System and method utilizing a reconfigurable in real-time phase-modulating diffractive device (in a specific case—a 2D array of micro-mirror elements) in conjunction with another diffractive element (active or passive) to spatially steer a beam of polychromatic light such that light reaches the identified target without being substantially angularly dispersed.

Lidar and related applications continue to present an unsatisfied need in broadband, random access, non-mechanical beam steering devices. A conformal, thin, broadband and rapid beam steering device is thought of as a vehicle to overcoming the recognized disadvantages of traditional optical systems and electro-optical beam steering devices, which use heavy and power-hungry gimbals and optical components making large mechanical motions. While various non-mechanical optical beam steering devices have been demonstrated, most of such devices utilize electrically-controlled optical diffraction elements such as, for example, an LCoS (that is, a liquid-crystal-on-silicon) based contraption and/or a MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical) based system to steer the optical beam in space. Each of these elements represents an actively-operated (or active) diffractive element. These spatial light modulator (SLM) devices normally operate over a corresponding narrow wavelength band (referred to herein interchangeably as "wavelength spectrum" or simply "spectrum" of operation of the device). Since the diffraction-effect-induced steering angle (θd) relates to the wavelength of the incident light (λ) via the grating equationsin θd−sin θi=mλΛ  (1),
where θi is the incidence angle, m an integer number defining the diffraction order, and Λ is the grating spacing (period), the polychromatic light diffracted upon interaction with (or at) such device is spatially dispersed, as is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. Put differently, the polychromatic light is spread angularly in accordance with its spectral contents.
The observed effect of dispersion can be expressed, based on the grating equation, asdλ/dθd=Λ cos θd/m  (2)
This fundamental property that polychrotnatic light disperses angularly upon interaction with an active diffractive element, according to spectral contents of polychromatic light inevitably limits the operation of any diffraction-based beam-steering device to narrow spectral band applications.
Considering that new types of laser sources—such as, for example, frequency comb pulsed lasers and supercontinuum lasers—require spectrally-broadband operation (in order to effectuate, for example, hyperspectral light detection and ranging, LIDAR, systems), the availability of broadband-spectrum-adapted beam-steering devices capable of supporting the required spectrally-broadband operation of the laser light source may facilitate the enablement of new LIDAR applications.

ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA


A process is disclosed for cracking hydrocarbons by contacting the hydrocarbons with a catalyst composition comprising dispersed rods of fibrous form sepiolite and an inorganic oxide gel for binding the sepiolite rods.

The present invention concerns a process for catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons using a sepiolite-containing catalyst which has both a large pore system and good attrition resistance.
Catalytic cracking systems employ catalyst in a moving bed or a fluidized bed. Catalytic cracking is carried out in the absence of externally supplied molecular hydrogen, and is, for that reason, distinctly different from hydrocracking, in which molecular hydrogen is added in processing. In catalytic cracking, an inventory of particulate catalyst is continuously cycled between a cracking reactor and a catalyst regenerator. In a fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) system, a stream of hydrocarbon feed is contacted with fluidized catalyst particles in a hydrocarbon cracking zone, or reactor, at a temperature of about 425.degree.-600.degree. C., usually 460.degree.-560.degree. C. The reactions of hydrocarbons at the hydrocarbon stream at the elevated operating temperature result in deposition of carbonaceous coke on the catalyst particles. The resulting fluid products are separated from the coke-deactivated, spent catalyst and are withdrawn from the reactor. The coked catalyst particles are stripped of volatiles, usually by means of steam, and passed to the catalyst regeneration zone. In the catalyst regenerator the coked catalyst is contacted with a predetermined amount of molecular oxygen. A desired portion of the coke is burned off the catalyst, restoring catalyst activity and simultaneously heating the catalyst to, e.g. 540.degree.-815.degree. C., usually 590.degree.-730.degree. C. Flue gas formed by combustion of coke in the catalyst regenerator may be treated for removal of particulates and conversion of carbon monoxide, after which it is normally discharged into the atmosphere.
Sepiolite is a naturally occurring clay-type mineral, which often has a lath-shaped or fibrous morphology. It is a hydrated magnesium silicate, also known as meershaum. Discussions of sepiolite are found in the books Clay Mineralogy, by R. E. Grim, published by McGraw-Hill (2d Ed., 1968), and The Electron-Optical Investigation of Clays, J. A. Gard, Ed., puyblished by the Mineralogical Society (Great Britain, 1971). Sepiolite can be formed synthetically by known techniques. Although sepiolite can occur in forms other than laths, rods or fibers, only the lathe-type sepiolite is suitable for use in providing the essential sepiolite rods used in the catalyst of the invention, as discussed below.
The use of faujasite type zeolites in catalytic cracking is well known. The use of crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites having uniform pore openings in the range from 5.5-7.0 Angstroms and maximum cage dimensions of 5.5-7.0 Angstroms for catalytic cracking is also known. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,758,403, 3,849,029 and 3,856,659 all suggest the use of the zeolite ZSM-5 in a dual-zeolite catalyst, along with a conventional crystalline aluminosilicate having larger pore openings and cages, such as a Y-type zeolite. U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,934 suggests the use of a carbon monoxide combustion-promoting component in conjunction with ZSM-5 and a large-pore-size crystalline aluminosilicate. The use of ZSM-5 containing active catalytic metal values to catalyze aromatics alkylation is suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,366. ZSM-5-containing catalysts are also discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,702,886 and 3,926,782. Crystalline silicates are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,061,724 and 4,073,865.


An improved sharpener for self-sharpening feed chopping knives used in cutting crops, forage, ensilage and the like. The sharpener may be lowered on top of the chopping knives so that the knives are continuously sharpened during the cutting operation. The stone may be pivoted out of the chopping box when the knives have been sharpened to prevent a sharpening stone mounted on the sharpener from being exposed to potential breakage from foreign material received inside a chopper box containing the knives mounted on a rotating cutter head.

This invention relates to a sharpener for self-sharpening feed chopping knives and the like, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a sharpener having means for pivoting upwardly a sharpening stone and a stone holder housing away from the cutting edge of the chopping knives to prevent potential breakage of the sharpening stone.
This invention relates to an improved structure of an adjustable sharpener for self-sharpening feed chopping knives disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,670. The invention described in this patent, while greatly improving the operation of self-sharpening feed chopping knives continuously during the cutting of crops, forage, ensilage and the like, did not include structure to allow the pivoting of the stone holder housing and stone out of the chopper box when the knives had been sharpened. Heretofore the sharpening stone was exposed to potential breakage from foreign material being trapped between the cutting edge of the knives and the sharpening stone as the knives are continuously sharpened during the cutting operation and causing breakage of expensive sharpening stones.
The subject invention eliminates having to expose the sharpening stone mounted in the stone holder housing continuously to the rotating cutter head and chopping knives inside the chopper box.

Sharpener for self-sharpening feed chopping knives


A solar power system for use with a space vehicle for achieving extended mission duration is disclosed. The solar power system includes sets of foldable solar panel casings which are unfolded and extended to the starboard and port sides (.+-.Y axis) of the space vehicle. During stowage the laterally offset sets of casings are placed in an overlapping arrangement to reduce the lateral space occupied within the payload bay of the host space vehicle. The casings are further extended away from the space vehicle by extending an extendable boom along the .+-.Y axis. The extendable boom preferably includes a first and second boom section rotatably attached at their inboard end of the support structure. The solar panels contained within the casings are extended in a .+-.Z axis and a hinge is provided between the ends of the boom sections ad the casings such that the deployed panels can rotate about the .+-.Z axis. A pitch drive motor rotates the boom sections about the .+-.Y axis.

Presently, the Space Shuttle Orbiters derive electrical energy from "fuel cells" which chemically combine oxygen and hydrogen to produce electricity. Fours sets of cryogenic storage tanks containing the oxygen and hydrogen reactants are normally expended in about eight days at typical power usage levels.
To extend the duration of an Orbiter mission for more than eight days, it is possible to utilize additional storage tanks. Indeed, Columbia (OV102) sometimes carries a fifth tank set to extend the mission by about two days. For longer durations, it becomes necessary to carry even larger amounts of reactants for the fuel cells in the payload bay (approximately 400 lbm/day of flight extension). An additional pallet of four tank sets could be used to increase the mission duration from 8 to 16 days. The pallet containing the four tank sets, however, adds a mass of about 9000 lb which reduces the weight of the payload that can be lifted into orbit. The weight of the storage tank sets are such that extended durations beyond two weeks may not be practical due to the weight of the storage tanks required for such a mission.
Furthermore, the combination of these reactants contained in the storage tanks is a highly combustible mixture. A significant safety concern is thus raised whenever large quantities of the reactants are carried in the payload bay, especially during launch.
An earlier conceptual design of providing the Orbiter with electricity derived from solar energy was called a Power Extension Package (PEP). The PEP featured a solar array package and was carried into space on a pallet in the Orbiter payload bay. The "Remote Manipulator System" (RMS) was then used to grapple the array, lift it out of the payload bay and allow the array to unfold. The array had articulating joints permitting the Orbiter to assume any arbitrary attitude while the PEP remained pointing at the sun.
There are several disadvantages inherent in this PEP system. It requires the RMS to lift the PEP out into space and to maintain it perpendicular to the sun. To achieve the perpendicular relationship, three articulation joints had to be adjusted and readjusted upon any shift in Orbiter attitude. Power transfer took place across all of the rotating joints, which in turn necessitated complicated wiring systems. The required use of the RMS, which is not carried on most missions, added weight to the Orbiter and complexity to the mission. These factors had a very significant impact on mission cost.
In addition, PEP motion could subject the Orbiter to acceleration forces which would degrade microgravity conditions. This had the potential effect of interfering with microgravity experiments or manufacturing processes being conducted.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,791 illustrates a space-based solar operated power module which also relies on the RMS to deploy, meaning that it also produced many of the same disadvantages as the PEP.
Moreover, the extension of the solar panel mounting tubes in U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,791 longitudinally along the length of the Orbiter's payload bay has a highly limiting effect on the size of the cargo which can be stowed. The stowing of the solar panel mounting tubes longitudinally along the payload bay can also lead to problems of entanglement between the mounting tubes and various cargo structures stowed in the cargo bay.

Solar powered system for a space vehicle

The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration


An apparatus for providing a thermal treatment to a product, such as food, is described. One embodiment of the apparatus includes lime and water contained separately within a sealed reaction vessel. The reaction vessel includes a flexible wall portion that is adjacent to a perforator that can puncture a membrane separating the lime and water. In one embodiment, the perforator is separate from and fee-floating within the water. In another embodiment, the reaction vessel is substantially surrounded by the product. The reaction vessel is hermetically sealed against underpressure or overpressure, permitting use with pressurized food. The reaction vessel can be incorporated into a variety of containers and the reaction vessel and container can be sterilized for packaging food.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a self-contained food packaging system, and more particularly an apparatus for heating or cooling, or a container for packaging food including such an apparatus.
Discussion of the Background
There is a long-standing need for food package systems that can heat or cool the food. Prior art attempts at such systems typically include a chemically reacting mixture in a separate container that is stored within the package.
While various configurations of chemical systems and container shapes have been proposed, they all suffer from practical problems that have prevented their widespread acceptance. Examples of problems with various prior art configurations include: escape of hot chemicals from the reaction chamber, inefficient heating, devices to activate the chemical reactions that are difficult to use, difficulty in sterilizing the container for use with food, and difficulty in mating the portion having the chemical reacting mixture with a food container.
Thus there is a need in the art for an apparatus that permits for the easy operation of a heating or cooling device packages with a food container. Such an apparatus should be easy to sterilize and incorporate into a food package, should be able to be packaged with pressurized food, and should be safe to handle.

Apparatus for thermal conditioning a product


An ISP-friendly rate allocation system and method that reduces network traffic across ISP boundaries in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, Embodiments of the system and method continuously solve a global optimization problem and dictate accordingly how much bandwidth is allocated on each connection. Embodiments of the system and method minimize load on a server in communication with the P2P network, minimize ISP-unfriendly traffic while keeping the minimum server load unaffected, and maximize peer prefetching. Two different techniques are used to compute rate allocation, including a utility function optimization technique and a minimum cost flow formulation technique. The utility function optimization technique constructs a utility function and optimizes that utility function. The minimum cost flow formulation technique generates a minimum cost flow formulation using a bipartite graph have a vertices set and an edges set. A distributed minimum cost flow formulation is solved using Lagrangian multipliers.

Content distribution over the Internet is rapidly increasing. One area of considerable growth is video-on-demand over the Internet. However, providing high-quality Internet video-on-demand with a traditional client-server model is very costly. More importantly, the ever-mounting demand is adding significant pressure onto existing server-based infrastructures (such as data centers, content distribution networks (CDNs)), which are already under heavy burden to live up to their current load. As a result, high-profile failures are not uncommon.
Fortunately, on the heel of such crisis, peer-to-peer (P2P) networks come to rescue. Indeed, Internet video streaming (both on-demand and live broadcast) using various peer-to-peer or peer-assisted frameworks has been shown to greatly reduce the dependence on infrastructure servers, as well as bypass bottlenecks between content providers and consumers. Content distribution using a P2P network greatly reduces dependence on infrastructure servers and scales up to the demand of the Internet video era. However, it has also fundamentally altered the relationship among content owners, Internet service providers (ISPs), and consumers. In particular, ISPs on one hand are spending billions to maintain and upgrade their networks in order to support the ever increasing traffic due largely to P2P. On the other hand, ISPs are also being marginalized by content owners' direct reaching to consumers. As a result, unhappy ISPs started to put up various hurdles for P2P applications (such as throttling P2P traffic or even taking active measures to deter P2P traffic). These practices, however, created a huge backlash once they were discovered and made public. ISPs now realize that it is in their best interest to work collaboratively with content providers and consumers. However, to provide to ISPs to embrace P2P networks, any solution has to include a way for P2P applications to become ISP-friendly at the protocol level.
In general, ISP-unfriendly traffic refers to all levels of traffic unfriendly to ISPS. It includes traffic crossing ISP boundaries, between post-office protocols (PoPs), or even among different neighborhoods within the same ISP and PoP. Crossing ISP boundary traffic is a particularly significant concern of all the ISP-unfriendly traffic. ISP-unfriendly traffic is detrimental to ISPs because it increases an ISP's cost of doing business. This increase in the cost of doing business for the ISP is passed on to the user in the form of higher prices to access the Internet. This makes users unhappy. Thus, it is a double-edged sword for the ISP, who wants to keep prices low to attract customers but faces users wanting to exchange content using P2P content distribution.
At least two broad types of techniques have been used in an attempt to make P2P application more ISP-friendly. The aim of these techniques is to ensure quality of service (QoS) to an end user, to try and use as much of the P2P resources as possible, and to minimize adverse impact to the ISP.
One type of technique addresses the network topology of the P2P network. These topology-based techniques include biased neighbor selection and can be extended to take into account multi-tier network topology, from subnets, POPs, to ISPs. The topology building mechanism can also be implicit. Another type of techniques uses rate allocation to improve ISP-friendliness. Current rate allocation techniques apply a distributed optimization framework to P2P networks. However, each of these rate allocation techniques focuses on either application layer multicast or P2P live streaming.

ISP-friendly rate allocation for P2P applications


A duplex copier composed of a reading device which reads the image information written on the original document, which is set on the platen glass, a converting device for converting the image information read by the reading device to a digital signal, an image processor which processes the digital signal in predetermined manner, a copy machine having a duplex copy unit for making duplex copy, and an automatic document feeder which feeds the original document into the platen glass. The duplex copier is controlled to rotate the orientation of the image from that of the first side of the original by 90.degree. or 180.degree. when the image of the original is formed on the duplex copy sheet in various predetermined modes.

In the conventional copier, there exists a certain problem of setting the cassette into the copier in which the blank paper is accommodated. Namely, the copier becomes sophisticated and needs many different kinds of copy paper. However, there exists a limited number of cassettes which can be set therein with regard to the scale of the copier.
In these circumstances, the manner of setting the cassette in the conventional copier is designed roughly in two ways. One way is that each of the different sized copy sheets are accommodated in each of the different cassettes having different sizes. Each of the cassettes is set in the direction in which the copy sheets accommodated therein are most frequently fed. Another way is that the same sized copy sheets are dividedly set into different cassettes having the same size. One of the cassettes is set into the copier body in the longitudinal direction and another is in the lateral direction.
In the above systems, the direction of the feeding for the same size copy sheets is limited to one. Therefore, when a duplex copy is made from the original having the image only on one side thereof and is fed by an automatic document feeder (ADF), the duplex copy becomes inconsistent with the other side thereof, depending on the direction of the letter written thereon. Namely, either the letter is written from top to bottom or from left to right on the original document.
Further, in the conventional copier, the copy sheet having an A-3 size is fed in a direction parallel with the longitudinal direction thereof to avoid the copier body size from becoming too large. Therefore, when the computer format having A-3 size is utilized as an original document, and is fed by the ADF in the direction in parallel with the width thereof, the direction of feeding originals should be designed in close relation with that of the copy sheet. However, in such a copier, the duplex copies become inconsistent with each other because of the inverting of the copy sheet, on one side of which a toner image is transferred during the refeeding process.

Duplex copier capable of digitally rotating an image on at least one side of a duplex copy sheet


A plasma spectroscopic analysis method includes a concentration process of concentrating a target in a sample, in the vicinity of one of a pair of electrodes in the presence of the sample; a plasma generation process of generating plasma in the sample by applying a voltage to the pair of electrodes; and a detection process of detecting emission of the target generated by the plasma, wherein the plasma generation process is performed in the presence of a defoaming agent.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a plasma spectroscopic analysis method and an inhibitor of plasma emission derived from a non-target.
Related Art
As a trace metal element analysis method, there has been known a method of applying a voltage to a sample containing a target metal to generate plasma and detecting the plasma emission (see, for example, International Publication No. 2012/120919).
However, when the sample is subjected to the analysis, other peak waveforms of plasma not derived from the target may be present in addition to the peak waveform of the plasma derived from the target. This causes a problem that, for example, the peak waveform of the plasma derived from the target cannot be correctly caught since the peak waveform of the plasma derived from the target is overlapped with other peak waveforms, whereby the target cannot be accurately analyzed.

Plasma spectroscopic analysis method and inhibitor of plasma emission derived from non-target


An embedded system has a data processing apparatus that executes program code and a sequencing controller for switching components of the embedded system on and off, the data processing apparatus and the sequencing controller connected to one another via an individual control signal line, and the sequencing controller arranged to either switch off or restart the embedded system on the basis of a temporal profile of a control signal received via the control signal line.

So-called sequencing controllers are nowadays frequently used in complex electronic apparatuses, in particular computer systems, to switch further components of the device on and off in a controlled manner. In this case, the term "sequencing controller" is generally used to denote a special microcontroller that supplies the further components with an operating voltage in a predetermined temporal sequence on the basis of one or more control signals. A separate control signal is generally transmitted to the sequencing controller for each switch-on sequence via a separate control signal line.
The space available to provide control signal lines is generally limited, in particular in embedded systems. It could therefore be helpful to provide an improved embedded system that makes it possible to implement different switch-on and switch-off sequences with a limited amount of available space. Summary
I provide an embedded system having a data processing apparatus that executes program code and a sequencing controller for switching components of the embedded system on and off, the data processing apparatus and the sequencing controller connected to one another via an individual control signal line, and the sequencing controller arranged to either switch off or restart the embedded system on the basis of a temporal profile of a control signal received via the control signal line.
I also provide a method of operating a sequencing controller, including continuously monitoring a signal level of an input connection of the sequencing controller; permanently deactivating at least one data processing component connected to the sequencing controller if the signal level of the input connection is kept at a predetermined first signal level for a first predetermined period; and temporarily deactivating at least the data processing component if the signal level of the input connection repeatedly changes between the predetermined first signal level and a predetermined second signal level within the first predetermined period.

Embedded system, operating method and the use thereof

Fujitsu Technology Solutions Intellectual Property GmbH


In a fuel control device for an internal combustion engine wherein an estimated pressure (Pi) in the engine intake manifold is calculated by digital filtering an output signal from a H/W sensor by making use of a difference equation, an air flow rate (Qc) at the engine cylinder port is estimated based upon a detected engine rotating number (N) and the calculated estimated pressure (Pi) by retrieving a value of air flow rate from a map defined by the engine rotating number (N) and the estimated pressure (Pi) in the engine intake manifold. Then, the fuel quantity (Tp) to be injected is calculated based upon a detected engine rotating number (N) and the estimated air flow rate (Qc) at the engine cylinder port. However during the engine starting period, a learned estimated pressure in the engine intake manifold is used instead of the calculated estimate pressure (Pi) in the engine intake manifold to determined the retrieved estimated air flow rate (Qc). The learned estimated pressure in the engine intake manifold for the engine starting period is obtained by taking in a value of calculated estimated pressure (Pi) in the engine intake manifold immediately after the engine reaches a complete explosion condition, whereby the interval from the engine start to the engine start completion is shortened, the starting characteristic of the motor vehicle is improved and degradation of exhaust gas is suppressed.

The present invention relates to a fuel control device and method for an internal combustion engine, such as a gasoline engine for a motor vehicle, in which the fuel quantity to be injected is controlled by estimating an accurate air flow rate at the engine cylinder port flowing into the respective engine cylinders by making use of a heat generating resistor type air flow meter.
Many kinds of fuel supply quantity control devices and methods for an internal combustion engine, such as a gasoline engine for a motor vehicle, are known. One example is a device of the type which operates to obtain an estimated pressure at the engine intake manifold by digital-filtering the signal obtained from a heat generating resistor type air flow meter, such as a hot wire type air flow meter. This is accomplished by making use of a difference equation to estimate the air flow rate at the engine cylinder port flowing into the respective engine cylinders by accessing a predetermined cylinder flow-in air flow rate map defined by the obtained estimated pressure at the engine intake manifold and the engine rotating number and to control the fuel supply quantity based upon the estimated cylinder flow-in air flow rate. This type of fuel supply quantity control device has the advantages that no intake air temperature compensation is needed because the fuel quantity is determined by making use of the heat generating resistor type air flow meter and that certain adverse effects, such as manifold charge, are eliminated because the pressure in the intake manifold, an internal state variable, is employed for the determination. Such operation is known as a fuel supply quantity control method having a high accuracy and tracking characteristic.
JP-A-55-146241(1980), JP-A-55-148926(1980), JP-A-62-87648(1987), JP-A-64-32050(1989), JP(PCT)-A-1-501077(1989) and JP-A-1-240753(1989) disclose examples of the above explained conventional devices and methods.
The above conventional devices and methods did not take into account the convergence period encountered at the initial period of operation in the course of their digital filtering process; therefore there was a problem that the starting-up of the internal combustion engine (hereinafter simply called an engine) was difficult because, during starting-up of the engine, many kinds of data in the control unit tend to be disturbed and deviate from their proper conditions.

Fuel control device and method for internal combustion engine


A combustion chamber assembly for use in a combustion-powered fastener driving tool, includes a cylinder body, a reciprocating probe assembly slidably disposed relative to the cylinder body between a first, extended position and a second, retracted position, and at least one shock-absorbing member operationally associated with at least one of the cylinder body and the probe assembly for reducing shock load generated by the tool during combustion and transmitted between the probe assembly and the cylinder body. In another embodiment, a single spring disposed between the probe assembly and the cylinder body is configured for biasing the probe assembly into the first position.

The present invention relates to improvements in combustion tools, such as the type used for driving fasteners into work pieces. More specifically, the present invention relates to high-powered combustion tools.
A suitable combustion-powered tool assembly is described in commonly assigned patents to Nikolich U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,646, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 32,452, 4,552,162, 4,483,473, 4,483,474, 4,403,722, and 5,263,439, which are incorporated by reference. Such fastener-driving tools are available commercially from ITW-Paslode (a division of Illinois Tool Works, Inc.) of Vernon Hills, Ill., under its IMPULSE trademark.
Such tools incorporate a generally pistol-shaped tool housing enclosing a small internal combustion engine. The engine is powered by a canister of pressurized fuel gas, also called a fuel cell. A powerful, battery-powered electronic power distribution unit produces the spark for ignition, and a fan located in the combustion chamber provides for both an efficient combustion within the chamber, and facilitates scavenging, including the exhaust of combustion by-products. The engine includes a reciprocating piston with an elongate, rigid driver blade disposed within a cylinder body.
A valve sleeve is axially reciprocable about the cylinder and, through a probe assembly linkage, moves to close the combustion chamber when a work contact element at the end of the probe assembly is pressed against a workpiece. This pressing action also triggers a fuel metering valve to introduce a specified volume of fuel into the closed combustion chamber.
Upon the pulling of a trigger switch, which causes the ignition of a charge of gas in the combustion chamber of the engine, the piston and driver blade are shot downward to impact a positioned fastener and drive it into the workpiece. The piston then returns to its original, or "ready" position through differential gas pressures within the cylinder. Fasteners are fed magazine-style into the nosepiece, where they are held in a properly positioned orientation for receiving the impact of the driver blade.
There is a general interest by designers of such combustion tools to increase combustion efficiency. This has resulted in tools with greater power, generated by a more powerful combustion event in the combustion chamber. One disadvantage of conventional combustion tool assemblies is that, as the tool is operated, significant loads are applied to the workpiece contacting element and transmitted throughout the tool assembly. In particular, as the piston and attached driver blade drive the fastener and reach the bottom of the piston stroke, significant impact forces are generated. These forces are transmitted through the cylinder to the movable valve sleeve, which is connected through a linkage to the workpiece contact element also referred to as the probe assembly. Impact forces are particularly felt at contact points between the cylinder and the valve sleeve/probe assembly. As such, as combustion tools increase in power, the higher loads can lead to breakage of the various parts of the tool, especially the above-discussed contact points between the probe assembly and lower portion of the valve sleeve. Tests have shown that during operation of a typical combustion tool, the piston speed tops about ninety miles per hour is reduced to zero miles per hour at impact. Such repeated impacts have in some cases reduced tool operation life due to premature breakage of components.
Another disadvantage of conventional combustion tool assemblies with higher-powered combustion is that a high driving velocity of the piston can also lead to a higher return velocity of the piston after driving the fastener into the workpiece. The shock from abruptly stopping the piston at the top of the cylinder, as the upper probe assembly contacts the stop tabs on the cylinder or valve sleeve, can cause the piston to bounce back down the cylinder away from the proper firing position. A movement away from the proper firing position can unintentionally increase the volume of the combustion chamber and lead to misfires of the tool.
Still another factor in the use of combustion tools is that there is constantly a need for lighter and smaller tools. Nikolich U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,646, listed above, describes a suitable assembly for shortening the overall length of a combustion-powered tool; however, there is a need for continual improvement in the overall weight of the tool.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved combustion-powered tool design that reduces the load forces transmitted to the valve sleeve and probe assembly. In addition, there is a need for an improved combustion-powered tool that is less susceptible to a component failure through combustion-generated impact forces.

Shock-absorbing system for fastener driving tools


A device for retaining information sheets in close proximity to a display screen, including a frame member and a pair of leg members. A locking device releasably locks one of the leg members in discrete predetermined positions with respect to the frame member. A retention member is coupled to at least one of the leg members and the frame member for releasably retaining the information sheets. A clamp secures the device to the display screen, so that the information sheets are retained in close proximity to the display screen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a copy holder accessory for a computer screen. More particularly, the present invention relates to a copy holder accessory that can be easily installed and removed from a computer screen.
2. The Prior Art
In the operation of a computer work station, an operator visually scans a computer screen and frequently refers to instruction manuals and data input materials while inputting data and instructions to the computer keyboard. In a typical work station, the data display unit is a cathode ray tube (CRT) which is enclosed within a housing, with a keyboard situated immediately in front of the CRT display. The CRT display screen sits upon a desk or work table. Typically, a limited amount of space is available adjacent to the CRT.
In an attempt to provide a more efficient computer work station, certain attempts have been made to develop stand alone copy holders or copy holders which attach to the computer screen. U.S. Pat. No. 4,632,471 to Visnapuu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,612 to McNeal, U.S. Pat. No. 4,475,705 to Henneberg et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,092 to Jones all disclose copy holders which display a single sheet either to the left or to the right of the computer screen. However, computer operators frequently must refer to numerous sheets of information or instructions and therefore, the copy holders, which can only display a single sheet at a time, are simply inadequate.
Further attempts have been made to provide copy holders in which more than one sheet may be retained adjacent to the computer screen. U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,392 to Gross et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,512 to Gianforcaro, II et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,429 to Mazza all disclose devices for displaying numerous sheets of information adjacent to the computer screen. However, these references do not disclose a copy holder for displaying three sheets of information adjacent the computer screen, where the two side panels can pivot back, flat against the side of the computer screen when not in use. In addition, the prior art does not disclose a multi-layered display panel for retaining semi-permanent information on one layer and displaying temporary information, on a more accessible, second layer.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a computer terminal accessory which can be easily installed or removed from any size computer terminal. In addition, it would be desirable to have a computer screen accessory that had three display panels adjacent the computer screen. Furthermore, it would be advantageous for some or all of the display panels to have a first pocket for storing permanent or semi-permanent information, for example telephone number listings or instructions for computer programs, and a second retention zone that overlies the information stored within the pocket. Temporary information, for example, copy or information to be entered into the computer, can be temporarily retained in front of the permanent or semi-permanent information.


A medical transaction system is disclosed which is capable of permitting a plurality of healthcare providers to communicate with a plurality of payors and financial institutions. The healthcare providers, payors, and financial institutions do not have to communicate in the same data message formats nor in the same communication protocols. Such a system facilitates not only the processing of medical claims submitted by the healthcare providers to the payors, but also permits the transfer of medical data records between healthcare providers. The system supports the processing of medical claims without requiring a centralized database or imposing a uniform claim format on the healthcare providers and payors. The preferred embodiment of the invention further includes a financial transactor that uses remittance information from the payors to generate the electronics funds transfer messages to credit and debit accounts. Additionally, the system supports a medical line of credit at financial institutions that may be used to pay portions of medical claims not covered by payors.

Computer systems have been used for a variety of functions within the medical health industry. For example, computer systems have been used to submit, adjudicate, and process medical insurance claims, Another example is the use of a computer system to provide medical history information to a healthcare provider so the provider can make an informed diagnosis or prognosis.
The medical claim processing systems typically include a plurality of computer stations coupled to a central processing computer. The computer stations are typically located at a healthcare provider's facility, an insurance carrier, or medical laboratory. The computer stations generate a request for medical information or a medical claim for processing. The central processing computer couples the computer stations together and verifies the communication with the stations, processes the requests for data, and communicates the requested information back to the computer stations.
Several limitations exist for this type of computer system. First, these systems require that the plurality of computer stations communicating with the central processing system communicate in a particular communication protocol and that all of the messages communicated with the central processing system have the same predefined format. The requirement that the computer stations communicate in the same format with the same protocol does not permit expansion of the system to users that are currently using other programs in their computer stations that format data messages differently or that use communication protocols other than the one used by the central processing system. Modifications must be made to the programs of the new users so they may communicate with the central processing system correctly. What is needed is a medical computer system that can communicate with a plurality of data message formats and communication protocols.
A second limitation of a typical medical transaction system is a requirement that the central processing system validate and process all the data messages received from the computer stations. In order to do so, the central processing system must be able to compare the received data messages against known acceptable data. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,121 to Barber et al., discloses a central processing system that interfaces with a plurality of physician office terminals, financial institutions, and insurance companies. The information required to validate and format the flow of data from a standardized physician's terminal to the central processing system of this patent is provided in the claims, insured, physician, insurance company, zip code, bad credit card, and insurance check files associated with a variety of databases at the central processing system. The information in these files must be provided by a plurality of insurance carriers and employers that receive electronic claims from the central processing computer. As a consequence, the maintenance and updating of these databases with information from the insurance carriers and employers must be performed at the central processing system. What is needed is a system that does not require a centralized database for validating and formatting an electronic medical claim that must be maintained with insurance carrier data.
Another limitation of systems previously known include the requirement that the central processing system transmit medical claims to insurance carriers and receive remittance data from insurance carriers in the same communication format and protocol used by the computer stations at the insurance carriers. In an effort to standardize both forms of communication, ANSI (American National Standards Institute) has generated an ANSI 837 standard for medical claims and an ANSI 835 for remittance data that specifies the format for a variety of message types that contain the various types of information to be exchanged among the central processing system and the computer stations within a typical computer system used in the healthcare industry. One limitation of the ANSI standards, however, is that a number of data fields in the data messages specified by the standard are optional and may or may not be used by one or more of the insurance carriers that are members of a medical claim processing system. Typically, insurance carriers, sometimes called trading partners, contract with a business partner who runs a central processing system to provide the carrier with the electronic medical claims from the healthcare providers. Although the optional data fields provided in the message formats specified by the ANSI standards support different variations within the standard, the ANSI 837 data message format in previously known systems are set by the business partner so all computer stations communicate with the central processing system in the same data message format. What is needed is a system that can communicate with a plurality of trading partners that supply data messages in different formats and in different communication protocols.
In previously known systems, the insurance carriers may or may not provide remittance information to the central processing system so the central processing system can generate electronic funds transfer messages to financial institutions. Instead, the insurance carriers may generate hard copy checks that are mailed to the financial institutions or may adjudicate the claim and transmit the remittance of the claim to the central processing system which in turn generates electronic funds transfer messages in the same format for the financial institutions. As a consequence, only the insurance carrier has access to all of the remittance data that may be used to generate a database of remittance information regarding the payment of the medical claims by the insurance carrier. Periodically, an insurance carrier may provide the database of remittance information to a third party for statistical analysis to determine data such as the most frequent type of treatment for a particular demographic group or geographical location. Such statistical information is useful to the insurance carrier for identifying growing healthcare costs which may need addressing. Currently, each insurance carrier must generate its own remittance database and the statistical analysis of the database is performed off-line in a non-real time manner. What is needed is a system that can generate a remittance database for all of the claims adjudicated by all of the insurance carriers within a medical computer system and analyze that information.
All previously known medical computer systems are dedicated to a single function such as providing medical healthcare data records such as treatments and diagnosis to healthcare providers or submitting and adjudicating medical healthcare claims. What is needed is a medical transaction computer system that is capable of integrating the functions of obtaining medical data records with the function of medical healthcare claim processing.
The present invention provides a medical transaction system that overcomes the problems noted with the previously known medical computer systems.


The invention relates to a magnetic control process for transfering energy in a static converter comprising a voltage source (E) and an almost sinusoidal current generator IQS serially coupled with the primary winding of at least one saturable current transformer (TP). The secondary winding of the current transformer (TP) feeds a control circuit (C) which regulates as a function of one parameter, voltage or current, of this secondary winding the demagnetization of the whole magnetic circuit (TP) according to the desired energy transfer. The invention also relates to a static converter for implementing the method.

The present invention relates to a magnetic control process for transferring energy in a static converter. One knows, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 4,342,075 how to drive the power delivered by the secondary winding of a static converter by acting on the leakage flow or the saturation of a transformer. One uses an auxillary magnetic circuit allowing to add, with a control winding, a flow in the principal magnetic circuit which comports the primary and the secondary windings, so that the permeability varies allowing the regulation of the energy transfer between the primary and the secondary windings.
This involves a modification of the magnetic circuit of the transformer and the use of a control winding fed by either a command or a control device acting on the flow of energy.

Magnetic control process for transfering energy in a static converter


A dispersion plating method in which plating is conducted while plating liquid containing both abrasive grains of a size larger than 10 .mu.m and another grains is brought into contact with the surface of an object to be plated, the latter grains then being removed by washing with water with only abrasive grains being entrapped in a metal matrix. Plating liquid is circulated through a filter of a filtering size smaller than the average grain size of abrasive grains and the abrasive grains are made into a flocculating condition and adhered to the surface of object to be plated. Furthermore, abrasive grains are adhered to the surface of object to be plated in a plating thickness of less than one half of average grain size of abrasive grains.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a dispersion plating method which can be used in the production of electro grinder, for example in such a way that abrasive grains of a grain size larger than 10 .mu.m are made into a state of eutectoid in a metal matrix to produce electro grinders.
2. Description of Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of electro diamond grinder which was presented in "Metal Surface Technique" published by the Metal Surface Technique Association (Vol. 33, No. 6, P. 285, 1982). This figure shows that diamond abrasive grains 31 are buried inside a metal matrix 33 which is formed on an object to be plated 32, and the diamond abrasive grains are made adhering to the surface so that they may not come out from the position. It has been reported that if diamond abrasive grains 31 are buried inside the metal matrix 33 to a degree of 65% of the diameter, those diamond abrasive grains 31 can be retained in the matrix most efficiently so that they may not come out of the position. It is also reported that it results in the highest level of grinding efficiency.
Usually abrasive grains from a small size of scores of tens .mu.m to larger than 100 .mu.m are used. Abrasive grains of these sizes, however, may not float and accordingly precipitate in plating liquid although it may depend on a level of specific gravity. In order to avoid the precipitation of abrasive grains in the plating liquid and make these grains buried in the metal matrix, abrasive grains must be held in a state of adhering over the surface of an object to be plated until the abrasive grains are buried.
Usually, electro grinders are produced in a two-stage process including the stage of adhesion plating and that of salvage plating. Adhering methods include a sedimentation adhering method and a package adhering method.
FIG. 2 shows a conceptual scheme of an eutectoid method of abrasive grains based on the conventional sedimentation adhering method, which was presented in "Composite Plating" published by a newspaper--The Nikkan Kogyo (Co-author: Hidehiko Enomoto, P. 108, Aug. 30, 1989). In this method, abrasive grains 31 are stirred and dispersed in the plating liquid. As a result, abrasive grains 31 precipitate over the surface of object to be plated 32 which is placed at the bottom of the container of the plating liquid. (See FIG. 2(a).) After the above-mentioned process, stirring is stopped and plating follows. Abrasive grains 31 which cover the surface of object to be plated 32 are made in a state of adhering to the surface slightly. (See FIG. 2(b).) After dismantling an extra amount of abrasive grains 31 which cover the object to be plated 32, plating is made again over the surface of the object in the plating liquid to increase the thickness of plating in such a condition that abrasive grains 31 are not dispersed in the plating liquid. In this way, abrasive grains 31 which are in an adhering state are buried inside the metal matrix 32. (See FIG. 2(c).)
FIG. 3 shows a conceptual scheme of an eutectoid method of abrasive grains based on the conventional package adhering method, which was presented in "Composite Plating" mentioned above. In this method, abrasive grains 31 are placed in a small bag 34 of a predetermined size. (See FIG. 3(a).) This bag 34 is put into the plating liquid 35. Then an object to be plated 32 is placed in the bag 34, and the abrasive grains 31 are made into a state of contacting the surface of object to be plated 32 evenly. Then plating is conducted in a minimal level, whereby abrasive grains 31 adhere to the surface. (See FIG. 3(b).)
In conventional electro grinder manufacturing method, sedimentation adhering process is most popularly employed. This method holds such a merit that it is possible to make abrasive grains 31 adhere over the surface of object to be plated 32 evenly. In addition, it is especially suitable for providing just one layer of adhering abrasive grains 31.
The existing dispersion plating method is conducted in the way mentioned above. In this method, sedimentation adhering is made mainly by making use of gravity of abrasive grains 31. Accordingly, plating can be made effectively if the surface of object to be flat. However, if the surface of object to be plated is of curving or complicated shape, abrasive grains 31 will adhere only to the flat area. It is accordingly necessary to move the surface of object to be plated gradually in the horizontal direction until it becomes in such a position that abrasive grains 31 fall onto the surface of object to be plated constantly. In addition, plating can be made not only over the area in which abrasive grains 31 adhere to the surface but also the area in which the plating liquid contact the surface. For example, in case of repeatedly conducting dispersion plating, the top level of abrasive grains 31 on a flat object to be plated 32 shown in FIG. 4(a) becomes increasingly higher in proportion to the frequency of dispersion plating . As a result, the height of abrasive grains 31 adhering over the surface of object to be plated 32 shown in FIG. 4(b) which holds a cylindrical shape may become uneven. This results in such a problem as eccentric dispersion over the object to be plated as a whole. It is, accordingly, necessary that while plating is conducted over the surface areas to which abrasive grains 31 adhere, other areas should be kept masked. As a result, in case of an object to be plated 32 which holds a complicated shape, there exists such a problem that many kinds of meticulous work is required for plating.
In addition, there exist such problems in the conventional dispersion plating method that it is impossible to control the dispersion of abrasive grains evenly, and that since the level of dispersion of abrasive grains is excessively high in general, abrasion tolls manufactured by the conventional method cause dulling easily if certain types of abraded materials are used.


A method and apparatus for characterizing a pixel of an image sensor is provided. The apparatus includes a narrowband, temporally incoherent, temporally stable illumination source. The narrowband light source generates a spatially coherent illumination beam. A variable optical attenuator attenuates the illumination beam resulting in an attenuated beam that does not alter the uniformity of the illumination. A focal plane integrator projects, expands, and homogenizes the attenuated beam to illuminate a focal plane of a sensor. Image sequences are collected to generate statistics for characterizing the sensor.

Sensor characterization is the process of understanding the functionality of the sensor. Sensor characterization includes, but is not limited to, performance metrics such as conversion gain, dynamic range, read noise, dark current, saturation capacity, uniformity, defect pixels, quantum efficiency, modulation transfer function, and timing accuracy. The characterization of electronic image sensors begins with characterizing the photon transfer of a light signal input to an electrical signal output. The traditional photon transfer method compares a camera's output signal and noise across all pixels collectively to determine a conversion gain constant that relates digital grey values to electrons. The method known as photon transfer was developed initially for the characterization of video tube image sensors. The photon transfer method was subsequently applied to a variety of image sensors for the characterization of the transfer of photon signal to digital number output. It was subsequently discovered through both experimentation and theoretical analysis that the underlying assumptions of the traditional photon transfer method rendered the method insufficient for many modern sensors, and that the data products of the traditional photon transfer method lacked detailed information useful for whole sensor characterization.

Focal plane illuminator for generalized photon transfer characterization of image sensor

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A process for producing a novel catalyst wherein an amorphous alumina gel is formed at least on the surface of an aluminum-containing material, the gel is heated to form crystalline .alpha.- or .beta.-alumina trihydrate and the trihydrate is sulfided, the product of said process, and the method of producing mercaptans from alcohols or ethers and hydrogen sulfide at elevated temperature in the presence of said novel catalyst, are disclosed herein.

This invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst useful for mercaptan synthesis, the catalyst prepared by said process, and the method of using said catalyst in the selective synthesis of mercaptans. More particularly, it relates to the process of preparing .alpha.- and/or .beta.-alumina trihydrates on an aluminum containing support or carrier and thereafter sulfiding the trihydrates, the product of said process, and the use of such product in the reaction of alcohols or ethers with hydrogen sulfide at elevated temperature to selectively produce the corresponding mercaptan.

Process for the preparation of an alumina trihyorate catalyst


An electronic device comprises a housing, a motion sensor configured to sense motion of the housing, and a processor configured to determine an impact geometry based on the motion. A countermeasure system comprises an actuator coupled to an actuated member. The actuated member is operable by the actuator to modify the impact geometry, so that impact energy is redirected away from an impact sensitive component of the electronic device to an energy absorbing component of the electronic device.

In use, modern electronic devices are subject to a wide range of different environmental effects, including temperature extremes, humidity, physical contamination, and potential loss or damage due to physical hazards including dropping, shock, compression and impact. These considerations can be particularly relevant to portable electronic and mobile device applications, where sensitive control and display components may be exposed to the external environment, increasing the risk of damage due to accident or misuse.
A number of alternatives have been advanced to address these concerns, but there remains a need for improved techniques suitable for advanced consumer electronics and other digital device applications, without all the limitations of the prior art. In particular, there is a need for active drop damage mitigation and impact countermeasure systems, suitable for modern electronic devices designed for an ever-wider range of operating environments, and exposed to a correspondingly wider range of environmental risk factors, including dropping, shock, compression, impact, and other potentially adverse operational effects.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Drop countermeasures for electronic device


A self-cleaning fuel oil strainer, coupled to a continuous fuel flow, that includes a pair of canisters, each having a cylindrical wedge wire fuel oil filter screen. An elongated brush running the length of the screen is disposed between two confining walls also running the length of the screen to form a chamber. A elongated partition, including two sets of apertures, is used, along with the elongated brush, to divide the chamber into two particulate dislodge chambers and a drain subchamber. A drain is in fluid communication with the drain subchamber. During cleaning, the drain is opened and the screen is rotated against the brush for liberating the particulate contaminants and a limited amount of fuel oil into the two dislodge subchambers. The particulate contaminants and the limited amount of fuel oil then pass through the apertures at a high velocity and into the drain subchamber which exits through the drain. Alternatively, a reverse flow of clean fuel oil can be used in combination with the elongated brush, for dislodging the particulate contaminants from the fuel oil filter screen. Finally, another variation of using a reverse flow of clean fuel oil for cleaning purposes is discussed whereby a stationary fuel oil strainer is disposed in a system that isolates the fuel oil strainer from the normal fuel oil flow during cleaning.

This invention relates generally to filter devices and, more particularly, to fuel system filters for small particulate contaminants.
It is well-known that the mechanical cleaning of a filter surface can be accomplished by having a brush or scraper drag along the filter surface where deposits have accumulated. In certain configurations, the brush or scraper is mounted at one end between two walls but with a significant portion of the brush or scraper projecting beyond the walls. Such configurations are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 148,557 (Gillespie et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 556,725 (Farwell); U.S. Pat. No. 740,574 (Kohlmeyer) and U.S. Pat. No. 793,720 (Godbe). In conventional filter systems, the particulate contaminants are driven off the filter surface and are deposited in a hopper or tank along with the fluid being filtered, thus discarding large amounts of the fluid being filtered.
The use of a brush, or high speed cleaning spray, disposed between a pair of walls for cleaning a cylindrical filter is known in the art, as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,977 (Aoki et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,655 (Steiner et al.) and Swiss Patent No. 22,863 (Zingg). Another variation employs a backwash that drives the particulate contaminants off of the cylindrical filter, as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,338,416 (Barry).
One desirable use for fuel oil filter systems of the present invention is in ships. Prior art ship fuel oil systems use conventional filter cartridges for cleaning the fuel in-line. However, these filter cartridges require frequent replacement which, in turn, requires the fuel flow to be interrupted during replacement. Interruption of the fuel oil flow will shut down the ship's main engines, thereby rendering the ship incapable of maneuvering. This can be catastrophic where the ship is in tight quarters, e.g., during docking or navigating through narrow passageways, or during storms, or during battle with regard to warships.
Furthermore, there are additional costs of having to store sufficient replacement cartridges onboard, the logistics involved in shipping and disposing the cartridges to and from the ship, and the labor costs involved in replacing the cartridges.
In addition, shipboard fuel oil straining is a specialized straining process. In particular, the fuel oil flow is initially pre-strained for gross particulate contaminants, such that any particulate contaminants remaining in the fuel oil flow are extremely small (e.g., <100 microns, with a large percentage being less than 25 microns). As a result, where these small particulate contaminants are captured by a downstream strainer (e.g., a wedge wire screen strainer), both on and within the strainer surface, and then later dislodged during the strainer cleaning process, these extremely small particulate contaminants do not fall by gravity toward a drain but remain suspended in the fuel oil and will re-attach to the strainer surface. Therefore, there remains a need for a cleaning device that can dislodge such extremely small particulate contaminants off of the downstream strainer surface, as well as from within the strainer surface, and then ensure that these particulate contaminants flow out through the drain rather than re-attaching to the strainer surface.
Thus, there is a need for an improved system for removing undesired particulate contaminants from a fuel oil flow and without interrupting that fuel oil flow to the engines, while minimizing the amount of fluid removed therewith. It is to just such a system that the present invention is directed.


A phase-cut dimming control system according to the embodiment includes a phase angle detector configured to detect a phase angle of an input voltage generated by phase-cut dimming, a feedback signal generator configured to generate a first reference signal corresponding to the detected phase angle, and generate an initial feedback signal based on a detection signal corresponding to power supplied to a load and the first reference signal, a feedback signal modulator configured to modulate the initial feedback signal and generate a feedback signal, a power transmission controller configured to generate a control signal which controls power transmission according to the feedback signal, and a power transmission circuit configured to transmit power to the load according to the control signal.

(a) Field
Embodiments relate to a control system for phase-cut dimming.
(b) Description of the Related Art
When an alternating current (AC) is supplied to a power transmission circuit through a dimmer, a phase of the AC can be passed as much as a dimming angle. At this time, a system for controlling power supplied to a load of the power transmission circuit is needed.


A system for handling banknote flows with the aid of a banknote handling machine for feeding banknotes into and out of a banknote magazine included in the banknote handling machine. The system includes a central unit which includes a locality that is divided by an inner wall into an outer room and an inner room, with the banknote handling machine being orientated through the inner wall. The banknote handling machine includes a banknote infeed location and at least one banknote outfeed location in the outer room, and a combined banknote infeed/outfeed location in the inner room. The machine also includes a bandnote detector and a banknote packaging unit for treating possibly detected forged banknotes and unusable banknotes.

Widely different kinds and designs of banknote handling apparatus and banknote handling arrangements have earlier been described in various documents, of which the following documents can be mentioned by way of example.
U.K. Patent Specification 2,007,626 (1979) describes a banknote dispensing apparatus in which banknotes are dispensed from a common banknote store to four different outfeed locations, i.e. to customer outlets. In the case of excessive withdrawals, the banknote store will be emptied more quickly than was calculated and therewith require the apparatus to be temporarily closed down.
U.S. Pat. 4,365,700 (1982) teaches a combined banknote receiving and dispensing machine. In the case of this machine, however, banknotes cannot be deposited and dispensed to several customers at one and the same time, due to the external design of the machine, therewith requiring a customer to choose between the deposit and withdrawal of banknotes while other customers must wait their turn.
Swedish Patent Specification 464 215 (1990) teaches a message receiving device, which includes a sheet store, printing mechanism and a store of enveloping or enclosing material for enclosing printed message sheets, all included in a closed casing.
Swedish Patent Application 9600801-6 (1997) teaches a banknote handler for the infeed, outfeed and storage of banknotes, including an infeed station, an outfeed station and a storage station.
One of the disadvantages of these earlier apparatus and also of other apparatus available in practice is that they cause the formation of queues or lines, resulting in irritation of the waiting customers.

Arrangement of banknote handling machines for the infeed and outfeed of banknotes


A drive controlling apparatus for controlling movement of a movable member having a mechanically limited range of movement, comprises a drive device for driving the movable member, a feedback pulse generator for detecting the movement of the movable member and for outputting a number of pulse signals corresponding to an amount of the movement of the movable member, a main timer for measuring the period of the pulse signals, and for outputting a signal when a measured time period coincides with one of a plurality of comparison values, a sub timer for measuring one or more time periods from the start of the drive device to the steady state of the drive device and for changing the plurality of comparison values successively, and a control circuit for stopping the drive device in response to the signal outputted from the main timer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drive controlling apparatus for a movable member, and more particularly, it relates to a drive controlling apparatus for a movable member for which a range of movement is limited due to mechanical limitations and the like.
2. Related Background Art
In a normal driving system wherein a rotational force generated by a motor is transmitted to a load through a gear transmission mechanism, when a range of movement of a movable member constituting the load is mechanically limited, it is necessary to quickly detect the fact that the movable member reaches the limitation (in other words, the movable member is abutted against a stop and the like for limiting the range of the movement of the movable member) to prevent damage of the motor and/or stops.
FIG. 8 schematically shows a conventional driving mechanism wherein a movable member is shifted linearly. A rotational movement of a gear 1 fixed to a motor shaft 1A is converted into a longitudinal linear movement of a rack 2 constituting the movable member. The movement of the rack is limited by abutting an edge 2a or 2b of the rack 2 against a stop member 3 or 4.
In FIG. 8, if, after the rack 2 is abutted against the stop member 3 or 4, the rack continues to be forced against the stop member, the stop member 3 or 4 and/or the driving motor may be damaged. Normally, when such driving system is servo-controlled, a control circuit (not shown) always monitors the moving of the movable member, and emits a command signal for stopping the driving system it when detects the fact that the movable member is not moved.
The principle thereof is as shown is FIG. 9. FIG. 9 shows an example of a method for detecting the fact that the movable member reaches one of the limitations (stops). In FIG. 9, (a) designates a pulse signal generated according to the movement of the movable member, (b) designates an output from a timer in a detection circuit (not shown). The timer is a forwardly counting timer wherein the counting value representative of the output obtained by counting reference clocks from a oscillation circuit is increased.
Each time when the pulse (a) is inputted, the counting value (b) outputted from the timer is reset to zero. If the pulse (a) is not inputted within a predetermined time te after the movable member 2 is stopped by abutting against the stop 3 or 4, the counting value in the timer reaches a comparison value h corresponding to the predetermined time te, whereby a signal (c) is generated from the timer, thus detecting the fact that the movable member reaches the stop and is stopped there (hereinafter, the above-mentioned predetermined time is referred to as "time-out time period", and the detection at the limitation is referred to as "time-out").
That is to say, the comparison value h corresponds to the time-out time period te for detecting the pulse output when the movable member is not moved, due to reaching the limitation. And, if a the pulse is outputted in correspondence to the movement of the movable member within this time period te, the counting value in the timer is cleared to zero each time when such pulse is outputted, with the result that the time-out signal (c) is not outputted. However, if a pulse is not outputted within such time period, the time-out signal (c) is outputted, whereby the control circuit (not shown) detects the fact that the movable member reaches the limitation, thus stopping the supply of current to the motor.
For example, in an auto-focus control system for performing an focusing operation by rotating an optical system holding cylinder of a taking lens in a camera having an auto-focusing device, the taking lens is normally servo-controlled so that the taking lens is focused to an object, if measurement of distance is correctly performed. However, for an object having low contrast and/or low brightness, or an object having a particular pattern, for example, such as fine continuous patterns, since the ability of measurement of distance is inadequate or insufficient, there will be an error in the measurement of distance. In such a case, the taking lens is further moved from its infinity position or nearest taking position.
Further, if the taking lens is desired to be focused to the object situated ahead of the nearest taking position, the driving mechanism tries to further move the taking lens beyond the nearest taking position However, normally, in such camera, since mechanical stops are arranged in the infinity position and the nearest taking position, the taking lens cannot be moved beyond such stops. Accordingly, in the above-mentioned case, the movable member (taking lens) will be abutted against one of the stops.
The servo-control system in the auto-focus apparatus mentioned above is a typical example of a driving system wherein a rotational force is transmitted to a load through a gear transmission mechanism and the range of movement of the load (movable member) is mechanically limited, as mentioned above. In the driving operation in such auto-focus apparatus, the movable member will also abut against a stop, in the case where, a focusing condition detecting means determines that the measurement of distance cannot be effected. In such case, whether the measurement of distance can be performed in any position or positions within a photo-possible range may be determined by forcibly moving the taking lens through such photo-possible range (i.e., in a so-called scanning mode).
In any case, when the movable member reaches the stop, since the driving system is forcibly stopped, a pulse corresponding to the movement of the movable member will not be outputted. Accordingly, the driving system is stopped when the fact that such pulse is not outputted is detected.
In practice, the rotation speed of the motor varies in response to the fluctuation of the load or the supply voltage, and, in particular, when the motor is started or when the motor is reversed after the motor is once stopped, it takes some time until the motor reaches its steady rotation speed after the motor is started, due to the starting characteristic of the motor. Accordingly, it is difficult to set the time-out time period for detection of a pulse to a short time duration uniformly. Thus, in consideration of the above problem, the time-out time period must be long enough not to detect an erroneous limitation.
However, if the time-out time period is set to be long, when the load (movable member) really reaches the limitation (stop), it is impossible to stop the supply of current to the motor quickly. For this reason, in the conventional driving system, the motor is subjected to large mechanical stress, causing vibration noise, and causing mechanical damage or bad mechanical operation, as the case may be.


A growth hormone secretagogue is useful for enhancing the return of patients to independent living status following acute deconditioning such as that which may result from immobilization, surgery, or major injury such as hip fracture.

Many patients who receive surgery or experience a major illness or injury require additional care and supervision following such surgery or illness. Patients who receive surgery or experience a major illness or injury such as hip fracture may have prolonged recovery times due to deconditioning, a bed-rest associated syndrome comprising, e.g.: decreased cardiac output, hypotension, muscular atrophy and acute muscle loss, and joint contractures (Hoenig and Rubenstein, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 39, 220-221. (1991)). In the elderly the loss of muscle mass and function as a result of illness or immobilization may be up to 5% per day at bedrest. Among the elderly in particular, deconditioning associated with acute illness is believed to lead to recovery times far in excess of that expected for the acute illness itself. In addition to prolonged recovery times, functional losses may result from deconditioning, the acute illness itself, and untoward effects of treatment. Although many functional losses are often reversible with activity and exercise interventions, recovery times may vary widely (Vorhies and Riley, Clinical Geriatric Medicine, 9, 745-763 (1993)). There are direct and indirect costs associated with both the acute illness and recovery periods. These costs may be considerable.
As a result of their deconditioned physical state, patients who had once been able to live independently may require additional assistance and care. In particular, patients who had previously lived independently in a private home or apartment may find that following surgery or a major illness or injury they require the formal care provided by an assisted living center, a nursing home, a rehabilitation hospital/center, an acute care hospital or a chronic medical care center.
This increase in the degree of care which is required by an individual following such deconditioning imposes increased financial costs. Moreover, such restrictions in their lifestyle may impose detrimental psychological impact with respect to the patient's self esteem and independence.
Many patients suffering from acute deconditioning, such as following a hip fracture, never regain their premorbid level of function. The recovery of a patient following a hip fracture as represented by their independent living status is generally a very difficult process. Data on the percentage of patients living independently following a hip fracture has been presented (Jette, et al., Arch. Phys. Med. Rehab., 68:735 (1987)). Approximately 48% of the patients studied were living independently prior to their hip fracture. Immediately following reconstructive hip surgery only about 5% were living independently; at 3 months and at 6 months after their hip fracture only about 25% were living independently; and at 12 months after their hip fracture only about 22% were living independently.
Very few compounds are known in the art to be useful for the enhancing the return of patients to independent living status following deconditioning. Moreover, these therapeutic regimens suffer from numerous problems and a more effective, physiological way to enhance the return of patients to independent living status following deconditioning would be highly desirable.
Growth hormone, which is secreted from the pituitary, stimulates growth of all tissues of the body that are capable of growing. In addition, growth hormone is known to have the following basic effects on the metabolic processes of the body: (1) Increased rate of protein synthesis in all cells of the body; (2) Decreased rate of carbohydrate utilization in cells of the body; (3) Increased mobilization of free fatty acids and use of fatty acids for energy.
Various ways are known to release growth hormone. For example, chemicals such as arginine, L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), glucagon, vasopressin, and insulin induced hypoglycemia, as well as activities such as sleep and exercise, indirectly cause growth hormone to be released from the pituitary by acting in some fashion on the hypothalamus perhaps either to decrease somatostatin secretion or to increase the secretion of the known growth hormone secretagogue growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) or an unknown endogenous growth hormone-releasing hormone or all of these.
In cases where increased levels of growth hormone were desired, the problem was generally solved by providing exogenous growth hormone or by administering GRF, IGF-I or a peptidal compound which stimulated growth hormone production and/or release. In either case the peptidyl nature of the compound necessitated that it be administered by injection. Initially the source of growth hormone was the extraction of the pituitary glands of cadavers. This resulted in a very expensive product and carried with it the risk that a disease associated with the source of the pituitary gland could be transmitted to the recipient of the growth hormone. Recombinant growth hormone has become available which, while no longer carrying any risk of disease transmission, is still a very expensive product which must be given by injection or by a nasal spray. In addition, administration of exogenous growth hormone may result in side-effects, including edema, and does not correlate with the pulsitile release seen in the endogenous release of growth hormone.
Certain compounds have been developed which stimulate the release of endogenous growth hormone. Peptides which are known to stimulate the release of endogenous growth hormone include growth hormone releasing hormone, the growth hormone releasing peptides GHRP-6 and GHRP-1 (described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,890, PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 89/07110, and PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 89/07111) and GHRP-2 (described in PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 93/04081), as well as hexarelin (J. Endocrinol Invest., 15(Suppl 4), 45 (1992)). Other compounds possessing growth hormone secretagogue activity are disclosed in the following: U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,345; U.S. Pat. No. 4,036,979; U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,890; U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,235; U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,241; U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,841; U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,737; U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,017; U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,721; U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,144; U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,261; U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,136; U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,919; U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,920; U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,916; U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,716; EPO Patent Pub. No. 0,144,230; EPO Patent Pub. No. 0,513,974; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 94/07486; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 94/08583; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 94/11012; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 94/13696; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 94/19367; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 95/03289; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 95/03290; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 95/09633; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 95/11029; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 95/12598; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 95/13069; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 95/14666; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 95/16675; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 95/16692; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 95/17422; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 95/17423; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 95/34311; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 96/02530; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 96/05195; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 96/15148; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 96/22782; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 96/22997; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 96/24580; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 96/24587; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 96/35713; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 96/38471; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 97/00894; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 97/06803; PCT Patent Pub. No. WO 97/07117; Science 260, 1640-1643 (Jun. 11, 1993); Ann. Rep. Med. Chem., 28,177-186 (1993); Bioorg. Med. Chem. Ltrs., 4(22), 2709-2714 (1994); and Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92, 7001-7005 (July 1995). Additional compounds with growth hormone secretagogue activity are described herein.

Enhancement of return to independent living status with a growth hormone secretagogue


A sheet original feeding apparatus includes a pair of spaced core members, a frame for rotatably holding the core members, and an elongated sheet having each end connected to the core members, wound around one of the core members, and adapted to hold a sheet original therein. A driver reversibly drives the core members, and a controller controls the driver to unwind the elongated sheet, thereby stopping the sheet original at a predetermined position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet original feeding apparatus mountable on an overhead projector (OHP) on which a sheet original comprising an elongated transparent sheet having thereon information such as an image, a graph or the like are rested and which is adapted to project such information on a screen, and more particularly, it relates to a sheet original feeding apparatus wherein a plurality of sheet originals are stocked and the sheet originals are effectively fed to a projecting station successively.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, in a conference or lecture, when the lecturer performs the presentation of the information recorded on OHP films (sheet originals) by using a projector, a plurality of sheet originals on which the information is recorded have previously been prepared in explanation order, and the lecturer himself or a assistant manually rests the originals one by one on a transparent and permeable glass platen of the overhead projector, thereby projecting the information in the original on the screen, and the used original is manually removed and a new original is rested on the platen.
On the other hand, regarding a 35 mm film having images thereon contained in the mount, since the images in the film can be protected by the mount, the exchange of the images in the film has been automatically effected by using an auto carrier device so that the film can mechanically be fed successively. In this case, however, since the small image in each frame of the film must be projected in an enlarged scale, the image quality was worsened, and the dark room was required because of the reduction in the light amount.
By the way, an OHP apparatus can eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, can project images on a large-sized film and can present the image information with good image quality in a relatively light room. In an OHP film used with such OHP apparatus, original images can easily be formed on the film by performing the high speed treatment regarding a conventional silver salt film, or by forming digital color images by an electrophotographic method, or by a high image quality ink jet method.
However, in the above-mentioned conventional techniques, the exchanging efficiency of sheet originals in accordance with the progress of the lecturer's presentation has not been improved, since it was difficult to handle the OHP film because of the large size thereof. Accordingly, it has been desired that the original image film was automatically fed to the projecting station on the OHP apparatus.
Incidentally, in order to pick up the high image quality films one by one from the film stack successively and to rest the picked-up film on the glass platen of the OHP apparatus without damaging the surfaces of the films, a method (adopted to a copying machine) wherein sheets are separated one by one by utilizing the friction slip between the sheets in a sheet stacking station such as a sheet feeder cannot be used.
Further, since any original image film among the used and re-stacked original image films may be used again to project it again in the course of the presentation, it is desired to propose a solution having the safety and high reliability and which can easily pick up the film without damaging the film surface.


A fluid plenum including a body defining an internal cavity having an inlet and an outlet. The fluid plenum further includes at least one wall positioned in the internal cavity that divides the internal cavity into first and second passageways, and which also divides the inlet into first and second inlet portions, and divides the outlet into first and second outlet portions. The first passageway receives fluid through the first inlet portion and directs fluid to the first outlet portion, and the second passageway receives fluid through the second inlet portion and directs fluid to the second outlet portion. The first and second passageways extend first and second lengths that are different from one another, and also generate a substantially common back-pressure at the first and second inlet portions during flow of a fluid stream through the inlet, including a first sub-stream of the fluid stream through the first passageway and a second sub-stream of the fluid stream through the second passageway.

The disclosure generally relates to a fluid duct in a turbine engine for receiving a fluid stream and directing the fluid stream along a fluid pathway. In an illustrative embodiment, the fluid duct receives combustion gases from a turbine section of a turbine engine at an inlet and directs the combustion gases along a pathway to an outlet.

Gas turbine engine exhaust fluid passage duct


To achieve a dependable axial fastening of a flat cylindrical outer surface of the outer ring of a double row angular anti-friction bearing inside the smooth internal surface of the bore of the external housing in which the outer ring is disposed, the races for the bearing rolling elements, and which are either balls or tapered rollers, are oriented so that the resultant lines of bearing force extend from the rolling elements, converge and intersect the outer surface of the outer ring. The resultant lines of force converge at or radially outward of the outer surface of the outer ring. A respective pair of interruptions, in the form of annular grooves around the outer surface of the outer ring, and having sharp transition edges with the outer surface of the outer ring, are defined at both axial sides of and near to the intersection of a resultant line of force with the outer surface of the outer ring. Where the lines of force are near each other where they intersect the outer surface of the outer ring, one pair of interruptions are provided for both resultant lines of force. Each pair of interruptions near to and alongside one of the resultant lines of force or a single pair of interruptions near to and straddling both lines of force between them define a cylindrical section of the outer surface of the outer ring, which the resultant lines of force intersect.

The present invention refers to a double row angular anti-friction bearing including means for anchoring the bearing axially in a surrounding housing.
Simple but secure, click free, axial attachments of double row angular anti-friction bearings, which can also transmit high axial loads, are constantly sought. Particularly in the case of wheel mounts of motor vehicles, where great demands are made as to simple assembly and low weight, there is need for better solutions.
These goals are already achieved to a certain extent by embodiments like those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,779,641 and in Federal Republic of Germany Pat. 29 05 683. In these embodiments, no additional parts are necessary, since ring surface interruptions are arranged on the outer surface of the outer ring of the bearing. This produces projections in the general form of teeth. Upon installation of the outer ring into the surrounding housing around the bearing, the teeth grip into the interior surface of the housing with a high force fit, which is customarily present, resulting in a force locked and form locked attachment by simple means. However, these embodiments are complicated, since a large number of teeth must be provided, and these are expensive to produce. Since the teeth extend radially outward beyond the middle outer surface, disassembly is hardly possible.
The same comments apply also to Federal Republic of Germany application OS 32 16 958. Although the teeth there do not extend beyond the outer surface of the outer ring, a mating surface of a relatively soft material and a tight force fit must instead be present.

Anchoring a double row angular anti-friction bearings