A method for preparing an ultrapure water, from which impurities including inorganic salts, organic substances, fine particles and microorganisms are removed, by treatment including an ion exchange treatment, which comprises using an ion exchange resin comprising a copolymer of a polyvinyl compound and a monovinyl aromatic compound which may contain a monovinyl aliphatic compound, as the matrix, at least in a mixed bed ion exchange treatment of the ion exchange treatment, said ion exchange resin used comprising at least a regenerated form ion exchange resin A eluting an organic compound of a molecular weight of less than 3,000 but substantially not eluting an organic compound of a molecular weight of not less than 3,000 when dipped in a hot water at 50.degree. C. for 7 days.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a pure water. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method for preparing a pure water of a very high purity, so to speak an ultrapure water, suitable for use in electronic industries, for example, as a cleaning water used in the preparation of ultra LSI.
2. Discussion of Background
There are known many methods for preparing a pure water. For instance, a typical method comprises subjecting a basic water to be cleaned to direct filtration to remove suspended substances and treating the resultant water with an ion exchange resin to remove the majority of ionic substances present therein, thus producing a deionized water. The deionized water is then subjected to an ultraviolet ray irradiation step for decomposing organic substances present therein, a step for removing dissolved gases under reduced pressure, a step for removing dissolved ionic substances with a mixture system of a strong acidic cation exchange resin and a strong basic anion exchange resin, a step for removing dissolved substances by a reverse osmosis membrane and the like, thereby producing a pure water. The pure water thus obtained has water qualities preferably of a specific resistance of at least 18M.OMEGA..multidot.cm and a total organic carbon content of not higher than 10 ppb.
The pure water thus obtained is further purified to obtain an ultrapure water. A typical example of the purification is conducted by irradiating the pure water with ultraviolet ray of a short wavelength to decompose the organic matters contained therein into carbonic acid or carboxylic acid. The pure water thus treated with the ultraviolet ray is then treated with a strong basic anion exchange resin, and is further treated with a mixed bed system of a strong acidic cation exchange resin and a strong basic anion exchange resin to remove ionic substances formed by the ultraviolet ray irradiation. The resultant water is finally treated with an ultrafiltration membrane to remove suspended substances such as colloidal substances present in a very small amount, thereby producing an ultrapure water.
In the preparation of a pure water of a high purity or an ultrapure water, the total organic carbon content of which is not higher than 10 ppb, the water quality of the finally obtained pure water or ultrapure water is largely affected by impurities eluted from the materials constituting the purification apparatuses. Particularly, since an ion exchange resin comprises particles of a small particle size, the ion exchange resin has a very large surface area in comparison with a resin volume, and therefore the pollution by impurities eluted from the ion exchange resin to the finally obtained pure water or ultrapure water is not negligible. That is, when water to be purified passes through the ion exchange resin bed, the impurities in the water are adsorbed and removed by the ion exchange resin, and at the same time a small amount of impurities are eluted from the ion exchange resin. Accordingly, the purity of the water does not reach higher than a certain level of standard. In order to reduce the impurities eluted from the ion exchange resin, water is previously flown through the ion exchange resin column for a long period of time to remove elutable substances in the resin. However, this method consumes a part of water product in the production process, and consequently the efficiency of the process is lowered. Accordingly, an ion exchange resin which does not elute impurities so much during passing water is desired.
Generally, as compared with a sulfonic acid type cation exchange resin, it is difficult to reduce elutable substances from a quaternary ammonium type anion exchange resin simply by passing water, and therefore a quaternary ammonium type anion exchange resin which does not contain elutable substances so much is particularly desired.
The present inventors have studied substances eluted when a regenerated form ion exchange resin comprising a copolymer of a monovinyl aromatic compound and a polyvinyl compound as the matrix is shaken in a hot water at 50.degree. C., and have found that among the eluted substances, an organic compound having a molecular weight of less than 3,000 can be easily adsorbed by an ion exchange resin having a reverse charge, i.e. the organic compound eluted from a basic anion exchange resin can be easily adsorbed by a sulfonic acid type acidic cation exchange resin, but an organic compound having a molecular weight of at least 3,000 can hardly be adsorbed even by an ion exchange resin having a reverse charge, and that this phenomena is particularly remarkable with regard to the substances eluted from a basic anion exchange resin. Accordingly, when water to be purified is flown through a mixed bed ion exchange column comprising a cation exchange resin and an anion exchange resin containing substantially no elutable substances having a molecular weight of at least 3,000, the amount of the eluted substances contained in an ultrapure water obtained is very small. In the production of an ultrapure water, it is general to finally pass water to be purified through a cartridge type mixed bed ion exchange column, and accordingly this discovery means that an ion exchange resin, particularly a basic anion exchange resin, for preparing an ultrapure water is not necessarily washed to completely remove elutable substances, but has only to be washed until elutable substances having a molecular weight of at least 3,000 are substantially removed. Also, this washing step is preferably conducted so as to efficiently remove elutable substances having a molecular weight of at least 3,000.


A drive wheel attachment for a self-propelled irrigation system includes an annular-shaped clamping band assembly having multiple sections that fit around and clamp to existing wheel rims. A plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending structures are secured to and extend radially outwardly from the clamping band assembly. A plurality of foot assemblies are attached to the radially extending structures. Each foot assembly includes a first hinge sleeve removably attached to a respective one of the radially extending structures, and a ground engaging foot pad pivotally attached to the first hinge sleeve by a pair of second hinge sleeves and a pivot pin extending through the first and second hinge sleeves. The pivot pin is fixed to the second hinge sleeves and allows rocking movement of the foot pad relative to the radially extending structure about a pivot axis that extends generally parallel to an axial direction of the wheel rim.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to self-propelled irrigation systems, and more particularly, to an improved drive wheel assembly for a self-propelled irrigation system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Self-propelled irrigation systems are used to provide water for agricultural purposes in arid regions. Typically, such systems include a series of spaced drive towers connected by truss sections that support a water distribution pipeline between the towers. In center pivot systems, the water distribution pipeline extends radially from a central pivot connected to a water supply. In linear move irrigation systems, the water distribution pipeline extends laterally from a canal feed or hose drag system that provides the water supply.
Water passing through the distribution pipeline is forced out through a number of sprinkler heads, spray guns, drop nozzles, or the like spaced along the length of the pipeline. Each drive tower in the system is supported on wheels that are driven at slow speeds to move the tower in a circular path about the central pivot, or a linear path in the case of linear move systems, to thereby irrigate a large tract of land.
Conventional drive towers for self-propelled irrigation systems are each supported by a base beam that extends transverse to the distribution pipeline with a drive wheel assembly at each end of the base beam. The drive wheel assemblies typically include a metal wheel rim with a rubber tire with lug tread mounted on the wheel rim. The weight of the drive tower and the corresponding part of the water pipeline is approximately evenly distributed between the two drive wheel assemblies. However, in difficult terrain drive towers sometimes become stuck or leave deep ruts in the field, which are undesirable.
There have been many attempts in the prior art to improve the flotation and traction of drive wheels used with self-propelled irrigation systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,775,610 issued to Mettenbrink discloses a flotation drive wheel that has a plurality of pivotal flotation shoes attached to a heavy metal hub portion. However, Mettenbrink's wheel is expensive to manufacture, cannot be mounted as an attachment to existing wheel rims, and does not allow convenient replacement of wear parts.
There is a need in the industry for an improved drive wheel assembly for self-propelled irrigation systems.

Drive wheel assembly for self-propelled irrigation system


A projectile launcher having a pneumatic assembly that reduces recoil. The launcher may include a gas storage chamber that is filled with compressed gas and then selectively vented to propel projectiles. In some cases, an electronic control circuit may be provided to selectively vent the gas storage chamber. In some embodiments, the launcher may include an anti jam feature that reduces breakage of projectiles during firing.

Devices that fire frangible projectiles are known in the art. For example, paintball markers are used for marking in forestry and cattle ranching. Paintball markers have also become popular in a variety of targeting and simulated battle games (e.g., capture the flag). In some cases, law enforcement employs markers to aid in crowd control and other situations where less-than-lethal force is desired.
The markers launch a projectile typically using compressed gas, such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen. Compressed gas is supplied from a supply tank which is typically mounted to or carried with the marker. In some cases, the markers may be equipped with pressure regulators, which receive compressed gas at a relatively high pressure and deliver the gas at a reduced, more consistent pressure for propelling the projectile.
There are two main types of markers presently on the market. One type uses a hammer with a tripping mechanism to strike a firing valve, where part of the compressed gas is used to propel the projectile and another portion of the gas is used to return the hammer to a ready-to-fire position (i.e., "recock" the marker). This type of design causes kickback or recoil when recocking the marker.
The second type of marker includes a spool valve where the marker's bolt is utilized as a spool valve with sealing members placed on it. A disadvantage of this arrangement is that sealing members are the size of the bolt and require significant force to jump start bolt movement under pressure. Also, the lubrication state of O-rings effects velocity of the bolt. If the o-rings are dry, a large force is needed to move the spool-bolt combination forward to load the paintball into the barrel, which can cause paintball breakage. To reduce paintball breakage, soft o-rings with a very small squeeze are being used. This leads to another problem when using carbon dioxide ("CO2") as a source of energy, because during rapid firing liquid CO2 imbeds with the sealing members, resulting in a loss of elasticity and leaks. Other pneumatic markers include complicated firing mechanisms. Drawbacks of these more complicated mechanisms include operating difficulty, frequent maintenance issues, and high manufacturing cost.
Another common problem with existing markers is breakage or rupturing of the frangible projectiles. The frangible projectiles commonly have a gelatinous or plastic shell designed to break upon impact. Typically, the shells are filled with a marking material, such as paint, and/or an immobilizing material, such as a noxious chemical. Projectiles drop by gravity force from a hopper (or are otherwise fed) into the marker's breech chamber. Typically, the firing mechanism includes a bolt that pushes the projectile into the barrel when the user pulls the trigger. In some cases, however, the projectiles become partially inserted into the breech chamber. When this happens, the bolt tends to chop or shear the projectile, which fouls the marker's breech chamber and barrel.
Existing markers have a cylindrical feed tube disposed usually on the top portion of the marker and perpendicular to the barrel. The upper portion of the feed tube is typically connected to a hopper. Since the feed tube has a cylinder extending into another cylinder formed inside the breech chamber, intersecting curves (rays) exist when viewed in three dimensional object geometry. The opening cavity of breech chambers in existing markers is made by using a ball end-mill, which is cylindrical in shape. The end mill has end flutes that are formed in a circular configuration, and when plunged into a solid material will form half of the sphere extending into a cylinder as shown in FIG. 37. In this particular case, the ball end mill plunges into the breech chamber body until it reaches the lowest point of the internal cylindrical surface of the breech chamber, where the cylindrical surface of the breech chamber is the extension of the barrel's cylindrical bore.
From a three dimensional geometry standpoint, this results in an intersection of two cylinders and the intersection of a cylinder with half of the sphere. The intersection of two cylinders results in elliptically-shaped curves. The intersection of a cylinder with a sphere has a parabolic curve in one of the views. In the scenario presented above, the projectile needs to drop all the way down to the point where the center of the projectile lies within the breech cylinder symmetrical line, which is an extension of the barrel's internal bore for loading the projectile to be fired. In a case when the projectile feed is provided by gravitational force, many times during rapid firing projectiles do not reach the point of readiness to be loaded into the barrel. Instead, the projectiles are still falling when the sliding bolt forces the projectile into the firing chamber through the elliptical/parabolic intersecting lines which are smaller in width than the diameter of the projectile causing paintball breakage.
Another common problem encountered with firing projectiles is accuracy. For example, paintball manufacturing often results in paintballs that are not perfectly round and can have significant variability in average diameter. Without wishing to be bound by a particular theory, Applicant believes this causes paintballs to start spinning during the loading operation into the firing chamber. Rotations of the paintballs are then further promoted when compressed gas is applied to fire the paintball. Applicant believes that excessive paintball rotation causes undesirable variation in trajectory (similar to how a soccer player tries to impart a curve in the ball path to avoid a goalie).
It therefore would be desirable to provide a novel projectile launcher that reduces recoil and paintball breakage.

Projectile launcher with reduced recoil and anti-jam mechanism


Provided are a lubricating oil composition which contains a base oil (A) containing an ester-based oil (Al), and a polymer (B) having a constituent unit (b) derived from an alkyl (meth)acrylate, wherein the content of the polymer (B) is 0.1 to 10% by mass based on the total amount of the lubricating oil composition, the lubricating oil composition has a viscosity index of 350 or more, the lubricating oil composition has a BF viscosity at −40° C. of 4000mPa·s or less, and the lubricating oil composition is used for an impregnated bearing, and an impregnated bearing impregnated with the lubricating oil composition. The lubricating oil composition has excellent lubricity in use in a wide temperature environment from a low temperature region to a high temperature region, is capable of maintaining excellent infiltration property even in an environment in which a temperature change between a low temperature and a high temperature is severe, and is suitable for use in an impregnated bearing.

In recent years, an impregnated bearing formed by sintering metal powder has been widely used as a bearing to be incorporated in equipment such as automotive electrical equipment, household electrical equipment, and OA office equipment.
In general, an impregnated bearing is a sliding bearing that is manufactured by forming a metal powder as a raw material into a porous metal body through steps such as mixing, forming, sintering, and sizing, and then vacuum-impregnating the metal body with a lubricating oil using an impregnation apparatus, and is used in a self-lubricating state.
In the impregnated bearing, the lubricating oil impregnated in the porous metal body is supplied to the sliding surface between the rotary shaft and the inner surface of the bearing by the pumping action caused by the rotation of the rotary shaft to lubricate the sliding surface. Therefore, the impregnated bearing has advantages of excellent durability and rigidity and low production cost.
The lubricating oil with which the impregnated bearing is impregnated is required to have good properties such as viscosity characteristics, long-term stability, resistance to volatilization, and material compatibility, depending on the type of equipment including the impregnated bearing.
For example, PTL 1 describes a lubricating oil composition for impregnated bearings, which contains, as a base oil, an ester composed of a dibasic acid having a predetermined number of carbon atoms and a primary alcohol, and a predetermined amount of an alkyl (meth)acrylate polymer having an SP value of 9.2 or more and a mass average molecular weight of 100,000 to 1,000,000, and which is adjusted to have a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 9.3 to 11.5 mm2/s.

Lubricating oil composition and impregnated bearing


A compact stationary bicycle is configured to fit beneath a desk. The compact stationary bicycle has a silent drive assembly, configured to be driven by a user. A casing is mechanically coupled to the silent drive assembly. An attachment assembly is mechanically coupled to the casing and configured to attach the casing to a chair occupied by the user putting the silent drive assembly well forward of knees of the user. The user of any height can drive the silent drive assembly beneath the desk without contacting the knees with the desk.

The embodiments herein relate generally to devices that a user can utilize for personal exercise.
Prior to the disclosed invention there was no stationary bicycle that could fit underneath a standard desk having a standard desk height and be used by a user of any height. As used in this application, The standard desk height is between 28½″ and 29½″. Embodiments of the present invention solve this problem.


A single tier dryer system has dryer rolls with a reversing roll positioned between each pair to transfer and wrap the dryer felt and paper web against the next dryer roll. A vacuum box is positioned between the dryer rolls and over the reversing roll to hold the web on the dryer felt by vacuum. Threading of a tail from the web is accomplished by blowing the web tail off a first dryer roll's surface with a jet of air positioned adjacent to the position on the dryer roll where the dryer felt leaves the dryer roll's surface. The vacuum box is divided by a baffle to isolate a portion of the vacuum box near the front of the dryer rolls, and a damper is positioned within the reversing roll to increase the vacuum in the isolated portion of the vacuum box to facilitate threading of the tail.

Paper is manufactured in a continuous process starting with a papermaking stock consisting of fibers suspended in water. A web of fibers is formed by depositing fibers from the stock onto one or more forming wires in the forming section or wet end of a papermaking machine. The web leaves the former with a fiber content of ten to twenty percent and enters a pressing section where the fiber content is increased to thirty-five to fifty percent. From the pressing section the paper web enters a dryer section where the web is dried to ninety-five percent fiber and five percent moisture. Although paper making is a continue process, it must be started each time a new grade of paper is made or the web being formed breaks. Web breaks can be frequent, especially during initial setup of a new or modified papermaking machine.
The process of starting a papermaking machine is called threading the machine. As the web progresses through the former and the pressing section it is generally supported at all times by a forming wire or press felt. Thus the forming section and the press section generally thread automatically. Historically, threading the dryer section has been more problematic. In most existing papermaking machines two ropes are run side by side in a groove on the front face of the dryer section. The web is cut either at the former or in the press section to form a tail about four to twelve inches wide and the rest of the web is discarded and reprocessed into fiber. The tail is separated from the rest of the web at the end of the press section and the tail is blown onto the threading ropes which entangle the tail between the threading ropes and drag the tail through the dryers. When the tail successfully transits the dryer section the tail is gradually increased in width until the entire web passes through the dryer section and the threading operation is complete.
The use of ropes to effect threading of the dryer section has several disadvantages. First, as papermaking speeds have increased the reliability of the rope method of threading has decreased. In addition, the rope threading of the paper web offsets the tail to the outside of the dryers away from its normal path through the dryer section which can contribute to breakage of the tail as it is being threaded. At higher speeds the ropes can break and become entangled with components of the dryer section causing paper breaks and machine downtime. An improved approach to threading has been provided by using a damper within a reversing roll to selectively increase the vacuum drawn on that portion of the roll which contacts the tail during threading. Enclosed boxes have been inserted between two dryer rolls above the reversing roll, to allow a vacuum to be drawn between the box exterior walls and the moving felt. However, it would be desirable to more selectively apply the vacuum to the region of the tail during threading.
What is needed is an apparatus and method for threading the dryer section of a papermaking machine without the use of ropes.

Papermaking dryer section with partitioned vacuum box for threading


An orthopedic prosthesis includes a tibial implant and a tibial insert. The tibial implant includes an upper surface, a medial side, a lateral side and a first locking structure provided on the upper surface where the medial side and the lateral side of the tibial implant are defined by a medial-lateral midline. The tibial insert includes a second locking structure provided on its bottom surface. The first and second locking structures are configured for engaging each other along an engagement direction vector when the tibial insert is inserted into the tibial base towards the posterior side. The engagement direction vector is angled away from the medial-lateral midline of the tibial implant towards the medial side of the tibial implant by a predetermine angle.

Joint replacement surgery is well known in the art. It has provided many individuals near-normal joint function when it otherwise would not be possible to do so. Artificial joints usually comprise metallic, ceramic and/or plastic components that are fixed to existing bone. For example, knee arthroplasty is a well known surgical procedure by which a diseased and/or damaged natural knee joint is replaced with a prosthetic knee joint. A surgeon typically affixes two prosthesis components to the patient's femur and tibia. These replacement components are typically known as the femoral component and the tibial component. The femoral component is placed on a patient's distal femur after the surgeon makes a plurality of surgical cuts. A common type of tibial prosthesis uses a laterally extending base that is shaped to conform to the patient's proximal tibia after the proximal tibia has been cut transversely by the surgeon. The tibia prosthesis also includes a stem or plug that extends generally perpendicular or angled slightly to the base and from the center of the tibial base. The stem is placed in a surgically formed opening that extends into the patient's intramedullary canal from the transverse cut formed on the proximal tibia. A plastic, polymeric insert is attached to the tibial base. This insert provides a tibial articulating surface that articulates with the femoral articulating surface as the patient's tibia moves through a full range of motion with respect to the patient's femur.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A DMA controller for supporting a data transfer operation between a first memory and a second memory includes a selector for selecting data stored in the first memory per data unit, a shifting circuit for shifting the data selected by the selector to one direction of required numbers, a F/F (flip-flop) for storing the data shifted by the shifting circuit for every data unit, a feedback circuit for feedback of the stored data by the F/F to the shifting circuit, and a transfer circuit for transferring the data stored in the F/F to the second memory.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a DMA (Direct Memory Access) controller which is capable of executing efficiently a data transfer operation between memories in a misarrayed state.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, data sizes handled by microprocessors have enlarged due to the development of computer technology.
Where the data size used in a microcomputer is 32 bits, in general, 8-bit data units can be also handled. For example, when the 32-bit data is addressed by using address data consisting of 32 bits, bits 0-1 in the address data designate any data unit in the 32-bit data. FIG. 1 shows the relationship between the address data and the 32-bit data. Any data unit of 8 bits can be selected by means of "00", "10", "01", and "11" designated by the first and second bits (0-1 bits) in the address data as shown in FIG. 1.
Thus, the data unit consisting of 8 bits or one byte can be transferred between two memories. Of course, the 32-bit data also can be transferred at one time between the memories in the conventional microprocessor.
For example, the 32-bit data is transferred between a source memory and a destination memory in an arrayed state, which means that a source address of data to be transferred in the source memory coincides with a destination address in the destination memory, so as to store the data transferred from the source memory.
FIG. 2 shows a relationship between the source address in the source memory and the destination address in the destination memory so as to explain the data transfer operation in the microprocessor.
In the same diagram, reference symbols ".largecircle.", "x", and ".DELTA." designate data per byte. The source addresses of the data stored in the source memory to be transferred coincide correctly with the destination addresses in the destination memory, such as An and Ax, A(n+1) and A(x+1), and A(n+2) and A(x+2), each of which is 32-bit data. In such a case, each 32-bit data such as An, A(n+1), or A(n+2) can be transferred at one time from the source memory to the destination memory because two memories are in the same arrayment state.
On the other hand, the 32-bit data can not be transferred at one time from the source memory to the destination memory in a misarrayed state, which means that a source address of source memory data to be transferred does not coincide with a destination address, so as to store the data transferred from the source memory.
FIG. 3 shows a relationship between the source memory and the destination memory which are in the misarrayed state. In the same diagram, reference symbols ".largecircle.", "x", and ".DELTA." designate data per byte. The source addresses of the data stored in the source memory to be transferred is different from the destination addresses in the destination memory such as An and Ax, A(n+1) and A(x+1), and A(n+2) and A(x+2), each of which is 32-bit data.
In the conventional microprocessor, a data transfer operation under the misarrayed state cannot be carried out at one time using a conventional DMA controller because it has no function for executing a data transfer operation under the misarrayed state.
Namely, the 32-bit data stored in the source memory cannot send at one time to the destination memory under the control of the conventional DMA controller.
Accordingly, when the data should be transferred between the two memories under the misarrayment state, the following operations are required to complete transfer of the data, as shown in FIG. 3:
First step: The fourth data unit of 8-bits designated by the reference character ".largecircle.," addressed by the fourth address, in the source address An, in the source memory, is sent to the second portion denoted by the reference symbol ".largecircle." in the second address, Ax, in the destination memory as shown in FIG. 3.
Second step: The first and second data designated by "x x" addressed by the first and second addresses in the source address, A(n+1), in the source memory are transferred into the third and fourth portion shown by the "x x" addressed by the third and fourth addresses in the destination address, Ax, in the destination memory, as shown in FIG. 3.
Third step: The third and fourth data designated by "x x" addressed by the third and fourth addresses in the source address, A(n+1), are transferred to the first and second portions shown by "x x" addressed by the first and second addresses in the destination address, A(x+1), in the destination memory.
When the source addresses of the data to be transferred are different from the destination addresses of the portions into which the data are stored, the three steps described above are required. As a result, the operational efficiency of the microprocessor is reduced.
Summarizing the conventional DMA's problem in the prior art, as described above, there is no DMA controller which can support the data transfer operation between memories under the misarrayed state so that many operations and much time are required for the data transfer operation.


An improved safety harness and method of using same that allows for self-rescue and suspension trauma relief from either a vertical or horizontal anchor, such as a tree or an overhead beam, the safety harness having an adjustable front tie-in assembly whereby the distance between the waist strap and the thigh straps can be adjusted. The wearer is able to change from rear suspension to front suspension after a fall without the necessity of completely detaching from a safety line.

The invention relates in general to safety harnesses, such as are worn on the torso of the body, and which in combination with safety lines serve to arrest a fall by the wearer from an elevated location, such as a hunting tree stand, a multi-story building under construction or the like. More particularly, the invention falls into the class of safety harnesses that allow for relief of suspension trauma and/or self-rescue.
Safety harnesses consisting of multiple straps, connectors and fastening elements for use by hunters, construction workers or the like are well known. A typical safety harness comprises a waist strap or waist belt that can be opened and closed to allow the harness to be easily put on and removed, fixed or length-adjustable rear shoulder straps and fixed or length-adjustable front shoulder straps connected to said waist strap, and thigh straps connected to said waist strap by rear leg straps. Other harnesses utilize groin straps rather than thigh straps. Various types of closure members are utilized to adjust the length of the straps and to connect ends of the straps together, such as pass-through buckles or clip buckles. Connection means for connecting the harness to a safety line fixed to an anchor member, such as a tree or beam, are provided, and may comprise metal rings, hooks, carabiners or the like. The connection means are disposed either to the front of the harness, typically on the waist strap, or to the rear of the harness, typically at a junction of the front and rear shoulder straps.
There are various problems with the known harness designs. Known safety harnesses do not provide self-rescue and suspension trauma relief due to their current designs. Current designs have thigh straps whose distance from the waist strap cannot be adjusted, meaning that the harness design does not take into account the fact that the distance from the waist to the thighs can vary greatly between different users, or the designs use groin straps, which while length-adjustable are not the best suited design for avoiding injury when the harness arrests the falling user. The front tie-in members are located in a fixed position on the waist strap. No systems, kits or methodologies are known that utilize the improved structure for the harness described herein and which provide a means and method for both self-rescue and suspension trauma relief.
When a wearer falls, the body is suspended in air. If the wearer is suspended for a significant period of time, an effect known as suspension trauma will occur if the wearer cannot maintain sufficient movement in his legs over time to keep the blood circulating. Suspension trauma, also known as orthostatic intolerance, results in blood pooling in the legs when the human body is unnaturally suspended in the vertical orientation. When suspended from a safety harness, the pooling is the result of gravity as well as restriction by the groin straps or thigh straps, such that the heart cannot circulate enough blood to the brain. This leads to fainting and then death if the condition is not remedied.
It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a new and improved construction and design for a safety harness and fall arrest system, such that suspension trauma is minimized or relieved, and further such that the wearer can perform a self-rescue rather than having to wait for outside help. It is an object to provide such a harness and self-rescue system that can be utilized for either vertical anchor members (e.g., trees) or horizontal anchor members (e.g., overhead beams in a building under construction). It is a further object to provide a methodology for self-rescue using the safety harness and system described herein.


Embodiments of a gas cluster ion beam apparatus and methods for forming a gas cluster ion beam using a low-pressure process source are generally described herein. In one embodiment, the low-pressure process source is mixed with a high-pressure diluent source in a static pump to form a mixed source, from which a gas cluster jet is generated and ionized to form the gas cluster ion beam. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

The use of a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) for etching, cleaning, and smoothing surfaces is known in the art. GCIBs have also been employed for assisting the deposition of films from vaporized carbonaceous materials. For purposes of this discussion, gas clusters are nano-sized aggregates of materials that are gaseous under conditions of standard temperature and pressure. Such clusters may consist of aggregates of from a few to several thousand molecules or more that are loosely bound to form a cluster. The clusters can be ionized by electron bombardment, permitting them to be formed into directed beams of controllable energy. Such ions each typically carry positive charges of qe (where e is the magnitude of the electronic charge and q is an integer of from one to several representing the charge state of the cluster ion). The larger sized cluster ions are often the most useful because of their ability to carry substantial energy per cluster ion, while yet having only modest energy per molecule. The clusters disintegrate on impact, with each individual molecule carrying only a small fraction of the total cluster energy. Consequently, the impact effects of large clusters are substantial, but are limited to a very shallow surface region. This makes gas cluster ions effective for a variety of surface modification processes, without the tendency to produce deeper subsurface damage, which is characteristic of conventional ion beam processing.
Presently available cluster ion sources produce cluster ions having a wide distribution of sizes, N, up to N of several thousand (where N=the number of molecules in each cluster). Clusters of atoms can be formed by the condensation of individual gas atoms (or molecules) during the adiabatic expansion of high-pressure gas from a nozzle into a vacuum. A skimmer with a small aperture strips divergent streams from the core of this expanding gas flow to produce a collimated beam of clusters. Neutral clusters of various sizes are produced and held together by weak interatomic forces known as Van der Waals forces. This method has been used to produce beams of clusters from a variety of gases such as argon, oxygen, nitrogen, nitrogen trifluoride, sulfur hexafluoride, diborane, boron trifluoride, and germane.
Several emerging applications for GCIB processing of workpieces on an industrial scale are in the semiconductor field. Although GCIB processing of workpieces is done using a wide variety of gas cluster source gases, many of which are inert gases, in many semiconductor processing applications it is desirable to use reactive source gases in the formation of GCIBs, sometimes in combination or mixture with inert or noble gases. When using a combination of source gases, all source gases to be delivered from the source canister, cylinder, or system are mixed at a single high pressure for entry into the nozzle. Compressing a low-pressure source to a pressure equal to a high-pressure source, such as with a piston, rotary vane, roots blower, or scroll type mechanical pump, may lead to source problems such as fouling or plugging due to nucleation and condensation of the low-pressure source during mechanical compression or after compression but before entry to the nozzle.

Apparatus and methods of forming a gas cluster ion beam using a low-pressure source


A cup attaching apparatus for attaching a cup to an eyeglass lens, comprises: a lens mount on which the lens is to be mounted; at least three support pins provided on the lens mount to support the lens when a rear refractive surface of the lens is brought in contact with the support pins; a holding unit adapted to hold the support pins so that a supporting plane defined by the support pins is inclinable; a lens clamp for clamping the lens in cooperation with the lens mount when the lens is mounted on the lens mount; at least three presser pins provided on the lens clamp to clamp the lens when a front refractive surface of the lens is brought in contact with the presser pins; and a locking unit adapted to keep the supporting plane defined by the support pins in a substantially horizontal position when the lens is not clamped between the lens mount and the lens clamp.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cup attaching apparatus for attaching a cup, used for fixing an eyeglass lens to an eyeglass lens processing apparatus, to the lens.
2. Description of Related Art
There is a cup attaching apparatus called a blocker for attaching a cup, used for fixing an eyeglass lens to an eyeglass lens processing apparatus, to the lens. This cup attaching apparatus comprises a blocking arm provided with a cup holder in the vicinity of a distal end of the arm, the holder being used to hold the cup, and a lens mount (a lens support) on which the lens is to be mounted. When the lens is mounted on the mount, the cup is mounted (fitted) in the holder, and the arm is moved downward, the cup is attached to a front refractive surface of the lens.
Such attaching apparatus is commonly arranged to support a rear refractive surface of the lens with at least three support pins fixedly provided on the mount. A supporting plane defined by the support pins is horizontal and therefore the lens can be supported stably. Thus, even after an operator moves his/her hand off the lens, the cup can be attached to the front refractive surface of the lens.
Meanwhile, in the case where the cup is to be attached to the lens having the rear refractive surface different in shape from the front refractive surface, such as a prism lens and an astigmatic lens (a toric lens), the following problem may arise. When the rear refractive surface of the lens is supported by the support pins fixed with the supporting plane being held in the horizontal position, the front refractive surface of the lens tends to incline, which is likely to cause errors in positioning accuracy in attaching the cup. To avoid such problems, a cup attaching apparatus having a mechanism arranged to simultaneously move the support pins up and down (e.g., WECO CENTERING SYSTEM by WECO OPTICAL MACHINERY, German) has also been proposed.
However, if the supporting plane is allowed to incline by the vertical movement of the support pins, the supported lens is likely to drop off the support pins unless the lens is pressed from above.


Described herein is a door for a motor vehicle provided with a supporting framework, supporting means for supporting an external rear-view mirror, a lock, and a key assembly, which is operatively connected to the lock and can be selectively actuated via a control key for disabling/enabling opening of said lock from the outside of the motor vehicle. The key assembly is rigidly fixed to the framework, and is covered, towards the outer side of the door, by the means for supporting the rear-view mirror and is accessible from the outside through a seat made in the supporting means themselves.

As is known, side doors of motor vehicles generally comprise a supporting framework, which defines, at the top, a window opening closed by a mobile window, when the latter is raised, and, at the bottom, a box-type body, which is open towards the window opening itself and is delimited by an inner wall, facing the inside of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, and by an opposite outer wall.
In particular, the inner and outer walls are fixed in a conventional way to the framework of the door, which is consequently set between said walls.
The box-type body delimits a compartment, in which there are usually housed the window, when the latter is lowered, and various components, such as, for example, a lock for closing the door, a key assembly and a window-regulator device.
Normally, the key assembly comprises a casing, basically shaped like a cylindrical cup and fixed to the outer wall of the box-type body of the door, and a key unit, which is also cylindrical, is engaged in an axially fixed position within the casing, is operatively connected to the lock by means of a tie rod or another transmission element, and can be displaced angularly with respect to the casing itself by means of a control key for disabling or enabling opening of the lock from the outside of the motor vehicle (safety function activated and safety function deactivated, respectively).
In particular, the key unit carries a plurality of engagement elements, which are normally pushed by respective springs in a position for coupling with a radial groove of the casing so causing the key unit and the casing itself to be angularly fixed to one another, and can be selectively uncoupled from the aforesaid grooves as a result of the interaction with the external profile of the control key.
The casing is prismatically coupled within a shaped through opening, which is made in the outer wall of the door and has a O-shaped profile, i.e., a profile formed by a portion shaped like an arc of circumference, the opposite ends of which are joined together by a rectilinear stretch.
The casing is moreover provided with an end annular flange, which is set, in use, bearing upon the outer wall of the door in a position corresponding to the inside of the opening and is designed to be fixed axially by means of a U-shaped clip, which is mounted on the side surface of the casing itself and co-operates bearing upon the outer wall of the door on the opposite side of the flange.
Key assemblies of the type described are relatively exposed to breaking. In fact, it is possible, with a screw driver or an elongated implement, to force the key unit to rotate rigidly together with the casing about its own axis, deforming or damaging the outer wall of the door, which is generally of reduced thickness, in an area surrounding the shaped opening, and to obtain deactivation of the safety function of the lock.
Furthermore, since the casing of the key assembly is fixed to the door from the outside of the motor vehicle, it is also possible to insert a screw driver or other similar implements between the end flange of the casing and the outer wall of the box-type body so as to extract the key assembly partially from its seat and thus gain access to the transmission element connecting the key assembly itself to the lock, so deactivating the safety function.


A method is disclosed for fabricating YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 superconductor layers with the capability of carrying large superconducting currents on a metallic tape (substrate) supplied with a biaxially textured oxide buffer layer. The method represents a simplification of previously established techniques and provides processing requirements compatible with scale-up to long wire (tape) lengths and high processing speeds. This simplification has been realized by employing the BaF.sub.2 method to grow a YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 film on a metallic substrate having a biaxially textured oxide buffer layer.

Recent advances in the design of superconductors have allowed the production of vastly improved high critical current density superconductors. For example, the Re--Ba--Cu--O (abbreviated ReBCO; Re denotes a rare earth metal or Y) family of superconductors have much higher intrinsic limits and can be used in high magnetic fields at relatively high temperatures (77K). These superconductors have been shown to possess high critical current densities (J.sub.c) at high temperatures when fabricated as single crystals or in essentially single-crystal form as epitaxial films on single crystal substrates such as SrTiO.sub.3 and LaAlO.sub.3. However, these superconductors have proven intractable to existing ceramics and materials processing techniques to the formation of long lengths of conductor having J.sub.c 's comparable to epitaxial films.
It has been demonstrated that in ReBCO superconductors, a biaxial texture is required to obtain high transport critical current densities. Texturing may be achieved by deposition of the ReBCO film on a biaxially textured, non-superconducting oxide buffer layer which is first deposited using ion-beam assisted deposition (IBAD) or inclined substrate deposition (ISD). The IBAD and ISD both tend to be slow, expensive processes that are not amenable for scale up to produce long lengths required for many applications. A method involving the formation of superconductor film on a biaxially textured metallic substrate is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/419,583. This method is more amenable to producing long lengths of superconductors, which have applications in the development of superconducting current leads, windings for high-field magnets and motors, transmission lines, and other electrical conductor applications.
YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 (YBCO) is an important superconductor for the development of articles requiring long lengths of superconductors. One method for manufacturing a superconducting wire or tape involves the deposition of a YBCO film on a metallic substrate. Superconducting YBCO has been deposited on polycrystalline metals in which the YBCO is c-axis oriented, but not aligned in-plane. However, in order to carry high electrical currents and remain superconducting, the YBCO films must be biaxially textured, preferably c-axis oriented, with effectively no large-angle grain boundaries, which reduce the current carrying capability of the material. YBCO films deposited on polycrystalline metal substrates do not generally meet these criteria.
The epitaxial growth of a YBCO film on a substrate may be achieved by a carefully controlled, single step process requiring the simultaneous application, in the presence of oxygen, of all three metal constituents (Y, Ba, and Cu) to a heated substrate. Another method for forming a YBCO film is known as the BaF.sub.2 method (Mankiewich, et. al Appl. Phys. Lett 51:1753-1755, 1987). This method is a two step process involving a deposition step and an annealing step. In a deposition step, the Y, Cu, and Ba (supplied as BaF.sub.2) are applied to a substrate, which need not be heated, to form a precursor layer. The rates of deposition of each constituent need not be carefully controlled and oxygen need not be supplied. Following deposition, the epitaxial YBCO structure is formed by annealing at temperatures of about 650-850.degree. C. This method has been successfully employed only in combination with certain specifically matched, single crystal substrates, e.g. SrTiO.sub.3. However, these materials are not suitable for the manufacture of long lengths of superconductors. What is needed in the art is a method for making high critical current density YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 superconducting layers on metallic substrates.

Method for making high-critical-current-density YBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 superconducting layers on metallic substrates


Electronic devices that include batteries can be adapted to provide one or more indications of a low battery condition. An electronic device such as a controller can include a battery and can be adapted to determine a first low battery condition. A first indication can be provided in response to the first low battery condition. In some cases, a second battery condition can be determined and a second indication can be provided in response to the second battery condition. The indications provided to the user can be made progressively more noticeable over time, until the battery is replaced.

A variety of electronic devices include at least one battery as a power source. In some instances, the battery provides auxiliary or backup power while a different source such as house current provides main power to the device. In many instances, a battery or perhaps a set of several batteries provide all of the power necessary to operate the electronic device. Any device that relies on a battery for either auxiliary or main power is susceptible to low battery issues.
In some cases, loss or impending loss of battery power can be annoying but is of little or no real significance. Examples of such situations include battery-powered hand held games and remote controls for audio/visual equipment such as stereos and televisions. When the game ceases to function or the remote no longer operates the stereo or television, a user can simply replace the battery or batteries.
In other cases, however, the loss or impending loss of battery power can have significant detrimental impact. An example of such a situation includes information storage devices such as a PDA (personal digital assistant). While many such devices have rechargeable batteries or include a main battery source and a backup battery source, these devices often still can be susceptible to battery problems.
Another example of a situation in which the loss or impending loss of battery power would have a negative impact includes devices that are part of security systems. Security systems can include a variety of components that for convenience are battery-powered yet contain data that has been entered by a user or an installation expert. The loss of such data could be an inconvenience. Worse, it is conceivable that the loss or impending loss of battery power in particular security systems devices could render the security system at least partially inoperable.
Yet another example of a situation in which the loss or impending loss of battery power can have a significant negative impact includes electronic devices known as controllers. Typical electronic controllers can be battery-powered and can be configured to control or operate a variety of different systems and/or equipment. An HVAC system is an example of such a system that can be controlled by a battery-powered controller. An HVAC controller can be used to regulate a variety of home heating, cooling and ventilating equipment such as furnaces, boilers, air conditioners, air exchangers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, filtration units, UV lamps, and the like. Some HVAC controllers are considered to be thermostats.
Loss of battery power in an HVAC controller can have multiple impacts. Many HVAC controllers are user-programmable to include a number of time and temperature set points. Loss of battery power can cause a loss of these set points, which can require the user to tediously re-enter a relatively large amount of data. A loss of battery power can in some instances cause the HVAC controller to lose its ability to receive signals from and/or send command signals to various pieces of equipment in the system. This can mean, for example, that the furnace may shut down on a cold winter day or the air conditioning may shut down on a hot mid-summer day. Clearly, these are undesirable consequences.
Some battery-powered devices include attempts at warning a user that a loss of battery power is imminent. For example, some devices such as thermostats, detect a first low voltage level of a battery, and display a "REPLACE BATTERY" message on the display of the thermostat at a first blink rate. When a second lower voltage level is subsequently detected, the thermostat begins blinking the "REPLACE BATTERY" message at a higher blink rate. When a third lower voltage level is detected, the thermostat may stop operating and turn all control outputs to the off position, and display only the blinking "REPLACE BATTERY" message and not any other control parameters. These features are provided in, for example, the Chronotherm III product family of thermostats, available from the assignee of the present invention. It has been found, however that users often do not heed or even notice such warnings until the thermostat stops operating.
Thus, a need remains for methods of indicating a low battery condition within an electronic device such that a user actually takes notice of the indication. A need also remains for controllers adapted to indicate a low battery condition in such a way so that a user takes the appropriate actions in replacing the battery.


Various systems and methods are provided to achieve laser power control. In one embodiment, a system is provided that comprises a counter that holds a digital value. An digital-to-analog converter is employed to convert the digital value to an analog current. A data threshold current is generated by a laser driver based upon the analog current. The data threshold current is employed to represent a data value in a data signal employed to drive a laser diode. Also, circuitry is employed to adjust the digital value based upon a comparison between a target threshold current and a feedback current generated from a laser output of the laser diode.

Laser diodes are advantageously employed in digital optical data communications applications as they have relatively high bandwidth resulting in high data rates. In order to control a laser diode, a modulation reference current and a bias current are applied to a laser driver. The laser driver generates a data signal that drives a laser diode based upon the modulation reference current and the bias current. Typically, the bias current is that which is necessary to maintain a constant "0" power level in the laser diode. The modulation reference current is that which is necessary to maintain a constant "1" power level in the laser diode. In order to transmit data, the laser bias current and the modulation reference current are employed to cause the laser to transmit data using a constant "0" power level and a constant extinction ratio, which is the ratio between the "1" power level and the "0" power level. Unfortunately, the transmission power levels of a laser diode may vary in an undesirable manner over time with changing temperature, age of the laser diode, and due to other factors. As a result, data communication may be hampered over time using laser diodes. Also, the ratio of the power of a logical "1" to a logical "0" degrades over time, thereby reducing receiver margin and possibly increasing bit error rates.

Driving laser diodes with immunity to temperature changes, aging, and other effects


Concepts and technologies are described herein for providing adaptive timeline views of data. In accordance with the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, data is displayed in an adaptive timeline view in which data is presented using a time scale. The time scale can be modified to increase or decrease a span of time displayed by the adaptive timeline view, or a span of time can be shifted without affecting the time scale applied to the data. Motion can be used to convey information about the data during transitions from a first view to a modified view. As such, the adaptive timeline view can convey various layers of information to a user interacting with the adaptive timeline view.

The proliferation of data and daily interactions with data poses new challenges for presenting data in a meaningful and/or useful manner. In particular, as users interact with data of ever-increasing degrees of diversity, the ability to quickly convey information associated with the data and/or to allow users to interact with the data in meaningful ways can be challenging. This is particularly so in light of the increasing volume of data transactions and interactions completed by users on a daily basis, and varied relationships that may exist among the data being presented to and/or interacted with by the user.
With respect to data having a time-based relationship, the data can be displayed on a timeline, on a calendar or other time-based representation. As such, users can view and/or interact with the data using familiar date- or time-based representations. As noted above, however, users may interact with a large volume of data, and traditional time- or date-based representations may provide insufficient detail to allow meaningful interactions with the data.
Additionally, various new web and software technologies, as well as increasing processor power, have allowed many software developers to make use of animations or other means to distinguish one software package form another. As such, many animations are used to enhance the user experience or to keep a user's interest during interactions with the software, but otherwise do not enhance functionality of the software package and/or interactions therewith.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.


In one embodiment, techniques are provided to generate a Border Gateway Protocol-Link State (BGP-LS) advertisement message comprising information configured to indicate topological information associated with a Layer 0 (L0) network, where the topological information includes information for connectivity within the L0 network that is available to a Layer 3 (L3) network. The advertisement message is sent to a node in the L3 network. The message sent from the L0 network is received at the node in the L3 network. The topological information in the message is analyzed in order to determine connections available to the L3 network, yet within the L0 network. A connection request is sent from the node in the L3 network to the L0 network and connections between the nodes in L3 network are established using available connections in the L0 network.

The Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is a protocol that is used to make core routing decisions on large networks such as the Internet. BGP maintains tables identifying Internet Protocol (IP) networks or autonomous system (AS) prefixes that indicate network reachability among the autonomous systems. Autonomous system prefixes are numbers assigned in blocks by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to Regional Internet Registries. The autonomous system prefix blocks are, in turn, assigned to various Internet Service Providers (ISPs) by the Regional Internet Registries. BGP is a path vector protocol by which routing decisions are made based on path, network policies and/or rule-sets. In this regard, it is more appropriately termed a reachability protocol rather than a routing protocol. Most Internet service providers use BGP to establish routing between one another. Therefore, even though most Internet users do not use BGP directly, BGP is one of the more important protocols of the Internet.

Advertising layer 0 network topology information to a layer 3 network


Portable container support systems are disclosed which include at least one re-closable enclosure which is operable to be coupled to the exterior of a portable container, and which has an integral support coupling adapted to receive supports used for supporting the portable container in a preferred orientation, such as a nearly vertical position for use as a rack for assembled articles. Various re-closable enclosures are disclosed which enable convenient deployment of support legs while providing protection for the supports when stowed for transport. The system may be used with a wide variety of portable containers, such as pool cue cases, golf bags, equipment bags, etc.

Pool cue sticks are used for shooting pool and in related billiard games. A pool cue stick having two-piece construction typically has a coupling between the pool cue shaft and the handle portion that may be connected or disconnected by hand. Two-piece cue sticks may be transported in a pool cue portable container when disassembled. Pool cue cases for two-piece cues are generally cylindrical tubes, of various cross-sectional shapes, that are slightly longer than the shaft and handle of a disassembled pool cue stick. A pool cue portable container may have an insert, such as polyurethane foam insert, that substantially fills the interior of the portable container except for tapered bores in the insert adapted to receive disassembled cue sticks. Commercially available pool cue cases may have a handle, carrying strap, and/or one or more zippered pouches attached to the exterior of the pool cue portable container with straps. Zippered pouches may be used for carrying such essentials as chalk, spare tips spare ferrules, and similar game-related supplies and paraphernalia, for example.
When a pool player transports his cue sticks in a pool cue portable container to a tournament, he encounters at least two problems, as recognized by the present inventors. First, once the pool cue sticks are removed from the pool cue portable container and assembled, there is often no place to safely and securely place the pool cue sticks while not in actual use. A player may have different cues for different purposes. For example, he may have a break cue, a jump cue, and a shooting cue. Accordingly, a shooter may need a safe and secure place for two of his cues, even while shooting with one cue. At tournaments, it is common for wall racks for pool cue sticks to be inadequate for the crowd, and pool cue sticks can end up propped up against a wall or laid on the floor. Some pool cue sticks cost thousands of dollars, and such precarious temporary storage in crowded tournament rooms risks serious damage to the pool cue stick.
Second, there is no provision for storing the pool cue cases at many tournaments. As a result, the cases are often left on chairs, countertops, floors, tables, and other inconvenient places, adding annoyance to an already crowded room. The cases need to be kept in general proximity to the players for access to the contents thereof and for security. Players may move 50 feet or more between games and so may have to retrieve their cases after each game and carry their assembled cue sticks and their cases to the next game. This is cumbersome with current technology. In tournament play, shooters often have to wait a substantial amount of time between games. During this waiting time, the shooter wants to have a way to protect the cue sticks neatly out of the way while avoiding having to keep them in hand or having the cue sticks precariously laying about the tournament room.
Some attempts to partially solve each one of these problems have been made without great commercial success. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,352 (expired) to Hoffman disclosed a container stand, which could be a pool stick portable container, with deployable support legs attached to the exterior of the portable container to support the portable container in a nearly upright position. The legs could be attached directly to the portable container or to a strap that could then be secured to the portable container. The legs and bracket were exposed on the outside of the portable container, creating a risk of damage to the legs and to other luggage. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,218 (expired), Hoffman further disclosed retaining means for holding the legs adjacent to the portable container when not in use supporting the portable container. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,915,332 (expired) to Ouelette disclosed a portable Pool Cue Holder with deployable legs internally stowable in the cylindrical holder. Ouelette's holder appears vertical with a tripod stand that provides a significant increase in the footprint of the device when in use. Ouelette's holder discloses a preference that the holder be small, having a preferred height of 5¼ inches and a cylinder diameter of 1⅝ inches, holding one pool cue while the pool cue is not in use.
The present inventors have identified and isolated the problems: what is lacking are apparatuses (together comprising a pool cue portable container system) which enable pool cues and pool cue cases to be kept both neatly out of the way (such as near a table in a waiting area) and readily at hand during tournament play. Another problem identified by the present inventors is for a pool cue portable container for two-piece pool cues to be used as an assembled pool cue stand with reduced risk of damage to the support legs and to adjacent luggage during transport. The present inventors also identified the need for a pool cue portable container that may act as a pool cue stand for a plurality of assembled pool cues, and that is big enough to be seen in a crowded room and that has a reduced foot print on the floor.
The present inventors have also identified that the problem of supporting a pool cue portable container is similar to the problem of supporting portable containers generally. For example, and without limitation, golf bags; luggage; musical instrument cases; sports equipment bags, such as those used for baseball, skiing, fencing, and lacrosse; bags generally; briefcases; and computer cases.
Accordingly, what is needed is a pool cue portable container system with supports that enable the pool cue portable container to be supported in a nearly upright position on a floor. A further need is that the supports are stowable for transport, if not within the portable container, then within a re-closable enclosure, such as a zippered pouch, removably attached to the exterior of the main portable container tube. A further need is that the supports can be releasably coupled to the portable container by being coupled to a re-closable enclosure releasably attached to the exterior of the main portable container tube. Another need is for supports to be coupled to an interior surface of a re-closable enclosure releasably attached to the exterior of the main portable container tube and for the floor-engaging ends of the supports to be deployable out of the re-closable enclosure. A further need is for the option to have the supports constantly coupled to the re-closable enclosure. A further need is for the supports to be extendable. Yet a further need is for the deployment of the legs to not increase the footprint of the pool cue portable container on the floor. Yet another need is for the pool cue portable container system to accommodate a plurality of assembled pool cues, so that an unused cue will normally be in the nearly upright pool cue portable container. Yet another need is for a re-closable enclosure having deployable supports. Yet another need is for the re-closable enclosure to be operable to be coupled to a pool cue portable container. Yet another need is for re-closable enclosures having deployable supports that are sized, shaped, and arranged to support various portable containers, including cases and bags. To meet the above-mentioned needs and to solve the above-mentioned problems, applicants present what follows.


An apparatus, a method, and a computer program product are provided for time reduction and energy conservation during address distribution in a high speed memory macro. To address these concerns, this design divides the typical data arrays into sets of paired subarrays, divides the conventional memory address latches into separate sets, and interposes one set of memory address latches between each pair of subarrays. Therefore, time is saved because the address signals have less wire length to travel and energy is saved because only one set of address latches needs to be powered on for each transmission.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to address distribution in a high speed memory macro, and more particularly, to a method of time reduction and energy conservation during address distribution in a high speed memory macro.
2. Description of the Related Art
High speed macros are used to realize high-performance operation of data processing systems and network designs. Specifically, high speed memory macros are used to distribute signals that can be stored as addresses. There is a constant search to decrease the time delay involved with distributing these address signals and to reduce the power involved with operating these macros. A high speed memory macro that distributes signals faster and with less power will be superior.
Traditionally, in memory design one set of address latches is used to store information inside a high speed memory macro. The address latches are placed in the center of the macro and are surrounded by subarrays. The address latches use an address distribution bus to distribute the address signal to the correct subarray and a final decoder to fully decode the specific address signal. Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral 100 generally designates a conventional high speed memory macro.
As shown in FIG. 1, the address latches 106 are located in the middle of the macro and are surrounded by the subarrays 102, 104, 108 and 110. The subarrays 102 and 104 make up the upper subarray 124 and the subarrays 108 and 110 make up the lower subarray 126. As a signal leaves the address latches it travels through the address distribution bus 120 or 122. These address distribution buses direct the signal to the correct position in the subarrays. Address distribution bus 120 will be used to distribute an address signal to the lower subarray 126, and address distribution bus 122 will be used to distribute an address signal to the upper subarray 124. The address distribution bus distributes the address signal to the correct subarray, but before reaching the subarray the signal will pass through a final decoder 112, 114, 116, or 118. This final decoder is used to fully decode the signal before it is stored in the correct subarray. Accordingly, final decoder 118 will decode a signal that is destined for subarray 102.
According to FIG. 1, an address signal destined for the upper subarray must travel up the address distribution bus 122 to the final decoder 116 or 118 and into the correct subarray 104 or 102, respectively. The problem with this design is that the address signals need to travel half of the length of a memory array height. This memory array height is determined by the number of entries in the array and the actual cell height. A shorter wire length will allow the signal to be distributed faster and with greater precision. Any extra wire length will affect the distribution delay, skew, and slope of the signal.
Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, reference numeral 200 generally designates a block diagram illustrating address signal distribution in a high speed memory macro. After a signal enables the address latch 202, the address signal 222 will be distributed by this latch 202 through a communication channel 212. This signal that enables the address latch 202 is produced by a global clock signal. Through the latch 202 this address signal 222 will be destined for the upper subarray 218 or the lower subarray 220. The communication channel 212 will then distribute this signal to a full decoder 204 or 206. Full decoder 204 will be used for the upper subarray 218 and full decoder 206 will be used for the lower subarray 220. After the signal is decoded a communication channel 214 or 216 will direct the signal to a driver 208 or 210, respectively. The driver 208 or 210 will then distribute the decoded signal to the upper subarray 218 or the lower subarray 220. Accordingly, driver 208 is used for an address signal that will be stored in the upper subarray 218 and driver 210 is used for an address signal that will be stored in the lower subarray 220.
One drawback of this design is that the address latches have to be powered on every time that a signal is destined for the upper subarray or the lower subarray. As FIG. 2 depicts, the latch 202 is powered up every time a signal is distributed. Therefore, there is a need for a method and/or apparatus to modify conventional high speed memory macros that address at least some of the problems associated with conventional high speed memory macros.

Method of address distribution time reduction for high speed memory macro

International Business Machines Corporation


A paper input mechanism having a buffer function and a printing device using the mechanism are disclosed. The paper input mechanism (300) includes a frame (1) forming a conveying passage (P) for conveying continuous paper, and further includes a fixed passage plate (4) and a buffer plate (2) both located at a paper inputting side of the conveying passage (P), wherein the buffer plate (2) has an initial position and is pressed by the continuous paper to deviate from the initial position; the buffer plate (2) is opposite to the fixed passage plate (4) when being located at the initial position, so as to form a paper input passage (R), and the paper input passage (R) is connected with the conveying passage (P). Arrangement of the buffer plate (2) not only implements the buffer function, but also results in close fit between the buffer plate (2) and the frame (1) of the paper input mechanism (300) to create a unique paper inputting port, thereby effectively avoiding the problem that continuous paper is incorrectly installed by a user, and improving the usability of the product.

At present, self-service terminal devices having an embedded printing device have been widely applied in everyday life. For example, people inquire and print a bill list through a self-service terminal device in a Telecom business office, and deposit and withdraw money, and print a transaction voucher through a self-service terminal device in a self-service kiosk of a bank. Generally, a self-service terminal device uses continuous paper to print a voucher. The continuous paper is wound on a paper tube to form a paper roll. The continuous paper is cut off by a cutting device each time when printing is finished, so as to form a single voucher which is delivered to a user. When the paper roll is used up, the self-service terminal device sends out prompt information to prompt a service staff member to replace the paper roll. Usually, a paper roll having a large external diameter, such as a paper roll having an external diameter of 200 mm to 250 mm, is used in order to reduce a frequency of changing paper rolls and reduce labor cost. When printing begins, the load of a motor dragging the static paper roll which is relatively heavy with a relatively large external diameter to move is maximized under the effect of inertia, thus easily resulting in a problem that printing content is compressed due to the incapability of the motor to drag the paper roll.
A buffer mechanism is arranged between the paper roll and a printing device in the prior art in order to solve the foregoing problem. As shown in FIG. 1, the buffer mechanism 17′ is arranged between a paper roll supporting frame 13′ and the printing device. The buffer mechanism 17′ includes a swing arm 71′, a buffer shaft 73′ and an elastic element 74′ and two transition rollers 16′, wherein one end of the swing arm 71′ is pivoted with a frame (not shown in the figure) through a pivoting shaft 72′ and is capable of swinging around the pivoting shaft 72′. The buffering shaft 73′ is arranged on a free end of the swing arm 71′. One end of the elastic element 74′ is connected with the frame and another end is connected with the swing arm 71′. The two transition rollers 16′ are located upstream and downstream the buffer shaft 73′ respectively along a conveying direction of continuous paper. The continuous paper 24′ is draw from by a paper roll 7′ to pass through a location below the buffer shaft 73′ after passing through a location above the transition roller 16′ upstream the buffer shaft 73′, and then enter into a location between a printing head 12′ and a platen 11′ after passing through a location above the transition roller 16′ downstream the buffer shaft 73′. At the moment, the swing arm 71′ rotates around the pivoting shaft 72′ under the action of the elastic element 74 and the continuous paper 24′ is always tensioned by the buffer shaft 73′ located on the swing arm 71′. In this way, the buffer shaft 73′ can provide buffer to reduce the load of a motor when the motor is started and accelerated after printing begins, thus avoiding the problem that printing content is compressed.
Such buffer mechanism has a problem that a user may place the continuous paper between the printing head 12′ and the platen 11′ directly by mistake without passing through the buffer shaft 73′ when loading the paper, thus the load of the motor cannot be reduced, and the printing content cannot be prevented from being compressed.

Paper input mechanism having buffer function and printing device using the mechanism

SHANDONG NEW BEIYANG INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD


Provided is a plasma display panel that protects both substrates against distortion when assembled, and reduces a halation effect. The plasma display panel includes: a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other; address electrodes which are formed on the first substrate to extend in a first direction; barrier ribs which are disposed between the first and second substrates, and define discharge cells; phosphor layers which are formed within the discharge cells; first electrodes and second electrodes which are formed on the second substrate to extend in a second direction crossing the first direction; and a dielectric layer which covers the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the dielectric layer includes grooves formed in correspondence with the barrier ribs, and at least portions of the barrier ribs are inserted into the grooves.

1. Field of the Invention
The present embodiments relate to a plasma display panel, and more particularly, to a plasma display panel that protects both substrates against distortion when assembled, and reduces a halation effect.
2. Description of the Related Art
Plasma display panels (PDPs) display an image by using a gas discharge. PDPs have excellent display capability in terms of display capacity, brightness, contrast, latent image, and viewing angle.
In a PDP, a front substrate, which has sustain electrodes and scan electrodes with barrier ribs interposed therebetween, is sealed against a rear substrate having address electrodes. The barrier ribs define discharge cells. An inert gas (e.g. neon (Ne) and xenon (Xe)) is filled in the discharge cells.
When an address voltage is supplied to the address electrodes, and a scan pulse is supplied to the scan electrodes, the PDP produces wall charges between the two electrodes, and selects the discharge cells to be turned on by an address discharge. In this state, when a sustain pulse is supplied to the sustain electrodes and the scan electrodes, electrons and ions formed in the sustain electrodes and the scan electrodes travel between the sustain electrodes and the scan electrodes. Accordingly, the address voltage is added to a wall voltage stemming from the wall charges formed by the address discharge. Thus, the address voltage exceeds a discharge ignition voltage, thereby generating a sustain discharge within the selected discharge cells.
A vacuum ultraviolet ray generated within the discharge cells by the sustain discharge excites a phosphor material. The phosphor material relaxes from an excited state, and thus generates a visible light beam. Accordingly, an image is formed on the PDP.
The PDP enables the sustain discharge to occur at a low voltage by forming and accumulating the wall charges. Further, in order to protect the sustain electrodes and the scan electrodes against discharge, the sustain electrodes and the scan electrodes provided across the entire surface of the front substrate are covered with a dielectric layer. The front substrate is sealed against the rear substrate, and thus barrier ribs included in the rear substrate are closely adhered to the dielectric layer, thereby defining the discharge cells.
When the front substrate and the rear substrate of the PDP are sealed against each other, the front substrate and the rear substrate are distorted due to a property of a sealant whose volume is reduced in the process of annealing the sealant adhering both substrates, a difference in the tension force of a clip fastening the both substrates, and a relatively large tension force of the clip at a vent side.
Moreover, a halation effect may occur in the PDP. The halation effect is defined as a blurred phenomenon that occurs when a visible light beam emitted from an emissive discharge cell passes over an adjacent non-emissive discharge cell.


The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes determining a gas supplement ratio (GSR) of a mixture of natural gas and diesel, identifying a start event of a stroke of a piston of a combustion cylinder of a dual-fuel engine, identifying a first observation period that is offset from the start event based on the GSR, identifying a second observation period based on the GSR, receiving signals representative of vibration of the combustion cylinder during the stroke, identifying an abnormal combustion event based on the signals, determining that abnormal combustion occurred during at least one of the first observation period and the second observation period, and causing a change in operation of the engine based determining that abnormal combustion occurred during at least one of the first observation period and the second observation period.

Diesel engines and gasoline engines can both exhibit abnormal combustion during operation, commonly referred to as engine knock or detonation, which is usually accompanied by a characteristic sound. Uncontrolled, damaging combustion such as engine knock, in which a large amount of energy is released in a short period of time, typically from rapid combustion of end gas, creates rapid pressure rise rates often followed by high frequency pressure oscillations. These intense pressure waves impose high stresses on engine structural components and dramatically increase heat transfer rates, ultimately leading to engine damage. Such uncontrolled combustion may occur due to a variety of reasons such as poor fuel quality and properties, inhomogeneity of fuel-air mixture, hot spots in the combustion chamber, deposits, evaporating lube oil, unfavorable pressure-time history in the unburned gas of the cylinder charge, cylinder or cyclic variability of charge, inadequate cooling, etc. Prediction of abnormal combustion is generally very difficult and is typically addressed during engine design.
Many types of fuel can produce different types of abnormal combustion. In the case of diesel engines, engine knock is more or less unavoidable since fuel is injected into highly compressed air towards the end of the compression stroke. As such, diesel engines are designed to withstand knock that is typical for diesel fuel operation. Use of other fuels in an engine designed to use diesel can result in abnormal combustion and knock that the diesel engine was not designed to tolerate.

Acoustic knock detection in dual-fuel engines


Determination of a connectivity-metrics for graphs representative of networks of interest. A graph that represents a network of interest is accessed. The graph includes nodes representing points in the network of interest, and edges corresponding to the nodes. Bit-vectors are generated corresponding to the nodes and/or edges, wherein individual bits in the bit-vectors respectively provide a logical indication of connectedness. The connectivity-metric is then determined by applying a logical bit operation to the plurality of bit-vectors. Examples of connectivity metrics include a connected components, shortest paths, betweenness, clustering, and tree-based determinations.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to graph analysis and more particularly to bit-vector algorithms for graph processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Graph analysis plays a critical role in data mining that involves transactional activity, social networks, and communications. Much of this analysis uses connectivity-metrics such as betweenness and closeness to characterize highly connected nodes, intermediaries, or hubs of activity. Calculating these metrics requires finding such graph properties as connected components or shortest paths. The processing required to find all connected components or shortest paths for a large graph is very expensive, making real-time (interactive) analysis infeasible.
One connectivity-metric is referred to as "connected components", which may be determined using recursive functions in conventional systems. An unrestricted recursive process commences by setting all of the nodes in a graph to UNVISITED, and selecting any UNVISITED node as a starting point. The selected node is then marked as VISITED and a depth-first search of all connected nodes that are also UNVISITED is performed, marking each node encountered in the search as VISITED. This searching is continued until no more UNVISITED nodes can be found in this component. The next component's starting point is found by searching the graph for remaining UNVISITED node(s). The process is then repeated until all nodes in the graph are marked VISITED. The depth-first search is implemented as a recursive function. This implementation runs very quickly but may cause a stack overflow if the graph is too large.
An alternative implementation of the unrestricted recursive algorithm is one that restricts the recursive depth to avoid stack overflow errors. This implementation is considerably slower than the unrestricted version but will produce the same results as long as the recursive depth allowed is greater than or equal to the graph's diameter. A graph's diameter is defined as the number of edges in the longest shortest-path of the graph. This definition guarantees a finite diameter even in graphs with unconnected components. If the restricted recursive depth is shorter than the diameter the algorithm will fail, not being able to connect these components.
Accordingly, existing algorithms for determining connected components are variously inefficient, particularly with regard to graphs of relatively large diameter. Other connectivity-metrics include shortest paths, betweenness, clustering, and Steiner Tree. Techniques are also known for determining these connectivity-metrics, but they too are variously deficient for larger graphs.
Accordingly, what is needed are techniques for determining connectivity-metrics that are less computationally expensive than existing techniques, and that are more readily extensible to graphs of relatively large diameter.

Determination of graph connectivity metrics using bit-vectors


Focus adjustment assemblies for projection television are provided. Locking systems are also provided which lock the barrels of the projection television in position immediately after focusing and which have a reduced risk of warping the barrels.

This invention relates to focus adjustment assemblies for projection television.
HISTORY OF THE PRIOR ART
Projection television is a popular entertainment medium. Projection television comprises a projection cabinet and a screen. The projection cabinet may contain one or more cathode ray tubes (CRT's) and a system of lenses for each CRT. For a color projection television, the cabinet typically contains three CRT's, one for each of the primary colors--red,blue and green, and three lens systems, one for each CRT.
The lens systems of a projection television generally comprise at least three lenses. A first lens, usually of low power and which may have at least one aspheric surface, corrects for aberrations. A second, biconvex lens provides power to the image projection. A third, concave lens acts as a field flattener and corrects for field curvatures of the first and second lenses. Additional lenses may be added. A huge amount of research has gone into improving lens systems, and many complex systems have been developed.
Each lens system is part of a lens assembly. The lens assembly comprises two barrels, an outer barrel and an inner barrel. The inner barrel is situated to some degree within the outer barrel so that the barrels telescope. Each of the barrels includes at least one lens. The image is focused on the screen by moving the barrels relative to each other.
Obviously, it is important that the image is sharply focused on the screen. If the image is not focused, the most sophisticated lens system in the world is useless. Consumer projection televisions are typically designed with the intention that focusing is required only once upon assembly. However, even if the barrel assembly is accurately set, from time to time the image may move out of focus and require adjustment.
An optimal focus adjustment should be extremely sensitive (i.e.--allow for small variations in the relative spacing of the two barrels). In projection televisions with multiple lens assemblies, the focus adjustment should be sensitive enough that three images may be focused in concert. To avoid recurrent servicing, the focus adjustment should be mechanically simple and easy enough for the consumer to use. The focus adjustment should be inexpensive so as not to add greatly to the cost of the projection unit. Finally, the focus adjustment should include a locking mechanism that engages immediately after an adjustment has been made and that does not deform the barrels so as to degrade the lens performance.
Various mechanisms have been utilized to focus lenses or lens assemblies. U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,832 discloses a distance determining mechanism, for use in a camera having a focusable objective. To focus the objective lens a control lever is raised and a manual dial knob is rotated. The manual dial knob is fixed to a stub shaft having a pinion around its external end. The pinion meshes with a rack formed on an actuator member. Upon rotation of the knob, an actuator member moves about a shaft and adjusts a positioning pin which positions the lens cell of the objective lens. The complexity of this assembly is undesirable from both a manufacturing and servicing standpoint.
U.S Pat. No. 2,285,470 discloses a plural lens mount in which an inner lens box is longitudinally movable in an outer box via a rack, mounted on the inner box parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner box and the outer box, and a pinion, connected to a rotatable knob. The sensitivity of this device is limited by the longitudinal orientation of the rack.
Current industry designs for focus adjustment include mechanical fasteners, such as wing nuts or plastic knobs, attached to a metal or plastic post. The post is attached to the inner barrel and travels along a slot in the outer barrel. Focusing is accomplished by moving the post along the slot, then tightening down the fastener creating interference between the outer barrel and the inner barrel. Focusing is performed manually and can be awkward because the post must be pushed along the slot. The mechanical fasteners used can result in overstressed lens mounts due to excessive tightening or lenses moving out of focus due to insufficient tightening.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,930 discloses a three tube color projection television in which a lens barrel carries protrusions on its sides. These protrusions are passed through inlets formed at two axially symmetrical places of a cylinder portion and are fitted into oblique guide slots in the side surface of the cylinder portion. To focus the image, the lens barrel is rotated relative to a barrel supporting portion to make the guide protrusions slide on side surfaces of the guide slots, so as to vary the distance between the lens barrel and a tube surface. To secure the barrel, a wire band is put on the cylinder portion and fastened with a screw. Here again, accurate focusing is made awkward because the barrels must be grasped. Fastening the wire band requires additional work and applies force between the inner and outer barrels.
Despite the devices discussed above and many additional attempts since the inception of projection television, a need still exists for a simple, inexpensive, easy to use, and sensitive focus adjustment device and a device which provides immediate locking that does not apply significant force between the inner and outer barrels which could deform the barrels.