Disclosed are a chip on film and a display device. the chip on film includes a plurality of output pads independent from each other extending in the first direction on a side of a base material; correspondingly, a flexible display panel in the display device includes a plurality of input pads in one-to-one correspondance with output pads extending in the first direction in the bonding region. The chip on film can improve the bonding yield and stability of the display device.

Flexible display technology is a research hot point in display technology field in recent years and will be widely applied to civil field and military field due to its advantages such as being thinner, more shock resistant and more portable. Flexible display may be defined as manufacturing the substrate of the display panel with a thin base substrate which can be bent to only several centimeters or smaller radius of curvature but will not damage the display function of the display panel.


An instrument is provided for use in shaping a femur preparatory to implantation of a knee prosthesis. A gap checking device is fixed to the distal end of the patient""s femur and referenced to the epicondyles of the femur. The gap checking device includes slots through which a cutting instrument can be passed to shape the femur so that it can receive the femoral component of the prosthesis. One of the slots enables the distal femoral cut to be made. The thickness of the gap checking device is selected so that the distance between the distal femoral cut and the distal surface of the gap checking device plus the thickness of a shim resting on the cut proximal tibia surface is equal to the combined thickness of the tibial and femoral components of the prosthesis. This enables balancing of the ligaments to be checked before the femoral cuts are made, but while the gap checking device is secured to the femur.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an instrument and method for shaping a femur preparatory to implanting a knee prosthesis.
2. Description of Related Art
A total knee replacement or prosthesis, substitutes for a patient""s arthritic or otherwise dysfunctional natural knee joint. The prosthesis offers the patient an alternative treatment for the chronic pain and discomfort often associated with such problems.
Burstein et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,992 illustrates a popular total knee joint prosthesis known as the Insall-Burstein (I/B) knee. Such prostheses comprise a femoral component attached to the patient""s femur, a tibial component attached to the patient""s tibia, and a patellar component attached to the patient""s patella. To use this prosthesis, it is necessary to shape by resection the patient""s femur, tibia and patella. The tibia and patella are shaped by a flat cut. In the case of the I/B prosthesis, the femoral component requires five cuts about the periphery of the femur and three cuts in the intercondylar notch in the distal end of the femur. These cuts conform to complementary portions of the femoral component which engage the bone. It is important that these femoral cuts be made precisely and located so that the position of the femoral component and the tibial component will closely approximate the positions of their anatomical counterparts. Proper positioning of the femoral and tibial components is required to insure the patient""s natural anatomic limb alignment and normal anatomical movement.
As part of the installation of a knee joint prosthesis, it is important to balance the ligaments crossing the joint. Balancing the ligaments means performing soft tissue releases, as necessary, so as to ensure that when the femur is lifted off of the tibia by a force directed along the long axis of the tibia, and the tibia is positioned in natural anatomic limb alignment, the tension in the medial and lateral ligamentous support is nearly equal. In order for the ligamentous tension to be nearly equal, the distance between the medial aspect of the femur and tibia, and the lateral aspect of the femur and tibia must be nearly equal when the tibia is in natural anatomic limb alignment. The distance between the femur and tibia should also be approximately equal throughout the range-of-motion of the tibia from full extension to approximately 90 degrees of flexion. The distance between the femur and tibia is commonly called xe2x80x9cthe gapxe2x80x9d, and the process of lifting the femur, and measuring the distance between the femur and tibia is commonly called xe2x80x9cchecking the gapxe2x80x9d. Heretofore, gap checking has been done after the femur has been shaped and only at full extension, and 90 degrees flexion. If proper balancing can not be achieved, then it may be necessary to reshape the femur, which is obviously undesirable, or to use a more constrained total knee design, thus limiting knee motion.
An object of the invention is to provide an instrument for use in shaping the distal surface of a femur preparatory to implantation of a knee prosthesis in which the gaps can be checked and adjusted prior to shaping the femur. This eliminates the need to recut the femur and reduces the time required for surgery. Moreover, since it is easier to check the gaps with the invention, it is likely that more surgeons will take the time to check the gaps and, therefore, the quality of the surgery will improve.
A further object of the invention is to provide a device for shaping the distal surface of a femur preparatory to implanting a knee prosthesis wherein all of the cuts required to shape the femur can be made using a single instrument.
Yet another object of the present invention, is the ability to check the gaps continuously throughout the range-of-motion of the knee, not just at full extension and 90 degrees flexion, as with conventional devices.
The most popular types of instruments used to shape the femur are intramedullary devices in which a cutting guide is positioned at the distal end of the femur relative to a rod which is driven into the intramedullary canal of the femur. Historically, surgeons have also used extramedullary alignment to orient the instruments to cut the distal femur. The present invention may be used with intramedullary or extramedullary alignment techniques.
The principal component of the knee instrument according to the invention comprises a gap checking device which includes a curved base adapted to engage the distal end of the patient""s femur. A plurality of slots are defined in the gap checking device for guiding the cutting instrument used to shape the femur. The gap checking device can be referenced to the patient""s femur using conventional intramedullary or extramedullary locator techniques.
The thickness of the gap checking device is such that the distance between the distal cut in the femur to the distal surface of the gap checking device plus the thickness of a shim corresponds in a predetermined way to the thickness of the femoral and tibial components of the prosthesis. Accordingly, the gaps can be checked with the gap checking device after placing the shim on the cut surface of the tibia. The shim also protects the cut surface of the tibia to prevent bone damage. After the knee has been properly balanced, bone cuts are made by passing a cutting instrument through the slots in the gap checking device. If necessary, a slot extender may be attached to the gap checking device to extend or increase the length of the slots.

Method and apparatus for femoral resection

New York Society for the Ruptured and Crippled Maintaining the Hospital for Special Surgery


A stuffing horn mechanism for chub packaging machinery, utilized in association with such machinery to produce chub products by stuffing of casing with comminuted material. The stuffing horn mechanism comprises a telescoping stuffing horn, a comminuted material reservoir, and reservoir volume varying apparatus. The telescoping horn is variable in volume during telescoping, and the reservoir is in communication with the stuffing horn. The reservoir volume varying apparatus is operatively connected to the stuffing horn, for varying the volume of the reservoir in inverse relation to the volume of the stuffing horn during telescoping.

This invention relates to chub packaging machinery, utilized to produce chub products by stuffing of casing with comminuted material, and more particularly, to a stuffing horn telescoping and pivoting mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,945 and allowed application Ser. No. 07/285,325 filed Dec. 13, 1988 are incorporated by reference. In apparatus as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,945, chub products are rapidly formed of casing, comminuted material and metal clips. The comminuted material often constitutes sausage meats, and the casing constitutes sausage casing. Metal clips sold by Tipper Tie, Inc. are the standard of the industry. Comminuted material is placed in a hopper of a pumping apparatus, and pumped. The material is pumped through a horn among the several hours of a horn turret assembly. The horn extends to a casing brake, and the horn has a casing segment shirred on its exterior. Tension of the casing is adjusted at the casing horn to provide proper advancement of both the comminuted material and casing. Stuffed casing is intermittently voided and clipped to provide ends of resulting chub products.
Casing as used in the apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,945 must be used in segments. Loading of such segments presents a major hurdle in increasing speed of chub forming machines. As the horn turret assembly is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,945, which are FIGS. 1 and 2 of this specification, multiple horns are provided on a turret such that while one horn is in operative position, another horn is in service position for placement of casing thereon. Depletion of casing on the horn in operative position results in interruption of the chub forming, retraction of the horn, and pivoting of the turret to bring the serviced horn into operative position. While the stuffing horn mechanism of U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,945 and allowed application Ser. No. 07/285,325 is highly desirable for a variety of reasons, research and development has continued toward a simpler, equally rapidly acting stuffing horn mechanism.


An image processing apparatus acquires a radiation image captured by irradiating an object with a radiation from a radiation source, estimates a scattered radiation image included in the acquired radiation image, and outputs a corrected image obtained by reducing the scattered radiation image from the acquired radiation image. The image processing apparatus estimates the scattered radiation image by applying a scattered radiation model for obtaining a scattered radiation component to the acquired radiation image based on a specific frequency component of an output of a first function and a specific frequency component of an output of a second function different from the first function.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for performing image processing on a radiation image, and a recording medium.
Description of the Related Art
A radiation image obtained by irradiating an object with a radiation includes not only a primary radiation component traveling straight from a radiation source but also a scattered radiation component which is a radiation scattered in the object. The scattered radiation component may possibly degrade the contrast of the radiation image. As a technique for reducing a scattered radiation component in an X-ray image, US2010/0208870 discusses a technique for obtaining a primary X-ray image in such a manner that the scattered radiation component is modeled using a formula obtained by performing a convolution of a formula expressed by a primary X-ray with two Gaussian functions.
FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating an example in which measurement is performed by using a thoracic phantom and a scattered radiation component included in a radiation image is acquired on an experimental basis. Referring to FIG. 9A, the scattered radiation component includes what is called a skin line 903 at the boundary between a region (through-exposure region) 901 irradiated with an X-ray that passed through the periphery of an object without penetrating the object and an object region 902. This phenomenon occurs because, depending on the object's thickness, a radiation that entered the object scatters in a different mode and is not scattered in the through-exposure region 901 whereby an intensity distribution of the scattered X-ray becomes discontinuous.

Image processing apparatus, image processing system, image processing method, and recording medium


The invention relates to a method for forming a liquid radiation curable resin capable of curing into a solid upon irradiation comprising at least one thermally sensitive visual effect initiator. The liquid radiation curable resin is capable of curing into three-dimensional articles having selective visual effects. The resulting three-dimensional articles possess excellent color and/or transparency stability and excellent mechanical properties.

Additive fabrication processes for producing three dimensional articles are known in the field. Additive fabrication processes utilize computer-aided design (CAD) data of an object to build three-dimensional parts layer-by-layer. These three-dimensional parts may be formed from liquid resins, powders, or other materials.
A non-limiting example of an additive fabrication process is stereolithography (SL). Stereolithography is a well-known process for rapidly producing models, prototypes, patterns, and production pasts in certain applications. SL uses CAD data of an object wherein the data is transformed into thin cross-sections of a three-dimensional object. The data is loaded into a computer which controls a laser beam that traces the pattern of a cross section through a liquid radiation curable resin composition contained in a vat, solidifying a thin layer of the resin corresponding to the cross section. The solidified layer is recoated with resin and the laser beam traces another cross section to harden another layer of resin on top of the previous layer. The process is repeated layer by layer until the three-dimensional object is completed. When initially formed, the three-dimensional object is, in general, not fully cured and therefore may be subjected to post-curing, if required. An example of an SL process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,330.
The liquid radiation curable resin used in stereolithography and other additive fabrication processes for forming three-dimensional objects can be solidified by light energy. Typically, liquid radiation curable resins are cured by ultra-violet (UV) light. Such light is typically produced by lasers (as in stereolithography), lamps, or light emitting diodes (LEDs). See PCT Patent Application PCT/US10/60677, filed on Dec. 16, 2010, and incorporated by reference in its entirety. The delivery of energy by a laser in a stereolithography system can be Continuous Wave (CW) or Q-switched pulses. CW lasers provide continuous laser energy and can be used in a high speed scanning process.
With known resins, it is typical that the final color and/or clarity develops in the three dimensional article as it is cured. Known resins may be clear in liquid forms and form opaque three-dimensional articles upon cure. Other known resins may be colorless in liquid form and capable of curing into colored three-dimensional articles. Furthermore, some resins appear as a first color in liquid form and turn a second color upon cure.
Throughout this patent application the term color is defined as follows: color (or colour, alternative spelling) is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, yellow, green, etc. Black is the visual perception of absence of all color, whereas white is the visual perception of all colors. Color derives from the spectrum of light (distribution of light energy versus wavelength) interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors. Color categories and physical specification of color are also associated with objects, materials, light sources, etc., based on their physical properties such as light absorption, reflection, or emission spectra. Typically, only features of the composition of light that are detectable by humans (wavelength spectrum for 400 nm to 700 nm, roughly) are included, thereby objectively relating the psychological phenomenon of color to its physical specification.
Color and transparency are two distinct principles. For instance, something may visually appear perfectly clear and still colored. For instance, certain colored glass is entirely transparent to the eye and possesses a color. Similarly, something may be colorless and also clear or opaque. Colorless is defined as lacking all color. For instance, pure liquid water is clear and colorless. An article that is visually perceived as perfectly clear and as a color, for instance, blue, is reflecting the blue color while allowing all other wavelengths of light to pass through. When a viewer perceives white, the article will appear less transparent because all colors are being reflected back at the viewer and thus not passing through the article.
In recent years, the demand for liquid radiation curable resins that produce three-dimensional articles that have excellent dimensional accuracy, shape stability, mechanical properties, and the like has increased. Along with this development, demand has grown for three-dimensional articles that possess a desired color or transparency/opacity, and also have the mentioned excellent properties. The colored three-dimensional articles are useful because they are aesthetically pleasing, can mimic the appearance of commercial materials, and may possess light-shielding properties. Along with this development, the demand for radiation-curable compositions in which the color or opacity can be selectively controlled during curing has also increased.
Meeting the challenges of producing selectively colored three-dimensional articles is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,336, issued Oct. 17, 2000 and assigned to Zeneca Limited. This patent describes a method of curing and adding color to a three-dimensional article using light at a single wavelength, and at a lower and a higher dose. The lower dose of light is used to cure the liquid resin to form a solid and the higher dose of light is used to add color to the resin. The process claimed is only for adding color, not removing color. This patent also claims a composition for a photocurable and photocolorable resin. However, the disclosed composition has poor mechanical properties and poor color stability. For instance, after initial curing, the uncolored sections of the article become colored over time in ambient light. Such problems are common with photoresponsive coloring techniques.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,107, assigned to Spectra Group Limited, Inc., discloses a method for preparing and selectively coloring a three-dimensional article by adding or removing color. The coloring agent is photoresponsive and the method claimed is dependent on using a photoresponsive coloring agent.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,942,554, assigned to Spectra Group Limited, Inc., discloses a method of effecting color change in polymeric bodies of either thermal curable or photocurable resins. The color-changing compound is sensitive to acid produced during polymerization of the resin. The acid is produced from the initiating species which are activated by either light or temperature. The color change occurs when the coloring agent is exposed to the acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,664,024, assigned to American Dye Source, Inc., disclose a photocurable resin composition for forming three-dimensional objects that can be selectively colored that utilized a photoactivated coloring compound.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,311, assigned to Vantico Limited, discloses a resin for use in forming three-dimensional objects that can use a photosensitive coloring compound contained in microcapsules. Similarly, U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2004/0076909 discloses a liquid resin composition for use in forming three-dimensional objects which comprises particle dispersed in the composition which are micro-capsules containing a photosensitive color changing composition.
U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2004/0170923, assigned to 3D Systems, Inc., discloses colored resins useful in forming three-dimensional objects; however, such resins cannot be selectively colored by exposure to various doses of light.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,814, assigned to the inventor, discloses a method for selectively coloring or shading an article produced by overexposing the liquid resin to radiation during cure and then heating the entire model with an effective amount of heat in order to induce a color change in the overexposed sections of the article. No coloring or transparency modifying agent is used.
It would be desirable to develop a liquid radiation curable resin that can cure into a three-dimensional article wherein the color and/or transparency of the three-dimensional article can be selectively controlled to be substantially clear and/or colorless in some areas and have a desired color and/or transparency in other areas while having excellent mechanical properties. Moreover, it would be desirable to develop a liquid radiation curable resin wherein the color and/or transparency of the selectively controlled sections remain at a substantially constant color or no color, and/or transparency over time.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Liquid radiation curable resins capable of curing into layers with selective visual effects and methods for the use thereof


Provided is an apparatus and method for providing a location of an electronic device according to various embodiments. An operation method of the electronic device according to an embodiment includes obtaining cellular data from at least one base station, obtaining at least one coverage information corresponding to the obtained cellular data, and determining a location of the electronic device based on the obtained at least one coverage information.

With the development of mobile communication technologies, electronic devices perform various data communication functions through wired/wireless networks as well as a voice communication function. The electronic devices may provide various functions as applications obtained through the wired/wireless networks are executed. For example, the electronic device may provide a location-based service by using an application using location information of the electronic device.
The electronic device may obtain location information of the electronic device from a satellite positioning device (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS) satellite) that provides location information. The location information of the electronic device may include, for example, a latitude and a longitude in a location, and may be used as a parameter of the location-based service. The electronic device may estimate a location of the electronic device by using location information of a base station or a relay device communicating with the electronic device.
The electronic device recognizes the location of the electronic device by using a GPS satellite. However, if a GPS signal transmitted from the GPS satellite is disturbed or fails to be received, the electronic device may not determine a correct location by using the GPS signal. A location estimation scheme using a location of the base station or the relay device communicating with the electronic device estimates a location of a transmission point at which a signal is transmitted as the location of the electronic device, resulting in an error of several kilometers at most from the correct location.
Moreover, a scheme to estimate a distance by using a radio channel gain at the transmission point at which the electronic device communicates a signal is also used, but the radio channel gain has a problem of a different estimated distance according to surrounding geographical features or obstacles or signal reception performance of the electronic device.

Apparatus and method for determining location of electronic device


Briefly, the invention provides a method for magnetically assisting demulsification of extraction phases, the method having the steps of contacting a first solution of a first solvent and a solvated paramagnetic metal ion with a second solvent, where the second solvent is immiscible with the first solvent; mixing the first and second solutions to create an emulsion having a first phase of the first solvent and second phase comprising the second solvent where the phases of the emulsion contain different concentrations of the paramagnetic metal ion; and applying a magnetic field gradient to the first and second phases of the emulsion to accelerate separation of the first phase from the second phase. Also provided is a system for demulsifying phases used in the extraction of paramagnetic moieties from solution having a lumen with an interior region, an interior surface, and exterior surface; and a magnetic field gradient present within the interior region.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for isolating and purifying metal-containing solutions, and more specifically the invention relates to a method for enhancing demulsification and phase disengagement in metal extraction systems using magnets.
2. Background of the Invention
Selectively obtaining a compound or element from a mixture, liquid, solid, or gas, can be done in innumerable ways. One way is through solvent extraction. In solvent extraction, the chemical mixture containing a desired moiety is dissolved in a first solvent. The solution containing the moiety is then mixed with an immiscible second solvent that has a higher affinity for the desired moiety than the first solvent. After a thorough mixing of the immiscible solvents, the mixture settles, and the solvents separate over time. During the mixing and settling phases of a solvent extraction, the desired moiety will migrate between solvents because of the moiety's greater affinity for one of the solvents. Typically, the desired moiety should reside mostly or entirely in the second solvent after separation.
Frequently, a mixture containing a desired moiety is dissolved into an aqueous solution. The aqueous solution is then mixed with an organic solvent that is immiscible with water. Typically, the organic solvent will have a higher affinity for the desired moiety than the original aqueous solution. After the original aqueous solution and immiscible organic solvent are thoroughly mixed and then allowed to settle, the two solvents return to separate aqueous and organic phases based on differences in density of the aqueous and organic phases. After the desired moiety transfers to the organic phase, the organic phase is then called the "loaded organic phase."
Many commercial applications of solvent extraction reuse the organic solvent. These commercial applications strip the loaded organic phase of the desired moiety, using a clean aqueous phase devoid of undesired impurities. The stripped organic phase is then recycled for use in later extractions.
Solvent extraction, sometimes called liquid-liquid extraction, is commonly used in a wide array of applications, from the small scale (e.g., use of a single separatory funnel in a laboratory) to the large scale (e.g., separation of crude oil). In industry, solvent extraction is commonly used to separate desired metal ions after dissolving ore in mining operations. For example, solvent extraction is commonly used to obtain rare earth metals, platinum group metals, base metals, and nuclear materials. As the world's supply of high grade ores containing these materials decreases, solvent extraction becomes more important because solvent extraction is more effective in retrieving desired materials from low grade ores than other techniques.
In industrial applications of solvent extraction, the efficiency of the entire process is often hindered by demulsification issues, i.e., the slow or incomplete separation of the two immiscible solvents used in the solvent extraction process. In such circumstances, two conventional solutions are utilized: (1) spinning the mixture of emulsified immiscible solvents in a centrifugal contactor and (2) demulsification-aiding additives.
Solvent extractions hindered by slow demulsification often utilize centrifugal contactors to spin the mixture of immiscible solvents in order to separate the solvents based on the difference in the two solvents' densities. These centrifugal contactors are effective in demulsifying extraction mixtures that would otherwise very slowly or never completely demulsify without intervention.
Centrifugal contactors are expensive to incorporate into existing processing schemes and refineries, mechanically complex, and difficult to maintain. Large scale solvent extractions hindered by demulsification inefficiencies require many centrifugal contactors, causing large initial and ongoing costs. Also, centrifugal contactors are less effective when separating phases with similar densities; a common occurrence in solvent extraction systems where the organic phase becomes heavy as it is loaded with metal ions.
Other methods for increasing the efficiency of solvent demulsification include the use of chemical additives. However, chemical additives also have drawbacks. First, purchasing chemical additives on a large scale and on an ongoing basis is expensive. Also, to ultimately obtain a purified desired moiety, any demulsification aids must be removed to obtain that purified final product. Further, chemical additives must be removed downstream from extraction processes in order to recycle solvents and to prevent runoff into the environment. Removing additives downstream from an extraction process therefore requires extra steps and additional costs.
Aside from using chemical additives, physically inert solid phase additives have been employed. Specifically, researchers have added magnetic nanoparticles to emulsifications and then subjected that mixture to magnetic fields in attempts to change the magnetic susceptibility of one component of the emulsion, thereby enhancing its separation tendencies. However, as with the use of chemical additives, these additions recreate secondary waste streams which must be addressed. For example, the magnetic particles need to be removed downstream during final polishing of the target moiety.
Furthermore, the addition of relatively inert aggregate material stymies the fluidity of the mixture, particularly in pumping protocols. Therefore, such magnetic particles, fluidized beds, etc., are contraindicated when continuous, pumpable, all liquid processes are sought.
Thus, a need exists in the art for a method and system of accelerating the demulsification of solvents in solvent extractions that are hindered by slow or indefinite demulsification. Ideally, the method and system would not require modification of the extraction infrastructure or the removal of unwanted impurities downstream (i.e., a secondary waste stream).

Magnetically enhanced phase separation for solvent extraction


A roller cone drill bit includes a bit body adapted to be rotated about a longitudinal axis. At least one leg depends from the bit body, and a journal is cantilevered from the leg. A roller cone is rotatably mounted on the journal. A cone retention member is disposed between a first slot in the journal and a corresponding second slot in the roller cone. An access hole runs through the journal to the first slot, penetrating the first slot at a location away from the top dead center of the first slot.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates generally to roller cone drill bits. More particularly, the invention relates to a system for retaining a roller cone on a bearing journal of the drill bit.
2. Background Art
Roller cone drill bits are generally made of a plurality of legs that are welded together to form a unitary structure. FIG. 1 shows an example of a drill bit leg 2 which defines a shirttail portion 4 and a cantilevered journal 6. The journal 6 forms a main bearing surface 8 for a roller cone 10. The roller cone 10 has cutting elements 12 which are adapted to deform earth formation as the drill bit leg 2 is rotated within a borehole. The roller cone 10 is retained on the journal 6 by a ball lock system which includes balls 16 that are retained between ball races 18 and 20 on the journal 6 and the roller cone 10, respectively. To assemble and lock the roller cone 10 to the journal 6, the balls 16 are inserted between the journal 6 and the roller cone 10 through a ball hole 22 which is drilled through the shirttail portion 4 and the journal 6. The ball hole 22 intersects the top dead center 24 of the ball race 18. The balls 16 are retained between the journal 6 and the roller cone 10 by welding a ball plug 25 in the shirttail side of the ball hole 22.
The drill bit leg thus described retains a roller cone on a journal using a ball lock system. However, there are other methods of retaining a roller cone on a journal, for example, segmented cone retention rings disposed in a slot on the journal and subsequently threadedly locked to the roller cone using a hole to gain access to a device which prevents rotation of the rings. Generally, any cone retention system that includes a hole penetrating a ball race or other slot on the journal will induce localized stresses in the ball race or slot. In particular, when the hole intersects a high stress region on the ball race, localized stresses which develop around the intersection of the ball race with the ball hole during operation of the drill bit may be sufficient to initiate cracks in the ball race and, possibly, break the journal. It would, however, be desirable to access the ball race or other slot on the journal without initiating cracks in the journal.


A random number generation method and apparatus using a low-power microprocessor is provided. In the random number generation method, a low-power microprocessor determines whether external power is supplied to a random number generator. The low-power microprocessor updates an internal state of the random number generator based on a first scheme if it is determined that the external power is supplied to the random number generator. The low-power microprocessor updates the internal state of the random number generator based on a second scheme different from the first scheme if it is determined that the external power is not supplied to the random number generator.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to random number generation technology and, more particularly, to a random number generator, which manages the seed of the random number generator so that the seed cannot be predicted, thus providing the confidentiality and integrity of random numbers required for authentication and encryption.
2. Description of the Related Art
Microprocessor-based random number generators are mainly classified into two schemes, that is, a scheme which generates random numbers required for application programs through the preprocessing and correction processing of noise collected by external hardware noise sources, and a scheme which allows a microprocessor to directly generate random numbers using an initial seed value for random numbers and a random number generation algorithm.
An application program provides the confidentiality and integrity of an application using generated random numbers, and may provide services, such as authentication and encryption services.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are block diagrams showing conventional random number generators.
Referring to FIG. 1, a random number generator 110 includes a hardware noise source 101, a correction algorithm unit 102, an external power source 103, and a microprocessor 104.
The hardware noise source 101 generates noise used to generate random numbers using a ring oscillator, a thermal noise diode, or the like.
The correction algorithm unit 102 corrects collected hardware noise using software and then improves random number characteristics.
The external power source 103 supplies power to the random number generator 110.
The microprocessor 104 generates a random number sequence using the collected hardware noise, and provides the generated random number sequence when an application program unit 105 requests the random number sequence.
The application program unit 105 requests a random number (or a random number sequence) required for encryption or authentication.
Referring to FIG. 2, a random number generator 210 includes an external power source 206, a microprocessor 207, an initial value provision unit 209, and a random number generation algorithm unit 201.
The external power source 206 supplies power to the random number generator 210.
The microprocessor 207 generates a random number sequence using an initial value and a random number generation algorithm, and provides the generated random number sequence when an application program unit 208 requests the random number sequence.
The application program unit 208 requests a random number (or a random number sequence) required for encryption or authentication.
The initial value provision unit 209 provides an initial seed value used for the random number generation algorithm.
The random number generation algorithm unit 201 generates a random number using a message digest algorithm, such as a Secure Hashing Algorithm (SHA).
The random number generators shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are configured to update the seed using a scheme for generating new unpredictable seeds from an internal state configured using a plurality of various entropy sources, together with the seed at a previous time point. Consequently, unless sufficient entropy is guaranteed to external noise sources in the random number generation algorithm based on seeds, a random number at a subsequent time point is predictable.
Furthermore, the conventional random number generators shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are operated only when power is supplied to the microprocessor, and are not operated when power is not supplied, thus causing a disadvantage in that the seed of the random number generator is not updated.
Therefore, a new random number generation scheme for always generating unpredictable random numbers using a random number generation algorithm in which external hardware noise sources and seeds are used, and a new seed management scheme therefor am urgently required.
Prior art related to the above technology includes U.S. Pat. No. 8,001,054 presenting a system and method for generating an unpredictable random number using a seeded algorithm (entitled "System and method for generating an unpredictable number using a seeded algorithm").

Random number generation method and apparatus using low-power microprocessor

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A radio-controlled timepiece reduces unnecessary power consumption and improves energy conservation. The radio-controlled timepiece has a reception unit power supply controller 43 that regularly operates a reception power supply circuit 24 that drives a reception circuit 22 for receiving a radio signal containing time information. The reception unit power supply controller 43 has an elapsed time detector 110 for determining or measuring the elapsed time from the last time a signal was received, a reception schedule storage 130 for storing schedule information for supplying power, a schedule information setting-unit 120 for changing the schedule information to schedule information B with a longer power supply time interval than a default setting A if the elapsed time becomes greater than or equal to a set time, and a power supply circuit controller 140 that controls operation of the reception power supply circuit 24 based on the schedule information. Because the frequency of signal reception is reduced if the period in which signal reception is not possible increases, power consumption can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio-controlled timepiece and to a control method for a radio-controlled timepiece.
2. Description of the Related Art
Radio-controlled timepieces that receive a longwave standard radio signal with superposed time information and automatically adjust the time based on the received signal are known. See particularly Japanese Patent 2973303, paragraphs [0022] to [0027]. In addition to forced reception, which is activated by the user operating the crown or a button to force the timepiece to receive the standard radio signal, this radio-controlled timepiece also has an automatic reception mode in which the timepiece automatically receives the standard time signal at a preset reception time and automatically adjusts the time based on the time information in the received signal.
A problem with such radio-controlled timepieces is that depending upon the conditions of the surrounding electrical environment the timepiece may not be able to receive the time signal. Local magnetic fields, for example, could interfere with reception, and reception might not be possible inside some buildings. Reception may also not be possible when travelling abroad, or simply when in areas outside the range of the standard time signal transmitter.
Even if the automatic reception function operates under such circumstances the timepiece will be unable to receive the signal and the time will not be adjusted.
Attempting reception despite being unable to receive the signal needlessly consumes power. This reception operation is the most power-consuming operation of the timepiece, and in a battery-powered timepiece such as a wristwatch, results in a shortened battery life.

Radio-controlled timepiece and control method for a radio-controlled timepiece


A dispersion compensator with Bragg gratings which have a dispersion compensating function and are formed on output waveguides of an arrayed waveguide grating, and a dispersion-compensating module employing the dispersion compensator.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dispersion compensator and a dispersion-compensating module employing the dispersion compensator.
2. Description of Related Art
For high-speed and large-capacity optical communications, a dispersion compensation technique is inevitably required to reduce degradation in transmission caused by dispersion accumulated over the optical fiber transmission line. Typically, such a dispersion compensation technique employs dispersion compensating fibers.
Incidentally, it is necessary to compensate for different amounts of dispersion according to wavelength in wavelength division multiplexing communications in which a plurality of different wavelengths of light are multiplexed. This presented such a problem that dispersion compensation in the optical communication system required a dispersion-compensating fiber of length several to tens of kilometers for each wavelength, thereby increasing the size of the system.
In this case, it is conceivable to provide, on an optical transmission path for each wavelength, a dispersion-compensating module comprising a circulator and a fiber Bragg grating (FBG), yet narrow in bandwidth, for compensating for dispersion. However, this method has a drawback that an increase in number of wavelengths will correspondingly increase the number of dispersion-compensating modules, leading to an increase in cost for dispersion compensation since the circulator is expensive. In addition, there was another problem that it was necessary to connect an optical transmission path to each of said circulators for each wavelength in the dispersion-compensating module, which makes the connection complicated.
An object of the present invention is to provide a dispersion compensator which can be used for dispersion compensation in a wavelength division multiplexing communication system and which can make the optical communication system less in size than does the conventional dispersion compensation fiber. Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispersion-compensating module which facilitates the connection to the component parts.
To achieve the aforementioned objects, the dispersion compensator according to the present invention employs an arrayed waveguide grating comprising at least one input waveguide, a first slab waveguide, an arrayed waveguide having a plurality of channel waveguides, a second slab waveguide, and a plurality of output waveguides are formed on a substrate. The dispersion compensator is configured such that Bragg gratings, each having a dispersion compensating function, are formed on the plurality of output waveguides of the arrayed waveguide grating.
Furthermore, to achieve the aforementioned objects, the dispersion compensator according to the present invention is configured such that planar waveguides provided with a predetermined number of Bragg gratings having a dispersion compensating function are connected to output waveguides of an arrayed waveguide grating.
The planar waveguides are preferably a plurality of waveguides formed on a substrate.
Moreover, the substrate is preferably formed of silicon or glass.
Furthermore, to achieve the aforementioned objects, the dispersion-compensating module according to the present invention comprises a circulator having an input port, an output port, and a connecting port. The dispersion-compensating module also comprises aforesaid dispersion compensator connected to the connecting port of the circulator, and an optical demultiplexer comprising an arrayed waveguide grating connected to the output port of the circulator.
According to the present invention, it is made possible to provide a dispersion compensator which can be used for dispersion compensation in a wavelength division multiplexing communication system and which can make the optical communication system less in size than does the conventional dispersion compensation fiber. It is also made possible to provide a dispersion-compensating module which facilitates the connection to the component parts.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Dispersion compensator and dispersion-compensating module employing the same


A hand lever device for operating a driven member includes a main lever arranged to be pivoted about a first rotational axis, a sub-lever arranged to be pivoted about a second rotational axis and retained in a stationary state at a set pivoted position, a returning member arranged to be rotated about a third rotational axis, and a cable coupled at one end to the driven member and linked at the other end with the main lever and the returning member. When the main lever is pivoted to a set position, it rotates the returning member about the third rotational axis and removes slack from the cable. Pivoting of the sub-lever further rotates the returning member about the third rotational axis to a selected operating position. An accelerating subsidiary lever that is also pivoted about the first rotational axis further pulls, via the returning member, the cable, thereby to further move the driven member.

The present invention relates to a hand lever device for manipulating, through a cable, a driven member (a member to be driven) such as a carburetor throttle valve for an internal combustion engine and, in particular, to a hand lever device which is suited for use in a working machine such as a hedge trimmer, bush cutter, etc., and is adapted to be attached close to the grip portion of the handle of the working machine for opening or closing, through a throttle cable, the carburetor throttle valve.
In the case of a working machine such as a hedge trimmer, bush cutter, etc. where a working member thereof such as a cutting blade is arranged to be driven by means of an internal combustion engine, a hand lever for adjusting the opening degree of carburetor throttle valve of the internal combustion engine is usually disposed close to the grip portion of a U-shaped handle or a bar handle of the working machine so as to allow the output of the internal combustion engine to be controlled at hand.
The hand lever device is usually provided with a throttle trigger (throttle lever) that can be manipulated by an operator's finger, thereby enabling the operator to adjust, through a throttle cable, the opening degree of the carburetor throttle valve by pivotally moving the throttle lever. The carburetor throttle valve is generally urged in a direction such as to always set a minimum opening degree at which the carburetor throttle valve is always kept to an opening degree for an idling speed of the engine when the working member is not in an operating state. However, when the throttle cable is pulled to an extent exceeding a predetermined amount beyond the play thereof, the carburetor throttle valve is caused to further open, starting from the idling opening degree toward a setting for a higher engine speed greater than the idling speed.
There are known two types of hand lever devices for adjusting the opening degree of the carburetor throttle valve; i.e., an idling opening degree-automatic reset type (automatic reset type) wherein the hand lever is enabled automatically to return together with the carburetor throttle valve to the original position (idling opening degree) as soon as the throttle lever is released from a position held by the operator's finger and a retention type wherein the throttle lever can be always kept in a stationary state at any desired angle position once the throttle lever is pivotally moved to the desired angle even if the operator releases the throttle lever (Japanese Utility Model Publication S57-19944).
It is possible, according to the aforementioned automatic reset type hand lever, to allow an internal combustion engine to automatically return to an idling engine speed as soon as the throttle lever is released from the operator's finger, thereby cutting off a centrifugal clutch and hence suspending the power transmission of the engine to the working member if the working machine is arranged such that the power transmission of engine to the working member (such as a cutting blade) is to be effected through the centrifugal clutch. Therefore, it is possible, according to the aforementioned automatic reset type hand lever, to immediately cause the carburetor throttle valve to return to the idling opening degree so as to suspend the operation of the working member as soon as any unexpected situation is encountered, thereby advantageously improving the safety of operation. The automatic reset type hand lever is, however, accompanied by the problem that if the carburetor throttle valve is to be maintained at any desired opening degree, the throttle lever has to be always held by the operator's finger in order to maintain the rotated position of the throttle lever, thereby making it inconvenient to manipulate the throttle lever at an intermediate opening degree, causing the operator's finger to become fatigued, and making it difficult for the operator to avoid fluctuation of the position of the lever and thus variation of the engine speed.
As far as the manipulability of the working machine is concerned, it is generally preferable that a manipulating lever to be rotationally manipulated with an operator's finger be arranged to take only two rotational positions, i.e., a released position and a set position (gripped position) without enabling the manipulating lever to take an intermediate opening position. Namely, it is preferable in terms of manipulability to arrange the throttle lever so that it takes the same manipulated rotational position (the set position), irrespective of the opening degree of the carburetor throttle valve, i.e., either an intermediate opening degree (a partial opening degree) or a full opening degree (WOT).
On the other hand, in the case of the aforementioned retention type, it is possible to overcome the aforementioned problems of the automatic reset type hand lever, thus enabling the throttle lever to be always kept in a stationary state at any desired angle position even if the throttle lever is released free from the operator's finger. As a result, the operator's finger can be rendered free from the gripping of the throttle lever, thus facilitating the operation of the working machine. However, it is required, if any unexpected situation is generated, to take an additional manipulation to release the throttle lever position-retaining function, so that it is impossible to immediately suspend the operation of the working member. Namely, the aforementioned retention type is accompanied with a problem that it is inferior in terms of the safety of operation as compared with the aforementioned automatic reset type hand lever.
If it is required, in order to restore the working mode of the machine in either the automatic reset type or the retention type, to return the throttle valve to the previous opening degree of the throttle valve after the throttle lever has been once returned to the initial idling position for interrupting the working (that kind of manipulation is frequently experienced in the case of a working machine such as a bush cutter), the manipulating rotational position of the throttle lever is required to be readjusted, which involves a troublesome manipulation of the throttle lever, thus leaving room for improvement in terms of manipulability of the working machine.
With a view to overcome these problems involved in the aforementioned hand lever devices, the present assignee has already proposed a hand lever device, as set forth in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication H8-303262, wherein the hand lever device comprises a main lever and a sub-lever which are enabled to pivot and arranged such that the sub-lever functions to pull a cable connected with a driven member via a returning member such as a running block, and the main lever functions to move the returning member.
With such a hand lever device, various advantages can be obtained. For example, the opening degree of the driven member such as a carburetor throttle valve can be easily adjusted and maintained to a desired opening degree via the cable, and also can be quickly returned to the minimum opening degree (idling opening degree), thus assuring a high operational safety and minimizing the weariness of the operator's finger. Additionally, it is possible to dispense with the readjustment of the throttle lever at the time of returning the carburetor throttle valve to the previous opening degree.
However, the hand lever device as proposed previously by the present assignee is still accompanied with the following problems in terms of manipulability.
Namely, the hand lever device cannot be said to be excellent in its ability to restore the previous engine speed when the main lever is pivotally moved to a pre-set position in order to cause the throttle valve to return to the previous intermediate opening degree, after a carburetor throttle valve has been once returned to the idling opening degree by releasing the main lever during the operation of a working machine such as a bush-cutting operation with the engine being conditioned to a partial engine speed region, i.e., the main lever being moved to the set position and the sub-lever being maintained at an intermediate opening degree (adjusted opening degree). In other words, it takes a relatively long time to regain the previous engine speed once the main lever is returned to the idling opening degree as mentioned above.
Further, when the cutting blade of a bush cutter becomes entangled with a weed or is called upon to cut dense or thick weeds during the operation of a bush cutter with the engine speed thereof adjusted to a partial engine speed region, the load on the engine would be greatly increased, thereby greatly decreasing the engine speed and thus retarding the cutting work. In such a case, in order to remove a tangled weed from the cutting blade or to allow the cutting blade to pass through dense or thick weeds, the sub-lever may be further pivotally moved to enlarge the opening degree of the throttle valve so as to temporarily increase the engine speed, after which the sub-lever is returned to the previous opening degree. However, since the sub-lever is generally disposed forwardly relative to the main lever (the grip portion for grasping the main lever) so as to allow the sub-lever to be manipulated with the operator's thumb and since the sub-lever is arranged to be retained at a pivoted position, it is not only troublesome to frequently adjust the opening degree thereof, but also annoying in taking time for adjusting the opening degree thereof, thus making the hand lever device disadvantageous in terms of operability. Therefore, there is a need to develop measures which enable the engine speed to be quickly increased with a simple manipulation when the engine speed is caused to decrease as described above.


A differential input circuit includes a first differential pair having first and second transistors for receiving a differential input signal, and for transmitting a differential output signal. A second differential pair includes third and fourth transistors commonly connected to an output of the first differential pair. A differential amplifier circuit includes a third differential pair having fifth and sixth transistors for inputting the differential input signal commonly with the first differential pair for generating a differential amplify signal which is supplied to the second differential pair; so that the potential of an output operating point is set to operate the third and fourth transistors of the second differential pair.

The present invention relates to a differential input circuit, and more specifically to the technology for broadening a common mode operation range of a differential input signal.
The differential input circuit having a differential signal as an input, can be conventionally realized by differential pairs using field effect transistors (FET) and bipolar transistors. The conventional differential input circuit has a limitation in the input common mode operational range of the differential input signal because of a gate and source voltage V.sub.gs of the FET and a base and emitter voltage V.sub.be of the bipolar transistor both constituting the differential pair.
Accordingly, in order to improve the limitation, there is provided a method for broadening an operational range of a common mode potential in an input differential signal by means of a current addition between outputs of two pairs of differential pairs having different conductive types, as disclosed in Pardoen, "A Rail-to-Rail Input/ Output CMOS Power Amplifier", IEEE JSSC Vol. 25 No. 2 pp. 501-504 (see FIG. 1 of the IEEE document).
However, in this method, since there is a case in which where one of the differential pairs directly operates and the other of the differential pairs performs practically no operation, and a case where both of the differential pairs simultaneously operate because of the largeness of an input common mode potential, there is a problem that a sum of the output currents obtained by the differential is uneven in accordance with an operating point of an input common mode potential caused by a matching error of the current source in each of the differential pairs. Therefore, when the differential amplifier circuit is used in a circuit having a resistance load, an output operating point becomes uneven.
As described above, in the conventionally used differential input circuit, the sum of the output currents for obtaining the differential signal is uneven depending on the common mode input operating point, thereby resulting a problem that a stable output cannot be obtained.

Differential input circuit capable of broadening operation range of input common mode potential


A rain gutter cleaning tool has a scraper portion and a hook portion connected on opposite sides of a main body portion, as well as a tool attachment portion. The scraper portion is used to maneuver debris within a rain gutter to within the user's reach, while the hook portion is used to maneuver debris underneath gutter hangers which provide obstacles to the use of the scraper portion. The tool attachment portion is internally threaded to accommodate an extension pole. Thus, the user is able to easily and effectively clear a significant portion of a rain gutter without having to climb down from a ladder and move the ladder to a new spot in order to bring more debris within their reach for cleaning.

Many buildings, particularly residential homes, have rain gutters surrounding the edges of their roofs for facilitating water discharge. Gutters prevent ingress into the fabric of a building by channeling rainwater away from the exterior of the walls and their foundations. In one common configuration, water from a pitched roof flows into a trough, typically made of metal, that is suspended beyond the roof edge and below the projected slope of the roof. Water collected by the gutter flows into a downpipe, which eventually discharges the collected water at a sufficient distance away from the walls of the structure.
Rain gutters may often become clogged by debris, particularly falling leaves from surrounding trees. In this case, the entrance to the downspout may become obstructed, resulting in the failure of the gutter to perform its intended function. Gutter cleaning is a necessary part of home maintenance, and current tools that assist users in doing so don't effectively allow users to pull the debris under the gutter hangars without moving their ladder. Most, if not all, similar tools also can't safely hang on any extension ladder, making users hold onto them while on the ladder. It is therefore an objective of the present invention to address these issues by providing users with a gutter cleaning tool that is more efficient and offers more functions than similar tools today


A label and a method for providing a label to a user is described. The label may be a mailing label to be placed on letters or parcels. The label includes information such as postage, delivery address, return address, and a barcode for tracking delivery information. A user may request both a label and postage in what, to the user, appears to be a single computerized connection on a single internet web-page. A postage indicia is provided through a postage provider with whom the user has a deposit or credit. The label itself may be generated through a label-generating application hosted or generated by an entity separate from the postage provider.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to providing a label to a customer or user, the label includes address information, postage indicia and a delivery confirmation barcode. More particularly, it relates to systems and methods for providing software tools to allow a user to make an online request for a label, generate the label in conjunction with a postage vendor, and return the label to the user. The user may then print the label and attach it to a mailpiece. The mailpiece may thereafter be placed into the mailstream, for example the mailstream provided by the USPS for delivery of the mailpiece to the recipient specified on the label.
2. Description of the Related Art
The United States Postal Service currently provides on-line services to Internet users through the USPS Web Tools system. These services enable e-tailers to embed USPS shipping functionality into their e-commerce web sites. These USPS services went into operation in August of 1999. Enhancements are continually being added. The on-line services offered as of December 2001 include track/confirm services, address checking, domestic and international postage rates, and shipping labels, among others.
The current USPS Web Tools system provides Application Program Interfaces (APIs) which allow developers of web-based and shrink-wrapped applications to gain access to these on-line services. In order to take advantage of these services, a software developer may visit the web site http://www.usps.com/shipping, click on the Web Tools link, and then Register for access to the APIs. Some of the resources provided by the USPS Web Tools system are web tool registration, documentation, XML code samples, resource links, and an XML test server. A registered user is assigned and e-mailed a uniquely generated user ID and password, which grants access to the programming documentation and the Web Tools system APIs.
One of the specific services that the USPS currently provides relates to labeling. The USPS allows a user to develop shipping labels with a return address delivery address, and a delivery confirmation barcode electronically via the USPS Shipping API system. The USPS Shipping API system provides software interfaces for accessing USPS shipping information over a network. The shipping information may include, but is not limited to, postal rates, mail tracking information, service standards, and issuance of delivery confirmation barcodes. The network is preferably the internet; however, any type of network known to those skilled in the art may be used. A delivery confirmation barcode includes information about the delivery point of a mailpiece and may be used to track the mailpiece in a mailstream.
In addition to the above-mentioned web tools, the USPS also authorizes postage vendors, such as PC Postage Vendors, to provide an IBIP (Indicia Based Information Program) or postage indicia electronically via the internet. The IBIP may be printed on, for example, an envelope or a label, to indicate postage payment. At present the IBIP is not seamlessly integrated into the other USPS web tools. A user who wishes to obtain postage electronically and who also wishes to access the available USPS electronic services must separately access these functionalities.
Postage cannot be sold on credit. Therefore a PC Postage Provider may offer the user the ability to charge a credit card and place the escrowed funds in a "Pre-Paid Postage Account". Most providers charge a flat monthly fee for providing their services. For promotional purposes, some providers may give a modest amount of 'free' postage when registering with them. When the user buys Indicia, funds are drawn from the Pre-Paid Postage Account, and some providers add a surcharge onto the postage amount. The user adds funds to their Pre-Paid Postage Account by re-charging their credit card. Providers may be permitted to charge a minor percentage for refunded transactions, or a minor fee when an account is closed.
Users can perform additional functions, such as obtain the balance of their Pre-Paid Postage Account, obtain a transaction history, update their registration information, and/or close their Postage Provider account. Most of these transactions either involve the perusal of financial data or the direct movement of funds.
In general, the USPS Web Tools system should duplicate the overall utility of each of these financial transactions in order to accommodate the needs and expectations of both the consumer of the services and the Provider of the services. With that in mind, a number of modular components, APIs may be built onto the front-end of the Web Tools system to produce a Shipping Label With PC Postage, and to support its production.
The new Shipping Label With PC Postage service introduces several key differences over the other free USPS Web Tool services currently being offered: It involves numerous participating PC Postage Providers on the back-end (while providing the consumer a common interface on the front-end), involves a deliberate selection of a PC Postage Provider by the consumer, involves the transfer of financial information between a consumer of the service and their selected PC Postage Provider, and addresses additional security concerns to protect sensitive data. By constructing the USPS Web Tools system to be the common middleware for the consumer of this new service, the consumer is shielded from the complexities and nuances of dealing with the business processes, security arrangements, and software configurations of the various PC Postage Providers.
Besides simplifying the USPS Web Tools interfaces so that the consumer need not be concerned about the complex effort to communicate with each PC Postage Provider in order to print a Shipping Label With PC Postage, there are other benefits to the consumer of the Web Tools services: By having multiple PC Postage Providers participate, the consumer need not be concerned about the possible impact to their business if their chosen Postage Provider should suffer extensive system downtime, experience a disaster, or decide to exit from the IBI business, since the consumer can easily select another Provider. The USPS Internet Customer Care Center will provide a single point of contact for customer support.
This design also enables the Postal Service to deliver an expanding set of easy to use on-line services through a familiar interface. Besides the benefits for the consumers, there are also many expected benefits of this new Shipping Label With PC Postage service for those PC Postage Providers who choose to be included in the back-end fulfillment of this service. Hopefully they will realize: reduced customer acquisition costs (since this service will generate new customer accounts electronically), reduced customer support costs, increased revenue (since the volume of generated Indicia will increase, and the dollar value for package Indicia far exceeds that of a first-class letter), and increased reach and market expansion.
It is accordingly desirable to allow a user to make a request for a label that includes address information, a postage indicia, and a delivery confirmation barcode, generate the requested label, debit a prepaid postage account for the cost of the label, and send the label to the user. This is achieved by providing systems and methods for a label with postage application programming interface ("API"), which provides software interfaces to intermediaries and postage vendors to facilitate the generation and distribution of labels that include address information, postage indicia, and delivery confirmation barcodes.

Systems and methods for a label with postage API


A residential fuel measurement system for optimizing the fuel delivery including a sensor and transmission system with methods of use. The sensor includes a photo sensitive sensor for measuring the position of the existing fuel tank indicator. A transmission system transmits the position to central receiving station. Receiving station receives information, and other related information from third party sources and calculates a plurality of reports including fuel delivery routing, calibration, alarms and billing information.

Residential fuel oil and propane distribution requires the delivery of fuel from a distribution center, typically operated by a local fuel delivery company, to each residence. On average, seven trips are made per customer per year.
There are costs to the fuel company for each trip, including the fuel truck driver's salary and costs of maintaining the truck. Yet, while the average oil tank size is 275 gallons in the United States, the average delivery is less than 125 gallons. Propane delivery efficiency, with the common 1000 gallon tanks, is even less than heating oil. Thus, many more trips are being made per year than necessary, impacting the profitability of the oil and propane delivery companies and consequently the costs of the fuel to the consumer.
Despite the fact that the average delivery is made when the tank is more than one half full, "run outs" are also common. When a run out occurs, the customer's home is usually no longer heated. In the best case, a special trip is necessary to deliver new fuel and re-light the furnace. Often, lines need to be purged and pilot lights re-lit in the event of a run out. This adds additional cost to the fuel delivery company that may not be recoverable from the customer. Moreover, if the customer is not at home during the run out, the home's water pipes can freeze and burst—causing avoidable repairs.
Many systems have been devised to solve these problems. The most prevalent of the present solutions is the "Degree Day" system. This is a system that measures the outside temperatures and past usage to predict when the next delivery should be made. This system, however, has drawbacks: it assumes that past usage patterns will continue; and new customers cannot be served because there are no past usage data. The system also assumes a number for the rate of usage related to average daily temperatures, and the system cannot function properly with any data entry error. At best, the Degree Day system is an approximation of the customer's fuel needs.
Other systems have been devised to directly measure the tank volume and then use this information in the scheduling of fuel delivery. Various level sensors have been proposed such as float systems or ultrasonic devices. The homeowner may then monitor the sensor and call the delivery company when the fuel level is low. Other systems propose to automatically communicate tank level information to the fuel delivery company such as via the cellular telephone network.

Fuel oil and propane monitoring, delivery and sale system and method


Cathodes useful in an electrolytic cell, such as a chlor-alkali cell, are disclosed which have a metallic-surfaced substrate coated with a catalytic coating composition. In one aspect, the catalytic coating includes a base layer of at least one primary electrocatalytic metal with particles of at least one electrocatalytic metal oxide entrapped therein. In another aspect, at least one upper oxide layer is formed on the base layer. Each upper oxide layer includes a substantially heterogeneous mixture of at least one primary electrocatalytic metal oxide and at least one secondary electrocatalytic metal oxide. The catalytic coatings are tightly adherent to the underlying substrate, resist loss during cell operation and exhibit low hydrogen overvoltage potentials. Disclosed are methods for preparing the above-described cathodes. Also disclosed is a method for reducing the hydrogen overvoltage potential of an electrolytic cell by placing an electrocatalytic metal/metal oxide particle coating on a metallic-surfaced cathode.

There are three types of electrolytic cells commercially used for producing halogen gas and aqueous caustic solutions from alkali metal halide brines, a process referred to by industry as a chlor-alkali process. The three types of cells are: (1) a mercury cell, (2) a diaphragm cell and (3) a membrane cell. The general operation of each cell is known to those skilled in the art and is discussed in Volume 1 of the Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd Ed. (John Wiley & Sons 1978) at page 799 et. seq., the relevant teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The three cells differ in various respects. In the mercury cell, alkali metal ions produced by electrolysis of an alkali metal salt form an amalgam with mercury. The amalgam reacts with water to produce aqueous sodium hydroxide, hydrogen gas and free mercury. The mercury is recovered and recycled for further use as a liquid cathode. In a diaphragm cell, an alkali metal halide brine solution is fed into an anolyte compartment where halide ions are oxidized to produce halogen gas. Alkali metal ions migrate into a catholyte compartment through a hydraulically-permeable microporous diaphragm disposed between the anolyte compartment and the catholyte compartment. Hydrogen gas aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solutions are produced at the cathode. Due to the hydraulically-permeable diaphragm, brine may flow into the catholyte compartment and mix with the alkali metal hydroxide solution. A membrane cell functions similar to a diaphragm cell, except that the diaphragm is replaced by a hydraulically-impermeable, cationically-permselective membrane which selectively permits passage of hydrated alkali metal ions to the catholyte compartment. A membrane cell produces aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solutions essentially uncontaminated with brine. Presently, the most widely used chlor-alkali processes employ either diaphragm of membrane cells.
The minimum voltage required to electrolyze a sodium chloride brine into chlorine gas, hydrogen gas and aqueous sodium hydroxide solution may be theoretically calculated by the use of thermodynamic data. However, in reality, production at the theoretical voltage is not attainable and a higher voltage, i.e., a so-called overvoltage, must be applied to overcome various inherent resistances within the cell. Reduction in the amount of applied overvoltage leads to a significant savings of energy costs associated with cell operation. A reduction of even as little as 0.05 volts in the applied overvoltage translates to significant energy savings when processing multimillion-ton quantities of brine. As a result, it is desirable to discover methods which minimize overvoltage requirements.
Throughout the development of chlor-alkali technology, various methods have been proposed to reduce the overvoltage requirements. To decrease the overvoltage in a diaphragm or a membrane cell, one may attempt to reduce electrode overvoltages, i.e., a so-called hydrogen overvoltage at the cathode; to reduce electrical resistance of the diaphragm or membrane; to reduce electrical resistance of the brine being electrolyzed; or to use a combination of these approaches. Some research concentrates on minimizing cell overvoltage by proposing design modifications to the cells.
It is known that the overvoltage for an electrode is a function of its chemical characteristics and current density. See, W. J. Moore, Physical Chemistry, pp. 406-408 3rd Ed. (Prentice Hall 1962). Current density is defined as the current applied per unit of actual surface area on an electrode. Techniques which increase the actual surface area of an electrode, such as acid etching or sandblasting the surfaces thereof, result in a corresponding decrease of the current density for a given amount of applied current. Inasmuch as the overvoltage and current density are directly related to each other, a decrease in current density yields a corresponding decrease in overvoltage. The chemical characteristics of materials used to fabricate the electrode also impact overvoltage. For example, electrodes incorporating an electrocatalyst accelerate kinetics for electrochemical reactions occurring at the surface of the electrode.
It is known that certain platinum group metals, such as ruthenium, rhodium, osmium, iridium, palladium, platinum, and oxides thereof are useful as electrocatalysts. Electrodes may be fabricated from these metals, but more economical methods affix the platinum group metals to a conductive substrate such as steel, nickel, titanium, copper and so on. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,071 discloses coatings of one or more platinum group metals deposited as a metallic layer on an electrically-conductive substrate. Japanese Patent No. 9130/65, OPI application numbers 131474/76 and 11178/77, refers to use of a mixture of at least one platinum group metal oxide with a second metal oxide as a cathode coating.
Also known in the art are coatings of catalytic metals in both an elemental and combined form. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,724,052 and 4,465,580 are similar and teach preparation of a coating on a metallic substrate by electrolytic deposition of catalytic metals and catalytic particles thereon. U.S. Pat. No. 4,238,311 teaches a cathode coating consisting of fine particles of platinum group metals, platinum group metal oxides or a combination thereof, affixed to a nickel substrate. Such processes are undesirable due to either the need for expensive electrolytic hardware or waste disposal problems.
Some research has concentrated on cathodes having layered catalyst coatings. U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,370 discusses a coating having an interlayer deposited by electrolytic deposition, the interlayer being an inert metal with particles of a ceramic material, such as platinum group metal oxides, dispersed therein. On top of the interlayer is a layer of ceramic material which includes metal oxides. U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,662 discloses a coating having a base layer that includes the platinum group metals, metal oxides and mixtures thereof. On top of this base layer is a layer of metal, such as nickel or cobalt.
Industry has recently directed attention toward development of "zero-gap" electrolytic cells wherein an electrode, such as the cathode, is placed in contact with a membrane. This arrangement reduces the required overvoltage of prior "gap" cell designs by elimination of electrical resistance caused by electrolyte being disposed between the cathode and the membrane. In some zero-gap cells, it is advantageous to employ an extremely thin cathode to provide close contact between the cathode and the membrane and, thereby, fully utilize the advantage of the zero-gap cell design. A thin substrate also provides flexibility, which helps prevent damage to the membrane caused by contact with the cathode. However, use of a thin substrate presents problems in maintaining adherence of electrocatalytic coatings to the substrate. Substrates coated by prior methods can experience significant coating loss by decrepitation shortly after being placed in service, especially where the substrate is flexible. Thin substrates coated by electrolytic methods as previously described also tend to become rigid and lose flexibility. Accordingly, it is desirable to develop a coating which is both resistant to loss during operation and which allows for retention of substrate flexibility.
Coatings of catalytic metals possessing low hydrogen overvoltage properties are typically subject to loss of catalytic activity due to poisoning by inherent impurities present in electrolyte solutions. For example, contaminants present in commercial-scale electrolytic cells, such as iron in an ionic form, may be reduced at the cathode and will eventually plate over a catalytic metal coating. Over a period of time, catalyst performance degrades and results in the cathode performing at an overvoltage level equivalent to a cathode fabricated from the metal impurity. The so-called hydrogen overvoltage, an indicator of cathode performance used by those skilled in the art of electrolysis, for iron is quite high at current densities of 1.5 to 3.5 amps per square inch typically employed in commercial chlor-alkali cells. In contrast, it is desirable to maintain a low hydrogen overvoltage, as generally exhibited by the favorable low hydrogen overvoltage for platinum group metals and platinum group metal oxides, during long-term operation of the cell.
Generally, the cathodes disclosed in the above-identified patents are prepared prior to their use and assembly within an electrolytic cell. These cathodes can require expensive equipment and extensive amounts of labor for their preparation. Further, if a cathode loses catalytic activity due to poisoning, a considerable amount of cell down-time and costs may be required to replace it. Poisoning may even result in the need to discard the cathode.
It is, therefore, desirable to develop a cathode possessing a low hydrogen overvoltage that is resistant to poisoning by impurities. It is also desirable that the catalyst be tightly adhered to the substrate to inhibit its loss during operation and, thereby, maintain a low hydrogen overvoltage for the cell. It would also be desirable to develop a method for reducing cell hydrogen overvoltage by preparing or regenerating an activated cathode in situ, i.e., while the cathode is assembled within a cell.

Electrocatalytic cathodes and methods of preparation

by Wanda G. Beaver, legal representative

by Maurice Y. Byrd, legal representative


An industrial stilt generally includes a floor-engaging member having a heel portion and a toe portion, a load-bearing riser pivotally coupled with the heel portion of the floor-engaging member, a biasing assembly pivotally coupled with and between the toe portion of the floor-engaging member and the load-bearing riser, a foot-engaging member, a leg support assembly, and a leg cuff assembly. The biasing assembly assists in preventing excessive forward or backward leans and maintains the load-bearing riser and the user in a substantially vertical, upright position. The position of the leg cuff assembly on the user's leg and the user's elevation may be easily and safely adjusted using bracket and load-bearing riser adjustment and locking assemblies. Foot-engaging member is provided with multiple securing straps and ratchet buckle assemblies to permit secure and adjustable attachment of the stilt to the user's foot, and leg cuff assembly is provided with a strap, ratchet assembly, and cuff pad to enhance adjustment and user comfort.

The present invention relates to a device used to elevate the user thereof. In particular, the invention relates to a stilt for temporarily elevating a user to perform a function that requires additional height, while also permitting freedom of movement.
For example, when performing various types of construction and home-improvement projects, it is often necessary to perform tasks at elevated heights. Such tasks include, among others, painting, plastering, installing suspended or sheetrock ceilings, and accessing or installing electrical, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and components. Many of these tasks are made easier when the craftsman is able to work at a vertically elevated height without being restricted in movement due to the use of scaffolds, ladders or other stationary elevated devices.
To obtain convenient, mobile elevation, craftsmen have frequent used conventional stilt devices and systems. Such conventional devices and systems are widely known in the art. Two such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,515 to Armstrong and U.S. Pat. No. 3,902,199 to Emmert. The Armstrong and Emmert stilts are conventional "parallelogram" type stilts comprising a pair of vertical support members pivotally attached between a floor platform and a shoe platform, such that the vertical support members and the floor and shoe platforms are maintained in a substantially parallelogram configuration.
Another such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,137 to Speer. The Speer stilt includes a floor-engaging assembly and a foot support assembly coupled by single pivot connections with an elongated support assembly. Spring and turnbuckle assemblies are coupled between the foot support assembly and floor-engaging assembly and tend to bias the foot support assembly and floor-engaging assembly such that the assemblies are maintained in a generally parallel relationship.
However, these prior art stilt systems and others like them suffer from a number of deficiencies. For example, the prior art systems are generally heavy and unwieldy due to their use of dual vertical support members and the relatively large number of metal parts, resulting in diminished user agility, mobility, and versatility. The dual vertical support members further fail to provide a stilt having a natural walking action as the dual vertical support members require pivot points at the base of both vertical support members. Since humans are accustomed to using the ankle as a pivot with the toes in conjunction with the ball of the foot to counteract the force of the body moving forward and backward, the pivot points shown in the prior art are unnatural to the normal gait of a human. Thus, there is a need in the art to provide a stilt system which mimics the movement of the pivot of the human ankle.
In addition, the prior art systems fail to provide for quick and convenient adjustment of user height and leg cuff position. Finally, the prior art systems lack the ergonomic comforts necessary to improve a user's ability to engage in prolonged usage without fatigue.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a stilt system that is relatively lightweight and enhances user agility and mobility, that is ergonomically designed to enhance user comfort and extend viable usage periods, and that allows the user to quickly and conveniently adjust his or her desired working elevation. The present invention satisfies these and other needs.


Apparatus for cooling charge-coupled device (CCD) imaging systems. The apparatus comprises a thermoelectric cooler thermally coupled to the imaging system for transferring heat away from and cooling the imaging system portion of the imaging system. The thermoelectric cooler has a cold side and an opposing hot side, with the cold side thermally coupled to the imaging sensor to enable the transfer of heat from the sensor in response to a supply of power. A power supply is coupled to the cooler for supplying required power. The hot side of the cooler is thermally coupled to a heat pipe, which is composed of a heat-conducting material having a hollow portion containing a wicking material and a working fluid. A heat sink is thermally coupled to the heat pipe enabling heat dissipation. The working fluid cyclically evaporates into vapor and condenses into liquid to effect the heat transfer from the heat pipe to the heat sink.

This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for providing efficient and sensitive x-ray imaging equipment. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for cooling charge-coupled device-containing imaging systems and the like.
Two-dimensional charge-coupled device (CCD) arrays can be substituted for tube-type cameras or film as the imaging device in imaging systems. In the most straightforward operational mode a CCD image is acquired as a snapshot, analogous to the operation of a photographic camera. Due to their high sensitivity, CCD imaging systems are ideally suited for digital imaging of x-ray images as well as other types of images. For example, CCD imaging systems are used routinely in astronomy and have been used recently in the field of molecular genetics for digital imaging of electrophoretic gels and hybridization blots. Achim E. Karger et al., Line Scanning System for Direct Digital Chemiluminescence Imaging of DNA Sequencing Blots, 65 Anal. Chem. 1785 (1993).
An area CCD array is composed of two major functional components, a parallel register consisting of a two-dimensional array of light-sensitive CCD elements, organized, for example, in 576 lines of 384 elements each for a 586.times.384 pixel array, and a single-line linear output register positioned along one side of the parallel register and connected to the on-chip amplifier. Photons striking the CCD surface generate photoelectrons that are trapped in the CCD element nearest the location of photon incidence. After the array has been exposed to light, readout of the photogenerated charge is performed by simultaneously shifting the charge packets of all lines in parallel toward the output register. Having arrived at the output register, the charge packets are shifted one by one in the perpendicular direction toward the on-chip amplifier for subsequent analog to digital conversion.
Cryogenically cooled, low-noise CCD imaging systems are particularly well suited for low light level imaging because of their high sensitivity, linear response to incident photons, and wide dynamic range. CCD imaging systems maintained at low temperature are highly sensitive because of improved signal-to-noise ratios over systems maintained at higher temperature. Low temperature operation of CCD imaging systems increases the range of light levels readable by the imaging system, thus providing a wide dynamic range of incident light levels that can be imaged. Further, low temperature operation of CCD imaging systems provides for realization of the full utility of high resolution chips used with the imaging system. CCD systems used in the environment are typically categorized as being in the "scientific class," and generally acquire data slowly.
Faster scan CCD systems, used in conventional 30 frame per second acquisition, can also benefit from active cooling. A compact, yet effective, design for active cooling would be beneficial since it is desirable to take advantage of the inherent compactness that a CCD imaging system allows. Thus, a compact way of removing heat would be important, instead of depending on more bulky conventional methods, like fans and close proximity heat sinks.
In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that providing a method and apparatus for cooling CCD imaging systems and the like that avoid the problems and disadvantages of conventional methods and apparatus would be a significant advancement in the art.

Apparatus for cooling charge coupled device imaging systems


A hydraulic brake booster provides a housing within which a spool valve is slidably mounted. The housing forms a pressure chamber and the spool valve is movable from a first position venting the pressure chamber to a second position, communicating the pressure chamber to a fluid pressure source as the spool valve moves toward the second position. A piston or cylindrical accumulator is also slidably mounted in the housing and moves in response to pressurized fluid in the pressure chamber to actuate braking. In order to hydraulically actuate braking when the pressure source is disabled, the piston includes a storage chamber within which pressurized fluid from the pressure chamber is stored. With the source disabled an operator actuating means moves the spool valve to the second position to close the pressure chamber to the pressure source. Further movement of the operator actuating means actuates a check valve to open the storage chamber to the pressure chamber so that pressurized fluid is communicated to the pressure chamber to move the piston for actuating braking.

It is known in prior art brake booster to provide an accumulator to a hydraulic brake booster so that when the power source fails stored pressurized fluid in the accumulator is available to assist in actuating braking. For example, if the fan belt on a motor vehicle breaks, the power steering pump is disabled so that no source of fluid pressure is available to actuate braking unless a secondary pressure source is provided. Consequently, prior art brake boosters provide an accumulator which is communicated with the brake booster pressure chamber when the pressure source is disabled to actuate braking.
In view of the decreasing size of most motor vehicles in order to compensate for fuel consumption, engine compartments are also diminishing. With less space for mounting a hydraulic brake booster, it is advantageous to provide a compact hydraulic brake booster for easier installation and maintenance. However, the compact booster must include a secondary pressure source for assisting brake application when the main pressure source is rendered inoperative.