A downhole tool includes a body having a longitudinal axis and bore therethrough, an array of longitudinal electrode segments separated by electrical insulators, wherein substantially an entire cross section of said body comprises at least one electrode segment, at least one longitudinal electrode configured to emit a first electrical current into said formation and measure said first emitted current, at least one longitudinal electrode segment configured to emit a second electrical current for directing said first emitted current into said formation, and at least one longitudinal electrode segment configured to receive said first emitted current returning from said formation.

Lateral resistivity measurement has been used for decades to measure high resistivity formations, e.g., tight sands and carbonates with no or few fractures or "vugs," in the presence of low-resistivity drilling fluids. The ratio of formation resistivity to drilling fluids resistivity often exceeds 10000. Induction logging tools generally are unable to provide satisfactory measurement of such formations because the measurement may be highly biased by conductive mud. Electrode-based lateral resistivity measurement is also affected by conductive mud as electrical current tends to bypass the formation through the mud column. However, lateral resistivity tools minimize the electrical current bypass effect by forcing currents to enter the formation in a lateral direction.
Classical lateral resistivity tools employ a central measuring electrode to measure current leaving the electrode and a number of guard electrodes placed above and below the central measuring electrode. The guard electrodes help focus the current emitted from the measure electrode into the formation. Focusing current laterally into the formation is accomplished by minimizing the upward and downward current flows along the mud column around the central measure electrode. To do so, longitudinal potential drops above and below the central measuring electrode are monitored and the guard electrode currents are adjusted such that the potential drops at the monitoring electrodes are minimized. The depth of investigation is controlled by the total length of the guard electrodes or more precisely, the current focusing span. The longer the current focusing span, the deeper the depth of investigation generally is.
In logging while drilling, lateral resistivity measurements may be made by injecting electrical current to a drill collar. Because of the high conductivity of collar materials, current tends to leave the collar in radial directions, thus forming the current focusing effect. Meanwhile, at least one return electrode must be provided to collect the current returning from the formation. The location of the return electrode affects the depth of investigation of the measurement, whereas the length of the electrode affects the sensitivity of the measured resistivity to the formation in front of the electrode. Such sensitivity should be minimized so that the measured resistivity reflects only the resistivity of the formation directly in front of the measure electrode. To do so, a sufficiently long return electrode should be employed.
The prior art for lateral resistivity measurements while drilling employ either toroidal (e.g., doughnut-shaped) coils or electrodes. They have several shortcomings. Those tools employing toroidal coils require reducing the outer diameter of a drill collar at certain locations in order to build such coils, which may result in weakened locations on the drill collar. Second, the complexity of toroidal coils often substantially increase the construction and maintenance costs of the tools. A toroidal coil may include four major components: core material, antenna windings, cover or shield, and nonconducting filling materials. The shield, in particular, needs special care for designing and being locked to the collar. Moreover, toroidal coils must operate at a sufficiently high frequency, usually on the order of a few kHz, to induce a useful amount of current in the collar. The higher frequency raises the effective resistance of the drill collar and thus result in higher ohmic loss in the collar. The higher frequency can also reduce the depth of investigation of the measurement, especially in low-resistivity formations.
The primary shortcoming of the electrode-based apparatus is limitations on the size of an electrode that can be built on a drill collar. To mount an electrode to a drill collar, the electrode must be electrically insulated from the collar. This may be relatively easy for a small electrode (e.g., a few inches or less than a foot in length) such as those used for microresistivity measurement but will quickly become difficult or even impractical to do for a large electrode several feet long or longer. A long electrode is less durable in harsh downhole environments because the large areas of insulating materials inserted between the electrode and the drill collar may generally reduce the integrity of the drill collar and electrode. That is, integrity of the drill collar and electrode may decrease as electrode size increases. Second, electrodes mounted on the outer diameter of a drill collar can create pessimistic current paths that deteriorates or destroys the current focusing effect. This is illustrated in FIG. 1. In the figure, two guard electrodes 2 surround the measuring electrode 1 from above and below, respectively. All the electrodes are mounted about the outer diameter of the drill collar 10 and are electrically insulated 3 from the drill collar from the sides and underneath. It is often desirable to space the electrodes apart with collar materials in between for mounting purposes. In operation, current is usually injected to the guard and measure electrodes and returned to the return electrodes. Part of the injected current will enter, as desired, the formation in front of the guard and measure electrodes. Part of the injected current 5, however, will unfortunately leak directly to the return electrodes through the collar body between the electrodes. The current leakage deteriorates current focusing and lowers the ability of the tool to measure the formation resistivity in the presence of highly conductive mud. Accordingly, a downhole resistivity measurement tool overcoming shortcomings of the prior art is needed.
In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a downhole tool used for measuring high-resistivity formations in the presence of drilling fluids including a body having a longitudinal axis and bore therethrough, an array of longitudinal electrode segments separated by electrical insulators, wherein substantially an entire cross section of said body comprises at least one electrode segment, at least one longitudinal electrode configured to emit a first electrical current into said formation and measure said first emitted current, at least one longitudinal electrode segment configured to emit a second electrical current for directing said first emitted current into said formation, and at least one longitudinal electrode segment configured to receive said first emitted current returning from said formation, wherein said electrical insulators facilitate measurement of said high-resistivity formations only after substantially all of said first emitted current being conducted between longitudinal electrode segments first passes substantially through said formation or drilling fluids or both.
In other aspects, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method of measuring high-resistivity formations in the presence of drilling fluids, the method including providing a tool having an array of longitudinal electrode segments separated by electrical insulators, wherein substantially an entire cross section of said tool comprises at least one electrode segment, emitting and measuring a first electrical current from at least one of said longitudinal electrode segments, emitting a second electrical current from one of said longitudinal electrode segments for directing said first electrical current into said formation, and receiving said first emitted electrical current at one or more of said longitudinal electrode segments returning from said formation, wherein said electrical insulators facilitate measurement of said high-resistivity formations only after substantially all of said first electrical current being conducted between longitudinal electrode segments first passes through said formation or drilling fluids or both.

Apparatus and method for downhole resistivity measurements


A communications device is equipped with a secondary interface, e.g., a wireless interface, in addition to a primary interface. In at least some, but not necessarily all, embodiments the secondary interface is an inexpensive Long Range (LoRa) wireless interface which uses sub-GHz unlicensed spectrum or a Narrow Band-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) wireless interface which uses licensed spectrum. The secondary interface is in addition to a primary interface used for transmitting data, e.g., user data such as voice, video or text data, to a primary communications device, e.g., to support voice or data applications running on a user device. The secondary interface, e.g., a low power/low data rate interface, is used for communicating small amounts of data for initial configuration, fault recovery, re-initialization, and/or updates.

Many communications devices need to be configured prior to being able to communicate data over their primary communications interface. The configuration may involve such things as setting maxim transmission power levels, frequencies to be used and/or loading a device with an identifier to be used for communicating with other devices and/or setting security key or secrets used to secure communications with other devices via a particular interface, e.g., a wireless interface.
Configuration of devices is particularly important in systems where resources are shared and a management device or system is involved in the control and/or configuration of devices seeking to use some of the shared resources.
Consider, for example, CBRS which stands for Citizens Broadband Radio Service. The Federal Communications Commission established CBRS as a way for shared wireless broadband use of the 3550-3700 Mhz band, which is more commonly known as the 3.5 Ghz band. While user devices can use CBRS radio spectrum at relatively low power levels, e.g., at a Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) up to 23 dBm, devices operating above this power level are considered Citizens Broadband Radio Service Devices (CBSDs) that are required to be authorized by an SAS (Spectrum Access System) to be allowed to use CBRS system resources. A CBSD is normally identified by a CBSD identifier (CBSD-ID). In a CBRS system it is the responsibility of CBSD to register and be authorized by an SAS before the CBSD may begin using CBRS radio resources for communications.
CBSDs are likely to be used for fixed wireless access (FWA) since they are likely to use high power, e.g., with an EIRP over 23 dBm. CBSDs for FWA are likely to be found in many locations, including homes, to facilitate Internet and/or other network access by UEs, e.g., in a home or office.
While it might be relatively easy to supply wired power to a FWA, it may be difficult to provide a wired network connection which can be used to contact an SAS to obtain authorization from the SAS to use CBRS resources.
Numerous other devices may have similar issues and/or needs with respect to having to contact a management system to obtain configuration information needed to use particular communications resources and/or authorization to use particular communications resources. For example there may be, and often is, a need to manage and/or configure CPE devices such as cable modems, fixed wireless access CPEs (whether or not they are CBRS based devices) and/or other communications devices which are intended to communicate primarily over a particular communications network or interface but may require configuration and/or authorization for such communication.
While initial device configuration and/or authorization with respect to a communications network or resource is one problem, another problem that exists relates to managing and/or reconfiguration devices when communication over their primary communications interface suffers a fault. For example, if a CBSD becomes unable to communicate using CBRS resources, e.g., because of a configuration issue, it would be desirable if there was a way to reconfigure and/or reauthorize the device from a remote location. Similarly, if a WiFi access point or other type of communications device suffered a failure with regard to the device's primary communications interface, e.g., a WiFi interface in the case of a WiFi access point, it would be desirable if the device could be reconfigured from a remote location without having to send a human technician to the site where the device is located.
In view of the above, it should be appreciated that there is a need for methods and/or apparatus for managing and/or configuring a communications device without requiring the communications device's primary interface to be active and without having to be at the location of the device.

Methods and apparatus for configuring and/or managing communications devices


A catheter for delivering both a probe and a balloon to a lumen in a subject. The probe is most preferably an ultrasonic imaging probe and the balloon a dilation balloon. The catheter comprises, at a proximal end, a triple lumen section that comprises a guidewire lumen, a probe lumen and a lumen for communicating with a balloon. As the lumens run toward the distal end of the catheter, a transition section is provided that merges the probe lumen and the guidewire lumen into a single lumen. The single lumen continues distally and is surrounded by the balloon. Distal of the balloon, the single lumen defines an imaging window section. The catheter terminates in a distal tip that is preferably tapered along both its inner and outer diameters; the tip comprises a distal lumen sized to accept a guidewire. In certain preferred embodiments, radio opaque markers are used to delineate the various sections of the catheter. Among its many advantages, the present invention readily permits back loading of a guidewire.

Dilation catheters without ultrasound capability are well known and accepted. For example, angioplasty for coronary and leg arteries is common. Various companies market dilation catheters, including: SciMed Life Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.; Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Santa Clara, Calif.; and USCI, Billerica, Mass.
Catheters for ultrasound imaging, especially for imaging coronary artery geometry, are also well known and are marketed by several companies including: Diasonics, Milpitas, Calif.; Cardiovascular Imaging Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif.; Endosonics, Pleasanton, Calif.
The benefits of a single catheter providing both dilation and ultrasound imaging, rather than two separate catheters, include decreased cost and catheterization time. Decreasing catheterization time allows a given catheterization facility and staff to serve more patients; among other benefits, this fact will likely decrease the patient's cost. Also, certain patients find catheterization somewhat frightening and uncomfortable. Presumably, they would prefer a faster procedure.
The potential for a combined dilation/imaging catheter has been recognized, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,677--Crawley, et. al., describing a catheter sheath with a dilation balloon mounted over an ultrasound transducer so that an area can be imaged while it is opened with the balloon. This device, however, has certain limitations. It is not adapted for use with the steerable guidewires that physicians routinely use to guide catheters or other invasive devices into a desired arterial branch or other location. In addition, the disclosed catheter requires imaging through both the sheath and the balloon materials. As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, this limits image quality because it is difficult to entirely rid a balloon of air bubbles. Since the bubbles are strong acoustic reflectors, they degrade image quality. Also, each layer of material between the ultrasound transducer and the artery creates opportunities for signal attenuation, which decreases sensitivity, and for acoustic reverberations, which introduce imaging artifacts. Finally, the disclosed catheter is of a larger diameter than is necessary for imaging with a given probe because the transducer is covered by both the sheath and the balloon, rather than just the sheath.
A catheter disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,977--Griffith et al. shows a type of transducer array with a covering dilation balloon. The disclosed device is not, however, well suited to imaging when the balloon is deflated. In addition, the described system produces poor quality two-dimensional ultrasound images because of the limited number of different ultrasound data lines available to form each image.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,097--Proudian, et. al. describes a dilation/imaging catheter in which a large number of transducers, e.g., sixty-four, are arranged in an array and interfaced to special purpose integrated circuits mounted beside the transducer array at the distal end of the catheter. The balloon is slightly proximal of the array. The arrangement uses a steerable guidewire for catheter placement but exhibits a number of significant limitations. For example, the ultrasound transducers, circuits, and signal processing hardware incorporated into the catheter are substantially more complex than the corresponding elements of a mechanically scanned (rotating) system. In addition, the catheter slides along in contact with the artery (or other lumen) wall whenever the ultrasound imaging plane is moved, thereby failing to minimize trauma.
Thus, it can be seen that there is a long recognized, yet unfulfilled need for a catheter design which incorporates both a dilation balloon and an ultrasound imaging probe which, for reasons of simplicity and cost, is preferably mechanically rotated. Moreover, it would be desirable to provide such a catheter that is manipulated into place with a steerable guidewire for ease and speed of use. It would also be desirable to provide such a catheter design that minimizes cross-sectional area so as to be useable in small lesions, arteries or lumens. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a catheter apparatus for combined balloon dilation and ultrasonic imaging. Another object of the present invention is to provide a dilation/imaging catheter of small cross-section in its distal length. A further object of the invention is to provide a single lumen/dual lumen transition in a catheter that facilitates passing the guidewire from the single lumen and into a specified lumen of the dual lumen section of catheter. Another object of the present invention is to provide methods of using catheters. An additional object of the present invention is to provide a method of backloading a guidewire from a single lumen section of a catheter and into a chosen lumen of a dual lumen section.

Combination catheter for invasive probe delivery and balloon dilation


A common mode noise reduction circuit includes at least one first input end, at least one second input end, at least one first output end, and at least one second output end. The circuit is further provided with at least one resistor, at least one inductor, and at least one capacitor, symmetrically disposed within the circuit loop defined by the four ends. Common mode noise, after entering the circuit, is transformed into heat by the resistance of the circuit such that the common mode noise is suppressed. Differential mode signals, on the contrary, after entering the circuit, can pass through the circuit with minimum loss.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a common mode noise reduction circuit and, more particularly, to a common mode noise reduction circuit for suppressing common mode noise while maintaining the differential mode signals with minimum loss.
2. Description of Related Art
The advance of technology has driven faster operation speed and clock frequency for digital circuits such that the techniques of differential microstrips and striplines are widely applied in high-speed data transmission applications. Ideally, a differential transmission line has the characteristics of low electromagnetic radiation, and low crosstalk. However, in an actual circuit, unbalanced (or asymmetric) structure may inevitably carry unwanted common mode noise attached to the differential signals.
In general, it is needed to design a circuit with asymmetrical wiring in order to reduce the layout area. Any by-pass, feed-through, or slots on the circuit board may cause discontinuity problem, and generate unbalance in terms of amplitudes and phases when outputting signals. The problem is that the asymmetrical circuit structure may adversely convert differential mode signals into common mode noise, where the common mode noise is carried, through the ground contact, to the border of the circuit, the connected wires, or the metal layer of shielding, and worse yet, the common mode noise may cause serious electromagnetic interference, an impact to the radio frequency of the circuit or the antenna operation.
Referring to FIG. 1, a circuit diagram of a common mode noise suppression circuit 10 in the art is shown. The circuit 10 includes a common mode choke 11, a first input end 131, a first output end 133, a second input end 151, and a second output end 153. The circuit 10 suppresses common mode noise by generating high inductive impedance for the common mode noise via the common mode choke, which is made of magnetic material. However, the permeability of the magnetic common mode choke 11 attenuates quickly in high frequency section, a limitation that makes the common mode choke 11 not suitably applied in high-speed transmission interface with frequency section of GHz or above.


A method for classifying sugar beet seeds, comprising the steps of measuring an IR-spectrum of each seed, preferably sugar beet seeds, classifying seeds according to their IR-spectrum, wherein the seed-class differs from other seed-classes by a quality of composition, wherein said quality of composition is reflected in a specific IR-spectrum. In one embodiment the seeds are sorted according to their classification by a sorting means.

The present invention refers to a method for classifying seeds, in particular sugar-beet seeds, by the use of infrared-spectroscopy. One focus of the classification is an improvement of the seed quality characteristics, in particular the field emergence characteristics of sugar-beet seeds.
Sugar-beet is a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris which is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. The sugar comes from the taproot of the beetroot plant, chard and fodder beet, all descended by cultivation from the sea beet. Beet sugar accounts for 30% of the world's sugar production.
The flowering habit of sugar beet leads to a very heterogeneous mix of seed quality in the harvested ready seed (i.e., raw seed). One example of a seed quality that needs to be controlled in order to meet market requirements and that requires a strict selection of the seeds having a certain quality is, for example, field emergence performance.
Despite the likeness of the seeds from the outside they do not form a homogeneous fraction but are quite different in their characteristics, such as, for example, field emergence characteristics which is a collective name for features like viability (i.e., final population at normal field-conditions), growth-rate (i.e., speed of early emergence) and vigour (i.e., final population at stressed field-conditions). The result of the heterogeneity in field emergence characteristics in a seed lot could be loss of harvest, reduction of sugar-beet quality due to heterogeneous root size and unpredictability of expected crop yield.
For example the early emergence of a seed can occur after about 50-60 day degrees, but on average the first emergence appear after about 80 to 110 day degrees in a normal population. However, several seed will not emerge at all, i.e., no sugar beet plants will grow.
One reason for these differences in field emergence characteristics of sugar beet seeds are abnormal seeds, like empty seeds, twin-embryos or seeds with free space(s) inside or partially filled seeds which account for the heterogeneity of the natural seed fractions.
Since said quality-differences are nearly impossible to deduce from the outside, due to the fact that the sugar beet seed is hidden inside a fruit wall, classification and/or sorting are difficult to perform.
In commercial seed production therefore the problem arises, that only a fraction of the seeds shows the desired field emergence characteristics. It is not unlikely that up to 70% of the raw seed from a production does not show a certain seed quality, like for example field emergence characteristics, and need to be discarded.
Therefore, it would be a great improvement in terms of productivity and cost/value ratio, if the percentage of seeds which show the desired field emergence characteristics could be increased in commercial seeds.
In the prior art different techniques for seed characterisation and/or sorting have been developed.
Mukasa et al., Plant Prod. Sci. 8 (1): 3-7 (2005) evaluates the water content and true weight of sugar-beet seeds by NIR. However, this method is a rather imprecise technique and has been shown to be inappropriate to predict seed quality characteristics.
Soltani, A., Improvement of Seed Germination of Fagus orientalis Lipsky. ISSN 1401-6230, ISBN 91-576-6509-5 describes the improvement of seed germination of oriental beech by NIR-analysis. However, again the author focused only on one particular aspect of the seeds, namely their germination characteristic. Complex characteristics, such as field emergence characteristics, have not been disclosed.
Mittler et al., "Hohe Saatgutqualität für leistungsfähige Bestände", Zuckerrübe 2004, Vol. 53 evaluates the quality of seeds with X-ray techniques. However, the classification of seeds with X-ray is time-consuming, expensive and difficult to automate.
EP 1 578 544 B1 describes sorting means to sort "objects" and "granules", as for example plastic parts, pills, beads, grains, beans and the like. Sorting for complex characteristics, such as field emergence characteristics, have not been disclosed.
EP 1 401 589 B1 describes sorting means to sort objects comprising organic material. Sorting for characteristics, such as field emergence characteristics, have not been disclosed.
Dowell et al., Cereal Chem. 83 (5):537-543, Dowell et al., Cereal Chem. 86(5):527-533 and Tønning et al., Cereal Chem. 86(6):706-713 use sorting means for post-harvest quality control and/or improvement with respect to further processing of different crop, primarily wheat or other cereals.
US 2004/0055211 uses a method for determining viability or non-viability of seeds from Pinus sylvestris L. Methods for discriminating different complex seed qualities within the fraction of viable seeds are not disclosed. Tigabu and Odén (New Forests (2003) 25: 163-176) use a method to discriminate between viable and empty seeds of Pinus patula. Again, methods for discriminating between different complex seed qualities within the fraction of viable seeds are not disclosed.
WO 2010/000266 also discloses a method for discriminating between viable and non-viable seeds. Seeds are sorted according to categories like "filled, but dead", "infested", "infected", "empty", or the like (cf. p. 15, lines 17-19). Also in this publication no methods for discriminating different complex seed qualities within the fraction of viable seeds are disclosed.
Thus, the prior art methods do not allow to sort for seeds based on complex quality characteristics. Especially methods for discriminating different complex seed qualities of viable seeds are not disclosed.
In view of the above, one object of the invention was to find a method which allows for both fast and cheap analysis of the seeds as well as a sufficiently accurate classification of viable seeds according to complex quality characteristics, such as field emergence characteristics.
The present invention solves this problem.

Method for classifying seeds, comprising the usage of infrared spectroscopy


A web television includes a monitor, a communication bus, an internet module, a tuner, and a television controller. The internet module is coupled to the communication bus, and is arranged to provide internet video for display on the monitor. The internet video is derived from internet communications between the internet module and internet content providers. The tuner is arranged to select television video for display by the monitor. The television controller is coupled to the communication bus, and is arranged to switch the monitor between the internet video and the television video. Also, the television controller receives displacement information from a remote control device and transmits the received displacement information to the internet module over the communication bus.

The internet has become an integral part in the way in which content is delivered to end users. For example, newspapers, magazines, and television and cable networks have web sites that are increasingly being used to deliver content. Content is delivered by on-line content providers which include, for example, web sites and on-line service providers such as AOL.TM..
Content is accessed by end users via on-line access devices. The on-line access device most often used currently is the personal computer. However, non-personal-computer on-line access devices are being, and have been, developed that enable end users to connect to the internet. For example, one type of non-personal-computer on-line access device is a web television.
A web television generally includes many of the components of a conventional television, such as a television controller, a video processor, an audio processor, and the like. However, unlike a conventional television, a web television also includes an internet module, which permits the web television to be used as an on-line access device. Accordingly, a web television may be used in a manner similar to a personal computer in order to gain access to on-line content providers.
The television controller of a web television currently responds to inputs from the end user in order to control the web television. For example, the television controller responds to instructions from the end user in order to select and to display television signals on the television's monitor and speakers. Also, the television controller transmits messages to the internet module permitting the internet module to be used in order to communicate over the internet.
Current web televisions require the use of at least two input devices, such as remote controls. A first input device permits the user to interface with the web television so that the web television may be controlled in its normal television mode. A second input device permits the user to interface with the internet module so that the internet module may be used communicate over the internet when the web television is operated in its internet mode. However, the use of two remote controls in order to control a web television during its television and internet modes adds unnecessary complexity and expense to the use of a web television.
The present invention permits a web television to be operated in both its television mode and its internet mode from a single remote control.

Transmission of displacement information in a web television


A device for exchanging and for preventing the bending of the pushing-in bar (27) having two pivoting arms (15) which are pivotably mounted on a support (9) and can be pivoted by a drive pinion (21). Supporting legs (25) which support the pushing-in bar (27) are fastened to the pivoting levers with the aid of a fastening element (29). One of the fastening elements (29) is fixedly connected to one of the supporting legs (25); the second fastening element (29) carries the pushing-in bar (27) without securing it in the longitudinal direction.

The subject of the invention is a device for exchanging and for preventing the bending of a pushing-in bar glass manufacturing
In glass manufacture, the freshly formed still very hot glass items, for example bottles, are aligned substantially in a row, but not absolutely exactly. This is both with respect to the spacing and with respect to a straight line. In order to be able to further transport the glass items coming from the furnace, pushing-in devices are known which displace a pushing-in bar, having a multiplicity of fingers arranged at regular intervals next to one another, in the horizontal direction at a right angle to the longitudinal extent of the pushing-in bar. As a result of the thermal radiation of the glass items, which are still at a few hundred degrees, the pushing-in bar is very strongly heated on the one hand and tends to bend and, on the other hand, the spacings between the fingers on the pushing-in bar must be able to be changed as quickly as possible during a format change of the glass items to be transported in order to achieve as short a downtime as possible of the entire plant for manufacturing glass items.

Device for exchanging and for preventing the bending of a pushing-in bar


An administering apparatus for delivering a dosage of product including a casing with a reservoir for the product, a piston within the reservoir to deliver the product, a piston rod for engaging the piston, a drive device for driving the piston rod, and a dosage setting member mechanically engaging the piston rod and a stopper for the dosage setting member. The casing includes a front casing section containing a reservoir for the product and a rear casing section detachably connected to the front casing section. The front casing section is connected to or forms a first latching element, and the rear casing section is connected to or forms a second latching element. The latching elements are in latching engagement when the casing sections are connected. The casing sections may be axially fixed to one another by the latching engagement. The casing sections may alternately be fixed to one another, secured against rotating, with respect to a rotational movement about a longitudinal axis of the casing sections parallel to the advancing direction, by the latching engagement. The administering apparatus further includes a latching block coupled to the drive element such that the latching engagement can only be released in a releasing position of the drive element.

The invention relates to an administering apparatus having connecting casing sections. The invention is suited to an administering apparatus having a disposable portion for one-time use and a drive device for repeated use. Such drive device may be formed as a dosing and drive device. The present invention thus may relate to, for example, a semi-disposable pens. Alternately, the invention is suited for a further type of injection apparatus, infusion apparatus, inhalation apparatus, for example wherein the product is vaporized by a vaporizing means of the inhalation apparatus, or any other suitable type of apparatus for administering a fluid product. The invention can, however, also be advantageously employed for other injection apparatus and also for infusion apparatus. It is equally advantageous for inhalation apparatus, for feeding the product to be for example vaporized by a vaporizing means of the inhalation apparatus.
An administering apparatus such as an injection apparatus or an infusion apparatus generally comprises a reservoir part for storing the product to be administered and a drive device for a single product administration or a dosing and drive device for selection and administration of the product dosage. The reservoir part contains a product reservoir, from which the product or a portion of the product is dispensed through a reservoir outlet by advancing a piston. The drive device advances the piston.
As stated above, a drive device comprising a dosing and drive device may be provided in an administering apparatus for repeated dispensation of product. The dosing and drive device typically comprises a dosing device or a portion of a dosing device and may include an indicator for optically and/or acoustically indicating the selected product dosage.
Assembly of the reservoir part with the drive device, or dosing and drive device, can be problematic as the piston in the reservoir of the reservoir part must be coupled to the drive device and possibly a dosing device or a portion of a dosing device. One problem that can arise is associated with inadvertent reuse of a used reservoir. If a used reservoir is inadvertently assembled with the reusable dosing and drive device, there is the possibility of an incorrect initial setting. An incorrect initial setting may result in an incorrect dosage being administered when the product is first administered after the apparatus has been assembled. This is particularly possible if the administering device is used for self-administration of a fluid, for example, in self-administration of insulin in diabetes therapy.

Latching block for connecting casing sections of an administering apparatus


A hand tool having a pair of jaw assemblies pivotally mounted to each other and movable from a closed to an open position. Each jaw assembly comprising a head portion and a tail extending from the head portion. A hang space formed between said jaw assemblies.

The present invention relates to a hand tool, such as a plier and, more particularly, to a hand tool which may be hung from a key ring or similar article.
Hand tools are often carried by people on their person. Since some hand tools may be cumbersome to carry, small hand tools have been developed which can be hung from a key ring or similar article. Many of these existing small hand tools are complicated to use and expensive to manufacture.
The present invention overcomes these difficulties and has for one of its objects the provision of an improved hand tool which may be easily hung and removed from a key ring or similar article.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved hand tool which has additional tools associated therewith.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved hand tool which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and use.
Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.


There is provided an electronic apparatus that can recover easily even when failing to update version up of a program and can be started without resort to special operation even when the program changes to change the storage format of setting information. The apparatus has a central processing unit for controlling the whole of the apparatus, a writable and nonvolatile memory for storing programs and setting information and a random access memory uses as a work area. The nonvolatile memory has at least three program areas.

The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus having programs and setting information.
The conventional electronic apparatus is comprised of a CPU (central processing unit), a non-writable and nonvolatile memory area for storing programs, a writable and nonvolatile memory area for storing setting information and a random access memory area used as a work area and most of them do not comply with update of programs. Therefore, electronic apparatus capable of complying with update of programs have recently been increasing in number.
A conventional electronic apparatus shown in block form in FIG. 6 is constructed of a CPU, a writable and nonvolatile memory for storing programs and setting information and a random access memory used as a work area so as to be able to comply with update of programs.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 designates a CPU (central processing unit) for controlling the whole of the apparatus, 5 the writable and nonvolatile memory for storing programs and setting information, 6 the random access memory used as a work area, 4 a bus for coupling the CPU 1 to the memories 5 and 6, 51 a program area for storing the programs and 52 a setting information storage area for storing the setting information.
In FIG. 6, the area 51 for storage of programs is limited in number to one and in the event that an update of a program externally operated fails, the electronic apparatus cannot sometimes be started again. Further, in a conventional electronic apparatus not taking version up of programs into consideration, no mismatch takes place between the program and the setting information but in the case of an electronic apparatus considering version up of programs, such a restriction that a new program should not fail to understand the setting information till then is imposed on development of the apparatus when version up of a program is to be carried out, resulting in a problem that unless this restriction is met, the program cannot be started.
As described above, the conventional electronic apparatus face problems that when an update fails during update of a program in the electronic apparatus, the electronic apparatus is sometimes prevented from recovering and that the storage format of setting information must remain unchanged concomitantly with update of programs.
This type of electronic apparatus is therefore required to have ability to recover easily even in the event that the electronic apparatus fails to update version up of a program and ability to start without resort to special operation even when a change of program occurs that causes the storage format of the setting information to change.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic apparatus that can recover easily even when failing to update version up of a program and can start without resort to special operation even when a change of program occurs that causes the storage format of setting information to change.
To accomplish the above object, an electronic apparatus according to the invention comprises a central processing unit for controlling the whole of the apparatus, a writable and nonvolatile memory for storing programs and setting information and a random access memory used as a work area, wherein the nonvolatile memory includes at least three program areas.
With this construction, an electronic apparatus can be obtained which can recover easily even when failing to update version up of a program.

Matsushita Electronic Industrial Co., Ltd.


An electric powered personal mobility vehicle that includes at least one front wheel and an electric motor that provides rotational force to a wheel of the vehicle. The electric motor is supported by the vehicle and is powered by a rechargeable battery that is also supported by the vehicle. The vehicle can also include swivel caster wheels each configured to rotate about a wheel axis.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to personal mobility vehicles and, more specifically, to an electric powered personal mobility vehicle such as a tricycle, with rear swivel caster wheels.
2. Description of the Related Art
Three and four-wheeled vehicles, commonly known as tricycles and go-karts, respectively, comprise at least one front wheel and a pair of spaced rear wheels, and many types and styles of these vehicles have been developed for use by both children and adults. Riding on tricycles or go-karts is a popular recreational activity. This is especially true for younger age children who do not yet have the physical coordination and skill necessary to ride more advanced recreational vehicles such as two-wheeled bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, or two-wheeled scooters. Adults can also enjoy appropriately sized four and three-wheeled vehicles configured in the same style as children's tricycles and go-karts, although they may not be referred to as tricycles or go-karts, these adult vehicles may have the same functionality or characteristics as the children's tricycles and go-karts.
There have been different types of tricycles devised over the years. Most of these tricycles perform the normal function of moving when pedaled by the user and turning on a radius determined by manipulation of the handlebars controlling the front wheel. The conventional tricycles provide useful means of transportation and recreation, but due to the limited range of motion of the front and rear wheels, the conventional tricycles are limited in the type of movement provided to the user. There have also not been many variations on the manner in which a tricycle is operated by the user. Conventional tricycles require the user to exert rotational force on the front wheel, usually by foot pedals connected to a single crank attached to the front wheel available to the user in a seated position. It is an object of one or more embodiments of the present invention to provide a new and improved ride-on tricycle. It is still another object of one or more embodiments of the present invention to provide a new and improved tricycle providing a unique turning action and an alternate range of motion compared to conventional tricycles.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Powered personal mobility vehicle with rotating wheels


An assembly for measuring differential pressures includes a manifold valve and pressure transducer assembly including two pressure transducers. The manifold valve includes two pressure inlet ports and two pressure outlet ports that communicate through the manifold's isolation valves. An equalization valve connects the two pressure lines. Mating flanges on the manifold valve and pressure transducer assembly are bolted together to form a pressure tight seal between the manifold valve outlet ports and the pressure transducer assembly inlet ports. The pressure transducer assembly also includes a mounting plate for supporting the pressure transducers. The transducers generate an electrical signal corresponding to inlet pressure. Signals from pressure transducers and an optional thermistor for each are wired to an electrical connector mounted on the side of the assembly. The signals are electronically compared with an external signal processing circuit that outputs a representative signal of the differential pressure.

The present invention relates to manifold valves and pressure transducers in fluid communication with main fluid pressure lines, and more particularly to assemblies of manifold valves and pressure transducers for outputting signals representing pressures in two pressurized fluid lines.
Manifold valves are known in the art. Manifold valves typically are mounted between the main fluid pressure lines and the pressure transducers. Manifold valves permit isolating the pressure lines from the pressure transducers in order to facilitate their removal or replacement and are required for calibration purposes. The manifold valve of the present invention includes a first inlet port and a second inlet port with internal passageways that run past isolation valves to a first outlet port and second outlet port that are connected to corresponding inlet ports on the pressure transducers.
Differential pressure transmitters are known in the art. Manifold valves are used in conjunction with differential pressure transmitters. The manifold valve in the present invention has an integral flange that mates with differential pressure transmitters as in U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,401 B1, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The flange connection is standard in the industry and is used to directly mount a manifold valve to a differential pressure transmitter without the use of piping components. Differential pressure transmitters of this type include pressure-sensing components, which include pressure transducers, with signal processing circuits and are typically manufactured as a complete unit. The signal processing circuit of the differential pressure transmitters combines the low-pressure and high-pressure output signals of the pressure sensors into a single output signal that is indicative of the pressure difference. The costs of these types of transmitters typically are higher than the cost of the manifold valve.
Fully integrated manifold valves and differential pressure transmitters also are known in the art. They typically combine a manifold valve and differential pressure transmitter into a single manufactured unit. U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,360, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, relates to this type of fully integrated assembly. The time required to assemble these units into fluid pipelines is significantly lower than assembling separate manifold and pressure transducers, but the costs of these units also are higher.
Pressure transducers, manifold valves and signal processing circuits can be purchased on a stand-alone basis and assembled using standard piping components. The costs of the individual components are relatively low, but the costs associated with assembling them into fluid pipelines are significantly higher than integrated units. An optimal manifold valve and differential pressure transmitter assembly would use low cost standard components that can be assembled rapidly using a minimal amount of piping components. Known manifold valve and differential pressure transmitter assemblies have attempted to accomplish this. U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,735 B2, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, relates to an example of this type of assembly. This assembly, however, still makes use of piping components, and although the manifold valve is modular, the pressure transducers are not.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,290, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, relates to a differential pressure transmitter attached to a three valve manifold employing a standard mounting flange used in the industry and incorporated between a three valve manifold and a single transmitter.
Further improvements are needed that make use of standard low cost, interchangeable components that can be quickly assembled with the same functionality as their more expensive counterparts.

Manifold valve and pressure transducer assembly


The present invention intends to provide a body weight gain inhibitor and the like. The ligand of the present invention is useful as a superior body weight gain inhibitor and the like, or for a screening of the superior body weight gain inhibitor and the like.

A main cause for increase of lifestyle related diseases including diabetes, is that vital functions directed to accumulate adipose to prepare for starvation, which are typified by a so-called thrifty gene such as PPARγ, cannot adopt to modern dietary habit with a central focus on high fat diet or living environment such as immunobilization. Since resulting adiposis becomes a risk factor for hypertension as well as a cause for diabetes, development of anti-adiposis drug, which has a little side effect and is safe, is conductive to prevent onset of many lifestyle related diseases. Further, it has medical economically highest demands. As such anti-adiposis drug, sibutramine, which is an inhibitor for reincorporation of catecholamine-serotonin, and orlistat, which is an inhibitor for fat absorption, are used at present. In addition to these drugs, β3 agonist, which is a calorigenic accelerator, neuropeptide Y antagonist, which is a central feeding inhibitor, melanocortin receptor subtype 4 agonist, and the like are developed or developing (J. C. Clapham et al., Pharmacol. Ther. 89: 81-121 (2001); M. Chiesi et al., Trends Pharmacol. Sci. 22: 247-254 (2001)).
In addition to these references, (1) Genomics 28: 84-91 (1995), and (2) WO 01/98494 publication are included.
However, it has been desired for development of safe body weight gain inhibitor or body weight loss agent, which has strong action and little side effect based on novel mechanism.


The present invention relates to plastic molded bodies having two-dimensional or three-dimensional image structures produced in the interior through laser subsurface engraving. The plastic molded bodies are made of plastic materials which have a content of nanoscale metal oxides having particle sizes from 1 to 500 nm, both the plastic material and also the included metal oxide being transparent to the laser light used for producing the image structures. The plastic materials from which the molded bodies are manufactured particularly contain metal oxides having particle sizes from 5 to 100 nm at a content of 0.0001 to 0.1 weight-percent. Typical metal oxides are nanoscale indium-tin oxide or antimony-tin oxide.

The introduction of optical information into plastic materials through laser radiation is known per se. For this purpose, one differentiates between laser marking and laser subsurface engraving.
The identification of plastic through laser marking acts on the object surface and/or in the area proximal to the surface. For this purpose, the absorption of the laser energy in the plastic material through direct interaction with the polymer or with an additive added to the plastic material, such as an organic coloring agent or an inorganic pigment, which absorbs the laser radiation, is decisive. In any case, a chemical material change and therefore a locally visible discoloration of the plastic is caused through absorption of the laser energy.
Laser-markability is a function of the wavelength-specific absorption behavior of the plastic materials and/or the polymers on which they are based, of the wavelength-specific absorption behavior of any laser-sensitive additives, and of the wavelength and radiated power of the laser radiation to be used. In addition to CO2 and excimer lasers, Nd:YAG lasers (neodymium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet lasers), having the characteristic wavelengths of 1064 nm and 532 nm, are increasingly being used in this technology. Laser-markable plastic materials, which contain laser-sensitive additives in the form of coloring agents and/or pigments, generally have a more or less pronounced coloration and/or translucency. The molding compounds which are to be implemented as laser-absorbent are often thus equipped by introducing carbon black.
High-transparency plastic materials, which may be made laser-markable by adding nanoscale laser-absorbent metal oxides, are described in German Utility Model 20 2004 003362.3 and in German Patent Application 10 2004 010504.9, which has not previously been published. The publications DE 44 07 547 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,496 are cited as examples of the technology of subsurface engraving of glasses and plastics transparent to laser radiation by laser beams. (All of these references are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.) In contrast to laser marking, laser subsurface engraving acts at any arbitrary depth of the material. This requires that the material be essentially transparent to the incident laser radiation, since this would otherwise be absorbed in the surface region.
During the focusing of a laser beam of sufficiently high power density in the interior of the material, which is transparent to laser light per se, there is a limited development of thermal energy in the laser focus because of optical effects. This heat development results in local, narrowly limited microcrack formation in the material. Microcracks of this type have a point diameter of 25-40 μm. In glasses and plastics which are transparent in visible light, the microcracks appear as bright points because of the scattering of the daylight at the crack edges.
Through the deflection of the laser radiation via mirrors and the movement of the workpiece and through synchronization between the movement sequence and the laser pulses, corresponding structures made of individual microcracks may be assembled in the workpiece. The pulse sequence frequency of the laser typically used for this purpose allows the production of structures having up to approximately 1000 points per minute. The starting point is a 3-D illustration of the later motif in a CAD program. The surface or the entire structure of the model is resolved as a point cloud by a computer, whose individual points are implemented as microcracks in the glass or plastic by the laser beam. The denser the point cloud through which the object is illustrated, the more precise and cleaner will the model be imaged.
During the laser subsurface engraving of plastics using laser light to which the plastic is transparent, marking in the interior of the material in the form of microcracks is produced through corresponding focusing of the laser beam. Uncontrolled crack formation and crack propagation may occur in this case. This represents a weakening of the material. Keeping this weakening as small as possible is desirable.
In glass, crack formation may result in later destruction of the molded body, which sometimes only occurs days or even weeks after the laser subsurface engraving. In plastics, in addition to crack formation, local destruction of the material and carbonization may occur, which is undesirable in the subsurface engraving of material transparent in visible light because of the dark discoloration. A further problem of laser subsurface engraving using methods and materials according to the related art is the inadequate imaging precision of detailed, filigree patterns, both in glass and in plastics. Theoretically, the imaging precision may be improved by increasing the point cloud density. However, at a certain density, the points run into one another due to uncontrolled crack propagation and are no longer resolved, so that the imaging precision even suffers.
A method for crack-free laser subsurface engraving through laser pulses in the femtosecond range is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,761,111. However, lasers suitable for this purpose are not yet widely available for technical use and would be very expensive.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,537,479, the problem of crack formation is avoided in that the laser marking is performed in the plasticized state of the material and the object is either left in this state (enclosed by a solid protective envelope) or subsequently hardened. This method is very complex and additionally, in the case of subsequent hardening, is restricted to materials which do not display shrinkage upon hardening, since otherwise the filigree geometry of the laser engraving would be destroyed. This method has limited use and is very time-consuming.

Plastic molded bodies having two-dimensional and three-dimensional image structures produced through laser subsurface engraving


A power supply system for a server includes a first power supply, a second power supply, a first variable slope circuit, and a second variable slope circuit. The first power supply unit is adapted to activate if a load is below a predetermined level, and adapted to deactivate if the load is above the predetermined level. The second power supply unit is adapted to activate if the load is above the predetermined level, and adapted to deactivate if the load is below the predetermined level. The first and second variable slope circuits are adapted to receive information about the load applied to the power supply units. The first variable slope circuit is adapted to deactivate the first power supply unit if the load is above the predetermined level. The second variable slope circuit is to deactivate the second power supply unit if the load is below the predetermined level.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Typically, a server rack has two power supply units arranged in a redundant mode configuration to provide power to components connected to the server rack. The redundant mode configuration allows the components of the server rack to continually receive power even if one of the power supply units fails because the other power supply unit is capable of carrying the entire load of the server rack. Usually, the power supply units have identical power and efficiency characteristics, such that the efficiency of the both of the power supply units are the same when the same load is applied to the power supply units. Traditionally, these power supply units are designed and optimized for best efficiency at higher loads and lesser efficiency at lighter loads.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

Non-identical power supply units for higher efficiency in redundant mode


A method of removing a pipe, such as a caisson, from a body of water, after the platform has been removed which includes the steps of a high pressure head having a lifting padeye is secured to the upper end of the caisson; the caisson is then flooded with water; pressure is applied to the water column, so that a sufficient hydraulic force against the surface of the water bottom within the caisson to force the caisson to move upward; if the caisson moves upward to the level of the top of a crane, the caisson is cut off above the water line and the cut portion is removed; the process is repeated on the remaining portion of the caisson in the water, until the entire caisson is finally removed from the water. This process could also be used in removal of pilings from multi-leg jackets.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to caisson pipe. More particularly, the present invention relates to the removal of caisson pipe of single-leg caisson decks and the removal of the pilings of multi-leg platform jackets by the use of high pressure water.
2. General Background of the Invention
In the drilling and production of oil and gas in deep water conditions, the drilling and production platforms are maintained above the waterline by being supported by a plurality of legs of caissons which have been driven into the bottom of the water. However, once these platforms have been abandoned, it is required that the platform and the supporting legs or caissons be removed.
At present, caisson piles are removed by removing the earth around the outside of the pipe to an acceptable depth below the mud line and then a cutter of some sort is used to cut the caisson. The caisson is then cut below the mud line and the caisson pie is left in the earth. Another method involves a high pressure water blaster or a mechanical cutter of some kind being inserted into the inside of the caisson and lowered to some depth below the mud line. The caisson is then cut. Once again, the remaining pipe is left in the earth below the mud line.
Applicant has reviewed U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,496, a copy of which is submitted herewith the Information Disclosure Statement. The patent addresses the use of ROV installed suction piles. In the patent, the pipes are installed using gravity and suction, and the pipes are removed using water pressure introduced by an ROV. Since the pipes which are being removed by the '496 patent are pipes which are completely submerged, the use of the water surrounding the pipe completes the removal process. There is a need in the industry for a method to remove caisson pipe from a body of water, where the upper end of the pipe is protruding above the surface of the water.
Applicant is submitting herewith an information disclosure statement which includes additional prior art that applicant is aware of at this time.


A foam panel cutting machine for cutting foam panels used in insulated building panels. The foam panel cutting machine has a feeder system feeds the foam panel through the cutting blades. The cutting machine additionally includes a frame, a plurality of upper rollers and a plurality of lower rollers rotationally mounted to the frame. The foam panel cutting machine can be constructed so that it may be portable. One embodiment includes the upper rollers on an adjustable head that can adjust the gap distance between the upper and lower rollers so that foam panels of various thicknesses may be cut. The cutting blade may be a hot-knife wherein the blade is heated by passing an electrical current through it. The cutting blade may have a “L” or “J” shape to cut kerfs into the foam panel that receive metal studs to form an insulated building panel.

Devices utilizing hot-wire cutting machines to cut the stud profiles in to foam panels are known. The processes undertaken by these machines are expensive and not accurate because the hot wire process invites the cutting wire to wander or sag, creating assembly difficulties because the cuts are not straight and, therefore, a straight metal stud has a difficult time sliding into the profile cut. Thus, there is a need in the art for a cutting device that would cut stud profiles with both accuracy and efficiency.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/218,678 sets forth a foam panel cutting, machine that cuts a profile of a metal stud into a foam panel by placing the foam panel on a stationary platform wherein the machine includes the cutting members being disposed on a moveable head. The moveable cutting head moves over or under the foam panels to cut the slots, also known as kerfs. This configuration, however, necessarily limits a length of a foam panel that can be utilized due to limitations in the movement of the head and the size of the supporting platform. Thus, there is a need in the art for a cutting machine that is configured to cut metal stud profiles in foam panels of variable lengths.
Further, a cutting machine having the foam panel being stationary on the machine's platform and the cutting members being on a moveable head that moves along the length of the foam panel necessitates a centralized manufacturing facility. The size of the fixed platform and the controls and guide system required to accurately cut metal stud profiles into the foam panel requires a large enclosed area. Further, this configuration greatly reduces the ability to adapt the length or configuration of manufactured sheets due to the conditions on a job-site. Accordingly, the large machine required for cutting foam panels on a stationary platform ultimately reduces the ability to utilize insulated structural panels in remote areas or other areas that are a sufficient distance from a manufacturing facility due to shipping limitations and costs associated therewith and also prevents modification of panels on-site to adapt to any issues that may occur during installation. Thus, there is a need in the art for a metal stud profile cutting machine that is portable and may be taken to a job site in order to assemble the insulated building panels on-site.
Moreover, a stationary cutting machine is less efficient because the foam panel has to be moved to another machine for the insertion of the metal studs into the foam panel after cutting the kerfs in order to assemble the insulated building panel. Thus, there was also a need in the art for a cutting machine that may be integrated into a continuous panel production line that simultaneously cuts the EPS panel and inserts the necessary length of metal stud to form the insulated building panels.


A brazing process and assembly utilizing microwave radiation and a plasma generator that is heated by microwave radiation and generates a localized plasma capable of selectively heating and melting a braze alloy. The plasma generator contains a microwave-susceptible material that is susceptible to heating by microwave radiation, and a plasma-generating material capable of volatilizing and generating the plasma when the plasma generator is subjected to heating and microwave radiation. The brazing process includes applying a braze material to a surface of a substrate, positioning the plasma generator in proximity to the braze material, and then subjecting the plasma generator to microwave radiation to volatilize the plasma-generating material and generate a plasma that melts the braze alloy within the braze material.

This invention generally relates to braze materials and brazing processes, such as for use in the manufacturing, joining, coating, repair, and build-up of superalloy components. More particularly, this invention relates to a brazing process that utilizes microwave radiation and the generation of a plasma to promote localized heating and melting of a braze alloy.
Nickel, cobalt, and iron-base superalloys are widely used to form high temperature components of gas turbine engines. While some high-temperature superalloy components can be formed as a single casting, others are preferably or necessarily fabricated by other processes. As an example, brazing can be used to fabricate certain gas turbine components, such as high pressure turbine nozzle assemblies. Brazing is also used to repair cracks and other surface flaws and damage, build up surfaces to restore desired dimensions, and form protective coatings on gas turbine engine components. Brazing techniques of these types encompass heating a braze alloy, typically in the form of a braze alloy powder, a paste or tape containing a braze alloy powder, or a sintered preform of a braze alloy powder, to a temperature above the melting point of the braze alloy but sufficiently below the melting point of the material being brazed to avoid damaging and/or reducing desired properties of the material. (As used herein, "melting point" is meant to encompass the incipient melting point for alloys that do not have a true melting point but instead have a melting range.) For example, brazing temperatures are often limited to avoid grain growth, incipient melting, recrystallization, and/or unfavorable phase formation in the alloy or alloys being brazed.
In situations where a brazement must have a composition and properties similar to the substrate being brazed, the braze alloy will typically have a composition essentially or nearly the same as the substrate, but modified to contain one or more melting point suppressants, such as boron and/or silicon, which form low melting eutectics with the substrate material. In the past, braze alloy powders have been prepared by combining their alloying constituents through such processes as atomization and mechanical alloying to yield a powder whose particles have a uniform composition. For example, EPO456481 reports a process in which a titanium-based braze alloy powder is formed by mechanically alloying powders of each elemental constituent of the braze alloy, including powders of nickel and/or copper as the melting point depressant(s), to create a presumably uniform distribution of the elements in the braze alloy powder.
A difficulty encountered when brazing certain alloys is the tendency for some melting point depressants to form embrittling phases, such as chromium borides that form when brazing chromium-containing superalloys. As a result, brazing is not an appropriate manufacturing or repair process for some applications, particularly many components in the hot gas path of a gas turbine engine. In any case, the amounts of melting point depressants contained in a braze alloy are intentionally limited and sometimes partitioned to minimize their detrimental effects. An example of the latter is the use of a braze alloy system comprising two braze powders, one containing one or more melting point depressants and the other nominally having the same composition as the component being brazed. The higher-melting powder acts as a sink for the excess melting point depressants in the lower-melting powder during and after the brazement is formed. However, segregation of the two powders can occur during the brazing process, with the lower-melting powder taking most of the working volume of the brazement and displacing the higher-melting powder. If this occurs, an excess of melting point depressants will be present in the brazement, which in turn affects the mechanical properties of the brazement.
Microwave brazing is currently been investigated as a potential candidate for eliminating issues associated with conventional brazing techniques. For example, microwave heating has the potential for localizing heat in the braze alloy and selected areas of a component, which reduces the risk of degrading desired properties of the component. Two approaches have generally been proposed for microwave brazing. A first entails the use of a susceptor (e.g., SiC enclosure) that is heated when exposed to microwave energy and, in turn, transfers the heat to the component by radiation. Drawbacks to this approach are lack of local heating of the braze alloy only, as an entire region of the component is inevitably heated, and significant heat loss from radiation in directions away from the intended brazement. A second approach entails direct microwave heating of a braze alloy powder, which is more susceptible to absorbing microwave energy than bulk metals that generally reflect microwaves. Because typical braze alloy compositions do not couple sufficiently with microwave energy to become fully melted during a microwave treatment, braze powders have been proposed that contain particles that are sufficiently small to be highly susceptible to microwave radiation. This approach is disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/564,898, 11/609,473, and 11/469,567. Another approach is to produce a braze powder containing one or more microwave coupling enhancers that are more highly susceptible to microwave radiation than the base alloy composition of the braze powder. For example, commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,326,892 to Cretegny et al. discloses the addition to a braze alloy powder of materials capable of behaving as microwave coupling enhancers, such as silicon, germanium, gallium, cobalt, iron, zinc, titanium, carbon (e.g., carbon nano-tubes or fine graphite powder), aluminum, tantalum, niobium, rhenium, hafnium, molybdenum, and silicon carbide (SiC). Powders of the microwave coupling enhancers can be intermixed with a powder of the braze alloy, or the braze alloy can be alloyed to contain one or more microwave coupling enhancers.
Even with the above advancements, there is an ongoing desire to further develop processes for heating braze powders by microwave radiation. In particular, it would be desirable if a braze alloy powder could be fully melted by localized microwave radiation without the presence of microwave coupling enhancers admixed with the powder. In doing so, any impact that such enhancers might have on the mechanical properties of the resulting brazement could be eliminated. In addition, such a capability would allow for broader use of brazing processes and technology, especially in the manufacture and repair of gas turbine engine components.

Microwave brazing process and assemblies and materials therefor


A control system for a four-wheel drive vehicle includes a center differential provided between a front shaft and a rear shaft. The control system also includes a device for restricting a differential between the front shaft and the rear shaft by operating the center differential to be in a locking condition and a controller for controlling the differential restricting device so that a differential restricting force is increased based on an increase in an engine output. The differential restricting force is decreased based on an increase in a vehicle body speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control system for a vehicle with a differential restricting device in particular, to a control system for a vehicle such as a four-wheel drive vehicle having differential restricting devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
A four-wheel drive vehicle is in general provided with a center differential mounted between a front propeller shaft and a rear propeller shaft for compensating the differential between the front wheels and the rear wheels, and a rear differential mounted between right and left rear wheels.
For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-166,114 discloses a four-wheel drive vehcle which comprises a front differential, a center differential, and a rear differential each of the differentials including a differential restricting device such as a clutch. The differential restricting device can be operated to be in locking condition or unlocking condition based on the various traveling conditions of the vehicle such as traveling on rough road, traveling in a straight line, an accelerating condition and a braking condition. The traveling conditions are determined by data representative of wheel rotating speeds and steering angles. The stability, braking performance, acceleration performance and the like of the vehicle can be improved by the such operations.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-261,538 discloses a four-wheel drive vehcle with a center differential restricting device which is operated so as to restrict a differentiaI between the front wheels and the rear wheels based on an increase in the differential rotating number between the front wheels and the rear wheels. As a result, a good starting performance can be obtained when the vehicle is trying to get out of rough road.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-57,332 discloses a four-wheel drive vehcle with a center differential restricting device which is operated based on the throttle valve opening and the vehicle speed so that tire abrasion and excessive fuel comsumption can be prevented when the vehicle is traveling at a high speed.
Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-17,4340 also discloses a four-wheel drive vehcle with a center differential restricting device which is operated based on the throttle valve opening (the engine output).
In the above mentioned conventional four-wheel drive vehicle, the control operation of the differential restricting device based on the differential rotating number between the front wheels and the rear wheels means that the operation is carried out based on the slips which actually occur. On the other hand, the control operation of the device based on the throttle valve opening means that the control operation is carried out in order to prevent the slips before they actually occur.
However, since the actual slips occur differently in respective driving conditions, the above conventional four-wheel drive vehicle can not obtain a good performace in any driving conditions.

Control system for vehicle with differential restricting device


An electric wire connector includes a hollow tubular fitting element screwably fitted into a screw hole on a conductive connector, a hollow tubular plug element rotatably coupled to one end of the fitting element to secure inwardly extended wire strands of an electric wire being inserted through the fitting element and the plug element in positive contact between the plug element and the periphery of the screw hole of the conductive connector.

The present invention relates to an electric wire connector, and more particularly to such an electric wire connector which improves the drawback of the electric wire connector constructed according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,433.
The electric wire according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,433, which was issued on Nov. 12, 1996 to the present inventor, comprises a hollow tubular fitting element and a hollow tubular plug element inserted into a front end of the fitting element. The plug element has an annular curved rim which may press against a front edge of the fitting element when the plug element is inserted into the fitting element. The fitting element is further provided with external threads at a middle section thereof for enabling the fitting element to be screwably inserted into a screw hole of a conductive element. An electric wire has the plastic skin at a front end portion thereof stripped to expose the wire strands. The electric wire is inserted via a rear end of the fitting element with the stripped skin pressing against a rear end of the plug element so that the wire strands pass through the fitting element and the plug element to expose on the outside. The wire strands are bent inwardly to lie against the curved rim so that it may be held firmly between the curved rim of the plug element and the fitting element after the fitting element is fitted together with the plug element into the conductive hole, thereby causing the electric wire from possible damage. Because the plug element and the fitting element are separate members, the procedure of installing the wire strands of the electric wire is complicated.


A radio frequency transmitting and receiving apparatus comprising an antenna further comprising a plurality of antenna segments. Each segment exhibits a different electrical length and certain of the segments are capacitively coupled to establish a resonant frequency for each segment. In one embodiment, the certain segments comprise a plurality of concentric arcuate conductive elements connected to a signal terminal and a ground plane.

It is known that antenna performance is dependent upon the size, shape and material composition of the constituent antenna elements, as well as the relationship between certain antenna physical parameters (e.g., length for a linear antenna and diameter for a loop antenna) and the wavelength of the signal received or transmitted by the antenna. These relationships determine several antenna operational parameters, including input impedance, gain, directivity, signal polarization and radiation pattern.
Generally, an operable antenna should have a minimum physical antenna dimension approximately equal to a half wavelength (or a quarter wavelength above a ground plane) (or a multiple thereof) of the operating frequency to limit energy dissipated in resistive losses and maximize transmitted or received energy. A quarter wavelength antenna (or multiples of a quarter wavelength) operative above a ground plane exhibits properties similar to a half wavelength antenna. Designers of communications products prefer an efficient antenna that is capable of wide bandwidth and/or multiple frequency band operation, electrically matched to the transmitting and receiving components of the communications system, and operable in multiple modes (e.g., selectable signal polarizations and selectable radiation patterns). Quarter wavelength and half wavelength antennas are the most commonly used.
The half-wavelength dipole antenna finds use in many applications. The radiation pattern is the familiar donut shape with most of the energy radiated uniformly in the azimuth direction and little radiation in the elevation direction. Frequency bands of interest for certain communications devices are 1710 to 1990 MHz and 2110 to 2200 MHz. A half-wavelength dipole antenna is approximately 3.11 inches long at 1900 MHz, 3.45 inches long at 1710 MHz, and 2.68 inches long at 2200 MHz. The typical gain is about 2.15 dBi.
The quarter-wavelength monopole antenna disposed above a ground plane is derived from the half-wavelength dipole. The physical antenna length is a quarter wavelength, but interaction of the electromagnetic energy with the ground plane causes the antenna to exhibit half wavelength dipole properties. Thus, the radiation pattern for a monopole antenna above a ground plane is similar to the half-wavelength dipole pattern, with a typical gain of approximately 2 dBi.
Given the advantageous performance of quarter and half-wavelength antennas, conventional antennas are typically constructed so that the antenna length is on the order of a quarter wavelength of the radiating frequency and the antenna is operated over a ground plane or the antenna length is a half wavelength without employing a ground plane. These dimensions allow the antenna to be easily excited and operated at or near a resonant frequency (where the resonant frequency (f) is determined according to the equation c=λf, where c is the speed of light and λ is the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation). Half and quarter wavelength antennas limit energy dissipated in resistive losses and maximize the transmitted energy. As the operating frequency increases/decreases, the operating wavelength decreases/increases and the antenna element dimensions proportionally decrease/increase. In particular, as the resonant frequency of the received or transmitted signal decreases, the dimensions of the quarter-wavelength and half-wavelength antenna proportionally increase. The resulting larger antenna, even at a quarter wavelength, may not be suitable for use with certain communications devices, especially portable and personal communications devices intended to be carried by a user. Such antennas can protrude from the communications device and thus are susceptible to breakage
The burgeoning growth of wireless communications devices and systems has created a substantial need for physically smaller, less obtrusive and more efficient antennas capable of wide bandwidth or multiple frequency-band operation. It is also desired that the antennas operate in multiple modes (i.e., selectable radiation patterns or selectable signal polarizations). For example, operation in multiple frequency bands may be required for operation of the communications device with multiple communications systems, such as a cellular telephone system and a cordless telephone system. Operation of the device in multiple countries also requires multiple frequency band operation since communications frequencies are not commonly assigned among countries.
Smaller packaging of state-of-the-art communications devices, such as personal handsets, does not provide sufficient space for the conventional quarter and half wavelength antenna elements. Generally, it is not considered feasible to utilize one antenna for each operating frequency or to include multiple matching circuits to provide proper resonant frequency operation at several different frequencies for a single antenna. Thus physically smaller antennas operating in frequency bands of interest and providing the other desired antenna properties (input impedance, radiation pattern, signal polarizations, etc.) are especially sought after.
As is known to those skilled in the art, there is a direct relationship between physical antenna size and antenna gain for a single-element antenna, according to the relationship: gain=(βR)^2+2βR, where R is the radius of the sphere containing the antenna and β is the propagation factor or phase constant. Increased gain thus requires a physically larger antenna, while users continue to demand physically smaller antennas. As a further design constraint, to simplify the system design and strive for minimum cost, equipment designers and system operators prefer to utilize antennas capable of efficient multi-band and/or wide bandwidth operation, thus permitting the communications device to access various wireless services operating within different frequency bands or services operating over wide bandwidths. Finally, gain is limited by the known relationship between the antenna operating frequency and the effective antenna length (expressed in wavelengths). That is, the antenna gain is constant for all quarter-wavelength antennas of a specific geometry i.e., at that operating frequency where the effective antenna length is a quarter of the operating frequency wavelength.
To overcome the size limitations of handset and personal communications devices, antenna designers have turned to the use of so-called slow wave structures where the structure's physical dimensions are not equal to the effective electrical dimensions. Recall that the effective antenna dimensions should be on the order of a half wavelength (or a quarter wavelength above a ground plane) to achieve the beneficial radiating and low loss properties discussed above. Generally, a slow-wave structure is defined as one for which the phase velocity of the traveling wave is less than the free space velocity of light. The wave velocity is the product of the wavelength and the frequency and takes into account the material permittivity and permeability, i.e., c/((sqrt(εr)sqrt(μr))=λf. Since the frequency remains unchanged during propagation through a slow wave structure, if the wave travels slower (i.e., the phase velocity is lower) than the speed of light, the wavelength within the structure is lower than the free space wavelength. The slow-wave structure de-couples the conventional relationship between physical length, resonant frequency and wavelength.
Since the phase velocity of a wave propagating in a slow-wave structure is less than the free space velocity of light, the effective electrical length of these structures is greater than the effective electrical length of a structure propagating a wave at the speed of light. The resulting resonant frequency for the slow-wave structure is correspondingly increased. Thus if two structures are to operate at the same resonant frequency, as a half-wave dipole, for instance, then the structure propagating a slow wave will be physically smaller than the structure propagating a wave at the speed of light. Such slow wave structures can be used as antenna elements or as antenna radiating structures.

Tri-band antenna for digital multimedia broadcast (DMB) applications


The present invention discloses a method for implementing an intersecting ring network with arbitrary topology, node and an intersecting ring network. The method includes: intersecting multiple Ethernet rings to form the intersecting ring network with arbitrary topology, each Ethernet ring in the intersecting ring network comprising a master node and multiple transmission nodes; the master node of each Ethernet ring opening its primary port and blocking its secondary port during initial normal operation; and the master node of each Ethernet ring in the intersecting ring network performing fault detection and fault processing as well as fault recovery detection and fault recovery processing by using one of the two manners containing protocol message interaction and detection on links directly connected to the master node.

At present, Ethernet ring is widespread and applied gradually. FIG. 1 is a schematic illustrating the structure of a single Ethernet ring. With reference to FIG. 1, a single Ethernet ring includes a master node and multiple transmission nodes, and the master node and transmission nodes are adapted to transmit service data on the Ethernet ring and fulfill various service functions.
As to a single Ethernet ring, Rapid Ring Protection Protocol (RRPP) can provide an effective protection mechanism at present. RRPP is a link layer protocol specially applied in an Ethernet ring. When the Ethernet ring is integrated, RRPP can prevent broadcast storm caused by a data ring; when a link on the Ethernet ring is broken, RRPP can rapidly start a backup link so as to guarantee the maximum connectivity of the Ethernet ring.
As shown in FIG. 1, according to RRPP protocol, when a single Ethernet ring is running normally, the master node only opens the primary port on one side for data messages, and blocks the secondary port on other side. In this way, the Ethernet ring is in a chain form in stead of forming a loop when transmitting the data messages.
According to RRPP protocol, in a single Ethernet ring, fault detection and fault processing include: a master node periodically sends a Hello message from its primary port; the master node determines that the Ethernet ring where it is located is down if the master node does not receive the Hello message sent by itself in a predefined period of time, or if the master node receives a fault notification message reported by a transmission node, or if the master node detects that a link directly connected to one of its ports is at fault; and the master node transfers to a down state, opens the blocked secondary port, and sends out a forward-table updating message. According to RRPP protocol, fault recovery detection and fault recovery processing include: a master node periodically sends a Hello message; after the Ethernet ring is down, if the master node can receive the Hello message it has sent, or if the master node receives a fault recovery message reported by a transmission node, or if the master node detects that a link directly connected to one of its ports is up, the master node determines that the Ethernet ring where it is located has recovered, opens the blocked secondary port and sends out a forward-table updating message.
In a single Ethernet ring, when the node of the Ethernet ring directly connected to the fault link detects that the fault has been eliminated, the node will firstly set the fault recovery port into a blocked state, and start a blocking timer. When the node receives a forward-table updating message sent by the master node or when the blocking timer is out, the node will transfer the port from the blocked state to a state of normally forwarding messages, so as to guarantee smoothness of the link.
With the development of services, a single Ethernet ring sometimes cannot meet the requirement of the services. In practical network application, it is usually needed to intersect multiple Ethernet rings arbitrarily to form an intersecting ring network. In other words, an intersecting ring network may include multiple Ethernet rings, each of the Ethernet rings corresponds to an Ethernet topology in form of ring connection, and the intersecting ring network is constituted by the multiple Ethernet rings intersected with one another. FIG. 2 is a schematic illustrating a topology structure formed by multiple intersected Ethernet rings. With reference to FIG. 2, Ethernet ring R1 (composed of S1, S2, S3 and S4), R2 (composed of S3, S2 and S6) and R3 (composed of S3, S2 and S5) are intersected to form an intersecting ring network with arbitrary topology.
The networking manner of intersecting multiple Ethernet rings can form a more flexible network topology structure, so as to provide richer services for users. Due to characteristics of Ethernet ring itself, as to the intersected Ethernet rings, an effective ring network protection mechanism is also needed to guarantee smoothness of links in the ring network and to avoid forming a loop. As shown in FIG. 2, it is not only needed to prevent Ethernet rings R1, R2 and R3 from forming a loop, but also needed to guarantee a big ring generated via intersection (like the ring formed by S1, S2, S6, S3, S4 and S1) from forming a loop. Further, it is needed to consider what kind of measures should be adopted when an Ethernet ring like R1 is down, so as to guarantee smoothness of the other Ethernet rings, and so forth.
However, at present, there is only effective Ethernet ring protection mechanism for a single Ethernet ring, but there is no effective ring network protection mechanism for an arbitrary topology formed by intersected multiple Ethernet rings.

Method for implementing intersecting ring network with arbitrary topology, node and intersecting ring network