A formed panel for a bag and method of manufacturing therefore is provided which allows the bag to maintain an original shape without deformation even though the bag may be acted on by external forces, and also allows the bag to appear soft from the outside thereof. The panel is formed from the impression of a fabric material onto a rigid plastic material. Also provided is a hard-sided, soft-gusseted luggage to protect the contents of the luggage without a totally rigid construction. A method of manufacturing a hard panel for luggage which includes impressing a fabric sheet onto a plastic sheet to form a combined sheet and molding the combined sheet to the desired shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a formed panel for a bag and method of manufacturing therefore, and more particularly, to a formed panel for a bag and method of manufacturing therefore which allows the bag to maintain an original shape without deformation even though the bag may be acted on by external forces, and also allows the bag to appear soft from the outside thereof.
This invention also relates to luggage, and more particularly hard-sided, soft gusset luggage having durability and sufficient stiffness to protect the contents of the luggage without a totally rigid construction.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, when a bag is manufactured with the use of a panel formed by extruding Acrylic Buterate Styrene (ABS), Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC), Poly Ethylene (PE), and Poly Propylene (PP), the bag is able to maintain an original shape without deformation by external force. Also, when a bag is made of material such as leather, vinyl, fabric or the like, it is easily deformable by external force.
According to the former case, it is possible to maintain the original shape of the bag, even if the bag is pressed by external forces. This results in the advantage that the contents of the bag can be maintained in their proper shape. Accordingly, this type of bag is generally used as a traveling bag, a bag for instruments, etc. Since the material of the formed panel is generally a hard plastic such a ABS, PVC, PE, PP, and so on, though the bag can be maintained in its original shape, it is a disadvantage that the outward appearance of the bag is unpleasant to the touch.
In the other case, where materials such as leather, vinyl, fabric or the like are used for manufacturing the bag, the outward appearance of the bag is agreeable to the touch, but when external force is applied to the flexible material, the force is directly transferred to the contents of the bag.
In order to overcome the disadvantage of the later case, it has been suggested that a structure with a square frame be inserted into the body of the bag to maintain a shape of the bag. While this structure maintains, partly, a square shape, it is incapable of maintaining the contents in the bag in their original form.
Soft-sided luggage has many advantages but also provides many problems which are inherent in its structure. Soft-sided luggage, normally referred to as luggage having a hard gusset or midsection and soft panels in front and back, must be filled full in order for the contents of the luggage and the front and back panels to be protected. If the luggage is not filled, voids occur which leave the soft front and back panels vulnerable to puncture or ripping. While such luggage is light in weight, it is bulky because of the stiffness and volume of the gusset. Additionally, the structure of soft-sided luggage requires rigid frames for closing the front panel to the gusset, which frames tend to bend because of the lack of strength of the front panel, leading to the bags often being bent and deformed.
Appearance problems also exist if the luggage is not carefully manufactured. If a hard gusset is used in the center section, then the hard section must be covered with the same soft material that is used to form the panels. If, on the other hand, the luggage is to have hard panels all around, then very often the panels are made of plastic and the entire luggage tends to appear cheap and shoddy. If cloth is used in the luggage, then the luggage will have a soft appearance and will in fact be soft in the front and back panels and require separate structural stiffeners.
Additionally, flexible or soft-sided luggage is not necessarily expandable even though the sides are soft. Since the luggage must be relatively full in order to keep the sides from becoming vulnerable to puncture or ripping, it is necessary that the soft-sided luggage be very accurately sized to the load involved. Attempts have been made in the past to expand the luggage in accordance with the size of the load being carried but these attempts have been less than successful. Furthermore, none of these patents, taken either singly or in combination, are thought to provide the benefits of the present invention.
Trotter, U.S. Pat. No. 1,171,678, shows a rigid piece of luggage having an expandable side panel by placing flexible sheet within the remainder of the luggage and strapping the two together.
Switkes, U.S. Pat. No. 1,889,765, shows a bellows expansion panel for the outside of an attache case.
Gray, U.S. Pat. No. 2,536,169, shows a device having two zippered halves connected by a zipper, so that the middle of the apparatus is flexible while the outer panels are relatively stiff. Provisions are made for inserting zip and expansion panels into the device to make the device of larger capacity.
Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 3,061,057, is a device which has add on segments zipped together to a soft, flexible center.
Dyke, U.S. Pat. No. 3,443,671, shows an expansible carrying case having asymmetrically opening zippered pleats to enable expansion.
Kotkins, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,515, shows a device having zip on expansion chambers at the ends of the device.
The related art does not provide the essential elements or benefits of the present invention.

Soft gusset, hard-paneled luggage and method of manufacture


A backside-illuminated photodetector structure comprising a first reflecting region, a second reflecting region and a semiconductor region. The semiconductor region is between the first reflecting region and the second reflecting region. The semiconductor region comprises a first doped region and a second doped region.

In semiconductor technologies, image sensors are used for sensing a volume of exposed light projected towards the semiconductor substrate. Backside-illuminated photodetectors are an example of an image sensor for sensing a volume of radiation (e.g., light) projected towards the back surface of a semiconductor substrate. The photodetectors may be formed on the front side of the substrate, the substrate being thin enough to allow the radiation incident on the back surface of the substrate to reach the photodetectors.

Backside-illuminated photodetector structure and method of making the same

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A method of analyzing blade displacements detected by circumferentially spaced stationary timing probes associated with an assembly of rotating blades mounted on a rotor, including (a) identifying a possible resonant vibration event in the assembly of rotating blades; (b) zeroing the blade displacements on the rotations identified with the resonant vibration event to remove invariant blade displacements; (c) fitting modelled blade displacements corresponding to possible blade vibrational deflections at various frequencies to the zeroed blade displacements; and (d) characterizing the resonant vibration event by identifying at each rotation the frequency having modelled blade displacements which correlate best with the zeroed blade displacements. Step (c) includes performing at each individual rotation the sub-step of fitting the modelled blade displacements at each frequency to the zeroed blade displacements for successive rotations which include that individual rotation.

With reference to FIG. 1, a ducted fan gas turbine engine generally indicated at 10 has a principal and rotational axis X-X. The engine comprises, in axial flow series, an air intake 11, a propulsive fan 12, an intermediate pressure compressor 13, a high-pressure compressor 14, combustion equipment 15, a high-pressure turbine 16, and intermediate pressure turbine 17, a low-pressure turbine 18 and a core engine exhaust nozzle 19. A nacelle 21 generally surrounds the engine 10 and defines the intake 11, a bypass duct 22 and a bypass exhaust nozzle 23.
The gas turbine engine 10 works in a conventional manner so that air entering the intake 11 is accelerated by the fan 12 to produce two air flows: a first air flow A into the intermediate pressure compressor 13 and a second air flow B which passes through the bypass duct 22 to provide propulsive thrust. The intermediate pressure compressor 13 compresses the air flow A directed into it before delivering that air to the high pressure compressor 14 where further compression takes place.
The compressed air exhausted from the high-pressure compressor 14 is directed into the combustion equipment 15 where it is mixed with fuel and the mixture combusted. The resultant hot combustion products then expand through, and thereby drive the high, intermediate and low-pressure turbines 16, 17, 18 before being exhausted through the nozzle 19 to provide additional propulsive thrust. The high, intermediate and low-pressure turbines respectively drive the high and intermediate pressure compressors 14, 13 and the fan 12 by suitable interconnecting shafts.
In the development of gas turbine engines, it is important to determine the amount of vibration of the rotating blades. From vibration measurements, stresses induced in the blades may be determined. Action can then be taken to avoid stresses which are high enough to cause damage to the blades.
As described for example in US patent application no. 2002/0162395, it is known to mount strain gauges on rotating compressor/turbine blades to provide information about the amplitudes and frequencies of vibration of the blades. One or more strain gauges can be provided on each blade, and connected to a radio telemetry system mounted on the rotor, which transmits the measurements from the rotor. However, due to the number of strain gauges required to fully determine the vibrations, the telemetry system is typically complex, expensive, large and time-consuming to install within the rotor.
An alternative technique for characterising blade vibration is "blade tip timing" (BTT) in which non-contact timing probes (e.g. capacitance or optical probes), typically mounted on the engine casing, are used to measure the time at which a blade passes each probe. This time is compared with the time at which the blade would have passed the probe if it had been undergoing no vibration. This is termed the "expected arrival time" and can be calculated from the rotational position of the particular blade on the rotor in conjunction with a "once per revolution" (OPR) signal which provides information about the position of the rotor. The OPR signal is derived from the time at which an indicator on the rotor passes a reference sensor, and its use is well known in the art.
The difference between the expected arrival time and the actual arrival time can be multiplied by the blade tip velocity to give the displacement of the blade from its expected position. Thus BTT data from a particular probe effectively measures blade tip displacement at the probe.
Advantageously, the tip timing method does not require a telemetry system since the probes are mounted on the casing. However, because the sampling rate of the probes is determined by the rotational frequency of the rotor, it is often below the Nyquist frequency for the vibrations of interest. Thus each probe undersamples the vibrations, leading to problems such as aliasing. A further problem with BTT data is that it is often intrinsically noisy due to probe movement caused by mounting restrictions and casing thickness. Nonetheless, with a plurality of timing probes, it is possible, in principle, to perform useful vibration analysis that can be converted into blade stresses.
Conventionally BTT data is separated into two categories: synchronous, where the sample rate is an exact multiple of the signal data; and asynchronous where there is no direct correlation between sample rate and signal data. A synchronous response is an integer multiple of the rotational speed, and is locked to this over a small range of speeds. These are often termed engine order excitations.
Synchronous vibrations manifest themselves as DC shifts in blade position due to the relatively low sampling rate and the vibration occurring at integer multiples of the OPR signal. Synchronous vibrations can be particularly damaging to a rotor blade. A method of analysing BTT data that can be used for identifying resonant synchronous vibration events is described in EP 2199764.
Conventionally, BTT data has been processed, and in particular filtered, differently depending on whether a synchronous and asynchronous analysis is being performed. This can lead to problems with operator filter selection if the analysis is being performed off-line, or to an undesirable reliance on automatic and correct determination of whether a particular response is synchronous and asynchronous if the analysis is being performed online.
Thus it would be desirable to provide an approach for analysing BTT data which can be performed on-line and which does not require a determination of whether a response is synchronous or asynchronous.


A microwave heating device is comprised of a microwave reflective member having positioned adjacent thereto magnetic microwave absorbing material. The absorbing material, by being magnetic, will heat by coupling of the magnetic component of microwave radiation. The thickness of the absorbing material is such that at the Curie temperature the material will reflect at least about 65% of the incident microwave radiation. The absorbing material has a volume resistivity value R, at room temperature, in ohm cm of greater than about the value where Log R=(Tc/100)+2 where Tc is the Curie temperature (.degree.C.) of the material. By the proper combination of thickness, high resistivity and Curie temperature, the device is temperature self-limiting in a microwave field and can be used to heat objects in contact with the device to predetermined temperatures in spite of wide fluctuations in microwave power or power uniformity.

The cooking of food and heating of substances with microwave radiation has become increasingly popular and important in recent years because of its speed, economy, low power consumption, etc. With food products, however, microwave heating has drawbacks. One major drawback is the inability to brown or sear the food product to make it similar in taste and appearance to conventionally cooked food. This is a major drawback to consumer acceptance of the food product. Attempts have been made to overcome the browning problem and have achieved varying degrees of success. One method of achieving browning is to coat food with a substance which will brown from continued exposure to microwave radiation and thereby impart a browned appearance and taste to the food product. Such a solution works fairly well with certain types of foods; however, with pastry products, for example, breads, crusts, etc., such a method has not been acceptable. Bread and other pastry products have a tendency to become soggy after a short cooking period in a microwave oven thereby preventing crisping of the exterior of the bread product to simulate conventionally cooked pastry products. Sogginess is even more pronounced when the bread product is used in combination with a topping or other food product having high moisture. The moisture from the additional food product migrates to the bread product further magnifying the sogginess problem. Continued cooking of the food products will not solve the problem because the total food product would be too dry for consumer acceptance.
One means of overcoming the above problems has been to provide utensils which will heat in a microwave environment. Food product adjacent to the heated surface of the utensil will sufficiently dehydrate to provide the desired crisping or browning effect which is so desirable to consumers. Many utensils are available on the market to achieve such browning, however, they are costly, take a significant period of time to heat to operating temperatures, and they can heat to unlimited temperatures (practically) creating a safety problem. Therefore, the utensils are not adapted for use with machine-vended food products or ready-to-prepare food products from the supermarket.
Numerous browning utensils are known in the art of which the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,941,967 to Sumi et al is an example. Another type of browning apparatus is generally referred to as a browning dish as, for example, those made by Corning Glass Co. Although these devices are somewhat effective in operation, there is no practical limit to the temperature to which they will heat; that is, they will exhibit thermal "runaway". Many materials which when subjected to microwave radiation will continue to heat without any practical temperature limit being obtainable, thermal runaway. This is generally due to the dielectric property of the absorbing material or lossy material. As the temperature of the absorbing material increases, the resistance decreases thereby allowing the absorbing material to heat under the influence of the electric field portion of the microwave radiation. This, to date, has not been such a serious problem from a practical standpoint because the cooking utensils have had a substantial head load, i.e., the utensil material and the food or product to be heated, which will absorb the heat from the absorbing material at a rate sufficient to prevent the absorbing material from becoming overheated. However, with the requirement of a heat load, utensils have not been as versatile as they could be because they would have to be designed for an average heat load. This means that a heavy heat load would not cook as fast as intended and a light heat load would cook too fast or burn.
Certain microwave absorbing materials, specifically ferrites, have a Curie temperature which is readily measureable as, for example, TGA Measurement of the Curie Temperature of Commercial Ferrites by R. Ott and M. G. McLaren; published in "In the Proceedings of the International Conference on Thermal Analysis II", 1968, Vol. 2, pages 1439-1451, Academic Press, New York, copyright 1969. Absorbing materials which exhibit Curie temperature properties should theoretically have an upper temperature limit, of about the Curie temperature, which can be attained when subjected to microwave radiation. This is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,830,162 to Copson. However, there is no teaching of how self-limiting temperature can be achieved, just that it should be achievable. Self-limiting or lack of it is best understood by a study of FIG. 16 which shows that without a reflective plate, temperature limiting was not achieved. The problem was presented of how to provide a heating device which will have an upper temperature limit for operation such that the problems encountered with currently-used browning devices can be overcome. Further, if an upper temperature limit can be achieved and pre-determined, cooking of various types of foods can be simplified and accomplished with greater precision than can be obtained with the typical non-temperature limiting browning dish.
An object of the present invention is to provide a device which will heat under the influence of the microwave radiation up to an upper temperature limit at which temperatures the device ceases substantially to absorb microwave energy and heat to a higher temperature. Another object of the present invention is to provide a heating device which is disposable and adapted for use with pre-prepared foods. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a heating device which can be utilized as a non-disposable utensil. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a heating device which by appropriate selection of manufacturing parameters can provide a predetermined upper temperature limit. Another object of the present invention is to provide a heating device which is inexpensive to manufacture, safe to use and well adapted for its intended use.


A bulk rail bracket including at least three horizontally-oriented and vertically aligned support shelf rows, wherein each pair of consecutive support shelf rows is positioned such that the two support shelf rows in the pair are spaced by a height that is approximately a multiple of a rack unit size.

The present invention relates generally to brackets used within rack mount systems, and more specifically to sheet metal brackets used to guide and secure servers into server rack mount systems.
A rack unit (commonly referred to as a "U") is an Electronics Industries Alliance ("EIA") standard measuring unit for rack components and rack mount systems. The majority of modern network equipment and servers (i.e., rack components) are designed to fit and mount into these rack mount systems. A single rack unit is equal to 1.75 inches in height. The size of a rack component is frequently described as a number of rack units or "U"s. For example, a rack component having a single rack unit is often referred to as "1U", while a rack component having two rack units is referred to as "2U," and so on. To calculate the internal usable space of a rack enclosure of a rack mount system, one would simply multiply the total number amount of rack units by 1.75 inches. For example, a 42U (i.e., 42 unit) rack enclosure would have 73.50 inches of internal space (42×1.75 inches).
The width of a rack mount system is typically either 19 or 23 inches. There are also half-rack units that fit in a certain number of rack units, but occupy only half the width of a 19 or 23 inch rack mount system. Such half-rack units are commonly used when a rack component does not require the entire width of the rack mount system. In some cases, two half-rack units may be mounted side-by-side to occupy a full rack unit space.
Notably, the height of a rack component installed in a rack mount enclosure is not an exact multiple of 1.75 inches. Indeed, to allow for space between adjacent rack components, each component is approximately 1/32 (˜0.03) inches less in height than the full number of rack units would suggest. Therefore, a 1U component would be approximately 1.72 inches high, leaving a gap of ˜0.03 inches. Therefore, the total gap between two units is ˜0.06 inches (˜0.03 inches from the top unit and ˜0.03 inches from the bottom unit). The gap provides for some room above and below the installed component so it may be removed without binding on the adjacent components.
Typically, data center managers calculate the rack enclosure height needed by determining the optimal rack unit usage. For example, if a data center manager knows that they will be adding a significant number of 2U servers, they would likely estimate that a 42U rack enclosure would provide enough internal height for around 20 servers, while still providing room for a small number of other 1U or 2U devices typically included within a rack enclosure (e.g., patch panels).
Traditionally, when a rack component (e.g., a server) is installed into the rack enclosure, two brackets are installed in the rack enclosure (each is installed on a pair of vertical columns associated with each of a right and left rack wall such that the brackets face each other). The brackets are configured to provide a ledge or shelf to support the component (one for the left side of the component and one for the right side of the component). These shelves allow for the component to slide into the rack enclosure, and also provide support for the component. The brackets are typically mounted within the rack enclosure using fasteners (e.g., screws). In many rack enclosures, four screws are used to secure a single bracket to a wall of the rack enclosure. Once the component is slid over the shelves and into position within the rack enclosure, additional fasteners are used to secure the component to the brackets (and therefore to the walls of the rack enclosure). To accommodate components of various U sizes, the brackets are vertically spaced as needed within the rack enclosure.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Post-hatch diseases in poultry caused by Dactylaria gallopava are prevented and treated by exposing the poultry environment to an effective quantity of natamycin.

Dactylariosis is a common poultry fungal disease that usually attacks the respiratory system, although other sites may be involved. Dactylariosis is typically caused by Dactylaria gallopava mold, which is a member of the fungus family. Dactylariosis gallopava will proliferate in aerobic environments, particularly with a high humidity and a temperature over about 25.degree. C. Moldy litter, grain and feed, dust and unclean hatching equipment have been associated with dactylariosis outbreaks.
Inhalation of the spores of Dactylaria gallopava appears to be the primary route of exposure, with young chicks and poults being the most susceptible to an infection.
Post-hatch dactylariosis can also be egg borne, with the mold growing inside the egg. Chicks hatching from such eggs have a high disease risk. Further, outbreaks of dactylariosis are common in young birds, usually occurring within 1-3 weeks of age. A mortality rate of 10-50% is usual in an outbreak of dactylariosis.
Symptoms of the dactylariosis disease are: stunting of growth, gasping, rapid respiration rate, lethargy and increased thirst. The affected poultry may also exhibit leg paralysis, incoordination, torticolis and encephalitis. Encephalitis typically causes lesions in the cerebal cerebellar or optic lobes regions of the poultry. The presence of one or more of these symptoms is not conclusive of a dactylariosis infection. Clinical identification of the mold in affected birds is the only positive diagnosis.
As discussed by F. T. W. Jordan in "Poultry Diseases", Bailliere Tindall, 3rd Edition, pages 216-217, at present there is no feasible treatment for dactylariosis. Affected and infected birds normally are destroyed and the environment must be cleaned rigorously and disinfected.
In the past eggs have been disinfected with a number of agents including natamycin (U.S. Pat. No. 3,343,968). Treating eggs with nataymcin is helpful but does not control dactylariosis attributable to post-hatching environmental conditions.
Natamycin is a member of the polyene family of antimycotics. The compound natamycin is a tetraene with a molecular weight of about 666, an empirical formula corresponding generally to C.sub.33 H.sub.47 NO.sub.13, and contains a glycosidically-linked carbohydrate moiety, mycosamine. It has an isoelectric point of pH 6.5. The structure of natamycin typically exists in two configurations: the enol-structure and the keto-structure.
Natamycin is known as an antibiotic in humans which is discussed in Florey, "Analytical Profiles of Drug Substances", Vol. 10, 1981. As reported in "Pharmacology", Natamycin (Pimaricin) by Wolfgang P. Raab, 1972, Georg Thieme Publishers, Stuttgart, pages 18 and 19, yeasts and molds which infect humans usually exhibit susceptibility to natamycin. The disclosure of each of the above publications is hereby incorporated by reference.
It is an object of the present invention to use natamycin for controlling and preventing diseases in poultry associated with the Dactylaria gallopava mold. The environmental characteristics of the sites on humans and poultry, which may be infected by Dactylaria gallopava, are diverse and, accordingly, the effectiveness of natamycin against a poultry infection of Dactylaria gallopava was a surprising discovery. The surprising effectiveness of natamycin against diseases in poultry associated with Dactylaria gallopava is emphasized when considering the anatomical, metabolic, etc. differences between humans and poultry.
It is a specific object of the present invention to prevent and control diseases caused by an infection of Dactylaria gallopava by including natamycin in the litter and/or atmosphere of the poultry husbandry environment.
Although particular emphasis is placed upon controlling and preventing diseases associated the particular strain of Dactylaria gallopava which affects poultry, other avians (e.g., ducks, turkeys, pheasants, etc.) may be effectively treated in accordance with the present invention. In addition the invention may be used to control and prevent diseases caused by molds which are related to Dactylaria gallopava.


The present invention provides a pipe joint apparatus comprising a front cylindrical member arranged on the side of a connecting section for connecting to a second joint member in a first joint means, and connected to the second joint member; a back cylindrical member arranged in the first joint member to be spaced from the front cylindrical member and to be opposite to the front cylindrical member, and connected to the pipe; and a sleeve having both end portions coupled to outer peripheral surfaces of both front and back cylindrical members through the respective spherical rotation portion, and forming a fluid passage enclosing the outer peripheral surfaces of the front and back cylindrical members.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pipe joint apparatus, which can absorb eccentric state between a pair of pipes and couple joint members.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, there is known a pipe joint having a pair of joint members comprising a socket and a plug. As a pipe joint, there is often used the arrangement in which one joint member is coupled to a fixing pipe fixed to a wall surface and the other joint member, which is connected to the pipe on a non-fixing side, is inserted into the joint member.
This arrangement can be similarly used in a case in which a pipe joint having a large diameter is used in the connection of pipes having a large diameter. For example, as one example, there is disclosed a pipe joint for coupling pipes having a large diameter in Published Examined Japanese Utility Model Application No. 1-42711. The joint member on the fixing side is supported by a support member movable in a radial direction. A flange, which is provided in an outer peripheral surface portion of the joint member, and the support member are coupled to each other by a support rod through a pair of spherical pairs, which are back and forth, and a spring. Also, there is shown the structure in which the other joint member is spherical in a form of a spherical joint.
According to the above well-known pipe joint, even if mutual axes of both joint members to be coupled are slightly shifted, the shift is corrected by the joint member on the fixing side, so that both axes can be consistent with each other. Due to this, both joint members are completely coupled to each other, thereby making possible to prevent leakage of fluid and breakage of the joint members.
However, in the well-known technique, the collar portion is provided in the outer peripheral portion of the joint member and the collar portion is used to be coupled to the support member. Due to this, there is a problem in that the pipe joint having a large diameter is further large sized. Also, according to the well-known technique, when the axes of both joint members to be coupled is slightly shifted or crossed at a small angle, the shift can be relatively easily corrected. However, if the shift of both axes of these joint members is enlarged or the crossed axes angle is enlarged, there is a problem that the joint becomes difficult to be performed. Also, in a case where a plurality of the pipe joints, whose joint position is shifted in the direction of the axis, is connected at the same time, it is necessary to adjust the deflection in the direction of the axis at the time of joint. However, in the well-known technique, there is a problem in that such an adjustment can not be performed.


A method includes introducing a resistivity logging tool including one or more transmitter coils and one or more receiver coils into a wellbore. First and second signals are then transmitted with a first transmitter coil at first and second frequencies, respectively, and a first receiver coil receives first and second response signals based on the first and second signals. A ratio between the first and second response signals is then calculated to obtain a ratio signal, and the ratio signal is processed in an inversion algorithm. One or more formation characteristics of the subterranean formation may then be determined based on the ratio signal as processed by the inversion algorithm.

When drilling for hydrocarbons, any of a variety of measurement and transmission techniques are used to provide or record downhole data. Measurements of surrounding subterranean formations may be obtained using downhole measurement and logging tools, such as measurement-while-drilling (MWD) and/or logging-while-drilling (LWD) tools, which help characterize the formations and aid in making operational decisions. Such wellbore logging tools make measurements used to determine the electrical resistivity (or its inverse, conductivity) of the surrounding subterranean formations being penetrated. The electrical resistivity is responsive to various geological features of the formations, and the resistivity measurements can be interpreted to obtain useful information about those formations.
Resistivity logging tools include one or more antennas to obtain formation resistivity values. Such tools often include multiple antenna assemblies (alternately referred to as subs) axially spaced from each other along the tool string. The antenna assemblies make absolute resistivity measurements of the surrounding formation, which are susceptible to amplitude and phase noise that is often unable to be corrected via proper calibration. Moreover, the antenna assemblies measure frequency responses sequentially, which can cause timing and spatial errors due to movement and rotation of the bottom hole assembly as it rotates during operation. As a result, conventional resistivity logging tools often require accurate synchronization between the transmitter antenna and the receiver antenna(s). In some cases, this can require low drift clocks to be deployed on each transmitter and receiver antenna, as well as signal telemetry between the transmitter and receiver antennas.

Frequency ratiometric processing of resistivity logging tool data


The invention concerns the use of spin-on-glass (SOG) to bond two layers of semiconductor together, in order to form a Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) structure. One type of SOG is a cross-linked siloxane polymer, preferably of the poly-organo-siloxane type, comprising a carbon content of at least 5 atomic weight percent.

The invention concerns fabrication of a structure called SOI, Silicon On Insulator. The SOI structure can be viewed as three-layered: the Silicon layer (the xe2x80x9cSxe2x80x9d in SOI) is attached to the Insulator (the xe2x80x9cIxe2x80x9d in SOI), using a layer of spin-on glass (SOG) as an adhesive.
Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI), Ultra Large Scale Integration (ULSI), and higher-density approaches to integrated circuit fabrication require reduced parasitic capacitances. One approach to reducing these capacitances is the use of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) techniques.
In SOI fabrication, layers of device-quality silicon are formed upon insulating islands, as shown in FIG. 1. In one method of SOI fabrication, silicon is grown upon sapphire (the INSULATOR in FIG. 1) in an epitaxial growth step.
In another method, shown in FIGS. 2A-2D, oxygen (or nitrogen) is implanted through silicon, to form a buried layer of silicon dioxide (or silicon nitride). After implantation, an epitaxial layer 3 may be added to the silicon located above the implant, in order to provide a thicker silicon layer. The silicon layer 3 provides the device-quality silicon.
SOI technology is not without drawbacks. Epitaxial approaches have several disadvantages.
1. Epitaxial growth is expensive.
2. The epitaxially grown silicon is not always sufficiently defect-free.
3. Adhesion problems can result between the epitaxial layer and the substrate.
4. Stresses can occur at the silicon-insulator interface, because of (a) different thermal coefficients of expansion, and (b) mismatch between the inter-atomic spacing of the silicon, compared with that of the insulator.
Implantation Approaches also Face Disadvantages.
1. The implantation approach requires implantation equipment, which is expensive.
2. During implantation, the implanted species disrupts the crystalline structure of the silicon. An annealing step is required to restore proper crystallinity of the silicon.
3. Practical implantation energies cannot supply the required implant depth for most implant species. Further, a layer 3 in FIG. 2C is frequently obtained, in which no substantial implantation occurred. Sometimes, this layer 3 may be too thin, requiring that the thickness of layer 3 be increased. The increase in thickness is generally accomplished by epitaxial techniques, which require added processing steps, shown in FIG. 2D.
4. There is a limit to the amount of implanted species which can be implanted. Thus, the doping concentration, and thus the conductivity, of the implanted layer 6 in FIG. 2D is limited.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved silicon-on-insulator structure.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of fabricating two single-crystal layers of silicon which are bonded together.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of fabricating two single-crystal layers of silicon which are bonded together, and can withstand the high temperatures used in subsequent fabrication steps.
In one form of the invention, two silicon wafers are bonded together using spin-on-glass (SOG). Then, one of the layers is polished to reduce its thickness. Integrated circuits are fabricated on the thinner, polished, layer.


A joint connector easy to construct and involving less fabricating cost. The joint connector comprises a housing 3 for accommodating a plurality of connecting terminals 2 in a rear-side portion thereof, a bus bar 6 formed out of an electrically conductive metal plate and accommodated in the housing 3 for jointing any individual ones of the connecting terminals 2, a bus bar holder 7 for holding the bus bar 6, and a front cover 9 mounted to the housing 3 in such a way as to cover the bus bar holder 7. The bus bar holder 7 has a plurality of holes to be used for cutting the bus bar 6 to form an arbitrary circuit. The bus bar holder 7 and the bus bar 6 is mounted in the housing 3 so as to be movable in relation to the housing 3 in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the connecting terminals 2 being housed. When the front cover 9 is set in the housing 3, it causes the bus bar holder 7 to be moved and the bus bar 6 to be jointed with connecting terminals 2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a joint connector having a bus bar which can be used for an automobile wire harness, for example, and can arbitrarily cause an electrical circuits of the wire harness to be branched and joined one to another.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, a joint connector of this kind has a construction such that as FIG. 25 shows, for example, a joint box 101 and a connector 102 are coupled with each other. A housing 103 of the joint box 101 has a fitting hole 104 formed therein, and at the rear side of the fitting hole 104 there is fitted a bus bar unit 106 including a bus bar 105 having a desired circuit pattern embedded in a synthetic resin material, the bus bar 105 having tongue-like contacts. The bus bar unit 106 is locked by a locking arm 107 formed in the housing 103.
On the other hand, a housing 108 of the connector 102 has an inner cylinder portion 109, and a multiplicity of terminal housing holes 110 are provided in the inner cylinder portion 109. Housed in the terminal housing holes 110 are connecting terminals 113 which connect electrical conductor 111 to the rear side of terminal housing hole, with a wire seal member 112 fitted on electrical conductor 111. Connecting terminal 113 is prevented from slipping out rearward by a locking arm 114. On the outer periphery of the inner cylinder portion 109 at the front end thereof, with a seal member 115 fitted thereon, a front holder 116 is set in position and locked to the housing 108 by a locking arm 117 of the front holder 116.
When the front holder 116 and the seal member 115 are fitted in the fitting hole 104 of the joint box 101, the joint box 101 and the connector 102 become jointed together in waterproof condition so that desired connector terminals 113 are short-circuited by the bus bar 105 to form a circuit.
Whereas above described prior art bus bar unit 106, shown by way of example, is such that a bus bar 105 having a desired circuit pattern is embedded in a synthetic resin material, a joint connector is also known such that a cut bus bar is set in a housing molded from a synthetic resin material to form a desired circuit pattern.
In the above described prior art examples, however, since a bus bar 105 having a desired circuit pattern is embedded in a synthetic resin material, and in case that cut bus bars are set in a housing molded from a synthetic resin material to form a desired circuit pattern, so that different circuit patterns are required, it is necessary to provide a multiplicity of bus bars 105 according to the different circuit patterns and to set cut bus bars 105 in the housing. This poses the problem of increased production cost.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a joint connector which eliminates above mentioned problems, has a circuit arrangement easy to construct, and is inexpensive.


A method for removing unwanted signal components acquired by applying a three dimensional magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequence to a sample, wherein signal acquisition is desired from a selected planar slice, but unwanted signal components are also acquired from a plurality of planar slices located outside the boundaries of the selected slice. According to the method, both a radio frequency saturation pre-pulse and a linear field gradient are applied to the sample. The pre-pulse and field gradient create a comb-like pattern of planar nuclear magnetic saturation regions in the sample, each of the regions being spatially positioned between a respective pair of contiguous planer slices. Next, a 3-D imaging sequence is applied to the sample. The timing of the 3-D imaging sequence is such that the comb-like saturation pattern of the pre-pulse sequence is imposed upon the 3-D imaging sequence so as to reduce the acquisition of signal originating from the regions when acquiring signal from the selected slice.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining MR spectra, and in particular, to the acquisition and reconstruction of high resolution three-dimensional images with a nuclear magnetic resonance (MR) imager.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Current-three dimensional MR imaging techniques permit the acquisition of stacks of contiguous slices (portions) from a sample. For example, a stack of 64, 2 millimeter thick slices may be acquired. This stack is thus 128 millimeters thick. Unfortunately, with the present techniques, each slice contains unwanted information from every other slice.
The present invention is directed to substantially reducing the appearance of unwanted information from adjacent slices in a 3-D imaging system from appearing in a selected slice.

Method for 3-D magnetic resonance imaging


A differential pressure based flow rate measurement device is provided which is coupled to surfaces of a blade 30 within a damper assembly 10, such as that provided within a variable air volume (VAV) box or within a liquid valve assembly. A blade 30 which includes a leading surface 32 opposite a trailing surface 34 is fitted with a sensing structure 50. The sensing structure 50 includes portions 52, 54 which extend away from the leading surface 32. Sensing holes 56 pass into a hollow interior of the sensing structure 50 and pass on to a pressure sensor 60. A similar sensing structure 50 is also provided extending from the trailing surface 34 which also has sensing holes 56 located therein. The sensing holes 56 coupled to the trailing surface 34 also lead to the pressure sensor 60 so that a differential pressure between the sensing holes 56 on either sides of the blade 30 can be measured. The sensing holes 56 preferably extend in a non-perpendicular orientation with the sensing holes 56 on the leading side of the blade 30 facing at least partially upstream. The sensing holes 56 are effectively positioned for all different orientations of the blade 30 between horizontal/totally open and vertical/totally closed. A position transducer 45 is provided which monitors the orientation of the blade 30. Information relating to the orientation of the blade 30 and the pressure differential between the sensing holes 56 on opposite sides of the blade 30 are utilized together to calculate the flow rate of the air/gas passing through the damper assembly 10.

The following invention relates to dampers and other devices which are located within ducts which control flow rates of fluids including liquids, air and other gases passing through the ducts. More particularly, this invention relates to dampers with flow rate measurement capabilities included with the damper.
Modern buildings typically have complex heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems to efficiently provide comfortable living environments within the buildings. The air handling equipment typically includes networks of ducts for transporting the appropriately conditioned air to various different locations within the building. Among the various types of equipment which are located within such air handling systems are dampers.
Dampers control the flow rate of air or other gases passing along a particular duct by adjustment of the orientation of the damper. Typically, a ventilation system will be carefully designed with the ventilation system requiring particular flow rates during particular operational modes for the system. For the ventilation system to operate according to the design, the ventilation system must receive accurate information regarding what the flow rate is through the damper and be able to precisely adjust the flow rate through movement of the damper.
In typical prior art ventilation systems, flow rate measurement is performed with equipment separate from the damper. For instance, a pitot tube can be provided upstream or downstream from a damper which measures total pressure and static pressure and compares the two pressures to calculate the flow rate of air or other gas passing through the duct. For the pitot tube flow rate sensor to perform adequately, it must be spaced sufficiently far from the damper so that turbulence, such as that particularly caused by a partially closed damper, does not alter the flow rate measurements taken by the pitot tube. Also, such pitot tubes benefit from being spaced away from elbows or other apparatus within the ducts for accurate measurements to be made. Often the duct pathways cannot conveniently provide sufficiently large straight sections for effective flow rate measurement with pitot tubes. Even when such straight sections are available, the placement of the pitot tube flow rate sensor at a location spaced from the damper requires that two separate pieces of equipment be installed within the duct. Accordingly, a need exists for a damper for controlling flow rate and which also includes a flow rate sensor therein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,652 to Van Becelaere teaches a damper with a blade which has openings therein which lead to a pressure differential sensor. One opening is provided in a leading edge of the damper and one opening is provided in a trailing edge of the damper. Van Becelaere utilizes a pressure differential in much the way that a pitot tube operates to measure flow rates present adjacent the surface of the damper itself. While Van Becelaere does incorporate flow rate measurement into the damper itself, Van Becelaere is limited in that the pressure readings are taken directly adjacent the surface of the damper where flow conditions are often disrupted by the orientation of the damper and surface flow irregularities, and are thus subject to imprecision. The Van Becelaere device also requires a replacement damper and is not retrofittable onto an existing damper.
Accordingly, a need exists for a gas flow rate measurement device which can be incorporated into a damper and accurately measure a flow rate of air/gas passing through the damper. Specifically, this need exists both in dampers in air handling units and in variable air volume (VAV) boxes. An analogous need also exists for liquid flow rate measurement devices integrated into fluidic valves within liquid handling systems.
This invention provides a damper with flow rate measuring pressure sensors attached to the damper assembly but spaced away from surfaces of the blades within the damper assembly. The damper is typically configured as a damper assembly with multiple blades spanning a duct or opening. The damper can also be configured as a valve within a liquid handling system. At least one of the blades, such as the top blade, is fitted with a sensing structure extending from each of the surfaces of the blade. The blade includes a leading surface facing upstream and a trailing surface facing downstream. An axle passes through a core of the blade and is pivotably supported within the duct. A drive is coupled to the axle and can cause a position of the axle to be adjusted between a horizontal blade orientation which leaves the duct essentially unobstructed and a vertical orientation which substantially closes the duct. A position transducer is provided which measures an orientation of the blade and sends this information to an appropriate controller.
The sensing structures provide sensing holes passing thereinto on a portion of each sensing structure which is spaced away from the surfaces of the blade. The sensing holes which are located on the sensing structure attach to the leading surface of the blade most preferably face upstream when the top blade is in its horizontal totally open orientation. In contrast, the sensing holes attached to the sensing structure of the trailing surface face downstream when the blade is oriented in its horizontal totally open orientation.
The sensing holes above the leading surface of the blade encounter pressure which is at least partially due to the velocity of the air passing by the duct. The sensing holes extending from the trailing surface of the blade face at least partially downstream and are located behind the blade and so experience a pressure which does not have an appreciable velocity component. Hence, a pressure differential correlating with the flow rate exists.
The sensing holes adjacent the leading surface pass out of the assembly and on to a pressure sensor. The sensing holes adjacent the trailing surface pass out of the assembly and on to the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor typically is a differential pressure sensor which merely measures a difference in pressure between the sensing holes adjacent the leading surface and the sensing holes adjacent the trailing surface of the blade.
A controller for the damper would typically receive a signal from the pressure sensor indicative of the pressure differential which was measured. This controller would typically also include a signal from the blade position transducer indicative of the exact position of the blade. The controller would then calculate the flow rate based on the pressure differential and the particular orientation of the blade.
Because the sensing holes are located on a sensing structure spaced from the surfaces of the blade, a precise pressure differential correlating with the flow rate of the air is measured, particularly when factoring in the position of the blade at the time that the pressure differential reading was obtained. The controller can then accurately position the blades of the damper assembly in accordance with the overall ventilation system design.
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a damper which can both control a flow rate of air passing through a duct and measure a flow rate of air passing through the duct.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flow rate measurement device which is positioned adjacent the blades of a flow rate control damper.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flow rate measurement device which is coupled to a damper and which measures a position of the blades of the damper as well as a pressure differential between sensing holes on opposite sides of the damper blades.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flow rate measurement device coupled to a damper which has maximum sensitivity when the blades of the damper assembly are open.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flow rate measurement device which can accurately and dependably measure a flow rate of air or other gases passing through a duct adjacent a damper over long periods of time without maintenance.
Other further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the included drawing figures, the claims and detailed description of the invention.

Pressure based flow rate measurement device integrated with blades of a damper


A quad guideway endless linear motion guide unit includes a rail, a slider and a plurality of rolling members interposed between the rail and the slider. The slider includes a center block and a pair of end blocks fixedly attached to the ends of the center block. The rail has four inner guide surfaces and the center block has four outer guide surfaces, each located opposite to a corresponding one of the inner guide surfaces to thereby define a load path section. The center block is formed with four holes, in each of which a sleeve having a passage defining a return path section is fitted. Each of the end blocks is provided with four curved connecting path sections for connecting the corresponding ends of the load and return path sections to thereby define an endless circulating path. The sleeve has a profiled end which is complementary in structure to an associated end of a corresponding one of the curved connecting path sections of the end block.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a linear motion guide unit, and, in particular, to a quad guide-way linear motion guide unit having four guide ways between a rail and a slider to provide an endless relative motion therebetween. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved multi-guideway linear motion guide unit particularly suitable for use in machining tools, industrial robots or the like as a reciprocating linear motion guide mechanism.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An endless linear motion guide unit is well known. Also well known is a quad guideway endless linear motion guide unit relatively compact in size and having four guide ways between a rail and a slider so as to provide an increased rigidity and accuracy, which is particularly suitable for use as a reciprocating linear motion guide mechanism of various machining tools, industrial robots or the like, which are subjected to intense vibrations and impulsive forces. A typical example of such a quad guideway endless linear motion guide unit is described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Pub. No. 60-139912.
A quad guideway endless linear motion guide unit described in the above-mentioned patent publication is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. As shown in FIG. 9, this prior art guide unit includes a pair of guide rails A and B, which are arranged in parallel as spaced apart from each other, two pairs of sliders C-D and E-F, each pair slidably mounted on a corresponding one of the pair of guide rails A and B, and a slide table Y which is fixedly mounted on these two pairs of sliders C through F. Thus, the slide table Y may move back and forth along the pair of guide rails A and B as indicated by a double-sided arrow G.
FIG. 10 illustrates on an enlarged scale a sliding contact structure between one side of guide rail A and a center block or casing L of either of sliders C and D. As shown in FIG. 10, the guide rail A has a pair of oppositely inclined upper and lower guide surfaces H and I on one side thereof, and since the guide rail A is symmetrical in structure, it also has another pair of oppositely inclined guide surfaces (not shown) on the opposite side thereof. In the illustrated structure, the upper inclined guide surface H is inclined to face generally downward and the lower inclined guide surface I is inclined oppositely to face generally upward.
All of the sliders C through F are identical in structure, and, as shown in FIG. 9, each of these sliders C through F includes a center block or casing L and a pair of front and rear end blocks Q and R fixedly attached to the front and rear ends of the center block of casing L. As well known in the art, each of the sliders C through F is provided with four endless circulating paths, each of which includes a load path section, a return path section and a pair of curved connecting path sections connecting the corresponding ends of the load and return path sections. Each of the endless circulating paths is filled with a plurality of rollers, and these rollers provide a rolling contact between the guide rail and the slider when located in the load path section of the endless circulating path.
As best shown in FIG. 10, each of the sliders C through F is generally inverted-U-shaped structure and thus includes a horizontal section and a pair of vertical sections extending downward from the opposite sides of the horizontal section. Each of the vertical sections is formed with a pair of endless circulating paths, each of which is filled with a plurality of rollers M and N. Described more in detail, in the structure shown in FIG. 10, a pair of endless circulating paths is formed in one leg or vertical section of the slider, and these two endless circulating paths are arranged in an interleaved fashion. That is, one of the endless circulating paths includes a load path section defined by a pair of oppositely facing guide surfaces H and J, a return path section O, and a pair of curved connecting path sections S connecting the corresponding ends of the load and return path sections. In addition, the other endless circulating path includes a load path section defined by a pair of oppositely facing guide surfaces I and K, a return path section P, and a pair of curved connecting path sections T connecting the corresponding ends of the load and return path sections. These load and return path sections H-J, I-K, O and P are formed inside the center block or casing L and the associated curved connecting path sections S and T are formed in the end blocks Q and R.
As shown in FIG. 10, an upper load path section defined by the oppositely facing guide surfaces H and J is located above a lower load path section defined by the oppositely facing guide surfaces K and I, and, furthermore, the return path section P is located above the return path section O. As a result, the curved connecting path sections S and T, which belong to the interleaved different endless circulating paths, are disposed in a crossed arrangement.
However, in the structure described above, difficulty was encountered in forming the rectangularly shaped return path sections O and P at high accuracy and in obtaining a precise alignment between the curved connecting path sections S and T formed in each of the end blocks Q and R and the load and return path sections formed in the center block or casing L when assembled.
In order to cope with the above-mentioned problems, a proposal was made to form a pair of circularly shaped holes U and V in the leg or vertical section of the center block or casing L and then fitting a sleeve W or X, which has been previously formed with a rectangularly shaped return path section P or O, into the corresponding one of such holes U and V. However, even in this case, the alignment problems between the center block or casing L and the associated end blocks Q and R and the sleeves W and X and between the curved connecting path sections S and T and the return path sections 0 and P still remained. In addition, there was a problem of increased sliding resistance against cylindrical rollers M and N using grease as a lubricant within the return path sections O and P.

Quad guide way indefinite linear motion guide unit


In a variable valve opening property internal combustion engine, a roller link (22) is provided with a cam roller (31) at a free end thereof which engages a cam (3) of a camshaft (4) and a pressure surface (47) of a spring device (41). The roller link is pivotally supported by a bearing portion of a control link (21) which can be adjusted in position by using an actuator (14). The roller link is additionally provided with a roller shaft (31) that engages a slipper surface of a rocker arm (6). The pressure surface of the spring device may be contoured or otherwise inclined so that the direction of action of the spring device on the cam roller can be directed in an optimum direction irrespective of the adjusted position of the pivot point of the roller link.

Some of the recently developed gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines are fitted with a valve opening property varying mechanism to improve the output and fuel economy of the engine and reduce undesired emissions from the engine. A relatively known form of valve opening property varying mechanism is provided with low speed cams and high speed cams that can be interchangeably used depending on the operating condition of the engine. More recent attempts include those capable of continuously varying the valve opening properties (such as valve lift and valve timing) to further improve the transient response of the engine and to dispense with a throttle valve. See Japanese patent laid open publication No. 2005-291011.
According to a known variable valve opening property engine, a link mechanism is used for varying the valve opening property. In such a case, to prevent uncontrolled movement of the link member, it is desired to keep the link member in contact with an associated member of the valve actuating mechanism such as a cam and a rocker arm by biasing them toward each other by using a spring. In particular, because the relative position of such two members change in response to the varying of the valve opening property, it is necessary that the spring is arranged so as to accommodate such a relative movement.
However, the presence of the link mechanism required for varying the valve opening property necessitates a complication of the valve actuating mechanism, and this imposes a restriction on the positioning of the spring. This in turn prevents the efficient transmission of the spring force to the part where the spring force is needed, Consequently, the spring is required to produce an unduly large spring force in order to provide a required spring force under all conditions.

Variable valve opening property internal combustion engine


An inconspicuous system of cavities, sockets, or notches for coupling a support element such as a stylus, an independent arm, or plate, to smart phones and tablet computers at various angles and orientations in order to position these devices to various angles and orientations with respect to a resting surface or base.

Since the introduction of the Apple iPhone in June 2007, the number of computing devices known as smart phones and tablet computers has vastly increased. These devices typically consist of a touch screen that fronts a highly sophisticated, versatile, thin, and lightweight computer that among other things, serves as a point-and-shoot camera, a video camera, a face-to-face wireless communications device, a voice recorder, an electronic notepad, and even an electronic canvas. So much so, that Samsung offers a line of high-end smart phones with an imbedded stylus under the "Galaxy Note" tradename and Apple offers a highly sophisticated optional stylus under the "iPad Pro" tradename. These smart phones and tablet computers, especially the Samsung Galaxy Note line of smart phones, with the embedded stylus, may benefit greatly from using the stylus as a support element to prop these devices to various angles and orientations with respect to a fixed surface or base, in a manner that is similar to how a tripod can be used to prop a flat panel to various angles and orientations with respect to a base. Therefore, a need exists for a simple and inconspicuous mechanism that can securely couple an electronic stylus to mobile personal computing devices to enable these devices to be propped up to various angles and orientations with respect to a resting surface or base.

Inconspicuous coupling system for propping smart phones and tablet computers to various angles and orientations


A method of fabricating a functionally graded turbine engine component is disclosed and includes the step of depositing layers of powder onto a base and solidifying/fusing each layer with a first directed energy beam to define a component. The method further includes varying a process parameter between deposited layers to define different material properties within the component. The method also proposes surface enhancement approach that can be used after depositing each layer to locally customize the material properties. The method also proposes machining the different internal surfaces to achieve the proper surface finishing required.

A gas turbine engine typically includes a fan section, a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. Air entering the compressor section is compressed and delivered into the combustion section where it is mixed with fuel and ignited to generate a high-speed exhaust gas flow. The high-speed exhaust gas flow expands through the turbine section to drive the compressor and the fan section. Structures of the turbine section experience high temperatures and stresses.
The temperature and stresses encountered within the turbine section necessitate material and processes utilized to fabricate turbine components. Processes and materials utilized for fabricating turbine components such as turbine disks are tailored to achieve a structure with material properties that can withstand the high temperature environment, provide good strength, stability and damage tolerance with residual stress levels within desired limits.
Accordingly, engine manufacturers continue to seek new processes for fabricating components such as turbine disks and other turbine engine components that improve material properties, part performance without the increase in the manufacturing cost or time to market.

Turbine disk fabrication with in situ material property variation


The process parameters of a variety of industrial processes and/or the properties and characteristic formulation of a given composition are optimized by means of a succession of hypercubes of 2.sup.k vertices, with k representing the number of variables, and wherein the successive value of the variables and the resulting final properties are calculated algorithmically.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optimizing the operating conditions and/or properties in a process and/or composition entailing k variables, or parameters x, affecting p properties Y.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The various industrial processes include a large number of variables, notably the compositional profiles of the starting materials and/or the characteristic operating conditions, or process parameters, designed to provide the intended results.
Typically, a primary or predominant feature of the process is sought to be identified and then the best combination of variables is sought to be determined in order to optimize the desired final results. Obviously, the situation is rendered increasingly complex by an increasing number of variables, if the number of properties sought to be optimized also increases. If one should attempt to spatially correlate the variables in order to evaluate their effect on a plurality of properties, even with the use of information or data processing, the amount of computing time increases exponentially, rendering the analysis impossible. For example, to provide a degree of precision of 10.sup.-3 over the range of variation using a microprocessor, the computing rate of which is 5/100 of a second per point calculated, it is found that for a complete computation involving 4 variables, 10.sup.12 elementary calculations must be made (1,000 levels for each variable, then a combination of all possible levels of all of the variables), which translates into 1,600 years of microprocessor operation.

Optimization of process/property/compositional parameters


A reproduction apparatus includes a communication interface having an RS-232 interface and a modem, thereby permitting both on-site and remote communication with a diagnostic and administrative device. The RS-232 interface and modem enable the use of standard hardware and non-dedicated telephone lines for the purpose of recording apparatus usage, feature utilization, and performing diagnostic routines on the reproduction apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system used to facilitate billing, determine customer use patterns, and perform diagnostic routines on reproduction apparatus and, more generally, to the fields of internal use recording and transfer of information from a machine to an information processing device.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, reproduction apparatus have been provided as self-contained units. Accounting and diagnostic functions are generally accomplished through the use of computer controlled copy counters, jam detectors and indicators, and the like located with the copying machine units.
However, despite the widespread popularity of such reproduction apparatus, maintenance and accounting techniques have not kept pace with the recent improvements in the reproduction apparatus themselves. In particular, present maintenance and accounting practices have failed to effectively utilize recent improvements in the self-monitoring capabilities of conventional reproduction apparatus made possible by the use of microprocessor controllers and internal memories provided within the apparatus.
For example, in large business and government offices which use a large number of reproduction apparatus, it is desirable for cost allocation purposes to keep a central record of the total number of copies produced by all of the reproduction apparatus, and also of the number of copies produced by each section or division of the office, some of which may have access to two or more reproduction apparatus. In order to ensure that a reproduction apparatus will not run out of supplies, such as copy sheets, toner, and the like during use, frequent inspection of each reproduction apparatus must be made on an individual basis.
For accounting purposes, reproduction apparatus presently use a key counter system. Each reproduction apparatus is provided with a key counter for each user or section. The reproduction apparatus is energized by inserting the key into a corresponding key counter, which counts the number of copies produced. For billing or cost allocation, personnel must go to all of the reproduction apparatus, record the number of copies produced and also the number of copies indicated by each key counter. The total number of copies produced by all of the reproduction apparatus is determined by adding the totals for the individual reproduction apparatus, while the number of copies per section or user is determined by adding the number of copies indicated by the respective key counters in all of the reproduction apparatus.
This procedure is both time consuming and subject to error. In a large organization having many sections, each having access to many reproduction apparatus, a key counter for each section must be provided to each reproduction apparatus. Such a large number of key counters also necessitates additional purchase cost and installation space. In addition, mechanical key counters are prone to frequent malfunction.
For diagnostic purposes, the conventional procedure has been for an on-site operator to diagnose the problem by referring to service manuals. The operator is generally untrained in service procedures. If the malfunction cannot be corrected by the operator, he or she must call maintenance personnel. Such a process is inefficient and results in unnecessarily excessive "down time" of the reproduction apparatus. In addition, the operator is called upon to perform time consuming routine maintenance tasks such as toner and paper replenishment as the need arises.
To solve these problems, it has been proposed to automatically sense the operating parameters of the reproduction apparatus and store them in registers, and transmit the information to a central computer via dedicated communication lines. Such arrangements have the disadvantage of high installation costs and also the disadvantage that users of the apparatus cannot generally collect data themselves but rather must rely on a technician with access to the central processing unit.
It has also been proposed to provide systems for counting reproduction apparatus events and transferring event information to a central processing unit using a counter module or similar device. This approach suffers from the disadvantage that it requires non-standard software and hardware.

System for the remote monitoring of a reproduction apparatus


A method and system for scanning a digital image for detecting the representation of an object, such as a face, and for reducing memory requirements of the computer system performing the image scan. One example method includes identifying an original image and downsamples the original image in an x-dimension and in a y-dimension to obtain a downsampled image that requires less storage space than the original digital image. A first scan is performed of the downsampled image to detect the representation of an object within the downsampled image. Then, the original digital image is divided into at least two image blocks, where each image block contains a portion of the original digital image. A second scan is then performed of each of the image blocks to detect the representation of the object within the image blocks.

1. The Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate to image processing. More specifically, disclosed embodiments relate to methods and systems for detecting the representation of objects, such as a human face, within a digital image.
2. The Relevant Technology
Computer technology is increasingly used for detecting objects in digital images. For example, some computer systems are configured to examine a photographic digital image and then detect the size and location of any human face within the image. At least one goal of face detection systems is to accurately detect facial features in a digital image and distinguish the facial features from other objects in the digital image. Patterns in a digital image that correspond with a face vary extensively and are highly complex, due to the variations in facial appearance, lighting, expressions, and other factors. As a result, face detection systems are quite complex.
A common challenge encountered when implementing object detection systems is the large amount of memory that is required in order to scan a digital image. For example, for a quarter video graphics array ("QVGA") sized input image with 320×240 resolution, a typical face detection scheme can require at least 1.5 MB of memory. As the size of the input image increases, so does the memory requirement. As will be appreciated, the process of scanning images often requires more memory than is available in many devices, such as printers, scanners, and standard computers. Scanning large images can quickly drain the memory resources of many modern computers, thus disrupting the computer's ability to perform other necessary functions.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

Two-level scanning for memory saving in image detection systems


An optical scanning device is constituted without using any arc sin .theta. correction lens, while maintaining quality of an image. The optical scanning device comprises an optical flux generator, a resonance-type deflection element, a drive signal generator and a dot clock generator that is configured to sequentially generate dot clocks which satisfy a first, second and third condition, wherein the optical flux generator radiates the optical fluxes having brightnesses corresponding to the clock cycles of the dot clocks generated by the dot clock generator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical scanning device, and more particularly to an optical scanning device which scans a radiated optical flux by making use of a predetermined oscillation of a resonance-type deflection element, and an image display device and a retinal scanning display which include such an optical scanning device.
2. Description of the Related Art
With respect to an optical scanning device which has been used as a laser printer device, an image display device or the like conventionally, there has been known an optical scanning device which uses a resonance-type deflection element capable of scanning an optical flux by making use of oscillation.
For example, JP-A-2005-181477 (patent document 1) discloses an image display device which includes an optical scanning device capable of performing scanning on an optical flux radiated from a light source in the high-speed scanning direction (horizontal direction) using the resonance-type deflection element. The optical flux scanned by the resonance-type deflection element is scanned by a deflection element arranged in a succeeding stage in the low-speed scanning direction (vertical direction), and is projected on a retina of an eye thus forming an image on a retina.
Here, it is necessary for this type of optical scanning device to scan optical fluxes such that positions of the optical fluxes corresponding to respective pixels (dots) in the scanning direction of the optical fluxes are arranged at equal intervals. However, when the resonance-type deflection element is used, in radiating the optical fluxes corresponding to the respective pixels at equal intervals from the light source, after scanning the optical fluxes corresponding to the respective pixels using the resonance-type deflection element, the positions of the optical fluxes corresponding to the respective pixels in the scanning direction of the optical fluxes are arranged at non-equal intervals in a sinusoidal shape. In this specification, hereinafter, the explanation will be made on a premise that the pixel implies a minimum unit of an image signal, and particularly implies a minimum unit of a digitalized image signal. That is, a component of the image signal which is read corresponding to each dot is explained as the pixel (pixel signal).
In view of the above, the optical fluxes corresponding to the respective pixels which are arranged at non-equal intervals by scanning using the resonance-type deflection element are optically corrected by an arc sin θ correction lens. However, the conventional optical correction using the arc sin θ correction lens requires an expensive optical system thus pushing up a cost.
To cope with such a drawback, there has been known a method which constitutes an optical scanning device without using the arc sin θ correction lens. That is, this method sets clocks for pixel scanning (dot clocks) to cycles corresponding to the optical scanning directions.
JP-B-5-3947 (Patent document 2) discloses an optical scanning device which includes an oscillator which generates reference clocks, and a first frequency divider which generates position control clocks by dividing the reference clocks, wherein dot clocks are generated based on the position control clocks, and the dot clocks are changed corresponding to scanning speeds of a resonance-type deflection element.

Optical scanning device, image display device and retinal scanning display


An air conditioner for vehicles in which the probability of executing pre-air conditioning is increased so that it may be prevented that the inside of the vehicle cannot be often in a comfortable state before the driver gets into the vehicle. The air conditioner performs air conditioning of a vehicle having a traveling motor and an engine as drive sources and comprises a pre-air conditioning main switch. The crew permits operation of pre-air conditioning by turning the switch on. When the pre-air conditioning main switch is set on, an engine control section performs charge preference control where battery charge takes precedence of engine fuel consumption and performs normal control where engine fuel consumption takes precedence when the pre-air conditioning main switch is set off.

For an air conditioner which air-conditions the inside of a hybrid vehicle that uses an engine and an electric motor as a driving source, a technology that improves comfort by pre-air conditioning the inside of the vehicle during engine stop before a vehicle occupant boards the vehicle has been proposed. This type of the conditioner for vehicles air-conditions the inside of the vehicle by, for instance, driving a compressor by electric power from a battery. Therefore, a control is required to prevent excess battery discharge.
Accordingly, JP-A No. 2004-230936 proposes an air conditioner for vehicles that prohibits pre-air conditioning when battery voltage is lower than a predetermined value during engine stop even if it is anticipated that a vehicle occupant is going to board the vehicle within a predetermined time. As a result, excess discharge of the battery can be inhibited.
Furthermore, an air conditioner according to JP-A No. 2002-219926 includes a fuel cell and performs pre-air conditioning using electric power from the fuel cell. The air conditioner prohibits execution of pre-air conditioning when the remaining capacity of the fuel cell is low.
However, in some cases, with the technologies disclosed in the JP-A No. 2004-230936 and JP-A No. 2002-219926, the vehicle occupant may not be able to operate the pre-air conditioning even if they want to. Therefore, the probability that pre-conditioning will be executed is reduced, thereby causing the problem that there are an increased number of cases when the inside of the vehicle cannot be maintained in a comfortable state.
The present invention has been devised in consideration of the aforementioned circumstances, and it is an object of the invention to provide an air conditioner that increases the probability that pre-air conditioning will be executed and that inhibits an increased occurrence of a situation in which the inside of a vehicle is not in a comfortable state before a vehicle occupant boards the vehicle.


An array substrate, a display panel, a driving method thereof and a display device are provided. Each pixel in the array substrate includes four sub-pixels having different color filter colors and arranged in two rows and two columns. With respect to an example in which each row of sub-pixels corresponds to one gate line and each column of sub-pixels correspond to two data lines, during 3D display, two gate lines corresponding to each row of pixels apply gate scanning signals to this row of pixels, and two data lines corresponding to each column of sub-pixels apply gray scale signals to two sub-pixels belonging to each pixel in this column of sub-pixels respectively. Two sub-pixels having color filters of different colors belonging to a single pixel, in each column of sub-pixels, may receive gray scale signals over different data lines.

At present, 2D (Two-Dimensional) and 3D (Three-Dimensional) switchable display devices have received much attention. 3D display CAN allow images to become more stereoscopic and realistic. Its fundamental principle is to have left and right eyes to receive different images respectively, and the human brain superimpose and reconstruct the received image information to construct images with stereoscopic feeling.
When a 2D/3D switchable display device performs its 3D display function, the general driving manner is scanning gate lines line by line, and the corresponding driving timing diagram is shown in FIG. 1a. In order to reduce crosstalk, a driving manner in which every two adjacent gate lines are both applied with gate scanning signals is generally used, and the corresponding driving timing diagram is shown in FIG. 1b. As can be seen from FIGS. 1a and 1b, within the display time period (e.g., 16.7 ms) of one frame (V-sync), the scanning time for gate lines shown in FIG. 1b is one half of the scanning time for gate lines shown in FIG. 1a, and the blank time t2 between consecutive frames shown in FIG. 1b is significantly greater than the blank time t1 between consecutive frames shown in FIG. 1a. Therefore, applying the driving manner in which every two adjacent gate lines are both applied with gate scanning signals can drastically reduce crosstalk.
At present, a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and an organic electroluminesecent display (OLED) employs a pixel structure in which a pixel consists of four sub-pixels with color filters of different colors. For example, a red (R) sub-pixel, a green (G) sub-pixel, a blue (B) sub-pixel and a white (W) sub-pixel constitute a pixel. A display device with this kind of pixel structure has an advantage of high light transmission rate.
In a 2D/3D switchable display device having the RGBW square pixel structure, as shown in FIG. 2, the four sub-pixels RGBW in each pixel are aligned in two rows and two columns (as shown in FIG. 2 by the solid line box). In each row of pixels, two sub-pixels electrically connected with the same data line are two sub-pixels with color filters of different colors in the same pixel. For example, in the first row of pixels, the two sub-pixels R and B electrically connected with the data line D1 are two sub-pixels having color filters of different colors in the same pixel. When the 2D/3D switchable display device performs the 3D function, if the driving mode in which every two adjacent gate lines are applied with gate scanning signals at the same time, it is possible that two different sub-pixels having color filters of different colors electrically connected with the same data line and belong to the same pixel receive different gray scale signals, which makes the two sub-pixels having color filters of different colors can only display different gray scales, and it's impossible to independently control the two sub-pixels having color filters of different colors in the same pixel. Therefore, the 2D/3D switchable display device with RGBW square pixel structure can not use the driving manner in which every two adjacent gate lines are applied with gate scanning signals at the same time during 3D display.

Array substrate, display panel, driving method thereof and display device

BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A method for anchoring autologous or artificial tendon grafts in bone is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes affixing a stabilizing element in bone; and placing the stem of an insertion element therein. A tendon graft may be secured to the insertion element either before or after its placement in the stabilizing element. Two such anchors may be linked with one or multiple grafts, in either a two-ply or four-ply arrangement.

This invention pertains to surgical systems and, more particularly, apparatus and methods for attaching autologous or artificial tendon grafts to bone. The invention has application in, for example, repair of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee. It may also be used, for example, for repair of other ligaments, such as of the elbow or ankle.
It is not uncommon for ligaments and other soft tissue to tear or detach from bone. Athletes, for example, often suffer tears or other injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament, one of the ligaments connecting the femur. (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone) at the center of the knee joint. The ACL, which limits hyperextension of the knee and prevents the backward sliding of the femur on the tibial plateau, may be injured when the knee is twisted beyond the normal range of motion, e.g., when the knee is twisted while bending and weaving during skiing and other sports activities. ACL injuries may take the form of total or partial tears.
Reconstruction is the most common form of surgery for injuries to the ACL and involves replacing the ACL with a graft of autologous or artificial tendon. An autologous tendon graft may be "harvested" from the patient's patellar ligament, which is part of the common tendon of the quadriceps femoris, connecting the patella to the tibia. An alternative autologous tendon graft may be harvested from the semitendinosus tendon, which runs posteriorly and medially along the thigh and which connects the upper femur to the tibia.
Traditionally, patellar grafts are harvested with attached bone plugs that can be securely fixed at the ends of a bone tunnel drilled through the tibia and femur using a metallic interference screw, a metal screw and washer, or buttons. Drawbacks associated with the use of the patellar tendon-include difficulties in harvesting the tendon and postoperative complications.
More recent success has been achieved using one or more strands of the triple-stranded semitendinosus, tendon, which can be harvested with minimal-post-operative complications. The strands can be used alone or in combination with the gracilis tendon, which anatomically runs parallel along the thigh to the semitendinosus tendon. Although semitendinosus tendons are increasingly used in ACL repair, they are difficult to attach to bone, due in part to the absence of associated bone plugs.
The art suggests, several techniques for attaching the semitendinosus tendon to bone in ACL repair. One such technique involves suturing the tendon to a button or staple on the exterior of the bone. Drawbacks associated with this method include stretching or failure of the suture, which may be subjected to tensile forces ranging from 30-50 pounds.
Another technique involves attaching a tendon graft to bone using metallic screws. Although such metal screws demonstrate stable fixation and good tensile strength, they have, a number of drawbacks. These include distortion of post-operative radiological studies, an allergic or rejection reaction resulting from metal sensitivity associated with permanently implanted metal screws, and the potential need for additional operations for removal or replacement.
Another technique involves attaching a tendon graft to an anchor affixed within a tunnel drilled in the bone. One anchor intended for this use is the Mitek Ligament Anchor available from Mitek Surgical Products, Inc. That anchor includes prongs that lodge into the bone after the anchor has been pulled into position by a suture. A drawback of that anchor is that it must be lodged in the cortical layer near the surface of the femur and therefore necessitates the use of long tendon segments. In addition, the anchor's design necessitates that it be fabricated from metal to ensure sufficient holding strength.
An object of this invention is to provide improved surgical systems, and more particularly, improved methods and apparatus for attaching autologous or artificial tendon grafts to bone.
Another object of this invention is to provide improved methods and apparatus for attachment of autologous or artificial tendon grafts (e.g., for ACL repair) that are in which the attachment means can be fabricated from polymers or bioabsorbable materials, without the use of metals.
A related object of this invention is to provide methods and apparatus for attachment of autologous and artificial tendons that minimize or eliminate the risk of graft pullout normally associated with ACL or other reconstructive orthopedic surgery.

Method for anchoring autologous or artificial tendon grafts in bone


A radio-frequency transceiver device, used in a wireless communication system, includes a housing; a first printed circuit board, disposed on a first surface of the housing; a second printed circuit board, disposed on a second surface of the housing, for cooperating with the first printed circuit board to process a receive signal; and a waveguide, connected to the housing, having an orthomode transducer, having a common port, for conveying a transmit signal and the receive signal; a first low-pass filter, coupled to a co-polar port of the orthomode transducer; and a diplexer, coupled to a cross-polar port of the orthomode transducer, for cooperating with the first low-pass filter to separate the transmit signal and the receive signal; wherein connection of the housing and the waveguide substantially conforms to an L shape.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio-frequency transceiver device in a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a radio-frequency transceiver device for reducing signal bandwidth loss due to a waveguide and achieving waterproofing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Satellite communication has advantages with huge coverage and no interference caused by a ground environment, and is widely used in military applications, detection and commercial communications services, such as satellite navigation, a satellite voice broadcast system or a satellite television broadcast system. In the prior art, a waveguide is a communication element, which is broadly used in a satellite communication transceiver. For example, the conventional satellite communication transceiver includes an antenna, a waveguide and a transceiver housing, to handle the expected transmit signal or expected receive signal, wherein the waveguide is the main element for conveying wireless signals and separating the wireless signals in two polarization directions, to output the wireless signals in different output ports.
Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram of a radio-frequency transceiver device 10 according to the prior art. The radio-frequency transceiver device 10 includes an antenna 100, a waveguide 102 and a transceiver housing 104. The antenna 100 is used for transmitting a transmit signal and receiving a receive signal. The waveguide 102 is used for conveying and separating the transmit signal and the receive signal, in which the transmit signal and the receive signal can be different in polarization diversity, frequency diversity, time diversity, and so on. The transceiver housing 104 is coupled to the waveguide 102 for executing the relevant signal processes.
However, the waveguide and the transceiver housing are two independent elements so that the waveguide and the transceiver housing should be reassembled and an interface is formed accordingly. Water leakage therefore happens easily. Moreover, in order to reassemble the waveguide and the transceiver housing, the waveguide may be bent and the signal bandwidth loss is further caused. Besides, the conventional waveguide uses the taper design or the clapboard design. But the taper design causes a larger size of the conventional waveguide and the taper design cannot achieve the wideband effects. Therefore, how to reduce the signal bandwidth loss due to the waveguide becomes a goal in the industry.

Radio-frequency transceiver device in wireless communication system