The present invention is an interposer for electrically coupling a microcard with a mother board. The interposer includes a frame which is interposed between the microcard and the motherboard, electrically connecting the microcard and the motherboard by means of plated via-holes. The substrate is organic and a plurality of chips are mounted on both sides of the substrate. On the opposite sides of the interposer are pluralities of metal pads which are coupled by metallized via holes, the pads in turn connected to the chips, thereby coupling chips or cards on one side of the interposer to chips or boards on the other side. Electrical connection between the chips on the top side of the substrate and the metal pads on the lower side of the substrate is provided by the metallized via holes.

The present invention relates to microcards and more particularly to a method and system for connecting microcards to motherboards by means of an interposer.
A microcard is an electronic card assembly generally characterized by small size (e.g. PCMCIA or credit card size or less) and is typically densely populated with a variety of miniaturized SMT components like BGA (Ball Grid Array) modules, CSPs (Chip Scale Packages), Flip Chip or wire bond DCA (Direct Chip Attach) modules. A microcard may be populated on one or both sides of its substrate (board). FIG. 1 shows an example of a known microcard. Microcard 101 has a substrate 103 and a plurality of active devices 105 on both sides of substrate 103. Interconnection of the microcard to the xe2x80x9cexternal worldxe2x80x9d (e.g. motherboard 107 as shown in FIG. 1 or higher level assembly level) is obtained through connector 109a (male or female type) which fits into a corresponding connector 109b on motherboard 107. The connector hosts a plurality of metallic pins that are put in mechanical contact with the corresponding pins in the matched connector placed on the motherboard or other assembly.
In some of the recent electronic applications (e.g. microcards for mobile phones), the size of the electronic modules is becoming more and more critical. Many functions must be implemented in a very limited space, so that many active devices should be placed on a single module. As mentioned above, to increase the usable surface area on a substrate, it is known to use both faces of the substrate to mount active devices. For this reason a xe2x80x9cverticalxe2x80x9d mounting as described with reference to FIG. 1 has been the usual mounting method. However, it is evident that this method, with microcard 101 mounted perpendicularly with respect to motherboard 107, provides a relatively poor solution when space saving (e.g., of the overall height of the assembly) is an important requirement. Another drawback of this package is that handling by automatic pick and place systems, the usual machinery for assembling such components, is relatively difficult.
It is known to mount a microcard having electronic components on both sides, like the one shown in FIG. 1, by means of so-called xe2x80x9cgull wingxe2x80x9d connections. As shown in FIG. 2, using this method, the microcard, with its attached components can be mounted parallel to the motherboard, allowing the resulting package (usually called Flat Pack MCM) to be picked and placed by automatic handling machines. However the following drawbacks are introduced by these gull-wing connections: (1) the resulting package is very delicate from a mechanical point of view, due to the leads which can easily bend; (2) maximum size of the usable substrate is limited by intrinsic warpage of organic composites, which causes problems of lack of coplanarity; and (3) the assembly of peripheral gull-wing leads requires dedicated equipment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique which alleviates the above drawbacks.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an interposer for electrically connecting an electronic card (a/k/a microcard) with a motherboard, the interposer including a first plurality of metal pads located on a first side of the interposer and electrically connectable to the circuit traces on the electronic card, a second plurality of metal pads located on a second side of the interposer and electrically connectable to the circuit traces on the circuit board, and a plurality of plated via holes therein extending from the first side of the interposer to the second side of the interposer for electrically connecting selected ones of the first plurality of metal pads to selected ones of the second plurality of metal pads when the interposer is positioned substantially between the electronic card and the circuit board to thereby electrically connect the electronic card to the circuit board.
As defined herein, the present invention allows the use of low cost, commonly available, base organic material to connect a microcard with a mother board, while realizing a stable operating assembly.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical assembly including an electronic card having circuit traces thereon, a circuit board having circuit traces thereon, and an interposer positioned between the electronic card and the circuit board and electrically connecting selected ones of the circuit traces of the electronic card to selected ones of the circuit traces of the circuit board, the interposer including a first plurality of metal pads located on a first side of the interposer and electrically connected to the circuit traces on the electronic card, a second plurality of metal pads located on a second side of the interposer and electrically connected to the circuit traces on the circuit board, and a plurality of plated via holes therein extending from the first side of the interposer to the second side of the interposer for electrically connecting selected ones of the first plurality of metal pads to selected ones of the second plurality of metal pads when the interposer is positioned between the electronic card and the circuit board to thereby electrically connect the electronic card to the circuit board.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of connecting circuitry on an electronic card to circuitry on a circuit board including the steps of positioning the circuit board having the circuit traces thereon in a first position, positioning an electronic card having the circuit traces thereon in a second position spacedly located from the first position of the circuit board, positioning an interposer between the electronic card and the circuit board, the interposer including a first plurality of metal pads on a first side thereof and a second plurality of metal pads on a second side thereof opposite the first side, the interposer further including a plurality of plated via holes therein electrically connecting selected ones of the first plurality of metal pads to selected ones of the second plurality of metal pads, and electrically coupling selected ones of the plurality of plated via holes to selected ones of the circuit traces on the electronic card to selected ones of the circuit traces on the circuit board.

Interposer for connecting two substrates and resulting assembly

International Business Machines Corporation


A roofing element for mounting on a sloped roof includes a formed panel. In one embodiment the length is at least as great as the width, the width being cross-wise relative, the length running down the slope. The formed panel has a relief pattern that has a grain direction aligned with the length. The width may be less than one arm's length. The relief element simulates a wooden shake or a slate tile. The sheet metal panel has top, bottom, and first and second side edge margins, The top edge margin has a bulge at one end, and a matingly sized double cuff at the other end. The next adjacent side has a relieved upper end flange that has a transition from a flat flange to a narrower upstanding curved wall defining the lower edge of an accommodation permitting the double cuff of one panel to seat in the mating accommodation of the next adjacent panel. When installed, the accommodation and the double cuff are overlain by the bottom edge margin flange of the next up-slope tile.

In North America asphalt shingles are used as the surface elements of many inclined roofs. However other materials are known, such as wooden shakes, such as cedar shakes; clay tiles; and metal roofing panels. In agricultural or industrial applications, relatively long, corrugated metal sheets of constant section, or hat sections have been long known. However, metal or plastic roofing tiles may also be provided in smaller sections, those sections having a stamped contour or texture. The stamped texture may be intended to simulate the pattern of, for example, asphalt shingles. Alternatively, they may have a pattern resembling slates or tiles. In a further alternative, they may have the general appearance of wooden shakes, such as cedar shakes.
Another common problem with metal shingles is the issue of the double overlap at one corner. That is, in the installation of metal tiles, not only does the row next above overlap the upper margin of the next lower row, but, in addition, one or other of the next adjacent plates to the left or right also over laps laterally, such that the nailing tab on that side is hidden. The adjacent plates may also have interlocking ridges along their edges to discourage entry of water. There is a tendency at the upper corner of the under-lapping plate for the wind to drive water into the joint, and thus under the adjacent plate. Over time a build up of moisture may occur. This build up of moisture may be more than the underlayment may be suitable for handling.


A dielectric ceramic composition is disclosed which includes: a main ceramic composition of barium oxide and titanium oxide, or barium oxide, titanium oxide and at least one of strontium oxide, calcium oxide, zirconia and zinc oxide, which composition is represented by (1-a-b)BaO.aSrO.bCaO.x[(1-c)TiO.sub.2.cZrO.sub.2 ].yZnO, where 3.1.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.5.4, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.2.9, 0.ltoreq.a+b.ltoreq.0.4, 0.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.0.2; and a secondary component at least a part of which consists of a B.sub.2 O.sub.3 material or a glass material containing as one of glass components, the secondary component being added to the main ceramic composition, in an amount of 0.1-7.5 parts by weight of B.sub.2 O.sub.3 per 100 parts by weight of the main ceramic composition. Also disclosed are a method of preparing such a dielectric ceramic composition, a dielectric resonator for microwave application which uses the dielectric ceramic composition, or a dielectric filter having a plurality of such dielectric resonators, and a method of producing the dielectric resonator or dielectric filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a dielectric ceramic composition used for producing a dielectric resonator or filter for microwave application, and a method of preparing such a dielectric ceramic composition. In particular, the invention is concerned with a dielectric ceramic composition which can be fired at a relatively low temperature, and which is suitably used for dielectric resonators having internal conductive strips, of a stripline type filter, for example, and with a method of preparing such a dielectric ceramic composition. The present invention is also concerned with a dielectric resonator for microwave application, which is obtained by using the above dielectric ceramic composition, or a dielectric filter having a plurality of such dielectric resonators, and with a method of producing the dielectric resonator or dielectric filter.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
In a modern microwave telecommunication system such as a portable or automobile telephone system, there is widely used a coaxial type dielectric filter using a ceramic composition having a high dielectric constant. The coaxial type dielectric filter has a plurality of coaxial type resonators connected to each other. Each resonator is a cylindrical dielectric block which has inside and outside conductors formed on inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the block, respectively. This type of dielectric filter has a limitation in reducing the size and thickness thereof due to its construction. In view of this, there is proposed a stripline type filter of a tri-plate structure, which incorporates internal conductive strips or layers within a dielectric substrate. In this stripline type filter, a patterned array of conductors in the form of strips are integrally embedded in the dielectric substrate so as to provide a plurality of resonators. The thus constructed stripline type filter is comparatively compact and thin.
In fabricating such a stripline type dielectric filter having the internal conductive strips as described above, a dielectric ceramic composition must be co-fired with the internal conductive strips. Since known dielectric ceramic compositions have a considerably high firing temperature of 1300.degree.-1500.degree. C., there is a limit to conductive materials which can be used for the internal conductive strips, thus making it difficult to employ a Cu-contained or Ag-contained material having a relatively low conductivity resistance. For instance, the firing temperature of the dielectric ceramic composition must not exceed 1100.degree. C. when alloys containing Cu or Ag are used for the internal conductive strips, and must not exceed 1000.degree. C. when Ag--Pd or Ag--Pt alloys are used for the conductive strips. When the conductive layers are formed solely of Ag having a low conductivity resistance, in particular, the firing temperature of the dielectric ceramic composition must be controlled to be around 900.degree. C. which is lower than the melting point of Ag, that is, 962.degree. C. To meet the needs, a dielectric ceramic composition is needed which can be fired at a sufficiently low temperature while assuring excellent microwave characteristics.
Among various dielectric ceramic compositions for microwave application which have been proposed, a dielectric ceramic composition which contains BaO and TiO.sub.2 as major components is known as having a high specific dielectric constant of about 30-40, a large unloaded Q, and a small temperature coefficient of the resonance frequency. In JP-B2-58-20905, for example, there is provided a detailed description of a method of producing a dielectric ceramic of BaO--TiO.sub.2 system, which is composed of Ba.sub.2 Ti.sub.9 O.sub.20 and fired at a temperature as high as 1300.degree.-1400.degree. C. Thus, the known method does not meet the above requirement for a lower firing temperature.
It has been proposed in JP-A-57-69607, JP-A-58-73908 and JP-A-60-257008 that ZnO or SnO.sub.2, or ZnO and ZrO.sub.2 is/are added to the dielectric ceramic composition of the BaO--TiO.sub.2 system, so as to improve the dielectric properties of resulting dielectric ceramics. However, this dielectric ceramic composition still requires an undesirably high firing temperature of 1200.degree.-1400.degree. C.
In one method of producing a temperature-compensating thick-film condenser as disclosed in JP-B2-55-22012, a dielectric ceramic powder of TiO.sub.2 --SnO.sub.2 --BaO system is mixed with a glass frit such as a barium lead borosilicate glass and a lead borosilicate glass, and the mixture obtained is fired at 950.degree. C. to provide a dielectric ceramic. While the thus obtained dielectric ceramic may be suitably used for thick-film condensers, a dielectric resonator or filter for microwave application, which is produced by using the dielectric ceramic, exhibits a deteriorated unloaded Q and an increased temperature coefficient of the resonance frequency, which adversely affect the function of the resonator or filter.

Dielectric ceramic composition used for producing dielectric resonator or filter for microwave application


In a plasma processing chamber, a method for processing a substrate is provided. The method includes supporting the substrate in the plasma processing chamber configured with an upper electrode (UE) and a lower electrode (LE), configuring at least one radio frequency power source to ignite plasma between the UE and the LE, and providing a conductive coupling ring, the conductive coupling ring is coupled to the LE to provide a conductive path. The method further includes providing a plasma-facing-substrate-periphery (PFSP) ring, the PFSP ring being disposed above the conductive coupling ring. The method yet further includes coupling the PFSP ring to at least one of a direct current (DC) ground through an RF filter, the DC ground through the RF filter and a variable resistor, a positive DC power source through the RF filter, and a negative DC power source through the RF filter to control plasma processing parameters.

Advances in plasma processing have facilitated growth in the semiconductor industry. The semiconductor industry is a highly competitive market. The ability for a manufacturing company to be able to process substrate in different processing conditions may give the manufacturing company an edge over the competitor. Thus, manufacturing companies have dedicated time and resources to identify methods and/or arrangements for improving substrate processing.
A typical processing system that may be employed to perform substrate processing may be an asymmetrical multi-frequency capacitively coupled processing system. The processing system is built to enable processing in a range of process parameters. However, in recent years, the types of devices that are being processed have become more sophisticated and may required more process control. In an example, devices being processed are becoming smaller and may require more precise processing.
Given the needs to stay competitive in the semiconductor industry, enhancements to the capabilities of capacitively coupled plasma processing system are highly desirable.

Method and apparatus for DC voltage control on RF-powered electrode


A sprinkler cover assembly includes a polymeric sprinkler housing which is configured to receive a sprinkler head. The sprinkler cover assembly also includes a polymeric cover for covering an open end of the polymeric sprinkler housing. Moreover, the sprinkler cover assembly includes a thermoreactive adhesive disposed between the polymeric sprinkler housing and the polymeric cover so as to secure the polymeric cover to the polymeric sprinkler housing.

The present invention relates generally to a sprinkler cover assembly, and more particularly to an injection molded, polymeric sprinkler cover assembly that includes a cover which is secured to a sprinkler housing with a heat sensitive, polymeric adhesive.
Most commercial and many residential buildings include a fire sprinkler system which has a number of sprinkler heads mounted in a cosmetic ceiling associated with the building. In the event of a fire within the building, the sprinkler system is actuated thereby causing a fire retarding liquid such as water to be sprayed from the ceiling-mounted sprinkler heads. In order to facilitate placement of the sprinkler heads in the cosmetic ceiling, it is generally necessary to cut a number of access openings into the cosmetic ceiling. Such access openings are not visually appealing thereby reducing the overall aesthetics of the interior of the building.
In an attempt to hide or otherwise conceal both the sprinkler heads and their associated access openings, a number of sprinkler cover assemblies have heretofore been designed. Such heretofore designed sprinkler cover assemblies typically include a stamped metal cover which is secured to a metal sprinkler housing by use of either a low melting temperature solder or a heat deforming metal bracket. In the presence of heat associated with a fire (e.g. 135 degrees Fahrenheit), the solder melts or the metal bracket deforms thereby causing the metal cover to fall away from the metal sprinkler housing thereby exposing the sprinkler head located within the housing. Once exposed, the sprinkler head may be utilized to spray water on the area located thereunder.
Such prior art sprinkler cover assemblies have a number of drawbacks associated therewith. For example, fabrication of known sprinkler cover assemblies is relatively complex. For instance, it is generally necessary to utilize a multi-stage manufacturing process in order to produce the stamped metal components associated with prior art sprinkler cover assemblies. More specifically, a complex stamping process is required to produce the metal sprinkler housing, the metal cover, and in certain designs, the heat deformable metal bracket for securing the cover to the sprinkler housing.
Moreover, in order to be aesthetically pleasing once installed in the cosmetic ceiling of a building, the exposed areas of prior art metal sprinkler cover assemblies must be painted. It should be appreciated that such a required painting process undesirably further increases costs associated with manufacturing prior art sprinkler cover assemblies.
What is needed therefore is a sprinkler cover assembly and method for manufacturing the same which overcomes one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks. What is particularly needed is a sprinkler cover assembly having a structure that eliminates the drawbacks associated with the use of stamped metal components. Such a sprinkler cover assembly would advantageously have reduced cost and complexity of manufacture.
The present invention fulfills the above stated needs, as well as others, by providing a sprinkler cover assembly which includes a polymeric sprinkler housing which is configured to receive a sprinkler head. A polymeric cover is secured to the sprinkler housing with a thermoreactive adhesive. The thermoreactive adhesive, which softens when exposed to heat, provides a mechanism that facilitates removal of the cover to expose the sprinkler head during a fire. The use of polymeric material allows for straightforward injection molding techniques in the manufacturing of the sprinkler cover assembly of the present invention. The use of such injection molding techniques coupled with the use of a thermoreactive adhesive results in a sprinkler cover assembly having the functionality of prior art sprinkler cover assemblies while eliminating the complexity associated with the multi-stage metal stamping and assembly processes associated with such prior art sprinkler cover assemblies.
In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sprinkler cover assembly. The sprinkler cover assembly includes a polymeric sprinkler housing which is configured to receive a sprinkler head. The sprinkler cover assembly also includes a polymeric cover for covering an open end of the polymeric sprinkler housing. Moreover, the sprinkler cover assembly includes a thermoreactive adhesive disposed between the polymeric sprinkler housing and the polymeric cover so as to secure the polymeric cover to the polymeric sprinkler housing.
In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a sprinkler housing assembly. The method includes the step of fabricating a polymeric sprinkler housing which is configured to receive a sprinkler head. The method also includes the step of fabricating a polymeric cover for covering an open end of the polymeric sprinkler housing. Moreover, the method includes the step of disposing a thermoreactive adhesive between the polymeric sprinkler housing and the polymeric cover so as to secure the polymeric cover to the polymeric sprinkler housing.
The present invention thus provides a sprinkler cover assembly having reduced cost and simplicity of manufacture. In particular, the sprinkler cover assembly of the present invention eliminates the need to operate and maintain an expensive, multi-stage stamping operation for fabrication of the sprinkler cover assembly. Elimination of the stamping process reduces the cost and complexity of manufacture associated with the sprinkler cover assembly. In addition, the use of polymeric materials in the construction of the sprinkler housing and the cover eliminates the need to paint the sprinkler cover assembly prior to installation thereof.
The above features and advantages, as well as others, will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Molded sprinkler cover assembly and method for manufacturing the same


The present invention relates to state of charge indicators for a battery. One aspect of the present invention utilizes expansion and contraction displacements of an electrode plate of a battery to gauge the state of charge in the battery. One embodiment of a battery of the present invention includes an anodic plate; a cathodic plate; an electrolyte in contact with the anodic and cathodic plates; plural terminals individually coupled with one of the anodic and cathodic plates; a separator intermediate the anodic and cathodic plates; an indicator configured to indicate an energy level of the battery responsive to movement of the separator; and a casing configured to house the anodic and cathodic plates, electrolyte, and separator.

Batteries of various configurations are used to generate electric current at a certain voltage through conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy. Such batteries typically include plural electrodes and an electrolyte individually having respective reactive masses. The chemical energy is converted into electric energy through a reaction of the reactive masses of the electrodes and/or the electrolyte.
More specifically, batteries typically produce electrical energy through a chemical reaction between the electrolyte solution and at least one electrode in contact with the electrolyte solution, or through a chemical reaction between two electrodes through the electrolyte solution. As the chemical reaction takes place, mass is transferred or exchanged between an electrode and the electrolyte, or between electrodes through the electrolyte. The chemical reaction takes place during the discharge of the battery to create the current that is supplied to a load during battery discharge. Reversed chemical reactions take place during a recharging process.
The weight, density and volume of the reacting electrode or electrodes and/or electrolyte changes during the chemical reactions. The respective volumes of the electrodes and electrolyte can gradually change from first extreme values corresponding to volumes with the battery in a fully charged condition to second extreme values corresponding to volumes with the battery in a functionally discharged condition. The battery is depleted or discharged when the reactive mass of an electrode or the electrolyte is depleted.
Volumetric changes of one or both electrodes and/or the electrolyte of a battery usually occur in a substantially linear fashion as the battery discharges from its substantially fully charged condition to its functionally discharged condition, or vice-versa. If the battery is a rechargeable battery (i.e., secondary battery), the chemical reaction is reversed during recharging. During recharging, volumetric changes are reversed and the respective volumes of the battery components substantially return to the initial respective values corresponding to the battery being fully charged.
More specifically, the chemical reaction producing electricity typically changes the chemical composition of one or more of the internal components of the battery. New chemicals are usually produced as a result of the reaction and the new chemicals typically have different specific volumes. Accordingly, the total volume of internal battery components (i.e., electrodes, electrolyte) changes with every discharging or recharging increment of the battery.
In a discharged condition, a battery is no longer able to supply adequate voltage and current. Primary batteries are typically not rechargeable and are discarded. Secondary batteries are rechargeable by application of an electrical current to the terminals of the battery. In particular, the chemical energy from the reactions between the electrodes and the electrolyte that is spent producing electricity can be replenished by reversing the chemical reactions on the electrodes during a recharging process. The recharging process involves passing an electric current from another source through the battery in the reverse direction.
Primary batteries are usually manufactured for supplying limited amounts of electricity and are used in a wide range of equipment. Secondary batteries are capable of delivering considerable amounts of electricity with high currents and are also used in a wide variety of applications (e.g., backup power supplies, main power source in some electric vehicles).
The amount of electric energy that can be extracted from a battery depends on its electric potential, expressed in Volts, and the number of Coulombs (electric current intensity times its duration expressed in Ampere-hours) that the battery can sustain.
One battery configuration includes lead-acid batteries. These batteries are typically utilized in strong current applications, such as automotive applications. Lead-acid batteries usually include a plurality of cells which are linked with one another. Such batteries are rechargeable by providing a recharging current into the batteries.
Prior art devices have been developed to measure and/or display the amount of remaining electric energy, or a fraction or percentage of the initial total electric energy, known as state of charge, of an electric battery at various stages of the useful life of the battery. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,567,541 and 5,580,675, both incorporated herein by reference, provide a history of many developments in this field. However, there remains a need to provide a state of charge indicator for batteries having improved features over the existing prior art devices.

State of charge indicators for a battery

Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company


Methods are disclosed for collecting and separating whole blood into one or more components. A disposable blood separation fluid circuit is provided which is adapted to cooperate with a reusable separation controller. The fluid circuit includes a fluid flow path for communication with a blood source and at least one container in fluid communication with the fluid flow path. The fluid flow path is connected to a blood source and quantities of whole blood are collected in the container and one other location within the fluid circuit. The source is then disconnected from the disposable fluid circuit. The quantities of whole blood are centrifugally processed, with processing of at least a portion of one of the quantities beginning after the source is disconnected from the fluid circuit.

This application hereby claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/532,310, filed Dec. 23, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to methods for collecting and separating whole blood into one or more components.
It is well known to collect whole blood from healthy donors for subsequent administration to patients that need one or more blood components. Because patients will often require only certain blood components, it is now common to separate whole blood collected from healthy donors into one or more components (commonly called "apheresis"), such as red cells, platelets or plasma. The blood components not immediately required may be stored or processed further for other applications, or the unneeded components may be returned to the donor. Apheresis may also be employed as a therapeutic procedure for removing one or more blood components from an ill patient.
Blood processing or apheresis devices currently available for carrying out such blood collection processes include the CS-3000®, Amicus®, Autopheresis-C® and Alyx® blood separation devices marketed by Baxter Healthcare Corporation of Deerfield, Ill. Apheresis devices available from other manufacturers include the Spectra® and Trima® from Gambro BCT of Lakewood, Colo., the AS104 ™ from Fresenius Hemocare, Inc. of Redmond, Wash. and the V-50 ™ and other models from Haemonetics Corporation of Braintree, Mass. These devices typically employ a pre-assembled sterile fluid flow circuit that is disposable, and an associated reusable controller or control module that controls processing through the fluid circuit.
In the above-identified devices the donor or other human subject typically remains attached to the device throughout an entire blood collection procedure, which may be as little as 20-25 minutes or as long as 90 minutes or thereabouts. However long it takes, a separate blood processing controller or control module device is usually associated with each human subject (donor or patient), and the subject remains connected to the fluid circuit throughout the entire processing.
Although specialized devices have been proposed for collecting blood from a donor and processing it after the donor is disconnected, see, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,252, to Brown et al., there is a continuing desire to develop versatile blood collection apparatus and methods in order to improve the efficiency of device usage, to reduce costs and to minimize imposition upon donor time and reduce inconvenience.

Method and apparatus for collecting and processing blood


A dampening system for an offset printing press system uses an intermediate roll between the press system and dampening rolls to create multiple slipping nips. By driving the intermediate roll at a surface velocity greater than the dampening roll speed and less than the press system speed, the speed ratio at each slipping nip may be reduced.

The present invention relates to dampening systems for offset presses, and more particularly relates to dampening systems in which the speed of the dampening system is different than the speed of the press system.
In prior offset presses, the rolls of the dampening system have operated at a velocity less than the rolls of the press system. This speed differential results in the formation of a slipping nip at the interface of the dampening system and the press system. A slipping nip, i.e. a nip at which the contacting surfaces of the opposed rollers slip against one another, is desirable in high-speed offset presses to achieve proper application of dampening fluid to the press rolls.
A prior art printing press system is shown, for example, by FIG. 1. A printing system 1 includes a dampening system 2 and a press system 3. The dampening system 2 includes a pan roll 5, which receives dampening fluid from a dampening fluid reservoir 4. A slip roll 6 is engaged with pan roll 5, and both pan roll 5 and slip roll 6 are driven to rotate at the same surface velocity (i.e. the linear speed at the surface of each roll is equal). The rotation and contact of the pan roll 5 and slip roll 6 thus cause the dampening fluid carried by pan roll 5 to be tranferred to slip roll 6.
Press system 3 includes a press roll 7, which is engaged typically via non-slipping nips with subsequent rolls in the press system (not shown). Press roll 7 also engages slip roll 6, and by such contact press roll 7 receives dampening fluid carried by slip roll 6. Press roll 7 will thereafter transfer the dampening fluid to the further elements of the press system. Press roll 7 is driven to rotate at a surface speed greater than surface speed of slip roll 6, thus causing a slipping nip 8 at the interface of the dampening system 2 and press system 3 to deliver dampening fluid to the press system 3.
It has been observed that fluid transfer across a slipping nip deteriorates when the speed ratio between the two engaged rolls (i.e. surface speed of fast roll: surface speed of slow roll) is large. In prior systems, in order to reduce the speed ratio at the slipping nip without reducing the press system speed, the speed of the dampening system was increased. However, this increase in the speed of the dampening system resulted in further problems. For example, at high dampening system speeds excessive amounts of fluid may be delivered to the press system. Furthermore, at high dampening system speeds dampening fluid may be thrown from the dampening system rolls, resulting in inconsistent delivery of dampening fluid.

High-speed printing system having multiple slipping nips


In a method of making a window covering material a plurality of slats preferably made of fabric or plastic film, are provided. Each slat has opposite longitudinal edges and each longitudinal edge has a pocket with at least one transverse slot. There is one rail for each transverse slot in any selected slat. Each rail has a loop extending from the rail which loop is sized to fit within a selected transverse slot in a slat pocket. The fabric slats and the rails are positioned so that there is one loop in each transverse slot. Then a rod is inserted into each pocket of the fabric slat so that for each pocket the rod passes through the loop in each transverse slot of that pocket. If desired, one may attach a light screening flap to one or both longitudinal edges of the slats.

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to methods of making window coverings of the type having a plurality of spaced apart slats, as in a venetian blind.
2. Description of the Related Art
Venetian type blinds are well-known and popular window coverings in which a plurality of slats are hung on ladders that extend between the headrail and a bottomrail. The ladders have two parallel rails connected by a series of equally spaced rungs on which the slats rest. The slats usually are metal, wood or plastic, but fabric slats have also been used. The rungs of the ladders in conventional venetian type blinds are not readily seen when the slats are in a horizontal open position. However, when the slats are tilted the rungs may be visible from one side or the other of the blind depending upon how the slats were tilted and whether or not they are obscured by the rails of the ladder.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,374,591 to Dunn discloses a venetian blind having metal slats. The longitudinal edges of the slats are rolled to form a U-shape. Notches are cut in the rolled edge to receive T-shaped clips crimped to tilt cords.
Sugiura in U.S. Pat. No. 1,851,782 discloses a venetian blind in which the slats are tubes of fabric stretched between two parallel rods. Spaced apart strips of material or tapes are secured to the longitudinal edges of the fabric slat. From the figures it appears that the tapes are sewn or glued to the slats. Movement of the tapes tilts the slats.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,657 to Zorbas discloses a fabric blind slat and a fabric Venetian blind assembly. The fabric blind slat includes an elongated strip of fabric. The strip of fabric has at least one longitudinally extending pocket on a longitudinal edge into which a relatively rigid support member is insertable. This design of fabric blind slat has drawbacks. Tilting the fabric blind slat moves the fabric body of the fabric blind slat in a manner that causes the upper part of the fabric blind slat to compress the lower part of the fabric blind slat, resulting in a wrinkle. In other words, supporting or stretching means must be provided so that the fabric body of the fabric blind slat can be maintained smooth under any operation status.
Another type of venetian type blind has a fabric sheet or fringe attached to one edge of each slat. This sheet or fringe extends to or below the adjacent slat. An example of this type of blind is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,388,490 to Kandel. In these blinds, the slats are supported on conventional ladders having parallel rails connected by a series of rungs of which the slats rest.
In United States published application US 2004/0103994 A1, I disclose a venetian type blind having fabric slats that does not utilize conventional ladders with rungs. Instead, I provide braided cords with spaced apart loops or clips that engage rods within the longitudinal pocket along opposite edges of each fabric slat. Consequently, the blind has no ladder rungs. Another advantage of this type of blind is that the blind can be readily assembled in accordance with the method here disclosed. That method can be used for blinds containing slats having pockets along opposite longitudinal edges, as well as blinds having such slats, and a screening flap attached to one or both longitudinal edges.


The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for a catalytic cavitation reactor comprising an inner pipe having a wall with plurality of spaced apart radially bored inner pipe holes located thereon. A second pipe having a wall with plurality of spaced apart radially bored second pipe holes is also provided. The inner pipe is located within and joined to the second pipe. Within the interior of the second and out pipes are lengths of static mixing baffles. An outer pipe is also provided. The second pipe is located within and joined to the outer pipe. Within the interior of the second and out pipes are lengths of static mixing baffles. A plurality of nozzles are provided wherein each of the inner pipe holes and second pipe holes receives one of the plurality of nozzles. Each of the plurality of nozzles has an inlet end, an outlet end and a constriction therebetween. A catalytically active zone is formed between the constriction and the outlet end.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for treating and conditioning fluids. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for treating and conditioning fluids, including liquids, gases and fluidized solids, using catalyzed hydrodynamic cavitation. The invention alters selected physical and chemical characteristics of selected components present in the fluids to catalyze desirable chemical reactions between constituents of the fluid and to encourage ionization of the fluids, facilitating the removal of harmful contaminants from the treated material. The invention is applicable to the beneficial treatment of many fluid systems, including the purification of water, enhanced recovery of crude oil, desulphurization of hydrocarbons, remediation of contaminated soil and the prevention of scale and corrosion.
2. Background
All industrial processes, water treatment operation and processes used to recover and utilize natural resources depend at some point upon the successful removal of undesirable contaminants or the recovery of desirable materials from fluids. The fluids referred to may be liquids, gases or slurries and the material separated from the fluids may be any material dissolved, emulsified suspended or solubilized in the fluid. The commonly known techniques for separating solids, liquid particles or gases from fluids include the following:
Filtration. Filtration usually refers to the use of granular media, filter cartridges or bag filters to remove suspended solids greater than 1 micron from fluids. Fluids are pumped through the filter material which strains out the suspended solids from the fluid. Filtration is effective where the solids are not emulsified or dissolved in the fluid. Filter media eventually becomes blinded off by the bulk of the collected particles, inhibiting the flow of fluid through the media, and must be cleaned by backwashing or the media must be replaced. Certain solids, such as iron sulfite, biomass and solidified hydrocarbons are difficult to filter because they form a slimy film over the filter media, blocking passage of the fluid through the media. Filtration is one of the most common industrial processes and filtration systems are employed in all fluid treatment applications. Filtration isn't an effective means to removed dissolved solids from fluids.
Precipitation. Precipitation is usually a chemical process whereby acids, bases or chelating compounds are added to a fluid in order to reduce the solubility of a contaminant in the fluid. Precipitation depends upon the solubility of the material in the fluid, the charge of the compound, temperature of the fluid and time. Chemicals must be added to the fluid and the resulting precipitate must then be separated from the fluid by some other appropriate method. The pH of the fluid may also have to be adjusted after the solids are removed. Precipitation is a useful way to removed dissolved solids from a fluid but may not always be economical because of the cost of the chemical used to facilitate the precipitation of the solids.
Decanting. Liquids having different specific gravities, i.e., oil and water, can be separated by allowing them to stand in a settling tank. The lighter liquid floats to the top of the heavier liquid and can be skimmed off. Decanting isn't instantaneous and time is required for the two liquids to separate. Skimming is usually inefficient and the two liquids are often not completely separated. Typically skimmed oil contains about 15% water and the separated water contains around 50 parts oil per million parts water. Skimming is not effective for removal of dissolved solids.
De-emulsification. Emulsions are intimate mixtures of two liquid phases, such as oil and water, in which the liquids are mutually insoluble and where either phase may be dispersed in the other. It is difficult to separate emulsified liquids. Stable oil-water emulsions are a colloidal system of electrically charges oil droplets surrounded by an ionic environment. Emulsions often contain suspended solids and other contaminants that cannot be separated from the fluid because of the emulsion. De-emulsification involves adding chemicals, typically strong acids and metal salts, to the fluid to add a positive charge to the emulsion droplets in order to neutralize their negative charges and cause the droplets to loose their attraction to each other. Once the liquid phases are neutralized, the two phases can be allowed to separate by settling or by coalescing processes. The pH of the one or more of the liquids in the fluid a may also have to be adjusted and the chemical de-emulsifiers may have to be removed after separation.
Ion-Exchange. Ion exchange removes contaminants from fluids by transferring them to a solid material that has affinity for the contaminants. The solid material, typically called ion exchange media or resin, accepts the contaminants and exchanges them for an equivalent amount of material stored in the ion exchange material. By this process, undesirable contaminants are exchanged for presumably beneficial or benign chemical compounds. Ion exchange is useful for the removal of dissolved solids from fluids when the fluid is not adversely affected by the presence of the new material. Ion Exchange media must be regenerated when all of the exchange sites are depleted. Ion exchange media is often quite expensive and ion exchange process are often undesirable because materials exchanged from the media may in themselves become new contaminants.
Degasification. Fluids may contain a variety of gases in solution that contaminate the fluid and are difficult to remove without specific degassing processes. Gases are held in solution in proportion to the partial pressure of the gas in the vapor space above the fluid/gas interface. Gases are removed by reducing the surface tension of the fluid and increasing the rate of diffusion of the gas through the fluid. Degasification processes typically involve atomization of the fluid in stripping towers, mechanical agitation of the fluid to shear the gas from the liquid or heating the fluid to increase gas diffusivity. Chemical agents that reduce the surface tension of the fluid are also used to facilitate the removal of dissolved gases. Equipment used for this purpose is expensive to build and operate, and many fluids are degraded by the addition of heat used to decrease the solubility of the gasses in the fluid.
Adsorption. Adsorption is the physical adhesion of molecules, especially organic molecules or colloids to the surfaces of the adsorbent material. Adsorption is particularly useful for removal of dissolved solids of high molecular weight. Like ion exchange, adsorption processes use media such as activated carbon for adsorption that has limited capacity and must be replaced periodically. Adsorption is not a cost-effective process for many fluid purification applications because of the high cost of the adsorption media and the problems and costs associated with disposal of the spent media now saturated with contaminants.
Membrane Separation. Membranes are porous barriers that will allow selected fluids to pass through while forming a barrier to particulates and dissolved solids. Fluid is pushed through the membrane by a pump or a compressor. A type of membrane process, reverse osmosis, is very useful for purifying water. Membranes are expensive and have to be replaced frequently because of degradation and because they are susceptible to fouling from biological organisms. Membranes also create a concentrated waste containing the contaminates that often must be disposed of as a hazardous waste material.
Centrifugation. Liquid or solid particles having higher specific gravities than the bulk fluid base can be separated by centrifugation. Here the heavier material is physically separated from the lighter material by centrifugal forces. Due to the weight of the fluid and the dynamic vibrations incurred, the centrifuges are both massive and expensive to operate.
Coagulation and Flocculation. Coagulation and flocculation are employed to separate suspended solids, particularly colloidal particles, from fluids. The process works by using chemicals to neutralize the negative charge on the surface of the particles and reduce the forces, as measured by the zeta potential of the particles, that keep the particles from agglomerating together. The process must occur in a slow mixing environment to allow enough time for agglomeration and settling of the particles out of the fluid. Flocculation takes time to allow the particles to settle and is effective for only a narrow range of particles. Coagulation and flocculation are usually ineffective to removed dissolved solids, separate emulsions or to separate hydrocarbons from water and other polar liquids. Once the particles are removed the fluid must be further purified by filtration or another similar operation.
Distillation. This method involves boiling the liquid and condensing the vapor. Distillation requires massive amounts of energy and is inefficient when the specific gravities of the liquid base and the solid or liquid particles are close together.
Coalescing Processes. Liquids having different specific gravities, i.e., oil and water, can be separated more rapidly when processed through a coalescer. The coalescing media forces small oil droplets suspended in the polar fluid to agglomerate together to form large droplets that more easily separate from the bulk fluid. The lighter hydrocarbons can then be skimmed off of the bulk fluid. Coalescers are not effective for conditioning fluids to prevent scale formation or for the removal of dissolved solids.
Oxidation Reduction. Oxidation-reduction processes, or Redox processes, are used to chemically change the nature of a contaminant in a fluid so that it can be more easily removed by mechanical separation operations or by precipitation. Chemicals are added to a fluid to either oxidize or reduce a contaminant, changing soluble ionized compounds into stable and insoluble complexes. Redox processes involve the transfer of electrons between compounds, frequently within electrolytic cells. Oxidation-reduction processes that depend upon the addition of chemicals to remove contaminants are often not cost-effective because of the cost of the chemicals.
Electrostatic Precipitation. Electrostatic precipitation processes are similar to Redox processes in that a charged surface is created that has an affinity for positively charged contaminants. The use of an electrochemical processes to clarify and purify waste water streams is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,546 issued to Kneiper whereby a pair of electrodes are immersed in the fluid in a treatment chamber and DC current is passed through the fluid between the electrodes. The process is reported to induce a static charge on the waste particles in the fluid, inducing them to coalesce and agglomerates. The equipment used to generate the electric charge in the fluid is usually quite expensive to purchase and operate.
Redox Media. Specialized water conditioning media, called Redox media, can also be used to condition and ionize fluids that passes through the media. Redox cells and Redox media are structured so that one component of the cell or media acts as an anode and the other component acts as the cathode. In the presence of a fluid, electrons flow from the anode to the cathode thereby becoming available to react with positively charged contaminants in the fluid, causing them to plate out on the anode and be removed from the fluid. Redox media and its uses are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,456, entitled "Fluid Treatment Utilizing a Reticulated Foam Structured Media Consisting of Metal Particles;" and U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,400, entitled "Reticulated Foam Structured Fluid Treatment Element." issued to Fanning and Garret.
Many other new processes have been proposed to remove contaminants or recover materials from fluids. These processes are in some cases experimental or unproven. The most promising of these new processes include cavitation and fluid ionization:
Cavitation. A practical definition of cavitation is the formation and collapse of vapor cavities in a flowing liquid. These vapor cavities can form anywhere in a flowing liquid where the local pressure is reduced to that of the liquid vapor pressure at the temperature of the flowing liquid. (Perry's Chemical Engineer's Handbook, 6th Edition 1984, McGraw-Hill) Cavitation is a physical condition whereby bubbles and cavities within a fluid are created by a localized pressure drop in the fluid. The low pressure zones are produced by local increases in fluid velocity as in eddies or vortices and can be caused by a propeller blade moving at great speed though a fluid, by an impeller operating at a high rpm in a fluid or by movement of a fluid through a restriction or a nozzle. Cavitation can also be generated in a fluid by the application of ultrasound energy.
Fluid exposed to these conditions may undergo a dramatic decrease in pressure to the point whereby the liquid reaches its boiling point, creating a great number of vapor-filled cavities and bubbles. The pressure drop is typically very short in duration and when the bubbles are projected further into the bulk of the liquid an equally dramatic increase in pressure imposed from the bulk fluid causes the collapse of the bubbles and the void spaces. According to some studies, the rapid expansion and collapse of the bubbles brought about by the cavitation pressure impulses have been shown to expose fluids to extremely high localized temperatures and pressures, with temperatures reportedly as high as 5,000 degrees Kelvin and pressures as high as 500 kg/cm (K. S. Suslick, Science, Vol. 247, 23 March 1990, pgs 1439–1445).
Cavitation is usually an uncontrolled and destructive condition but cavitation processes are reportedly useful for water purification and the destruction of hazardous wastes. Suslick describes a process called hydrodehalogenation whereby MoC catalysts were prepared by a sonication cavitation procedure and used to remove Cl and F from halogenated hydrocarbons when both catalyst and halogenated hydrocarbons were processes through a cavitation reactor. The localized hot-spots created during cavitation are reported to be able to strip ligands away from metal complexes. (K. S. Suslick, Published DOE Report under DOE Award DEFG07-96ER14730, 21 November 1997)
Hydrodynamic cavitation is a variation of generalized cavitation that occurs during turbulent fluid flow and is characterized by large pressure differences that are generated within the turbulent fluid. Hydrodynamic cavitation is usually an uncontrolled and undesirable condition brought about by constricted flow of fluids through an orifice or a nozzle or by operation of a pump to transfer a mixture of gas and liquid.
Some processes, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,555 by Moser and other related patents, are reported to be able to control hydrodynamic cavitation in order to enhance mixing and promote chemical reactions in fluids. Cavitation is typically controlled through the use of sonication devices that impose controllable and measurable amount of force upon the fluid or by the use of specially designed nozzles that direct the flow of fluid undergoing cavitation in a controlled manner. Processes designed by Moser and others use controlled cavitation to create nanometer sized reaction products, typically nanometer sized particles of catalyst material, superconductors, pigments and specialized materials.
Fluid Ionizers. Fluid ionizers are allegedly able to separate immiscible particles from liquid mixtures or emulsions. The ionizers, also described as Ion Colliders by some references, operate by directing a stream of liquid under pressure which contains solid or liquid immiscible particles against the surface of a metal plate to induce the metal to give up electrons which then combine with the liquid molecules and with the particle molecules causing the similarly charged liquid and particles to repel and separate from each other. Fluid ionizers claim to purify fluids by ionizing the fluid and impinging the fluid against a catalytically active metal surface. The ionizer apparatus typically rely upon the principles of cavitation of a fluid through channels in the apparatus to force a jet or stream of the cavitation-induced bubbles of vaporized fluid to impinge upon a catalytically active metal surface. The cavitation-induced bubbles then collapse at the catalytically active metal surface, generating high temperatures and pressures at the catalyst surface that are reported to produce physical and chemical changes in the fluid.
One type of fluid ionizer, called an Ion Collider and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,482,629 and 6,106,787 by Rippetoe specifiy the use of copper and nickel as the preferred metals for the collider surface since copper reportedly readily gives up electrons in the presence of nickel when bombarded by a stream of liquid. The Rippetoe collider consists of two spaced apart concentric metal cylinders or pipes where either both pipes are made of copper-nickel alloy or preferably both the inner surface of the outer cylinder and the outer surface of the inner cylinder are coated with a copper-nickel alloy. The wall of the inner cylinder contains a multiplicity of spaced apart radially bored holes and the exit end of the inner cylinder is capped. The opposite or entry end of the inner cylinder may have a filter screen to prevent entry into the Ion Collider of gravel or other large particles. The liquid is pumped under pressure into the inner cylinder causing a multiplicity of streams or jets to issue from the inner cylinder wall and bombard the inner surface of the copper-nickel wall of the outer cylinder. Electrons freed from the copper in the walls of the annular chamber between the two cylinders combine with both molecules in the base fluid and the particles, causing the particles to separate from the base fluid. Rippetoe patented the use of the Ion Collider for a number of applications including separation of emulsions; purification of water; enhanced recovery of crude oil; and the remediation of contaminated soil.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,620, Rippetoe describes the use of the Ion Collider as a method and apparatus for separating immiscible solid or liquid particles such as oil from a liquid-based mixture or emulsion. The apparatus is as shown above. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,883 Rippetoe describes a method and apparatus to facilitate the economical recovery of crude oil from an oil well having a string of tubing which extends to the level of the underground reservoir of crude oil. Here an Ion Collider is attached to the lower end of the tubing in contact with crude oil in a crude oil reservoir. The Ion Collider apparatus consists of two spaced-apart cylindrical metal tubes whose common vertical axis coincides with the axis of the string of tubing. The collider's inner tube has its upper end capped and its lower end joined to the lower end of the outer tube whose upper end opens into the interior of the tubing, whereby the inner tube contains a multiplicity of spaced-apart holes in its cylindrical wall. The entire inner tube and the inner surface of the outer tube are made of an alloy of copper and nickel in which the copper comprises at least 80% of the alloy.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,081 Rippetoe describes the use of a collider to facilitate the recovery of hydrocarbons from an underground reservoir. Here the collider is used to produce a quantity of negatively charged water which is then injected down an oil well and into the underground reservoir. Then a quantity of particles of a copper-nickel-zinc alloy are pumped down the oil well and into the underground oil reservoir. Optionally the alloy is followed by a quantity of frac sand pumped down the well and into the reservoir and followed by a sufficient volume of negatively charged water to flush the frac sand out of the well casing and wellbore and into the reservoir. The well is then shut-in to stabilize the particles of alloy and frac sand, if added, within the reservoir. The well is then reopened, allowing the water and gases formerly entrained within the reservoir to be expelled from the reservoir and the well, thereby leaving the alloy particles and frac sand, if used, within the reservoir to provide a path for the continuing flow or hydrocarbons to the wellbore.
Rippetoe further describes the use of a collider as part of a clarification system to purify water in U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,301. Here the system comprises a collision chamber having an entry aperture and an ion collider disposed in a central region therein. The ion collider reportedly treats the water and the contaminants with a plurality of free electrons. A separation chamber is disposed rearwardly of the collision chamber and is in flow communication with a first overflow weir for receiving the treated water and treated contaminants. An upstanding member in the separation chamber has a plurality of apertures sized to urge passage of the bulk of the treated contaminants through the apertures. A clarifying chamber is disposed rearwardly of the separation chamber and has a plurality of baffle plates obliquely oriented that urge upward flow of the treated water therethrough across the baffle plates. A water collection reservoir is disposed rearwardly of the clarifying chamber and is in flow communication with the clarifying chamber. A contaminant collection tank is disposed rearwardly of the water collection reservoir and is adapted with a contaminant receiving aperture that is in flow communication with a contaminant withdrawal trough in the clarifying chamber.
In still another related U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,849, Rippetoe describes a method of using a collider to remove hydrocarbons from soil and fluids. Here a collider is used to produce ionized water and the ionized water is mixed with the soil to facilitate the separation of the hydrocarbons from the soil.
As shown by the above patents, ion colliders appear to be a promising new fluid treatment and purification technology. Ion Colliders are reportedly able to ionize water and other fluids, producing reactive peroxide and hydroxyl compounds that readily oxidize undesirable contaminants or neutralize the opposing charges on solid contaminants, allowing them to be more easily removed by precipitation and filtration. In practice, however, ion colliders have been plagued by poor performance and variable results when used in commercial applications.
The poor and variable performance of ion colliders appears to be a function of the design, materials of construction and operation of the collider apparatus. In operation, colliders designed as described by Rippetoe in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,482,629 and 6,106,787 often fail to generate true cavitation conditions within the fluids pumped through the holes in the inner chamber of the apparatus. Liquids pumped through the orifices may not cavitate or may cavitate in an uncontrollable manner so that the cloud of vapor bubbles fail to collapse at the catalytic surface. Uncontrolled cavitation that occurs in this manner is not effective as catalyzed cavitation and may fail to produce reactions at the copper-nickel catalyst surfaces.
In the Rippitoe apparatus, a significant gap of around 1.5 inches exists between the inner tube containing the orifices that project the liquid jet stream and the inner catalytically active wall of the outer tube. In practice, the gap would be filled with fluid which would have a tendency to diffuse, suppress and collapse any bubbles formed in the jet stream that exits from the orifices of the inner tube before the bubbles reach the catalytically active metal surfaces. Here the zone of cavitation would have too short of a life and thus would not generate the high temperatures and high pressures in the presence of a critical amount of the catalyst that are required to effectively change the physical and chemical properties of the fluids in a manner to efficiently separate contaminants and purify the fluid. Addition of a helix of wire made from catalytically active materials that is wound around the circumference of the inner pipe does not appear to be able to improve contact between the bubble cloud and the catalyst surface.
Impingement of a fluid without cavitation may not be sufficient to ionize a fluid in the Rippetoe collider. Simple impingement of a liquid jet stream against a copper-nickel surface in the absence of cavitation adjacent to that surface should not strip copper ions away from the surface. Copper-nickel alloys and copper-nickel metals are reported to have the highest corrosion resistance of all copper alloys and are particularly resistant to corrosion caused by fluid impingement. (Perry's Chemical Engineer's Handbook, 6th Edition 1984, McGraw-Hill). The addition of small amounts of zinc or silver would not have a particularly destabilizing effect upon the integrity of the alloy surface in the absence of true cavitation.
The Rippetoe inventions also appear to be too inflexible to be able to treat and condition a wide variety of fluids under a wide variety of process conditions. The Rippetoe patents specify a limited variety of catalytic surfaces and a simplified orifice structure for cavitating the fluid that would have a limited ability even in theory to catalyze a wide range of cavitation-induced reactions.
Accordingly, there is a need for a new method of and apparatus for utilizing hydrodynamic cavitation as an effective and low cost fluid treatment and conditioning process.
There is also a need for a method of removing impurities, including sulfur, from fluids including hydrocarbons and fuels and for re-mediating soil with minimal use of chemical treatment.
There is also a need to separate oil from aqueous fluids and break apart oil-in-water emulsions without the use of chemicals, clarifiers or coalescers.
There is also a need to purify water and to remove of dissolved solids from fluids, de-scale pipes and vessels, and condition fluid without the use of chemicals.
In addition, there is a need for a device and apparatus so constructed to employ catalyzed hydrodynamic cavitation in a controllable process to economically purify water and other fluids at low operating cost and moderate equipment cost compared to other fluid treatment processes.

Velocity induced catalyzed cavitation process for treating and conditioning fluids


Systems and methods for using wireless radios for spectral analysis. Systems and methods include using wireless radios that are included in wireless devices communicating on the wireless network to perform a spectral scan of frequencies on a wireless network.

This disclosure relates to wireless network security systems and methods, and more particularly to systems and methods for using spectrum and power measurement analysis for intrusion detection in wireless networks. The proposed methods may be used for identifying and locating sources of interference as well as improving channel monitoring to detect intrusions and unauthorized wireless activity.
Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) offer a quick and effective extension of a wired network or standard local area network (LAN). WLAN devices comprise a combination of wireless access points (APs), WLAN cards, and other devices. WLAN devices comprise a wireless radio configured to tune to a specified wireless channel to transmit and receive packets. The channels correspond to a center frequency and bandwidth of the wireless spectrum.
WLANs have proliferated due to the standardization of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of protocols and the availability of license free radio frequency (RF) spectrum for communication across the globe. WLANs typically use the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands for communications in the United States. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has designated these bands along with the 900 MHz band for license-free Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM). While WLANs offer flexibility and ease of use, the unlicensed spectrum that they use often result in degraded performance due to interference from other ISM band devices such as, for example, cordless phones, microwave ovens, baby monitors, and Bluetooth devices.
Existing Wireless Intrusion Prevention Systems (WIPS) are configured to detect and terminate unauthorized devices from a WLAN. However, unauthorized devices may attempt to channel hop whereby they move from one channel to another to avoid detection and termination. Thus, a persistent unauthorized device may hop to different channels to escape detection from the WIPS. Since WLANs may have multiple channels, WIPS can encounter difficulty in determining to which channel the unauthorized device has moved. Spectrum analysis may provide a means to narrow down which channels are in use, allowing a WIPS to monitor these channels for the unauthorized device.
Existing systems and methods exist for frequency analysis. However, such systems and methods involve additional equipment such as a spectrum analyzer. Spectrum analyzers can cost thousands of dollars and are not widely deployed in WLANs. Other systems and methods include expensive hardware solutions that use Digital Signal Processing (DSP) of time domain samples are used to perform spectral analysis. Similarly, these systems and methods involve additional hardware that is not widely deployed in WLANs.
This disclosure illustrates systems and methods for using existing wireless devices to serve as a spectrum analyzer. In addition to providing network communication, wireless radios in WLANs can be used to provide signal and noise power measurements. These measurements can be stored and analyzed by existing computers in the WLAN to provide a spectrum analysis with no additional hardware components in the WLAN.
A method for using wireless radios for spectral analysis by connecting to the wireless radios, setting a center frequency and bandwidth on the wireless radios, receiving power measurements from the plurality of wireless radios; and repeating the connecting, setting and receiving steps for a number of frequencies of the wireless network.
A method for identifying interference in a wireless network based on spectral analysis by scanning channels of the wireless network for power measurements, receiving power measurements from the plurality of wireless radios, repeating the scanning and receiving steps until a predetermined time has elapsed or substantially all channels have been measured, and constructing a spectrogram based on the power measurements for the channels.
A method for using spectral analysis to determine which channels to monitor for detecting attacks and unauthorized activity on a wireless network by scanning substantially all channels of the wireless network for power measurements, identifying which channels are in use responsive to power measurements, wherein the channels in use comprise channels with high signal power measurements, and updating channel monitoring patterns responsive to which channels are in use.

Systems and methods for wireless intrusion detection using spectral analysis


A system and method for searching information based on crowd-sourced templates comprising a user input subsystem for entering one or more search terms, a database for storing a plurality of crowd-sourced templates, wherein each template is a representation of a data collection process from a plurality of sources. Subsequent search entries with tags results in display of stored templates in descending order of rank Templates may be ranked using crowd voting or their social relevancy. Templates may be viewed, edited, and stored on the database by other users through social network sites.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to systems and processes for searching information based on crowd sourced templates
2. Discussion of Related Art
The Information Age has heralded in a phenomenon of information overload for users conducting searches on the World Wide Web. There are a number of search engines that have been developed to facility the user's search, such as Bing "The Decision Engine", Google, and Yahoo.
There have also been a number of other inventions developed to facilitate information searches. For example, US Patent Application 20060116994 entitled "System and Method for Interactive Multi-Dimensional Visual Representation of Information Content and Properties" discloses an information retrieval system allowing information sources to be combined with selected user workflows and analytical content, dimensional relationships, and integrated analysis to display an interactive visual representation.
There are also many platforms that offer information search algorithms in use and known in the art. These platforms usually rely on either automatic ranking of relevant links or manual preparation of link lists. The prior art does not disclose, though, the use of crowdsourced templates to enable the public to use the search process done by other users
The present invention provides the enhanced ability over the prior art for the user to efficiently tailor their information searches to their pre-selected preferences, thus saving time and energy. Their searches may then be shared and updated by a community of users.

System and method for crowdsourced template based search


The present invention relates to communication using multiple antennas, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for adaptively adjusting, based on a channel environment, an interval and direction of multiple antennas each of a transmitter and a receiver. A communication method according to the present invention may include verifying information about a channel state based on a pilot signal transmitted for each antenna of a transmitter, adjusting intervals among antennas of a receiver based on the information about a channel state, calculating transmission capacity values according to the adjusted intervals among antennas, and setting an antenna to an antenna interval corresponding to a transmission capacity having a highest value among the transmission capacity values calculated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communication using multiple antennas, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for adaptively adjusting, based on a channel environment, an interval and direction of multiple antennas each of a transmitter and a receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wireless mobile communication market is growing continuously, and various multimedia services are being used in a wireless environment. Recently, a high capacity of data is being transmitted and a high speed of a data transmission is performed to provide a multimedia service. In turn, this leads to research being conducted on a multi-antenna system for using limited frequency resources effectively.
When an interval between antennas is insufficient, a correlation may occur between antennas that may not receive a signal independently. The correlation between antennas at a reception end may deteriorate a degree of freedom of a channel, thereby decreasing a communication capacity of an entire system.

Structure of adaptive multiple antennas and communication device and method using adaptive multiple antennae

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


Apparatus shears foreign matter such as lines, wires, nets and weeds that can entangle and befoul propellers, propeller shafts, bearings and related structure of propeller-driven, water born vessels. The apparatus shears by cooperative action of a rotating blade that rotates in conjunction with the propeller and a non-rotating blade supported on a non-rotating portion of the vessel. The non-rotating blade moves axially within its support. With each revolution, a slot follower connected to the non-rotating blade engages a slot carried by the rotating blade to adjust the axial position of the non-rotating blade to compensate for axial movement of the rotating blade. A wedge and valley mechanism prevents the two blades being forced apart during shearing action. Roller bearings, radially disposed, reduce friction between slot follower and slot to reduce wear on the parts and thereby prevent malfunction with prolonged operation and to provide low cost replacement of the bearings for maintenance.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to marine devices that cut lines, nets, weeds and the like, and more particularly to shearing cutters that employ a blade rotating with the propeller of a vessel that cooperates with a non-rotating blade mounted on a non-rotating portion of a vessel adjacent the shaft.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Lines, nets, weeds and the like are commonly encountered by vessels. They may be swept by the propeller blades into the propeller shaft apparatus where they can cause great harm, i.e. into the space where the propeller shaft extends from its housing. There they may cut through the oil seals causing loss of lubricant. The current trend toward long line fishing wherein heavy monofilament nylon many miles long is lying in the water has exacerbated the problem. Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,249, Jul. 24, 1990 teaches a unique means for adjusting the distance between a pair of radially extending shearing cutters, one of which is attached to a non-rotating portion of the ship and one of which is attached to a rotating portion of the ship.
The position of the propeller will change relative to the hull, advancing axially when under way in forward due to the forward thrust of the propeller. Heating and cooling of the shaft will also change propeller axial position. A sensing mechanism senses propeller location and a moving mechanism moves the non-rotating blade to accommodate these changes in relative propeller location to maintain a fixed, very close spacing between the two blades for effective shearing action.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,447,215; 4,507,091; 4,544,363 and 4,801,281 issued to Applicant disclose means for mounting both rotating and non-rotating shearing blades on the shaft so that axial shaft displacement has no effect on relative blade spacing. A simple, inexpensive mechanism for maintaining the correct distance between a rotating blade on a shaft or propeller and a non-rotating blade mounted on a non-rotating portion of the ship for optimum shearing action between the two blades despite axial movement of the shaft and propeller would be useful for many waterbome craft.
Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,017,167 issued May 21, 1991 teaches a slot and slot follower mechanism for maintaining relative axial position between rotating and non-rotating parts of a line and weed cutter mechanism to compensate for axial movement of the propeller and shaft, with the slot rotating and the slot follower not rotating. Cutting lines and weeds free of the rotating shaft and propeller enhances propeller efficiency and prevents line from damaging the shaft seals. However, prolonged operation causes excessive wear between the slot and slot follower from constantly rubbing against each other. This alters the relative axial alignment between the parts leading to functional failure and requiring expensive replacement of large parts.


A new cultivar of Pelargonium named ‘KLEPZ08220’ particularly characterized with orange, shiny inflorescences, medium growth, good performance indoors and outdoors, and early and rich flowering habit, is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'KLEPZ08220'. 'KLEPZ08220' was discovered as a seedling resulting from a cross in September 2001 in Stuttgart, Germany between the proprietary female Pelargonium parent, 'Z 99 289' (unpatented) and the proprietary male Pelargonium parent, 'Kleugudo' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,886). A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and for asexual propagation.
The new cultivar was created in 2001 and first propagated in October 2001 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany over an eight-year period. 'KLEPZ08220' has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.
Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied for in Switzerland on Jun. 19, 2008 and in Canada on Mar. 28, 2008. 'KLEPZ08220' has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.


Drinking access to the contents of a beverage container, having a non-removable opening lift tab, is enhanced by the formation of an air access opening in the container adjacent the beverage access opening. The beverage container top has a first scored section which is opened by the lift tab for access to the contained beverage. The beverage container top further includes a second scored section diametrically opposed to the first scored section which is opened by the same lift tab. The lift tab is swiveled and used to open the second scored section to provide the requisite air access opening, if drinking directly from the container is desired. The lift tab can be rotated to the side of the openings, if desired, to eliminate impedance of direct drinking from the container. The second scored section is sized to permit sufficient air to enter the container to cause the beverage contained in the container to flow in a strong steady stream when the opened first scored section is sealed from the air by the drinker's mouth during drinking.

Single serving metal beverage containers such as soda or beer cans are currently marketed with self contained openers in the form of lift tabs. In all of the present embodiments, the lift tab is comprised of a ring-like lift portion for control by an inserted finger. In one form of lift tab, the ring is attached to a pear shaped pre-scored section of the container top, with continued lifting of the ring causing a relatively large pear shaped section to become completely detached from the container top. This type of lift tab has however met with an environmental outcry since it has resulted in a new type of litter. Accordingly, a more acceptable non-detachable lift tab is presently being utilized on nearly all of the soda and beer cans currently sold in the United States, with the soda and beer cans being themselves recycled to reduce litter.
However, unlike the containers with removable tabs which provided large openings and thereby permitted relatively easy drinking directly from the container, the non-detachable lift tabs impede direct drinking. The opening made with the non-detachable lift tab is, of necessity, relatively small and close to the rim of the container. Direct drinking results in the entire opening being covered by the mouth, thereby causing the contained beverage to flow out in a trickle rather than a strong flow. In addition, the tab itself obstructs drinking access to the opening. As a result, drinking from the container is in the form of a less than satisfying dribble. To obviate these disadvantages, the drink is either poured into a second container such as a cup, or straws are inserted into the opening.
The non-detachable lift tab, with some design variations, is basically comprised of a short, somewhat rectangular, elongated aluminum strip (about 11/8.times.5/8inch--28.times.16 mm) with rolled over edges for structural strength and for prevention of exposed sharp edges. At a first end, the tab is formed into a ring-like member (also with rolled over inner edges) for finger insertion and lifting. The second end, with strengthened rolled over edge, is rounded or tapered and centrally crimped for force-concentrated pushing engagement with a cantilevered weakened section of the container top, which will open upon continued application of force.
To facilitate manufacture and container storage nesting, the usually circular container top is shallowly dished along a major portion of a diameter thereof. About half of the length of the dished area is formed for seated mating with the lift tab, i.e., slightly larger but conformed to the peripheral shape of the lifting end and adjacent sides of the lifting tab. The center of the container top, situated within the dished area, is formed with an integral outwardly extending hollow rivet-like section which fits into a corresponding aperture located on the longitudinal axis of the tab. The aperture is positioned on the tab such that the engagement between tab and container top results in about three quarters of the length of the tab (the lifting end) being situated on one side of the engagement site and about one quarter of the tab (the pushing end) being situated on the other side. The rivet-like section is then peened over, during assembly, to fixedly attach the lift tab to the container top.
The remaining dished area in the container top contains a peninsularly shaped weakening score line such as in the shape of a thumb nail (other similar design related shapes include truncated ovals or circles) having its tapered (or arced) end extending in a direction away from the tab. A small portion of the "thumb nail", peripherally adjacent to the engagement site, however remains unscored. The pushing end of the tab extends over the non-scored portion and over the adjacent area enclosed by the thumb nail score line. During the opening operation, the lifting end of the tab is elevated. The tab pivots through the rivet engagement area and the pushing end of the tab swivels down thereby tearing the scored section and pushing the weakened area of the container top into the container. Because of its proximity to the pushing end of the tab, the scored area, adjacent the rivet-like section, tears open first, with initial internal gas pressure relief (the contained beverages are usually carbonated or are susceptible to internal gas evolution).
Upon continued pushing force, the tear propagates around the score line away from the pushing end of the tab. The section of the container top, enclosed by the score line, then pivots down into the container in a cantilevered movement, and is held from falling into the container by the small unscored section of the "thumb nail". The area surrounding the contact point between the tab end and the container top is strengthened by a raised rib integrally formed within the "thumb nail" area to prevent gouging of the container top by the tab end.
Several embodiments of prior art containers include frangible buttons or sections of the container which are initially pressed either with a finger or by depression of the tab with a finger. These buttons or frangible sections pop to provide initial pressure relief for facilitated opening of the container. However, in order for such buttons or frangible sections to be effectively opened by finger pressure, a portion of a pressurized container must be overly weakened. The weakened section is, however small, to avoid undue weakening of the container, and since only a small opening is required for pressure relief.
Inclusion of the pressure relief sections, requires expensive modification of existing machinery for producing beverage cans, to form the can tops with integral buttons or frangible sections. Manufacturers are accordingly very reluctant to effect such modifications, particularly since the necessity for the initial pressure relief has been substantially obviated by use of the container-opening lift tabs, which, upon initial use, allow for the pressure relief.
Most detrimentally, such buttons or frangible sections operate with the tab being depressed against the button or frangible area. This depression often occurs simply upon handling of the containers and the buttons or frangible sections are readily accidentally activated during handling of the containers. For these reasons their use has been avoided.

Beverage container with air access for direct drinking


An electrical cable (1) adapted for terminating with an electrical connector (2) includes a pair of cable subassemblies (10). Each cable subassembly has two signal wires (101) and a metal braid (102) wraps round the two signal wires. Each signal wire includes a signal conductor (103) and an insulating layer (104) outside. An outer jacket (12) surrounds the two cable subassemblies. A grounding sleeve (11) includes two recess portions (110) for receiving exposed front portions of the respective cable subassemblies press-fitted therein. Three grounding pins (113) project from the grounding sleeve at intervals for being soldered to corresponding grounding terminals (21, 22, 23) of the electrical connector.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical cable, and particularly to an electrical cable having an improved grounding means.
2. Description of Prior Art
Referring to FIG. 5, a conventional electrical cable 40 adapted for transmitting signals comprises a pair of cable subassemblies 41. Each cable subassembly 41 includes two signal wires 42 with two non-insulated grounding drain wires 43 outside, and a conductive layer 44 surrounding the signal wires 42 and the non-insulated grounding drain wires 43. The conductive layer 44 electrically contacts with the non-insulated grounding drain wires 43 so as to shield the signal wires 42 from noises. The two cable subassemblies 41 are arranged in a same plane. However, such a kind of electrical cable needs considerable non-insulated grounding drain wires, which not only increases the manufacturing cost but also complicates the manufacturing process.
Hence, an improved grounded electrical cable is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
The object of the present invention is to provide an electrical cable having an improved grounding means which reduces the cost of the electrical cable and simplifies the manufacturing process thereof.
An electrical cable in accordance with the present invention, which is adapted for connecting with an electrical connector, comprises a pair of cable assemblies. Each cable subassembly has two signal wires for transmitting data and a metal braid wrapping round the two signal wires. Each signal wire comprises a signal conductor and an insulating layer outside. An outer jacket surrounds the tow cable subassemblies. A grounding sleeve, which is made of a metal sheet, comprises two recess portions and a pair of ears extending from opposite ends thereof. Three grounding pins project from the grounding sleeve at intervals for being soldered to corresponding grounding terminals of the electrical connector.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


An endless belt for power transmission is capable of efficiently improving the yawing attitude of the elements in a variable pulley. This endless belt for power transmission includes the elements and an annular band-like member for supporting the elements. The endless belt is winched between a pair of variable pulleys. Groove parts extending from the front surface of the belt in the forward movement direction to a predetermined position not reaching to the rear surface of the belt in the forward movement direction are formed in the side surfaces of the elements contacting with the belt sliding surfaces of the variable pulleys.

In an endless belt for the power transmission in which a plurality of elements are supported by a looped band-shaped member, which belt is wound around a pair of variable pulleys, these elements each comprise a main body section that undergoes pinching pressure from the pair of variable pulleys, and a head section connected to the main body section via a neck section. A plurality of groove sections provided to facilitate removal of an oil film are formed on a side surface (flank surface) of the main body portion, which surface comes into contact with a belt sliding surface of the variable pulley (for example, refer to patent document 1 or patent document 2).
The main kinds of behavioral deterioration of the element are deterioration of yawing motion and deterioration of pitching behavior. Deterioration of the yawing motion, for example, partial hitting of the side surface (flank surface) of the element against the belt sliding surface of the variable pulley, has a great impact on transmission of a torque. Usually, at the entrance of the variable pulleys (at the upstream side of a belt traveling direction), in the case of the element having a deteriorated yawing motion, the yawing motion of the element is improved in such a manner that in a transition region of an idle arc (a region in which no compression force acts in between the elements) and an active arc (a region in which compression force acts in between the elements) in the variable pulley, a rear surface side of a preceding side surface (flank surface) of the element in the belt traveling direction slides against the variable pulley.
However, in the case of the element described in patent document 1, a groove portion provided to facilitate removal of an oil film is formed on the side surface (flank surface) of the element in a straight manner from the front surface to the rear surface of the element in the belt traveling direction. For this reason, the yawing motion of the element deteriorates at the entrance of the variable pulley, and even if the side surface (flank surface) of the element partially comes into contact with the belt sliding surface of the variable pulley, the action of removing an oil film by means of the groove portion does not change, and frictional force between the element and the variable pulley does not vary. In other words, when the element partially comes into contact with the belt sliding surface, it does not readily slide on the belt sliding surface, and thus, the element as above does not have an effective shape from the standpoint of improvement in the yawing motion thereof in the variable pulley.
In the element described in patent document 2, the intervals of groove portions provided to facilitate removal of an oil film are set, on the side surface (flank surface) of the element, such that distances between adjacent groove portions at the front surface side of the element in the belt traveling direction are wider and those at the rear surface side of the element in the belt traveling direction are narrower. For this reason, the yawing motion of the element deteriorates at the entrance of the variable pulley, and when the front surface side and rear surface side of the side surface (flank surface) of the element in the belt traveling direction each partially come into contact with the belt sliding surface, increase of surface pressure caused by a decrease of an area coming into contact with the variable pulley becomes an issue at the front surface side of the element in the belt traveling direction. Further, at the rear surface side in the belt traveling direction, increase of the area coming into contact with the variable pulley produces an effect of reducing a surface pressure, but the action of removing an oil film does not change, whereby reduction of frictional force between the element and the variable pulley cannot be expected. In other words, when this element partially comes into contact with the belt sliding surface, it also does not readily slide on the belt sliding surface, and therefore, the element does not have an effective shape from the standpoint of improvement in the yawing motion in the variable pulleys.
Patent document 1. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2-236045
Patent document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 10-213185