and the box member together within a desired range of torque, or based on a relative position (axial or circumferential) of the pin member with the box member. For wedge threads that are designed to have both flank interference and root/crest interference at a selected make-up, both the flank interference and root/crest interference increase as the connection is made-up (i.e. increase in torque increases flank interference and root/crest interference). For wedge threads that are designed to have root/crest clearance, the clearance decreases as the connection is made-up. Regardless of the design of the wedge thread, corresponding flanks and corresponding roots and crests come closer to each other (i.e. clearance decreases or interference increases) during make-up. Indeterminate make-up allows for the flank interference and root/crest interference to be increased by increasing the make-up torque on the connection. Thus, a wedge thread may be able to thread-seal higher pressures of gas and/or liquid by designing the connection to have more flank interference and/or root/crest interference or by increasing the make-up torque on the connection, however, this also increases stress on the connection during make-up, which could lead to failure during use.
Although wedge threads provide a thread seal in most cases, they are typically unable to seal gases. Most metal-to-metal seals, which are more capable of sealing gases, require relatively thick connections. To seal against both internal and external gas pressure, a connection could have a metal-to-metal seal on the pin nose for internal pressure and a metal-to-metal seal on the box face for external pressure, but this would increase the thickness of the connection. It would be desirable to obtain gas sealing capability against both internal and external pressure with a thin connection.

Single taper wedge thread connection with mid-seal


A process for producing a hollow shaped article having an inner surface which is brought into contact with fuels. The hollow shaped article is produced by bonding two or more constitutional members at peripheral edges thereof into an integral body. At least one of the constitutional members is produced by applying a fuel barrier coating composition to one or both surfaces of a thermoplastic resin sheet to form a sheet having a fuel barrier layer, and forming the sheet into the constitutional member by a pressure forming, a vacuum forming or a pressure/vacuum forming.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process of producing hollow shaped articles such as fuel containers for storing fuels such as gasoline.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As automobile fuel tanks, metal fuel tanks produced by press working and welding of iron plates, etc. have been used if putting much weight on the mechanical strength, and blown synthetic resin fuel tanks have been used if the processability is important. Particularly, to reduce the weight of vehicles and broaden the design freedom, thermoplastic resin fuel tanks have recently come to be used.
In the production of large blown fuel tanks, the thickness of upper portion of parison becomes thinner than the thickness of its lower portion when a heated parison in a flowable state is inserted into a mold from the top of molding machine. As a result, the resultant shaped article lacks the uniformity of thickness in some cases. If the shape of fuel tank is quite irregular or complicated, the degree of expansion of parison in a mold is likely to be different from portion to portion, to make the thickness uneven. Therefore, it is difficult to control the thickness of products. To attain satisfactory performance in the mechanical strength, etc., the thickness of products should be increased throughout its entire portions. This, however, increases the weight of fuel tanks. In a blow molding, a parison is molded with its periphery cramped between the parting faces of mold. Therefore, relatively large-sized flashes are formed, increasing the amount of wasted materials and reducing the productivity.
Since the parison is expanded in a mold in a blow molding, it is limited to dispose a fuel pump unit, a float, etc. inside a fuel tank being produced. To remedy this drawback, it has been proposed to mold an upper part and a lower part separately and then bond these parts into an integral fuel tank (JP 10-157738A).
To protect the environment, fuel tanks are required to have fuel barrier properties so as to prevent fuel, etc. from escaping into surrounding atmosphere through its wall. To ensure this, fuel tanks have been conventionally produced in a manner in which a fuel barrier film is first vacuum-formed in a mold into a barrier layer having a shape of fuel tank, and then, a thermoplastic resin for a substrate layer is injection-molded on the barrier layer so as to allow the barrier layer to face the inside of fuel tanks. However, since the barrier layer is sometimes stretched during the injection molding, the fuel tanks thus produced may have insufficient barrier properties. Also, the adhesion or bond strength between the barrier layer and the substrate layer made of thermoplastic resin is insufficient in some cases. In addition, it becomes sometimes difficult to allow the barrier layer to fully and completely extend to the peripheral ends, to reduce the fuel barrier properties.
In JP 2001-129851A, a production process of two-part fuel tank is proposed, in which each of two parts is injection-molded in each mold, the molded parts are butted to each other by sliding the molds, and then, a molten resin is injected around the butting faces to fuse-bond the two parts into a united body. However, this process requires a complicated equipment for sliding the molds, to increase production costs.
JP 2004-98886A discloses a process of producing fuel tanks by integrally bonding two constitutional parts at their peripheries around open ends, in which each constitutional part is produced by the injection molding or injection press molding of a thermoplastic resin having a low fuel permeability.

Process of producing hollow shaped articles


A tissue roll dispenser provided with a pair of laterally slidable roll holding elements and with a longitudinally slidable roll releasing actuator is described herein. The roll holding elements are biased towards a roll holding position via a spring connected to both roll holding elements. The roll releasing actuator includes a pointed end provided with opposite lateral edges contacting a respective roll holding element. When the roll releasing actuator is moved from a resting position to an actuating position, the pointed end forces the roll holding elements to move laterally from a roll holding position to a roll releasing position.

The prior art is replete with tissue roll dispensers provided with a housing configured and sized to contain two or more rolls of tissue. One of the rolls (hereinafter referred to as the primary roll) is maintained so that it is possible to unroll the tissue therefrom while the other rolls (hereinafter referred to as the secondary rolls) are in reserve and may take the place of the primary roll when it is exhausted. More specifically, when the primary roll is exhausted, a mechanism is manually actuated to release the exhausted roll to allow one of the secondary rolls to take its place and become the primary roll.
A first type of tissue roll dispenser is characterized by the pre insertion of spindles in individual rolls of tissue. These spindles, protruding from each end of the rolls, allow the rolls to be guided by tracks. U.S. Pat. No. 2,605,975 issued to Page et al. on Aug. 5, 1952; U.S. Pat. No. 2,727,930 issued to M.sup.c Cants on Oct. 23, 1956; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,295 issued to Okamura on Feb. 11, 1975 are examples of this type of dispenser.
A second type of dispenser is characterized by the absence of such spindle. This second type of dispenser has the advantage that the rolls are more easily inserted in the dispenser since no spindle has to be installed in the rolls. Dispensers of tissue rolls of this second type are however generally more mechanically complex, which increases the manufacturing costs and the maintenance costs and decreases the reliability of the dispenser. U.S. Pat. No. 2,896,871 issued to Woodruff on Jul. 28, 1959; U.S. Pat. No. 3,039,709 issued to Bolger on Jun. 19, 1962; U.S. Pat. No. 4,034,924 issued to Carlisle on Jul. 12, 1977; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,393 issued to Madsen on Mar. 19, 1991 are examples of such dispenser.


An automobile body cover for positioning over an automobile body. The automobile body cover has a plurality of individual covers that together completely cover the automobile body. The body cover includes a front cover, a rear cover, a front middle cover, and a rear middle cover. Each cover fits over the corresponding part of the automobile. Each cover has an inner layer and an outer layer, an open bottom end, and a bottom edge. The layers are bound together at the bottom edge. When in place over the automobile, the inner layer rests against the automobile body. A plurality of C-shaped hooks extend downward from the bottom edges of the covers. These hooks secure the covers in place under the automobile. A plurality of magnets are positioned along the cover bottom edges, between the inner layer and the outer layer.

The invention relates to an automobile body cover. In particular, the invention is a series of covers that are draped over corresponding sections of an automobile in order to protect the automobile body from damage caused by exposure to outside elements, namely the weather and collisions with other cars.
People use automobiles daily for transportation, and often own their own cars. Because of the expense of cars, an owner normally seeks to keep the automobile in the best possible condition. This is a difficult task since the car is exposed to various elements, namely rain, snow, and sun, as well as contact with other people and other cars.
Thus, there exists a need for a cover which may be placed over an automobile in order to protect the automobile body from damage. Such a cover should be capable of staying in place over the automobile while the car is being driven without interfering with the normal use of the car.
While the available units may be suitable for the particular purpose employed, or for general use, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as disclosed hereafter.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved automobile body cover. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved automobile body cover which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises an automobile body cover for positioning over an automobile body. The automobile body cover has a plurality of individual covers that together completely cover the automobile body. The body cover includes a front cover, a rear cover, a front middle cover, and a rear middle cover. Each cover fits over the corresponding part of the automobile. Each cover has an inner layer and an outer layer, an open bottom end, and a bottom edge. The layers are bound together at the bottom edge. When in place over the automobile, the inner layer rests against the automobile body. A plurality of C-shaped hooks extend downward from the bottom edges of the covers. These hooks secure the covers in place under the automobile. Also positioned along the cover bottom edges, between the inner layer and the outer layer, are a plurality of magnets.
It is an object of the invention to produce an automobile body cover which may be easily fit over an automobile and attached thereto with little effort. Accordingly, the cover is divided into separate covers that correspond the shade of different sections of the automobile. Each cover is draped over the corresponding automobile section and attached thereto with C-shaped hooks.
It is a further object of the invention to produce an automobile body cover which may be kept in place over the automobile while the car is in use. Accordingly, the cover is designed to conform the shape and contours of the automobile. Thus, the windows and doors may be utilized while the cover is in place with no interference from the cover.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.


A remote monitoring system for medical data collection can include a data-flagging process embeds authorization and settings information into a file containing the test results. Such data flagging can occur at a medical device or testing site, and may be based in policy settings received from a remote system. A file containing the test results can also include data category information that can be used to protect sensitive information by preventing such information from being communicated to the wrong server.

Medical data collection can involve remotely monitoring a distributed network of medical devices, such as molecular diagnostic systems and/or other testing devices, and aggregating and processing the data provided by these medical devices into useable information. Because the medical devices may be located throughout the world, the information can be used by a host of entities, such as governments, hospitals, and other institutions to not only monitor the status of individual medical devices, but also to decipher large-scale epidemiological data and determine other valuable health and disease information. Current aggregation and processing of data from such medical data collection, i.e., sifting through data as it trickles in from the medical devices, can be restrictive. And because different entities (institutions and individuals) want to view different types of data from the medical devices, it can be difficult to provide personalized reporting data to a requesting entity in a quick manner (e.g., in real time).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An incident signal contains a preamble including a training sequence having a series of pulses whose polarity and time shifts are defined by respective polarity code and time-hopping code. A method includes a digital cross-correlation of the received signal with the training sequence. The cross-correlation algebraically sums in accordance with the polarity code windows of the received signal. The starting points of the windows are determined by the time-hopping code. The cross-correlation further includes detecting the end point of the preamble from the result of the digital cross-correlation. When the size of the receiving buffer, i.e., the size of the window is smaller than the number N of samples of each replica of the training sequence, it is particularly advantageous that the digital cross-correlation be performed iteratively in a block-by-block fashion. The computation of each block is split into M slices which are computed by algebraically summing windows N/M samples long.

An example wireless personal area network is a piconet, which is a wireless data communications system that allows a number of independent data devices to communicate with each other. A piconet is distinguished from other types of data networks in that communications are normally confined to a person or object that typically covers about 10 meters in all directions, and envelops the person or object whether stationary or in motion.
Ultra wide band radio technology departs from conventional narrow band radio and spread-spectrum technologies in that the bandwidth of the signal at −10 db is typically greater than 20% of the center frequency. Instead of transmitting a continuous carrier wave modulated with information or with information combined with a spread code, which determines the bandwidth of the signal, a UWB radio transmits a series of very narrow impulses. For example, these impulses can take the form of a single cycle or monocycle, and have pulse widths less than 1 ns. These short time-domain impulses transformed into the frequency domain result in the ultra wide band spectrum of UWB radio technology.
In UWB radio technology, the information conveyed on the signal can be coded by pulse position modulation (PPM). In other words, information coding is performed by altering the timing of the individual pulses. More precisely, the series of impulses is transmitted at a repetition rate of up to several megahertz. Each pulse is transmitted within a window having a predetermined length (pulse repetition period), for example 50 ns. With respect to a nominal position, the pulse is in an early position or in a late position, which permits encoding of a 0 or a 1. It is also possible to encode more than two values by using more than two positions shifted with respect to the nominal position. It is also possible to superimpose a modulation of the BPSK type on this position modulation. More generally, any modulation can be used.
The IEEE 802.15.3 MAC standard defines the wireless medium access control specifications for high rate wireless personal area networks (WPAN) in narrow band radio technology. However, up to now, no document defines the specification of a wireless data communication system, for example, a wireless personal area network using UWB radio technology, and more particularly, the synchronizing of two independent data devices of such a network communicating with each other with one of the devices acting as a coordinator of the network.

Method of synchronizing an independent data device of a wireless data communications system on an incident pulsed signal of the ultra wide band type, and corresponding independent data device


An amount of data accumulated in a data-receiving buffer is monitored. When the accumulated amount of data exceeds a threshold, a control PDU indicating that the accumulated amount of data exceeds the threshold is generated and transmitted to a data transmitter.

1. Field
The present invention relates to a wireless communication device, a wireless communication program storage medium, and a wireless communication method.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a protocol of a wireless communication system called 3G (third generation) is widely employed.
The 3G has some developmental stages. In addition to a cellular phone employing the original 3G, a cellular phone employing 3.5G with a further higher communication speed or a protocol called HSDPA has entered the field. Furthermore, Super 3G or 3.9, or a protocol called LTE (Long Term Evolution) is currently under review.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system employing the LTE protocol.
A terminal (UE; User Equipment) 10 wirelessly communicates with a base station (eNB; evolved Node B) 20 in accordance with the LTE protocol. The base stations (eNB) 20 are connected to an IP network 40 through an access gateway (aGW) 30 that intermediates a flow of data between the base stations (eNB) 20 and the IP network 40. Although only one aGW 30 is illustrated in FIG. 1, a large number of aGWs are connected to the IP network 40, and one or multiple eNBs exist under each aGW. Although only one UE 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1, a large number of UEs exist, and the UEs can intercommunicate through the eNB, the aGW, and the IP network 40.
FIG. 2 illustrates a protocol diagram of the LTE protocol.
The protocol in the wireless communication system of the 3G group is divided into multiple layers. Similarly, the LTE protocol is also divided into multiple layers.
A layer 1 is a layer called a physical layer, and the layer 1 is a portion that performs the actual communication.
A layer 2 located on the upper side of the layer 1 has three sublayers including a MAC (Medium Access Control) sublayer, an RLC (Radio Link Control) sublayer, and a PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol).
A block of processing functions arranged in a layer or a sublayer is called an entity. PDCP entities and RLC entities exist by the number of logical channels used in accordance with each logical channel (LCH; Logical Channel) and transmit and receive a PDU (Protocol Data Unit). In case of the LTE protocol, a data concealment process and a data interface process with a further upper layer (not shown) are executed in a PDCP entity. In an RLC entity, a data conversion process is executed, and also, a retransmission process that requests a retransmission of insufficient data is executed.
A MAC entity integrates the PDUs transmitted from the RLC entities into one PDU and forwards the PDU to the layer 1. In the receiver side, the MAC entity divides the PDU transmitted from the layer 1 into PDUs of respective logical channels and transmits the divided PDUs to the RLC entities of corresponding logical channels.
FIG. 3 is a wireless communication system diagram in the LTE protocol.
The layer 1 is omitted, and only the layer 2 is covered herein. Furthermore, only one logical channel is illustrated herein.
When transmitting data from the eNB side to the UE side, the data transmitted from the upper layer is temporarily accumulated in a buffer 213a of a PDCP entity 213 on the eNB side. The data is subjected to processes such as a concealment process and handed over to an RLC entity 212. In the RLC entity 212, the data transmitted from the PDCP entity 213 is temporarily accumulated in a buffer 212a. The data is subjected to either a data conversion process or a retransmission process and then transmitted to a MAC entity 211. In the MAC entity 211 too, the data transmitted from the RLC entity 212 is temporarily accumulated in a buffer 211a. The data of multiple logical channels is integrated and transmitted to the UE side through the physical layer not shown.
In the UE side, the data received through the physical layer is temporarily accumulated in a buffer 121a of a MAC sublayer 121. The data is divided into pieces of data each of which is for each logical channel and transmitted to an RLC sublayer 122 of a corresponding logical channel. In the RLC sublayer 122, the piece of data transmitted from the MAC sublayer 121 is temporarily accumulated in a buffer 122a. The data is subjected to a data conversion process or a retransmission process and transmitted to the PDCP entity 123. In the PDCP entity 123, the data received from the RLC entity 122 is temporarily accumulated in a buffer 123a. The data is subjected to a concealment releasing process and the like and further transmitted to the upper layer of the UE side.
Data is similarly transmitted from the UE side to the eNB side. In the UE side, the data received from the upper side is temporarily accumulated in the buffer 123a of the PDCP entity 123 and then transmitted to the RLC entity 122. In the RLC entity 122, the data transmitted from the PDCP entity 123 is temporarily accumulated in a buffer 122b and then transmitted to the MAC entity 121. In the MAC entity 121 too, the transmitted data is temporarily accumulated in a buffer 121b and then transmitted to the eNB side through the physical layer.
In the eNB side, the data received through the physical layer is temporarily accumulated in a buffer 211b of the MAC entity 211 and then transmitted to the RLC entity 212. In the RLC entity 212, the received data is temporarily accumulated in a buffer 212b and then transmitted to the PDCP entity 213. In the PDCP entity 213, the data received from the RLC entity 212 is temporarily accumulated in a buffer 213b and then transmitted to the upper layer of the eNB side.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-297381 discusses a technique that switches the wireless communication network of the data destination when the buffer of a router is about to overflow in a case where multiple wireless communication networks are connected through the router for data transmission.
FIG. 4 is a wireless communication system diagram for describing a problem.
FIG. 4 is only different from FIG. 3 in that an application 100 is added. Overlapping descriptions of the items described in FIG. 3 will be omitted.
The application 100 may be, for example, an application program downloaded through wireless communication and executed in the UE, or may be an application program executed in another device such as a personal computer (PC) or the like when the UE is further connected to such a device.
If the application 100 is an application with a low throughput, i.e., if the application 100 receives data at a low speed, the data transmitted from the eNB side is not quickly transmitted to the application 100. In this case, a large amount of data may be accumulated in the buffers 123a and 122a, and the data may overflow from the buffers 123a and 122a, causing missing of data.
As the communication speed between the eNB side and the UE side becomes faster, the application 100 that is developed without taking into account such a high communication speed may not be able to deal with the speed.

Wireless communication device, wireless communication program storage medium, and wireless communication method


A software licensing enforcement product includes a shell utilizing a device specific hardware product to encrypt the install program and the run program to prevent non-authorized devices form installing or using a software product. The shell decrypts the run program to allow the authorized device to access the software product.

Unauthorized distribution of software is a major commercial problem causing losses of billions of dollars each year to software developers.
Typically, consumer software products are sold with licenses which restrict the use of the product to operate on only a single CPU at any given time, i.e., a single-user license.
Additionally, multi-user licenses may authorize installation of a software product and use of the software product on a fixed number of CPUs at a given time.
Although many users voluntarily comply with license restrictions, a significant amount of unauthorized installation and use of licensed software exists. This unauthorized activity deprives software developers of revenue.
Accordingly, many techniques have been developed to prevent unauthorized installation and use of software products. Many solutions employ specialized hardware to prevent unauthorized activity. Current security measures offered by software developers require the inputting of passwords and/or product serial numbers in order to activate installation and/or execution of the main program. These measures have been proven ineffective. Accordingly, efforts continue to improve protection for software developers against illegal distribution of software.

Computer implemented method and a computer system for enforcing software licenses


An irrigation sprinkler is provided having a turret for the distribution of irrigation water that includes a self-flushing mechanism to prevent accumulation of debris in a sprinkler control member and/or the interior of the turret. The sprinkler includes a main flow path that delivers water to a nozzle for irrigation and a secondary flow path that delivers water to flush part of the member and/or interior of the turret. The secondary flow path delivers water when the sprinkler cycles on and when the sprinkler cycles off. For example, with a pop-up sprinkler, the secondary flow path would deliver fluid sometime during its movement to the elevated position and movement to the retracted position.

Pop-up irrigation sprinklers are typically buried in the ground and include a stationary housing and a riser assembly, mounted within the housing, that cycles up and down during an irrigation cycle. During an irrigation cycle, the riser assembly is propelled through an open upper end of the housing and projects above ground level, or "pops up," to distribute water to surrounding terrain. More specifically, pressurized water is supplied to the sprinkler through a water supply line attached to an inlet of the housing. The pressurized water causes the riser assembly to travel upwards against the bias of a spring to the elevated spraying position above the sprinkler housing to distribute water to surrounding terrain through one or more spray nozzles. When the irrigation cycle is completed, the pressurized water supply is shut off and the riser is spring-retracted back into the sprinkler housing so that the housing and riser assembly are again at and below ground level.
A rotary sprinkler commonly includes a rotatable turret mounted at the upper end of the riser assembly. The turret includes one or more spray nozzles for distributing water and is rotated through an adjustable arcuate water distribution pattern.
Rotary sprinklers commonly include a water-driven motor to transfer energy of the incoming water into a source of power to rotate the turret. One common mechanism uses a water-driven turbine and a gear reduction system to convert the high speed rotation of the turbine into relatively low speed turret rotation. Some examples of rotary sprinklers include the sprinklers described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,625,914; 4,787,558; 5,383,600; 6,732,950; and 6,929,194; all assigned to the assignee of this application, Rain Bird Corporation.
During normal operation, the turret rotates to distribute water outwardly over surrounding terrain in an arcuate pattern. Rotary sprinklers commonly employ an arc adjustment mechanism, accessible from the top of the turret, to adjust the arcuate range of the turret. The arc adjustment member typically is a screw or shaft with a slotted first end manually adjustable by a tool, such as a screwdriver, to set end limits of rotation for the turret. In one example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,600, the arc adjustment member is used to change the relative arcuate distance between two trip stops that define the limits of rotation for the turret. One trip stop is fixed with respect to the turret while the second trip stop, operatively coupled to the second end of the adjustment screw, can be selectively moved arcuately relative to the turret to increase or decrease the desired arc of coverage.
During the course of normal operation, sand particles, grit, and other debris tend to accumulate in, and become trapped in, the tool-engaging slot of the arc adjustment member. After a certain amount of accumulation, the slot of the arc adjustment member becomes too clogged with such debris so as to prevent engagement with an appropriate hand tool. Attempts to engage the clogged slot with the hand tool often result in disintegration of the head of the arc adjustment member. The end result is that the arc adjustment member ceases to function, and the user can no longer adjust the water distribution arc of the sprinkler. It has been estimated that 70% to 80% of arc adjustment failures are due to the arc adjustment slot becoming damaged or otherwise failing to function in this manner.
Accordingly, a need exists to periodically flush the slot of the arc adjustment member to minimize the accumulation of sand particles, grit, and other debris. There is a need for a self-flushing mechanism that prevents damage to the slot and failure of the arc adjustment member. Further, there is a need to flush the slot in a manner that does not result in the unduly wasteful use of water. In addition, there is a need to flush other adjustment members and other areas of the interior of the turret that are prone to accumulation of grit and other debris.


According to one embodiment, a television receiver comprises a cover covering the backside of a display module, and a frame-shaped mask provided on the periphery of the front surface of the display module. An antenna is provided along the periphery of the display module, and a cable electrically connected to the antenna is provided between the periphery of the display module and the inner surface of at least the cover or the mask. The cover or the mask includes a first claw and a second claw. If the cover (mask) includes the first claw and the second claw, the first claw is inserted into a recess defined in the mask (cover), while the second claw is engaged with the mask (cover).

Conventional electronic devices such as television receivers, which employ, for good appearance, a fixing-means free structure having no screws exposed to the surface of the casing, are available. In this specification, the "fixing-means free structure" includes a structure free from adhesive agents, seal members, double-sided tape, etc., used to bond casing members.
However, the casings of this structure are not very satisfactory in structure or functionality. For instance, when the casing is assembled without screws, backlash may easily occur in the coupled portion of the casing.
Therefore, there is a demand for development of a television receiver, a broadcast wave receiver and an electronic device excellent in design and functionality.

Broadcast wave receiver and electronic device


A tool for inserting a bone fixation device is provided. The tool generally includes an elongate outer body and an elongate inner body, each having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. The tool typically includes a pin-receiving portion at the distal end of the outer body for receiving a proximal pin of a bone fixation device. The tool may further include first and second levers pivotally mounted to the inner member at respective pivot axes, and each of the levers having a gripping portion. The levers preferably include finger engagement portions, wire-gripping portions, and are preferably configured to be axially movable relative to the outer body. The levers are generally configured such that a proximal force on the finger engagement portions relative to the outer body will cause the pin engagement portions to close and to move proximally such that a guidewire of a bone fixation device placed between the wire-gripping portions may be gripped and pulled proximally.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to the field of bone fixation devices, and more specifically to an insertion tool for a bone fixation device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bones which have been fractured, either by accident or severed by surgical procedure, must be kept together for lengthy periods of time in order to permit the rectification and bonding of the severed parts. Accordingly, adjoining parts of a severed or fractured bone are typically clamped together or attached to one another by means of a pin or a screw driven through the rejoined parts. Movement of the pertinent part of the body may then be kept at a minimum, such as by application of a cast, brace, splint, or other conventional technique, in order to promote healing and avoid mechanical stresses that may cause the bone parts to separate during bodily activity.
The surgical procedure of attaching two or more parts of a bone with a pin-like device requires an incision into the tissue surrounding the bone and the drilling of a hole through the bone parts to be joined. Due to the significant variation in bone size, configuration, and load requirements, a wide variety of bone fixation devices have been developed in the prior art. In general, the current standard of care relies upon a variety of metal wires, screws, and clamps to stabilize the bone fragments during the healing process. Following a sufficient bone healing period of time, the percutaneous access site or other site may require re-opening to permit removal of the bone fixation device.
Long bone fractures are among the most common encountered in the human skeleton. Many of these fractures and those of small bones and small bone fragments must be treated by internal and external fixation methods in order to achieve good anatomical position, early mobilization, and early and complete rehabilitation of the injured patient.
The internal fixation techniques commonly followed today frequently rely upon the use of Kirschner wires (K-wires), intramedullary pins, wiring, plates, screws, and combinations of the foregoing. The particular device or combination of devices is selected to achieve the best anatomic and functional condition of the traumatized bone with the simplest operative procedure and with a minimal use of foreign-implanted stabilizing material. A variety of alternate bone fixation devices are also known in the art, such as, for example, those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,561 to Reese, U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,304 to Rosenberg, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,646 to Reese, et al.
Notwithstanding the common use of the K-wire to achieve shear-force stabilization of bone fractures, K-wire fixation is attended by certain known risks. For example, a second surgical procedure is required to remove the device after healing is complete. Removal is recommended, because otherwise the bone adjacent to an implant becomes vulnerable to stress shielding as a result of the differences in the modulus of elasticity and density between metal and the bone.
In addition, an implanted K-wire may provide a site for a variety of complications ranging from pin-tract infections to abscesses, resistant osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and infected nonunion.
Another potential complication involving the use of K-wires is in vivo migration. Axial migration of K-wires has been reported to range from 0 mm to 20 mm, which can both increase the difficulty of pin removal as well as inflict trauma to adjacent tissue.
As conventionally utilized for bone injuries of the hand and foot, K-wires project through the skin. In addition to the undesirable appearance, percutaneously extending K-wires can be disrupted or cause damage to adjacent structures such as tendons if the K-wire comes into contact with external objects.
Notwithstanding the variety of bone fasteners that have been developed in the prior art, there remains a need for a bone fastener of the type that can accomplish shear-force stabilization with minimal trauma to the surrounding tissue both during installation and following bone healing.
In addition, there remains a need for a simple, easy to use tool for inserting and anchoring a bone fixation device while causing minimal trauma to the surrounding tissue during installation.


It is provided a noise reduction method, device and system on the basis of touch detection of a capacitive screen. The noise reduction method includes: sending a first scanning waveform to all receiving terminals by a first sending terminal and then sending a second scanning waveform to all the receiving terminals by a second sending terminal during a detection time period, wherein the phase of the first scanning waveform is continuous with that of the second scanning waveform and the first scanning waveform has a same frequency as that of the second scanning waveform; and filtering a signal received by the receiving terminals after demodulating it. Non-gap scanning can be achieved by performing continuation process to the scanning waveform, i.e. by achieving that the phases are continuous and the frequencies are the same.

Capacitive screen is a mainstream screen at current stage, and is widely used in the field of mobile terminal such as a mobile phone or a tablet personal computer. The projected capacitive screen type of the capacitive screen includes a self-capacitance screen and a mutual-capacitance screen. Taking a mutual-capacitance screen as an example, the structure of the mutual-capacitance screen includes a number of sending terminals TXs and a number of receiving terminals RXs. When touch detection is performed to the mutual-capacitance screen or the mutual-capacitance is detected for obtaining its magnitude, a sending terminal sends a scanning waveform of a certain magnitude and frequency. The scanning waveform may be a sine wave, a square wave, a trapezoidal wave and the like. The magnitude of the signal received by the receiving terminal will be adjusted by a demodulator, and the magnitude is tend to be affected by a mutual-capacitance at an intersection point of a sending terminal and a receiving terminal, and the magnitude of the mutual-capacitance reflects the position of the touch.
When the scanning waveform at the sending terminal is mixed with an interference signal such as an environmental noise, a RF noise or an impulse noise, the interference signal will be passed to the receiving terminal and affect the judgment of change in the amplitude of the signal at the receiving terminal, which leads to an inaccurate test result and affects the user experience of the capacitive screen. A signal of a fixed frequency such as a direct current signal may be output at the receiving terminal after demodulation of a normal excitation signal. But an alternating current signal of a certain frequency will be formed after demodulation of the interference signal. In order to filter out the alternating current signal, a noise reduction method in the detection of capacitive screen generally performs the filtering before and after the demodulation. The performance of the filtering determines the effect of the noise reduction.
Some of the existing filters are usually designed to have an accumulator structure. It is easier to implement the filtering function, since the accumulator requires only an addition unit. The performance of the accumulator depends on the duration for the accumulation. According to the results of frequency spectrum characteristic analysis of the structure of the accumulator in a low-pass filter, a cutoff frequency and high frequency attenuation are compressed in proportion to the increment of the duration for accumulation. That is to say the performance of the filter will be improved as the duration for accumulation being extended. For filters of other structures, a filter with a narrower bandwidth can achieve better noise reduction performance. However the filter may output stability data only after a period of time delay so as to achieve the function of filtering, and the narrower the bandwidth of the filter, the longer the time delay. Therefore, the filter may not be able to achieve the desired filtering effect if the amount of the input signals is relatively little, thereby the reliability of the output signal is affected. Based on the above case, according to the existing noise reduction method, the performance of noise reduction can be improved by increasing the number of the scan channels, i.e. by increasing the amount of the signals participated in the filtering process. However, since the length of the scanning waveform and the length of the scanning frame are limited, extending the scanning time at the sending terminal is limited, and therefore, increasing the amount of the signals is also limited. Moreover, since it is needed to control processes including the scanning and the demodulation simultaneously for increasing the number of the scan channels, there will be a problem that the design complexity of the sending terminal and the receiving terminal is increased.

Noise reduction method, device and system on the basis of touch detection of a capacitive screen


A mass storage device includes a secondary bidirectional interface digital port connected to an embedded microcontroller, and a wireless communications path, such as an optical infra-red (IR) path, connected to the secondary bidirectional interface port for providing a wireless bidirectional secondary communications path between the embedded microcontroller and an external service unit which is not directly connected to the digital computer via a primary electrical bus structure.

Advances in embedded controller technology have enabled computer mass storage devices having embedded controllers to include self-contained test, adaptation, upgrade and diagnostics capabilities. For example, modem streaming linear tape drives, such as the present assignee's DLTT.TM. tape drive products are equipped to perform very comprehensive tests, and these drives store a large amount of information about failure modes and applicable commands, and maintain this information even during a power failure. These drives also have an important capability allowing updating of drive control software any time an upgrade is required or desired.
Diagnostic routines have been carried out via communications over the main bus structure interconnecting the storage device with a host computer, such as a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) bus. While testing over the primary bus is practical so long as the interface remains functional, the primary bus interface structure remains the only direct access to the embedded controller. Some error or diagnostic conditions make use of the primary bus structure impractical. Also, after the drive has been installed in the computer, diagnosis of fault conditions possibly involving the drive has typically required entry into the computer housing, and frequently the removal of the drive for separate testing and handling. As disk drives are being made to store ever-increasing amounts of user data, the drives have become more sensitive to handling during installation and removal. Thus, minimizing handling of hard disk drives after installation into a computer would be very desirable in order to minimize damage.
Present state-of-the-art tape drives and other mass storage devices frequently make use of a variety of port expanders, serial ports and special command sets over the SCSI bus primary interface in order to provide input and output for testing and problem diagnosis during the design, validation and manufacturing processes.
One example of a secondary port useful for data exchange within the design, validation and manufacturing processes is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,055 to Squires et al., entitled: "Disk Drive System Controller Architecture Utilizing Embedded Real-Time Diagnostic Monitor". The Squires et al. patent describes a micro-controller based hard disk drive. A secondary serial port and communications path was provided from the micro-controller to a "dumb" terminal. Results of a diagnostic monitor routine executed by the micro-controller were communicated via the serial port to the dumb terminal and displayed thereon for later analysis and/or corrective action by the design/manufacturing team. In addition, the secondary serial port enabled diagnostic routines to be downloaded from an external computer to the disk drive, stored in a random access memory chip on board the drive and later executed by the drive's embedded micro-controller. The serial port was typically accessed by a secondary jack or edge connector formed on a printed circuit board carrying the drive circuitry, but not conveniently available once the drive was installed within a computer cabinet or housing.
While the additional port capability is useful within the drive design, checkout and manufacturing operations, this capability is not generally available at the user/customer site. For example, the secondary connector was generally inaccessible after the drive was installed into a computer cabinet, such as a personal computer, and was accessible only after first removing the drive from the computer housing or by disturbing the computer's wiring.
Most mass storage devices present a front panel appearance within the computer housing. This is particularly true of digital tape drives, and disk drives servicing removable media. Hard disk drives are also frequently provided with a panel bezel which is presented as part of the front panel of the computer. A hard disk drive activity light-emitting diode (LED) is most frequently included in the front panel bezel, in order to provide a visual indication of hard disk drive activity during computer operations.
It is known to connect certain peripheral devices to a computer via a wireless connection. For near range connections, infra-red light transmission and reception is an available choice. One example of a battery powered computer keyboard employing one-way wireless signaling to a personal computer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,541 to Beavers, entitled: "Infra-Red Data Communications System for Coupling a Battery Powered Data Entry Device to a Microcomputer". Other examples of near range wireless paths are known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,658 to McCullough, entitled: "Electronic Presentation System Using Portable Storage Media" describes a wireless communications path from a laptop computer to an electronic display device, enabling remote selection of images from an image database previously copied to the display device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,518 to Lowery, entitled: "Sound Storage and Sound Retrieval System Having Peripheral with Hand Operable Switches", describes a wireless hand held voice recording and playback peripheral device which works in conjunction with a programmed personal computer to record and play back sound files.
A hitherto unsolved need has remained for an effective way of accessing a mass storage device via a wireless bidirectional secondary data path accessible via a front panel of the device and/or after the device has been installed in a computer without disturbing the computer cabling.

Wireless secondary interface for data storage device


A lighting system includes a plurality of lights, and a control mechanism configured to automatically adjust at least a first light of the plurality of lights based on one of a desired position and a desired direction. Each light of the plurality of lights is adjustable to project a light beam.

At least some known emergency vehicles include scene-lighting systems that enable emergency crews to operate in low light conditions. For example, in FIG. 1, a known emergency vehicle 100 includes a known lighting system 110. Lighting system 110 includes at least one body-mounted light 120, and at least one light tower 130 that includes a plurality of tower lights 140. In use, body-mounted light 120 and tower lights 140 project light beams 150 and 160, respectively, outward from emergency vehicle 100.
Body-mounted light 120, light tower 130, and tower lights 140 are manually adjustable to direct light beams 150 and 160, respectively, in a desired area. However, body-mounted lights 120 are not adjustable, and neither body-mounted lights 120 nor tower lights 140 are automatically deployable. Accordingly, the deployment and/or operation of lights 120 and/or 140 require an operator to be generally near vehicle 100 for at least some known lighting systems. Such requirements may be time consuming and/or could potentially distract the operator from other tasks related to the emergency.

Advance lighting system for use with emergency vehicles


A method for enhancing a mouse cursor is presented. During the mouse cursor update display cycle, a test on the current mouse speed is made. If the mouse cursor's speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, an enhanced mouse cursor is generated and displayed on the computer screen. According to one embodiment, an enhanced mouse cursor is generated by increasing the size of a standard mouse cursor in proportion to the speed of the mouse cursor. According to an alternative embodiment, an enhanced mouse cursor is generated by interpolating the mouse cursor's path and adding a motion-blur effect along the interpolated path. According to yet another embodiment, an enhanced mouse cursor is generated by interpolating the mouse cursor's path and a plurality of mouse cursor images are displayed along the interpolated path.

In recent years, worldwide use of computers has increased dramatically. Computer application programs ("applications" or "apps") are used for a variety of purposes, including word processing, accounting, database management, desktop publishing, communications, and the like. The efficiency of computer utilization is improved by allowing a user to easily access a variety of different programs directed to accomplishing tasks and fulfilling the various goals of the user. For example, a user might make regular and extensive use of a word processing program, an e-mail program, a spreadsheet program, and a personal information manager, which are all separate display objects in the computer display or displays. Rather than have all these programs present on the same part of the screen, the user may place the display objects in different locations on the computer display.
When moving between the various windows on a computer display the user may often lose track of the mouse cursor due to the high speeds and long distances the mouse cursor may move. More particularly, when a mouse cursor is moved at high speeds over long distances, the mouse cursor is not updated at a high enough rate on the computer display, thus leaving substantial gaps between individual appearances of the mouse cursor. These gaps visually disrupt the continuity of the path of the mouse cursor on the display screen. As a result of this lack of visual continuity, it is harder for users to visually keep track of the mouse cursor.
FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagram of an exemplary view 100 for illustrating the gaps that occur between the periodic appearances of the mouse cursor as the speed of the mouse cursor increases, as found in the prior art. For purposes of understanding FIG. 1, as well as FIGS. 5, 10, and 11, the view 100 shows a mouse cursor moving from the left hand side of the view to the right hand side of the view as the speed of the mouse cursor increases. The frame indicators on the bottom of the view indicate the periodic update mouse cursor display cycles. Thus, as can be seen in this exemplary view 100, as the mouse cursor increases in speed, the gaps between individual appearances of the mouse cursor also increase, as indicated by gaps 102, 104, 106, and 108.
To address the visual discontinuity in mouse cursor display, some operating systems allow a user to customize the mouse cursor to keep a "tail" of displayed mouse cursors for a longer period of time thereby creating a path to visually follow, but such paths cause a lag when trying to locate the mouse cursor. For example, while tails allow a user to follow the mouse cursor's path, the user does not find the actual mouse cursor's position until the tail catches up after a delay.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved method for assisting users in locating mouse cursors in a large desktop environment in a way that improves the user's ability to locate the mouse cursor in a more immediate manner.


A portable location alarm device is provided which allows a user to preset an alarm event to occur when the device arrives at a pre-determined location. The alarm event alerts the user by audible, visual or vibrating means. The alarm device determines it""s actual location using GPS data. In one embodiment the user bookmarks particular locations while physically present at a given location. Part of the bookmarking process involves the device simultaneously receiving GPS data that describes the physical location. The user can subsequently set an alarm event for any bookmarked location without the need for the device to carry large databases, for example of the type cross-referencing place names to mapping co-ordinates.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing an alarm signal in mobile equipment, and in particular to such a method and apparatus for producing an alarm signal in consumer electronics devices.
It is known to provide mobile terminals, such as personal digital assistants (PDA""s) with a time scheduling function. By including a calendar and clock in the mobile terminal, together with an alarm facility, a user of the terminal is able to set in advance a date and time for which an alarm should be generated.
While such temporal alarms are useful, a person may need to perform certain tasks that are preferably or even necessarily executed at particular locations. One example of such a task might be when a person is requested by a friend to obtain some information from a local theatre next time they visit it. Assume the person occasionally visits the theatre, although not on a regular basis. Since the person visits the place at irregular times, setting a temporal alarm for such a task is of limited value. Such a temporal alarm can only remind a user that they need to visit the location (theatre) to perform the task. In some instances a user may have recently visited a location where they needed to perform a particular task, but failed to perform the task because they forgot to. They may have even set a temporal alarm to remind them of the task, but if the alarm is generated after the person has departed from the location it is too late to be of benefit.
The paper entitled xe2x80x98Shopper""s Eye: Using locationxe2x80x94based filtering for a shopping agent in the physical worldxe2x80x99, from Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Autonomous Agents, Minneapolis, Minn., USA 9xe2x80x9413 May 1998 (Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Autonomous Agents, pp. 416-421), introduces xe2x80x98Shopper""s Eyexe2x80x99, a PDA-based, Global Positioning System (GPS)xe2x80x94enabled agent prototype that relies on knowledge of a shopper""s physical location to support the shopping task while shopping in a mall. While at home, shoppers create a shopping list of items by selecting items from a pre-existing set of product categories and also indicate the shopping venue that they intend to visit by selecting a venue from a list of shopping malls. Upon arriving at the mall, xe2x80x98Shoppers Eyexe2x80x99 begins by suggesting the closest store that sells at least one item that is on the shopping list of the user. xe2x80x98Shoppers Eyexe2x80x99 is an example of xe2x80x98location based filteringxe2x80x99xe2x80x94exploiting the user""s location to constrain the task of an agent.
In order for the xe2x80x98Shoppers Eyexe2x80x99 to perform satisfactorily, it is necessary to provide a database which includes information about how the particular shopping mall is designed, which shops are present in the mall, where those shops are in the mall and which shops sell which products. Only when all of this information is available can the correct filtering be applied to the agent. Furthermore, information will need to be updated on a regular basis for it to be of use, especially the information relating to products sold by the shops. Clearly, a large amount of information needs to be stored in the database which is more likely to be built up and maintained commercially than by an individual user. Indeed, unless a venue is listed in the database, Shoppers Eye will not be of assistance.
It will therefore be seen that the concept behind xe2x80x98Shoppers Eyexe2x80x99 will not provide any assistance to the person noted in the theatre scenario above. Firstly, it is unlikely that a small local theatre will be in a relatively localised area such as a shopping mall and so is unlikely to appear on the database for selection. Secondly, the user of xe2x80x98Shoppers Eyexe2x80x99 is primarily concerned with the main task of shopping and as a result of this, the user engages in a conscious act of preparing xe2x80x98Shoppers Eyexe2x80x99 prior to embarking on the task of shopping itselfxe2x80x94the person knows that they will be in a particular shopping mall in the immediate future. In contrast, the person visiting the theatre will be looking forward to enjoying a performance and the main objective of the visit is not of gathering the information requested by his friend some weeks before. As a result of this the person will not necessarily engage in a conscious preparation of listing all the things that they need to do at the theatre immediately prior to actually visiting it. There are a limited number of things one wants to do at a theatre and to employ the equivalent of xe2x80x98Shoppers Eyexe2x80x99 for every task for a variety of activities that a user is likely to perform is an unattractive one.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a location alarm apparatus comprising:
alarm setting means allowing a user to specify one or more alarm locations;
storage means for storing data defining the specified alarm locations;
location establishing means for determining the current location of the apparatus; and
output signal generating means for generating an output signal when the condition is met that the current location is substantially the same as a specified alarm location.
Preferably, the location establishing means includes means for processing Global Positioning System information.
Optionally, the alarm setting means allows the user to specify an alarm location which corresponds to the current location as determined by the location establishing means. This feature allows the user of the location alarm, when situated at a particular location, to simply set the apparatus to produce an output signal on the occurrence of a subsequent visit to that particular location. Advantageously, because information describing the physical location is derived from the location establishing means, there is no requirement for the user to input such information. Hence, there is no requirement for the user to have any knowledge of where they are in terms of physical geographic location as may normally be described, for example, with reference to navigational co-ordinates or the like. A further advantage is that because the user can specify the alarm location without making any reference to such a physical geographic co-ordinate system, there is no need for the user to be provided with access to a map or the like, either in the form of a paper map or a map stored electronically.
The location alarm apparatus may further be provided with specified alarm location recording means for maintaining a record of previously specified alarm locations. This allows previously specified alarm locations to be recalled by the user and re-set as specified alarm locations once more. Hence, once an alarm location has been specified and the corresponding information describing the associated physical location is known, the user can re-set a specified alarm location even when they are at a physical location that does not correspond with the physical location of the re-set alarm location.
The location alarm apparatus may allow for the association of supplementary information with the or each specified alarm location. This information may also be used for specifying alarm locations during the alarm setting process.
Where supplementary information is associated with a specified alarm location, on the condition being met that the current location is substantially the same as a specified alarm location, the output signal generating means may generate an output signal of a type dependent on the supplementary information associated with the said specified alarm location.
Where supplementary information is associated with a specified alarm location, on the condition being met that the current location is substantially the same as the specified alarm location, at least part of the supplementary information associated with the said specified alarm location may be reproduced.
Where the alarm setting means allows the user to specify an alarm location in terms of an item of data, this data may include navigational co-ordinates, a place name or mapping symbols donating the presence of physical objects.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of generating a location dependent alarm output signal in a device comprising the steps of:
specifying one or more locations for which an output signal should be generated;
establishing the current location of the device; and
generating the output signal when the current location is substantially the same as a specified location.
Other aspects and optional features of the present invention appear in the appended claims, to which reference should now be made and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.