In the manufacture of hot-rolled steel strip, a continuous casting machine casts a slab and a roll stand for reducing the thickness of the slab to make strip is incorporated in line with the continuous casting machine. Advantages of simplicity and rolling quality are obtained when the roll stand is a two-high roll stand having a single pair of rolls. Where there is a reheater for reheating the strip after its rolling in the two-high roll-stand, the two-high roll stand is the sole apparatus for reducing the thickness of the slab after full solidification of the slab and prior to entry of the strip into the reheater.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for the manufacture of hot-rolled material comprising a continuous casting machine for casting a slab and reduction means in line with the continuous casting machine for reducing the thickness of the slab into a strip. The invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of hot-rolled steel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An apparatus and method of the type mentioned above are known from the publication DE-OS-3840812. This known apparatus comprises a continuous casting machine for casting thin slabs and reduction means in the form of a four-high stand with four rolls. The continuous casting machine casts a slab with a thickness in the range 50 mm to 100 mm which the reduction means reduce to a thickness of approximately 25 mm. In order to achieve the desired reduction in thickness, it is usual to place several four-high stands directly one after the other. The entry temperature of the slab in the first four-high stand is of the order of 1100.degree. C.
A number of disadvantages are associated with the use of several four-high stands:
complicated arrangements are required for harmonizing the rolling speed between each of the several mill stands and with the casting speed of the continuous casting machine; PA1 there is high thermal loading of the work rolls of each four-high stand; PA1 temperature losses of the workpiece on the several mill stands are relatively high; PA1 there is high wear and tear on rolls as a result of the number of rolls (several work rolls); PA1 the long stay time in the rolling unit causes increased oxide layer formation; PA1 the end-to-end length of the rolling section is large; PA1 capital investment is high. PA1 simple control over rolling speed whereby the entry velocity of 8-0.1 m/min or slower lies PA1 adequately within the range of variation of the roll; PA1 low thermal loading of the work rolls due to their large dimensions; PA1 temperature losses of the workpiece are less; PA1 less wear and tear on the rolls; PA1 the period of exposure of the thin slab to the atmosphere is shorter so that less oxide forms; PA1 with a single mill stand, it is simpler to remove the oxide on account of the easier accessibility compared with several four-high stands; PA1 when removing oxide using high-pressure water jets, cooling takes place only once and not several times as is the case with several four-high stands.

Apparatus and method for the manufacture of hot-rolled steel


Disclosed herein are embodiments of composites and compositions that can be used for therapeutic applications in vivo and/or in vitro. The disclosed composites can comprise cores having magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots, or combinations thereof and zwitterionic polymeric coatings that facilitate solubility and bioconjugation. The compositions disclosed herein can comprise the composites and one or more biomolecules, drugs, or combinations thereof. Also disclosed herein are methods of making the composites, composite components, and methods of making quantum dots for use in the composites.

Magnetofluorescent nanoparticles enabling simultaneous fluorescence labeling and magnetic field assisted separation, sorting, heating or imaging are gaining momentum for biomedical applications at the cellular, tissue or anatomical levels. For this reason, research approaches have been reported on the controlled synthesis of magnetofluorescent nanoparticles regarding their size, shape, composite and surface properties. To achieve colloidal stability and biocompatibility for various in vitro or in vivo applications, the hydrophilic shell of these type of magnetofluorescent nanoparticles are usually formed by anti-fouling poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains. Zwitterion-coating approaches also have been developed for individual cadmium-based quantum dots or AuNPs but not for magnetofluorescent compounds. These approaches mainly involve the coupling of zwitterions with thiol ligands, such as dihydrolipoic acid. These coupled ligands are further exchanged with native hydrophobic ligands (trioctylphosphine oxide) to form thiol-bound zwitterionic quantum dots through the high binding affinity of thiols to Zn or Au atoms on quantum dot or AuNP surface.
Significant efforts are still needed to develop high quality quantum dots into broader biomedical applications especially for in vitro or in vivo sensing/imaging and drug delivery. There exists a need in the art for facile, scalable methods of making chalcopyrite quantum dots that are compatible for use in magnetofluorescent composites comprising nanoparticles. There also exists a need in the art for composites comprising zwitterionic coatings that can be used to produce composites capable for biomedical use and/or coupling to biomolecules.

Composites and compositions for therapeutic use and methods of making and using the same

Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, on behalf of the University of Nevada, Reno


A measurement device (1) for determining at least one process variable with a sensor element (2) for measuring the process variable and with an electronic component (3), the sensor element (2) being connected to the electronic component (3) via at least one electrical conductor (4) has a connection, made to be as reliable as possible, between a sensor element and the electronic component due to the provision of an adapter unit (5). The adapter unit (5) guides at least one electrical conductor (4). Furthermore, the adapter unit (5), the sensor element (2) and the electronic component (3) are configured and matched to one another such that the adapter unit (5) set a minimum distance between the sensor element (2) and electronic component (3).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a measurement device for determining at least one process variable with at least one sensor element for measuring the process variable and with at least one electronic component, the sensor element being connected to the electronic component via at least one electrical conductor.
2. Description of Related Art
In modern process and automation engineering, to monitor and determine process variables, measurement devices are used which generate a measured quantity which is dependent on the process variable which is to be measured. The measured quantity is generally an electrical signal which is accessible for evaluation and further processing. The process variables are, for example, the flow rate, the pH value, the liquid level or the temperature of a medium.
These measurement devices of the prior art generally have at least one sensor element which generally comes into contact or interacts with a process medium and is used for the actual measurement, and at least one downstream electronic component which, optionally, controls the measurement of the sensor element or evaluates or further processes the measurement signals of the sensor element. For the connection between the sensor element and the electronic component, in the prior art, generally wires of the sensor element are soldered to the electronic component. Afterwards, the electronic component and the sensor element are pushed together in order to form the measurement device with other components or a housing, etc. Pushing together partially flattens or kinks the wires and solder sites can even break. In this way, high scrap rates can arise in the production and/or maintenance of the measurement devices under consideration here. This is especially problematical in those measurement devices which are assembled more than once, therefore in the initial production, and when they must be disassembled and assembled repeatedly due to their use. This applies, for example, to sensor elements which, depending on the application, have only a short service life, for example, in sensor elements for pH measurement.

Measurement device for determining a process variable


A semiconductor device including a pFET and an nFET where: (i) the gate and conductor channel of the pFET are electrically insulated from a buried oxide layer; and (ii) the conductor channel of the nFET is in the form of a fin extending upwards from, and in electrical contact with, the buried oxide layer. Also, a method of making the pFET by adding a fin structure extending from the top surface of the buried oxide layer, then condensing germanium locally into the lattice structure of the lower portion of the fin structure, and then etching away the lower portion of the fin structure so that it becomes a carrier channel suspended above, and electrically insulated from the buried oxide layer.

The present invention relates generally to the field of SRAM (static random access memory) cells, and more particularly to SRAM cells including a FINFET (field-effect transistor(s) that include fin structure(s) and nanowire(s) passing transversely through the fin.
SRAMs that use FINFETs are known. In FINFET-style SRAMs, one, or more, elongated fin structures, which are relatively tall in height and relatively thin in the transverse direction, are used to carry charge away from the gate(s) of transistor(s) for improved transistor electrical performance.

Hybrid FINFET/nanowire SRAM cell using selective germanium condensation

International Business Machines Corporation


An alignment device for coupling a liquid drug cartridge with a longitudinal cartridge axis and a constricted neck portion with a cap and a piercable septum distal from the neck portion with an adapter is presented. The septum is perpendicular to the cartridge axis. The device comprises an adapter cannula with a longitudinal cannula axis to pierce the septum and a proximal cartridge engagement structure for axial aligned engagement with a distal end section of cartridge body. The device further comprises a distal adapter engagement structure for axial aligned engagement with the adapter. A coupling of the cartridge with the adapter is enabled via the alignment device. The adapter and the cartridge are, during the coupling, aligned by the cartridge engagement structure and the adapter engagement structure, respectively relative to each other such that the longitudinal cartridge axis and the longitudinal cannula axis form a common longitudinal axis.

The present disclosure generally relates to ambulatory infusion systems and, in particular, to venting devices for use in combination with drug cartridges and ambulatory infusion devices as well as alignment devices for aligning a drug cartridge and an adapter.
Ambulatory infusion devices that are designed to be carried by a patient during everyday life night and day for an extended time period are used in a number of therapies. Such devices especially form a basis for CSII (Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion), a therapy for diabetes mellitus.
Insulin is typically provided in a cylindrical drug cartridge. A piston is sealing received in an inner volume of the cartridge. For expelling drug out of the cartridge the piston is pushed forward from a proximal to a distal direction by a motor-driven plunger rod of the infusion device. Thereby, drug is expelled out of an outlet and into an infusion cannula. The infusion cannula is coupled to the outlet of the cartridge either directly or via intermediate fluidic components, such as tubing and, in some cases, a check-valve. The piston accordingly serves as movable wall of the cartridge such that its inner volume decreases as drug is expelled.
Since ambulatory infusion devices such as insulin pumps are carried continuously during everyday life, mechanical robustness and some degree of water protection or, preferably, full water tightness are required. Therefore, the housing is often hermetically sealed during operation and only has a sealed coupling to the infusion cannula. Because drug is expelled from the cartridge which itself is arranged inside the device housing during operation, the hermetic sealing would result, without compensation measures, in a continuous decrease of the inner pressure inside the device housing over time, potentially affecting the dosing precision. Therefore, vents typically are gas-permeable and hydrophobic membranes that may be made from Gore-Tex® or a similar material. The membrane ensures continuous pressure equalization between the inner volume of the device and the environment, while preventing water or other liquids from entering the device. In addition, the membrane ensures pressure equalization in case of varying barometric pressure, such as, for example, due to weather changes and/or changes in altitude.
In some current devices, the membrane is integral part of the device housing. A corresponding device is disclosed. This arrangement, however, has the drawback that the membrane is typically more and more clogged by dirt, fabric particles, and the like, over the device lifetime—typically in a range of some years. Thereby the pressure equalization is negatively affected and in some cases voided.
In alternative designs, the membrane is provided in a separate adapter that serves as closure for a drug cartridge compartment of the infusion device via, e.g., a skewed or bayonet connector and additionally includes a coupler for coupling an infusion tubing to the outlet of the drug cartridge. Providing the membrane in such an adapter is an improvement in so far as the adapter is typically designed for a considerably shorter lifetime as compared to the infusion device itself, thus reducing the clogging problem. This arrangement, however, has the disadvantage that it can not be used in systems that do not use a separate disposable adapter. In addition, the lifetime of the adapter may still be too long to prevent clogging.
A further specific problem arises when drug cartridges are used in an ambulatory infusion device that have an outlet which is, in the isolated state, sealing closed by a self-sealing septum. For use in the infusion system, the septum is pierced by a hollow adapter cannula that fluidic couples the inner volume of the cartridge to the infusion cannula. The adapter cannula is typically part of an adapter as described above.
FIG. 1 schematically shows a typical situation when connecting a drug cartridge with septum to an adapter. Cartridge 100 is typical cylindrical and has a proximal piston that is sealing and sliding arranged in glass or plastic body 105, cartridge body 195 having an open proximal end. At its distal end, cartridge body 105 has a constricted neck portion 110 with cap 115 that includes a central septum. Adapter 200 has an adapter body 205 from which adapter cannula 210 projects. An infusion tubing or coupler for infusion tubing is part of or connected to adapter 200 for coupling to an infusion cannula. Guide 215 is provided for positioning and aligning cartridge 100 and adapter 200. Typically, Guide 215 has the form of a collar or ring that projects from a proximal bottom surface of adapter 200 and may also carry an infusion device coupler for coupling, e.g., in form of a bayonet, for coupling to the infusion device housing. Typically, guide 215 has an axial dimension of some millimeters and surrounds, i.e., has an axial overlap with, cap 115, but not cartridge body 105.
Ideally, the cannula 210 pierces the septum perpendicular to the septum, such that the longitudinal cartridge axis Z is parallel to and preferably aligned with longitudinal cannula axis Z′. In practice, however, substantial misalignment may be typically present, as shown (somewhat exaggerated) in FIG. 1, resulting in undesired transverse forces on cannula 210 and the septum.
The possibility of significant misalignment is due to the fact that cartridge 100 is guided with respect to adapter 200 via cap 115 only which has a dimension along cartridge axis Z in a range of typically 2 mm to 3 mm, which is not sufficient to ensure axial guiding.
Consequently, the septum may leak either from beginning on or start leaking during the application time of the cartridge which is typically in a range of some days up to may be two weeks. Guide 215 typically has an inner diameter that is somewhat larger than the outer diameter of cap 115.
To improve the situation, it would, at least theoretically, be possible to design adapter 200 with a considerably extended axial length of guide 215, resulting in guide 215 to axial overlap cartridge body 105 by an amount in a range of, e.g., 7 mm to 10 mm. In addition, guide 215 would need to be provided with tight inner tolerance.
In this context, it has to be understood, however, that adapter 200 needs to meet a considerable number of partly contradictory constraints and is further regulatory critical since it is of direct significance for ensuring reliable infusion. Therefore, the development time and effort for an adapter and the corresponding interface structure of the infusion device are considerable. In practice, new adapter designs are based on existing ones as far as ever possible, with as little and preferably no modification at all to the cartridge interface. In addition, a variety of drug cartridges exists which are typically provided by different suppliers than infusion pumps and adapters. In view of the generally complex and critical adapter design, providing different adapters that ensure appropriate cartridge guiding for a variety of existing and newly developed cartridges is practically unfeasible. As a consequence, the whole ambulatory infusion system is typically designed for use with a single type of drug cartridge only.
Therefore, there is a need to provide devices that improve the situation with respect to the above-identified problems, i.e. with respect to venting and/or cartridge alignment.

Adapter and drug cartridge alignment device


A system and method for regulating the speed of a steam turbine by operating a steam valve rack assembly to adjust the flow of steam to the turbine by controlling the position of the turbine valve rack actuator in response to high pressure oil fed, reacting to signals from a speed control system, through a proportional valve to the valve rack actuator. High pressure oil is fed to the proportional valve from a hydraulic oil accumulator, charged with an inert gas, in which high pressure oil is stored. A source of low pressure oil directed to a pressure intensifying device increases the oil pressure to a high pressure and circulates the high pressure oil to the hydraulic oil accumulator and the proportional valve to stroke the turbine valve rack actuator in response to signals from the speed control system. The system further includes an emergency stop valve system which operates to close the turbine valve rack assembly very rapidly in the event of a serious turbine condition.

Systems which provide a flow of high pressure hydraulic oil to control the position of a steam turbine valve rack actuator assembly are known. One type of such a system employs separate dedicated hydraulic power unit modules consisting of: a separate reservoir source of hydraulic oil, along with all the necessary oil storage appurtenances; independent power source or sources; separate prime movers to drive the hydraulic pumps; electric motor controls and starters; and oil coolers to maintain the oil systems' temperature. The disadvantages of the dedicated hydraulic power unit modules system are: higher initial capital investment, higher energy consumption, increased maintenance, and a requirement for additional floor space for mounting the hydraulic power unit module.
Another prior art system commonly pressurizes the lubrication supply system pressure to that required of the turbine's valve rack actuator. In such other system, the elevated oil pressure must then be reduced to the pressure of the lubrication oil supply, which is significantly lower than the valve rack actuator oil pressure. The pressure reduction is typically accomplished by a pressure reducing control regulator which converts a large portion of the energy of the higher pressure oil into heat and noise. The disadvantages of this type of system are that it is inefficient and consumes an excessively higher amount of energy, operates at increased noise levels, and requires higher maintenance resulting in reduced equipment life due to continuous higher operating pressures at full flow running conditions.
An example of a system which provides a flow of high pressure hydraulic oil to control the position of a steam turbine valve rack actuator assembly is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,440,980.

System and method for regulating the speed of a steam turbine by controlling the turbine valve rack actuator


An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for reassigning a client. A selection module selects a second computation module that is hardware compatible with a first computation module. A suspension module suspends a software process for a client executing on the first computation module. An execution state module copies a computation module execution state of the first computation module to the second computation module. A memory map module copies a memory map of a software process image associated with the software process and stored in a first storage system from the first computation module to the second computation module. In one embodiment, a resumption module resumes the software process executing on the second computation module.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to reassigning a client and more particularly relates to seamlessly reassigning a client among computation modules such as server blades in a data center.
2. Description of the Related Art
A data processing device such as a computer workstation, a terminal or the like, herein referred to as a client, may often employee a remote computational module to execute one or more software processes. The remote computational module may be a server. In a certain embodiment, the computation module is a server blade, a modular server with one or more processors, memory, interconnection logic, and communication capabilities residing in an enclosure such as a rack mounted chassis with a plurality of other server blades. The enclosure may include storage systems, storage interfaces, and communication interfaces. A data center may include a plurality of enclosures.
The client may communicate a request or a beacon to one or more data centers, requesting association with a computation module. A data center may respond to the beacon, communicating the ability of the data center to associate the client with a computation module. A predetermined list may direct the association of the client to a computation module of a specified data center. For example, the list may direct the association of the client with one of the computation modules with sufficient spare processing bandwidth in a first data center. Spare processing bandwidth may be spare time during which the computation module is not executing another software process. If no computation module has sufficient spare processing bandwidth in the first data center, the computation module may direct the association of the client to a computation module with sufficient spare processing bandwidth in a second data center.
The data center typically associates the client to computation modules with sufficient processing bandwidth, response latency or time required for communications to pass between the client and the computation module, and storage latency or time required for communications to pass between the computation module and a storage system such that the computation module may provide an expected level of service to the client. For example, the data center may associate a first client with a first computation module of which ten percent (10%) of processing bandwidth is utilized by a second client rather than associate the first client with a second computation module of which eighty percent (80%) of processing bandwidth is utilized by a third client.
Unfortunately, the available computation module processing bandwidth may change after the first client is associated with the first computation module. For example, the processing bandwidth of the first computation module utilized by the second client may increase to ninety percent (90%) of processing bandwidth. The second client may increase utilization of processing bandwidth by executing a processing intensive software process such as a virus scan process or the like. Such a change in available processing bandwidth seriously degrades the level of service to the first client.
When the level of service to a client is sufficiently degraded, the data center may reassign the client to a computation module capable of better providing the acceptable level of service. For example, the data center may reassign the client from the first computation module to a second computation module. Unfortunately, reassigning the client may further degrade the service to the client and may require suspending and/or terminating one or more software processes. For example, the software process initially executed on a first computation module may appear completely unresponsive to the client while the client is reassigned to the second computation module. Thus reassigning the client may degrade service more than leaving the client associated with a computation module without sufficient processing bandwidth.
In addition, the response latency between the second computation module and the client may be inadequate to provide the expected level of service. The storage latency between the second computation module and a second storage system may also be inadequate.
From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus, system, and method that seamlessly reassign a client between computation modules. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would improve the level and consistency of service to the client.

Apparatus, system, and method for reassigning a client


Methods, systems, and apparatus to monitor component status in a bioprocessing environment are disclosed and described. Certain examples provide a sensor device for a disposable bioprocessing component. The example sensor device includes a first portion affixed to the component, the first portion configured to provide an identifier associated with the component. The example sensor device also includes a second portion configured to provide a status indication based on a state of the component. The example sensor device is configured to transmit the identifier and status indication to a control computer associated with a bioproces sing platform including the component.

Many pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical laboratory systems now involve single-use bioprocess equipment. Single-use systems provide a lower cost solution than traditional, more expensive, stainless steel systems based on, for example, improved sterility and cleanability, increased cycle time, etc.
Single-use equipment, however, involves many connections between tubing, filters, circuits, disposable components, and the like. Given these connections, there is a need to verify the security and viability of the system components. If connections are not properly made, contamination, leakage, delays, and other errors can negatively impact the process and resulting product.
Currently, connections in a single use system must be verified manually through visual inspections following established checklists and procedures. Rather than continuous monitoring, manually re-checking is required to help ensure continued integrity of the system.

Systems and methods for status indication in a single-use biomedical and bioprocess system


System and method for generating a Position Error Signal (PES) reference curve in data storage devices are provided. The method includes scanning a distance of at least one Track Pitch (TP) in a cross-track direction in each servo-burst along a predefined path. One or more TPs in each servo-burst are scanned with a read head. The method further includes, calculating a plurality of samples of each differential signal. A differential signal corresponds to a first read-back signal and a second read-back signal. Thereafter, a plurality of normalized signals are determined. A normalized signal is determined by dividing each sample of the differential signal with a normalization constant. The plurality of normalized signals are combined to generate the PES reference curve.

In a previously-proposed data storage device, data is stored on a storage medium along Track Center Lines (TCLs) of the data storage device. The data is read/written by moving each read-head along a TCL of a data-track relative to the storage medium. The data may be read/written by moving the storage medium relative to each read head, such that each read head moves along a TCL of a data-track. However, it may be that a read-head may be moved along a line that has an offset from a TCL of a data-track. A PES corresponding to a position of read-heads is obtained for the data storage device when the data is read/written. The PES is converted into a position offset of each read-head from a TCL of a data-track. The position offset is used to move each read-head on a TCL of a data-track.
In a previously-proposed data storage device, for example, a hard disk device, PES is generated based on read-back signals obtained by scanning corresponding servo-bursts on a storage medium. Servo-bursts are magnetic fields that are pre-written on the storage medium during manufacturing of a hard disk drive. In one possible configuration, the servo-bursts are positioned off-track with data-tracks such that, a TCL of a data-track coincides with a boundary of a servo-burst. Further, a servo-burst, a data-track and a read-head have comparable cross-track widths. Therefore, when a read-head moves on a TCL of a data-track, equal portions of a first servo-burst and a second servo-burst are scanned by the read-head. Boundaries of the first servo-burst and the second servo-burst coincide with a TCL of the data-track.
The read head obtains a first read-back signal from a first servo-burst and a second read-back signal from a second servo-burst. The first read-back signal is zero if the read-head is entirely placed on the second servo-burst. Similarly, the second read-back signal is zero if the read-head is entirely placed on the first servo-burst. Thereafter, the PES is obtained by dividing the difference of the first read-back signal and the second read-back signal by the sum of the first read-back signal and the second read-back signal. The sum of the first read-back signal and the second read-back signal is constant as the read-head has a cross-track width comparable to each of data-track, the first servo-burst, and the second servo-burst.
However, in probe based data storage devices, a width of a read-head is considerably smaller than a width of a servo-burst and a data-track and data is written as a plurality of topographical features. Examples of the topographical features may include, but are not limited to indentations, trenches, and bumps. Therefore, the method used for calculating PES in hard disk drives is not effective in probe based data storage devices. This is because the sum of the first read-back signal and the second read-back signal is not constant across the entire cross-track distance between adjacent tracks.
The PES for a probe based data storage device can be calculated using the method of calculating PES in hard disk drives provided a constant sum for the first read-back signal corresponding to the first servo-burst and the second read-back signal corresponding to the second-burst can be obtained. The constant sum can be obtained by placing a topographical feature of the first servo-burst at a predefined distance from a corresponding topographical feature of the second servo-burst.
However, placing a topographical feature of the first servo-burst at a predefined distance from a corresponding topographical feature of the second servo-burst usually leads to partial erasing of the topographical features. Additionally, tips of the read-heads wear down and the topographical features tend to change shape with time. This leads to a distortion in the read-back signals over time.

System and method for generating a position error signal (PES) reference curve in a data storage device


The invention relates to a process for removing red oils deposits formed in an installation comprising the use of a cleaning agent comprising one or more fatty acid esters to dissolve the red oils deposit and to form a mixture comprising the cleaning agent and the dissolved red oils; and removing the mixture comprising the cleaning agent and the dissolved red oils.

In cracking operations, such as the pyrolytic steam cracking of ethane, propane, and naphthas to form olefins, oxygenated compounds including carbonyl compounds, such as aldehydes and ketones, are formed. When the gas stream is passed through a basic wash (with pH>7) to remove acidic components such as hydrogen sulfides and carbon dioxide, oxygen-containing compounds such as acetaldehyde will undergo under polycondensation in presence of the basic wash or scrubbing conditions. The polymers formed are also called "red oils" due to their colour. The caustics towers are sometimes treated with additives to reduce the fouling. As aldehydes are not completely converted in the caustic tower, reactions are ongoing in spent caustic. This is why all downstream units and storages dealing with spent caustic are also prone to fouling.
An example of a preventive method for inhibiting fouling systems in caustic scrubber systems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,194,143. The method disclosed consists in adding an effective amount for the purpose of an acetoacetate ester compound to the caustic wash system.
Another example of a preventive method is given by WO2011/138305 and relates to a method for reducing the formation of fouling deposits occurring in a caustic scrubber used to remove acid gases. The method disclosed uses a solvent such as a hydrocarbon aromatics selected from benzene, toluene and xylenes, introduced in the caustic scrubber and/or in the alkaline solution fed to the scrubber.
The acetaldehyde dissolved in spent caustic remains reactive and red oils formation in downstream units goes on. This induces severe fouling of the downstream installation. Spent caustic storage can contain high quantities of polymers, for instance a thickness of 50 cm of polymers is not a surprise. These deposits are gummy and sticking. The installation must be shut down for cleaning which is a costly operation. In addition, the time spent can be long so that the installation can be non-available for more than 10 days.
Red oils deposits can be removed manually, but this method is of low acceptance because of risks for health and safety in the workplace for the operators (i.e. HSE risks). High-pressure cleaning shows low efficiency due to the gummy and sticking properties of the red oils deposits. The use of additives has also been suggested, but they have a partial efficiency as there are used in emulsion, they generate waste hard to treat.
Thus there is still a need to find methods to clean the red oils deposits formed in installations such as basic wash units and downstream equipment.
Thus an object of the invention is to provide a cleaning process to remove red oils deposits formed in installations such as basic wash units and downstream equipment. It is also an object of the invention to provide a cleaning process that is simple to implement, that shows low HSE risks, that is cost efficient, that is time efficient and/or that generates waste simply to treat.

Cleaning process to remove red oils deposits in an installation comprising fatty acid esters as cleaning agent and use of fatty acid esters as cleaning agent in such a process


A handpiece for use in lithotripsy is provided with a probe which as a wave guide transmits shock waves that are produced by an impact force of a projectile acting against a mass body member located at the proximal end of the probe whereby this mass body member is located at the free end of a guide tube for said projectile and adapted for transmitting the impact force from the projectile to said probe the shock waves of which are adapted to cause an intercorporeal fragmentation of calculi.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,336 discloses a lithotripter having a handpiece which is adapted for holding a probe. The probe forms a waveguide which is adapted to transmit impact energy that is produced by a projectile. The projectile is pneumatically driven within a guide tube for periodically causing an impact force against the proximal end of the probe to thereby obtain shock waves at the distal end of the probe.
The probe is adapted for being inserted into an endoscope. Different sizes and diameters of the probe are provided for being used in an exchangeable manner under particular consideration of any specifically intended intracorporeal fragmentation of calculi. The holding means for the exchangeable probes as provided on the handpiece are generally designed as a screw cap having a seat for the proximal end of a probe whereby the proximal end of the probe has an enlarged head portion serving with its proximal face as an impact area for the projectile.
The screw cap further comprises a throughhole beyond which the distal end of the probe projects for its insertion into an endoscope. The screw cap has a male thread in engagement with a female thread on a cylindrical casing and sealed by means of an O-ring seal which is arranged on the screw cap. The screw cap thusly allows an easy exchange of the probes. The particular design of the holding means further allows a sterilization of the probes separate from the handpiece. Any sterilization of the handpiece necessitates, however, that after the removal of the screw cap the hollow of the casing in which the projectile is housed and which is then open to the air must first be closed by a separate sealing cap. By such closing also loss of the projectile during the sterilization of the handpiece will be prevented. The separate sealing cap finally also prevents any contamination of the projectile and of its guideway in the guidetube.


A facsimile device includes a communication module for communicating with a web server connected to the Internet. A web printing unit of the communication module receives data from the web server, and adds accumulated data information indicating a saving position of the received data to a corresponding data file if the received data conforms to predetermined sorting conditions. When the amount of received data for which the accumulated data information has been stored in the data file exceeds one page worth, then n-pages worth of received data is converted into print data and recorded in a print FIFO.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming device capable of receiving data via a network from an external source.
2. Description of the Related Art
Some printers well known in the art as image forming devices are configured to connect to a network, receive print data from a personal computer or the like on the network, and form images on recording paper based on the print data. Of these network-connectable printers that have become popular in recent years, there are those well known in the art that take in a new sheet of recording paper of a fixed size, such as A3, A4, B5, and the like, and form images based on print data for each unit of print data entered as a print job.
In recent years, network environments have been established throughout society as the popularity of the Internet continues to grow, and there has been a trend, toward expanding the applications of printers by making use of these networks to enable printers to process various types of data.
For example, it is conceivable to provide data as printed materials to a user on a regular basis by directing a printer to acquire and print new data periodically via a network. For example, it is possible to direct a printer to acquire snapshots taken from a surveillance camera and providing the data to a user, or to supply the latest news or the like to a user.
However, a large amount of recording paper may be consumed when printing data at regular intervals. That is, the amount of data received each time is often quite small. For example, data that does not even fill up half a sheet of recording paper may be printed numerous times. Since conventional printers introduce a new sheet of recording paper and print data each time data is received, this will result in a large consumption of recording paper and a waste of paper resources.

Image forming device capable of sorting acquired data


The invention pertains to low polydispersity copolymers useful for photoimaging and photoresist compositions, and to the photoimaging processes which use these compositions. The low polydispersity copolymers of this invention are prepared using controlled radical polymerization (CRP) techniques, such as RAFT (reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer) polymerization.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to low-polydispersity copolymers useful for photoimaging and photoresist compositions, and to the photoimaging processes which use these compositions. The low-polydispersity copolymers of this invention are prepared using controlled radical polymerization (CRP) techniques such as RAFT (reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer) polymerization.
2. Description of Related Art
Polymer products are used as components of imaging and photosensitive systems and particularly in photoimaging systems. In such systems, ultraviolet (UV) light or other electromagnetic radiation impinges on a material containing a photoactive component to induce a physical or chemical change in that material. A useful or latent image is thereby produced which can be processed into a useful image for semiconductor device fabrication.
For imaging features at the submicron level in semiconductor devices, electromagnetic radiation in the far or extreme ultraviolet (UV) is needed. Photolithography at 248 nm exposure is currently in commercial use, and 193 nm exposure is currently being introduced for microelectronics fabrication using design rules for 0.13 μm and below. Photolithography using 157 nm exposure may be needed for 0.07 μm or lower design rules.
Photoresists comprising copolymers with fluoroalcohol functional groups have been disclosed in WO 00/67072.
Copolymers of fluorinated alcohol monomers with other comonomers have been reported (U.S. Pat. No. 3,444,148 and JP 62186907 A2). These patents are directed to membrane or other non-photosensitive films or fibers, and do not teach the use of fluorinated alcohol comonomers in photosensitive layers (e.g., resists).
There is also increasing interest in developing polymerization processes that can be predictably controlled to produce polymers having a specifically desired architecture and molecular weight. One of the means for achieving such results is through a process of "living polymerization." Such a process provides a higher degree of control during the synthesis of polymers having predictably well-defined architecture and molecular weight with narrow dispersity as compared to polymers made by conventional polymerization processes.
RAFT (reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer) polymerization processes have been disclosed for the preparation of low-polydispersity polymers from acrylic, styrenic and selected other vinyl monomers. (WO 98/01478, WO 99/31144 and EP 0 910,587). Fields of application for these RAFT-derived polymers include imaging and electronics (e.g., photoresists).
T.-Y Lee et al., (Advances in Resist Technology and Processing XX, Theodore H. Fedynyshyn, Editor, Proceedings of SPIE, Vol. 5039 (2003), pp 548-557) have disclosed the preparation of acrylate terpolymers using RAFT processes. They also disclose the use of controlled radical polymerization (CRP) processes for the copolymerization of fluorinated norbornenes with norbornene, and the copolymerization of norbornenes with acrylates to be used in 157 nm photoresists. Yields of the polymers are low, and molecular weights are very low (Mn<3700) in all but one example.
There remains a need for photoresists with high transparency at 157-248 nm and good resolution to enable the production of electronic components with smaller and smaller feature sizes.

Low-polydispersity photoimageable polymers and photoresists and processes for microlithography

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization


The invention relates to an electrical connector for conveying an electrical signal from a device, in particular a cardiac device, to an organ of a human or animal body, in particular a heart, comprising a first electrically conducting wire and a second electrically conducting wire, wherein the wires are joined together in an electrically insulating sleeve, a first electrode, which is electrically connected to the first wire, and a second electrode, which is electrically connected to the second wire; wherein the first and second electrodes are constructed to deliver an electrical signal at the organ, wherein the first electrode forms an electrically conducting sleeve around a conducting part of the first wire and around a non-conducting part of the second wire, wherein at least the edges of the electrically conducting sleeve formed by the first electrode are at least partially embedded in the electrically insulating sleeve.

The invention relates to an electrical connector for conveying an electrical signal from a device, in particular a cardiac device, to an organ of a human or animal body, in particular a heart for an organ of a human or animal body.
Electrical connectors are increasingly used in the medical field for stimulating organs. A well known application is the stimulation of the heart. Many different connectors exist, that typically comprise a bipolar connector having at least two parallel wires, that are connected to a device generating electrical signals, for example a heart pacemaker, and provided with electrodes attached to the organ to be stimulated on the opposite end of the wire. Usually, the connector is inserted into the body and attached to the organ in a surgical operation. Often, the connector is used temporarily, and may be removed at a later stage by retracting the connector and its electrodes. Both the insertion and retracting operations involve a risk of medical complications in the treated person.

Electrical connector for conveying an electrical signal from a device to an organ of a human or animal body


A textured fabric for an implantable bioprosthesis is provided. The textured fabric can include a woven base layer and a plurality of loops projecting from the woven base layer. The plurality of loops are formed from a composite core-sheath yarn. The core can be made of a material that is different from the sheath. The core material can be selected to impart strength and resiliency to bending and the sheath material can be selected to impart a larger surface area or texture that facilitates cellular or tissue in-growth.

Implantable medical devices often incorporate textiles and fabrics that can fulfill a variety of different functions, depending on the nature and type of the medical device and the site of implantation in a patient.
Implantable bioprosthetic heart valves and stent grafts, for example, often include a layer of fabric, such as an outer covering or inner or outer fabric skirt, which is attached to a metal frame or stent. In the case of bioprosthetic heart valves, the fabric skirt can be used to anchor the valve leaflets to the stent. The fabric skirt can also function to protect the delicate valve leaflets from damage that may otherwise occur from direct contact between the valve leaflets and the stent when the heart valve is radially compressed for delivery through a patient's vasculature.
Cellular and tissue in-growth may be desired for certain implantable medical devices. One reason for this is that it may prevent the implantable medical device from becoming dislodged from the site of implantation. Another reason, particularly with respect to bioprosthetic heart valves, is that it may help prevent the occurrence of paravalvular leakage (PVL), which occurs when blood flows through a space between the implanted bioprosthetic heart valve and the adjacent tissue.

Textured woven fabric for use in implantable bioprostheses


A transaction checking system and method to verify bus bridge designs in multi-master bus systems. A state machine model is created for each bus in the system. An initiator cycle list and a target cycle list store corresponding bus cycle state machine objects and transition their states according to bus signals. The bus cycle state machines provide a means of persistent storage for other verification tasks. A bus bridge model may store a copy of each configuration register for the bus bridge, thereby monitoring current state of the bus bridge. False failures due to data merging, data collapsing and address remapping are avoided. A cache model and a cycle-based messaging system provide verification of proper cache master operation. Cache coherency errors may also be detected. A statistics keeping object may be created to monitor and store all pertinent performance information for the bus bridge. The transaction checking system may monitor the state of the bus bridge in a device independent manner and with tighter verification. The cycle-based approach to verification of internal states of a bus bridge results in a sound resolution of bus cycles with a better predictability of possible failures. Bus monitors may be employed along with the bus bridge model object to determine the values of the bus bridge configuration registers. This allows timing and other protocol related functionality of a system bus attached to the bus bridge to be verified without restricting the bus monitor to a specific bus bridge design (e.g., without requiring the bus monitors to maintain the net list names for the various configuration registers identified by the hardware description language representation of the bus bridge). Additionally, future bus bridge designs can also be tested in a device independent manner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices and methods for testing the functionality of components of a computer system and, more particularly, to object-oriented design methodologies for testing the functionality of bus bridge implementations for use with multi-master computer systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Reliability and efficiency of any computer system depend in part upon the system complexity as well as upon the measures taken to minimize or prevent occurrences of faulty operations. Various modern-day mechanisms, including parallel processing, high-speed microprocessors, RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architectures and on-board hardware redundancies allow faster system performance and throughput while increasing system reliability. Particularly in relatively complex, high performance systems, it is important to provide means for testing the proper functionality of the system and to provide fault corrections both upon the design and manufacture of the various system components, and during system operation.
Monitoring and verifying the functionality of a particular design of a computer system component through software means has undoubtedly proven to be a reasonable alternative to manual verification methodologies and to purely hardware test systems. The use of software for system verification is not, however, entirely without its attendant costs. The time required to perform various tests may be lengthy. Furthermore, and perhaps of greater significance, is the fact that the overall accuracy or coverage of the tests may be limited, thus leading to indications of false failures or to undetected defects.
Corrupted bus cycles in a system can be a major source of loss of reliability or efficiency. It is not uncommon for bus cycles initiated by various bus masters to not reach their desired destinations, or to otherwise be corrupted. This can result from various factors, such as improper hardware design, faults in bus lines, physical or functional defects in chip or board fabrications, and faulty execution in system software routines. A key component in many computer systems which manages bus cycles is a bus bridge. Verification systems have thus been developed to verify the design of a bus bridge, either upon its initial design in a hardware description language such as Verilog or following actual hardware implementation.
Historically, verification systems for bus bridge designs have proven inadequate to preserve the right data and right address for every bus cycle in a system involving multiple transactions. One prior art method for testing the functionality of a bus bridge employs reference counts associated with each address being written to memory. The CPU decrements the count upon completion of the write operation. Although every address transaction is given its individual count, this method may fail to preserve address counts in bus bridge implementations that employ memory remapping.
False failures may also be caused by byte merging, i.e. merging of transactions to adjacent or contiguous memory addresses. In this scheme, for example, four cycles into the bus bridge may only create only one cycle out. This may result in the bus bridge erroneously incrementing in multiple counts without decrementing consistent with the merged transactions, thus leading to false indications of error.
Byte collapsing is another source of error in bus transaction verification schemes. In this approach, more than one write cycle to the same memory address may result in only the most recent data being preserved. In other words, the earlier data to the particular address may be overwritten by a later cycle. Here, as in byte merging, the bus bridge testing methodology may fail to preserve the correct address count.
Yet another source of error in previous bus transaction verification schemes is an occurrence of an aborted bus transaction. When cycles to addresses are aborted without being completed, failures occur if the system does not properly track and account for the aborted cycles.
Most transaction testing methodologies for bus bridges treat computer systems as address-based rather than cycle-based. Typical approaches to address and data verification do not take into account the internal states of a machine, nor any other internal states associated with a memory or other system cycles. Critical cycle oriented information may not be considered, causing inadequate verification. When critical bus cycle information is discarded, resolution of later arising cycle conflicts may not be completely sound.
Furthermore, a bus bridge verification requires insuring that each bus attached to the bridge operates with a proper timing and protocol. This verification is typically accomplished using bus monitors. Bus monitors are modules that monitor the signals on a given bus and flag improper operation. Bus monitors are typically constructed in the same hardware design language as the bus bridge being simulated. Also, bus monitors may typically perform their verification tasks during the simulation.
In some cases, it is necessary for a bus monitor to be aware of internal bus bridge configuration register values. For example, a DRAM memory bus monitor should verify proper RAS and CAS pulse width values and DRAM refresh intervals. The values for these timing intervals are set using configuration registers in the bus bridge. Hence, in order to verify that the bus bridge operation is proper with respect to these configurable timing intervals, the bus monitor directly accesses the configuration register values using the actual net name of the configuration register in the actual bus bridge design.
This bus monitor dependence on the actual net name of a configuration register has one major disadvantage: the bus monitor is not portable across any designs where the net names are varied. A conversion of the net list that does not preserve net names--as for example, a conversion of an RTL (Register Transfer Logic) net list to a gate net list used for circuit layout--will also render the bus monitor inoperable.
Therefore, a bus bridge testing methodology and mechanism are needed to monitor the states of a bus bridge in a computer system to thereby determine proper functionality. Knowledge of the bus bridge states will allow better determination of failures. It is also desirable to have a verification system that monitors and records bus bridge performance, and verifies correct behavior of a bus bridge cache master.
Finally, it is further desirable to have a bus bridge verification methodology where timing and other functionality of a system bus attached to the bus bridge can be verified in a manner independent of the bus bridge's hardware description language representation. Additionally, a bus bridge verification system is desirable that allows bus monitors to be portable across various bus bridge designs and their revisions.

Bus bridge verification system including device independent bus monitors


A conveying installation has a conveying belt, comprising at least one side wall, constructed from in each case one polymer material with elastic properties, and/or at least one cleat, constructed from in each case one polymer material with elastic properties, and also having drums, load-bearing rollers and load-bearing frameworks, wherein the conveying installation forms a material-conveying upper strand, with a supply location for the conveying material, and an at least material-free lower strand. In the conveying installation at least one side wall and/or at least one cleat of the conveying belt contain/contains at least one foamed polymer mix.

Conveying installations having endlessly self-contained conveying belts are well known.
Conveying belts, often also referred to as belt conveyors, transport bulk goods either using a depression-like implementation, as known from DE 10 2008 037 457 A1 or DE 7019776, for example, or using right-hand-side and left-hand-side side walls (edge profile strips), which are affixed substantially perpendicularly on the carrying side of the conveying belt, as known from DE 10 2008 013 571 A1, for example, and/or using what are called cleats (lugs), as known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,209 or DE3835619C2, for example.
The side walls of a conveying belt are often in the form of a corrugated or undulating edge; see description, for example, in DE 10 2008 055 482 A1. This ensures that in spite of the often relatively high side walls, the conveying belt, at the two end points of the transport section, can be guided without damage around the diverting drum located there. The side walls in this case are not elongated and planar, but are instead in a corrugated (undulating, snaking) form and are affixed on the conveying belt on its lengthwise sides. As a result of this design, there is sufficient side wall material to prevent tearing caused by the stretching of the side wall during diversion. They usually have an elastic all-rubber layer with or without fabric inserts. Conveying belts with undulating edges are used preferably for transporting bulk goods. In the case of ascending conveyors in particular, cleats, preferably transverse cleats, prevent the conveyed goods slipping. In the case of linear conveying belts, the cleats are also used as a separation between piece goods. The cleats here may be equipped with or without additional fabric insert.
As a result of the undulating edges, the useful physical cross section (that is, the cross-sectional filling area and hence the conveying volume) of the conveying belt is increased. Undulating edges and cleats, with and without a foot in each case, are usually glued, welded or vulcanized onto the conveying belt. The cleats are preferably applied transversely to the conveying direction.
Conveying belts having undulating edges and/or cleats are particularly suitable for being able to convey piece goods and bulk goods steeply (up to 90°), since in this case, alternatively, effective side sealing is ensured and the conveyed goods are unable to slip to the side and/or downward.
Because of the undulating geometry, the amount of material needed particularly for the undulating edges is comparatively high. This high level of material needed also results in a high overall weight for the conveying belt.
The application of cleats, too, increases the overall weight of the conveying belt.

Conveying installation with improved energy requirements


In a system and a method for erecting a structure, the walls of the structure are securely interconnected with a foundation, such as, a concrete slab or footing. The system includes a laminated shear panel formed by bonding a thin shear layer (e.g., a layer of sheet steel or other suitable high-strength material) to a surface of a non-structural layer. The thin shear layer has one dimension longer than the non-structural sheet so that a tab of the shear layer extends from one edge of the non-structural sheet. The shear panel is mounted on the exterior walls of a structure with the panel secured to the vertical studs of the wall and with the extended tab secured to the foundation. The shear panel binds the walls of the structure to the foundation to inhibit the walls from lifting or shifting during high wind conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
This application is directed to wall structures and methods of making wall structures to provide protection against uplift of the wall structures during hurricanes, tornadoes and other high wind conditions.
2. Description of the Related Art
During high winds caused by hurricanes, tornadoes and other extreme weather conditions, one common failure mode of homes and other structures is that the building is lifted from the foundation and then displaced and effectively destroyed. Generally, a structure relies primarily on gravity to maintain the structure on a foundation, such as, for example, a concrete slab, a concrete footing or the like, which is embedded in the ground. The walls of a conventional structure may be anchored to the foundation by a number of hold-down bolts embedded in the concrete and bolted to the mudsill at the base of the wall. One or more of the vertical studs in a wall section may also be bolted to the foundation using hold-down systems such as, for example, the systems described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,825,621, 5,388,804, 5,535,561, 6,560,940.
One common issue with the installation of the hold-down bolts and similar systems for anchoring the walls of a structure to a foundation is the cost of the parts and labor required to accomplish the installation and also the need to install the embedded bolt in the concrete when the concrete is poured. In particular, the position of each bolt must be designated in advance, and the bolt must be maintained in a vertical orientation at the designated position until the concrete sets. Then, when the framing of the structure is erected, holes must be formed in the mudsill at the correct locations so that the bolts pass through the mudsill. If the bolts are fastened to vertical studs, the positioning of the bolts must be more precise in order to be disposed alongside the studs.
Because of the costs for the parts and labor, many structures, such as private homes do not include enough hold-down bolts to restrain the structures during high wind conditions. Even if a sufficient number of hold-down bolts are included, only the mudsill or the selected vertical studs are physically connected to the foundation. Thus, when the wind reaches a sufficient intensity or when the wind achieves a resonant condition with the structure, lateral movement of the wall may cause portions of the wall to tear away from the foundation.

Wall structure for protection against wind-caused uplift


A musical keyboard having associated therewith a alphanumeric keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric keys, the musical keyboard having a musical keys each being for producing a musical sound, and music function keys for producing musical effects, At least one of the alphanumeric keys is able to be used to modify a result of one or more of the music function keys and musical keys. The music function keys have functionality to produce the musical effect. The modification is only affective while the alphanumeric key is pressed after the musical function key has been pressed. The modification is to change the musical sound produced by the musical keys, and a further modification can be effected by relatively rapid hits of the one key of the plurality of alphanumeric keys. A method is also disclosed.

In our earlier international application PCT/SG01/00040 ("our earlier application") there is shown and described a combined keyboard having a fully functional alphanumeric keyboard and a fully functional keyboard for a musical instrument, the musical keyboard preferably being a MIDI keyboard. The contents of our earlier application are hereby incorporated by reference.
The number of selections available by pressing any key on a alphanumeric keyboard is limited, as there are only 104 keys on the keyboard. It is possible to use another key such as CTRL or ALT together so that the keyboard can handle more selections. However, when speed is of essence, it is sometimes not possible to press CTRL followed by any other key.
For someone who uses a alphanumeric keyboard frequently, such as during music making, a convenient and fast method for interaction to provide a speedy operation is required.
A trill happens when two music notes, normally adjacent notes, are played alternately at high speed, producing a vibrating effect on the sound. This effect is very difficult to reproduce, as it requires speed of playing on the one or two notes.
Some MIDI keyboards implement this feature by adapting every key on the MIDI keyboard to play trills after a particular, designated function button is activated. However, this is often not intended in music playing. A user may only want certain selected keys to play trills, and only for selected notes during the performance. This presently requires the particular function key to be activated for each note, and deactivated immediately afterwards. No other note can be played at the same time.

Functional performance of keyboard musical instruments


A conductive quasi-solution useful for making a homogeneously conductive single-phase polyurethane, comprising a transition metal salt, a carrier solution, and a dispersing agent, wherein said conductive quasi-solution has a transition metal salt concentration between 10 and 30% by weight, and methods of making thermoset and thermoplastic polyurethane polymers therewith.

Certain applications of polymers require conductive, semi-conductive, or static charge-dissipating properties.
Electrically conductive polymer products have been made by mixing an electrically conductive material into the polymer during formation. Examples of such electrically conductive materials include powders such as silver, copper, nickel, carbon black, and graphite; and ionizable metal salts such as alkali metal tetraorganoborides. To provide satisfactory conductive properties, the amount of conductive powder in a conductive material can be as high as 10-40% by weight, which can affect the thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer. Uniform high conductivity requires uniform distribution of the conductive material throughout the polymer bulk.

Preparation of conductive polyurethanes using a conductive quasi-solution


A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for adaptive MaclogMAP-type receiver structures. In one embodiment, a device comprises a receiver to receive information-bearing signals from the transmitter wirelessly transmitted using OFDM and bit interleaved coded modulation, and the receiver comprises an inner decoder structure having a multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) joint demapper to perform most likely transmitted symbol estimation using a modified MaxLogMAP process that is operable to adapt a degree of metric correction based on quality of OFDM tones.

Future wireless systems require a more effective utilization of the radio frequency spectrum in order to increase the data rate achievable within a given transmission bandwidth. This can be accomplished by employing multiple transmit and receive antennas combined with signal processing. A number of recently developed techniques and emerging standards are based on employing multiple antennas at a base station to improve the reliability of data communication over wireless media without compromising the effective data rate of the wireless systems. So called space-time block-codes (STBCs) are used to this end.
Specifically, recent advances in wireless communications have demonstrated that by jointly encoding symbols over time and transmit antennas at a base station one can obtain reliability (diversity) benefits as well as increases in the effective data rate from the base station to each cellular user per unit of bandwidth. These multiplexing (throughput) gain and diversity benefits depend on the space-time coding techniques employed at the base station. The multiplexing gains and diversity benefits are also inherently dependent on the number of transmit and receive antennas in the system being deployed, in the sense that they are fundamentally limited by the multiplexing-diversity trade-offs curves that are dictated by the number of transmit and the number of receive antennas in the system.
For high data rates and wideband transmission, the use of OFDM makes the equalizer unnecessary. With multilevel modems, coded modulation systems can easily be designed by means of an outer binary code, e.g., a convolutional code, and an interleaver in a so called bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM) system.
In many emerging and future radio networks, the data for any particular cell user may be available to multiple base stations. Joint signaling from multiple base stations can readily extend the range/coverage of the transmission. Furthermore, viewing each of the base stations with data for a particular user as an element (or a group of elements in the case that multiple transmit antennas are present at each base station) of a virtual antenna array suggests using cooperative signal encoding schemes across these base stations to provide diversity benefits to the desired user. Since the encoded signals, however, are transmitted by spatially dispersed base-stations, they arrive at the receiver with distinct relative delays with one another, i.e., asynchronously. Although these relative delays can, in principle, be estimated at the receiver, they are not known (and thus cannot be adjusted for) at the transmitting base stations, unless there is relative-delay information feedback from the receiver to the transmitting base stations.
A large collection of STBCs have been proposed in recent years as a means of providing diversity and/or multiplexing benefits by exploiting multiple transmit antennas in the forward link of cellular systems. Of interest is the actual symbol rate of the STBC scheme, R, which is equal to k/t (i.e., the ratio of k over t). Full rate STBCs are STBCs whose rate R equals 1 symbol per channel use. Another important attribute of a STBC is its decoding complexity. Although the decoding complexity of the optimal decoder for arbitrary STBCs is exponential in the number k of jointly encoded symbols, there exist designs with much lower complexity. One such attractive class of designs, referred to as orthogonal space-time codes (OSTBCs), can provide full diversity while their optimal decoding decouples to (linear processing followed by) symbol-by-symbol decoding. Full rate OSTBCs exist only for a two transmit-antenna system. For three or more antennas, the rate cannot exceed 3/4 symbols/per channel use. This rate is achievable for N=3 and N=4 antennas. As a result, although the imposed orthogonality constraint yields simple decoding structures, it places restrictions in the multiplexing gains (and thus the spectral efficiencies and throughput) that can be provided by such schemes.
Many MIMO/OFDM systems exploit large-size QAM constellations and BICM/ID and have an inner MIMO detector block of high complexity.
A number of systems deployed for broadcasting common audio/video information from several base stations are exploiting coded OFDM transmission under the umbrella of the single frequency network concept. These systems employ a common coded OFDM based transmission from each of the broadcasting base-stations. The OFDM based transmission allows asynchronous reception of the multitude of signals and provides increased coverage. However, as all base-stations transmit the same coded version of the information-bearing signal, SFN (single frequency network) systems do not provide in general full transmit base-station diversity with full coding gains (some form of this diversity is available in the form of multi-path diversity, although limited since it is not coordinated). A scheme with an inner modified orthogonal STBC can be viewed as a method that provides the OFDM based benefits of a single frequency network while at the same time allowing the full transmit base-station diversity and frequency diversity to be harvested from the system by using distinct coordinated transmissions from distinct base stations together with bit-interleaved coded modulation.
A class of schemes that can provide large spectral-efficiencies and reliable transmission includes space-time bit-interleaved coded modulation systems with OFDM. These systems can provide spatial (transmit and receive antenna) diversity, frequency diversity and can cope with asynchronous transmission. Furthermore, by modifying the binary convolutional code to a block with rate compatible punctured convolutional codes, a flexible UEP system can be achieved. One drawback associated with such systems is that the near-optimum receiver can be quite complex (computation intensive). The necessary joint demapper unit (inner MAP or MaxLogMAP decoder) grows in complexity exponentially with the product of the number of transmit antennas and the number of bits per modem constellation point. As an example with 16 QAM (4 bits/symbol) and 4 transmit antennas, the complexity of the calculations in the inner decoder is proportional to 24×4=216.
It is well known that the Gray mapper for the QAM constellations is a good choice for the noniterative decoder but not for the iterative decoder.

Adaptive MaxLogMAP-type receiver structures


A pneumatic actuation assembly for use in an ejection system capable of unlocking and forcibly ejecting stores from racks mounted on an aircraft or similar weapon carrier. The actuation assembly including a primary valve and release ram attached to one-another for joint, reciprocating movement along a common longitudinal axis between closed and open positions. A solenoid control valve initiates movement of the primary valve by creating a pressure imbalance across the primary valve member. Pressurized gas is caused to vent to the atmosphere, allowing the primary valve member to move the attached release ram into engagement with a mechanism capable of unlocking the hooks before moving thrust pistons to forcibly eject the unlocked stores.

The present invention relates generally to store carriers for carrying a releasable store on an aircraft and, more particularly, to an improved ejection system capable of maximizing the pneumatic force available for ejecting the store while reducing the overall complexity of the ejection system, resulting in enhanced in reliability of operation.
Military aircraft utilize racks located beneath the wings and fuselage to carry and dispense stores upon command. Stores may be used to contain munitions i.e. bombs, or to contain other material to be dropped from the aircraft i.e. rockets or missiles upon command. Typical ejector racks are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,043,525 and 4,347,777, each issued to the same inventor and assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference.
Conventionally, an ejector rack includes a release mechanism which is activated to mechanically release and subsequently forcibly eject the weapon from the aircraft. Most ejector racks at one time utilized pyrotechnic (explosive) cartridges which, upon ignition, generate high pressure gas for actuating the mechanical release mechanism, as well as providing high pressure gas to forcibly eject the store from the rack mounted on the aircraft.
Ejection systems that employ pyrotechnic cartridges have certain undesirable characteristics. For example, a great deal of cleaning and maintenance is required after firing a pyrotechnic cartridge. When fired, the chemical burning of the explosive charge within the pyrotechnic cartridge results in a large amount of residue being deposited within the system. This residue also contains moisture and corrosives. After burning, the moisture in the system tends to further gather debris, form ice, and otherwise clog the internal and external workings of the bomb rack mechanism. If not properly disassembled and cleaned after a scheduled number of firings, at high cost and a great deal of labor and downtime for the aircraft, an ejection system utilizing pyrotechnic cartridges will quickly corrode and become unreliable.
In order to avoid the inherent problems associated with the pyrotechnic cartridge, the inventor of the present invention devised a unique pneumatic ejector rack assembly set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,312 (hereinafter referred to as the '312 patent) entitled COLD GAS EJECTOR RACK, issued Dec. 10, 1996, assigned to the assignee of the present application and incorporated herein by reference. The '312 patent describes a pressurization system capable of servicing one or more store release systems, which system uses air or one of any number of clean, non-pyrotechnic pressurized gases both as the energy source and energy transfer medium. Preferably, the aircraft contains a miniature compressor and purification system. Ambient air is filtered, dried and stored as an energy medium. Using purified air eliminates the excessive cleaning burden imposed when using pyrotechnics, and also eliminates the sealing problems associated with hydraulics.
As described in detail in the '312 patent, the ejection system includes an on-board source of pressurized non-pyrotechnic gas, at least one release mechanism for mounting the store on the aircraft, and an actuation system for driving the release mechanism between closed and open positions. The actuation system includes an accumulator for receiving and storing pressurized gas from a source which may or may not be located on-board the aircraft. Actuation of a control valve causes a primary valve to move in a linear direction from a closed position to an open position (see FIG. 3 of the '312 patent). This movement allows pressurized gas, i.e. air, to flow from the accumulator into the actuation chamber, forcing a separate, hook release piston to move in a linear direction as shown in the same FIG. 3 of the '312 patent. As a result, the pressurized gas forces a ram attached to the hook release piston to engage and unlock the hooks holding the stores to the rack. Pressurized gas entering the actuator chamber is further capable of exiting from an opposite end of the actuator chamber and flowing into one or more feed tubes that deliver the pressurized gas into engagement with thrust pistons, wherein the pressurized gas causes the thrust pistons to forcibly eject the newly unlocked stores from the rack.
While the ejection system disclosed in the '312 patent provides a significant improvement over earlier pyrotechnic ejection systems due to a substantial reduction in the amount of required maintenance that needs to be performed as compared to the maintenance performed on a pyrotechnic driven ejection system, it has been discovered that by employing a pneumatically powered primary valve reciprocating along a first axis and a separate release piston reciprocating along a second, non-aligned axis as disclosed in the '312 patent, there is a significant reduction in the usable volume of the accumulator. This reduction in volume occurs due to the fact that the primary valve extends into a portion of the volume that would otherwise be available to the accumulator. In order for the accumulator to accommodate enough pressurized gas to provide sufficient force to unlock the hooks and forcibly eject the stores, the volume of the accumulator needs to be increased. This is achieved by increasing the outer surface area of the accumulator, as shown by the shape of accumulator 22 surrounding the actuator assembly in FIG. 2 of the '312 patent, making it difficult for the pneumatic ejection system described in the '312 patent to occupy the same breech volume as occupied by a conventional pyrotechnic cartridge ejection system. In effect, the ejection system disclosed in the '312 patent is able to reduce the overall maintenance requirements of the actuator assembly at the unsatisfactory cost of an increase in size of the accumulator. As a result, the ejection system may not fit in a rack previously designed to employ a pyrotechnic cartridge without significant redesign.
Based on the above and foregoing, it can be appreciated that there presently exists a need in the art for an ejection system actuator mechanism that utilizes pneumatic pressure to forcibly eject stores from their respective racks while still fitting within a conventional breech volume initially designed for pyrotechnic cartridges. The successful solution should maximize the pneumatic pressure while, at the same time, minimizing both the volume and complexity of the actuator mechanism. The present invention provides a successful solution and thereby fulfills this need in the art.

Integral accumulator valve and ram assembly for pneumatic weapon ejection system


A heating element formed from at least two wires twisted together. The twisted wires are preferably shaped in a helical configuration and mounted within a quartz tube.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to radiant heaters and more specifically to heating coils for use in such heaters.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Radiant heaters, which generate heat by passing an electrical current through a high resistance element, have become common place. However, new applications are continually being devised. With the dwindling supply of fossil fuels and their associated spiraling costs, more homes are using electrical radiant heaters as their primary or secondary heating source. Portable electric space heaters have also seen an increase in popularity. Large commercial space heaters for warehouses, garages and the like are also more common. Hand dryers, like those found in many public restrooms, and hair dryers, which are common in the home, also require radiant heater elements. With the advent of electrically powered cars, it is expected that highly efficient electric heating elements to heat the passenger compartment will be needed.
The electric current passes through a resistive heating element; in one form the heating element is exposed to the ambient, and in another form it is protected within a tube such as quartz or metal. Quartz heater tubes utilizing high temperature heating elements are common in the food service, graphic arts, and the industrial processing field. Applications in which quartz heaters can be found include very high speed drying of print, broiling and baking of foods in restaurants, drying ceramics and sealing plastics (e.g., bag forming processes). Quartz heaters are also replacing normal heating elements in stove stop ovens.
A typical heating tube consists of a high resistance wire wrapped in a helical configuration. The respective free ends of the helix are connected to a copper or other electrically conductive metal that serves as a common terminal point for that end. The helically configurative element is often suspended within a quartz or metal tube. The tube may be capped with ceramic end pieces or caps, and the helical heating element is held in tension by the end caps.
Some quartz heating tubes are vacuum sealed and may contain an inert gas. Frequently, special control circuitry is required because of an initial in-rush current when these devices are first activated.
A typical helical heating element may be, for example, from three inches to seventy-two inches long and from 0.250 inch to one inch in diameter. Generally, the helical structure is extended to space each coil from the adjacent coils. The wire has a diameter as required and is made of an alloy of iron, chromium, aluminum and cobalt which has a recommended operating temperature range that extends only to about 900 degrees centigrade. Though the alloy's melting point may exceed 900 degrees centigrade (e.g., 1280 degrees), the prior helical heating coil cannot effectively operate at such high temperatures.
In a typical commercial application, such as a cooking oven, heating elements are connected in an electrical series configuration. The size and wattage of the heating elements are designed for that particular oven.
The heating element is usually connected to an external terminal mounted on the tube's end caps. For example, a conically shaped termination for use in spring loaded sockets is often used. Studs, nuts, and pigtails are also common terminals. The terminal configuration depends on the application.
Quartz tubing has become increasingly popular to protect the heating element since it is durable and transparent to infrared radiation. The quartz tubing may be clear, semi-translucent or translucent.


A flexible protective sleeve for use in protecting an elongated member comprises a generally-tubular wall which has a longitudinally-extending slit therethrough. The sleeve also comprises a lining contained in the space enclosed by said wall. The lining also has a longitudinally-extending slit therethrough which provides access to the interior thereof. Said lining is formed by a preformed tube made of resilient material.

This invention is concerned with a flexible protective sleeve for use in protecting an elongated member, such as a wire, a bundle of wires, or a pipe. Such sleeves, are substantially equally flexible at all points along their length and, conventionally, comprise a generally-tubular wall which at least substantially surrounds a space for receiving the elongated member.
Conventionally, flexible protective sleeves are used for protecting wires or pipes from contact with other components to avoid-undesirable noise generation and/or abrasion damage. Such sleeves may also act to insulate a member from heat. Such sleeves are used, for example, in the engine compartments of vehicles. Some flexible protective sleeves have a longitudinally-extending slit in their wall to provide access to the space. The slit enables an elongated member to be positioned in the sleeve without having to be inserted into one end of the sleeve.
This invention is applicable to flexible protective sleeves which have a longitudinally-extending slit. Such a sleeve may have a wall which is convoluted, ie its wall is formed from sheet-like material which is formed into convolutions to increase flexibility. Such a wall is normally formed from plastics material and has a diameter which varies in a regular manner along the length of the sleeve so that its exterior surface has a series of annular crests separated by troughs. When the sleeve bends, the crests move further apart on the outside of the curve and closer together on the inside of the curve. The invention is also applicable to flexible protective sleeves which have their walls formed from braided or woven filaments or yarns, such sleeves being well-known.
Although conventional flexible protective sleeves are effective in protecting elongated members contained therein from abrasion damage and, in many cases, reduce noise, the sleeves themselves can also be a source of noise, since they may vibrate against the elongated member causing an undesirable rattle and the edges of the longitudinally-extending slit may rub against one another creating noise. Various proposals have been made for reducing these noises. For example, the problem of reducing noise from such sleeves has been considered in EP 0 556 140 B where the proposed solution is to cover the wall of the sleeve with a strip of flexible sound-insulating material, eg a felt or a foam, which is wrapped around the wall of the sleeve and adhered thereto. The strip covers the outer surface of the wall and passes through the slit to cover the inner surface of the wall to which it is also adhered. Thus, the strip can cushion impacts between the interior surface of the wall and the elongated member and, since it passes through the slit, also cushions impacts between the edges of the slit. However, the use of such a strip has the disadvantages that: the process of applying the strip is complex especially the shaping and adhering of the strip to the interior surface; and the strip may become detached in service.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,599 A discloses a flexible protective sleeve having a convoluted wall including a longitudinal slit. The sleeve also comprises a sound-deadening inner member, eg made from sponge rubber. The inner member is die-cut from a sheet and adhered to the wall so that its opposite edges are separated from one another. This proposal suffers from the disadvantages that: the inner member does not completely surround the space within the sleeve; although the inner member can be pre-shaped to some extent by rolling, the process of applying the inner member is complex especially the shaping and adhering of the inner member to the wall; and the inner member may become detached in service.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible protective sleeve in which the problem of noise mentioned-above is reduced or eliminated without incurring the above-mentioned disadvantages.
The invention provides a flexible protective sleeve for use in protecting an elongated member, said sleeve comprising a generally-tubular wall which at least substantially surrounds a space for receiving an elongated member, the wall having a longitudinally-extending slit therethrough which provides access to said space, characterised in that the sleeve also comprises a lining contained in said space, the lining having a longitudinally-extending slit therethrough which provides access to the interior thereof, said lining being formed by a pre-formed tube made of resilient material.
In a protective sleeve according to the invention, the lining is positioned to cushion impacts between the wall and the elongated member but, as it returns to its tubular form, is easy to install and, as no adhesive is used and the lining is at least substantially surrounded by the wall, the lining cannot become detached in service. A protective sleeve according to the invention can be used to provide very good thermal insulation and abrasion resistance in sleeves used for heating, ventilation and air conditioning lines. The lining is easily produced as an extruded tube.
In a sleeve according to the invention, the wall protects against abrasion damage. The wall may be formed from sheet plastics material and be convoluted. Such a wall may, therefore, be manufactured by the conventional methods used to manufacture sleeves of the convoluted type. It is also possible for the wall to be braided or woven from monofilament or multi-filament yarns.
The resilient material of the lining may be a polymeric foam which may, therefore, be manufactured by conventional methods used to manufacture pre-formed foam tubes for use as pipe insulation. For example, polyethylene foam may be used or PVC nitrile foam which is suitable for higher temperature applications. Foam is a good cushioning material and also improves thermal insulation.
Preferably, the lining has its longitudinally-extending slit aligned with the longitudinally-extending slit of the wall.
The lining may be oversize relative to the wall so that it holds the edges of the longitudinally-extending slit in said wall out of contact with one another, thereby preventing rubbing contact between the edges of the slit in the wall. Furthermore, in this case, the wall grips the lining preventing relative movement between the wall and the lining.
There now follows a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a protective sleeve which is illustrative of the invention.


Bipolar forceps of the type where each of the prongs has a manually engageable portion spaced from the tip for manual squeezing of the prongs and an electrical supply system for applying a high-frequency electric current between tool tips to dissect through tissue planes and/or seal blood vessels includes a set of force measuring sensors for measuring forces, particularly squeezing forces, applied to the prongs at the tip. A temperature sensor is included to provide temperature information and temperature compensation. The sensors are applied to each prong in opposing pairs on the inside and outside surfaces and the outputs thereof are applied to a bridge arrangement. The signals are sent to a processor for generating warning signals and for recording forces for training purposes where a haptic system can be used.

The arrangement described herein focuses on human interaction with technology within the field of medicine. The arrangement described herein provides a force-sensing dissecting bipolar forceps tool. The application and translation areas for this tool include conventional and robotic surgery, surgical training, and surgical simulation. A dissecting bipolar forceps is an electro-cauterization forceps used worldwide in operating rooms and utilizes high-frequency electric current between tool tips to dissect through tissue planes or seal blood vessels. A dissecting bipolar forceps with the ability to also measure the forces of dissection has not been made available to the neurosurgical community to date.
The bipolar forceps is one of the primary tools used in neurosurgery. There are more than 2400 hospitals in the USA and Canada equipped with neurosurgical operating rooms. There are multiple neurosurgeries per day in each of these hospitals. Neurosurgeons typically have multiple bipolar forceps of varying length and shape on hand for use during each surgical case. Therefore, in neurosurgery alone, there is a strong demand for bipolar forceps tools. Furthermore, considering disposable bipolar forceps increases the demand drastically. It should also be noted that bipolar forceps are used in other surgical disciplines as well.
In general such tools comprise a pair of prongs each having a prong tip where the prongs are connected for relative movement of the prongs for movement of the tips into a tip contacting position and each of the prongs has a manually engageable portion spaced from the tip for manual movement of the prongs to the tip contacting position by manual pressure on the manually engageable portion. An electrical supply system connected to an end of the prongs remote from the tip is provided for applying a high-frequency electric current between tool tips to dissect through tissue planes and/or seal blood vessels.