A gas turbine stationary blade having a cooling medium passage and outer and inner shrouds in a blade section, comprising a hollow portion in the blade section, the hollow portion including a plurality of chambers divided in the chord direction, the cooling medium passage being formed by connecting the divided chambers in series, one of the chambers located in the center with respect to the chord direction being formed as a sealing air passage in order to allow a cooling medium to flow from the outside of the outer shroud to the bore of the inner shroud.

The present invention relates to a gas turbine stationary blade of a steam-cooled type, and more specifically, a gas turbine stationary blade having an inter-stage seal between a bore thereof and a rotor.
In a conventional gas turbine stationary blade, a passage is provided in its hollow and a discharged air from a compressor or extraction gas is run in the passage. By doing this, the blade is cooled so that the blade metal temperature is maintained at a certain allowable value lower than the temperature of a main gas.
The inside space of the blade serves also as a cooling air passage in which an air curtain is formed by inter-stage sealing.
In the steam-cooled gas turbine stationary blade, moreover, steam is circulated in place of air that is used in a conventional blade.
In some gas turbine stationary blades that utilize steam for blade cooling, the used steam is discharged into the main gas without being recovered. Preferably, however, all the steam used for cooling should be recovered.
In order to recover all the used steam, it is necessary, as in the conventional arrangement, to supply inter-stage cooling air to the bore-side seal so as to form a curtain of a low-temperature gas, thereby preventing the main gas from leaking out into the seal.
The trailing edge of the blade is so thin that it is difficult to provide passage means for steam circulation with a given area therein. Also in the steam cooling system, the blade wall may be formed having holes that extends from the inside of the blade into the main gas so that air can be run through the holes.
Thus, a blade section of the steam-cooled gas turbine stationary blade must be provided with steam passages, air passage means for the trailing edge, and air passage means for inter-stage sealing.
While a trailing edge cooling portion of the stationary blade directly opens on the outlet side of the blade, sealing air must be kept at a pressure higher than the pressure on the upstream side of the blade. It is difficult, therefore, to join the passage means for the trailing edge cooling air and the inter-stage sealing air.
In order to integrate the air passage means to secure the necessary cross-sectional area, the thin trailing edge portion of the blade must be provided with a passage that is elongated in the chord direction. Thereupon, the cross-sectional area of the blade that requires air-cooling increases, so that the cooling air must be increased in quantity. Thus, the steam cooling effect is reduced.


A method for driving a display panel is disclosed. The display panel includes a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in an array, a plurality of data input ports, a plurality of groups of data lines, and a plurality of groups of selection switches, wherein each group of data lines includes a plurality of data lines coupled to the same data input port through a plurality of selection switches in a corresponding group of selection switches. The method includes: sequentially turning on a plurality of selection switches according to a first sequence when an Mth row of sub-pixels of the display panel is scanned; and sequentially turning on the plurality of selection switches according to a second sequence when an (M+1)th row of sub-pixels of the display panel is scanned, wherein M is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, and the first sequence is different from the second sequence.

Display panels in which White (W for short) sub-pixels are added to conventional Red, Green and Blue (RBG for short) sub-pixels to form Red, Green Blue and White sub-pixels (i.e., RGBW sub-pixels) have been widely applied in various display devices since the display panels designed with RGBW sub-pixels have better light transmittance, higher brightness, and lower power consumption.
In an existing display panel having RGBW sub-pixels, selection switches for controlling turn-on and turn-off of rows of sub-pixels, for example, data multiplexers ("muxes" for short), are usually designed as a 1:3mux arrangement. In the design of the arrangement, sub-pixels in adjacent rows of light-emitting pixels are arranged in different orders. A conventional mixed color picture is a reloaded image, and a plurality of sub-pixels with the same color in the same row of sub-pixels are turned on by the respective different muxes to be charged, which may result in differences in the charging of the plurality of sub-pixels with the same color in a case of a specific display image, and thus cause differences in brightness of the sub-pixels with same color. The reloaded image described above means that an output waveform at a source of a Thin Film Transistor (TFT for short) is variable. In addition, in an existing design of a turn-on timing of muxes, the muxes are turned on in the same manner between respective different frames. Thereby, respective frames and respective rows of sub-pixels have the same coupling state therebetween. If there are differences in brightness of sub-pixels due to coupling of the sub-pixels when each row of muxes is turned on, it may result in a display effect of horizontal stripes and vertical stripes on the display panel, which greatly affects the display effect of the display panel.

Method for driving display panel and computer readable storage medium

BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A fixing mechanism includes a base, a supporter, a torsional component, an actuating component and a resilient component. The supporter is rotatably disposed on the base. The torsional component is disposed on the base and has a first engaging portion. The actuating component is disposed on the supporter and is further movably switched between a first position and a second position. The actuating component has a second engaging portion. The actuating component moves from the first position to the second position to engage the second engaging portion with the first engaging portion. Two ends of the resilient component are respectively connected to the supporter and the base. When the second engaging portion is disengaged from the first engaging portion, the resilient component rotates the supporter relative to the base. A rotary angle between the supporter and the base is fixed by the torsional component via the actuating component.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a fixing mechanism and a related external electronic device, and more particularly, to a fixing mechanism and a related external electronic device capable of providing support function by torsion force and automatic recovery function according to assembly/disassembly of the portable electronic device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The electronic devices, such as tablet computers, are popular information technology products in the electronic products market presently. Tablet computers can be collocated with a base for supporting the tablet computer or providing a key-in function. For example, when it is desired to utilize the tablet computer in a notebook computer mode, the tablet computer can be inserted into a sound box or the base with a keyboard. There is a rotary slot disposed on the conventional base. The conventional tablet computer is assembled with the rotary slot to rotate relative to the conventional base for adjusting a view angle of the tablet computer. However, the rotary slot stays at the present angle/position when the conventional tablet computer is disassembled from the rotary slot. The rotary slot partly protrudes from a main structure of the conventional base, and the rotary slot is easily damaged by hitting the tablet computer or the other objects.

Fixing mechanism and external electronic device thereof


A sound panel for playing sounds and music, comprising a substantially flat soundboard made of wood, at least one tie which is fitted to the soundboard in order to subject the soundboard to a mechanical tension, an electromechanical transducer which is mounted on the soundboard in a nodal vibration point of the soundboard and can be connected to an electronic audio source in order to transduce into mechanical pulses and consequent vibrations of the soundboard audio information that arrives from the electronic audio source in the form of electrical signals, the soundboard comprising areas having mutually different thicknesses in order to evenly distribute transfer of energy from the soundboard to the air over a range of sound frequencies.

It is known to use loudspeakers to reproduce and play music. Loudspeakers typically comprise a thin cone-shaped diaphragm, which is mounted within a resounding chamber and is connected to an electromagnetic transducer of the coil type in its central part in order to generate sound waves along the surface of the diaphragm.
However, these loudspeakers suffer the drawback that they can work only within a limited frequency range, and it is therefore necessary to use a number of diaphragms in the same loudspeaker or in a plurality of loudspeakers in order to enhance certain groups of frequencies, for example low, medium and high frequencies.
Moreover, it is necessary to use a resounding chamber in order to avoid the effects of destructive interference of the sounds generated by the diaphragm.

Sound panel for playing sounds and music, and method for manufacturing such panel


Devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for retrofitting or providing new water treatment vaults and chambers, with a floatable skimmer on tracks above a solid shelf that constricts and restricts water during low and medium flows for maximum detention time to allow for greater storm water treatment, and for high flows allows for the skimmer to automatically adjust to allow for greater conveyance of storm water flow. The skimmer can have float(s) across an upper edge with side edges having both centering and load bearing wheels that slide up and down within tracks that are mounted to side walls of storm water treatment chambers and vaults. Additional embodiments include multi-chamber vaults and chambers with baffles separating sediment chambers. Additionally screen treatment systems can be used with the chambers and vaults. Additionally, the skimmer panels can be positioned so that lower edges can sit on top of outer edges of the shelfs, or form a gap between the top of the outer edge of the shelf and the lower edge of the moveable panel, or have a gap between a hanging down skimmer panel and a front edge of the shelf.

Traditional and common skimmers generally have vertical sides with a lower open bottom. The vertical sides make use of a hydraulic pressure differential between the front side and back side of the skimmer to direct the water flow down and pass it through the open bottom. Once the flow passes through the open bottom flow will be conveyed downstream. The intention is that debris or liquids that float due to buoyancy will not be able to move downward into the water column to pass through the open bottom of the skimmer.
A problem with the traditional and common skimmers is the balance between headloss that they create and the need to pass water flow to prevent flooding. When the opening under a skimmer is relatively large it will have less headloss, a greater water conveyance, but less treatment potential. When the opening is relatively small under a skimmer it will have greater headloss, less water conveyance, but greater treatment.
As such, the traditional and common skimmers do not allow for maximum detention time to allow for capturing contaminates such as foliage, litter, and sediments, and lighter than water liquids such as petroleum products. In short, to treat the storm water flow to prevent pollutants from being conveyed downstream to a receiving body of water. This process of treating the water flow can create headloss which could impede the flow and reduce the rate of flow.
Additionally, if the treatment results in a significant reduction in the rate of flow, flooding can occur upstream from the stormwater treatment structure.
As such, minimizing the headloss caused by a treatment system is important, especially when a treatment system is retrofitted to a pre-existing drain pipe or ditchline.
Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art.


A grounding assembly is provided for a cellular telephone and is integrated into a battery modules for the cellular telephone. The assembly permits a user to manually access the manual test pin of the telephone body portion from the exterior without necessitating removal of the battery module from the cellular telephone body portion. The grounding assembly provides a means for contacting the manual test pin by grounding it to the battery by way of a plunger pin, which after contacting the manual test pin, switches the operation of the cellular telephone into a test mode for reading or programming the parameters in its number assignment module ("NAM").

The present invention relates generally to portable, cellular telephones and more specifically relates to grounding assemblies for such telephones that are operable to place the telephones into test modes.
The popularity and low cost of portable cellular telephones has increased tremendously in the past few years. Technology advances have reduced the size and cost of such telephones. One popular model of a portable cellular telephone is manufactured by Motorola, Inc. of Schaumburg, Ill. and sold under the trade names "Micro-Tac" and "Tele-Tac". The former is generically referred to by the public as a "flip-phone" because it has a speaker portion hinged to the telephone body that "flips" away from the body to expose the keypad to access. A rechargeable battery module interconnects to the rear of the telephone body and provides power for the telephone. The latter type of telephone has no hinged speaker component, but has the speaker built into the body portion of the telephone. However, it also uses a detachable battery module for powering the telephone.
These two cellular telephones, as well as all other cellular telephones in the marketplace contain a variety of programmable parameters that define the operation of cellular telephones. These parameters include, for example, the electronic serial number ("ESN") of the telephone, the telephone number (referred to as a mobile identification number or "MIN") assigned to the cellular telephone, the system identification number ("SIN") of the cellular system to which the user subscribes, confidential user codes and other important information. This information is held within a memory area of the cellular telephone that is known as a number assignment module ("NAM").
When a customer initially subscribes to a cellular service, this information is programmed into the NAM of the telephone at the point of purchase by the vendor. In order to program or read this information, the cellular telephone must be set to a test mode for access to the NAM. This information is stored in a memory of the telephone and any subsequent changes to this information is effected by accessing the NAM of the cellular telephone.
Unfortunately, the increase in popularity and reduction of cost in cellular telephones have also made such telephones attractive to thieves. Stolen telephones may be identified when recovered by law enforcement officials by placing the telephones into a test mode in the same manner as a telephone vendor does at the point of purchase to read the information contained in the NAM, such as the ESN, the MIN and other information.
The easiest manner to set a cellular telephone into a test mode is by grounding a manual test pin located on the telephone main body in opposition to its battery module. Presently, this task requires removing the battery module and placing the telephone body into a test receptacle or block having a regulated power supply and a momentary contact switch, or using a wire jumper to ground the manual test pin while applying power to the portable telephone. The telephone is then powered up by pressing its power key and a selected key of the keypad, such as the "#" key, is pressed to place the telephone into what is known as the manual test mode. Although effective, these test receptacles are expensive and cumbersome, while the wire jumper method is crude and requires the use of two hands which may preclude the tester from applying power to the telephone to enable its test mode. Neither of these two known manners of programming lend themselves to use by individual telephone owners or law enforcement officials.
Therefore, a need exists for a simple and inexpensive grounding mechanism that permits quick, one-handed access to the test mode of a cellular telephone for NAM programming and reading. The present invention is directed to a grounding assembly for portable cellular telephones that overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and has a simple and low cost structure which can be utilized as a replacement battery module for cellular telephones.

Grounding assembly for programming cellular telephones


A plurality of client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10 are connected to a server-side electronic musical apparatus 30 through a communications network 50. Each of the client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10, which is provided with an ID, attaches the ID to a signal representative of operation of performance operators 11 and setting operators 12, and transmits the ID-added signal to the server-side electronic musical apparatus 30. The server-side electronic musical apparatus 30 independently and concurrently executes, through the use of the ID, processes corresponding to the operational signals for the respective client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10 to generate musical tone data and display data, and transmits the generated data with the ID to the respective client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10. The thus-transmitted data is appropriately received by the client-side electronic musical apparatus 10 identified on the basis of the ID. In spite of having a simple configuration, therefore, the respective client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10 are able to independently and concurrently operate as a sophisticated and high-performance electronic musical apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic musical apparatus system in which a plurality of client-side electronic musical apparatuses are connected to a server-side electronic musical apparatus via a communications network, the server-side electronic musical apparatus and the client-side electronic musical apparatuses which compose the system, and computer programs applied to the apparatuses.
2. Description of the Related Art
There have been a wide variety of electronic musical apparatuses such as electronic musical instruments, ranging from sophisticated and high-performance apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as high-grade apparatuses) to unsophisticated and low-performance apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as low-grade apparatuses). In addition, there has been a conventional scheme in which a low-grade apparatus is connected with a high-grade apparatus through MIDI, for example, to allow the low-grade apparatus to perform functions of the high-grade apparatus and to synchronize sequencers of the low-grade apparatus and the high-grade apparatus (see JP3383108B, for example).
In the above conventional scheme, however, those apparatuses cannot be operated independently and concurrently. In order to allow a plurality of electronic musical apparatuses to concurrently perform sophisticated and high-performance tasks, therefore, the respective electronic musical apparatuses have to be sophisticated and high-performance.

Electronic musical apparatus system, server-side electronic musical apparatus and client-side electronic musical apparatus


An improved building panel is presented to make wall surface assemblies on structural building frames. The edge-sealed building panel includes with self-aligning features between adjacent horizontal edges for quick mating and assembly. The building panels have protuberant upper edges mate with grooves on the lower edges for improved sealing and weatherproofing, due to the interlocking shape and the use of compliant seals between the edges. The horizontal mating edge shapes enable pivoting assembly by engaging the building panel obliquely and swinging it onto the wall surface. Vertical mating surfaces with compliant seals are shaped to engage perpendicularly to the wall plane, so that the compliant seals clamp shut without in-plane relative motion, improving seal integrity.

It is well known in the art to use building panels to make wall or partition surface assemblies on structural building frames.
There are various requirements for such building panel assemblies. In particular the panels must be capable of quick, simple and reliable assembly. This will ensure that wall surfaces can be rapidly built, with minimal risk of damage to the wall panels during assembly.
In the case of an exterior wall, the joints should protect the building from the ingress of wind, moisture, and other environmental factors. In the case of an interior partition, the joints should be draftproof.
The problems encountered by existing panels are numerous. As the concept of panel modularity evolved, panels became larger in the interests of faster assembly time since obviously fewer large panels would be needed to complete a wall surface when compared to, for example, smaller panels or even bricks.
Large panels present various drawbacks, some of which are their increased weight and bulk, making it difficult to manoeuvre, position and attach the large panels to a building structure. Add to this the difficulty in sealing the edges of adjacent panels, such difficulty being accentuated the taller or more inaccessible the building structure becomes.
Furthermore, large panels, once installed, are not removable from the building structure without damages to the panels and/or the structure, thus preventing the re-installation of the panels on another structure or simply on the same building structure after relocation thereof.
Attempts have been made previously to seal the edges of adjacent panels with rubber sill garage doors sealing or windows rubber hoses sealing system but among the consistent drawbacks has been the frequent damage to sealing surfaces while the panels are handled, and during the building assembly activity. The damage to the sealing surfaces is often difficult to detect and repair during construction, resulting in drafty, leaky buildings that require repair as soon as they are placed in service.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved building panel with modular, self-aligning, quick-assembly interfaces providing sealing and weatherproofing.


A pallet system for supporting and transporting cargo on a cargo carrier. The cargo carrier has a plurality of rollers and a pair of retaining rails. The pallet system comprises a pallet member having a top late and a bottom plate, with each plate maintained in a spaced apart relationship to define an interior space. A pair of pallet extension members reciprocally mounted in the interior space. One extension member is mounted a spaced distance from the other extension member, with each pallet extension member having an outer edge configured to engage the retaining rails. An extension mechanism is mounted in the interior space and coupled to the pallet member and the pallet extensions. The extension mechanism moves each pallet extension member from a first position to a second position.

The present invention relates to pallets and, more particularly, to a pallet system for supporting and transporting cargo on a cargo carrier.
Cargo carriers, especially aircraft cargo carriers, typically transport cargo on transport flat racks, container roll in/out platforms and ISO container loads. However, such devices need to be placed on standard pallets known as a 463L pallet. Such 463L pallets, with their respective cargo loads, are then handled by material handling equipment such as a K-loader for loading and unloading an aircraft. The aircraft typically have a plurality of rollers which facilitate movement of the pallets in and out of the aircraft. The aircraft are also provided with at least a pair of retaining rails mounted typically along the longitudinal length of the fuselage of the aircraft. The retaining rails engage the 463L pallets to secure the pallets in a given location in the fuselage. Such retention is critical to stability of the aircraft in flight as well as in balancing the cargo loads on the pallets.
Cargo transport aircraft or other cargo carriers typically vary in width. For instance, a military transport such as a C-130 aircraft accommodates one row of pallets having a width of approximately 108 inches. A military cargo aircraft such as a C-17 can handle two rows of pallets having width of approximately of 88 inches or alternatively one row of pallets having width of approximately 108 inches. Other cargo carriers, such as trucks and water craft may accommodate pallets of different widths. Existing pallet systems for use with cargo carriers typically are provided in a single width, for example, 463L type pallets can be 88 inches or 108 inches wide, which limits their use to a particular type of cargo carrier or aircraft.
Thus, there is a need for a pallet system for supporting and transporting cargo on a cargo carrier wherein the distance between the outer edges of the pallet are infinitely adjustable. There is further a need for a pallet system where the distance between the outer edges is 88 inches at a first position and 108 inches at a second position. There is an additional need for a pallet system for supporting and transporting cargo in which two or more pallet members can be coupled together to accommodate a given cargo load.


Users are provided with the option of having destination information, such as a street address and/or destination phone number, obtained from online mapping services, transmitted to their vehicle's navigation system. In certain embodiments, the user may logon to an online vehicle server to provide information necessary to identify their respective vehicle. Once the target vehicle is identified, the destination information may be transmitted to this vehicle by the vehicle server, after which the vehicle's navigation and communication system may be automatically populated with the received destination information.

In-vehicle navigation systems have become nearly ubiquitous in luxury vehicles and are beginning to find their way into the mid-priced vehicle market as well. Such systems incorporate a receiver for a Global Positioning System (GPS), which is a worldwide radio-navigation system formed of 24 orbiting satellites and their corresponding ground stations. Launched and maintained by the U.S. Department of Defense, these satellites send a stream of signals to the earth's surface enabling a GPS receiver to calculate accurate positions within about 10 feet. The vehicle's GPS receiver works in conjunction with mapping data, which is generally stored locally on a CD-ROM, to provide position-specific information to the vehicle operator. Other components of the in-vehicle navigation system include an on-board computer system which can process both speed and direction information received from the vehicle's odometer and on-board compass.
Although position-specific information can be very useful, in-vehicle navigation systems are most widely used for obtaining directions to particular destinations. In short, in-vehicle navigation systems have the ability to provide turn-by-turn directions the vehicle operator when the address of the desired destination is provided to the system. However, one significant drawback is that entering the desired destination information tends to be a tedious and cumbersome process. For example, the human-machine interfaces (HMIs) for many in-vehicle navigation systems involves a turn-knob or touch-screen input device by which address information may be inputted.
Regardless of the HMI design, all in-vehicle navigation systems require the operator to actually know the address of the desired destination. This information is typically found using one of the many online mapping services. While obtaining direction information using online mapping service is typically an easy process, users are still required to either memorize the address to later input it into the in-vehicle navigation system, or to manually print out the driving directions and/or address. In either case, there is currently no convenience approach to first obtaining and then providing destination information to an in-vehicle navigation system from a device other than the vehicle navigation system itself. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for automatically providing navigational information to vehicles.

System and method for automatically providing vehicle navigation information

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A method for producing a positive electrode sheet is provided with a positive current collecting foil made of aluminum and a battery positive active material layer containing positive active material particles made of LiNiMn based spinel and applied and dried on the current collecting foil. The positive active material layer includes a first binder made of polyacrylic acid with a molecular weight of 50,000 or less and a second binder made of polyacrylic acid with a molecular weight of 300,000 or more. The first positive electrode paste forming the positive active material layer satisfies expressions (1) to (3):α≥1.7  (1)β≥0.9  (2)α+β≤3.0  (3)where α is an additive amount of the first binder in pts. wt. and β is an additive amount of the second binder in pts. wt. when other solid content is 100 pts. wt.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a positive electrode sheet to be used for a lithium ion secondary battery, and, a positive electrode sheet for a lithium ion secondary battery.
Related Art
As the material of positive active material particles of a lithium ion secondary battery (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a battery), there is proposed Li transition metal composite oxide. To be concrete, layered lithium metal oxide such as LiCoO3, spinel-type lithium metal composite oxide, olivine-type lithium phosphate compound, and others are proposed. Particularly, LiNiMn based spinel particles can relatively increase positive potential during full charge.
Therefore, when positive active material particles made of Li transition metal composite oxide such as LiNiMn based spinel are dispersed in water in order to produce a water-based positive electrode paste, Li ions are ionized. Thus, this produced paste is strongly alkaline. For this reason, the water-based positive electrode paste containing positive active material particles made of Li transition metal composite oxide exhibits strong alkalinity above pH 9.0. When such a strong alkaline positive electrode paste is applied to a positive current collecting sheet made of aluminum and then dried, forming a positive active material layer, the positive current collecting sheet is corroded by the positive electrode paste, resulting in deterioration of adhesion property (binding property) of the positive active material layer to the positive current collecting sheet. Further, electric resistive oxides and hydroxides are generated. This may cause defects such as increased battery resistance.
In contrast, Patent Document 1 proposes forming a conductive material layer made of conductive material such as carbon powder in advance on a surface of a positive current collecting sheet in order to prevent corrosion of the current collecting sheet made of aluminum, and then, applying a composition for forming an active material layer containing water-based solvent (positive electrode paste).

Method for manufacturing a positive electrode sheet for a lithium ion secondary battery and a positive electrode sheet for a lithium ion secondary battery


An improved method of collecting quasi-elastic light scattering (also known as QELS) data and time-average intensity simultaneously is disclosed, as is a novel apparatus therefor. The apparatus utilizes a novel optical element having a pair of diametrically aligned slits on a masking disc that eliminates the need of index matching fluids that are currently required to eliminate flare from the sample cell walls at the cell-sample and the cell-air interfaces. The novel optical element allows improved angular resolution and on-axis resolution for the fluctuation data obtained.

Light scattering experiments, particularly laser light scattering experiments, are commonly employed for measuring properties of certain physical systems such as solutions, microemulsions, micellar solutions, and colloidal dispersions. One common goal is to obtain data such as particle size, based upon diffusion coefficients. In measuring the scattering of laser light from such a physical system, it is important to measure not only the total (also referred to as "time-average"or "K-vector") intensity of the light scattered at a given fixed angle .theta., but it is also important to measure the intensity fluctuations of the light with time. The object of this invention and, indeed, other research, is to provide a single apparatus that can simultaneously attain both pieces of data.
The difficulty encountered in making both measurements simultaneously is that the gathering of total intensity data requires a very precise determination of the angle of scattering .theta., while the accurate collection of the intensity fluctuation data requires only a relatively accurate determination of .theta., but requires a very precise determination of the spatial resolution, that is, knowing exactly where in the sample plane the measurement is being made. This requirement for high spatial resolution arises from the fact that the observed intensity fluctuations observed arise from two different sources. The first source is called "homodyning" and is the interaction or interference caused by the scattering of light from separate particles in the physical system. This effect is the effect of interest to the researcher. The second source of fluctuations is called "heterodyning". It arises from light scattering at the wall of the sample holder, both at the wall-air interface and the wall-sample interface. Even a small error due to heterodyning can grossly affect the results in measuring fluctuation, although the net effect upon total intensity results is minimal.
The commonly accepted method of eliminating heterodyning effects is to immerse the sample cell in a liquid that has the same refractive index as the sample cell itself. This is referred to as use of an index-matching fluid. When the sample cell is constructed of glass, which is the most common case, the liquid of choice is toluene, which has recently come under intense scrutiny due to detrimental health effects. These effects are especially intolerable in a closed environment, as one would encounter in a space vehicle such as the space shuttle. Therefore, a method for obtaining the two distinct measures simultaneously using a single apparatus and not requiring a liquid such as toluene would be extremely beneficial for use in space applications.
A second, and not as common, method of eliminating heterodyning effects on the wall surfaces is to place an opaque mask in the middle portion of the optical train between two lenses used to focus and then refocus the image. Using such masks creates "dead zones" in the image which can be used to eliminate scattering from the walls of the sample cell. Although opaque masks are very effective when used in the center portion of the lens train, the best data point for collecting total intensity, that is, the line of light that passes directly through the middle of each lens on the light axis, becomes, unfortunately, unavailable, since it has been blocked by the opaque mask.
Another method of obtaining both pieces of data, that is, both total and fluctuation intensities, without use of an index matching fluid, is to use two separate optical trains. The obvious disadvantage to the researcher in this case is that the data are not simultaneously obtained, and inaccuracies due to changes in the light source, the sample, the angular position of the optical train, or other changes, are inevitably introduced.

Combined optical train for laser spectroscopy


A measuring tool measures a trailing edge position of gas turbine nozzle. The tool includes a frame member attachable to at least one predefined reference point on the nozzle. At least one sliding member is slidable relative to the frame member and includes a measuring point engageable with the trailing edge. A position of the sliding member relative to the frame member is determinative of the trailing edge position.

The invention relates to a measuring and marking tool for a gas turbine nozzle and, more particularly, to a tool and method for measuring and marking a trailing edge position of a gas turbine nozzle segment relative to a radial line from engine center.
When measuring the throat opening and pitch between trailing edges of adjacent nozzles, the datum that is commonly used is the airfoil trailing edge. If the trailing edge is damaged or blended during repair or operation, the trailing edge can no longer be relied on to be at the correct angle or position relative to assembly drawings.
It would be desirable to have a device and method capable of checking the position and attitude of the trailing edges prior to measurement of the throat area and harmonics. It is also desirable to enable airfoils to be accurately marked such that they could then be cut back after weld restoration to nominal position and for all the airfoil trailing edges in the set to be trimmed consistently such that the pitches between adjacent airfoil trailing edges is maintained consistently.

Nozzle trailing edge position measurement and marking


A device for inserting rods into plastic forms comprising a frame, a plunger assembly coupled to the frame, an air cylinder assembly also coupled to the frame and to the plunger assembly, and a pneumatic plumbing assembly connected to the air cylinder assembly. The frame can be attached to a slipform paving or curbing machine. When actuated, the air cylinder assembly pulls the plunger along the frame. The plunger pushes a dowel rod resting in the frame along the frame and into a concrete member being extruded from the machine.

It is well known among civil engineers that dowel rods facilitate the connection of concrete members. Dowel rods are partially inserted into a first concrete member, such as a curb or road slab, that is to later be adjoined to a second concrete member. As the first form cures, the rods become partially embedded. When the second form is poured, the ends of the dowel rods protruding from the first form are encased by the fresh concrete of the second form and become embedded therein as it hardens. The embedded dowel rods thusly join the first and second concrete members. In the case of concrete curbing poured to be later adjoined to the road or street, dowels about 1/2 inch in diameter and about 30 inches long are inserted by half their lengths into the freshly poured curbing. When the roadway is later poured, the rods become embedded and serve to firmly fasten the roadway to the curbing.
Concrete slabs and curbing are commonly poured by slipform paving machines. Paving machines are tractors that extrude concrete slabs with cross sectional shapes determined by the shape of the auger mouth or the vertical sideforms and screed. Slipform paving machines typically extrude curbing from a set of sideforms and screed, which form the concrete into the curb shape as it is extruded. The viscosity of the concrete is such that it retains its extruded shape as the curbing machine advances.
Traditionally, the dowel rods have been inserted into the freshly poured curbing by hand. This process has several disadvantages. First, the rods may not be inserted at regular intervals, at regular heights, or to regular depths. Also, additional manpower is required, not only to insert the rods but also to finish the concrete since rod insertion after pouring causes a bulge or ripple distortion in the fresh concrete. Finally, manual insertion and finishing operations are tedious, time consuming, and inefficient utilizations of manpower resources.
There have also been attempts to design mechanized dowel rod inserters to be used with slipform pavers. These too suffer drawbacks. The prior inserters are complex, bulky and cumbersome. Also, the prior inserters are inconsistent with respect to insertion angle, depth, and spacing. Furthermore, some prior inserters have been designed to trail the paver, necessitating a finishing step for the concrete member after rod insertion. Moreover, trailing inserters cannot accommodate even moderate changes in direction or elevation of the paver. If the paver turns too sharply, the inserter will be pulled into the freshly poured concrete member. Hence, there is a need for an improved dowel rod insertion device for use with a slipform paver. A means for satisfying this need has so far eluded those skilled in the art.


The invention provides seed and plants of tomato comprising transgenic event Bs2-X5 and progeny thereof comprising this transgenic event and uses of such seeds and plants in the production of tomato fruit. The invention thus relates to non-hybrid and hybrid plants, seeds, and tissue cultures of tomato comprising transgenic event Bs2-X5, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

Bacterial spot disease, a complex of four Xanthomonas species, is among the most widespread and destructive diseases of tomatoes and peppers throughout the world, causing lesions on aerial plant parts leading to defoliation and fruit loss [1]. It has chronically afflicted U.S. tomato production, particularly in Florida, where the largest production of fresh market tomatoes occurs. Ninety-seven percent of Florida acres are affected, and yield losses may reach fifty percent of marketable production [2].
Various crop protection compounds have been used to control bacterial spot in commercial tomato and pepper production. In the 1950s, streptomycin was commonly used to control plant diseases caused by bacteria, including bacterial spot. Xanthomonas euvesicatoria (Race T1), the prevalent bacterial spot race in Florida at the time, quickly became resistant to streptomycin [3], [4], and its use was discontinued. In the 1960s, fixed copper compounds and copper-fungicide mixes became the primary means of bacterial spot control. Initially fixed copper was used alone, but resistance in xanthomonads developed quickly [5]. In response to observing increased efficacy when copper was mixed with ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicides such as maneb and mancozeb, growers began mixing fixed copper products with EBDC fungicides for improved bacterial spot control [5]. However, even these copper-fungicide mixes have become ineffective against tomato races of the pathogen, especially under conditions of high humidity and warm temperatures that favor heavy disease pressure (eg [6], [7], [8], [9]; Table 4).
Because crop protection compounds do not control the copper tolerant Xanthomonas races responsible for this disease, genetic resistance against bacterial spot has been a priority in tomato breeding programs. These breeding efforts have been slowed by the complex genetics of resistance and changing races of the pathogen, and consequently there are no commercial varieties with effective resistance to Xanthomonas. One commonly bred form of plant disease resistance relies on the evolution of specific intracellular immune receptors encoded by disease resistance, or R, genes. R genes have been selected through conventional breeding for over 100 years [10]. They encode specific receptors that recognize gene products made by specific races of a given pathogen species. These pathogen components are termed effectors, and they contribute to pathogen virulence by suppressing or modulating host defenses in susceptible plant genotypes that lack a corresponding R gene [11].
AvrBs2 is an effector that is highly conserved in a number of Xanthomonas species that infect a wide range of plant hosts, including tomato [12]. Unlike other key effectors, it is present in all six races of the tomato bacterial spot disease complex (Table 5). Mutations in AvrBs2 can impair virulence, indicating that it plays an important role in pathogenicity and may be a good target for durable resistance [12].
AvrBs2 is recognized by the R protein Bs2, identified in pepper, a fellow member of the Solanaceae and close relative of tomato. Previously, transgenic tomato plants expressing the Bs2 gene were reported to have enhanced resistance to bacterial spot disease following vacuum infiltration of leaves with Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria (Xcv) in the laboratory [13]. However, at that time resistance was not assessed under field conditions nor with the prevalent Xanthomonas strains that are known to cause bacterial spot disease of tomato.

Tomato plants comprising transgenic event Bs2-X5

The Regents of the University of California


An electrical assembly includes a socket member and a plug member adapted for mating with the socket member along a mating axis of the socket member. The socket member has a mating aperture having a side wall portion and a bottom wall portion. The side wall portion has a locking slot, while the bottom wall portion has at least one pin contact and at least one tab member. Each pin contact and each tab member extends from the bottom wall portion substantially parallel to the mating axis. The plug member includes a bottom surface and a resilient locking device adapted for engaging in the locking slot of the side wall portion of the socket member. The bottom surface has a socket contact aperture corresponding to each pin contact extending from the bottom wall portion of the mating aperture and a tab aperture corresponding to each tab member extending from the bottom wall portion of the mating aperture. The resilient locking device includes at least two arms which, upon application of a force to effect separation of the plug member from the socket member, spread apart for locking the plug member in the socket member and for preventing separation of the plug member from the socket member.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors for use with vehicle occupant inflatable restraint systems, generally known as airbag systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a connector plug having an engagement device for engaging with a connector socket of an airbag system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Use of airbag systems in motor vehicles has become virtually universal in recent years and is mandatory in many jurisdictions. Such systems normally include an airbag assembly mounted in a hidden compartment beneath the dashboard and an electrical or electronic control system for activating the assembly upon occurrence of a crash. The airbag assembly is generally connected to the control system by a wiring harness provided with a plug with socket contacts and a socket that receives pin contacts of the initiater.
A connector system of this type is shown, for example, in EP 0 591 947, in which the system is associated with an interlock including a locking element that is inserted into the connection to prevent separation of a pair of male connector elements carried by a first component from a pair of female connector elements carried by a second component and releasably mated therewith. A shorting element is associated with the first component and includes a pair of contact elements each biased into electrical contact with one of the pair of first connector elements for producing a short therebetween. The second component has a body comprising a portion contoured to enter between the pairs of connector elements for disconnecting the short upon mating of the first and second components, which are mechanically latched together. The locking element prevents release of the latch and hence separation of the two components while in the locked position.
In EP 0 537 751, which relates to a switch connector assembly having a structure that prevents admission of water, the female connector has a short-circuiting terminal extending into a connector fitting chamber of the female connector, as well as a temporary arresting projection and a flexible locking arm with a final arresting projection. The male connector has a connecting terminal, a flexible engaging pawl, and an engaging portion. When the temporary arresting projection is fitted with the pawl, the short-circuiting terminal is kept out of contact with the connecting terminal, but the two terminals enter into contact when the final arresting projection is fitted with the engaging portion.


A device and method for collecting and sanitizing toilet spray that is removably attachable to a toilet lid and toilet bowl of a conventional toilet. The device and method are capable of absorbing and sanitizing any spray and mist exiting the gaps between the toilet lid, toilet seat and toilet bowl. The device is also capable of absorbing any liquid which runs along the outside of the toilet bowl. The device and method for collecting and sanitizing toilet spray is adapted for quick installation and removal from a conventional toilet and designed for ease of use.

The present invention relates in general to toilet lid covers and accessories used therewith and pertains, more particularly, to toilet lid cover and drip strip which is used with any conventional toilet and provides an antiseptic protective collector for splashed and sprayed bacterial mist when the toilet is flushed. This invention is an improvement over conventional toilet lid covers and accessories used therewith.
With conventional toilet lid covers no provision is made to ensure that the water splash and mist created during toilet flushing is contained and sanitized within or near the toilet bowl in order to prevent the splash or mist from attaching to persons or things near the bowl. Generally this splash and mist exits the gap between the toilet lid and the toilet seat and/or the gap between the toilet seat and the toilet bowl. Contained within this splash and mist is a rich supply of bacteria from the waste deposited within the toilet. This includes but is not limited to E. coli. As such, it is difficult to maintain a sanitary space near the toilet when using conventional toilet lid covers and accessories therewith.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sanitary toilet lid cover that is adapted for quick installation and removal from a toilet lid and which contains an overhanging curtain and other protection features which cover the gaps where bacterial mist and spray typically exit. The curtain also contains an anti-bacterial cloth which ensures that any bacteria which are collected by the curtain will be killed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved sanitary toilet lid cover which is attached to the toilet lid in such a manner as to not hinder the use of the toilet and a drip strip which fits around the base of the toilet and is used in conjunction with the cover in order to absorb any spray or mist exiting the toilet during flushing thereby providing a sanitary space around the toilet.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved sanitary toilet lid cover which contains a handle strap which allows the user to avoid contacting the bacterial collection portion of the cover when raising or closing the toilet lid.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved sanitary toilet lid cover and a drip strip which is able to be used with any conventional toilet.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method for containing and sanitizing the spray and mist emitted during the flushing of a toilet with the combination of the sanitary toilet lid cover and the drip strip.

Device and method for collecting and sanitizing toilet spray


A proximity exposure device with a distance adjustment device in which sufficient determination sensitivity can be obtained even in areas with a low reflectance factor, such as on a glass surface, is achieved by a distance measurement part having a light source for measurement purposes, a pinhole plate, an objective lens, a light detection device and the like, light emerging form the light source for measurement purposes being emitted via the pinhole plate and objective lens onto the mask surface/workpiece surface, and light reflected thereby is detected via the objective lens and pinhole plate by the light detection device. If the mask surface/workpiece surface is located at the focal point of the objective lens on the object side, reflected light with high intensity is incident in the light detection device. To measure the distance between the mask and workpiece, the distance measurement part is moved in the Z-direction and two peaks of intensity of the reflected light of mask M and workpiece W are determined. Based on the position of the distance measurement part at this time, the distance between the mask and workpiece is determined. After measuring the distance between the mask and workpiece, the distance between the mask and workpiece is set to the desired value and exposure is performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a proximity exposure device with a distance adjustment device for setting the distance between a mask and a workpiece.
2. Description of Related Art
In proximity printing, a mask and a workpiece are fixed adjacent to one another, essentially parallel light is emitted from the mask side onto the workpiece, between the mask and the workpiece a microscopically small intermediate space being formed, and thus, the mask pattern is transferred onto the workpiece.
The reason that a microscopically small intermediate space is formed between the workpiece and mask is to avoid various types of damage, such as scratches on the mask or the workpiece by contact of the mask with the workpiece, mask impurities due to adhesion of a photo-resist film and the like formed on the workpiece on the mask, and similar damage.
To adjust the microscopically small intermediate space between the mask and workpiece, a process is conventionally used in which a strip, a sphere, and the like of metal or resin is inserted between the mask and workpiece as a spacer. In this process, the desired distance can be easily adjusted if the thickness of the spacer is selected (measured) beforehand.
This process prevents the mask and workpiece from coming into contact with one another over their entire surface. Therefore, the above described damage to which the mask and workpiece are subject can be reduced. Since, however as before, the mask and workpiece are partially in contact with one another via the spacer, the above described damage cannot be completely prevented.
To eliminate the above described defect, for example. Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 3-38024 and Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 3-38025 suggested measures. In the technology described in these two publications, there is a means for distance measurement and the described distance is set without contact of the mask with the workpiece. In this case, at three points within the mask surface/workpiece surface the distance is measured, the tilt of the workpiece carrier is adjusted such that the distances at the three points become the desired distances, and thus, the desired distance is reached without contact.
In the process described in the two aforementioned publications for distance measurement, in an optical system for measurement purposes, there is a mask on which a strip-like pattern is formed which is projected on the workpiece and mask, projected images being observed. Based on the difference between the position at which the projection image is focused on the mask, and the position at which the projection image is focused on the workpiece, the size of the distance is measured.
Furthermore, distance measurement processes for the same purpose are known from Japanese patent disclosure document SHO-63-138730, Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 5-226215, Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 6-5486, and Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 6-283400 and the like.
In the technology described in Japanese patent disclosure document SHO 63-138730, using an axicon, a halo (light ring) is formed which is emitted onto a mask and a workpiece, reflected light being picked up by a photo detector of the double ring type. Due to the different lengths of the optical path, as a result of the distance between the mask and the workpiece, the size of the halo reflected by the mask differs from the size of the halo reflected by the workpiece. This difference is determined by the photo detector of the double ring type, by which the value of the distance is measured.
In the technology described in Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 5-226215, there are beam-optical components, such as a diffraction grating, a zone plate, a grating lens and the like at locations on the mask where a measurement is desired. A light flux is obliquely incident through the aforementioned components in the workpiece and is reflected. The location of the spot of reflected light which has passed again through the beam-optical components and which has an angle of reflection which has been changed, is measured by means of a line sensor, by which the value of the distance is measured.
In the technology described in Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 6-5486, light from the bottom of the workpiece is obliquely incident. In a light receiving part which is likewise located on the bottom of the workpiece, the amount of deviation of the position of the light reflected from the mask surface from the position of the light reflected by the workpiece surface is determined, by which the amount of distance is measured.
In the technology described in Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 6-283400, a parallel light flux from the side of the mask and the workpiece is obliquely incident on the sides of the mask/workpiece. Either the intensity of the light which is broken by the mask/workpiece and has passed through, or the intensity of the light which has passed through the intermediate space, is measured. Here, the size of the distance is measured by using the relationship between the light intensity and the size of the distance.
In the above described prior art, the disadvantages are as follows:
(1) In the technology described in Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 6-38024, at measurement points of the mask and workpiece, reflection films are formed which reflect light to obtain reflected light intensity sufficient for observation of projected images. PA1 Since here the measurable locations are limited to those where reflection films are formed, a measurement cannot be taken just anywhere on the mask/workpiece. The measurement areas are provided with reflection films which are unnecessary for a component, for example, of a liquid crystal display device or the like which is to be produced. Therefore, it is necessary to safeguard an area on the workpiece for measurement except for the area in which the component is formed. As a result, there is the disadvantage of a poor degree of utilization of the workpiece material. Furthermore, there is the disadvantage of an increase of production costs because, in the case of later removal of the reflection films, a process for removal of the reflection films is added to the production process. PA1 (2) In the technology described in Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 3-38025, in which the technology described in Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 3-38024 is improved, reflection films are unnecessary. As follows from the publication, in the case of a small distance between the mask and workpiece a clear, strip-like pattern cannot be obtained because the intensity of the light reflected by the mask is essentially the same as the intensity of the light reflected by the workpiece and interference occurs. PA1 Therefore, first of all, when the distance between the mask and workpiece at which no interference occurs is sufficient, a measurement is taken. Afterwards, the distance is reduced until a distance for actual exposure is reached and the exposure is performed. Therefore, it cannot be directly confirmed whether the distance at which, in fact, exposure is performed has the desired value. PA1 The accuracy of the distance adjustment during exposure is determined by the accuracy of the movement device which sets the distance during measurement to the exposure distance. Therefore, there is the disadvantage that movement errors can neither be confirmed nor corrected, even if they are present. PA1 (3) In the technology described in Japanese patent disclosure document SHO 63-138730, the disadvantage is the same as in Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 3-38025 because, in the case of a small distance, the intensity of the light reflected by the mask is essentially the same as the intensity of the light reflected by the workpiece, interference occurs, and a clear halo cannot be obtained. PA1 (4) In the technology described in Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 5-226215, it is necessary to locate beam-optical components, such as a diffraction grating, a zone plate, a grating lens and the like, at the locations on the mask where measurement is desired. Therefore, there are the disadvantages that a measurement cannot be taken just anywhere and the mask is costly. PA1 (5) In the technology described in Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 6-5486, it is necessary to insert the light source for purposes of measurement and the light detection part underneath the workpiece, i.e., within the workpiece carrier, which holds the workpiece stationary. For this reason, the arrangement of the workpiece carrier is extremely limited. Furthermore, there is the disadvantage that a measurement outside of the location where it is inserted cannot be taken, and therefore, measurement just anywhere is not possible. PA1 (6) In the technology described in Japanese patent disclosure document HEI 6-283400, based on the feature of the measurement process in a measurement of the center areas of the mask/workpiece, the light intensity information is obtained as a result of the distance between the center areas together with the light intensity information based on the distance between the outside peripheral areas. Therefore, there is the disadvantage that the distance between the center areas cannot be exactly measured. This disadvantage becomes more pronounced, the larger the mask/workpiece. As a result, this technology cannot be used, especially in the case of treatment of a large mask/large workpiece as in the production of a video display element, such as a liquid crystal display device element and the like. PA1 (1) In a proximity exposure device which has an ultraviolet irradiation part for irradiation with UV radiation, a mask carrier part for holding the mask stationary, a workpiece carrier part for holding a workpiece stationary in a state in which the workpiece is adjacent to but at a distance from the mask, and a distance calibration device which is connected to the workpiece carrier and adjusts the distance between the workpiece and the mask, there are a distance measurement part, a device for moving the distance measurement part which continuously or incrementally moves the distance measurement part in a direction perpendicular to the mask and workpiece, a position detector for determining the position of the distance measurement part, and an arithmetic and logic unit for computing the distance between the mask and workpiece, in the distance measurement part there being a light source for measurement purposes, a beam splitter, a pinhole plate, an objective lens and a light detection device. A light source for measurement purposes is arranged such that the light emitted from this light source is focussed via the beam splitter onto the pinhole plate. The pinhole plate is located at a site which represents the focal point of the objective lens which is opposite the focal point on the object side and where the light from the light source for measurement purposes which has passed through the pinhole plate is focussed on the focal point on the object side of the objective lens. The light detection device is located at a site where the light is detected which has been reflected by the mask and workpiece, and which has passed through the objective lens, at least one pinhole, and the beam splitter. The value of the distance between the mask and workpiece is computed based on the intensity of the output signal from the light detection device and based on the output signal from the position detector by the arithmetic and logic unit. PA1 (2) The objects are furthermore achieved in accordance with the invention by the pinhole of the pinhole plate being formed of a collection of several pinholes, in solution (1). PA1 (3) The objects are furthermore achieved according to the invention by there being a second light detection device in the distance measurement part, in solutions (1) and (2), by the beam splitter being aligned such that the light from the light source for measurement purposes is divided into two parts, one part of which is radiated onto the pinhole plate and the other part of which is incident on the second light detection device, by the output signals from the light detection device and second light detection device being computed in the arithmetic and logic unit, and thus, fluctuation of the light intensity of the light source for measurement purposes is corrected. PA1 (4) The objects are, furthermore, achieved in accordance with the invention by a polarizing beam splitter being used as the beam splitter, in solutions (1), (2) and (3), by the light emitted from the light source for measurement purposes being polarized in the first polarization direction by this polarizing beam splitter, and at the same time, this light with the first polarization direction being passed, by light with the second polarization direction which differs from the first polarization direction being incident on the light detection device, and furthermore, by a quarter wave plate being located in the optical path between the pinhole plate and the focal point on the object side, by which quarter wave plate the light polarized by the polarizing beam splitter with the first polarization direction is converted into a circular polarization, and at the same time, the light reflected by the mask and workpiece with the circular polarization is converted into light with the second polarization direction. PA1 (5) The objects are, furthermore, achieved according to the invention by there being a second light source and image detection element in the distance measurement part, in solutions (1), (2), (3) and (4), by the second light source being located at a site where the light emitted from this light source is irradiated through the objective lens onto the mask and workpiece, and by the image detection element being located at a site where the images of the mask and workpiece are detected. PA1 (6) The objects are furthermore achieved in accordance with the invention by a mask being used for purposes of production of an image display element, in solutions (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5), and by the cross sectional shape of the light flux from the light source for measurement purposes being formed on a surface on which the mask pattern of a shape which can be encompassed by an opening formed in the mask pattern area. PA1 (7) In addition to a proximity exposure device, the invention also relates to a process for determining the distance between the mask and a workpiece.

Proximity exposure device with distance adjustment device


A vehicle body reinforcement device comprises an elongated shape with its middle portion comprising a hydraulic damper that produces a damping force against longitudinal deformation. Two vehicle body reinforcement devices may be mounted in a longitudinal manner to a vehicle body frame with a lateral space being defined between the two devices. Both ends of each of the vehicle body reinforcement devices can be removably attached from outside of the vehicle to positions that are exposed outside of the passenger compartment and below the vehicle body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a vehicle body reinforcement devices for vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to such devices that can improve ride comfort while reducing vibrations generated by reinforcement.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there has been a practice of using retrofit reinforcement members, such as the members disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,311 (hereinafter simply referred to as Patent Document 1) to increase the strength of the vehicle body frame based upon driving conditions and driver's preference. The reinforcement member disclosed in the Patent Document 1 is formed in an elongated shape and is located in the engine compartment.
This reinforcement member is attached to the upper ends of a pair of right and left suspension towers of the vehicle body frame to interconnect the suspension towers. Therefore, the reinforcement member reinforces the vehicle body against lateral forces applied by the upper ends of front suspension shock absorbers to the vehicle body.
The conventional reinforcement members described above, when compressed under loading and released immediately after loading, might generate vibration and deteriorate ride comfort. In order to reduce the likelihood of the generation of such vibration, occasionally damping force producing means such as a hydraulic damper or a rubber member is interposed in the middle of longitudinal direction as disclosed in JP-A-2002-211437 (hereinafter simply referred to as Patent Document 2).
Further, in order to reduce the likelihood of vibration while reinforcing the vehicle body, configurations such as those disclosed in German Patent DE10247492-A1 (hereinafter simply referred to as Patent Document 3) have been used. Patent Document 3 uses the frame member itself, such as the body shell and frame of the vehicle, to reduce the likelihood of vibration generation. The damping force producing means shown in Patent Document 3 uses two elongated frame members that are interconnected by a gap filled with viscoelasticity plastics.
The frame members that both reinforce and reduce vibration are directed in differing directions on the floor of the passenger compartment. In other words, they are provided so that their longitudinal directions are in: the lateral direction of the vehicle, the oblique direction extending from the right front side to the left rear side of the vehicle body, and the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

Device for reinforcing vehicle body of vehicle


A spouted container comprises a container and a vented spout that fluidly communicates with the container. The vented spout defines a fluid passageway extending therethrough and includes a conduit housing and a cover that cooperatively form a vented chamber. The vented chamber fluidly communicates with the passageway through a pair of spaced apart vent openings presented by the conduit housing. The vented chamber also fluidly communicates with ambient through a vent opening presented by the cover. The vented spout further includes a locking valve assembly that restricts inadvertent opening of the spouted container. The assembly includes a shiftable valve that normally occludes the passageway and a trigger operably coupled to the valve for opening and closing the valve. The trigger includes a catch that holds the trigger in a locked condition when the valve is closed.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to spouted containers for containing and dispensing fluid. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention concern a spouted container with a valvular spout that is normally locked in a closed position to prevent inadvertent dispensing of fluid.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Conventional portable fuel containers include a spout for dispensing fuel from the container. Such containers are commonly used for conveniently supplying fuel to a wide range of powered equipment such as automobiles, boats, tractors, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and mowers. Furthermore, prior art containers are also configured to contain and dispense a variety of liquids such as water, oil-based liquids, glycol or other liquids for use in powered equipment or other applications. Those ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that many prior art fuel spouts, such as those connected to fueling pumps by a fuel hose, include a valve for quickly opening and closing the spout. The valve typically includes a housing, with a lever pivotally attached to the housing to selectively open the valve. In this manner, a user can hold and position the spout, e.g., for dispensing fuel from the container into a refillable fuel reservoir, while simultaneously holding and depressing the lever with one hand to dispense fuel.
Conventional portable spouted containers are problematic and suffer from various undesirable limitations. For example, prior art spouted containers fail to adequately and conveniently vent during use. Spouted containers typically present an opening spaced oppositely from the spout for allowing air into the container. Such vents are prone to fluid leakage and require opening and closing steps separate from opening and closing of the container spout. Another problem associated with prior art fuel spouts is that they tend to dispense fuel in a turbulent stream that can result in spillage. Yet another problem presented by prior art containers, particularly those used in consumer applications, is the potential for accidental opening or tampering. Such containers are often left in an exposed location such that they can be tampered with by a child or can otherwise be inadvertently opened, e.g., where a user accidentally tips the container over. It will be appreciated that an unintended breach of a fuel container may present a safety concern for users in the immediate area of the container.


A protective batting glove including padding in critical hand areas. The padding is a thin, shock absorbing material covering the hand areas that are susceptible to injury during batting. These critical hand areas include portions of both the upper and lower palmar side of the hand, portions of the digits, and a portion of the thumb. In additions, certain other critical areas have the shock absorbing material wrap around the hand, from the palmar surface to the dorsal surface. Non-critical hand areas are not padded to maximize tactile sensation and control.

Baseball is an immensely popular American game, known as the "national pastime," played between two teams of nine players each. The basic implements used in the game are a leather-covered ball, bats for hitting the ball, and gloves (also called "mitts") for catching it. Baseball is played in more than 100 countries, but it thrives most in the United States both as a participant's and spectator's sport. At the highest level (in the United States and two Canadian cities), 26 teams make up the American and National Leagues (each with two divisions, East and West). Combined, these leagues are called major-league (professional) baseball.
Baseball's popularity is in part a result of the fact that almost every American boy plays the game at one time or another, and the lore of the game is intertwined with American life. Most players who reach the major leagues have worked their way up through Little League, scholastic, college, and minor-league (professional) ball.
Softball is a popular alternative to baseball for women at the elementary school, high school and college levels, and, for the first time, will be an Olympic sport during the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, Ga. Softball is played on a smaller field, and with the same basic equipment as that used in baseball. Fast pitch and slow pitch are the two styles of softball. Most softball played is the slow pitch game. The ball is pitched slowly in a high arc, making it an easy target for hitters. Thus the emphasis in the slow-pitch game is on hitting and on defensive abilities.
There now are men's and women's professional softball leagues, as well as regional leagues with national tournaments. About 30 million adults and children played some form of competitive or recreational softball in the United States in the mid-1980s, making it one of the largest team sports in the country.
Baseball (and softball) has supplied the American culture with a wide range of legendary heroes, as well as books, magazines, movies, and songs. The game has contributed hundreds of words and phrases to the American language.
Baseball (and softball), at its most fundamental level, requires only a bat (tapering cylinder of wood), a ball (usually a multilayered sphere covered with hide), and a place to play. The playing field is usually marked with four (4) bases, with space in-between, which make up the infield. The outfield lies around a portion of the infield. Once the ball is pitched, the batter attempts to drive it along a path that will elude the defensive players. The defending players try to catch the ball and advance it to a base before the batter, or a runner, reaches a particular base. Both the batter and runners may advance as far as possible on any hit. A one-base hit is a single, a two-base hit a double, a three-base hit a triple, and a four-base hit a home run.
To the original equipment of a bat and a ball, a glove was soon added as a necessary piece of equipment in order to protect a defending player's hand and facilitate the catching of the ball. Over the years, as the games of baseball and softball evolved, so did the players' equipment.
Today, competition requires considerably more specialized equipment, either for protection or to enhance an athlete's performance. The defending players wear a leather glove on one hand. The catcher's glove, the largest, is wider and less flexible than other fielding gloves, and is heavily padded. The first baseman's mitt is more flexible and has one compartment for the thumb and another for the other fingers. The remaining players use gloves with separate compartments for each finger and a webbing between the thumb and index finger. At the plate, a batting helmet is worn, while the catcher wears a mask to protect the face, a chest protector for the body, and shin guards to protect the legs and feet.
The ball consists of three layers: a cork-and-rubber sphere forms the central core; woolen yarn is then tightly wound around the core; and a leather casing is stitched together around the whole. The bat, is round. It is made of wood, aluminum, or a comparable metal alloy.
Hits come in many forms: deliberately gentle bunts to unreachable parts of the infield, hard-hit ground balls that travel between the infielders, bloopers popped in an arc beyond the infield but out of the outfielders' reach, line drives in front of or between the outfielders, and clouts smashed over the fence. Catching the hits, and fielding the ball, involves constant use of the hands.
In more recent years, baseball and softball players have demanded more protection for chronic problems that have existed with protection of the hands. The hands are known to be 25 times more sensitive than other parts of the body, and, in baseball and softball, subject to risk of injuries such as bruises, contusions, stress fractures, and the like. Particular areas of the hand are most susceptible to injury depending on the position being played (i.e., catching or batting), and the susceptible areas differ significantly depending on player position. While protection from injury is of paramount importance, often it must be weighed against a player's ability to feel, and thus control, the ball.
When catching, in spite of the protection afforded defensive players in the form of specialized gloves (developed for various positions), the padding in the gloves was found to quickly break down from the repeated impact of the ball, and players were prone to bruises and fractures in area of ball impact on the hand. Increased padding in the areas of ball impact, however, lessened tactile sensation, and inhibited ball control. To overcome these problems, while increasing hand protection, protective inner gloves were developed. Webster, U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,690, provides an inner glove specifically designed to be worn inside a baseball or softball mitt. The shock absorbing padding in the critical areas protects the hand from injury, while permitting ball control through tactile sensation.
For batting, batting gloves have been developed to provide hand protection. Batting gloves were less critical in the past, when wooden bats were primarily used. More recently, aluminum and metal-alloy bats have been adopted for use in baseball and softball. These metal bats have much diminished shock absorbing properties in contrast to the wooden bats. When using a metal bat, the shock of the impact when the bat hits the ball is largely passed on to the batter, increasing the impact to the hands. The impact of any bat with the ball transmits shock and vibration to the soft tissue and the bones of the hand which can injure the hand. A rotation momentum is also imparted to the bat on contact with the ball which causes the bat to both exert force across and around a batter's hand, especially through the area between the thumb and index finger, and impart a shear force to the palmar side of the hand. In addition, with impact, the heel of the bat is shoved into the lower part of the palm of the hand, which can cause further injury.
To protect their hands during batting, many baseball and softball players now wear at least one thin leather glove. These tight fitting leather gloves used by batters offer a better grip, but very little protection from the stings, bruises and other hand injuries that occur after the wood or metal bats make contact with the ball.
Stanley, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,122, although originally designed for batting, is a protective glove that is being used for catching and batting, but the Stanley glove does neither. The open-fingered format makes the Stanley glove difficult to insert, and keep in place, when attempting to use it with an outer glove (i.e., mitt). Moreover, it does not provide for the critical areas of hand protection. Its use as a batting glove emphasizes the finger-tip feel needed in the proper grip of the bat, but it lacks the better gripping surface that a full-fingered glove provides. Further, it fails to protect other critical hand areas susceptible to injury during batting because these areas do not need protection with catching. In trying to be an overall glove, it falls short of being adequate for either catching or batting.
Other batting gloves are marketed by Louisville Glove Company, of Louisville, Ky., Easton Glove Company, of Burlingame, Calif. and Franklin Glove Company, of Stoughton, Mass. These batting gloves, like the Stanley glove, have substantial deficiencies. Louisville makes two gloves--the Louisville Slugger TPS and the Louisville TPX-Pro Sting Stop. Easton sells its VRS glove and its MIP glove. Franklin provides a batting glove. Each of these gloves, while providing protection, minimizes the protection by only providing protection on certain areas--typically the palm surfaces of the index finger and thumb, and the upper palm of the hand. Critical hand areas of rotational impact are left unprotected by these gloves, as well as areas which are subject to the impact of the heel of the bat. Thus, the wearer's hand is subject to injury in spite of the use of these gloves.
Accordingly, there exists a definite need for a batting glove which provides protection to all of the critical areas of the hand which are susceptible to injury during batting. There also exists a need for a batting glove which provides maximum protection during batting. There exists a further need for a batting glove which allows for the batter's hand to have maximum tactile sensation when wearing the batting glove. The present invention satisfies these and other needs and provides further related advantages.


Green-tinted ultraviolet and infrared radiation absorbing glass suitable for use as a windowpane of vehicles, such as automobiles or buildings, is disclosed. The ultraviolet and infrared radiation absorbing glass comprises, in % by weight:. basic glass components comprising PA1 coloring components comprising. 65 to 80% SiO.sub.2, PA2 0 to 5% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, PA2 0 to 10% MgO, PA2 5 to 15% CaO, PA2 10 to 18% of Na.sub.2 O, PA2 0 to 5% K.sub.2 O, PA2 5 to 15% MgO+CaO, PA2 10 to 20% Na.sub.2 O+K.sub.2 O, and PA2 0 to 5% B.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; and PA2 0.40 to 0.70% total iron oxide (T--Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3) in terms of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, PA2 1.4 to 1.7% of CeO.sub.2, and PA2 0 to 0.5t% of TiO.sub.2,. wherein 27 to 40 wt% of the T--Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 in terms of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 is FeO.

In order to meet the demand for protection of interior trim of automobiles against deterioration, which has been increasing with the recent trend to luxury of the interior trim, and to reduce the -load of air conditioning, a glass having ultraviolet and infrared absorbing power has recently been proposed as window glass of automobiles.
For example, conventional green-tinted glass has an ultraviolet transmission reduced to about 38% or less and a total solar energy transmission reduced to about 46% or less while maintaining a visible light transmission of at least 70% for securing the vision through windowpanes of automobiles. There is a recent trend that a bluish green tint is preferred for such a green-tinted glass for automobiles.
It is known that a total solar energy transmission can be reduced by increasing the absolute amount of ferrous oxide (FeO) of the total iron oxides introduced in a glass. Almost all of the conventional infrared radiation absorbing glasses have used this method.
On the other hand, various methods have conventionally been proposed on a method for reducing an ultraviolet transmission. For example, an infrared and ultraviolet radiation absorbing glass disclosed in JP-A-4-193738 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") is characterized by containing cerium oxide and titanium oxide. More specifically, the glass comprises, in % by weight: as basic glass components, 68 to 72% SiO.sub.2, 1.6 to 3.0% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 8.5 to 11.0% CaO, 2.0 to 4.2% MgO, 12.0 to 16.0% Na.sub.2 O and 0.5 to 3.0% K.sub.2 O, and as coloring components, 0.65 to 0.75% Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.20 to 0.35% of CeO.sub.2 and 0.2 to 0.4% of TiO.sub.2.
A green-tinted ultravoilet radiation absorbing glass disclosed in JP-A-6-56466 comprises, in % by weight, basic glass components of soda-lime-silica glass and having incorporated therein 0.53 to 0.70% total iron oxide in terms of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0.5 to 0.8% CeO.sub.2, and 0.2 to 0.4% TiO.sub.2 as coloring components, wherein 30 to 40% by weight of the total iron oxide in terms of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 is FeO.
The green-tinted ultraviolet and infrared radiation absorbing glass disclosed in JP-B-6-88812 (the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "examined published Japanese patent application") comprises, in % by weight: as basic glass components, 65 to 75% SiO.sub.2, 0 to 3% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 1 to 5% MgO, 5 to 15% CaO, 10 to 15% Na.sub.2 O, and 0 to 4% K.sub.2 O, and, as coloring components, 0.65 to 1.25% total iron oxide in terms of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, and 0.2 to 1.4% CeO.sub.2, or 0.1 to 1.36% CeO.sub.2 and 0.02 to 0.85% TiO.sub.2.
Because cerium oxide is expensive, an ultraviolet and infrared radiation absorbing glass having a decreased cerium oxide content has also been proposed. For example, JP-A-4-231347 discloses a green-tinted ultraviolet radiation absorbing glass having a basic glass composition of soda-lime-silica glass and further containing, in % by weight, as coloring components, more than 0.85% total iron oxide (T--Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3) in terms of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, with an FeO/T--Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio being smaller than 0.275, and less than 0.5% CeO.sub.2.
The above-described conventional ultraviolet and infrared radiation absorbing glasses have an ultraviolet absorbing power imparted by ultraviolet absorption due to Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, CeO.sub.2 and TiO.sub.2 and interactions among them. Of these components, it is CeO.sub.2 that can enhance the ultraviolet absorption power best without giving a yellowish tint unfavorable as a glass for automobiles. However, CeO.sub.2 is expensive. Therefore, in order to minimize the amount of CeO.sub.2 used, compositions are controlled such that the CeO.sub.2 content is decreased and the decreased ultraviolet absorbing power corresponding to such a decreased amount is compensated by using Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 and TiO.sub.2. However, the light absorbing action of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 or the interaction between TiO.sub.2 and FeO is extended over the visible light region. Therefore, if it is tried to increase the ultraviolet absorption of a glass, the transmission of visible light in the short wavelength region is also decreased, so that the glass has a yellowish tint.

Ultraviolet and infrared radiation absorbing glass


A method includes receiving payload data from a data source at error correction code (ECC) logic, where the ECC logic is adapted to process a block of data of a particular size via a plurality of stages. The ECC logic is initialized to a selected stage of the plurality of stages. The selected stage includes an initial value and an initial number of cycles. The initial value and the initial number of cycles are related to a number of symbols of padding data corresponding to a difference in size between the payload data and the block of data. The selected stage is related to a state of the ECC logic as if the number of symbols of padding data had already been processed by the ECC logic. The payload data is processed via the ECC logic beginning with the selected stage to produce parity data related to the payload data.

Data reliability is a problem in the telecommunications and mass storage fields, where wireless transmissions are susceptible to errors due to signal degradation and where mass storage media routinely encounter read or write errors. In general, the mass storage media may include hard disks, NAND and NOR flash memory, and other types of non-volatile memory. To improve data reliability, Error Correction Code (ECC) algorithms have been developed to detect and to correct bit errors within blocks of data. ECC algorithms typically include the transmission or storage of redundant data, which does not convey information.
"Hamming Codes" refer to a class of ECC algorithms that can be used to detect and correct data errors. Hamming codes are widely used for error detection and correction in digital communications systems and in data storage systems. Another well-known ECC algorithm is the "Reed-Solomon code", widely used for error correction in the hard drive and compact disk industries. The Reed-Solomon codes may be used to correct multiple errors per block of data.
Generally, when a block of data is to be written to a memory or transmitted over a communication channel, an ECC engine calculates parity data based on the data. Both the data and the associated parity data are written to the memory or transmitted over the communication channel. When the data is accessed from the memory or received from the communication channel, the ECC engine calculates parity data based on the accessed data, and compares the calculated parity data to the stored parity data. If a difference is detected, the ECC engine determines which bits are in error and may take steps to correct the bits or flag the errors to the rest of the system so as to initiate an error recover mechanism like requesting a retransmission over the communication channel or rereading the data from the memory.
Generally, the ECC algorithms are designed to operate on a block of data of a particular size. When a block of data that is stored in a mass storage device does not match the particular size, padding bits or padding data are often appended to the payload data to produce a block of data of the right size for the ECC algorithm. Since the padding data is added before the ECC process, the padding data adds to the number of cycles and the processing time required to decode the data.


In one embodiment, assessing the quality of an adhesive bond of a composite material includes passing a vector electric field through a thickness of the composite material, measuring dielectric properties of the composite material, determining one or more dielectric parameters of the composite material, and comparing the one or more dielectric parameters with one or more reference dielectric parameters.

Composite materials comprising discrete components (e.g., layers of material) are widely used in aerospace, marine, and automotive structures to reduce weight and increase performance. Adhesive bonding improves the stress distribution between the discrete components and ensures a lighter structure than materials joined by conventional fastener. Despite how common such composite materials are, there has not been much research directed toward the non-destructive strength estimation and life prediction, or the damage prognosis of the adhesive bond. One of the main problems when using adhesive bonding is the occurrence of a "kissing bond," which is a weak adhesion bond, alternatively called zero-volume dis-bond, which reduces the strength and/or longevity of the composite material. Unfortunately, conventional non-destructive methods cannot detect such kissing bonds. In view of this, it can be appreciated that it would be desirable to have an improved system and method for assessing the quality of adhesive bonds.

Systems and methods for assessing the quality of adhesive bonds

Board or Regents, The University of Texas Systems


An adhesive applicator for applying medical adhesives, and particularly cyanoacrylates is disclosed. The applicator includes a body forming an internal reservoir and an opening between the internal reservoir and the exterior of the body, a sponge disposed over the opening, a slotted tip nozzle disposed over the sponge, and a small orifice tip nozzle disposed over the slotted tip nozzle.

Many different applicators for glues and adhesives have been developed. Unfortunately, some applicators are specifically designed to supply very small amounts of adhesive with pinpoint accuracy; whereas, other applicators have been specifically designed to supply large amounts of adhesives over wide surface areas.
To date, applicators have not been developed with sufficient versatility to apply adhesives either in very small amounts with pinpoint accuracy, or over wide surface areas. Such applicators are specifically desirable in medical applications where the same adhesive compound may be used to close an open cut or wound, to seal the cut or wound, and then to dress the cut or wound.

Multiple function medical adhesive applicator