User throughput fairness between a small cell and a macrocell is improved without affecting load balancing with another small cell. A radio station (100) having a radio area (100a) thereof, at least a part of which is adjacent to a radio area (300a) which is larger than the radio area (100a) of the radio station (100) and is managed by another radio station (300), acquires a load on the own station and a load on the another radio station and controls the transmission power of a radio terminal (200) connected to the radio area of the own cell, based on the relative magnitude of the load on the own cell to the load on the another radio station.

Radio communication systems such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) and LTE-A (LTE-Advanced) standardized in 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) are based on the premise that a plurality of radio base stations (hereinafter, referred to as base stations) are deployed, and each base station performs communication with radio terminals (hereinafter, referred to as terminals) in the communication area of the own station. This communication area is referred to as a cell, and a cell can also be divided into a plurality of areas by allowing antennas to have directivity. These divided areas are referred to as sector cells, and it is assumed hereinafter that simply stating "cell" refers to "sector cell".
In recent years, with the proliferation of smartphones and the like, the traffic volume of data communication is increasing acceleratedly. To cope with such a situation, it is essential not only to introduce radio communication systems of high spectral efficiency such as LTE, but also to introduce a large number of small cell base stations of low transmission power in addition to macrocell base stations covering wider areas. A network in which cells of such various sizes coexist is referred to as a heterogeneous network and attracts more and more attentions recently.
In LTE, generally, the same radio frequency band (hereinafter, referred to as "radio band") is used among neighbor cells. Accordingly, inter-cell interference may occur when neighbor cells use the same frequency band for transmission, regardless of uplink transmission or downlink transmission. In a heterogeneous network in particular, the problem of load balancing is also among concerns, in addition to the problem of interference caused along with the increasing number of cells. The problem of load balancing is that in a heterogeneous network, since cells of various sizes coexist and terminals distribute and congest in various ways, loads among cells become uneven, and so loads concentrate on a specific cell, resulting in the decreased communication rates of terminals in that cell.
In LTE, control of the uplink transmission power of a terminal is considered to be one of effective solutions to the above-described problems of interference and load balancing. Specifically, transmission power can be greatly adjusted for each terminal by controlling parameters related to target received power and propagation loss between a terminal and a base station (hereinafter, referred to as path loss), whereby avoidance of interference and improvement in channel quality can be achieved. Hereinafter, uplink transmission power control in LTE will be described briefly.
The transmission power PPUSCH of a PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared CHannel), which is a channel for transmitting data of a terminal i, is defined as the following equation (1) (NPL 1):PPUSCHN=min[PCMAX(i),10 log10(MPUSCHN)+PO_PUSCH+α·PL+ΔTF(i)+f(i)]   (1)where PCMAX(i) [dBm] is the maximum transmission power of the terminal i, MPUSCH(i) is the number of resource blocks (RB) allocated to the PUSCH, PO_PUSCH [dBm] is target received power, PL [dB] is a path loss between the terminal and base station estimated from a downlink, a is a path loss correction coefficient, ΔTF(i) [dB] is a MCS (Modulation and Coding Schemes)-related parameter depending on deltaMCS-Enabled, which is notified from an upper layer, and f(i) [dBm] is a cumulative value of Closed Loop TPC (Transmission Power Control) correction coefficient δPUSCH. A resource block RB is a unit of radio band assignment and is also referred to as a physical resource block (PRB).
Further, the above-mentioned target received power PO_PUSCH is composed of two terms, as represented by the following equation (2):PO_PUSCH=PO_NOMINAL_PUSCH+PO_UE_PUSCH(i)  (2)where PO_NOMINAL_PUSCH [dBm] is target received power that is common among terminals connected to the same cell, and PO_UE_PUSCH(i) [dB] is a received power offset for each individual terminal. It is known that in the above equations (1) and (2), those greatly affecting an increase or a decrease in transmission power per resource block RB are a term related to the target received power (PO_PUSCH) and a term related to the path loss (α·PL).
PTL 1 proposes a solution to the above-described problems of interference and load balancing. According to PTL 1, when interference information OI (Over Load Indicator) and load information indicating a traffic rate are received from an adjacent cell, a base station adjusts the interference information by using the received load information and controls the uplink transmission power of a terminal in its own cell based on the adjusted interference information. For example, when the load on an adjacent cell is small, the received interference information is adjusted as if interference power is small, whereby it is possible to prevent a more decrease than necessary in transmission power. Note that the interference information OI is indication information that notifies alarm to an adjacent cell in PRB units when interference is measured (see NPL 2).

Radio communication system, radio station, and method for controlling transmission power


A smooth-walled non-crimped inflow conduit for an implantable ventricular assist system. The conduit has an internally smooth lumen surface for enhanced washing of the conduit under irregular blood flow conditions. The conduit includes a tubular graft body that may be formed of a knitted fabric sealed with bovine collagen or gelatin, or formed of closed structured PTFE. The conduit may include external ribbing or support to prevent inward collapse under negative pressure conditions and also protect against damage from inadvertent physical contact in the operating room. The external support may be bonded to the exterior or formed integrally with the tubular graft body. An outer reinforcement cage may be provided to help prevent gross distortion or damage to the tubular graft body. The ends of the tubular graft body are left unsupported and wrapped around opposed lips of conduit coupling structure to minimize blood contacting surfaces at junctions with other conduits or with the heart. The conduit may be provided in an implantable left ventricular assist system also including a pumping device, valved conduits, and a power supply.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to ventricular assist devices, and more particularly to artificial prosthetic conduits used for transporting blood in the circulatory system of a living organism.
2. Description of the Prior Art
More than two and one-half million Americans suffer from congestive heart failure. Most heart disease involves the left ventricle of the heart. This pumping chamber is generally known as the workhorse of the heart. A patient with a non-functioning right ventricle can survive quite successfully provided that their pulmonary blood flow resistance is low enough to allow circulation through the lungs and the rest of the body entirely as a result of the efforts of the left ventricle. However, collapse of the left ventricle is most often fatal.
Left-ventricular assist devices (LVAD) in particular are recognized as potentially very valuable for assisting patients who suffer from congestive heart failure. An LVAD is able to fully take over the function of the left ventricle, thus perfusing the body with oxygen-rich blood. The LVAD attaches to the patient's natural heart, and to a natural artery, and can be removed if the natural heart recovers. Some LVADs are surgically implanted into the patient's abdominal cavity, while others remain outside the body and are placed in fluid communication with the heart via elongated cannulas. Recently, a National Institutes of Health study estimated that as many as thirty-five thousand people could be candidates for use of a left-ventricular assist device.
At present, conventional ventricular assist devices are used for patients a) who are waiting for a heart transplant (a so-called, "bridge to transplant"), b) whose natural heart is of such poor condition that the patient cannot be removed from a heart-lung machine without providing some assistance to the patient's heart following otherwise successful open-heart surgery, and c) who suffer massive heart attacks that lead to circulatory collapse. The suitability of long-term utilization of conventional left-ventricular assist devices outside of the clinical environment remains under study.
Expansion and contraction of a variable-volume chamber typically effect blood flow in the LVAD. One-way valves associated with the inflow and outflow ports of the LVAD permit blood flow propelled by the natural left ventricle into the variable-volume chamber during expansion, and blood flow out of this chamber, usually to the ascending thoracic aorta. These one-way flow valves may be constructed as part of the LVAD itself, or may be disposed in separate blood-flow conduits attached thereto. A pair of artificial blood conduits respectively connect the inlet port of the variable-volume chamber (or the inlet end of a valved conduit) to the left ventricle and the outlet port of the variable-volume chamber (or the outlet end of a second valved conduit) to the major artery which is to receive the blood flow from the device.
As is well known, artificial blood conduits have become a valuable tool of modern medicine. One use of such artificial blood conduits is as a temporary or permanent prosthetic artery. Another use is in the connection of temporary blood pumps, such as ventricular assist devices described herein, between the left ventricle of the heart and a major artery.
The demands on artificial blood conduits in ventricular assist devices are great. The conduit must deal with the pulsatile blood flow created by the host's own heart, as well as with the flow, pressure, and pulsations created by the assist device. Moreover, there are differences in flow and pressure between the inflow and outflow conduits connected to the pumping device. For example, while the outflow conduit experiences regular pulses of high pressure, flow in the inflow conduit is dependent on the pumping strength and rhythrm of the natural left ventricle on top of which the periodic LVAD pressures are superimposed (i.e., expansion of the variable volume chamber tends to pull fluid from the inflow conduit). The inflow conduit thus sees irregular and typically low flows and pressures; indeed, negative pressure transients can occur in the inflow conduit.
Conventional artificial conduits for use in LVADs may be constructed of an elongate flexible woven polyethylene terephthalate fabric tube. In some cases, the conduits are sealed with a thin bio-compatible collagen coating on the inner lumen wall to render the fabric more leak resistant at the time of implantation, and also more compatible with the patient's blood. The collagen coating, typically bovine collagen, eventually is absorbed into the blood stream and is replaced with a natural coating of blood cells, serum protein, and other elements from the blood. In the absence of a sealant, the conduit may have to be pre-clotted by the surgeon just prior to implantation. The woven fabric tubes for implanted LVADs are invariably convoluted (crimped) to facilitate bending and extension during implantation to fit different anatomical configurations. That is, the pumping device must reside with the lower abdominal cavity and attach via the conduits to appropriate locations on the heart, none of which are precisely the same in each patient. The convoluted conduits accommodate this variability without kinking. A conventional artificial blood conduit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,708, issued Sep. 22, 1998, to Woodard.
Some non-implantable ventricular assist-devices utilize cannula-like conduits that are relatively rigid, some being fonned of smooth, reinforced polyurethane. These types of conduits would not be suitable for use in implantable devices as they will not easily accommodate varying anatomical placements, and tend to kink if bent. In addition, smooth-walled woven fabric grafts are relatively stiff, and tend to kink when bent.
In spite of extended efforts in the industry, there remains room for improvement in the construction and function of conduits for ventricular assist devices.

Smooth ventricular assist device conduit


An airbag module for use in a vehicle includes a gas generator and a side airbag coupled to the gas generator and configured to deploy upon receiving gas from the gas generator. The side airbag includes a main body extending along a ceiling of the vehicle configured to restrain a head of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed and an extended portion extending from the main body in a downwards direction and configured to restrain at least a portion of a torso of the vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed. The extended portion is at least partially tucked into the main body and the airbag is folded in a Z pattern and rolled when the airbag is installed. The tuck of the extended portion and the folds of the main body control the deployment angle of the main body and extended portion.

The present disclosure relates to a curtain airbag or curtain-like airbag that is deployed along the side of the interior of a vehicle, and more specifically, to a curtain airbag with a geometry that is configured to more effectively retain an occupant inside the vehicle.
Curtain airbag designs typically offer protection to the vehicle occupant's head. In the future, it is expected that curtain airbags will be required to be longer in the vertical direction and also offer mitigation against occupant ejection during rollover. These requirements are expected to include a requirement for the inflated airbag to extend to a position below the beltline of the vehicle, and also to offer protection for the occupant's head.
It would be advantageous to provide a curtain airbag that provides additional protection for the vehicle occupant by incorporating an extension to the curtain airbag which provides inflated coverage as low as the occupant's torso to cushion the occupant's torso from the intruding surfaces of the vehicle's door and side structures.


A Web resource comprising a plurality of user-selectable hyperlinks to a plurality of Web resources is provided to a client node via a computer network. The Web resource comprises a plurality of advertiser-usable variables within at least one script. The advertiser-usable variables include a first advertiser-usable variable specific to a first Web resource and a second advertiser-usable variable specific to a second Web resource. An advertisement server node reads the advertiser-usable variables and stores same either at the client node or at the advertisement node. After a first hyperlink is user-selected from the Web resource, the advertisement server node retrieves the first advertiser-usable variable corresponding to the first Web resource. An advertisement is selected from a plurality of advertisements based on the first advertiser-usable variable. The advertisement is provided to the client node to display with the first Web resource.

Many Internet portals provide a search engine with which a user may initiate an Internet search. The search engine returns a list of Web pages based upon a search expression received from the user.
Some search engines display a similarity value for each Web page in the list. Each similarity value numerically indicates a degree of correlation or relevance between its corresponding Web page and the search expression.
Oftentimes, the Web pages in the list are sorted based on the similarity values. By sorting the Web pages in this manner, the list presents highly-relevant Web pages before lesser-relevant Web pages.
Some Internet portals provide directories of Web pages. These directories provide a tree-like structure of categories and subcategories within which Web pages are classified.
DoubleClick, Inc. provides various Internet advertising solutions. These solutions include providing advertising for the ALTAVISTA™ Internet portal. Advertising on a search results page may be targeted based upon a keyword in a search expression submitted to the ALTAVISTA™ Internet portal.

Methods, articles and apparatus for advertising based on an attribute of a computer network resource


An image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer printing, comprises a substrate and a receptor layer provided on at least one surface of the substrate. The receptor layer is formed by applying a receptor layer forming composition comprising (a) at least one kind of thermoplastic resin and (b) at least one kind of release agent selected from silicone compounds expressed by the following formula (1): EQU R.sub.1 --Si--(NCO).sub.4-1 (1). in the formula (1), "1" indicates an integer of from 0 to 3, and "R" indicates an alkyl group, an aryl group or a vinyl group!,. to the at least one surface of the substrate, and drying the thus applied composition by heat.

Many kinds of thermal transfer printing methods have conventionally been known. Of these methods, public attention has been attracted by a sublimation type thermal transfer printing method in which an image can be formed on a image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer printing by heating, with the use of a heating means such as a thermal head or a laser, a thermal transfer sheet which had been prepared by forming a thermal transfer layer containing sublimative dyes on a support such as a polyester film, and has been placed on the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer printing. Such a sublimation type thermal transfer printing method has been utilized as an information recording means in many kinds of fields of art.
According to such a sublimation type thermal transfer printing method, it is possible to form an image in various colors in an extremely short period of time, which bears comparison with a color photographic image having excellent reproducibility in neutral tints and toning property.
This method may provide an advantage that there can be obtained an image which is very clear and excellent in transparency, since according to this method, resin in the receptor layer is dyed by means of a dye to form the image. Therefore, this method has extensively been applied to the formation of a transparent projection sheet to be used for a projecting apparatus such as an overhead projector (hereinafter abbreviated to "OHP").
With respect to such use, a conventional image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer printing for the OHP has a receptor layer formed on one surface of a transparent substrate having a thickness of about 100 .mu.m and made of polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter abbreviated to "PET"), and a back surface layer formed on the other surface thereof.
On the one surface of the substrate, there is provided with a receptor layer made of thermoplastic resin such as, for example, saturated polyester resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer and polycarbonate resin in order to receive sublimative dyes transferred from the thermal transfer sheet and keep the formed image, and, if necessary, also provided with an intermediate layer.
There is provided, as an intermediate layer, a layer for imparting a cushioning property to an image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer printing, when a substrate made of PET having a high rigidity is for example used, or a layer for imparting an antistatic property thereto.
On the other surface, i.e., the back surface of the substrate, there is provided, if necessary, with a back surface layer formed by applying a composition prepared by adding an organic filler made of acrylic resin, fluoroplastics, polyamide resin or the like and/or an inorganic filler such as silica to a binder of acrylic resin or the like, in order to prevent the image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer printing from being curled up and improve an slipping property.
A so-called "standard type" image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer printing is used for projecting an image of the image-receiving sheet not by means of transmitted light but by means of reflected light. The standard type image-receiving sheet has substantially the same structure as that of the transmission type image-receiving sheet described above except that there may be used as an substrate an opaque, for example, white plastic sheet made of PET, foamed PET or the like; ordinary paper; synthetic paper; the combination of them adhered to each other or the like.
There has also been utilized for various uses a so-called "sticker-type" image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer printing in which a receptor layer was formed on the one surface of a substrate, and adhesive layer made of adhesive agent and a release paper were provided in this order on the other surface of the substrate. The sticker-type image-receiving sheet is used by forming an image on the receptor layer by means of a thermal transfer printing, peeling the release paper and sticking the image-receiving sheet on a desired object.
In the conventional image-receiving sheets for thermal transfer printing, various release agents are added to the receptor layers thereof, or a release layer is formed on the receptor layer. As a release agent, there has often been used silicone or a compound thereof such as silicone resin, and curable modified silicone has especially been used to improve releasability from the thermal transfer sheet.
The use of a certain kind of silicone has however caused a problem that the receptor layer was easily subject to flaws through friction between the receptor layer side surface of an image-receiving sheet and the back surface of the other image-receiving sheet and/or through friction between the surface of the receptor layer and parts of a printer, during the feeding of the image-receiving sheets in the printer, resulting in occurrence of so called abnormal transfer printing of causing the heat-fusion of the heat transfer sheet and the image-receiving sheet at portions having the above-mentioned flaws of the latter, the transfer of the entire layer of the dyeing layer, and the peeling of the receptor layer from the substrate. This means the poor abrasion resistance of the conventional image-receiving sheets for thermal transfer printing.
There has also been known a curing type release agent in which amino-modified silicone and epoxy-modified silicone are utilized. Such a release agent has however a problem that a long period of time is required for the curing thereof.
There has been carried out a practical step of adding a large amount of such a silicone compound to a receptor layer or increasing a thickness of a release layer, in order to achieve a sufficient releasing property with the use of the silicone compound. Such a practical step may cause occurrence of problems of degradation in dyeing affinity and decrease in depth of a formed image.
There has also been carried out a practical step of causing silicone oil having active hydrogen, such as hydroxyl group-modified silicone oil, carboxyl-modified silicone oil or amino-modified silicone oil to react on a curing agent such as isocyanate compounds or organic metallic compounds to cure such a kind of silicone oil, so as to achieve an abrasion resistance as well as a releasing property. Such a practical step may cause occurrence of a problem that the above-mentioned reaction requires a baking process which must be carried out at a high temperature for a long period of time, and an aging process which must be carried out for a long period of time after a drying process, thus requiring a long period of time for the reaction, resulting in poor productivity. A baking process which is carried out at a low temperature for a short period of time, may provide insufficient releasing property even when an aging process is carried out after the baking process. When an amount of added curing agent and/or catalyst is increased to an extent that a releasing property can be obtained, there are caused problems that the service life of a coating composition becomes very short, the coating composition easily tends to gel before a coating process, and an application property of the coating composition is deteriorated.

Image-receiving sheet for thermal transfer printing and method for manufacturing same


A magnetic recording disk has an antiferromagnetically-coupled (AFC) structure that has three lower ferromagnetic layers (LL1, LL2, LL3) and an upper ferromagnetic layer (UL), all four ferromagnetic layers being antiferromagnetically-coupled together across corresponding antiferromagnetically-coupling layers. The UL has a magnetization-remanence-thickness product (Mrt) greater than the Mrt each of the three lower layers LL1, LL2, LL3, and greater than the sum of the Mrt values of LL1 and LL3. The middle lower layer LL2 has an Mrt less than the Mrt of each of the other lower layers LL1 and LL3, and as a result the composite Mrt of the AFC structure is less than the composite Mrt of a conventional AFC structure having only a single lower layer. The AFC structure achieves this composite Mrt reduction without increasing the Mrt of any of the three lower layers above the maximum Mrt of the single lower layer in the conventional AFC structure.

As the storage density of magnetic recording hard disks has increased, there has been a corresponding reduction in the magnetization-remanence-thickness product (Mrt), and a corresponding increase in the coercivity (Hc), of the magnetic recording layer. Mrt is the product of the recording layer thickness t and the remanent (zero applied magnetic field) magnetization Mr (where Mr is measured in units of magnetic moment per unit volume of ferromagnetic material) of the recording layer. HC is related to the short-time switching field or intrinsic coercivity (H0) required by the disk drive write head to write data on the recording layer. The trends in Mrt and Hc have led to a decrease in the ratio Mrt/Hc.
To achieve the reduction in Mrt, the thickness t of the magnetic layer can be reduced, but only to a limit because the stored magnetic information in the layer will be more likely to decay. This decay of the magnetization has been attributed to thermal activation of small magnetic grains (the superparamagnetic effect). The thermal stability of a magnetic grain is to a large extent determined by KuV, where Ku is the magnetic anisotropy constant of the layer and V is the volume of the magnetic grain. As the layer thickness is decreased, V decreases. If the layer thickness is too thin, KuV becomes too small and the stored magnetic information will no longer be stable at normal disk drive operating conditions.
One approach to the solution of this problem is to move to a higher anisotropy material (higher Ku). However, the increase in Ku is limited by the point where the coercivity Hc, which is approximately equal to Ku/Ms (Ms=saturation magnetization), becomes too great to be written by a conventional recording head. A similar approach is to reduce the Ms of the magnetic layer for a fixed layer thickness, which will reduce Mr since Mr is related to Ms, but this is also limited by the coercivity that can be written.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,813, assigned to the same assignee as this application, describes a magnetic recording medium wherein the magnetic recording layer is at least two ferromagnetic layers antiferromagnetically-coupled together across a nonferromagnetic spacer layer. In this type of magnetic media, referred to as AFC media, the magnetic moments of the two antiferromagnetically-coupled layers are oriented antiparallel in remanence, with the result that the net or composite Mrt of the recording layer is the difference between the Mrt of the upper and lower ferromagnetic layers. The upper ferromagnetic layer typically has a higher Mrt than the lower ferromagnetic layer so that the composite Mrt is given by MrtUL−MrtLL. This reduction in Mrt is accomplished without a reduction in volume V. Therefore the thermal stability of the recording medium is not reduced.
AFC media thus significantly improve the performance of magnetic recording disks. A low composite-Mrt means a low value of PW50, which is the half-amplitude pulse-width of an isolated read-back pulse of the recorded signal measured at low recording density. The PW50 value determines the achievable linear density, and a low value of PW50 is desirable. Therefore, the extendibility of AFC media is mainly determined by how much the structure can be used to reduce PW50, and this is determined by how large a value Mrt can be achieved in the lower ferromagnetic layer, since MrtCOMPOSITE=(MrtUL−MrtLL).
However, with current AFC media there is a maximum Mrt value that can be used in the lower ferromagnetic layer above which the media's intrinsic signal-to-noise ratio (S0NR) will become worse even though PW50 is still lowered and the composite Mrt is still dropping. For example, an AFC structure can be fabricated with a thicker lower ferromagnetic layer (increasing the lower layer Mrt by 0.05 memu/cm2 above the maximum value) to achieve a PW50 value reduced by 3.5% from the reference AFC structure using the maximum lower layer Mrt. However, this results in an unacceptable decrease in S0NR of approximately 3.5 db.
There are two likely reasons why this decrease in S0NR occurs with AFC media when the lower layer becomes too thick. First, as the lower ferromagnetic layer is made thicker, its anisotropy-volume product (KUV) increases. The KUV determines how susceptible the layer is to thermal fluctuations with the higher the KUV the less susceptible is the layer. It is well established that it is thermally-activated reversal that allows the small interlayer exchange field in AFC media to reverse the magnetization of the lower layer and thereby produce the desired antiparallel remanent configuration. Therefore, the higher the KUV of the lower layer (the higher the lower layer Mrt), the more difficult it is for the relatively small exchange field to completely reverse the magnetization of the lower layer. Second, the magnitude of the exchange field is inversely proportional to the lower layer Mrt, also making it more difficult for the antiferromagnetic interaction to reverse the magnetization of the lower layer as it becomes thicker. Therefore, as the lower layer Mrt is increased there are two effects that occur that make it more difficult to reverse the lower layer magnetization to form the antiparallel remanent configuration. These factors could cause some lower layer grains to not be antiparallel with their respective upper layer grains, possibly producing extra noise in the recorded signal causing the drop in S0NR that is measured. Increasing the exchange field by adding a high moment layer adjacent to the Ru layer is a potential way of postponing this problem, but the addition of this high moment layer reduces the S0NR such that in practice it is very difficult to significantly alter the exchange field without reducing S0NR. Therefore, the problem of not being able to increase the thickness of the lower ferromagnetic layer in AFC media above some maximum value is a universal problem with these structures.
What is needed is a magnetic recording disk with an AFC structure that can take advantage of the reduction in composite Mrt and PW50, but without causing a reduction in S0NR.

Magnetic recording disk with antiferromagnetically-coupled magnetic layer having multiple lower layers

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


An X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instrument comprises a hand-held device housing which holds a radiation emitter configured to emit radiation directed at a test object and a radiation detector housed inside a chamber closed by a sealing window and configured to detect radiation of the test object, caused by the test object being exposed to the emitted radiation. A protective cover mechanism is affixed to the testing device and is configured to have a closed position which covers or blocks access to the sealing window to protect it from being broken or damaged by debris or other obstructions, and an open position which exposes the sealing window to allow the un-obstructed passage of radiation therethrough. The cover mechanism can be implemented variously, including by a pivotally mounted cover plate, an iris mechanism, a fan-like cover and the like. Debris can be detected variously, including by strain sensors, optical detectors and proximity sensors.

X-ray devices such as handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instruments are known as are various shields for such instruments. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,430,274; 7,375,359; 7,375,358; 6,965,118; and 7,671,350 as well as WO 00/37928 all incorporated herein by this reference. See also U.S. Published Application No. US-2008-0152079.
In recent years higher performance handheld XRF instruments have started to use larger active area silicon drift detectors (SDD's) in the range of 20 mm2 and greater. These larger area detectors are well suited for measuring low atomic number elements in the field due to their greater sensitivity; however, a drawback of using larger area SDD's is that the sealing windows required to maintain an evacuated chamber in the region of the silicon detector surface become more fragile with increased size. This drawback is exacerbated when a handheld XRF instrument is used in the field environment.
For example, when a handheld XRF instrument is used in mining or scrap metal applications, the measurement head must be placed in close proximity to test substances that may contain various types of debris that can pierce, or otherwise damage, the environmental sealing film and detector sealing window of the instrument. When this occurs, the sealing film can be replaced by the operator; however, the unit must be returned to the factory to have its detector replaced at considerable inconvenience and expense to the owner of the handheld XRF instrument. Accordingly, a solution that protects the detector sealing window while not deteriorating the performance of the handheld XRF instrument would be of great value to the users of these instruments.

X-ray analysis apparatus with detector window protection feature


A system and method of adjusting a display and, more particularly, to a system and method of automatically adjusting a viewing angle of a display is provided. The method includes determining a location of one or more viewers and adjusting the display based on an average viewing location of the one or more viewers. The system includes a computer infrastructure. The computer infrastructure is operable to receive a detection signal indicative of a location of one or more viewers, and adjust the display based on an average viewing location of the one or more viewers.

Televisions and other displays and monitors are either wall mounted or placed on a support of some type. The televisions and other displays and monitors are stationary and located in a central location in an attempt to provide viewers with an optimal view of the picture. However, with the advent of flat screen televisions, LCD technology, plasma technology, etc. it is not always possible for all viewers to view the screen. For example, it is know that viewers at the side of the screen are unable to properly view the screen.
It is also known that advertisements are not always effectively positioned to ensure that a maximum viewing time is provided to the consuming public. Again, this is due to the fact that the advertisements are static and located in a stationary position. This can effectively decrease the effectiveness of the advertisement, as viewers may not have a proper viewing angle to read the advertisement or appreciate the subtleties of the advertisements.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to overcome the deficiencies and limitations described hereinabove.

System and method of adjusting viewing angle for display

International Business Machines Corporation


Circuits, methods, and apparatus for FIFO memories made up of multiple local memory arrays. These embodiments limit the number and length of interconnect lines that are necessary to join two or more local memory arrays into a single, larger functional unit. One exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a FIFO made up of a number of FIFO sub-blocks connected in series. Each FIFO sub-block includes local read and write address counters such that read and write addresses are not bused between the FIFO sub-blocks.

The present invention relates to first-in-first-out memories (FIFOs) for integrated circuits, and more particularly to distributed FIFOs for field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).
The size, complexity, and functionality of field programmable gate array integrated circuits have been increasing at a tremendous rate the last several years. FPGA devices now include thousands of configurable or programmable cells such as configurable logic gates and I/O cells, programmable interconnect, memories, and other types of circuits. These circuits are often intermixed on an integrated circuit, such that various logic blocks have routing access to memories, I/O cells, and other included circuitry.
The optimal size and distribution of memories on an FPGA or other configurable device has been the subject of much study and analysis. Typically, it is desirable to have several small local memory arrays distributed about on an FPGA integrated circuit. When a circuit formed from configurable logic needs to use memory resources, this arrangement allows easy access. In particular, having a small local memory nearby reduces the length of interconnect lines to the memory, which saves valuable routing resources and reduces stray capacitance, thereby saving power and reducing gate delay times.
But on occasion it is desirable to have a larger memory. For example, a circuit function may require a FIFO that is larger than a particular local memory array. In this case, two or more local memory arrays can be combined into a single functional unit.
When this occurs, the length of the interconnect lines used to reach the more distant memory arrays become long. The problems that were sought to be remedied by the use of smaller local memories return. That is, longer interconnect lines, which consume routing resources that could be better spent and result in larger stray capacitances that slow circuit signal paths, are needed.
Thus, it is desirable to have improved FIFO architectures that are formed from several smaller memory arrays in such a way as to reduce the number and length of interconnect lines. It is further desirable to reduce the number and length of necessary interconnect lines without dramatically increasing the complexity of circuitry included in the FIFO.


A blow-molding or stretch-blow molding plant for making containers from thermoplastic polymer blanks, in particular PET, including a blowing bell-nozzle for blowing a pressurized fluid into a blank arranged in a cavity of a mold, the nozzle having one end adapted to be sealingly supported in front against a support plate provided in one surface of the mold capping the neck of the blank; the support plate is ring-shaped having an outline of similar shape as that of the outline of the end of the nozzle, the ring being engaged in a gutter which is hollowed out in the surface of the mold and which surrounds spaced apart the opening through which the neck of the blank passes.

The aforementioned support plate is a removable wear part which is designed to be replaced when it is worn following repeated contact with the front end of the blowing nozzle and it prevents the surface of the mold itself from being worn, with the drawbacks which this would entail.
In the known plants of the type targeted by the invention (see for example, the documents FR 2 764 544 FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 6; FR 2 828 829 FIG. 1; FR 2 833 512 FIGS. 8 to 10; FR 2 841 495 FIGS. 2A-2C and 3; FR 2 843 714 FIGS. 1 and 3), it is known to design the support plate not only so that it receives the front end of the nozzle but also so that it defines the opening for receiving the neck of the blank to be blow-molded and that it supports said blank by its flange. Such a design had been regarded as desirable to facilitate the customizing of the plant with regard to the manufacture of containers of the same volume but with necks of different diameters: in this case, it was sufficient to change the support plates. The support plate of these known plants is therefore a metallic part of relatively large dimensions and which is, therefore, costly. The wear of this support plate in contact with the blowing nozzle occurs relatively rapidly: it therefore has to be replaced relatively often, resulting in not inconsiderable expenditure for this maintenance job, whilst the replacement of the support plates for the purposes of customization of the plant occurs less frequently than that which had been originally expected.

Bell-nozzle blow-molding or stretch-blow-molding plant for making thermoplastic containers and mold therefor


A method of electrophotographically manufacturing a luminescent line screen 22 within a viewing area of a faceplate panel 12 includes providing a matrix 23 having a border 123 extending beyond the viewing area. A photoreceptor 36 overlies the matrix. The photoreceptor is electrostatically charged and a color selection electrode 25, having a multiplicity of openings therethrough, is mounted therein. The panel 12 is positioned on an exposure device having a multi-position visible light source. A least one series of light exposures utilizes both first and second order illumination to form selectively discharge the photoreceptor 36 in the viewing area and on the border 123 of the matrix. Then, triboelectrically charged, color-emitting phosphor is deposited onto the illuminated areas of the photoreceptor to form phosphor lines in the viewing area and phosphor traps over the matrix border.

In the manufacturing of a luminescent screen by the conventional wet slurry process, the phosphors are deposited into openings formed in a matrix disposed on the interior surface of the faceplate, for example, in the sequence: green, blue and red. This same phosphor deposition sequence is utilized in the electrophotographic screening (EPS) process described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,767, issued to Datta et al., on May 1, 1990. For the EPS process, a matrix having a multiplicity of openings into which the phosphors are deposited also is provided on the interior surface of the faceplate panel.
In the BPS process described in the above-referenced patent, dry-powdered, triboelectrically charged, color-emitting phosphors are deposited on a suitably prepared, electrostatically chargeable photoreceptor formed on the matrix. The photoreceptor comprises an organic photoconductive (OPC) layer overlying, preferably, an organic conductive (OC) layer, both of which are deposited, serially, on an interior surface of the CRT faceplate panel. Initially, the OPC layer of the photoreceptor is electrostatically charged to a positive potential using a suitable corona discharge apparatus. Then, selected areas of the photoreceptor are exposed to visible light to discharge those areas without substantially affecting the charge on the unexposed areas. Next, triboelectrically positively charged, green-emitting phosphor is deposited, by reversal development, onto the discharged areas of the photoreceptor to form phosphor lines of substantially uniform width and screen weight. The photoreceptor and the green-emitting phosphor are recharged by the corona discharged apparatus to impart an electrostatic potential thereon. It is desirable that the potential on the photoreceptor be of the same magnitude as that on the previously deposited green-emitting phosphor; however, it has been determined that the photoreceptor and the previously deposited phosphor do not necessarily charge to the same potential. In fact, the charge acceptance of the phosphors is different from the charge acceptance of the photoreceptor. Consequently, when different selected areas of the photoreceptor are exposed to visible light to discharge those areas to facilitate reversal development thereof with triboelectrically positively charged blue-emitting phosphor, the previously deposited green-emitting phosphor retains a positive charge of a different magnitude than the positive charge on the unexposed portion of the photoreceptor. This charge difference influences the deposition of the positively charged blue-emitting phosphor, causing it to be more strongly repelled by the charge on the previously deposited green-emitting phosphor, than by the charge on the unexposed areas of the photoreceptor. This stronger repelling effect of the green-emitting phosphor causes the blue-emitting phosphor to be slightly displaced from its desired location on the photoreceptor. The repelling effect of the prior deposited phosphor is small, nevertheless, the width of the blue-emitting phosphor lines is narrower than desired. The photoreceptor and the green- and blue-emitting phosphors are recharged by the corona discharge apparatus to impart a positive electrostatic charge thereon to facilitate the deposition of the red-emitting phosphor. The photoreceptor and the green- and blue-emitting phosphors each have a positive charge of a different magnitude thereon. Selected areas of the photoreceptor are discharged by exposure to light, while the charge on the unexposed areas of the photoreceptor and on the prior deposited phosphor is unaffected. The triboelectrically positively charged red-emitting phosphor is more strongly repelled by one of the prior deposited phosphors than by the other, in this instance the green-emitting phosphor, causing misregister of the red phosphor as it is deposited onto the discharged areas of the photoreceptor. Again, the effect is small; however, the red phosphor is slightly displaced from its desired location on the photoreceptor, resulting in a narrowing of the red phosphor lines. In addition to the effect of the prior deposited phosphors on latter deposited phosphors, the substantially uniformly charged OPC layer overlying the border of the matrix surrounding the useful screen area, particularly along the sides of the screen at the ends of the major axis, i.e., at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, also exerts an effect which distorts the last phosphors lines on each side of the screen.
In order to manufacture a screen by the EPS process without the above described misregister and last line distortions, it is necessary that compensation for the repulsive effect of the matrix and the previously deposited, electrostatically-charged phosphors be provided.

Method of electrophotographic phosphor deposition


An information processing apparatus includes a memory, circuitry coupled to the memory, the circuitry configured to determine whether or not a binary search method is used by using a predetermined reference to determine the number of wireless access points, and search for a minimum number of access points satisfying communication requirements in a binary search loop in a case where it is determined that the binary search method is used and search for the minimum number of access points satisfying the communication requirements by decreasing the number of access points by a predetermined number of units at a time in a case where it is not determined that the binary search method is used to search for an arrangement of the wireless access points with respect to the searched minimum number of access points.

It is desirable that wireless access points may be automatically computed so as to satisfy communication requirements of users. In view of the above, a technology for automatically computing the wireless access points has been disclosed.
For example, as related art, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication Nos. 2000-333239, 2016-115956, and 2007-235831, and the like are disclosed.
In order that the wireless access points are automatically computed, when an arrangement of requisite minimum access points is to be searched for while the number of access points is decreased, there is a fear that computing time becomes very long. On the other hand, when the requisite minimum access points are to be searched for by using a binary search method, there is a fear that a highly accurate arrangement is not obtained.
In view of the above-mentioned circumstances, it is desirable to provide an information processing apparatus that may efficiently obtain an arrangement of requisite minimum access points, an arrangement computing method for wireless access points, and an arrangement computing program for the wireless access points.

Information processing apparatus, arrangement computing method for wireless access points, and storage medium


There is provided a material that exhibits high solvent resistance after the formation of a cured film, excellent photo-alignment capability relative to a polymerizable liquid crystal, satisfactory heat resistance, and high transparency and moreover, that can be dissolved in a glycol-based solvent, a ketone-based solvent, or a lactic acid ester-based solvent that is applicable to the production of an overcoating of a color filter, during the formation of the cured film. A composition for forming thermoset film having photo-alignment properties, including: a component (A) that is a compound having a photo-aligning group and a hydroxy group; and a component (B) that is a silicon isocyanate compound. A liquid crystal alignment layer formed from the thermoset film forming composition, and an optical device with a retardation layer obtained by use of the thermoset film forming composition.

Generally, in an optical device such as a liquid crystal display element, an organic EL (electroluminescent) element, and a solid-state image sensor, in order to prevent the element surface from being exposed to a solvent or heat during the production process thereof, a protective film is provided. For the protective film, there are required not only having high adhesion with a substrate to be protected and having high solvent resistance, but also being excellent in performance such as heat resistance.
In addition, in the case where such a protective film is used as a protective film of a color filter used in a color liquid crystal display device or a solid-state image sensor, in order to maintain the transmittance of light transmitting a color filter, it is required that the protective film is a film having high transparency.
In recent years, cost reduction and weight reduction by introducing a retardation material into a cell of a liquid crystal display have been studied and as such a retardation material, there is generally used a material prepared by applying a polymerizable liquid crystal solution to a substrate to align and by photo-curing the resultant coating. For aligning the retardation material, an underlayer film thereof is necessary to be a material having alignment properties after the underlayer film has been subjected to a rubbing process or a polarized UV irradiation. Therefore, the retardation material is formed on a liquid crystal alignment layer film formed on an overcoating of a color filter (see FIG. 1A). If a film serving as both this liquid crystal alignment layer and the overcoating of the color filter (see FIG. 1B) can be formed, great advantages such as the reduction of the cost and the reduction of the number of the processes can be obtained, so that a material capable of serving as both the liquid crystal alignment layer and the overcoating is strongly desired.
Generally, for the overcoating of the color filter, an acrylic resin having high transparency is used. Then, for dissolving the acrylic resin, there are widely used a glycol-based solvent such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether and propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate; an ester solvent such as ethyl lactate and butyl lactate; and a ketone solvent such as cyclohexanone and methyl amyl ketone from the viewpoint of handling properties and coatability. With respect to the acrylic resin, there is taken a technique for enhancing heat resistance and solvent resistance of the acrylic resin by thermo-curing or photo-curing the acrylic resin (Patent Documents 1 and 2). However, although a conventional thermo-curable or photo-curable acrylic resin has appropriate transparency or solvent resistance, even when an overcoating formed from such an acrylic resin is subjected to a rubbing process or a polarized UV irradiation, satisfactory alignment properties cannot be exhibited.
For the liquid crystal alignment layer, a material containing a solvent-soluble polyimide or polyamic acid is usually used. It is disclosed that such a material is completely imidated by being postbaked, so that solvent resistance becomes imparted to the material and by being subjected to a rubbing process, the material becomes a material exhibiting satisfactory alignment properties (Patent Document 3).
It is disclosed that by irradiating an acrylic resin having in a side chain thereof, a photodimerized moiety such as a cinnamoyl group and a calcone group with polarized UV, satisfactory liquid crystal alignment properties can be exhibited (Patent Document 4).
Furthermore, there is disclosed a polyorganosiloxane in which a photoreactive group is bonded (Patent Document 5).

Composition for forming thermoset film having photo-alignment properties


A method and apparatus for placing a bladder output control device is disclosed in which a tool has a surface which receives the bladder output control device and holds it for accurate placement of the device on the body of a user. The tool includes an illumination device mounted internal to the tool and provides illumination used in placement of the bladder output control device. The tool further includes a mirrored surface to enable better visualization of where the bladder output control device is located relative to its target location during placement of the device on the body of the user.

The present invention relates to an applicator or placement device for use in placing a bladder output control device on the body of a user. The present invention particularly relates to an applicator used for placing a bladder output control device, such as in external incontinence device, on the urinary meatus of a female user. Further, the present invention also relates to a placement device used for placing a bladder output device, such as a urinary catheter, through the urinary meatus and into the bladder.
In the course of normal bodily activity, the bladder functions to cyclically store and evacuate urine and thereby effectuate the removal of liquid waste from the body. Although it is not uncommon for the human bladder to operate properly throughout the entire life of an individual, with increasing frequency, individuals are encountering a condition whereby the storage and release of urine is difficult to control with the desired success. Such a condition has been named urinary incontinence and is believed to be one of the most widespread and costly medical conditions prevailing in modem society.
The cause of urinary incontinence is found in the underlying conditions of the bladder or urinary sphincter muscles, which conditions may have varying degrees of complexity. For example, in women, urinary incontinence may be caused by multiple pregnancies, childbirth, and aging that causes a relaxation in the pelvic muscles, which in turn causes incontinence. On the other hand, other causes may include multiple sclerosis, stroke, and spinal cord injuries, all of which disrupt the nerves that control the muscles which control urine retention and evacuation.
Urinary incontinence may be temporary or chronic and there are several options for managing and treating the problem ranging from simply wearing an absorbent pad all the way to submitting to an invasive surgical procedure. Nearly every case of urinary incontinence, however, can be treated with substantial success. As such, it is somewhat surprising that of the approximately 13 million individuals in the United States alone that are suffering from urinary incontinence, less than half seek any medical attention, and fewer than one in ten afflicted individuals are actually treated.
One of the reasons that many instances of urinary incontinence go untreated is that the treatment may be obtrusive, embarrassing or simply inconvenient to the effected patient given the manageability of the condition. Another reason is likely due to costs and the ease with which a particular treatment may be obtained. Accordingly, there have been several previous attempts to arrive at a cost effective, unobtrusive treatment that is readily available to the user, particularly as such treatment relates to female incontinence.
Examples of such treatments may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,855 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,336,208 which each disclose a device for controlling urinary incontinence in a human female by way of a resilient pad configured to seal against and occlude the urinary meatus of the user. In both patents an adhesive is provided to seal the body of the device against the urinary meatus to hold urine in the bladder. The device is removed and discarded when the user must urinate. Then, after urination, a new device is applied.
Further examples may be found in International Application Nos. 96/39,989, 96/39,990 and 96/39,991, each of which disclose a female urinary incontinence device in the form of a urethral cap with a partially deformable body portion, a hand gripping portion and a body contacting surface. The body portion defines a chamber which allows for a vacuum seal when applied to the patient""s body. This device too is removed when the user urinates, at the completion of which the device is then reapplied.
Yet still further examples are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,056,687 and 6,200,261 which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into the present application. These devices are also applied to the body of a female user over the urinary meatus, however, since these devices incorporate an integral valve mechanism, the user need not replace the device with each occurrence of urination but need only open the valve at the time of urination and then close the valve after urination is complete.
Another condition commonly diagnosed in individuals and opposite to urinary incontinence is urinary retention. Urinary retention (whether acute or chronic) may be caused by either an outflow obstruction or poor bladder contractibility. In each case, the oufflow resistance exceeds the pressure generated by contraction of the detrusor muscle that, under normal functioning, pushes the urine out.
Urinary catheterization is a procedure commonly employed to treat and relieve urinary retention. The procedure involves passing a catheter through the urinary meatus and into the bladder. Once the catheter is in the bladder, the balloon is inflated to position and secure the catheter in place. The catheter is then connected to a urine collection bag for closed urinary drainage.
The above-described devices for treatment of urinary incontinence and urinary retention (and other similar products not specifically described) offer many advantages to potential users, including cost effectiveness, availability and convenience. However, it has been discovered that one obstacle or disadvantage to such devices is the potential difficulty encountered in correctly placing and applying such devices to the female body. The location of the urinary meatus is oftentimes very difficult for a user of the device to visualize without assistance, which, in turn, leads to difficulty in placing the incontinence device at the precise location over the urinary meatus, necessary to ensure proper functioning of the device. Specifically for cases involving urinary incontinence, this difficulty is increased if the user is fully clothed and finds herself needing to place the device in the confines of a public restroom facility.
In view of the above, it is apparent that there is a need to provide assistance to the user of bladder output control devices such as those described above that ensures the proper operation of the device and thereby successfully treats the incontinence and retention. Such assistance includes providing better visualization to the user without increasing the effort already required to apply the device. It further includes ensuring that the placement task can be achieved within limited space constraints.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a placement device that addresses the obstacles and disadvantages associated with the consistent and reliable placement of bladder output control device on the body.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a placement device that enables a user to easily visualize the site at which the bladder output device must be placed in order to ensure proper operation of the device.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a placement device that enables the user to place an external incontinence device on the body within the restricted confines of a bathroom facility such as a public toilet stall.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a placement device that is economical to produce and which is readily accessible to potential users.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a placement device that may be used without the assistance of medical care personnel.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a placement device that enables the user to place a catheter through the urinary meatus to the bladder for relief of acute or chronic urine retention.
These and other objects not specifically enumerated herein are believed to be addressed by the present invention which contemplates a device for placement of an external incontinence device which has at least a handle and a surface fixed to the handle which receives the external incontinence device. An illumination device is also included and is mounted on the handle providing illumination at the aforesaid surface.
The present invention further contemplates a tool for placement of an external incontinence device which includes a handle portion for gripping the tool and a flange extending from the handle portion. The flange has a surface for holding the external incontinence device. Further, a compartment is disposed in at least the handle portion for housing an illumination device and the illumination device is positioned in the compartment so as to provide illumination at the surface for holding the external continence device.
The present invention further contemplates a tool for placement of a catheter which includes a handle portion for gripping the tool and a flange extending from the handle portion. The flange has an opening for holding the catheter. Further, a compartment is disposed in at least the handle portion for housing an illumination device and the illumination device is positioned in the compartment so as to provide illumination at the surface adjacent to the distal end of the catheter.
The present invention also contemplates a method of placing an external incontinence device on the body of a user which may includes the steps of holding a handle of a placement tool wherein the handle has a surface for receiving the external incontinence device and then placing the external incontinence device on the surface. The next steps may include directing the external incontinence device toward a urinary meatus of a user and then activating an illumination device mounted on the placement tool either prior to or after the directing step whereby the activation provides illumination at the surface. The following step would likely include visualizing a location of the external incontinence device relative to the urinary meatus and then placing the external incontinence device over the urinary meatus. The final steps would likely include moving the external incontinence device into contact with the body, and then withdrawing the placement tool from the body.
The present invention also contemplates a method of placing a catheter in the body of a user which may includes the steps of holding a handle of a placement tool wherein the handle has a flange with an opening for receiving the catheter and then placing the catheter into the opening. The next steps may include directing the catheter toward a urinary meatus of a user and then activating an illumination device mounted on the placement tool either prior to or after the directing step whereby the activation provides illumination at the surface. The following step would likely include visualizing a location of the catheter relative to the urinary meatus and then directing the catheter through the urinary meatus. The final steps would likely include moving and securing the catheter into the bladder, and then withdrawing the placement tool from the body.

Method and apparatus for placement of a bladder output control device


A hybrid position sensor for determining the position of a hybrid target includes a main transducer for obtaining a first signal indicative for a position of the hybrid target within a first range and with a first resolution using a first or second technology; a support transducer for obtaining a second signal indicative for the position of the hybrid target within a second range and with a second resolution using the second technology if the main transducer is using the first technology and vice versa, wherein the first range is smaller than the second and the first resolution is higher than the second, and wherein the first technology is magnet based and the second technology is an inductive technology; a combiner for combining the obtained first signal and second signal to determine the position of the hybrid target.

Extending the range of a position sensor is often at the expense of a reduced signal to noise ratio. This reduced signal to noise ratio may for example be caused by a reduced immunity of the position sensor to stray-fields.
For example in the field of rotation sensors, sensors which have a 360° range are sub-optimal. Both magnetic based position sensors, as well as inductive based position sensors suffer from a degraded accuracy when extending the range of the sensor.
Compared to inductive sensors limited to a 120° range, the electrical errors of an inductive sensor operating at a 360° range will be amplified with a factor 3. In addition, the mechanical errors are also magnified, especially the tilt. Parasitic sensitivity can for example reach 2° per degree of tilt. Typical 360° capable inductive sensors, which are usually based on half-moon targets suffer from large errors linked to rotational axis tilt.
Also, for differential stray-field immune magnetic position sensors the signal amplitude is degrading and the parasitic sensitivity to off-axis is increasing with an increasing angular range of the sensor.
Position sensors may for example be applied in devices for steering angle and BLDC motor control. The simplest configuration is a six-phase motor with magnetized one-pole-pair rotor. The six-coils in the stator are driven by three-phase signals and their inverse. In that configuration position sensing of the rotor over the full 360° range is needed.
Compared to existing 360° position sensors the low-range alternatives covering only 120° or 180° offer a significantly improved accuracy. This is especially the case for existing stray-field immune solutions. Such position sensors are designed for rejecting low-frequency stray fields.
In view of different application requirements, there is, therefore, a need for extending the range of position sensors. Preferably this should be achieved without significantly decreasing the signal to noise ratio.


An electrorefining cell permits increased electrolyte flow rates while maintaining the slime layer at the bottom of the cell and on the anode faces substantially intact. The cell includes an inlet manifold located near the bottom of the cell and having a plurality of discharge orifices for the electrolyte solution. An inlet baffle shrouds the discharge orifices to regulate and direct the flow of electrolyte solution within the cell. The inlet baffle and the cell wall form an elongated slot that resides beneath the surface of the electrolyte solution. An analogous configuration is employed for electrolyte discharge to enable relatively high electrolyte flow into and out of the cell. The specific shape, size, and location of the inlet baffle and an outlet baffle may be selected to optimize the electrolyte flow characteristics of the cell.

Methods and apparatus for extracting metals from mined ore are generally well known. Metallurgical processes have been developed which, through a series of concentration steps, produce substantially pure metal suitable for use in final applications. For instance, copper ore typically contains minerals comprised of copper, sulfur, iron and oxygen, with the total content of copper rarely exceeding 5%. Through a series of metallurgical processes, high purity copper (99.997% and higher) is produced. The final process employed in this series is eletrorefining, in which a relatively impure copper anode is dissolved into an aqueous electrolyte through the application of electrical current. The dissolved copper is then deposited onto another surface to form high purity copper cathode. The tank in which this occurs is commonly referred to as an electrorefining cell.
Mature electrorefining techniques have emerged to meet the demand for large volumes of highly pure metals, particularly copper. In a typical electrorefining cell, a plurality of "impure" (e.g. 99.6%) copper anodes are interleaved among respective cathode plates upon which high purity copper is deposited. The impurities in the anode typically include, inter alia, gold, silver, selenium, tellurium, lead, bismuth, nickel, arsenic as well as mold release agents used to facilitate the removal of anodes from molds at the conclusion of the casting process.
An aqueous electrolyte fills and flows through the cell while a voltage differential is applied to the anodes vis-a-vis the cathodes. Typical aqueous electrolytes contain plating reagents to ensure a flat smooth cathode deposit, an important measure of cathode quality. In the process, insoluble anode constituents form a layer on the anode face; as refining progresses, some of this material then falls off and generally sinks to the bottom of the refining cell. Soluble species dissolved from the anode either stay in solution in the aqueous electrolyte or form precipitates which adhere to the layer on the anode face, or sink to the bottom of the cell. The solids, comprised of insoluble anode constituents and precipitated compounds are commonly referred to as "slimes" and are typically collected as a slurry in the bottom of the cells.
By carefully controlling the various process parameters associated with the electrorefining process, extremely pure metal cathodes may be obtained. The cost associated with constructing and operating large electrorefining facilities are, however, substantial. Hence, it is desirable to maximize the rate of production of high quality cathodes from an electrorefining facility.
The rate at which copper is dissolved from anodes and replated at the cathodes is directly proportional to the amount of electrical current applied to the cathodes and anodes in the electrorefining cell. The intensity of the applied current is commonly expressed as current density, typically having units of amperes per square meter. Hence, the cathode production rate from any given electrorefining cell may be increased by increasing the current density. However, there are practical limitations to increasing current density; lower quality cathodes are produced if the current density is increased beyond the capabilities of the technology employed.
The quality of the cathode is a function of, inter alia, the concentration of reagents in the electrolyte filling the volume between each anode and cathode. More particularly, it is desirable to ensure a substantially uniform reagent concentration throughout the entire electrolyte volume surrounding the anodes and cathodes within an electrorefining cell. The formation of a dense, smooth and flat cathode deposit is required to maintain the quality of the cathode and the efficiency of the process. Efficiency is lost when an irregular deposit is formed that causes the anode and cathode to make physical contact. When this occurs, current flows through the point of contact rather than causing the dissolution of anode and deposition of cathode. The energy consumed by this short circuit is wasted as heat in the electrolyte.
The temperature of the electrolyte within the cell also tends to influence the quality of the finished cathodes. Electrolyte is typically heated to 57.degree.-68.degree. C. to improve, inter alia, the conductivity of the electrolyte, the rate at which reactions occur in the cell and the viscosity of the electrolyte. Operating at increased temperatures generally has a salutary effect on the quality of the cathode produced and can also reduce the unit cost of production. Ideally, the temperature of the electrolyte would be uniform throughout the electrorefining cell, however, common electrolyte flow rates and delivery methods are inadequate and the temperature of the electrolyte can be several degrees different from one location to another within the cell. The consumption of reagents is also related to the temperature of the electrolyte; some of the reagents used tend to degrade and become less effective more rapidly at higher temperatures. Rapid degradation coupled with non-uniform distribution of electrolyte tends to result in lower quality cathode.
The purity of cathode is also a function of the amount of slimes occluded in the cathode during refining. Slimes occlusion occurs when particles of slimes that have broken off from the layer surrounding the dissolving anode become suspended in the electrolyte and migrate to the surface of the cathode. Copper is plated around and over the particle, thereby effectively incorporating the impurities comprising the particle into the mass of the cathode. Preferably these impurities sink to the bottom of the cell, thereby removing them from the active plating region and eliminating the possibility of them becoming incorporated into the cathode deposit.
The profitability of an electrorefining facility is inter alia, a function of the production rate of the facility, i.e., the rate at which pure cathodes are produced. As stated above, the rate of deposition of cathode is essentially a linear function of the amount of current applied to the anodes and cathodes. However, in order to ensure high cathode quality, substantially uniform reagent distribution and substantially uniform temperature must be maintained within the cell. Both of these parameters require a sufficient flow rate of electrolyte through the system to ensure adequate and uniform supply of plating reagents to the entire active area of each cathode, while reducing the residence time of the electrolyte within the cell and, hence, reducing the temperature drop of the electrolyte while resident in the cell.
Accordingly, it can be said that the intensity of the current density which may be properly applied to the electrodes depends on the ability of the system to provide a sufficient electrolyte flow rate and uniform reagent and temperature distribution throughout the cell to maintain high quality cathode production. However, the electrolyte flow rate may typically not be increased to the point where the slimes are disturbed; if the slime at the bottom of the cell or on the anode face is disrupted, the impurities which comprise the slime may be plated onto the cathode, dramatically compromising cathode quality.
A flow rate on the order of 5 to 10 gallons per minute (GPM) has evolved as the standard in the electrorefining industry. This flow rate is generally viewed as providing acceptable reaction times and adequate reagent delivery, while not unnecessarily disturbing the slime. In this regard, it is noted that flow rates in known electrowinning processes often approach 50 to 60 GPM, inasmuch as electrowinning processes typically do not involve the formation and accumulation of slimes; hence, turbulent, high velocity aqueous flow in electrowinning systems does not produce the same quality problems typically encountered in an electrorefining context.
Presently known electrorefining systems typically involve an electrolyte inlet port disposed at one end of the refining cell and an electrolyte discharge port disposed at the opposite end of the refining cell. These ports are typically configured as orifices of circular cross-section, of sufficiently large diameter to permit gravity pumping of the solution through the cell along a flow path generally perpendicular to the planes of the electrodes. By maintaining flows in the range of 5 to 10 GPM, the slime is kept from suspending in the electrolyte, resulting in substantially pure cathodes. However, inasmuch as the magnitude of the current density which drives the reaction is limited by the electrolyte flow rate, aggregate cathode production remains limited by the rate at which electrolyte may be uniformly pumped through the system.
A technique for enhancing the production of highly pure cathodes is thus needed which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art.

Methods and apparatus for enhancing electrorefining intensity and efficiency


An area optimized edge-triggered flip-flop for high-speed memory dominated design is provided. The area optimized flip-flop also provides a bypass mode. The bypass mode allows the area optimized flip-flops to act like a buffer. This allows the area optimized flip-flop to provide the basic functionality of a flip-flop during standard operation, but also allows the area optimized flip-flop to act like a buffer when desirable, such as during modes of testing of the design. The area optimized flip-flop provides most of the functionality of a typical flip-flop, while reducing the total area and power consumption of the design.

This invention relates to high-speed, register dominated integrated circuit designs. More particularly, this invention relates to an area optimized flip-flop for reducing the total area of the integrated circuit design.
In high-speed, register dominated integrated circuit designs, flip-flops make up a significant portion of the total design area. Thus, optimizing or reducing the area of flip-flops in these designs, may significantly improve the designs by reducing their total area and power consumption.
Other reduced area flip-flops have been proposed, but many of these reduced area flip-flops limit the testability of integrated circuit designs. For example, scan chain testing is one commonly used test technique. A group of flip-flops within an integrated circuit design may be interconnected to form a scan chain. Multiplexers may be used at the input of these flip-flops to alternatively receive ordinary inputs or scan chain inputs. When a scan chain is formed with a group of flip-flops, a test pattern or vector may be shifted into the scan chain. After the test vector is shifted into the scan chain, the test vector may be allowed to propagate through select sequential and combinatorial elements of the design. The result may be shifted out of the chip through the same or a different scan chain and may be analyzed to detect errors in a chip fabricated from the design. The scan chain test is only one example of a design-for-test (DFT) technique, whereby an integrated circuit may be designed specifically to facilitate future testing of the finished chip.
In view of the forgoing, it would be desirable to be able to provide an area optimized edge-triggered flip-flop for high speed memory dominated designs that can reduce the total area of the design without significantly limiting the testability of the design. In particular, it would be desirable to provide an area optimized edge-triggered flip-flop for high speed memory dominated design that may be used in conjunction with a scan chain test.

Area optimized edge-triggered flip-flop for high-speed memory dominated design


The present invention relates to a parallel IMS and MS measurement method where a sample flow is split and delivered to an IMS and a MS in parallel. A parallel acquisition MS/IMS method is used to supplement LC-MS and or MS data by using a synchronized MS/IMS acquisition.

Most analytical instruments have been developed to be used as individual units for analysis of a sample. Some of these individual units have been combined to give more information from a single sample run. These combined individual units still work as separate analysis tools in that a full run or spectrum is taken for each unit, but the first unit can transfer separated components of the sample to the next unit. Effectively using multiple analytical instruments as a hyphenated instrument allows analysis of a sample based on multiple analytical principles with limited sample usage and instrument run time.
The present invention relates to improving the ability of a hyphenated instrument to analyze a sample benefiting from having the first instrument's analysis of the same sample. For example, a fast switching mechanism can be used as the interface between an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) and a mass spectrometer (MS) such that the IMS spectrum obtained outside the vacuum chamber is converted into a timing diagram that controls the vacuum inlet's size dynamically during analysis of a neutral and/or charged chemical and/or biological species so that a smaller pumping system can be used.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method for gaining ion mobility information from the same sample component while the other information, such as, ion mass, is measured using an mass spectrometer; the parallel operation of ion mobility spectrometer and mass spectrometer configuration offers similar information as the prior art tandem ion mobility mass spectrometer.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Parallel ion mass and ion mobility analysis


The present application is directed an optical gyroscope. The optical gyroscope includes a substrate including a first and a second waveguide disposed thereon. One or both of the waveguides may be doped with a rare-earth material. A crossing element is disposed between the first and the second waveguides to form a substantially orthogonal connection therebetween. The application is also directed to a system including an optical gyroscope. The application is further directed to a method of observing characteristics of the optical gyroscope.

1. Field
This application is generally related to an optical gyroscope apparatus and a system employing an optical gyroscope apparatus. The application is also related to a method for observing sensitivity of an optical gyroscope.
2. Related Art
Over the last decade, efforts have been made to improve the sensitivity of optical gyroscopes. Gyroscopes are devices for measuring rotation rates or changes in angular velocity about an axis of rotation. Rotation about the axis normal to the waveguide either slows or speeds the propagation of light through the waveguide, resulting in a measurable shift in phase of the light. Namely, a loop of the optical waveguide is employed in view of principles of the Sagnac effect to measure the interference of counter-propagating waves therein. Interference is affected when the plane of the loop is tilted. That is, one wave "experiences" a shorter optical path thereby changing the interference with the other wave.
The sensitivity of an interferometric gyroscope depends upon its length L and loop diameter D as described in equation (1) below. Namely large L and D values directly improve performance by reducing the minimum detectable change in angular rotation δΩ. An interferometric gyroscope is operated with a source at center wavelength λ0 and power P of photon energy hν that is detected by a photodetector with quantum efficiency h and integration time t.
                    δΩ        =                                            c                                                                                λ                0                                                    2                            LD                                                                    (                              hv                                  P                                                                                ητ                                            )                                      1              /              2                                                                                in                                                              rad                                /                              s                                    (        1        )
In view of equation (1), conventional gyroscopes have lengths tens of meters in length to reduce angular rotation. This length may even extend in excess of 1 kilometer based upon the desired sensitivity of the gyroscope. Accordingly, conventional gyroscopes tend to be bulky and expensive.
Generally, optical waveguides in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are fabricated by lithographically patterning a substrate upon which one or more optical components are integrated. The substrate is generally made of silicon and may include a silica layer formed through thermal or native oxidation. However, silicon and silicon dioxide waveguides exhibit very high background losses of about 1 dB/cm. In practice, this limits the sensitivity of the gyroscope device.
What is desired in the art is a waveguide-based gyroscope apparatus exhibiting improved sensitivity characteristics.
What is also desired in the art is a waveguide-based gyroscope that is compact.
What is further desired in the art is a waveguide-based gyroscope that is inexpensive to commercially manufacture.


The invention provides a laser shock processing method for small-hole component with different thickness. In this method, different process parameters are adopted for laser shock processing of small hole members with different thicknesses, and the empirical formula was obtained by statistical analysis of the experimental results, and the empirical formula

The small hole member is a typical stress concentration detail, which is easy to generate fatigue crack under fatigue load, affecting the performance and service life of key structures. Many mechanical members need to be drilled, especially aircraft members which need thousands of holes and become the weak link of the members, and these members are different in thickness. Conventional mechanical strengthening methods such as mechanic shot peening, extrusion strengthening, etc. are limited by the aperture, and it is not easy to strengthen small holes of 3 mm or less in diameter. Laser shock processing is an advanced material strengthening method, which has the advantages of non-contact, no deformation, no thermal influence zone and significant strengthening effect, etc. However, it is a major difficulty in this field that how to control laser parameters to ensure the small hole members with different materials and different thicknesses achieving good strengthening effect after laser shock processing.
Patent CN102517413 describes a small hole strengthening method, which is carried out by first using a large spot and high energy laser to impact-enhance the surface of the small hole member to be drilled, so that the small hole member generates residual compressive stress deeper in the thickness direction. Then, using a small spot and small energy laser to perform secondary laser shock processing on the surface around the small hole member to be drilled, so that the surface of the small hole member has a good residual compressive stress, and finally drilling. This method avoids the problem that the quality of the end face of the hole is not high after laser shock processing after drilling the hole first, but the method does not achieve the best strengthening state of the holes of various thicknesses and require high power laser equipment.
Patent CN103014276 describes a small hole strengthening method using a combination of a cone indenter and a laser. One side is laser-impacted, and the corresponding side of the laser impact is pressed with a special cone indenter, and finally a hole is drilled at the pressed position. Although the method makes the hole wall of 4 mm-6 mm plate thickness a compressive stress state, the cone pressing process easily deforms the plate, and the surface quality of the cone pressing surface cannot be guaranteed. The residual compressive stress of the hole wall with different plate thickness is unstable, especially the quality of thick plate processing is difficult to guarantee.
Patent application No. 200610096476.5, the invention name is a method and device for strengthening the hole wall based on the laser shock wave technology, and it is proposed to insert a reflection cone into the aperture of the apertured hole member and apply the upper energy absorption layer and the constrained layer on the cone surface of the reflection cone, and then the hole wall is subjected to laser shock processing. Compared with the mechanic shot peening, the method is not limited by the pore size, and can make the stress of the strengthening layer uniform. However, since it is first drilled and then strengthened, the laser will cause certain damage to the small hole, thereby affecting the precision of the hole and the wall of the hole surface quality.

Laser shock strengthening method for small-hole components with different thicknesses

Abstract: I   0    =     A          e         t     B                      σ     s     2        Z      is the relationship between power density and thickness of small hole members. According to this formula, the power density of laser shock strengthening of orifice member with different thickness is determined, and the selection and determination method of process parameters related to this is put forward. According to this method, reasonable residual compressive stress distribution can be obtained after laser shock strengthening with appropriate technology, and good strengthening effect can be achieved.


A sleigh-type rocking chair includes a pair of armrest/stile/riser assemblies joined to a pair of rocker/leg assemblies, a seat joined by mortise and tenon joints to the armrest/stile/riser assemblies, a front stretcher and a rear stretcher joined to each of the rocker/leg assemblies, a crest rail joined to an upper portion of the armrest/stile/riser assemblies, and a plurality of spindles joined to and extending upwardly from the seat and joined on the other end of the spindle to the crest rail. The assemblies, stretchers, seat, spindles and crest rail are preferably formed using a computer numerical control cutting device.

The length of time required to manufacture a sleigh-type rocking chair (trade name SleighRocker™) is excessive. Current production methods absorb over 100 man-hours per chair, thereby making it expensive. The underlying problem is the method used to form the wood into the curved pieces which define the lines of the chair, making it resemble a sleigh. Thin wood pieces are steam-bent, formed and laminated to create the shape of the sleigh. By refining this method of parts formation to the extent that the parts become mass producible, the potential exists to greatly reduce the amount of time required to produce a chair, thereby making the chair far less expensive. This labor and subsequent price reduction has the added effect of exponentially broadening the potential customer base by being able to offer the chairs at a price that is affordable to a larger number of people.
Previous attempts to streamline the production of the sleigh-forming parts include the following approach:                (1) Formation of the parts from solid stock by making precise cuts with a band saw; multiple pieces can be stacked and cut all at once, with the only limitations being the available cutting height of the band saw, and the skill level of the person operating it. This approach creates inherent weak points in pieces where the curvature crosses weaker parts in the grain structure of solid stock wood. This method produces parts more quickly, but the parts it produces are far weaker structurally, and present the potential for liabilities in cases of broken chairs. It also requires individual joints to be cut for each connecting piece.        (2) Formation of the parts by rough-cutting on a band saw, finishing with a router template. This approach is a faster method of producing the structurally inferior parts described above with respect to approach (1) above.        (3) The combination of multiple parts into a single larger part, laminating thin pieces of wood that have been steamed and then promptly bent to form to the sleigh-defining shapes. This approach does not overcome the shortcomings of prior methods because, while it reduces the number of functional parts needed for a single chair, the parts that are needed are more complex to produce with adequate accuracy and structural integrity. The result is a structurally strong chair that has fewer parts and necessary glue joints, but the process of making both the parts and the joints is very time-consuming. This method also has an inherent waste factor of fifty percent or more of the raw wood material, because ⅛″ is consumed by the kerf (blade width) of every strip that is cut.        (4) The use of multiple steam boxes, racks and forms. This approach does not overcome the shortcomings of prior methods because the pieces still require over a week to steam, form, dry, glue and then shape by hand. Another shortcoming of this method is the sheer number of individual thin pieces that must be cut, steamed, bent, dried and finally laminated to form a single chair part. This approach is also deficient in that it requires an extra laborer for every steam box in operation; that laborer must be highly skilled in the art of steam-bending.
A computer numerical control (CNC) router, which can serve as an automated wood cutting machine, makes precise cuts that are programmed by computer-aided design (CAD) software. CNC routers are capable of cutting on x-, y- and z-axes. The router motor itself travels on a system of rails to maneuver it about the object being cut. The most sophisticated models are capable of changing cutting tools automatically, when required by the object being produced. By employing computer numerical control wood milling machinery, the component parts that make up the present sleigh-type rocking chair can be accurately cut in rapid succession from pre-laminated stock.
The present sleigh-type rocking chair design and method of manufacture overcomes many shortcomings of prior designs and manufacturing methods.

Sleigh-type rocking chair and method of manufacture


A closing tool assembly for a clip machine, in particular for a sausage clipping machine, containing: at least one first and at least one second tool holder, which can be moved to positions opposite each other and reversibly towards each other, and each of which supports at least one first and at least one second closing tool, wherein the first and second closing tool are each replaceably held on the first and the second tool holder by means of a fixing device. A linear guide contour is further provided on at least one of the two tool holders, and a linear guide counter-contour complementary thereto is further provided on the associated closing tool.

An example of closing tools for a sausage clipping machine is disclosed in European patent application 1 140 633, (U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,554, which is incorporated herein by reference) for example. A lower die has a trough-like recess embodied such that the base of a clip to be applied and an adjoining portion of the legs of said clip are supported. In addition, an upper die has a concave recess on the side facing the lower die, in which recess the ends of the clip are bent and pressed together when the lower die and the upper die are brought together.
However, a disadvantage can arise with this very established technique when the closing tools have to be replaced, be it to replace worn parts or to adapt the clip machine to other packaging sizes. This is because, in the known closing tool assembly, the closing tools are fixed to the tool holders by means of screws and the like. When changing the closing tools, it is therefore necessary to loosen these screws, to pull the closing tools out of the retaining elements on the tool holders, then to insert the new tools into the retaining elements on the tool holders and finally to insert the screws into the screw holes on the tool holder and/or the closing tools. In doing so, it is essential to ensure that the closing tools are correctly aligned so that a clip is placed and closed with the desired precision. When performing this work, it is necessary that appropriate working tools are kept ready at the clip machine. Furthermore, when changing the closing tools, work must be carried out with these working tools in a relatively cramped space in the region of the closing tool assembly. The tools required for this work are not usually rustproof.