An apparatus and method for providing accurate sub-nanosecond timing control between the voltage outputs of branches of an excitation circuit which are driven by a common switch. This invention allows for the introduction of variable timing delays between the branches of the circuit, and eliminates relative timing jitter. Using saturable inductors with variable bias in the high-voltage excitation circuit, this invention provides a continuously tuneable delay on the subnanosecond time scale between two or more excitation circuit branches.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a timing control means used in connection with an excitation circuit having multiple branches, which are driven by a common switch, where the branches of the excitation circuit introduce variable timing delays between the voltage output by each of the branches without relative timing jitter.
2. Description of Related Prior Art
Several applications involving pulsed gas laser systems require controlling the timing between two separate discharges used for the excitation of a laser, e.g., preionization and main discharge or spiker and sustainer discharge. This control can also be necessary in systems having two separate lasers, e.g. oscillator and power amplifier or injection locking of large pulsed lasers to low power tuneable and single mode lasers. Commonly these tasks have been accomplished using two separate excitation circuits, driven by individual high voltage switches. The relative timing between these circuits can then be continuously adjusted and delayed by synchronized trigger generators.
While modern digital electronics can provide accurately timed trigger sources with continuously variable delays on the nanosecond and subnanosecond time scale and with sub-nanosecond jitter, high voltage switches employed in pulsing systems for laser discharge excitation are inherently subject to switching time jitter.
Switching time jitter relates to the time interval between the application of a trigger pulse to a high voltage switch, and the actual switching of the high voltage switch. This time interval is called the delay time. This time interval is not absolutely stable. Within the high voltage switch, such as a thyratron or spark gap, a highly conducting plasma must develop. The plasma formation includes avalanche type electron multiplication. This plasma formation depends on the starting conditions and causes variations in the delay time. The statistically varying portion of the delay time is called switching time jitter. For example, the spark gap high voltage switches and thyratons are subject to switching time jitter on the order of 10-100 ns for the former and 1-6 ns for the latter.
In order for a thyratron to be switched with an accuracy approaching one nanosecond, expensive, specifically selected thyratrons or multiple grid tubes have to be employed and trigger circuits have to drive the grids with fast rising, kilovolt trigger pulses. High voltage switching, using solid state switches, yields switching time jitter similar to thyratrons. An additional source for time jitter is the voltage dependent switching delay of excitation circuits, particularly for circuits employing magnetic pulse compression stages. Charging voltage regulation of better than 0.1% is generally required if a time jitter in the nanosecond range is required.
The problem of relative switching time jitter can be eliminated by employing a common high voltage switch for both discharge circuits. While this will eliminate the timing jitter, it will also remove the ability of continuously tuning the relative timing, as can be obtained with separately switched circuits, since only fixed time delays can be designed into the excitation circuits.
Magnetic switches, utilizing saturable inductors, have been employed in laser excitation circuits to provide magnetic pulse compression of the excitation pulses. The time delay jitter introduced by variations of the charging voltage in saturable inductor stages can be controlled on the nanosecond time scale, by either precise regulation of the charging voltage or by accurately measuring the charging voltage on a shot to shot basis and then adjusting the trigger time of the switching element by an external delay generator in order to compensate for voltage fluctuations. For a discussion of this approach to controlling time delay jitter, see, Patent No. DE 3842492 A1, filed Dec. 12, 1988, inventor Dr. Dirk Basting; and D. L. Birx, E. G. Cook, S. Hawkins, A. Meyers, L. L. Reginato, J. A. Schmidt and M. W. Smith, "Regulation and drive system for high rep-rate magnetic pulse compressors" Proceedings 15th Power Modulator Symposium, Baltimore, Md., Jun. 14-16, 1982, pp 15-21.
Variable nanosecond time delay in thyratron and spark gap trigger circuits have been realized in the past by using variable bias inductors in low power switching trigger circuits of high voltage switches. (See, D. L. Birx et al., "Regulation and drive system for high rep-rate magnetic pulse compressors", 15th Power Modulator Symposium, Baltimore, Md., 1982; and H. J. Baker and N. Seddon, "Magnetic switching circuits for variable high voltage pulse delays and gas laser synchronization", Journal of Physics E: Scientific Instruments, Volume 19, 1986, pp 149-152) These references provide for using variable bias inductors to control the trigger timing of separately switched elements and are still subject to the jitter of the high voltage switching elements. Today this technique could be practiced using modern digital circuits.

Precision variable delay using saturable inductors


This disclosure relates to methods, computer products, computer-implemented methods, and systems for predicting the probability or risk of prostate cancer recurrence and tumor aggressiveness in a patient. The method is based, in part, on the patient's risk profile that includes the presence/degree of specific copy number variations and predictive clinical factors. The methods and systems can be used to aid in treatment selection.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis and the second most common cause of cancer related deaths in men. Diagnosing and managing prostate cancer are clinically difficult due to lack of the knowledge of the cancer at molecular and genetic levels and a lack of understanding of the natural disease progression. Currently, serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is the only biomarker widely used in the diagnosis and management of patients. PSA lacks diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, leading to false-negative and false-positive test results. Several preoperative classification systems have been developed. For example, Kaftan nonograms (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,993,388 and 6,409,664), the D'Amico classification, and the Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment (CAPRA) score each incorporate the measurement of several pre-operative clinical markers to determine the probability of prostate cancer.
Treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer is typically radical prostatectomy. Unfortunately, following surgery many men experience an increase in serum PSA, cancer recurrence or progression of the disease months or years later. The ability to identify, or predict, a post-surgery patient as likely to encounter PSA failure, recurrence of the prostate cancer, and/or development of metastasis, would provide multiple benefits to the patient.

Determining risk of prostate tumor aggressiveness

The Regents of the University of California


A protective element for a cross member or shaft housing of a frame in a screening arrangement. The protective element is attachable to the cross member or shaft housing by wrapping the protective element around the cross member or shaft housing and clamping a first portion of the protective element to a second portion of the protective element by at least one clamping device. The protective element has an outwards facing surface, which is wear-resistant to withstand wear from piece goods or particle goods impinging or sliding on the outwards facing surface.

Various screening arrangements are widely used in the industry in order to control fraction sizes of piece, particle or bulk material. In general, a screening arrangement has one or several screening decks. A screening deck is generally formed of screening elements and a support frame jointly. Each screening element has a plurality of apertures, through which apertures bulk material, such as crushed ore, crushed rock, sand or gravel, is falling in order to be separated from larger pieces of bulk material which cannot fit through the apertures. The screening arrangement generally has a drive apparatus having drive shafts for agitating or shaking the screening deck.
A general problem experienced in screening arrangements is that the parts of the screening arrangement that are exposed to bulk material are subjected to extensive wear. It is therefore well known to make screening elements more resistant to wear by manufacturing the elements from a resilient material. It is however a problem that several parts must be manufactured from rigid material in order to withstand the mechanical stresses they are exposed to. These rigid parts are then more sensitive to wear than the resilient parts, meaning that the rigid parts must be exchanged more frequently or made over-dimensioned in order to withstand the extensive wear.
A particular problem experienced in screening is when bulk material is falling through the apertures of the screening elements and hits rigid parts of the support frame situated below the screening elements. These rigid parts of the support frame are then subjected to extensive wear.


A core for an electrical conductor. The core includes an inner core component, an intermediate cladding component and an outer cladding component. The inner core component comprises a plurality of glass based stranded members in a first resin matrix. The intermediate cladding component surrounds the inner core component and comprises a plurality of carbon stranded members in a second resin matrix. The outer cladding component surrounds the intermediate cladding component and comprises a plurality of glass based stranded members in a third resin matrix. The first resin matrix and the second resin matrix are substantially independent of each other, meeting at a boundary. An electrical conductor as well as a manufacturing method is likewise disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to electrical transmission and distribution cables, and more particularly, to an electrical conductor having a core comprising a composite construction.
2. Background Art
The demand for transmission and distribution cables increases with the greater demand for electricity. As the appetite for power increases, new electrical cables continue to be installed. Additionally, to increase capacity, other electrical installations are rewired with cables of greater capacity.
Traditionally, such electrical cables comprise a central stranded steel core which is wrapped in a stranded aluminum conductor. Such cables have been utilized for decades with very little change. Amongst other drawbacks, such cables are susceptible to excessive sag in certain climates and under certain operating conditions. Furthermore, such cables are susceptible to corrosion in other environments.
To combat the shortcomings, other composite based solutions have been developed. Certain such solutions are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,060,326; U.S. Pub. Nos. 2004-0131834; 2004-0131851; 2005-0227067; 2005-0129942; 2005-0186410; 2006-0051580; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/374,879; and PCT Pub. No. WO 03/091008, the entire disclosures of each of the foregoing are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Such solutions have replaced the central steel stranded core with a composite material having a core component formed from a carbon fiber material embedded within a matrix and an outer component formed from a fiber material other than carbon embedded within a resin. The core is formed by pultruding the various fibers through pultrusion dies.
Such a fiber likewise has a number of drawbacks. While the composite material is resistant to corrosion, and may be less susceptible to sagging, the fiber construction and the method of manufacturing same leads to non-uniform cores, which may not be of sufficient strength for a particular application. Moreover, the placement of the carbon fiber limits the desirability of such a core.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a core for an electrical conductor which comprises a composite material.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrical conductor having a composite core.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing process to form a composite core for use in association of an electrical conductor.
These objects as well as other objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the present specification, claims, and drawings.

Electrical conductor and core for an electrical conductor


A control method for a microwave oven equipped with a tray installed in a cooking chamber to rotate a popcorn bag while having a popcorn cooking mode to cook popcorn. During cooking, rotation of the tray is temporarily stopped near the point of time when the popcorn bag is increased in size to a maximum size. Accordingly, problems caused by the fact that the popcorn bag comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the cooking chamber so that it cannot rotate are solved. The popcorn cooking mode is an operation mode to cook a popcorn product with corn grains packed in the popcorn bag in a state in which it is folded at least one time. The rotation of the tray is temporarily stopped near the point of time when the popcorn bag is estimated to achieve its maximum length as a folded portion of the popcorn bag is unfolded.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microwave oven, and more particularly, to a control method for such a microwave oven, in particular, a microwave oven having a popcorn cooking mode to cook popcorn.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, microwave ovens are adapted to irradiate microwaves of 2,450 MHz onto food to be cooked, thereby cooking the food. The microwaves vibrate molecules of the food which are, in turn, struck against one another, thereby generating heat. By this heat, the food is cooked. FIG. 1 illustrates a general microwave oven. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the microwave oven includes an oven body 102, and a door 104 hingably mounted to the oven body 102 to open and dose a cooking chamber 106 defined in the oven body 102. A tray 110 is placed on the bottom surface 108 of the cooking chamber 106 within the cooking chamber 106. The tray 110 rotates during a cooking operation so that microwaves are uniformly transmitted to the entire portion of the food. A display unit 112 is provided at the front surface of the oven body 102 in order to display cooking time and other set values. A manipulation panel 114 is also provided, which has manipulation keys 116 to select a desired cooking mode, a desired cooking time, etc. When the user desires to cook food, the user manipulates the manipulation keys 116 to set a desired cooking condition in a state in which the food is placed on the tray 110, and then presses a cooking start key. In response to the start key, microwaves are transmitted to the food in a state in which the tray 110 rotates. Thus, the food is cooked.
Using such a microwave oven, various kinds of food can be cooked. For example, popcorn is a representative food capable of being cooked using a microwave oven. Popcorn products for microwave ovens are commercially available. In such a popcorn product, corn grains, that is, the raw material of popcorn, are contained in a paper bag in a sealed state. Cooking of such a popcorn product is carried out in a state in which the popcorn bag is placed in the microwave oven as it is. During the cooking operation, the corn grains contained in the sealed bag are popped as moisture escapes therefrom. That is, the moisture of corn grains is vaporized, so that the corn grains abruptly increase in volume, thereby forming popcorn. The popcorn has greatly increased volume as compared to the initial corn grains. Taking into consideration this fact, the popcorn bag should have a sufficiently large size.
FIG. 2 illustrates the alterations in the shape and size of a popcorn bag exhibited during a cooking operation carried out for corn grains contained in the popcorn bag using a microwave oven in accordance with a conventional control method. Referring to the part I of FIG. 2, a commercially-available popcorn product for microwave ovens is illustrated in which corn grains are contained in the central portion of a popcorn bag with opposite side portions being folded to overlap with each other. Accordingly, the commercially-available popcorn product illustrated in part I has a small size corresponding to only about ⅓ of the size of the popcorn bag in a popped state.
As the popcorn product is cooked, it size and shape are gradually changed, as illustrated in respective parts of FIG. 2. That is, as heating proceeds from an initial state shown in part I of FIG. 2, the folded portions of the popcorn bag are gradually unfolded, as illustrated in part II of FIG. 2. Subsequently, the popcorn bag becomes completely unfolded, as illustrated in part III of FIG. 2. As the heating operation is continued, the corn grains contained in the popcorn bag are popped, thereby causing their volume to increase gradually. As a result, the volume of the popcorn bag is also increased. At this time, however, the popcorn bag is reduced in length due to the volume increase thereof.
Although the content of the popcorn product may vary somewhat among different manufacturers, there are mainly two representative contents. In the United States of America, the home of popcorn, popcorn products with the largest content of 3.5 oz. are most popularly sold. In Korea, these popcorn products having the content of 3.5 oz. are most commonly imported and sold. Where the bottom area of the cooking chamber is smaller than that of the popcorn bag with the above mentioned large content, a problem occurs during a cooking operation. This will be described with reference to FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the state of the interior of the microwave oven during an operation to cook a popcorn product with a large content in accordance with the conventional control method. As a cooking operation is carried out under the condition in which the tray 110 rotates, the popcorn bag is completely unfolded to achieve its maximum length, as illustrated in part I of FIG. 3. Where the maximum length of the popcorn bag, that is, the length of the popcorn bag in the completely unfolded state, is longer than the shorter-side length of the bottom 108 of the microwave oven, the popcorn bag come into contact with the inner wall surface of the cooking chamber 106 at its corners, so that it no longer rotates even though the tray 110 rotates continuously. As a result, the popcorn bag is moved from the central portion of the cooking chamber 106 toward one corner of the cooking chamber 106, and finally stays at that corner.
For this reason, microwaves are non-uniformly transmitted to the popcorn bag. That is, there is a problem in that microwaves are insufficiently transmitted to the portion of the popcorn bag positioned adjacent to the corner of the cooking chamber 106.


A machine tool for the cutting machining of workpieces, in particular of metallic workpieces, has a first and a second tool spindle for receiving a first and a second machining tool, and it has a first and a second workpiece carrier for receiving a first workpiece and a second workpiece. The first tool spindle is movable relative to the first and to the second workpiece carrier in order to selectively machine the first or the second workpiece. Moreover, the first workpiece are movable relative to one another in order to transfer a workpiece from one workpiece carrier to the other workpiece carrier. The second tool spindle is movable relative to the second workpiece carrier in order to machine the second workpiece.

The present invention relates to a machine tool and a method for cutting machining of workpieces, and in particular for cutting machining of metallic workpieces.
DE 196 35 258 C1 discloses a machine tool having a tool spindle which is arranged on a travelling column. The tool spindle in this case points with its tool downwards and it can be moved in three spatial axes perpendicular to one another. Below the tool spindle, there is arranged a workpiece carrier in the form of a workpiece spindle. The workpiece spindle receives and holds rod-shaped workpieces, and it can be pivoted about a pivot axis, so that a workpiece rod can be brought both into a horizontal and into a vertical position. In addition, the workpiece rod can be rotated about its longitudinal axis, so that a 5-axis-machining of the workpiece rod is enabled. By means of this known machine tool, a plurality of workpieces can be produced from the rod. In a development, which, however, is mentioned only briefly in DE 196 35 258 C1, the known machine tool has a second workpiece carrier, by means of which a partly machined workpiece can be extracted from the workpiece spindle in order to allow a machining of what is known as the sixth side, that is to say that side of the workpiece which was formerly chucked in the first workpiece spindle.
DE 100 29 967 A1 discloses a machine tool for the machining of optical workpieces, which machine tool has two tool spindles arranged next to one another and two workpiece spindles arranged next to one another, wherein a tool spindle and a workpiece spindle in each case are located opposite one another in order machine workpieces. A direct transfer of a partly machined workpiece from one workpiece spindle to the other is neither provided nor possible. For 6-side machining, therefore, a partly machined workpiece has to be rechucked from one workpiece carrier onto the other workpiece carrier, and this may be detrimental to machining accuracy due to position errors during the rechucking operation.
Machine tools having a plurality of working spindles are known from DE 33 20 940 A1 and DE 203 01 126 U1. DE 33 20 940 A1 relates to a two-spindle lathe, the two working spindles (=workpiece spindles in this case) being arranged so as to be offset at 180° with respect to one another, in order to allow a transfer of a partly machined workpiece from one working spindle to the other. However, the known machine allows only lathe-turning machining of workpieces, that is to say it is limited in terms of machining flexibility and the complexity of the workpieces produced.
A machine tool disclosed by DE 203 01 126 U1 is designed for simultaneous machining of two identical workpieces in two parallel chucking fixtures. The transfer of a (partly machined) workpiece from one workpiece carrier to the other is neither provided nor possible. Accordingly, the machining accuracy of this known machine tool in the case of 6-side machining is limited.

Machine tool and method for cutting machining of workpieces


A method and device for delivering a quantity of at least one material to a selected single cell in a manner that permits impingement of material with the cell. The material travels at a suitable trajectory and velocity and is ejected from an electronically controllable fluid device.

The disclosure pertains to methods and devices for delivering material to individual selected cells. More particularly, this disclosure is directed to methods for delivering multiple materials and/or multiple doses of the same material to individual cells in a controlled variable manner.
Various methodologies have been proposed for delivering or introducing compounds into selected individual cells. For instance, microinjection techniques employ very small bore needles or micropipettes to manually inject material into the interior of the cell. The microinjection process involves penetration of the cell membrane using a microscope and a finely controlled holder. The holder can be used to place the material in a general region in the cytoplasm. Introduction of the micropipette perturbs the cell membrane and produces mechanical disturbances in the cell interior.
Electroporation is used to introduce agents into a fairly large population of cells in a non-discriminate manner using a transient electric field to produce holes or weaknesses in the cell membrane structure through which the agents may pass. Electro-injection is a combination of microinjection and electroporation in which a transient electric field is used to compromise or open the cell membrane followed by a pressure-driven microinjection procedure to introduce the desired material into the cytoplasm of a selected cell. Both methods involve perturbation of the cell membrane, which can change or alter cellular response to the agent or material under study or analysis. Devices and methodologies which can accurately deliver agents or compounds to targeted single cells either in isolation or in a cellular population in a manner which minimizes or eliminates mechanical or electrical disruption of the cell structure would be desirable.

Method and device for targeted delivery of materials to selected single cells

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A stabilized composition for the controlled delivery of probiotics includes an aqueous solution of crystalloids and colloids comprised of water insoluble polymers with the ability to de-swell upon electrical charge. The composition further includes a plurality of oil droplets and a base solution. The composition further include a destabilizing solution comprising a solvent, nitrogen, a natural acid sufficient to produce a pH of about 3.0 to about 4.5, and a sufficient amount of a salt to contribute to an osmolality between about 190 mOsm/L and about 900 mOsm/L. The composition further includes a plurality of microencapsulated probiotic beads, wherein the plurality of microencapsulated probiotic beads comprises between about 0.01% to about 20% of the composition by weight.

Probiotics—beneficial microorganisms that perform immune modulating functions in humans—have been used both topically and consumed internally to promote general health and aid in healing. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of probiotics in promoting human health by aiding in metabolic functions, destroying microorganisms that are harmful to human health, and preventing the colonies of bad microorganisms from developing into problematic diseases or infections. Probiotics must be alive to perform these activities that promote human health.
Probiotics occur naturally, but they are frequently depleted through repeated washing, infections of bad microorganisms, and weakened immune systems. It can take days or even weeks for probiotics to redevelop naturally. During this time, bad microorganisms may proliferate unchecked and cause a variety of health problems. Thus, it is beneficial and desirable to replenish depleted probiotics with live probiotic cultures.
However, delivering live probiotic cultures commercially presents challenges. Live probiotic cultures are comprised of numerous different species of microorganisms that compete with each other for resources. Probiotics generally multiply uncontrollably and unpredictably. Thus, products with live probiotic cultures have short shelf-lives and must be kept refrigerated to ensure that the desired microorganism species are delivered in the desired proportions and quantities.
There are many products on the market that purport to deliver probiotic, but few deliver live probiotic cultures, and none deliver live probiotic cultures and remain shelf-stable over a period of months without refrigeration. There remains a need for a composition capable of delivering controlled quantities and proportions of probiotics that remains shelf-stable over a long period of time without the need for refrigeration.

Stabilized compositions for the controlled delivery of probiotics and methods of production thereof


A device for turning an editorial product on a packaging line includes a pusher conveyor, a feeder for products to be packaged, and a plurality of feeders for sheet inserts for the products, arranged side by side one after another along a direction essentially perpendicular to the pusher conveyor. The device has a base on which there is mounted a unit for gripping, rotating, overturning through 180.degree. and guiding the products caused to advance by the pusher conveyor. The base has an overall size identical to that of one of the insert feeders so as to be able to assist in its position within the line. A drive is also provided for the unit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a device for turning an editorial product on a packaging line.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
On packaging lines or machines for flat graphic or editorial products such as sheets, signatures, magazines, brochures etc., it is nearly always necessary to be able to associate further sheet elements, generally defined as inserts, with these products.
Moreover, these inserts have to be located in correspondence with a particular position or side of the product according to their importance and according to the type of impact which they are required to have on the purchaser of the finished package, complete with the relative inserts.
Consequently, a separate device for overturning the product is associated with the end of the packaging line and it aligned therewith. In this manner the overturned product is fed towards a second packaging line on which every additional insert is combined with a different side of the product, before passing to the unit for its packaging within a plastic film or a suitable paper sheet.
This type of procedure does not satisfy the requirement of feeding such inserts in a certain number onto different sides of a base product as additions thereto, at a high operating rate. It also requires the use of a number of lines and devices, with considerable capital expenditure and consequent costs.
On the other hand, up to the present time, single packaging lines have used only the so-called drum feeders which are positioned to the side of the line pusher conveyor to feed the individual inserts only onto the editorial base product in the position n which it is fed. This arrangement results in the aforesaid drawbacks.

Device for turning an editorial product on a packaging line


The present invention relates to a network node and a method in method in a network node of a wireless communications system that allow for power efficient scheduling of transmission of application data over a radio interface. According to the method, information is received (71, 72) about a power consumption profile of a transmit unit and about estimated required average output transmission power of the transmit unit for transmitting an amount of application data in a time interval. The method also includes a step of making (73) a scheduling decision, comprising a type of load distribution to be used in the time interval for transmitting the amount of application data, based on the received information. In another step (74) the scheduling decision is provided to the transmit unit as a scheduling order for transmission of the application data over the radio interface. The invention also relates to a mobile station and core network node configured to provide a network node with power consumption profile information.

Reducing CO2-emission is a focus area in many areas of technology nowadays. This applies also to the area of telecommunications. Some telecommunications companies have set up tough goals to reduce CO2-emissions considerably during the next few years. This tough goal applies to the entire product portfolio, including the use phase, where most of the indirect carbon-related impact originates. Thus energy saving in both Radio Base Station (RBS) and User Equipment (UE) of wireless communication systems are examples of activities that are given priority. In case of UE power efficiency, energy saving will also lead to longer battery life time, which is important for the end user experience.
In a radio network, the radio resources over a radio interface are generally controlled by the radio base station for both RBS to UE transmission, i.e. downlink traffic, and UE to RBS transmission, i.e. uplink traffic. Assuming a fixed bandwidth, the maximum data rate that can be provided over the radio interface is limited by the transmit power. However, the bitrate generated by most applications is below the maximum bitrate over the radio interface. The maximum output transmit power will therefore not be used at low to medium cell loads. A scheduler in a radio base station may order the transmitter, i.e. RBS in case of downlink transmission and UE in case of uplink transmission, to transmit application data e.g. immediately after reception, or to buffer the application data until maximum output power can be utilized. Thus the type of scheduling applied will impact the load distribution of the output transmission power. It is generally assumed that the total transmitted energy for transmitting the same amount of data will be more or less the same, independently of the load distribution, provided that the radio conditions between the RBS and the UE are the same. However, measurements performed on a power amplifier of an RBS and of a UE have revealed that this assumption often is false. There is thus a problem that the power consumption for transmitting a certain amount of data may vary depending on the scheduled load distribution, which may lead to poor power efficiency in certain situations.

Methods and arrangements for scheduling based on power consumption


An LPG tank insertion apparatus for automobiles includes a rotary column with a lift body, a support arm mounted to the lift body, an actuating cylinder hingedly connected to the support arm, and a kingpin connected to the support arm. The actuating cylinder and the kingpin are both attached to a rotating plate that rotates in response to the actuating cylinder. The rotating plate is connected to a clamping device that selectively clamps an LPG tank which, in turn, rotates in response to the actuating cylinder so that it can be inserted in an automobile trunk whose opening is smaller than the length of the tank.

Generally, in automobiles using liquid petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel, an LPG tank is installed in the trunk of the automobile. Typically, because the LPG tank is smaller than the opening of the trunk, there is no particular problem with the insertion and installation of the LPG tank.
However, recently, automobile models having trunks, the openings of which are smaller than the size of an LPG tank (in detail, the length of a mounting plate, to which a lower side of the LPG tank is mounted, is longer than the length of the opening of the trunk), have been marketed. In this case, it is not easy to insert the LPG tank into the trunk using a typical hanger having a wire and a pulley.
To insert the LPG tank into the trunk having the above-mentioned condition, the LPG tank should be rotated and then kept in the rotated position until the LPG tank is inserted into the trunk. However, when using a conventional hanger, because the wire connected to the LPG tank interferes with the edge of the opening of the trunk, there is difficulty in insertion of the LPG tank into the trunk after the LPG tank has been rotated to a position suitable for insertion. Furthermore, it is very difficult for a worker to manually adjust the position of the relatively heavy LPG tank (approximately 27 kg) and to insert the LPG tank into the trunk while maintaining the position thereof. As well, if the body of the LPG tank or the wire bumps against the edge of the opening of the trunk or a trunk panel disposed in the trunk, the LPG tank or the trunk panel may be damaged. Therefore, this burdens the worker, thus reducing workability and productivity and increasing safety hazard occurrences.


Exemplary embodiments provide a syringe plunger formed of a polymeric material. The syringe plunger includes a pressurizer disposed at a proximal end, and a distal end bifurcated into a first plunger arm having a first conical surface and a second conical surface, and a second plunger arm having a first conical surface and a second conical surface. The distal end includes a first contact surface defined by the first conical surface of the first plunger arm and the first conical surface of the second plunger arm, the first contact surface configured to initially contact a firing engagement mechanism, the first contact surface disposed at a first angle of between about 40° and about 80° relative to a longitudinal axis of the syringe plunger. The distal end also includes a second contact surface defined by the second conical surface of the first plunger arm and the second conical surface of the second plunger arm, the second contact surface configured to contact the firing engagement mechanism subsequent to contact by the first contact surface.

Automatic injection devices offer an alternative to manually-operated syringes for delivering substances into patients' bodies and allow patients to self-administer injections. Automatic injection devices have been used to deliver medications under emergency conditions, for example, to administer epinephrine to counteract the effects of a severe allergic reaction. Automatic injection devices have also been described for use in administering anti-arrhythmic medications and selective thrombolytic agents during a heart attack (see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,910,260; 4,004,577; 4,689,042; 4,755,169 and 4,795,433). Various types of automatic injection devices are also described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,941,130; 4,261,358; 5,085,642; 5,092,843; 5,102,393; 5,267,963; 6,149,626; 6,270,479; and 6,371,939 and U.S. Patent Publication No. WO/2008/005315.
Conventionally, an automatic injection device, when operated, causes a syringe in the device to move forwardly and a needle to project from a housing so that a substance contained in the syringe is ejected into a patient's body. In some cases, movement of the syringe toward the patient's skin such that the needle is inserted into the skin before pressurizing a substance inside the syringe helps prevent the substance from dripping out of the needle before the injection occurs.
Conventional automatic injection devices can occasionally fail due to suboptimal minimum forces (FtFs) required to actuate their firing mechanisms. Conventional devices can misfire even when their firing mechanisms are not engaged with a substantial amount of force, or fail to fire even when their firing mechanisms are engaged with a substantial amount of force. For example, in a conventional device with a lower than optimal FtF, an inadvertent tap on the firing mechanism may engage the firing mechanism and cause the device to misfire and expel the substance contained in the device. This may lead to wastage or misdelivery of the substance before the patient has attached the automatic injection device to his/her body for an injection. Conversely, in a conventional device with a higher than optimal FtF, even a moderate or large force applied by a patient on the firing mechanism may fail to engage the firing mechanism and may fail to expel the substance contained in the device. This may require patients to apply excessive amounts of force to the firing mechanism to expel the substance, which may be uncomfortable to many patients and even intolerably uncomfortable to particularly frail patients. Such variability in the FtF required to actuate the firing mechanism is not desirable in automatic injection devices.


An organochlorine solvent contained in water is decomposed by adding at least one of hydrogen peroxide and ozone to the water and then radiating ultraviolet rays to the water. According to the invention, a catalytic amount of a water-insoluble barium titanate substance is caused to co-exist in the water.

1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a process and apparatus for treating water--such as underground water, drinking water or effluent--contaminated with a toxic organochlorine solvent such as chloroform, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene or methylchloroform so as to decompose the organochlorine solvent contained in the water.
2) Description of the Prior Art
For the purification of water contaminated with trichloroethylene out of organochlorine solvents, there are various known processes such as aeration, adsorption on activated carbon, decomposition by the Fenton's reagent, oxidative decomposition by hydrogen peroxide, oxidative decomposition by ozone, oxidative decomposition by both ozone and hydrogen peroxide, decomposition by illumination of ultraviolet rays, and decomposition by ultraviolet rays in the co-existence of ozone and hydrogen peroxide.
These processes, however, have not been systematically studied with respect to organochlorine solvents other than trichloroethylene. Further, there is practically no report on the decomposition of methylchloroform contained in water.
The aeration process comprises blowing a great deal of air into water to drive out any high-volatility organochlorine solvent or solvents into the atmosphere, so that it involves the potential danger that a new problem of environmental pollution may arise.
The activated carbon adsorption process eliminates organochlorine solvent or solvents from contaminated water by simply adsorbing the solvent or solvents on activated carbon. An additional process is therefore required for the decomposition of the organochlorine solvent or solvents.
The decomposition process making use of the Fenton's reagent employs ferrous and ferric salts in large amounts, resulting in the occurrence of sludge. Disposal of the sludge is cumbersome.
It is also known to decompose chloroform and/or trichloroethylene, which is contained in water, in the presence of titanium oxide as a photo-oxidative catalyst (J. of Catalysis, 82, 418-423, 1983; J. of Catalysis, 82, 404-417, 1983; Environ. Sci. Technol., 17(10), 628-631, 1983). Titanium oxide employed in these processes is not a ferroelectric substance. Moreover, these processes use neither ozone nor hydrogen peroxide and the decomposition velocity of such organochlorine solvents is slow.
The remaining processes are all accompanied by the problems that the efficiency of decomposition of organochlorine solvents is poor and the operation cost is high.
Further, there is no known process for the efficient decomposition of methylchloroform contained in water.

Process and apparatus for the decomposition of organochlorine solvent contained in water


A display system may include a system board configured to compare image signals of a current and previous frame and configured to output the image signals of the current frame and a comparison result; a display panel configured to receive data signals in response to gate signals and configured to include pixels for displaying images corresponding to the data signals; a timing controller configured to output image signals and control signals; a gate driving unit configured to provide the gate signals to the pixels in response to the control signals; and/or a data driving unit configured to store the image signals provided from the timing controller and configured to convert the image signals into the data signals in response to the control signals, the data signals being provided to the pixels.

1. Field
Some example embodiments may relate to display systems capable of display image signals and/or methods for driving the same.
2. Description of Related Art
A typical display system may include a system board and a display device to display an image signal provided from the system board. The system board may provide the display device with image signals and control signals for controlling the display device. The display device may display the image signals in response to the control signals provided from the system board.
The display device may include a plurality of pixels for displaying the image signals, and data and gate driving units for driving the pixels. Each of the pixels may receive data signals provided from the data driving unit in response to gate signals provided from the gate driving unit. The data signals may be analog data voltages corresponding to the image signal. The pixels may display gray scale corresponding to the data signals.
As the display device, there may be developed various display devices such as an Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device, an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) device, an electro-wetting display device, an electrophoretic display device, and so on. In recent years, there may have been required a technique for reducing power consumption of a display system using such display devices.

Display systems for reducing power consumption and methods for driving the same


A storyboard interface displaying key frames of a video may be presented to a user. Individual key frames may represent individual shots of the video. Shots may be grouped based on similarity. Key frames may be displayed in a chronological order of the corresponding shots. Key frames of grouped shots may be spatially correlated within the storyboard interface. For example, shots of a common group may be spatially correlated so that they may be easily discernable as a group even though the shots may not be temporally consecutive and/or or even temporally close to each other in the timeframe of the video itself.

The use of video in reaching audiences has widened significantly in recent years, presenting a plethora of new video content as well as numerous ways to consume it. Efficiency in handling and visualizing such large amounts of video is becoming a vital prerequisite in the media sector, which may call for operational improvements in the creative and distribution processes behind video type media.
Within a video, a shot may refer to a video sequence captured from a unique camera perspective without cuts and/or other cinematic transitions. Improvements in navigation through video and content highlighting, such as user-selection of key frames or thumbnails for a given shot, may directly influence the time spent in production and/or content management. The selection and presentation of key frames of a video and/or thumbnails of the key frames, and/or other techniques for intuitive visualization of a video, may help to shape the viewing experience and may offer viewers a faster access to their desired content. For example, key frames and/or thumbnails, may be visually presented to a user in an interface including a one-dimensional timeline, often referred to as a "storyboard." Individual key frames and/or thumbnails may be positioned at locations on the timeline corresponding to their temporal order in the video. The users may be able to select individually presented key frames to "jump" to a shot in the video corresponding to the selected key frame and/or thumbnail.

Systems and methods for automatic key frame extraction and storyboard interface generation for video


The present invention relates to a method for producing an electrical conductor element with a housing and a conductor element, whereby the housing is made by a molding process and the conductor is embedded in the housing, whereby the conductor is produced by an electroforming process on a metallic layer. The conductor and the metallic layer are covered with the housing by a molding process, and the metallic layer is removed from the conductor and the molding housing. This method advantageously combines the well known molding process and the well known electroforming process for providing a reliable process for producing an electrical conductor element.

Using a three-dimensional injection-molding process, it is possible to produce a three-dimensional injection-molding conductor support in which conductors are embedded directly into a three-dimensional housing. By this method several layers of conductors can be encapsulated within a housing. The conductors may be arranged on the surface of the housing which extend into three spatial directions.
An electrical conductor element can, however, be produced by manufacturing a plastic foil and depositing a conductor trace on the plastic foil, for example by a screen-printing process. Subsequently, the plastic foil is thermoformed and the backside of the thermoformed foil is over-molding by a thicker layer providing the stability for a three-dimensional conductor element.
It is also known in the state of the art to deposit a circuit structure on a carrier film. A work piece is produced on the carrier film by a molding process. After the molding process, the carrier film is removed from the work piece. The work piece with the circuit structure constitutes an electrical conductor element with a housing.
It is also known in the state of the art to produce a conductor by an electroplating or an electroforming process.
European patent application EP 1 246 308 A2 describes a pair of electrical conductors using resin solder in one conductor. The electrical conductor comprises a first housing which is made of a synthetic resin and a first terminal which has a contacting part and a connecting part, both being exposed on the surface of the first housing. A second electrical conductor comprises a second housing which is made of an insulating material, and a second terminal which is made of a conductive material of which the elasticity is higher than of the material of the first conductor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,740 describes a process for fabricating conductive patterns having sub-half micron dimensions. A mask and a lithographic process is disclosed for the formation of conductive patterns on substrates, particularly connection with the formation of high-electromobility transistors and metal semiconductor field effect transistors. The technique allows the formation of sub-half micron conductive patterns on semiconductor substrates using optical lithography and a multilayer portable conformable mask. The method includes the application of optical contact lithography to a conventional photoresist followed by a deep UV-flood exposure of an underlying multilayer portion. Metal is deposited on a semiconductor substrate through the mask formed by the photoresist and the underlying multilayer to produce sub-half micron conductive patterns.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,203 B1 describes a method of producing a contact structure for achieving an electrical connection with a contact target. The contact structure includes a contactor formed on a planar surface of a substrate by means of a micro-fabrication technology. In one aspect, the production method involves a plastic molding technology. In another aspect, the production method involves a photolithography technology using a grey-tone photomask. The contactor has at least a horizontal portion formed on the substrate and a contact portion formed on one end of the horizontal portion. A spring force of the horizontal portion of the contactor provides a contact force when the contactor is pressed against the contact target. In a further aspect, the contact structure includes a recess for providing a free space for the contactor when the contactor is pressed against the contact target.
US patent application publication US 2002/0031905 A1 describes a method of producing a connection component. The method provides a movable layer having first and second surfaces and forming vias at spaced-apart first locations of a removable layer. A conductive material, such as copper, is deposited over the first surface of the removable layer and in each of the vias to form one or more flexible leads including projections which downwardly extend to the wires towards the removable layer. Each lead includes a first end integrally connected to one of the projections and a second end. A substrate is provided over the conductive material. The removable layer is removed so that the first and the second ends of the leads can be moved away from each other. As a result, at least first or second ends of the leads are connected to the substrate without using a bonding or welding step.
It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive method of producing an electrical conductor element.

Method for producing an electrical conductor element


A game machines has a back side display unit composed of reels for displaying back patterns, and a front side display unit composed of transparent EL panels for displaying overlapping patterns overlapping with the back patterns. The back side display unit and the front side display unit are disposed not to produce blind spot regions of the back patterns. The game machine can provide various overlapping patterns with good visibility and a high game selection capability to a player.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to pattern display devices, and game machines including display devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
On one type of game machines, a set of moving patterns is displayed, then the motion of the patterns is stopped, and awarded items (coins and game balls) are dispensed if the resulting (stopped) set of patterns coincides with one of winning sets of patterns. On the other hand, on another type of game machines, a machine is suddenly switched to a different game condition that allows a player to earn many awarded items more easily (a condition called special play or special award). The former case (format where awarded items are dispensed according to the pattern) is represented by slot machines and the latter case is represented by ball playing machines such as pachinko machines. There is also a kind of slot machines called Pachi-suro machines (a kind of slot machines), where the game is switched to a special playing condition in addition to dispensing awarded items when a special set of pattern (e.g., 777) appears.
In many of these pattern display devices, patterns are displayed in a matrix composed of several rows and columns (e.g., three rows and three columns), and awarded items and special playing conditions are provided when the combination of patterns along a row of the matrix or a diagonal line (normally called "winning line") coincides with one of the winning sets of patterns. On a slot machine, it is common to change the number of winning lines based on an amount of bets.
Conventional pattern display devices can have either a mechanical display means where patterns are displayed by the rotation (scrolling display) and stopping (stationary display) of pattern-painted reels (drums) or belts, or an electrical display means where patterns are displayed as varying and stationary displays by means of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, CRT, etc. Furthermore, some of them have a transparent LCD device in front of the aforementioned display means, to display the above-described winning line, or to show an advertising content or simulations when the game is not executed (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-19182).
The technique disclosed by Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-19182 overlays the LCD screen display on top of the regular patterns, however, the overlaid display is composed of only winning lines and is monotonous and luck excitement for a player. The overlaid display has no bearing on the fun of a game.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A power supply management device includes: a signal-output-unit for outputting, for each of a plurality of power-supply-lines for which voltage supply is started in a predetermined order, a signal indicating that a voltage of the power-supply-line has reached a given level; and a voltage-shut-off-circuit for short-circuiting one of the power-supply-lines for which voltage supply is started second or later, to a portion at a voltage level lower than a level of a voltage supplied to each of the power-supply-lines, at or before a time point of start of voltage supply to one of the power-supply-lines for which voltage supply is started first, and releasing the one power-supply-line from being short-circuited in accordance with the signal indicating that a voltage of one of the power-supply-lines for which voltage supply is started immediately before voltage supply to the one power-supply-line is started has reached a given level.

The following are known examples of techniques for managing a plurality of power sources.
A power shut-off device for an analog circuit to which a plurality of power source voltages have to be supplied, for example, has been proposed. The power shut-off device includes current interruption units that are provided so as to correspond to power supply lines, respectively, and that each interrupt the flow of an overcurrent when the overcurrent flows through the line. The power shut-off device also includes current-interruption detection units that are provided so as to correspond to the current interruption units, respectively, and that each detect that a current flow has been interrupted by the current interruption unit. The power shut-off device also includes a logical unit that determines, based on an output signal from each current-interruption detection unit, whether or not to supply a power source voltage to the analog circuit. The power shut-off device also includes a switching unit that turns on or off output of a power source voltage to the analog circuit, based on a determination signal from the logical unit. When any one of the current-interruption detection units of power supply lines detects interruption of a current flow, the power shut-off device turns off output of a power source voltage of any line other than the line concerned.
An information processing device including a master electronic circuit, a slave electronic circuit coupled to the master electronic circuit, a second power source that supplies power to the slave electronic circuit through a system different from that of a first power source that supplies power to the master electronic circuit, and a power control circuit that controls power supply to the slave electronic circuit has also been proposed. In this information processing device, in a power saving mode, supply of power from the second power source to the servant electronic circuit is shut off and output of the second power source stops. In the power saving mode, in the case where an input signal is supplied to the master electronic circuit, a power control circuit supplies power from the second power source to the slave electronic circuit after a predetermined period has elapsed since resumption of output of the second power source.
A power supply management device including a control unit that controls a plurality of power sources has been proposed. The power supply management device includes power supply units that are provided for a plurality of power sources, respectively, and that each start supplying power based on a control signal output from the control unit, and output an OK signal to the control unit when supply of power has been normally started. The power supply management device also includes a shut-off unit that controls the power supply units to shut off all the power sources when a control signal from the control unit is not output in a predetermined period of time.
Examples of the related-art techniques are disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 5-207653, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2008-117241, and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-252444.
Recently, multiple-power-source devices, such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), to which a plurality of power source voltages are supplied have been used for many electronic apparatuses. An electronic apparatus including such a multiple-power-source device has a configuration in which a plurality of devices including a multiple-power-source device share power sources in order to realize size reduction and increased density. That is, regarding a power supply line for supplying a power source voltage, for example, of 1.5 V to a multiple-power-source device, another 1.5 V powered device may be connected to this line. Regarding another power supply line for supplying a power source voltage, for example, of 2.5 V to a multiple-power-source device, another 2.5 V powered device may be connected to this line.
For a plurality of power sources that supply power source voltages to a multiple-power-source devices, the order in which the plurality of power sources are turned on is determined in advance in some cases. Unintended operations (for example, the occurrences of a latch-up event and an excessive rush current) in a multiple-power-source device are prevented by appropriately setting the order in which the plurality of power sources are turned on.
In a multiple-power-source device, although power supply input terminals connected to power supply lines are isolated from one another, there may be a problem in that a voltage input to one power supply input terminal from a power source turned on first is input to another power supply input terminal. This may be due to, for example, formation of a parasitic element inside a semiconductor constituting a multiple-power-source device. Once such voltage re-direction occurs, a voltage appears in a power supply line connected to the other power supply input terminal at a timing earlier than a timing in accordance with the power supply sequence. Thus, there are some cases in which another device connected to the power supply line concerned is turned on at a timing earlier than the original timing and, as a result, a malfunction of the electronic apparatus occurs.
It is difficult to recognize, during the design phase, whether or not voltage re-direction has occurred in a multiple-power-source device. It is thus difficult to address this issue in advance. For this reason, in existing techniques, it is usual to check whether or not voltage re-direction is present and whether or not voltage re-direction affects another device, and the power supply sequence is then appropriately changed, if desired.
However, it is not easy to change a complex power supply sequence, and there are some cases where the issue is not solved merely by changing a power supply sequence.

Power supply management device, electronic apparatus, and power supply management method


A low-dropout voltage regulator apparatus includes a voltage source circuit, an error amplifier, an output transistor, a resistor-capacitor circuit, a detection circuit, and a current adjusting circuit. The voltage source circuit generates a reference voltage signal and at least one threshold voltage signal. The error amplifier receives the reference voltage signal and a feedback voltage signal to generate an output control signal. The output transistor provides an output current for the output terminal according to the output control signal. The resistor-capacitor circuit generates the feedback voltage signal using voltage dividing according to a voltage corresponding to the output current. The detection circuit compares at least one threshold voltage signal with the output voltage to generate at least one control voltage signal. The current adjusting circuit adaptively adjusts the current passing though the output transistor to decrease the transient response time according to the at least one control voltage signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosed embodiments of the present invention relate to a low-dropout voltage regulator mechanism, and more particularly, to a low-dropout voltage regulator apparatus which is capable of adaptively adjusting the current passing through the output transistor to reduce the transient response time and related method thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally speaking, a conventional low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator generates and outputs a stable output voltage to the following circuit under an ideal operation. However, in practical designs and operations, loop bandwidth of a low-dropout voltage regulator may have a frequency range from hundreds of KHz to dozens of MHz. Therefore, the conventional low-dropout voltage regulator has a poor transient response for an output current load. For instance, when the load of the conventional low-dropout voltage regulator is changed from a light load to a heavy load, the conventional low-dropout voltage regulator requires more transient response time to provide a stable and balanced output current for the following circuit. Hence, the load change of the conventional low-dropout voltage regulator induces a dramatic voltage change such as a voltage dip. In addition, when the load of the conventional low-dropout voltage regulator is changed from a heavy load to a light load, the conventional low-dropout voltage regulator requires more transient response time to gradually reduce the degree of conduction of the output power transistor. Hence, the load change of the conventional low-dropout voltage regulator induces a dramatic voltage change such as a sudden voltage jump.
A conventional solution is provided with a very large external regulating capacitor intended to reduce the dramatic voltage change at the transient response time; however, this very large external regulating capacitor not only dramatically increases the production cost, but also reduces the original loop bandwidth and thus deteriorates the regulator performance.

Low-dropout voltage regulator apparatus capable of adaptively adjusting current passing through output transistor to reduce transient response time and related method thereof


A method of measuring a height of 3-dimensional shape measurement apparatus includes irradiating a first grid pattern light from a plurality of first lighting devices and a second grid pattern light from a plurality of second lighting devices which are alternatively arranged to the first lighting devices toward a target object wherein the first grid pattern light has a first equivalent wavelength and the second grid pattern light has a second equivalent wavelength that is different from the first equivalent wavelength, and obtaining a first pattern image corresponding to the first grid pattern light and a second pattern image corresponding to the second grid pattern light, generating combined pattern images by combining the first and second pattern images obtained from the first and second lighting devices adjacent to each other among the plurality of first and second lighting devices, calculating heights of the target object according to a combined equivalent wavelength of the combined pattern images, and determining a representative height of the target object by using the calculated heights of the target object. And therefore, it is possible to measure a height of a target object which exceeds an available height of measurement by each of the first and second lighting devices, as well as, more accurate and reliable height may be obtained.

In general, at least one printed circuit board is equipped in an electronic device and elements with various shapes are mounted on these printed circuit boards. And 3-dimensional shape measurement apparatus is used to inspect defect of such elements.
Conventional 3-dimensional shape measurement apparatus uses a camera to capture a reflection image of a grid pattern light which is emitted from the lighting device, and is measures 3-dimensional shape of the target object such as printed circuit board by using the captured reflection image.
In such 3-dimensional shape measurement apparatus described above, an equivalent wavelength corresponding to a pitch interval of a grid pattern light emitted from the lighting device is proportional to an available height of measurement of a target object, therefore, it is not possible to unlimitedly increase the equivalent wavelength but increase within a predetermined range.
Therefore, it is impossible to measure a 3-dimensional shape of a target object when a height of a target object exceeds an available height which can be measured by a grid pattern light emitted from a lighting device.

Method of measuring a height of 3-dimensional shape measurement apparatus


A method for repairing a turbine nozzle segment having at least two vanes disposed between outer and inner bands includes separating the outer and inner bands from the vanes, and forming one slot for each vane through the outer band and one slot for each vane through the inner band. A newly manufactured replacement vane is provided for each one of the original vanes. Each replacement vane has an outer boss formed on an outer end thereof and an inner boss formed on an inner end thereof. Then, each outer boss is inserted into a corresponding one of the outer band slots, and each inner boss is inserted into a corresponding one of the inner band slots. Once the parts are so assembled, each outer boss is welded to the outer band on the cold side, and each inner boss is welded to the inner band on the cold side. Each replacement vane is also brazed to the outer and inner bands on the respective hot sides thereof.

This invention relates generally to gas turbine engines and more particularly to the repair of turbine nozzle segments used in such engines.
A gas turbine engine includes a compressor that provides pressurized air to a combustor wherein the air is mixed with fuel and ignited for generating hot combustion gases. These gases flow downstream to a turbine section that extracts energy therefrom to power the compressor and provide useful work such as powering an aircraft in flight. Gas turbine engines typically include stationary turbine nozzles that enhance engine performance by appropriately influencing gas flow and pressure within the turbine section. In multi-stage turbine sections, turbine nozzles are placed at the entrance of each turbine stage to channel combustion gases into the turbine rotor located downstream of the nozzle. Turbine nozzles are typically segmented around the circumference thereof with each nozzle segment having one or more airfoil vanes disposed between inner and outer bands that define the radial flowpath boundaries for the hot combustion gases flowing through the nozzle. These nozzle segments are mounted to the engine casing to form an annular array with the vanes extending radially between the rotor blades of adjacent turbine stages.
During operation, nozzle segments are exposed to a high temperature gas stream that can lead to oxidation and corrosion, thereby limiting the effective service life of these components. Accordingly, nozzle segments are typically fabricated from high temperature cobalt or nickel-based superalloys and are often coated with corrosion and/or heat resistant materials. Furthermore, nozzle segments (particularly those in the high pressure turbine section) are often cooled internally with cooling air extracted from the compressor to prolong service life. Even with such efforts, portions of the nozzle segments, particularly the vanes, can suffer parent metal cracking, material erosion due to oxidation and corrosion, and other damage such that the nozzle segments must be either repaired or replaced to maintain safe, efficient engine operation. Because nozzle segments are complex in design, are made of relatively expensive materials, and are expensive to manufacture, it is generally more desirable to repair them whenever possible.
One common repair process includes chemically stripping the environmental coating, applying a braze alloy to distressed areas to repair distress, and re-applying the environmental coating. However, such repair processes are limited by local distortion and under minimum wall thicknesses, which may be exceeded as a result of repeated repair and chemical stripping processes. That is, when the airfoil wall does not meet a minimum thickness, the nozzle segment cannot be repaired by the known repair process.
To avoid scrapping the entire nozzle segment in such situations, airfoil replacement techniques have been developed. Current airfoil replacement techniques for single vane segments comprise removing the distressed vane from the inner and outer bands and welding a new airfoil to the salvaged bands. When the distressed airfoil is removed from the bands, a stump of the original airfoil remains. The new airfoil is welded to these stumps. Airfoil welding works well with single vane segments because the required line-of-sight is available with the single vane configuration. However, conventional welding is not practical with multiple vane segments because of line-of-sight problems. Therefore, airfoil replacement for multiple vane segments typically comprises brazing new airfoils to the salvaged bands. This results in airfoil-to-band joints having generally inferior strength compared to that of an integrally cast interface.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have an airfoil replacement technique for repairing multiple vane nozzle segments in which the airfoil-to-band joints are equivalent to or better than the same joints in an originally manufactured nozzle segment.
The above-mentioned need is met by the present invention, which provides a method of repairing a turbine nozzle segment having at least two vanes disposed between outer and inner bands. The method includes separating the outer and inner bands from the vanes, and forming one slot for each vane through the outer band and one slot for each vane through the inner band. A newly manufactured replacement vane is provided for each one of the original vanes. Each replacement vane has an outer boss formed on an outer end thereof and an inner boss formed on an inner end thereof. Then, each outer boss is inserted into a corresponding one of the outer band slots, and each inner boss is inserted into a corresponding one of the inner band slots. Once the parts are so assembled, each outer boss is welded to the outer band on the cold side, and each inner boss is welded to the inner band on the cold side. Each replacement vane is also brazed to the outer and inner bands on the respective hot sides thereof.
The present invention and its advantages over the prior art will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Turbine nozzle segment and method of repairing same


A system includes an information processing apparatus and a terminal apparatus connected via a network. The information processing apparatus includes a processor that calculates based on image data of an image to be displayed on a display screen of the terminal apparatus and a compression rate of the image data, a data transfer volume to be transmitted to the terminal apparatus, and determines based on the calculated data transfer volume and a data transfer rate with the terminal apparatus, a segmentation unit by which the image is segmented.

A thin client system is a system that manages applications and data by a server, while the client is provided with minimal functions. Further, accompanying the prevalence of terminal apparatuses such as tablet terminals and smartphones, the need for a so-called mobile thin client system enabling secure use of corporate applications and data in a mobile environment is expanding.
For example, according to a related technique, a webpage displayed by a first computer system is shared with a second computer system. Further, according to another technique, for the same data request from multiple terminals, the amount of data provided differs according to terminal, based on network performance between the server and the terminal. For examples of such techniques, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 2011-18314 and 2002-268998.
Nonetheless, with the conventional techniques, when a thin client system is used by a terminal apparatus such as a tablet terminal, the network bandwidth is narrow and thus, the communication state with the server easily becomes unstable, arising in a problem in that user operability of the terminal apparatus drops.

System, information processing apparatus, and image processing method


A method for making a lithium ion battery cathode is provided. A carbon nanotube source including a plurality of carbon nanotubes is made. A cathode active material including a plurality of cathode active material particles and a solvent is provided. The carbon nanotube source and the cathode active material are added into the solvent, and the solvent with the carbon nanotube source and the cathode active material is shaken using ultrasonic waves. The carbon nanotube source and the cathode active material are then separated from the solvent to obtain a lithium ion battery cathode.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a method for making lithium ion battery cathodes, particularly, to a method for making a carbon nanotube based lithium ion battery cathode.
2. Description of Related Art
A typical lithium ion battery mainly includes a cathode, an anode, a separator, and an electrolyte. The cathode usually includes cathode active material, conductive particles, and adhesive. The adhesive is used to bond the cathode active material and conductive particles together, so that the cathode can have a stable structure with a desired shape. The adhesive is usually composed of insulative organic material. The organic material includes polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyfluortetraethylene (PTFE), or styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). A mass ratio of the adhesive to the cathode is usually about 10%. Thus, the adhesive would decrease the conductivity and specific capacity of the cathode.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide a method for making a lithium ion battery cathode without adhesive.

Method for making lithium ion battery cathode


A system is provided for communication between mobile devices. The system includes an audio device, a transparent display, and a mobile device in communication with the audio device and the transparent display. The mobile device receives a request for information associated with other mobile devices, and determines a location of the mobile device. The mobile device also outputs a spatial map of the information to the transparent display, wherein the information includes locations of the other mobile devices relative to the location of the mobile device. Additionally, the mobile device communicates with at least one of the other mobile devices.

Workers may use communication devices to communicate with coworkers to request information, such as the sale price for an item or the location where the item may be found. However, these communication devices can be inefficient because they require the use of at least one of the worker's hands and may also require the worker to look away from a customer. Additionally, when a worker needs to request assistance, the worker may not know where all coworkers are located, which coworkers are busy with other customers, which coworkers are on break, which coworkers have the skills to provide the specific assistance needed, or which coworkers are working in the area associated with the request. This lack of knowledge makes efficient responses to requests more difficult. All of the coworkers who hear a general request for assistance may assume that one of the other coworkers who heard the request may be responding, resulting in no coworkers responding to the request. Supervisors of workers may not be able to evaluate which workers have the highest response rates or which workers most effectively responded to requests for assistance in their areas.

Head-up display communication system and method


A carpenter's square includes a triangular base having first and second sides joined to form a right angle. A first elongated slot is disposed within the base parallel to a third side thereof; and a pin is selectively positionable along the length of the slot. The pin provides a mechanism for fixing the base in a specific orientation relative to an edge of an object when the pin is in a locked position within the slot.

The present invention relates generally to measuring tools. More particularly, the present invention relates to a square having a mechanism for fixing the square in a particular orientation.
Carpenter's squares, sometimes referred to as SPEED squares, framing squares, rafter squares, rafter angle squares and the like, are used for a variety of tasks by carpenters, electricians, plumbers and other similar craftsmen. These squares typically have a main body with three sides, two of which meet at a right angle. The sides are straight edges marked with rulers and lay out lines. The rulers are used to mark out rafter layouts straight line cuts, angle line cuts, etc. Such squares are used for erecting roofs, in which common rafters, hip rafters, valley or jack rafters, and cornices are cut with the proper plumb, heel and side cuts so that the rafters can be put in place with the proper pitch and length.
More particularly, these squares are used for generating straight lines. However, these squares have certain disadvantages. It is not always easy to use such squares to generate straight lines, especially in cramped areas where it is difficult to be in a position to view the markings on the square in order to orient the square in a desired manner. It is also difficult to determining straight lines at long distances, up heights such as on roofs or ceilings, across spaces where there are encumbrances or across areas having depths which cannot be traversed (such as roofs only having the end rafters in place).
Various attempts have been made to overcome the problems associated with these squares. For example, U.S. Pat. No. discloses a square connected to a layout bar to provide for repeated markings of predetermined angles. However, the layout bar needs to be mechanically connected to the square which can result in misalignment and requires multiple adjustment points in order to obtain a desired angle. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,416 discloses a laser square for generating straight lines. However, the laser square can not be locked into a specific orientation and requires visual access to each location at which the square is positioned in order to determine the proper orientation of the square.
Accordingly, there is a need for a square that can be locked into a particular angle/pitch in a simple yet elegant manner. There is also a need for a square that does not rely on a user being able to visually determine the angle pitch at a particular location in order to properly mark/scribe at that location. There is a need for an inexpensive, simple addition to the square that brings greater simplicity and ease of use to both the professional and handyman users. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.


A lumber transfer system includes an overhead track and a lower conveyor for retrieving and delivering boards from multiple racks of lumber to a platform leading to a saw. In some examples of operation, a board picker travels along the track to pick up a chosen board from one of the racks. The board picker then releases the board onto the conveyor. The conveyor conveys the board underneath the other racks and delivers the board to the saw feed platform. While the conveyor is conveying the board toward the saw feed platform, the board picker returns to the racks for another board. The board picker traveling along the track and handling boards while the conveyor delivers them to the saw saves production time and increases throughput.

Various machines and methods have been developed for retrieving individual pieces of lumber or boards stacked at one or more locations and feeding the boards individually to a saw. Examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,379,105 and 6,923,614; both of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference. Additional lumber handling systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,730,144; 3,873,000 and 3,952,883; all of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference. A lumber processing system for making prefabricated trusses and panels is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,950,316; which is specifically incorporated herein by reference.

Pass-under lumber transfer methods and systems


An exemplary retractable awning and method are provided for mounting to virtually any structure, such as a house trailer, recreational vehicle, house, patio, deck, and the like, to provide shade and protection from the elements. The retractable awing includes a roller tube assembly, a covering, and support arms. The roller tube assembly includes a roller tube and at least one retractable rib. The roller tube has a first end, a second end, and a rib storage groove operable to receive and store the retractable rib so that the retractable rib may couple with the roller tube and extend from a retracted position, at least partially within the rib storage groove, to an extended position. The retractable rib may have an upward arch or bend when in its extended position. The covering couples between the structure and the roller tube assembly and may be supported by the retractable rib when open. The covering provides shade and protection from the elements when open. The support arms couple between the first and second end of the roller tube, respectively, and the support. A method for manufacturing or assembling a retractable awning is also provided.

This invention relates in general to the field of awnings and more particularly to a retractable awning and method.
Awnings provide much needed protection from the weather and elements and are commonly found on many structures and vehicles such as house trailers, recreational vehicles (xe2x80x9cRVsxe2x80x9d), porches, patios, and decks. The protection that an awning provides, such as shade and protection from rain and wind, greatly enhances the overall enjoyment of such structures and vehicles by substantially increasing the comfort of the surrounding environment across a wide range of weather conditions and elements. Awnings significantly increase the amount of time that such structures and vehicles may be used and enjoyed.
Awnings that can be extended for use and retracted for storage are especially useful for house trailers and RV""s where the awning needs to be stored before the vehicles moves. Various designs for such stow-away awnings have been created that will fit on the side of a house trailer, RV, or virtually any other structure to provide cover when opened, and also store compactly and securely when retracted. The most common design uses a roller tube around which the awning is wrapped when not in use. Typical designs are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,510, issued to Hayward, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,121, issued to McKee.
A problem with these designs results from the absence of medial struts or rafters, which might interfere with the process of rolling the awning on the roller tube. Roller tubes tend to be rather long, and if the tube bends, the awning may sag, forming pockets for the collection of puddles of rain water, or which may flap and be buffeted by winds, causing noise and accelerated fabric wear.
The present inventor has previously addressed these problems in his prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,203,393 (the ""393 patent) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,032 (the ""032 patent), which are hereby incorporated by reference. The ""393 patent teaches a plurality of bowed ribs extending transversely between the roller tube and the wall of the trailer or RV, stretching and supporting the awning and imparting a slight arch to the awning. The ""032 patent is similar, but whereas the adjustable ribs of the ""393 patent are flexible ribs bowed by compression, the ""032 patent teaches adjustable ribs made from rigid, curved elements used with a rigid, bowed housing.
Although the adjustable, bowed ribs of the ""393 and ""032 patents represent an advance in the art, problems with convenience in use of awnings and storage of awnings are still present. As currently known in the art, the adjustable ribs must be removed from their supports underneath the awning and stored separately, usually at a location inside the trailer or RV selected by the user. Since storage space in house trailers and RVs is usually at a premium, it often proves difficult to find a storage location, or it may prove unduly burdensome or inconvenient to have to enter and re-enter the house trailer or RV to remove the ribs from storage for use and replace them in storage after use.
Thus, although awnings that can be extended for use and retracted for storage are especially beneficial and provide many significant advantages, these awnings still suffer from certain problems and inconveniences. Many awnings are difficult and cumbersome to setup and assemble, and even more troublesome to take down and store. As mentioned above storage of awning parts and components when an awning is retracted and not in use can be problematic. For example, removable awning ribs or bows must be taken down and stored separately when the awning is retracted and in a stored state. In addition to the obvious problems of not being able to keep track of the various awning parts and components, storage of such parts and components can be especially troubling. For example, removable awning ribs or bows are often long, fragile, and hard to store. This is especially problematic on RV""s where storage space is especially limited.
Other attempts to address this problem are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,214, issued Apr. 22, 1997 to Baka, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,352, issued Dec. 29, 1992 to Murray, et al. The Baka patent describes a roller tube rotatably attached to the wall of the trailer and a lead rail extending from the wall and supported by support arms, the lead rail extending the awning and a pair of telescoping rafters pivotally mounted to the wall. Among other design limitations, the rafters in the Baka patent are not arched or bowed and are not hinged or pivotally connected at the middle of the rafter.
The Murray patent describes a roller tube extending from the wall of the trailer to extend the awning, having a single rafter which has two sections pivotally connected and which is stored in a recess in the roller tube. In addition to other design limitations, the rafter in the Murray patent, however, is not bowed or arched, but substantially straight. The rafter is not pivotally connected to the roller tube, but has a cylindrical anchor slidable in the recess and a pin at the end of the rafter that must be inserted in a bore defined in the cylindrical anchor using a washer. The rafter is, apparently, not collapsed for storage in the roller tube, but is fully extended, as the rafter includes a gas spring at the opposite end, which attaches to a bracket by means of a notch in the end of the rafter which mates with a bar on the brackets, the gas spring extending to straighten the rafter and lock the pivotally connected ends of the rafter. Finally, there is only one rafter, which is not sufficient to support awnings having a length of sixteen to twenty four feet.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, describes, teaches, or suggests the instant invention as claimed.
From the foregoing it may be appreciated that a need has arisen for a retractable awning and method that provides an awning with retractable ribs or support members that can be easily, conveniently, and quickly setup and assembled and taken down without the need to separately store the retractable ribs. In accordance with the present invention, a retractable awning and method are provided that substantially eliminate one or more of the disadvantages and problems outlined above.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a retractable awning is provided that may be mounted to a structure, such as a house trailer, recreational vehicle, house, porch, patio, building, house and the like to provide shade and protection from the elements. The retractable awning includes a roller tube assembly, a covering, and support arms.
The roller tube assembly includes a roller tube and a retractable rib. The roller tube has a first end, a second end, and a rib storage groove operable to receive and store the retractable rib so that the retractable rib may couple with the roller tube and extend from a retracted position, at least partially within the rib storage groove, to an extended position. The retractable rib may have an upward arch or bend when in its extended position. Because the retractable rib can be stored in the rib storage groove, it need not be stored separately from the retractable awning when the awning is in a retracted or stored position.
The covering couples between the structure and the roller tube assembly and may be supported by the retractable rib when open. The support arms couple between the first and second end of the roller tube, respectively, and the support.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing or assembling a retractable awning is also provided.
The present invention provides a profusion of technical advantages that include the capability to easily, conveniently, and quickly setup, assemble, and taken down the retractable awning without the need to separately store the retractable ribs. This eliminates the frustration of lost ribs and saves much needed storage room, especially in vehicles such as RVs.
Another technical advantage of the present invention includes the capability to easily retract or close the awning for storage. Stored rotational or potential energy will allow virtually anyone, regardless of size or strength, to transition the retractable awning from an extended or open position to a retracted or closed position.
The present invention also provides the significant technical advantage of conveniently providing lighting, such as string lights or rope lighting that do not present a safety hazard like outdoor lanterns and lights. These lights do not have to be unplugged and setup and remain with the retractable awning when it is both retracted or stored and when it is extended or open.
Yet another technical advantage of the present invention includes the capability to include not only a rib storage groove or channel in a roller tube, but also a covering mounting groove, a lighting mounting groove, and an auxiliary mounting groove. The auxiliary mounting groove allows a material to be draped from the roller tube and allows a string or rope to be rolled with the covering when retracted or stored to allow for easy opening of the retractable awning using the string or rope.
Still yet another technical advantage of the present invention includes the capability to include support arms that each include an arm and a side rafter that store flat, thus increasing overall convenience and safety. The side rafter may position within an opening, channel, or area formed in the back of the arm when the retractable awning is in a stored or retracted position. This flat storage significantly increases safety by reducing the chance of accidently bumping into the stored awning.
Yet another technical advantage of the present invention includes arched or bowed retractable ribs that provide an arched support to the covering prevent the covering from sagging. This prevents water and other substances from pooling on the upper surface of the covering.
Another technical advantage of the present invention includes retractable ribs that are adjustable in length. This allows for the arched support provided to the covering to be varied as desired and allows for the accommodation of awnings of different sizes and to allow the covering to be opened or extended partially or not to its full extent.
Other technical advantages are readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, description, and claims.


An improved electronic aiming device for use with a weapon or other manually aimed device. Means are provided to vary the field of view, determine range to target, compensate for bullet drop, and to compensate for crosswind, without removing either hand from the weapon, by monitoring the tilt of the weapon upon which the device is mounted.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to aiming devices, in general, and to aiming devices with electronically enhanced target acquisition capabilities, in particular.
2. Prior Art
When making a long range shot with a firearm, the shooter must first determine a firing solution based on distance to target (Range), bullet drop due to the flight characteristic of the bullet and gravity (Drop), and crosswind component of the wind that is blowing at the time of firing (Windage).
Typically, the shooter will have a chart taped to the side of his weapon, or will have memorized the values for each of the corrections i.e. Drop and Windage at various Ranges and wind velocities. The shooter must then make a correction for each of these component values. Two methods are commonly used for this purpose. The first is to manually adjust the turrets on an optical aiming device so that the reticule is directing the shooter to the corrected target position. The second alternative is to use what is commonly called "Holdover" by those skilled in the art. There are many types of optical aiming devices that have graduated reticules for this purpose. The shooter places the target at a different position on the reticule based on its graduations.
There are numerous "Optical solutions" to the "Automatic Firing solution" problem sited in previous patents; however, few seldom survive in the marketplace because of the high cost of automatically moving optical components and the difficulty of maintaining accuracy with repeated impact from a weapon.


Surgical instruments for use in implanting a stem component into a knee of a patient include a canal reamer and an associated implant reference guide.

During the lifetime of a patient, it may be necessary to perform a joint replacement procedure on the patient as a result of, for example, disease or trauma. The joint replacement procedure may involve the use of a prosthesis which is implanted into one or more of the patient's bones. In the case of a knee replacement procedure, a tibial tray is implanted into the patient's tibia. A bearing is secured to the tibial tray. The condyle surfaces of a replacement femoral component bear against the tibial bearing.
Such a knee prosthesis may also include a number of elongated intramedullary stem components which are implanted in the patient's tibia and/or femur. To secure a stem component to the patient's tibia and/or femur, the intramedullary canal of the patient's tibia and/or femur is first surgically reamed such that the stem component may be subsequently implanted therein.

Instrument assembly for implanting a stem component of a knee prosthesis and orthopaedic surgical procedure for using the same