A side-impact control system (10) for a vehicle (12) includes an adaptive restraint (15). A side sensor (30) is configured to detect an object, in a restraint dependent detection zone (60) along a side (13) of the vehicle (12), and generates an object detection signal. A controller (16) determines an activation time for and a deployment status of the adaptive restraint (15), and activates the adaptive restraint (15) before or after contact between the object and the side (13).

To improve the safety aspects of vehicles, many manufacturers are now including side and curtain airbags. Side and curtain airbags may be employed in a vehicle side door, an A-pillar, a B-pillar, and other side structures and components of a vehicle. Side airbags are presently deployed in response to the information collected from side or lateral accelerometers and crush or pressure sensors. The accelerometers are used to determine or estimate severity of a collision and the pressure sensors are used to determine the condition of a vehicle or an estimated amount of intrusion into a vehicle of an object, after contact therewith. Upon receipt of the stated information, algorithms are used to evaluated conditions of a collision for restraint deployment.
For a 30 mph vehicle-to-vehicle collision, current deployment systems require a short activation time for restraint deployment, which is the time difference between when a host vehicle contacts an object and when a restraint is deployed. It is common for this period to be approximately 3-5 ms. From the onset of a collision, side airbags typically fully inflate in approximately 10-15 ms after activation. The stringent activation time requirements are due to the limited side structure of a vehicle and the limited available space between the interior side of the vehicle and an occupant, such as for example between an inside door panel and a vehicle occupant.
It is desirable to deploy airbags at different rates depending upon the severity of a collision. It is also desirable to deploy an airbag such that it is fully deployed at the appropriate time to maximize collision energy absorption and prevent injury to a vehicle occupant. It is understood that injury mitigation is not maximized when airbag deployment inaccurately occurs at an inappropriate time.
Also, current side airbag deployment systems, in certain scenarios, may be limited in their ability to differentiate between severe collisions and marginal collisions. For example, an accelerometer, installed in one selected area of a vehicle, may not detect or fully detect the energy experienced in a localized collision event in another or nearby area of the vehicle. Subsequently, non-deployment, or late deployment of side-restraints can occur.
Additionally, some airbag deployment systems, that include front airbags, can accidentally deploy the front airbags during a side collision. The National Automotive Sampling System indicates that 16% of frontal airbags have deployed for 3 o'clock side-collisions, while 22% of frontal airbags have deployed for 9 o'clock side-collisions.
Furthermore, current side airbag deployment systems do not account for occupant characteristics, such as occupant size, weight, and position within a seat system. As an example, it can be undesirable for a side airbag to deploy when an occupant is resting against a door panel or when a small occupant, such as a young child, is located in the seat system of concern.
Thus, there exists a need for an improved airbag deployment system for a vehicle that provides improved side airbag deployment control with accurate and appropriate deployment timing. The system should account for localized collisions, varying degrees of collision severity, and occupant characteristics, and prevent inadvertent deployment of front airbags during a side collision event.

Method and control system for predictive deployment of side-impact restraints


A snow-melting apparatus prevents ice dams on an outside surface of a roof of a building. An outer edge section of the roof extends over and beyond an outside wall of the building in an outward direction. A heat conduction device includes a substantially planar body portion formed of a substantially thermally conductive material and having a first side and a second side. The second side is opposite the first side. The first side has a coating with a high emissivity. The first side transfers heat to an inside surface of at least the outer edge section of the roof. A heat source is attached to the body portion of the heat conduction device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to deicing systems, and, more particularly, to a roof and gutter deicing system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ice dams forming near the outer edges, or xe2x80x9ceaves,xe2x80x9d of a roof and extending into the gutters are a significant source of damage to a building. Ice dams form when snow on an inner or middle section of a roof melts and the meltwater flows down to the outer section of the roof, where it then refreezes into ice. The heat from within the building conducts through the roof to melt the snow on the middle portion of the roof. However, the outer edge of the roof extends outwardly beyond the outside wall of the building, and therefore is not heated by the heat from within the building. Thus, the melted snow from the middle portion of the roof refreezes and accumulates on the outer edge portion of the roof and in the gutters, thereby forming ice dams. Another possible cause of ice dams is the heating of the dark shingles when exposed to sunlight. Snow on the roof slides down to the gutter, where it abuts the gutter, thaws and refreezes. The freezing of the meltwater eventually builds up into an ice dam.
Such ice dams are known to cause leaks in roofs by allowing water to enter underneath the shingles of the roof and expand upon refreezing, thereby forcing the shingle away from the other shingles on the roof. The weight of ice dams can also tear a gutter away from the roof and/or soffit, thereby requiring costly repairs.
It is known to attach a heater wire to the outside surface of the outer edge portion of the roof. The heater wire may also extend along the gutter and through the downspout in order to maintain an open drainage path for melting of the frozen precipitation.
Snow and ice melting systems commonly employ automatic ON/OFF controls that operate heaters only while required to minimize energy consumption and operating costs. Typically, the automatic ON/OFF controls sense ambient moisture and temperature. However, it is also possible for the automatic ON/OFF control to be in the form of a thermostat which only senses ambient temperature. Heaters operate at ambient temperatures below a thresholdxe2x80x94usually 38xc2x0 F. while ambient moisture is present and for a period of time thereafter to clear accumulated snow and ice. Optionally, the automatic ON/OFF control may inhibit heater operation at temperatures too low for effective melting, e.g., below 17xc2x0 F. Status indicators and a manual control and test switch are typically included in the same package with such automatic ON/OFF controls.
In order to reduce costs and simplify installation, it is known to install the automatic ON/OFF control package close to the heating device itself. A problem with installing the control package in close proximity to a roof heater is that it is then difficult to observe the status indicators and to test deicing system performance with the manual control and test switch.
Ground current is the difference between the outbound and return heater currents. The U.S. National Electric Code requires using a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on all snow and ice melting circuits. The GFCI interrupts heater current if the ground current exceeds a predetermined limit; usually 30 milliamperes. The GFCI requires manual reset after tripping. This preserves safety by not restarting heater operation during intermittent ground leakage current that may occur in wet locations.
Independent of the heater fabrication method, ground current can flow due to a heater failure caused by a manufacturing defect, corrosion, wear and tear or mechanical damage. Excessive ground current causes the dual safety problems of fire and shock hazard. An electrical shock hazard can also occur whenever ground current flows since its path to earth ground is usually not predictable. Thus, a GFCI is required to be incorporated into snow and ice melting electrical circuits. It is known to install a residential GFCI in a knockout box adjacent to the deicing system. Again, a problem is that a GFCI disposed next to a roof deicing system is difficult to access for purposes of resetting and/or testing the GFCI.
What is needed in the art is an apparatus for melting snow on the outer edge of a roof that does not require the user to physically access the apparatus in order to periodically reset or test the ground fault circuit interrupter or to monitor the status of the heater.
The present invention provides a heating apparatus including a ground fault circuit interrupter and a remote receiver for remotely resetting and testing the ground fault circuit interrupter and remotely monitoring the status of the heater.
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a snow-melting apparatus for preventing ice dams on an outside surface of a roof of a building. An outer edge section of the roof extends over and beyond an outside wall of the building in an outward direction. A heat conduction device includes a substantially planar body portion formed of a substantially thermally conductive material and having a first side and a second side. The second side is opposite the first side. The first side has a coating with a high emissivity. The first side transfers heat to an inside surface of at least the outer edge section of the roof. A heat source is attached to the body portion of the heat conduction device.
An advantage of the present invention is that a user does not need to physically access the heating apparatus in order to reset or test the ground fault circuit interrupter or to monitor the status of the heater.
Another advantage is that a single remote transceiver can be used to communicate with multiple heating devices and their controls.
Yet another advantage is that conductive and infrared heat losses are minimized.

Heating apparatus for preventing ice dams on a roof


With a power steering system and a control method of a power steering system provided, a basic assist control amount is calculated based on a steered state of a driver's steering wheel. A compensation control amount used to compensate for the basic assist control amount is calculated, and corrected, during calculation of the compensation control amount, based on a lane-position maintenance assist control amount which is calculated based on a running state of a vehicle and which is used to maintain a predetermined lane-position. A target assist control amount applied to a steering mechanism is calculated based on the basic assist control amount, the lane-position maintenance assist control amount, and the compensation control amount.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to a power steering system and a control method of a power steering system. More specifically, the invention relates to a power steering system used in a lane-position maintenance assist apparatus that assists a vehicle in maintaining the proper lane-position, and a control method of a power steering system.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, Japanese Patent No. 3185726 describes a lane-position maintenance assist apparatus that assists a vehicle in maintaining the proper lane-position. The lane-position maintenance assist apparatus initially calculates the lane-offset amount that is the lateral offset between the center line of the vehicle, extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, from the center line of the cruising lane; the yaw angle which the center line of the cruising lane forms with the center line of the vehicle, etc. by processing the image of the cruising lane captured by, for example, a CCD camera. Based on the result of calculation, the lane-position maintenance assist apparatus calculates the steering torque for assisting the vehicle in maintaining the proper lane-position (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the "steering torque for lane-position maintenance assist"). The lane-position maintenance assist apparatus assists the vehicle in maintaining the proper lane-position by driving an electric motor included in an electric power steering system based on the calculated steering torque.
However, the lane-position maintenance assist apparatus drives the electric power steering system independently of the steering operation performed by a driver, that is, the input of the driver. As a result, the driver may feel a sense of discomfort, and the steering feel may deteriorate.
For example, when the driver operates a driver's steering wheel during the lane-position maintenance assist control, if the direction in which the driver operates the driver's steering wheel is the same as the direction in which the steering torque for lane-position maintenance assist is applied, the driver's steering wheel is operated unexpectedly lightly, causing the driver to feel unexpectedly less resistance in the operation of the driver's steering wheel. On the other hand, if the direction in which the driver operates the driver's steering wheel is opposite to the direction in which the steering torque for proper lane-position maintenance assist is applied, the driver's steering wheel is operated unexpectedly heavily, causing the driver to feel unexpectedly high resistance in the operation of the driver's steering wheel. Also, if the steering torque for lane-position maintenance assist fluctuates, the driver's steering wheel vibrates due to the reaction force caused by such fluctuation.

Power steering system and control method of the same


The invention provides for an alternative and less complex method of manufacturing a bipolar transistor comprising a field plate (17) in a trench (7) adjacent to a collector region (21), which field plate (17) employs a reduced surface field (Resurf) effect. The Resurf effect reshapes the electric field distribution in the collector region (21) such that for the same collector-base breakdown voltage the doping concentration of the collector region (21) can effectively be increased resulting in a reduced collector resistance and hence an increased bipolar transistor speed. The method comprises a step of forming a base window (6) in a first base layer (4) thereby exposing a top surface of the collector region (21) and a part of an isolation region (3). The trench (7) is formed by removing the exposed part of the isolation region (3), after which isolation layers (9,10) are formed on the surface of the trench (7). A second base layer (13) is formed on the isolation layer (10), thereby forming the field plate (17), on the top surface of the collector region (21), thereby forming a base region (31), and on a sidewall of the first base layer (4), thereby forming an electrical connection between the first base layer (4), the base region (31) and the field plate (17). An emitter region (41) is formed on a top part of the base region (31), thereby forming the Resurf bipolar transistor.

Bipolar transistors are important for high-frequency applications, such as optical data communication, and for RF power applications, such as power amplifier modules in wireless handset applications. Generally, it is important in RF power applications to have a bipolar transistor with both a good high-frequency performance and a high base-collector junction breakdown voltage (BVCB0) to meet ruggedness demands, especially during load mismatch conditions. This speed-breakdown trade-off is, amongst others, influenced by the drift region in the collector region of the bipolar transistor. A higher doping concentration of the collector drift region increases the speed of the bipolar transistor, but reduces the breakdown voltage between the collector region and any other adjacent region, such as the base region.
One way of improving the speed-breakdown trade-off is by applying the reduced surface field (Resurf) effect. In "A new Sub-Micron 24V SiGe:C Resurf HBT", by J. Melai et al, ISPSD, 2004, it is disclosed that the Resurf effect comprises the reshaping of the electric field distribution in the collector drift region for a reverse bias situation such that a more uniform electric field distribution with a reduced maximum electric field is formed. The BVCB0 of the bipolar transistor is thereby increased or, alternatively, for the same BVCB0 the doping concentration of the collector region can effectively be increased resulting in a reduced collector resistance and hence an increased bipolar transistor speed. A method to implement the Resurf effect in a bipolar transistor is the addition of a field plate, which is electrically isolated from the collector drift region by a dielectric layer. By applying a suitable voltage on the field plate, the electric field of the collector drift region is reshaped into the more uniform electric field distribution. The method of manufacturing a bipolar transistor with a field plate, which is disclosed in "A new Sub-Micron 24V SiGe:C Resurf HBT", by J. Melai et al, ISPSD, 2004, starts with the formation of a sub-collector region in a semiconductor substrate followed by the epitaxial growth of a collector drift region on the sub-collector region. Then standard shallow trench isolation (STI) regions are formed and a base layer is epitaxially grown on the collector drift region. On the base layer a hard mask layer is deposited and patterned using photolithography, thereby defining and masking the area where the bipolar transistor will be formed and forming extrinsic base windows in the hard mask that expose a part of the base layer, which adjoins the area where the bipolar transistor will be formed and which extends over a part of the collector drift region and a part of the STI regions. Then trenches are formed by removing the exposed base layer and etching the then exposed part of the collector drift region until the sub-collector region is exposed at the bottom of the trenches. A first sidewall of the trenches adjoins the collector drift region of the bipolar transistor and a second sidewall of the trenches adjoins the STI region. Then a TEOS (Tetraethyl Orthosilicate) layer is formed on the first and second sidewall of the trench by deposition and etch-back of TEOS. Subsequently the trenches are filled with undoped polysilicon up to the level of the base by deposition, CMP and dry etching techniques. Then an extrinsic base contact is made by deposition, planarization and etch-back of p-type polysilicon, partly filling the extinsic base windows and electrically contacting the undoped polysilicon in the trench and the base layer. After removal of the hard mask, an emitter region is formed on a part of the base layer that extends over the collector drift region using, amongst others, deposition and photolithography process steps.

Method of manufacturing a bipolar transistor


A pulley has a hub fixed to a rotating shaft. An outer wheel is disposed on the outer periphery of the hub and around which a belt is suspended, and a unidirectional clutch is interposed between the hub and the outer wheel. A cam face for forming a wedged space of the unidirectional clutch is formed at the inside of the pulley, whereby the unidirectional clutch is switched between a free state and a locked state through the rotational variation of the hub which rotates integrally with the rotating shaft to reduce the transmission of the rotational variation from the hub to the outer wheel. Further, the unidirectional clutch can operate stably without suffering the effect of the rotational centrifugal force.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pulley, and particularly to a pulley which is mounted on the outer end of a crankshaft of an engine of a vehicle or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a pulley which is secured to a crankshaft is provided with a rubber damper to reduce such a phenomenon as torsional and flexural resonance of the crankshaft as disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. Sho-59-40060 and Japanese Laid-open Utility Model Application No. Hei-2-80252.
Since the phenomenon such as the torsional and flexural resonance of the crankshaft as described above occurs particularly at a high rotational number area (for example, above 2000 rpm) of the crankshaft, the characteristics of the rubber damper are designed so that the suppression of the above phenomenon is most effectively performed at this rotational number area.
It has been generally known that the crankshaft is advanced or delayed due to unevenness of explosion of a combustion chamber, resulting in variation of the rotational number. The variation of the rotational number of the crankshaft is more remarkable particularly at a low rotational number area such as an idling area (for example, around 1000 rpm). The variation of the rotational number of the crankshaft directly causes the rotational variation of the pulley, and thus the tension of a belt which is suspended around the pulley varies, so that the belt is slipped on the pulley to induce a belt noise or wear on the belt.
When the characteristics of the rubber damper is designed so that the variation of the rotational number of the crankshaft particularly at the idling rotation area is reduced by the rubber damper as described above, not only the suppression effect of the resonance phenomenon which is the original purpose to use the rubber damper is lowered, but also the durability of the rubber damper itself is reduced.


A highly reliable surface acoustic wave device includes wiring lines that do not easily rupture at a three-dimensional wiring portion. The surface acoustic wave device includes a plurality of surface acoustic wave elements located on a piezoelectric substrate, a supporting member arranged on the piezoelectric substrate so as to enclose vibrating portions including electrodes such as IDT electrodes, and a cover member stacked so as to cover openings of the supporting member and to define hollow spaces facing vibrating electrodes. Furthermore, a three-dimensional wiring portion at which a first wiring line and a second wiring line are stacked with an insulating layer interposed therebetween is provided on the piezoelectric substrate. The three-dimensional wiring portion is enclosed by the supporting member, and thereby disposed inside a space enclosed by the piezoelectric substrate, the supporting member, and the cover member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to surface acoustic wave devices including a plurality of surface acoustic wave elements electrically connected to each other by wiring lines, and more specifically, relates to surface acoustic wave devices including three-dimensional wiring portions at which a plurality of wiring lines intersect with each other in a three-dimensional manner.
2. Description of the Related Art
To date, surface acoustic wave devices have been widely used for band-pass filters for, for example, cellular phones. In order to reduce the size of such surface acoustic wave devices, the following Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-217226 discloses a surface acoustic wave device shown in FIG. 7.
A surface acoustic wave device 101 includes a piezoelectric substrate 102 composed of, for example, LiTaO3. An IDT electrode 103 is formed on the piezoelectric substrate 102. A protective film 104 is formed so as to cover the IDT electrode 103.
Surface acoustic waves are excited by applying an AC voltage to the IDT electrode 103. A space A is formed so as not to prevent the vibration of the surface acoustic waves. That is, the space A is formed over a vibrating portion including the IDT electrode 103 so as not to prevent the vibrating portion from vibrating.
A surrounding wall 105 is formed so as to enclose the vibrating portion and thereby to form the space A. The surrounding wall 105 is formed by patterning a heat-resistant photosensitive resin. In addition, a cover 106 is stacked so as to cover the space A enclosed by the surrounding wall 105. The cover 106 is formed of a synthetic resin layer.
Moreover, through-holes extend through the surrounding wall 105 and the cover 106, and bumps 107 are disposed inside the through-holes. The bumps 107 are electrically connected to the IDT electrode 103 at predetermined portions (not shown).
The surface acoustic wave device 101 is designed such that the size, in particular, the thickness thereof is reduced by using the surrounding wall 105 composed of the photosensitive resin and the cover 106 formed of the synthetic resin layer.
When band-pass filters, for example, for cellular phones, are configured, filter circuits are often formed by electrically connecting a plurality of surface acoustic wave elements. In this case, a common piezoelectric substrate is used for the plurality of surface acoustic wave elements. That is, a plurality of vibrating portions are formed on one piezoelectric substrate so as to form the surface acoustic wave elements. Subsequently, the plurality of vibrating portions are electrically connected to each other by wiring lines formed on the piezoelectric substrate. In this case, the plurality of wiring lines intersect with each other in a three-dimensional manner at some portions so that the size of the device is reduced. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, a first wiring line 112 and a second wiring line 113 intersect with each other in a three-dimensional manner at a three-dimensional wiring portion 111. An insulating layer 114 is formed between the first wiring line 112 and the second wiring line 113.
However, when the piezoelectric substrate is commonly used for a plurality of surface acoustic wave elements having a structure with which the size and the thickness of the devices can be reduced as in the surface acoustic wave device 101 described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-217226, ruptures disadvantageously occur in wiring lines at the three-dimensional wiring portions. For example, when two or more surface acoustic wave elements 101 and at least one three-dimensional wiring portion 111 shown in FIG. 8 are formed on one piezoelectric substrate, the three-dimensional wiring portion is disposed between the surrounding wall 105 and the piezoelectric substrate 102. Therefore, the second wiring line 113, located at an upper position, is disposed between the insulating layer 114 and the surrounding wall 105.
The insulating layer 114 is formed so as to improve characteristics of the device by reducing the parasitic capacitance between the first wiring line 112 and the second wiring line 113, and to ensure the electrical insulation at the three-dimensional intersecting portion. To this end, the insulating layer 114 is composed of a synthetic resin such as polyimide, which differs from the synthetic resin of the surrounding wall 105.
Therefore, when the ambient temperature changes, ruptures sometimes occur at the second wiring line 113 due to stress caused by a difference in the coefficients of linear expansion between the surrounding wall 105 disposed over the second wiring line 113 and the insulating layer 114 disposed under the second wiring line.


There is provided a driving device of a liquid drop ejecting head, includes: a piezoelectric element for causing expulsion of liquid drops from an ejector which ejects liquid drops, a first electrode of the piezoelectric element being connected to a predetermined voltage; a switching section connected to a second electrode of the piezoelectric element, and able to switch among three states which are a charging state of the piezoelectric element, a discharging state of the piezoelectric element, and an open state; and a control section controlling switching of the switching section in a cycle which is shorter than a charging time or a discharging time of the piezoelectric element by the switching section.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a driving device and a driving method of a liquid drop ejecting head and to a liquid drop ejecting device, and in particular, relates to a driving device and a driving method of a liquid drop ejecting head which ejects a liquid drop due to vibration of a piezoelectric element such as a piezo element or the like, and to a liquid drop ejecting device.
2. Related Art
In a liquid drop ejecting device such as an inkjet printer or the like which ejects liquid drops by using a piezo element as an actuator, there are known, in generating pressure within a chamber in which liquid drops are filled, analog waveform driving which can generate an arbitrary pressure at an arbitrary time (e.g., the driving waveform shown in FIG. 12A), and rectangular wave driving which can control only the time and in which the pressure is constant (e.g., the driving waveform shown in FIG. 12B).

Driving device and driving method of a liquid drop ejecting head, and liquid drop ejecting device


A musical tone waveform signal generating apparatus in which a waveform signal is circulated to generate a musical tone waveform signal. The apparatus includes an excitation portion for mixing an excitation control signal with the waveform signal and for non-linearly converting the mixed waveform signal and a signal transmission portion coupled with the excitation portion to feed back the converted waveform signal to the excitation portion with delay of a predetermined time for causing on the converted waveform signal a resonance frequency corresponding with a pitch of a musical tone to be generated. In the excitation portion, the non-linear conversion of the mixed waveform signal is effected by a plurality of non-linear tables to generate various kinds of musical tone waveform signals, and the converted waveform signal is controlled by a tone color control signal to simulate the musical tone as a natural musical tone created by performance of a musical instrument such as a wind instrument, a brass-wind instrument, a stringed instrument or the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a musical tone waveform signal generating apparatus adapted for use in an electronic musical instrument, a music education system, an amusement tool or the like, and more particularly to a musical tone waveform signal generating apparatus designed to circulate a waveform signal for producing a musical tone waveform signal in response to a performance information applied thereto.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 63-40199 discloses a conventional musical tone waveform signal generating apparatus of this kind which includes an excitation circuit portion and a signal transmission portion, the former circuit portion having means for mixing a circulated waveform signal with an excitation control signal applied thereto from an external source of signals and a non-linear conversion circuit for non-linearly converting the mixed waveform signal into an output waveform signal to be generated as a musical tone waveform signal, and the latter circuit portion being arranged to feed back the output waveform signal to the excitation circuit portion with delay of a predetermined time thereby to obtain a resonance frequency corresponding to a pitch of the musical tone to be generated. In the musical tone waveform signal generating apparatus, the excitation circuit portion is desinged to correspond with the mouth-piece of a wind instrument, while the signal transmission circuit portion is designed to correspond with the resonance tube of the wind instrument so that the waveform signal circulated through the excitation and signal transmission circuit portions is generated as the musical tone waveform signal.
In the conventional apparatus described above, the non-linear conversion circuit is provided with only a single non-linear table for conversion of the mixed waveform signal. With such a single non-linear table, it is impossible to vary the non-linear characteristic of the mixed waveform signal at the excitation circuit portion. This means that the musical tone waveform signal is generated only in the form of a single kind of waveform signal. For this reason, the conventional apparatus is insufficient for use in an electronic musical instrument, a music education system, an amusement tool or the like.

Musical tone waveform signal generating apparatus using parallel non-linear conversion tables


An activated sludge wastewater treatment method is provided. The disclosed method includes: receiving a stream of wastewater into a mixed liquor in an uncovered activated sludge basin; introducing high purity oxygen to the mixed liquor in the activated sludge basin to produce euoxic conditions (i.e. a dissolved oxygen level in the range of between about 5 mg to 15 mg) in the activated sludge basin; passing a portion of the mixed liquor in the activated sludge basin through a clarifier to separate activated sludge and produce an effluent stream and an activated sludge stream; and recycling a portion of the activated sludge stream to the activated sludge basin to produce a mixed liquor having a solids loading of between about 3000 mg and about 10000 mg of suspended solids per liter of mixed liquor and a solids retention time of between about 7 days and 40 days.

Most conventional wastewater treatment plants use an activated sludge process to remove contaminants from the wastewater. Many different wastewater treatment schemes employing the activated sludge processes have been developed over the years with each of the different systems demonstrating different operating characteristics and different benefits. FIG. 1 is a table that depicts the operating characteristics of most types of wastewater treatment arrangements employing activated sludge process. Each of these wastewater treatment systems are summarized in the paragraphs that follow.
The activated sludge process is a biological wastewater treatment method in which carbonaceous organic matter of wastewater is consumed by microorganisms for life-sustaining processes (e.g. growth, reproduction, digestion, movement, etc.). The activated sludge process preferably occurs in an aerobic environment where oxygen is consumed during the utilization and degradation of organic materials and by-products of carbon dioxide and water are formed.
An activated sludge process is characterized by the suspension of micro-organisms in the wastewater, a mixture referred to as the mixed liquor. Activated sludge processes are designed based on the suspended solids within the mixed liquor (MLSS) and the organic loading of the wastewater, as represented by the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and/or chemical oxygen demand (COD). The MLSS represents the quantity of microorganisms involved in the treatment of the organic materials in the aeration basin, while the organic loading typically determines the requirements for the design of the aeration system.
The activated sludge process is preferably used as part of an overall wastewater treatment process or system, which includes a primary treatment of the wastewater for the removal of particulate solids prior to the use of activated sludge as a further treatment process to remove suspended and dissolved organic solids. A primary clarifier is typically used for such bulk separation
After primary treatment of the influent to separate and remove particulate solids, the influent is then sent to an aeration basin or tank where the activated sludge process is initiated, as described in more detail herein. The solution or mixed liquor exiting the aeration basin is received by a secondary clarifier or settling tank, where flocs of microorganisms with their adsorbed organic materials settle out. This separation of sludge produces clear water or effluent which is often further treated to remove harmful bacteria and subsequently discharged. To control the biological process, a portion of the sludge that settle to the bottom of the secondary clarifier are returned to the activated sludge basin and a portion is disposed as part of a waste activated sludge stream for further treatment, for example to a aerobic digester or other solids handling process (thickening, dewatering, etc.).
In a conventional activated sludge process the primary effluent and acclimated micro-organisms (activated sludge or biomass) are aerated in a basin or tank. After a sufficient aeration period, the flocculent activated sludge solids are separated from the wastewater in a secondary clarifier. The clarified wastewater flows forward for further treatment or discharge. A portion of the clarifier underflow sludge is returned to the aeration basin for mixing with the primary-treated influent to the basin and the remaining sludge is wasted to the sludge handling portion of the treatment plant. Typically, the conventional activated sludge system operates at MLSS levels of 1500 to 3000 mg/L with a dissolved oxygen level at about 1 to 3 mg/L, a solids retention time of only 5 to 15 days, a hydraulic retention time of about 4 to 8 hours, a Food to Microorganism ratio of about 0.2 to 0.4, a Volumetric Loading of about 20 to 40 pounds BOD per day per 1000 cubic feet and a recycle ratio of between about 0.25 to 0.75
In the completely-mixed activated sludge process, influent wastewater and the recycled sludge are introduced uniformly through the aeration tank. This allows for uniform oxygen demand throughout the aeration tank and adds operational stability when treating shock loads. Aeration time ranges between 3 and 6 hours. Recirculation ratios in a completely-mixed system will range from 50 to 150 percent. The complete-mix activated sludge system operates at slightly higher MLSS levels than conventional systems, typically at 2500 to 4000 mg/L with similar dissolved oxygen level at about 1 to 3 mg/L and solids retention time of 5 to 15 days. Because of the enhanced treatment capabilities of the complete mix activated sludge process, it requires an aeration time or a Hydraulic Retention Time of only 3 to 5 hours. The typical Food to Microorganism ratio is about 0.2 to 0.6, a Volumetric Loading of about 50 to 120 BOD per day per 1000 cubic feet and a Recycle Ratio of between about 0.25 to 1.0
Extended aeration activated sludge plants are designed to provide a 24-hour aeration period for low organic loadings of less than 25 pounds biochemical oxygen demand per 1,000 cubic feet of aeration tank volume. This approach requires the use of very large basins which increases the aeration time and associated aeration power costs. Typically, the extended aeration activated sludge process operates at MLSS levels of 3000 to 6000 mg/L with a low dissolved oxygen level at about 1 to 3 mg/L, a high solids retention time of 20 to 30 days. The extended aeration process is also characterized by a very long hydraulic retention time of about 18 to 36 hours, a low Food to Microorganism ratio of about 0.05 to 0.15, a low Volumetric Loading of about 10 to 25 pounds of BOD per day per 1000 cubic feet and a Recycle Ratio of between about 0.5 to 1.50.
The closed-loop reactor, also known as an oxidation ditch, is a form of the extended aeration process. In an oxidation ditch process, the wastewater is propelled around a large area, oval racetrack-configured basin by mechanical aerator/mixing devices located at one or more points along the basin. These devices typically are either brush aerators, surface aerators or jet aerators. The velocity in the basin is designed to be between 0.8 and 1.2 feet per second. Much like the extended aeration process, the oxidation ditch process typically operates at MLSS levels of 3000 to 6000 mg/L with a low dissolved oxygen level at about 1 to 3 mg/L, a high solids retention time of between 10 and 30 days. The oxidation ditch process is also characterized by a very long hydraulic retention time of about 8 to 36 hours, a Food to Microorganism ratio of about 0.05 to 0.30, a low Volumetric Loading of about 5 to 30 pounds of BOD per day per 1000 cubic feet and a Recycle Ratio of about 0.75 to 1.50.
High rate aeration activated sludge process typically operates at higher MLSS levels of 4000 to 10000 mg/L but with a low dissolved oxygen level of about 1 to 3 mg/L, a more conventional solids retention time of 5 to 10 days. The high rate aeration process is also characterized by hydraulic retention time of only 2 to 4 hours, a high Food to Microorganism ratio of about 0.40 to 1.50, a high Volumetric Loading of about 100 to 1000 pounds of BOD per day per 1000 cubic feet and a high Recycle Ratio of between about 1.0 and 5.0.
The Covered Basin—High Purity Oxygen (HPO) activated sludge process is characterized as a system, such as a UNOX™ or OASES™ system, that employs a covered basin and direct injection of high purity oxygen in the mixed liquor within the covered basin to achieve higher dissolved oxygen rates of between about 2 to 20 mg/L. The covered basin systems typically operates at moderate MLSS levels of 2000 to 5000 mg/L and a very short solids retention time of 3 to 10 days. The Covered Basin-HPO process is also characterized by hydraulic retention time of only 1 to 3 hours, a Food to Microorganism ratio of about 0.25 to 1.00, a high Volumetric Loading of about 100 to 200 pounds of BOD/day per 1000 cubic feet and a Recycle Ratio of between about 0.25 to 0.50.
Many of the activated sludge processes, described above, produce large amounts of waste sludge that require further treatment and disposal. Treatment and disposal of excess sludge from wastewater treatment plants typically account for between about 25-65% of the total plant operation cost. The economic significance of this problem is increasing, due to more stringent regulations and rising disposal costs.
Existing methods for dealing with the removal of sludge include transporting the sludge to landfills, utilization of sludge for land application or agricultural purposes, and incineration of the sludge. In many regions, sludge disposal in landfills is being phased out and land application of sludge is becoming more strictly regulated to prevent environmental and health risks due to pathogens and toxic compounds in the sludge. Likewise, incineration of sludge is an expensive process and presents potential air pollution hazards. Due to the regulatory, environmental, and cost issues associated with solids handling and disposal, it is beneficial to minimize the amount of excess sludge produced in a wastewater treatment process.
Another major cost in the above-described wastewater treatment operations is electrical power. Current aeration systems used in wastewater treatment plants typically represent more than 50% of the overall plant power consumption. Power costs are increasing substantially due to rapidly rising electricity rates, and many electric power utilities have targeted wastewater treatment plants for possible electric power demand reductions.
Therefore, there is a significant need to reduce wastewater treatment plant operating costs through reduced solids handling and disposal costs together with power cost savings.

Method for activated sludge wastewater treatment with high dissolved oxygen levels


An endoscope for stereoscopic viewing of surgical procedures, consisting of two solid-state cameras and a bundle of illuminating optic fibers. The width of the optic fiber bundle is approximately equal to that of the endoscope thereby maximizing the amount of light which the bundle can provide. The viewing cameras can be separated to a distance greater than the width of the sheath for enhanced depth perception and greater light delivery, and withdrawn into the sheath for insertion and withdrawal of the endoscope from the surgical cavity. The orientation of the cameras can be controlled to provide off-axis viewing.

The last decade has seen dramatic advances in the field of endoscopic instrumentation, and the application of endoscopic techniques to a growing number of surgical procedures. The benefits--reduced pain and discomfort, shortened recovery time and better cosmetic results--insure that endoscopic surgery will continue to be a rapidly developing and widely applied technique.
Endoscopic surgery is performed with elongated instruments inserted through small holes in the skin, and is viewed through an endoscope. The image acquired by the endoscope is generally displayed on a video monitor. Endoscopic operations require more mental and physical dexterity than corresponding traditional surgical techniques. Because of these additional difficulties it is important to provide endoscopic instruments which are easy and convenient to use, and viewing systems which are as informative as possible.
Traditionally, endoscopes only utilize a single lens train and so only provide monoscopic viewing of surgical procedures. Since monoscopic views provide no depth information the surgeon must rely on foreshortening effects or tactile clues to determine depth relative to the viewing lens.


An apparatus for representing the state of a condition, the condition having a true state and a false state, the apparatus comprising an indicator having a recognizable feature indicative of the true state of the condition, a cover for covering the indicator and a support for removably supporting the indicator and cover on a surface. The apparatus includes a device for moving the indicator and the cover relative to each other such that the true state of the condition is represented by the indicator being uncovered and the false state of the condition is represented by the indicator being covered.

This invention relates to signalling devices for signalling a condition to an observer and more particularly to railway signalling devices for signalling a condition of a railroad track to a train engineer situated on a train.
Generally, all railways have an authority which issues operating rules of the railway. Such rules often have specific clauses which protect workers performing track work within certain limits along railway rights-of-way during a pre-determined period of time. A typical clause is that before any work can be performed at a work site, a flagman is required to walk along the track to a location at a specified distance from the work site and physically place four flags on staffs in a position so as to be seen by train engineers on approaching trains. When the work shift is completed, the flagman is sometimes required to remove the flags. On successive days, the flagman is required to place the flags at the start of each shift and is required to remove the flags at the end of each shift. This can be time consuming for the flagman as the location of placing the flags is often a considerable distance from the work site.
What is desired therefore is a device which eliminates the task of physically placing flags at the required locations along a railroad track when work is to be performed along railway rights-of-way.


An installation structure of electronic paper and a resistive film type touch panel, includes electronic paper, a resistive film type touch panel disposed on a back surface side of the electronic paper, and a multitude of protrusions that are disposed between the electronic paper and the resistive film type touch panel, and that are fixed to at least one of the electronic paper and the resistive film type touch panel.

Conventionally, there is a display media referred to as electronic paper. The electronic paper maintains visibility and portability which are regarded as the advantage of paper, and allows the displayed content to be electrically rewritten. The representative display technique of the electronic paper is the electrophoretic system. Electronic paper 101 of this system is developed by E Ink Corporation, US. In the electronic paper 101 of this scheme, each microcapsule 43 accommodates white particles, black particles, and fluid. The white particles and the black particles are shifted by an electric field, whereby a black-and-white display is presented (see Patent Document 1). More specifically, in each transparent microcapsule 43 having a diameter of about 40 μm, positively charged white pigment particles 44 and negatively charged black pigment particles 45 are accommodated with a transparent dispersion medium (oil) 46. The capsules are each structured with only a single thin layer, and are aligned between two narrow electrode plates without any space. One side of the electrode serving as the display surface (front surface layer) 41 is made of a transparent electrode 42 such as ITO, and an electrode 47 on the opposite side is supported by a support layer 48, and is structured with fine rectangular electrodes having the display resolution of a required degree (see FIG. 3). By application of voltage from an external control circuit, an electric field generates between the two electrodes 42 and 47, and the positively and negatively charged white and black pigment particles 44 and 45 migrate in the oil 46. Then, the pigment particles 44 or 45 of the color selected by the voltage gather on the display surface side of the capsule 43, to present black and white display. For each display is selected. For example, in FIG. 3, white color is displayed by external light 49 (see reference character 50), and black color is displayed by the external light 49 (see reference character 51). Since the pigment particles 44 and 45 do not easily move even when the voltage is turned off, it can be read as printed matter.
For its characteristics such as low power consumption and high visibility, products using the electronic paper, e.g., various mobile phones, electronic book readers, are now commercially available, and are so popular that they are introduced into digital signage. In addition, what is coming into use lately is application of a touch panel to the electronic paper.
Meanwhile, since the electronic paper 101 presents display using reflected light similarly to paper, electronic paper 101 has a wide viewing angle. Even when the electronic paper 101 is irradiated with direct sunlight, electronic paper 101 is easily recognizable and puts less burden on the eyes. However, as described above, when the resistive film type touch panel 102 is disposed on the front surface side of the electronic paper 101, light reflects off the front surface of the resistive film type touch panel 102, between the electrodes thereof, the back surface thereof, and the like (see FIG. 4). This invites a problem that the excellent visibility that is inherent to the electronic paper 101 is impaired, and burden on the eyes is great.
On the other hand, there is another technique in which a capacitive type touch panel is disposed on the back surface side of the electronic paper. In this case, since the electronic paper is positioned at the topmost surface, visibility will not be impaired. However, with the capacitive type touch panel, an input cannot be carried out with a pen.
Accordingly, currently, it is required to dispose the resistive film type touch panel 102 on the back surface side of the electronic paper 101 (see FIG. 5), such that an input is entered via the electronic paper 101.

Installation structure of thin-type display and resistive film type touch panel, resistive film type touch panel unit with front-surface protrusions, and thin-type display unit with back-surface protrusions


There is provided a vehicular-wheel bearing assembly. The vehicular-wheel bearing assembly includes an inner shaft (1), an outer ring (2) provided around the inner shaft (1), and two rows of balls (3aand 3b) provided between the inner shaft (1) and the outer ring (2) in angular contact with the inner shaft (1) and the outer ring (2). An annular raceway member (4) with a curved section that is a separate member from the inner shaft (1) and the outer ring (2) and has a raceway surface for the rolling element is provided on an outer peripheral surface (11) of the inner shaft (1) and an inner peripheral surface (12) of the outer ring (2).

A conventionally known vehicular-wheel bearing assembly (hub unit) to which wheels of an automobile are mounted includes an inner shaft to which a wheel and a brake rotor of a disk brake are mounted, and an outer ring that is fitted to the inner shaft from outside via two rows of rolling elements and is secured to a vehicle body. Raceway surfaces for the rolling elements are formed in two areas in an outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft, an outer peripheral surface of an inner ring member fitted to the inner shaft from outside, and an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring.
The outer ring and the inner shaft are made of, for example, carbon steel material such as S55C (carbon steel material for mechanical structure) by hot forging. Further, the raceway surfaces that require high hardness, and a base of a flange portion to which the wheel is mounted in the inner shaft are subjected to heat treatment (high frequency quenching and tempering). This increases performance and life. Such heat treatment, however, is a factor of increasing production costs. Particularly, selective quenching of the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring and the outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft having complicated shapes is difficult and increases production costs.
Thus, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-294031, a configuration is proposed in which an inner shaft is formed by cold forging of a tubular material to reduce an area of cutting or polishing, thereby reducing production costs.
Another known vehicular-wheel bearing assembly to which wheels of an automobile are mounted includes an inner shaft having a flange portion to which a wheel side member is mounted, and an outer ring that is fitted to the inner shaft from outside via two rows of rolling elements and is secured to a vehicle body. The wheel side member includes a wheel and a brake rotor of a disk brake.
For example, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-291604, a guide member that serves as a guide for mounting a wheel side member to a mounting surface of a flange portion is provided at an end of an inner shaft. The guide member is a separate member from the inner shaft for simplifying the shape of the inner shaft formed by forging, which facilitates production and reduces costs.


The present invention discloses a control method, system, electronic device and readable storage medium for a capsule endoscope. The method includes: providing a working apparatus, comprising a capsule endoscope, and an external data recorder for cooperating with and controlling the capsule endoscope; monitoring the received ambient power by the external data recorder before wireless transmission of the capsule endoscope or during an intermittence between two transmissions, and/or monitoring the output power of the capsule endoscope by the external data recorder as data is transmitted during wireless transmission; adjusting the operating state of the working apparatus according to the ambient power and/or output power. The present invention can monitor the power during the dormant period before image interaction and/or in the process of image interaction, thus adjust the operating state of the capsule endoscope in real time, which can improve the wireless communication performance and operating time of the capsule endoscope.

Capsule endoscope is a medical device that integrates core components such as a camera and a wireless transmission antenna into a capsule that can be swallowed by a subject. During the examination, as swallowed into the body of the subject, the capsule endoscope takes images in the digestive tract while transmits the images to the outside of the body for review and evaluation by a physician.
Existing capsule endoscopy systems communicate with a portable external data recorder through wireless electromagnetic waves, so that the images taken by the capsule can be effectively transmitted to the data recorder. Existing capsule endoscopy systems, because they cannot sense and monitor the wireless electromagnetic environment, can cause loss of images during transmission when there are external interference signals of the same frequency, and affect the integrity of the final medical diagnosis.
In addition, in an actual clinical examination, the body size of a subject varies greatly, with a waist circumference ranging from 60 cm to 150 cm. At the same time, the human tissue thickness and electrical parameters are different when the capsule endoscope passes through different parts of the digestive tract, which may impose different requirements on the communication link margin of the capsule endoscopy system, with a difference of 5-20 dB. The existing solution to such problem is to increase the radiation power of the capsule endoscope and the receiving sensitivity of the recorder, so as to cover the larger size of people as much as possible.
There are mainly two means to increase the radiation power of the capsule endoscope: one is to increase the RF output power of the capsule endoscope by adding a PA (abbreviation for Power Amplifier) chip. The capsule endoscope, as powered by a coin cell battery, is more sensitive to power consumption, so adding a PA chip to increase output power can greatly affect the working time of the capsule. Under the existing battery technology, this solution is not feasible due to the power consumption problem. The other is to optimize the antenna of the capsule endoscope to improve the gain performance of the antenna. However, the internal space of the capsule endoscope is so confined that it is difficult to improve the antenna gain by optimizing the antenna, and the space for improvement is limited.

Control method, control system, electronic device and readable storage medium for capsule endoscope


A transformer includes: a primary winding receiving portion having a primary winding wound around an axis; and a pair of secondary winding receiving portions each having a secondary winding wound around an axis and disposed on the opposite sides of the first primary winding receiving portion with a gap left in the axial direction. The gaps are formed in a size of a value higher than a first predetermined value, and the coupling coefficients between the first primary winding and the two secondary windings are set lower than a second predetermined value by the gaps.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a transformer and a backlight apparatus as well as a display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display apparatus is available wherein a liquid crystal panel of the transmission type is illuminated using a backlight apparatus in the past.
The backlight apparatus includes a cold cathode fluorescent lamp and a driving circuit (inverter circuit) which supplies a high frequency voltage higher than 1 kV to the cold cathode fluorescent lamp.
In most cases, the driving circuit includes a transformer (inverter transformer) for generating a high-voltage high-frequency voltage from a dc voltage.
In the past, the driving circuit in most cases has a configuration wherein one transformer is provided for one cold cathode fluorescent lamp. However, another configuration has become frequently adopted wherein a large number of cold cathode fluorescent lamps are driven by a single transformer in order to achieve power saving.
Incidentally, in order to keep the brightness of a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps uniform, it is necessary to supply uniform current to the cold cathode fluorescent lamps. A driving circuit has been proposed which includes a balance transformer or a balance capacitor for suppressing the dispersion of current interposed between a transformer and each of a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps in order to achieve such uniform current. A driving circuit of the type just described is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-140055.

Transformer, backlight apparatus, and display apparatus


A machine learning system for training a data model to predict data states in medical orders is described. The machine learning system is configured to train a data model to predict whether a medical order requires prior authorization (“PA”) for medical orders within a medical order data set so that related systems may process incoming medical orders with PA determinations predicted by the data model. The machine learning system includes a first data warehouse system. The first prescription processing system generates a data model of historical orders and payer responses, apply a predictive machine learning model to the data model to generate a trained predictor of whether a medical order requires PA, associated with order data, apply the trained predictor to a plurality of production orders to determine PA for each of the plurality of production orders, and process the plurality of production orders with each associated PA determination.

The relationship between data sets and certain data characteristics may be difficult to predict. Notably, in the case of medical order data sets, the relationship between the medical orders and certain characteristics are not static over time, and therefore not predictable with a static model. In other words, existing static data models cannot predictably determine certain characteristics of medical orders over time. The reason that static data models cannot determine these characteristics is because conditions of medical orders change frequently, altering the relationships between elements of medical orders and related characteristics. Nevertheless, it is crucial that medical order processing systems determine some of these characteristics as early as possible in the information cycle of processing the medical order.
In the context of prescription medical orders, one characteristic that is particularly important is the determination of whether a medical order is prior authorized. Prior authorization (PA) is a characteristic that indicates whether authorization is required from a health care insurer (or payer) after a physician prescribes a drug for a patient. Determining whether a medical order requires PA plays an essential role in accurate, effective, and timely processing of prescription medical orders. As such, in medical order systems, determining whether a medical order requires PA is crucial for successful processing of orders. In known systems, determination of whether a medical order requires PA cannot be completed because PA information is typically not explicitly provided. Instead, estimates of whether a medical order requires PA can be made based on other order characteristics prior to order processing. However, as noted, whether a medical order requires PA cannot be predictably determined with static models. As a result, using known systems, medical order systems are faced with a fundamental dilemma—an unacceptable delay in the processing of the medical order or a risk of improper medical order processing.
Therefore, in existing medical prescription processing systems, incorrect or improper authorization rule models may be used, causing the systems to create erroneous results and improper results. In some examples, the systems can only be improved through the use of manual verification steps, reversal of orders, or cancellation of orders. Even with such improvements, the risk of erroneous and improper results remains.
As such, prescription processing systems capable of predicting whether a medical order requires prior authorization, prior to order processing, are desirable.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Machine learning systems for predictive modeling and related methods

Express Scripts Strategie Development, Inc.


Openable motor vehicle spoiler roof, with at least one cover carrier for a cover which can be raised at its rear edge by pivoting the cover and in the raised state can be displaced to the rear in the lengthwise direction of the roof. The cover carrier is movably guided in the lengthwise direction of the roof by means of a first and second slide elements and is provided with a guide path with which a control carriage, which is also movably guided along the roof-mounted guide in the lengthwise direction of the roof, is engaged. The second slide element is connected to the cover carrier via a coupling element which is coupled to the cover carrier. At least during the pivoting movements of the cover, the second slide element can be moved over the coupling element depending on the motion of the control carriage.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an openable motor vehicle roof which is made as a spoiler roof, with at least one cover carrier for a cover which can be raised at its rear edge by means of a raising and displacement mechanism out of a closed position, in which it closes the roof opening, by pivoting the cover, and to clear the roof opening in the raised state, it can be displaced to the rear in the lengthwise direction of the roof, the cover carrier being movably guided along a roof-mounted guide in the lengthwise direction of the roof by means of a first slide element and a second slide element which are located at a distance from one another in the lengthwise direction of the roof and being provided with a guide path along which a control carriage is engaged, the control carriage being movably guided along the roof-mounted guide in the lengthwise direction of the roof.
2. Description of Related Art
A motor vehicle roof of the initially mentioned type is known from published German Patent Application DE 100 55 790 A1 and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,853. Here, the first slide element is a guide shoe which is pivotally supported on the front end of the cover carrier, while the second slide element is a guide shoe which is permanently connected to the cover carrier. In the known structure of the raising and displacement mechanism for the cover, it is difficult to accurately control the front edge of the cover in the course of the opening and closing movements such that, in the closed position of the cover, perfect sealing is ensured in the area of the edge gap between the front edge of the cover and the front edge of the roof opening, without undesirably high contact forces being necessary, and without squeezing or any other excess stressing of the seal arrangement provided for this edge gap area when the cover leaves the closed position or travels into the closed position.


A torsional detuner for dampening vibrations developed in an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft, a flywheel connected to the crankshaft and a transmission assembly coupled to the flywheel. The detuner includes a planar body mounted to the flywheel and having a central hub, a peripheral rim and a plurality of elastically deformable members connecting the hub to the rim. The deformable members extend outward from the hub to the rim in an outwardly radial spiral. Advantageously, vibrations developed in the engine are dampened by the relative rotation between the hub and rim.

Torsional detuners or dampers have been used for many years in motor vehicles and are most often disposed between an engine, such as an internal combustion engine, and a transmission. The torsional detuners are typically connected to the flywheel of the engine and the input shaft of the transmission. A torsional detuner operates to reduce or eliminate vibrations that have developed in the crankshaft of the engine. The explosive forces acting on the pistons typically create these vibrations, which thereafter propagate through the crankshaft. At certain engine speeds, the vibration is more noticeable and can be irritating to an operator and, over time, such vibrations may damage the crankshaft itself.
Conventional vibration dampening devices employ detuners having energy storing elements. Typically, these energy storing elements are located on the periphery of the flywheel and include coil springs or a rubber member. Additional storage elements act in an axial direction, relative to the rotation of the flywheel, and cooperate with friction pads or linings to produce friction hysteresis.
While conventional vibration detuners achieve their intended purpose, problems still exist. For example, there are space constraints for packaging the torsional detuners. Further, conventional rubber detuners have a high internal hysteresis that can cause detuner failure due to heat. Moreover, the rubber used in conventional detuners becomes stiffer over time, and the increased stiffness, combined with high operating frequencies, can lead to transmission failure. In addition, it is well known that the compression spring-type detuners used today have inherent wear problems that cause premature failure.
Therefore, a need exists for a vibration detuner that is easily packaged, and withstands the heat and vibration that exists in the powertrain environment. The new improved detuner design should be highly space efficient, easily assembled to the driveline, have a low internal hysteresis and a substantially constant spring rate over time.


A combined automatic latch and deadbolt assembly includes a latch configured to selectively assume a retracted and extended configuration and a deadbolt configured to selectively assume a cocked and a released configuration. The combined automatic latch and deadbolt assembly may be configured such that causing the latch to transition from its retracted configuration to its extended configuration causes the deadbolt to transition from its cocked configuration to its extended configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relates to door latching and locking mechanisms. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to combination door latch and deadbolt assemblies such as (but not limited to) locks on doors providing access to residential dwellings and commercial spaces.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional locks having deadbolts require the user to manually lock the deadbolt. Because of this, users often forget to set the deadbolt, thereby exposing the home or apartment to entry, as even a locked door latch may be easily defeated by burglars or other undesirables. Also, people leaving their home carrying a child or packages may be more likely to leave the deadbolt in the unlocked position rather than putting the child or packages down in order to manually set the deadbolt.
Conventional door locks without added deadbolts suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, a conventional door lock may be readily defeated by a skilled person equipped with no more than a credit card. Although far more secure, deadbolts conventionally require the user to use his or her key to lock the door on leaving the house. Previous attempts to combine latches and deadbolts, allowing the deadbolt to be set as the door closes, have not enjoyed great commercial success, mainly due to their high complexity, low reliability and high cost.
What are needed, therefore, are new assemblies and methods for locking and deadbolting doors. More particularly, what are needed are assemblies and methods that enable a door to be locked and deadbolted simply by closing the door. Preferably, such assemblies and methods should offer such functionality while enjoying a simple, elegant and inexpensive construction.

DOUBLEDEADLOCK™: A true combination door latch and deadbolt lock with optional automatic deadbolt locking when a door is latched


A novel extrusion method and apparatus are disclosed for varying the width of an extruded article which employs the use of thermal pins in the extruder die body and does not involve the use of any mechanical manipulation of the die configuration.

The process of extruding thermoplastics to form a wide variety of articles is well known in the art. Extrusion has been employed to produce sheets, films, pellets and wire and cable coatings, as well as other products. Typically, the thermoplastic is fed to an extruder wherein the thermoplastic is melted and then the melt is forced through a shaping die under pressure.
One of the drawbacks associated with the extruding of sheets and other articles is the problem of the need to change the die when a different width article is desired. Removing the die and replacing it with a new die of different dimensions has proved to be cumbersome and cause a lot of down time on the extruder.
The use of adjustable deckles has been disclosed in the prior art to facilitate the altering of the width of the die and the extruded article. For example, Ryan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,634 disclose the use of adjustable deckle plates to change the die configuration. Chiselko et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,293,689 teach the use of tracks to move deckle bars in order to regulate the width of extruded sheets. Another patent disclosing the use of adjustable deckles is Melead, U.S. Pat. No. 3,829,274.
Maejma, U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,289 discloses a process control system to adjust lip-width adjusting devices on the basis of a correction signal to provide uniformity in the width of the extruded article.
However all of these disclosures still require the use of mechanical devices to change the configuration of the die through which the molten thermoplastic flows. It would represent a notable advance in the state of the art if a means for altering the width of extruded articles could be provided which did not require mechanical manipulation of the die configuration.
To this end, the present applicant has found that the width of an extruded article can be altered without the need for mechanical modification of the extruder die. Such a notable advance enables the user to change the width of the extruder article while the extruder remains on line and does not result in any down time.


Various embodiments include an offline leak detection system for a turbomachine fuel system. In some embodiments, the leak detection system includes: a fluid supply system fluidly connected to at least one fuel line of the turbomachine, the fluid supply system for delivering a non-flammable fluid to the combustor; a control system operably connected to the fluid supply system, the control system controlling a flow of the non-flammable fluid through the at least one fuel line, and controlling a pressure of the non-flammable fluid in the at least one fuel line to a pressure substantially equal to an operational fuel pressure of the turbomachine; and an optical monitor for determining a presence of the non-flammable fluid on an exterior of the at least one fuel line, the presence of the non-flammable fluid on the exterior of the at least one fuel line indicating a leak.

Power generation systems oftentimes employ one or more gas turbomachine systems, which may be coupled with one or more steam turbomachine systems, to generate power. A gas turbomachine (GT) system may include a multi-stage axial flow compressor having a rotating shaft. Air enters the inlet of the compressor and is compressed by the compressor blade stages and then is discharged to a combustor where fuel, such as heavy oils, naphtha, diesel fuel (e.g., distillate), flare gas, synthesis gas (or, syngas), landfill gas and/or natural gas, is burned to provide a high energy combustion gas flow to drive a turbine component. In the turbine component, the energy of the hot gases is converted into work, some of which may be used to drive the integral compressor through a rotating shaft, with the remainder available for useful work to drive a load such as a generator via a rotating shaft (e.g., an extension of the rotating shaft) for producing electricity.
As described above, some gas turbomachine systems may use liquid fuel sources burned in one or more combustors to provide a high energy combustion gas flow to a turbine. The liquid fuel may be supplied from a fuel source to the combustor(s) by fuel lines that may include many mechanical connection points. During scheduled maintenance, the mechanical connection points of the fuel lines may be disconnected and inspected. Upon reassembly, the mechanical connection points of the fuel line may include one or more imperfect seals due to mechanical defects or workmanship errors. Each mechanical connection point is a potential location for an imperfect seal and therefore a fuel leak. If liquid fuel leaks from the fuel lines it can cause downtime while the turbomachine is powered down to address the situation. It may be desirable to test the fuel lines for leaks prior to startup of the turbomachine in order to avoid such downtime.
Many gas turbomachine fuel systems include fuel control valves at some point upstream of the combustor. Typical fuel system leak tests may include closing the fuel control valves and pressurizing the closed fuel lines to check for leaks. However, such a method neglects the fuel lines downstream of the valve(s), between the downstream control valve(s) and the combustor(s). In such a method, the fuel lines between the control valve(s) and the combustor(s) are not tested for leaks at operational fuel pressure. As such, conventional fuel leak detection systems can be ineffective for identifying all leaks in a fuel line of an offline turbomachine.

Gas turbomachine leak detection system and method


An electrical connection system between an electrochemical cell and a printed circuit having a copper layer, the system comprising at least one connection piece welded to the cell, wherein the layer of copper is of a thickness greater than 70 xcexcm and wherein a metal piece electrically connected to the connection piece is fixed to the layer of copper by welding without any filler metal.

The present invention relates to a system for making an electrical connection between an electrochemical cell and the copper track of a printed circuit. The invention also extends to a method of making such a connection.
Electrical current is input or output relative to an electrochemical cell by means of terminals that extend from the cell and that are respectively of negative and positive polarity. When cells are assembled together to form a battery, they are electrically interconnected in series or in parallel. Connections between cells are usually made by means of an electronics card carrying an interconnection printed circuit. The card is generally designed to enable an electronic safety device to be inserted in the battery.
A connection device comprising one or more electrically interconnected pieces is welded to the terminal of the electrochemical cell and its opposite end is soldered to the copper layer constituting the track of the printed circuit. The term xe2x80x9csolderingxe2x80x9d is used to designate any operation whereby metal pieces are assembled together by means of a filler metal having a melting point that is lower than that of the pieces to be united. Soldering to the layer of copper is usually performed with the help of flexible conductors.
Making such a connection and feeding it with solder involves drawbacks which can make numerous batteries unusable or even dangerous. In particular, solder can be splashed onto the electronics card during the soldering operation, thereby running the danger of damaging a component or giving rise subsequently to short circuits. In addition, it has been found that short circuits can arise because of subsequent migration of solder.
The use of flexible wires also means that there is a risk of the wires being swapped over during assembly. In addition, using flexible wires makes it difficult to automate manufacturing operations and means that a larger number of inspections must be performed.
An object of the present invention is to propose an electrical connection system between an electrochemical cell and a printed circuit, which system is more reliable than the known system both in terms of manufacturing reject rate and in terms of battery lifetime.
The present invention provides an electrical connection system between an electrochemical cell and a printed circuit having a copper layer, said system comprising at least one connection piece welded to said cell, wherein said layer of copper is of a thickness greater than 70 xcexcm and wherein a metal piece electrically connected to said connection piece is fixed to said layer of copper by welding without any filler metal.
The term xe2x80x9cweldingxe2x80x9d is used to designate an operation consisting in uniting metal pieces in such a manner as to provide continuity, and in particular electrical continuity, between said pieces. In this case welding is performed by applying melting heat and/or pressure, and without using a filler metal.
When the layer of copper is 70 xcexcm thick or less, welding cannot be performed. Under such circumstances, the layer of copper is observed to melt or come unstuck. The layer of copper is preferably at least 105 xcexcm thick.
The thickness of the metal piece is at least 80 xcexcm and preferably lies in the range 80 xcexcm to 200 xcexcm. In a particular embodiment of the invention, said piece is at least 100 xcexcm thick and preferably its thickness lies in the range 125 xcexcm to 140 xcexcm.
The metal piece is a conductive piece made of a metal selected from nickel, nickel-plated steel, stainless steel, and copper.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, said piece constitutes said connection piece itself. However the nickel piece could also be connected to the cell via one or more other pieces, with electrical continuity being provided by welding said pieces together. In particular, the metal piece can be welded to the connection piece which is itself made of nickel, of steel, or of nickel-plated steel. Thus, electrical continuity between the cell and the interconnection circuit is provided solely via welds that do not include any filler metal.
The present invention has the advantage of making it simpler, more reliable, and less expensive to interconnect electrochemical cells in a battery, specifically by reducing welding time by about 60% and dividing the reject rate due to assembly errors or to damage to electronic circuits by 10. In addition, assembly operations are easier to automate.
The resulting weld can be characterized by the usual methods, mainly its electrical properties, by measuring its resistance, and its mechanical properties by measuring its breaking strength when subjected to a perpendicular traction force or by measuring its shear strength under an axial traction force.
The resistance of the connection after said piece has been welded to said copper layer is no greater than 0.07 mxcexa9 for a current of 5 A.
The breaking strength after said piece has been welded to said layer of copper is not less than 1.5 daN, and the shear strength is not less than 8 daN.
The invention also provides an electrochemical cell connected to a printed circuit by such an electrical connection system, and a battery of such electrochemical cells. The battery can equally well be of primary cells or of secondary cells. For example, the invention applies to cells having an organic electrolyte such as LiSO2 primary cells or lithium-ion secondary cells, or indeed to cells having an aqueous electrolyte such as nickel-cadmium secondary cells or nickel-metalhydride secondary cells. The cells can be cylindrical or prismatic in shape. The number of cells making up the battery is not limited. The cells can be connected together in series and/or in parallel.
The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a system as defined above, in which said piece is resistance welded to said layer of copper. The resistance welding is preferably spot welding.
Spot welding is performed using electrodes of cylindrical shape having a diameter of about 1.2 mm. The electrodes are preferably made of copper or copper alloy.
The welding is performed at electrical energy lying in the range 50 W.s to 100 W.s. The total time required to perform said welding is much less than 1 second.
Welding is performed at a pressure lying in the range 60 N/mm2 to 80 N/mm2.

Electrical connection system between an electrochemical cell and a printed circuit


A communication device generates a first data unit that spans a first bandwidth, and transmits the first data unit during a transmit opportunity (TXOP) to at least one other communication device. The communication device subsequently determines, based on respective values of TXOP duration fields included in respective physical layer (PHY) preambles of one or more data units previously transmitted during the TXOP, whether a second bandwidth of a second data unit to be transmitted by the communication device during the TXOP can be greater than the first bandwidth of the first data unit. In response to determining that the second bandwidth of the second data unit can be greater than the first bandwidth of the first data unit, the communication device generates the second data unit to span the second bandwidth greater than the first bandwidth, and transmits the second data unit during the TXOP.

Wireless local area networks (WLANs) have evolved rapidly over the past two decades, and development of WLAN standards such as the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 Standard family has improved single-user peak data throughput. For example, the IEEE 802.11b Standard specifies a single-user peak throughput of 11 megabits per second (Mbps), the IEEE 802.11a and 802.11g Standards specify a single-user peak throughput of 54 Mbps, the IEEE 802.11n Standard specifies a single-user peak throughput of 600 Mbps, and the IEEE 802.11ac Standard specifies a single-user peak throughput in the gigabits per second (Gbps) range. The IEEE 802.11ax Standard now in the final stages of development significantly improves throughput over the IEEE 802.11ac Standard.
Communications between communication devices in a WLAN may occur during a transmit opportunity (TXOP) during which one of more frame exchanges are preformed between a communication device and one or more other communications devices. In a typical WLAN in which multiple frame exchanges are performed during a TXOP, a bandwidth of a frame exchange during a TXOP can be reduced relative of a bandwidth of a previous frame exchange during the TXOP. However, in a typical WLAN, a bandwidth of a frame exchange during a TXOP cannot be increased in a following frame exchange in the TXOP unless the TXOP is protected by an initial request-to-send (RTS)/clear-to-send (CTS) frame exchange performed at the beginning of the TXOP.

Medium protection in wireless local area networks


An arc-shaped stepped magnetic fluid sealing device comprises a casing, a sealing assembly and an end cover. The sealing assembly comprises a shaft, a permanent magnet, a first pole shoe and a second pole shoe. Inner walls of the first pole shoe and the second pole shoe are both arc-shaped faces inclined towards the side where the permanent magnet is located. A sealed cavity with a larger middle and two smaller ends is enclosed by the inner wall of the first pole shoe, an inner wall of the permanent magnet, and the inner wall of the second pole shoe. A portion of the shaft that is located inside the sealed cavity matches the sealed cavity in shape. Inner walls of the first pole shoe and the second pole shoe are respectively provided with first pole teeth and second pole teeth.

Magnetic fluid seals have the advantages of zero leakage and no rigid friction, and are widely used in all walks of life. However, the pressure capability value of the magnetic fluid shaft seal is very sensitive to the size of the sealing gap. The pressure capability value of the magnetic fluid shaft seal can be reduced by more than 10% if the size of the sealing gap is increased by 0.1 mm. When the magnetic fluid sealing technology is applied in a large-diameter, high-speed and heavy-load sealing environment, the magnetic fluid in the sealing gap is often ineffective because the sealing gap is too large. Therefore, improving the pressure resistance of the magnetic fluid seal for large gap is one of the hot issues in current research.
In the magnetic fluid seal, the magnetic fluid is firmly fixed in the sealing gap by the magnetic field force in the sealing gap produced by the permanent magnets, to resist the pressure difference on both sides, so as to achieve the sealing effect. One of the methods to improve the pressure resistance capacity of the magnetic fluid seal for the large gap is improving the structure of the magnetic fluid seal. The existing magnetic fluid sealing device has a stepped shaft sealing structure, which greatly improves the sealing ability of the conventional non-stepped shaft sealing structure. However, in order to further improve the pressure resistance and effectively improve the leak-proof sealing ability of the device, the structural design needs to be further optimized.
Compared with other ordinary magnetic fluid seals, the sealing performance of the existing sealing device has been greatly improved and the stress concentration of the bearing has been reduced, but it still cannot meet the requirements of higher sealing performance in high-speed and heavy-load occasions.

Arc-shaped stepped magnetic fluid sealing device


Emergency deceleration warning devices which may also be manually activated to provide a warning in situations where abnormal deceleration is not involved. The disclosed devices are self-contained units which include: (1) a flasher which is highly visible, even in bright daylight; (2) a circuit for turning the flasher on and off; and (3) a simple, enclosed decelerometer for enabling the flasher-operating circuit when a vehicle equipped with the warning device is decelerated at an abnormal rate.

Warning devices that are triggered or turned on by more rapid than normal deceleration of a vehicle are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,559,164 issued Jan. 26, 1971, to Bancroft et al., for VEHICULAR DECELERATION SAFETY CIRCUIT MEANS; 3,760,353 issued Sep. 18, 1973, to Hassinger for EMERGENCY VEHICULAR WARNING SYSTEM; 3,846,749 issued Nov. 5, 1974, to Curry for VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM; 4,258,353 issued Mar. 24, 1981, to Carlson for VEHICLE ACCELERATION/DECELERATION WARNING SYSTEM; and 4,357,594 issued Nov. 2, 1982, to Ehrlich et al. for VEHICULAR HAZARD WARNING SYSTEM.
The Bancroft system has the disadvantage that it is not a self-contained unit but is instead designed to be incorporated in the brake light circuit of the vehicle in which it is installed. This can be a comparatively difficult matter.
In addition, the deceleration sensing component of the Bancroft et al. device is a pendulum which is exposed and therefore subject to damage and misalignment. Furthermore, that pendulum operates an also exposed microswitch which is subject to wear and to damage by the fine, erosive particles stirred up by a moving vehicle.
Another disadvantage of the Bancroft et al. arrangement is that visual warning of vehicular deceleration is given by turning a conventional incandescent bulb on and off. This can only be done at a comparatively slow rate. Consequently, the visual warning display may not make it obvious to an observer that a dangerous situation exists.
Still another significant disadvantage of the Bancroft et al. device is that the pendulum which triggers the device is so designed and oriented that a mere sharp bump in a road, for example, could displace that pendulum enough to close the associated microswitch and turn the visual warning display on. This would be annoying to the driver of a following vehicle, at best. More likely, this would create a danger by falsely indicating that a panic stop was being made.
Still another disadvantage of the Bancroft et al. device is that the visual warning display remains on only so long as deceleration is severe enough to effect a microswitch-closing displacement of the switch-operating pendulum. Consequently, in the event of a short, but severe, deceleration, the visual warning display might not be on long enough to clearly indicate to an observer that a panic stop was being made.
Finally, there is no provision for manually operating the visual warning display of the Bancroft et al. device. This is a disadvantage because there are many situations not involving panic stops, such as a stalled vehicle, in which a visual warning display can also be employed to advantage.
Like that disclosed by Bancroft et al., the Hassinger system employs a visual warning display with conventional incandescent filaments. The Hassinger device may, therefore, likewise not prove capable of being turned on and off fast enough to provide a clear warning of a present danger.
Another disadvantage of the Hassinger system is that the control circuit for its visual warning display is enabled by a mercury switch. Switches of that type have the disadvantage in vehicular applications that the mercury tends to break up when the vehicle goes over a hard bump, for example, or is subjected to vibration on a dirt or other rough road. Once this occurs, the switch may stay on when it should turn off. Conversely, it may thereafter not come on when it should.
In addition, the Hassinger unit is designed to be mounted under the dash of the vehicle in which it is installed. This area is notoriously difficult to reach in a modern automobile. It would accordingly be difficult and expensive to install the Hassinger system in such a vehicle.
Furthermore, the Hassinger unit must be manually reset. This is a significant disadvantage because the device will be inoperative in a subsequent dangerous situation if the vehicle operator forgets to reset it.
In addition, the Hassinger device has a number of mechanical parts including pins, springs, adjustment screws, etc. These are subject to partial or total failure. In addition, it would be difficult and burdensome to make those adjustments after installation which are required for the Hassinger device to operate properly. Finally, like Bancroft et al., Hassinger makes no provision for manually operating the visual warning display of his device in circumstances which pose a danger but do not involve abnormal deceleration.
Carlson discloses yet another device which has the drawback that its visual warning display has an incandescent filament.
Also, the Carlson device is quite complicated and requires special wiring. Consequently, an actual unit of the character proposed by Carlson would be expensive to produce and install. And its complexity would make it less than optimally reliable.
Furthermore, the Carlson device is yet another one which must be manually reset. In his case, however, the situation is exacerbated because the visual warning display will continue to operate until the decelerometer is manually reset. Consequently, the visual warning display continues to flash, perhaps indicating that an emergency situation exists, long after the emergency has ended. This is particularly important because the driver of the vehicle may not be aware that the device is continuing to operate.
Yet another disadvantage of the Carlson system is that it employs a trigger relay to control the operation of the visual warning display. This is a drawback because relays of that character are unreliable when used in vehicles in which they are subject to shock and vibration.
The Curry device is yet another one which employs the brake lights of the vehicle in which it is installed to provide a visual display warning. Consequently, the Curry device has the same disadvantages as other warning devices employing that scheme.
Also, at least in part, the deceleration indicative input of the Curry device is taken from the speedometer cable of the vehicle in which the device is installed. This arrangement has the disadvantage that it is not capable of taking into account the nature of the terrain on which the vehicle equipped with the device is operating. For example, a much lower rate of deceleration is required to send a vehicle descending a steep hill into a skid than is necessary to cause that vehicle to skid while ascending the same hill. The speedometer cable-derived input of the Curry device is not capable of so altering the operation of that device's display-controlling circuitry to take factors such as the one just identified into account.
Furthermore, the Curry device employs extensive wiring and several pick-ups. As a practical matter, it could therefore only be installed in a vehicle while that vehicle was being manufactured. Thus, the Curry device has the disadvantage that it probably would not be practical to install in an already manufactured vehicle even at the dealer level.
An extremely complicated vehicular warning device is disclosed in the Ehrlich et al. patent. That device has a large number of mechanical components including four sensors, mechanical clutches, etc. As a result, the Ehrlich et al. device would be expensive to manufacture and to maintain. It would be less than optimally reliable because of the failure susceptibility of its many mechanical components.
In fact, the Ehrlich et al. device is so complicated that it requires extensive adjustments after the device is installed. This could make installation impractically expensive by placing it beyond the reach of the average vehicle owner.
Furthermore, the Ehrlich et al. device would necessarily have a relatively slow response time: (1) because of the above-mentioned mechanical components, and (2) because the turning on of the visual warning display is controlled by a relatively slow acting, mechanical relay.
In addition, the Ehrlich et al. device is yet another one which utilizes a visual warning display with an incandescent filament. It, too, has the above-discussed disadvantages appurtenant to that type of display.
Yet another disadvantage shared in common by those above-discussed systems employing low mounted, dual vehicular brake lights as a visual warning display is that an observer able to see the light at only one side of a vehicle may mistakenly take the flashing display for a turn signal rather than a warning of a present danger.