A coextruded, retortable film includes a core layer having an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer; two intermediate layers including a polyamide; two adhesive layers including a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers including low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and/or propylene/alpha olefin copolymer. A method of packaging a product using this film, and a package, are disclosed. A retortable film includes a first layer including low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and/or propylene/alpha olefin copolymer; a second layer including a polymeric adhesive; a third layer including an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer; a fourth layer including a polymeric adhesive; a fifth layer including a polyamide; a sixth layer including a polymeric adhesive; and a seventh layer including low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and/or propylene/alpha olefin copolymer.

The present invention relates to coextruded, retortable thermoplastic film.
Pouches made from films or laminates, including polymers such as polyethylene or polypropylene, have found use in a variety of applications. For example, such pouches are used to hold low viscosity fluids (e.g., juice and soda), high viscosity fluids (e.g., condiments and sauces), fluid/solid mixtures (e.g., soups), gels, powders, and pulverulent materials. The benefit of such pouches lies, at least in part, in the fact that such pouches are easy to store prior to filling and produce very little waste when discarded. The pouches can be formed into a variety of sizes and shapes.
Pouches can be assembled from films, laminates, or web materials using vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) machines. Such machines receive the film, laminate, or web material and manipulate the material to form the desired shape. For example, one or more films, laminates, and/or web materials can be folded and arranged to produce the desired shape. Once formed, the edges of the pouch are sealed and the pouch filled. Typically, the film, laminate, or web material has at least one heat seal layer or adhesive surface which enables the edges to be sealed by the application of heat. During the sealing process, a portion of at least one edge of the pouch is left unsealed until after the pouch is filled. The pouch is filled through the unsealed portion and the unsealed portion is then sealed. Alternatively, the pouch can be filled and the unsealed portion simultaneously closed in order to provide a sealed pouch with minimal headspace. The VFFS process is known to those of skill in the art, and described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4, 589,247 (Tsuruta et al), incorporated herein by reference. A flowable product is introduced through a central, vertical fill tube to a formed tubular film having been sealed transversely at its lower end, and longitudinally. The pouch is then completed by sealing the upper end of the tubular segment, and severing the pouch from the tubular film above it.
Ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) has been used in high oxygen barrier VFFS applications to provide a package with a relatively long shelf life. A problem arises where the filled pouch is subjected to retort conditions. In such instances, film structures containing conventional EVOH undergo structural, cosmetic, and functional degradation.
The structural degradation is expressed as delamination, during the retort cycle, of the film layer containing the EVOH, from the adjacent layers of the film structure. This structural failure can lead to package failure if substantial enough.
The cosmetic degradation is expressed as film whitening during elevated temperatures, especially at high relative humidity. The aesthetic appearance of filled pouches is often important to the food processor as well as the final customer.
The functional degradation is expressed as a degradation in the oxygen barrier function of the EVOH, or put differently, an undesirable increase in oxygen transmission rate. This degradation is caused by the drop in barrier performance of EVOH at all relative humidities since the EVOH is actually damaged during retort. Voids will form in the EVOH during retorting and the barrier properties drop off significantly at all moisture levels. In most film structures containing EVOH, it is the EVOH that primarily controls oxygen transmission rate of the overall film. Therefore, a failure in the barrier properties of the EVOH translates into a failure of the barrier properties of the overall film. As a result, targeted shelf life is not achieved, and rapid product degradation can occur.
Because of these deficiencies, food products that require retorting are typically still packaged in rigid containers such as cans. These bulky containers create environmental issues about waste disposal. It would be beneficial to provide a film which can be filled and sealed on a form-fill-seal machine, and used in retort applications, without significant undesirable degradation during the retort cycle.
The invention is directed to a coextruded, retortable film for packaging of products such as liquid foods (soups, sauces, taco meat, etc.), with or without particulates, that require retort. The coextruded aspect of the invention is an important feature, because it would be beneficial to produce a coextruded film for use in retort VFFS applications. Laminating separate films or substrates together is time-consuming and costly.
In a first aspect, a multilayer, coextruded, retortable film comprises a core layer comprising an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer; two intermediate layers, disposed on opposite surfaces of the core layer, comprising a polyamide; two adhesive layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective intermediate layer, comprising a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers, each comprising a material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer.
In a second aspect, a method of packaging a food product comprises providing a multilayer coextruded retortable film, the film comprising a core layer comprising an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer; two intermediate layers, disposed on opposite surfaces of the core layer, comprising a polyamide; two adhesive layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective intermediate layer, comprising a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers, each comprising a material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer; forming the film into a tube in a vertical/form/fill/seal process; filling the tube with a food product; closing the tube to form a sealed pouch containing the food product; and subjecting the sealed pouch containing the food product to retort conditions.
In a third aspect, a package comprises a flowable retorted food product; and a pouch containing the food product, the pouch made from a multilayer coextruded retortable film comprising a core layer comprising an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer; two intermediate layers, disposed on opposite surfaces of the core layer, comprising a polyamide; two adhesive layers, each disposed on a surface of the respective intermediate layer, comprising a polymeric adhesive; and two outer layers, each comprising a material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer.
In a fourth aspect, a multilayer, coextruded, retortable film comprises a first layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer; a second layer comprising a polymeric adhesive; a third layer comprising an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer; a fourth layer comprising a polymeric adhesive; a fifth layer comprising a polyamide; a sixth layer comprising a polymeric adhesive; and a seventh layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer.
In a fifth aspect, a method of packaging a food product comprises providing a multilayer coextruded retortable film, the film comprising a first layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer; a second layer comprising a polymeric adhesive; a third layer comprising an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer; a fourth layer comprising a polymeric adhesive; a fifth layer comprising a polyamide; a sixth layer comprising a polymeric adhesive; and a seventh layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer; forming the film into a tube in a vertical/form/fill/seal process; filling the tube with a food product; closing the tube to form a sealed pouch containing the food product; and subjecting the sealed pouch containing the food product to retort conditions.
In a sixth aspect, a package comprises a flowable retorted food product; and a pouch containing the food product, the pouch made from a multilayer coextruded retortable film comprising a first layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer; a second layer comprising a polymeric adhesive; a third layer comprising an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer; a fourth layer comprising a polymeric adhesive; a fifth layer comprising a polyamide; a sixth layer comprising a polymeric adhesive; and a seventh layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, ethylene/alpha olefin copolymer, propylene homopolymer, and propylene/alpha olefin copolymer.
xe2x80x9cCore layerxe2x80x9d herein refers to the central layer of a film with an odd number of layers, or one of the two central layers of a film with an even number of layers.
xe2x80x9cEthylene/alpha-olefin copolymerxe2x80x9d (EAO) herein refers to copolymers of ethylene with one or more comonomers selected from C3 to C10 alpha-olefins such as propene, butene-1, hexene-1, octene-1, etc. in which the molecules of the copolymers comprise long polymer chains with relatively few side chain branches arising from the alpha-olefin which was reacted with ethylene. This molecular structure is to be contrasted with conventional high pressure low or medium density polyethylenes which are highly branched with respect to EAOs and which high pressure polyethylenes contain both long chain and short chain branches. EAO includes such heterogeneous materials as linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and very low and ultra low density polyethylene (VLDPE and ULDPE), such as DOWLEX(trademark) or ATTANE(trademark) resins supplied by Dow, ESCORENE(trademark) or EXCEED(trademark) resins supplied by Exxon; as well as linear homogeneous ethylene/alpha olefin copolymers (HEAO) such as TAFMER(trademark) resins supplied by Mitsui Petrochemical Corporation, EXACT(trademark) resins supplied by Exxon, or long chain branched (HEAO) AFFINITY(trademark) resins supplied by the Dow Chemical Company, or ENGAGE(trademark) resins supplied by DuPont Dow Elastomers.
Films of the present invention are not solid state oriented, and exhibit a free shrink (ASTM D 2732-83) of less than 8%, preferably less than 5%, at 200xc2x0 in each of the longitudinal and transverse directions. These films are therefore non-heat shrinkable. Film of the present invention can exhibit a free shrink of less than 5% in the longitudinal direction, and less than 5% in the transverse direction, at 180xc2x0 F.
xe2x80x9cLow density polyethylenexe2x80x9d (LDPE) herein refers to a polyethylene having a density of between 0.915 and 0.925 grams per cubic centimeter.
xe2x80x9cMedium density polyethylenexe2x80x9d (MDPE) herein refers to a polyethylene having a density of between 0.926 and 0.939 grams per cubic centimeter.
xe2x80x9cHigh density polyethylenexe2x80x9d (HDPE) herein refers to a polyethylene having a density of between 0.94 and 0.965 grams per cubic centimeter.
xe2x80x9cIntermediatexe2x80x9d herein refers to a layer of a multi-layer film which is between an outer layer and an internal layer of the film.
xe2x80x9cInternal layerxe2x80x9d herein refers to a layer which is not an outer or surface layer, and is typically a central or core layer of a film.
xe2x80x9cLinear low density polyethylenexe2x80x9d (LLDPE) herein refers to polyethylene having a density between 0.917 and 0.925 grams per cubic centimeter, made by Zeigler/Natta catalysis.
xe2x80x9cLinear medium density polyethylenexe2x80x9d (LMDPE) herein refers to polyethylene having a density between 0.926 grams per cubic centimeter and 0.939 grams per cubic centimeter, made by Zeigler/Natta catalysis.
xe2x80x9cOuter layerxe2x80x9d herein refers to what is typically an outermost, usually surface layer or skin layer of a multi-layer film, although additional layers, coatings, and/or films can be adhered to it.
xe2x80x9cPolymerxe2x80x9d herein refers to homopolymer, copolymer, terpolymer, etc. xe2x80x9cCopolymerxe2x80x9d herein includes copolymer, terpolymer, etc.
xe2x80x9cRetortablexe2x80x9d herein refers to a film that can be formed into a pouch, filled with an oxygen sensitive product, and sealed, and subjected to sterilizing conditions of high temperature (between 250xc2x0 F. and 300xc2x0 F.), for a period of time of between 10 minutes and 60 minutes, in the presence of water, steam, or pressurized steam, without delamination of the EVOH layer from the adjacent layers of the film, or voiding of the EVOH and subsequent oxygen barrier loss. Typical retort conditions are 250xc2x0 F. for 30 minutes.
xe2x80x9cSolid state orientedxe2x80x9d herein refers to films obtained by coextrusion of the resins of the different layers to obtain a primary thick sheet or tube that is quickly cooled to a solid state, then reheated to an orientation temperature, then uniaxially or biaxially stretched using e.g. a trapped bubble or tenter frame process, and then rapidly cooled.
All compositional percentages used herein are presented on a xe2x80x9cby weightxe2x80x9d basis, unless designated otherwise.


A sheet feeder comprising: a cassette; a feed roller; a sloping separation plate provided on a downstream side of the cassette in a sheet feeding direction; and a separation member that includes a first separation claw and second separation claw, the first separation claw being closer a bottom surface of the cassette than the second separation claw, the separation member and the feed roller cooperating with each other to separate and feed the sheets, sheet by sheet; wherein the sloping separation plate has openings so as to allow distal projecting portions of the first separation claw and second separation claw to project through the sloping separation plate, respectively, and wherein, a first angle formed between the distal projecting portion of the first separation claw and the sloping separation plate is larger than a second angle formed between the distal projecting portion of the second separation claw and the sloping separation plate.

An image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile or the like has a sheet feeder for separating sheets (recording media) to feed them to an image recording unit thereof sheet by sheet.
Publication of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2005-247550 (refer to FIGS. 3 to 9. Hereinafter, Patent Document 1) disclosed a sheet feeder that includes a sheet feeding cassette in which a plurality of sheets are stacked and a feed roller provided at a lower end of a feed arm that is disposed above the sheet feeding cassette in such a manner as to oscillate vertically. In addition, a sloping separation plate is provided at a down stream end portion of the sheet feeding cassette in a sheet feeding direction, and a sheet separation member is provided in a central portion of the sloping separation plate in a lateral direction thereof (a sheet width direction). This sheet separation member is such that claw-like projecting portions, arm portions which support the projecting portions from both sides thereof and leaf spring portions are formed on a base portion made of a metal sheet at predetermined intervals through press work, and the leaf spring portions are formed integrally with the base portion to support the sheet separation member on a rear surface of the sloping separation plate. The claw-like projecting portions are set to project a predetermined amount from elongated openings which are opened in a central portion of the sloping sheet separation plate along the sheet feeding direction. Thus, the feed roller, that is rotating, feeds a topmost sheet while pressing against an upper surface of the topmost sheet. As this occurs, leading edges of the sheets so stacked are brought into engagement with the projecting portions, whereby the stacked sheets are loosened so that only the topmost sheet is separated to be fed.
Publication of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2004-067389 (refer to FIGS. 4 to 6. Hereinafter, Patent Document 2) disclosed a sheet feeder that includes a sheet feeding cassette main body that is opened in an upper surface thereof to accommodate sheets in a substantially horizontal state. A sloping surface is provided at a downstream end of the sheet feeding cassette main body in a sheet feeding direction, and a sheet separation guide is provided on the sloping surface. A plurality of projections are formed on the surface of the sheet separation guide. The projections are highest at a lowest portion of the sheet separation guide, and the projections decrease gradually their height at predetermined intervals towards an upper end of the sheet separation guide. In this way, the friction coefficient of the projections with the end portions of the sheets is set to gradually decrease from the lower projections towards the upper ones. In addition, the projections are formed in a plurality of rows in a sheet width direction.


A fluid-permeable assembly for uniformly contacting a fluid with a bulk material has two mirror-symmetrically interfitting mats each having a generally planar fluid-permeable carrier web, another fluid-permeable web defining an array of protrusions uniformly distributed over the respective planar web and each forming a respective pocket and respective masses of a fluid-permeable mobile bulk material filling the pockets of the mats. Each of the protrusions is flanked in a longitudinal direction of the respective mat and in a transverse direction thereof by recesses complementary to the protrusions and the protrusions and the recesses of each mat are arrayed thereon in criss-cross patterns. The mats are oriented with the protrusions of one of the mats fitting snugly into and filling the recesses of the other of the mats and the carrier webs are uniformly spaced apart over the assembly to define a body of uniform fluid permeability.

It is known to imbed sorption or chemisorption masses between webs of fleece as formed shaped bodies in order to obtain filter mats usable as filter media. This is done by linking together two fleece webs containing the bulk material and imbedding the filtering masses between them. In order to maintain the filtering masses in position, the fleece webs are connected to each other so that small, cushion-shaped protrusions having a waffle-like or honeycomb structure result. This way, such a filter mat is of uneven thickness over the surface of the mat. This has the disadvantage that when a gas flows through such a filter mat for purposes of purification, different dwell times of the gas in the filter mat result, depending on the location where the gas passes through the filter mat. Furthermore, an increased gas passage takes place at the thinner locations with lower filling height, as well as at the connection points between the two fleece webs. Therefore, such filter mats are poorly suited to retain noxious substances with a good separation degree.
In order to avoid these disadvantages of the known filter mats, it has already been proposed to insert shaped bodies in the spaces between the cushion-shaped protrusions above the connection strips or to imbed in these areas premolded gratings of plastic material. However, these steps require considerable additional expense whose effects remain still unsatisfactory. Besides, the effective filtering surface is considerably reduced with respect to the available surface. Also the contact volume per space unit is reduced. A further drawback of these filter mats with waffle-like structure consists in the fact that the two fleece webs have to be particularly rigid in order to maintain their geometric shape, especially after they are built in, since a loss of shape can create hollow spaces through which the gas can escape.


Presented herein are methods, systems, devices, and computer-readable media for dental prosthetics manipulation, selection, and planning. Embodiments include an overlapped, or semi-realistic 3D rendering, a localized abstraction of the dental plan, and/or a globalized abstraction of the dental plan. Various selection, manipulation, and planning functions are available for the displays. A dentist or other operator can use the various portions of the display to interact with, manipulate, and plan a dental prosthetic. In some embodiments, tools are also provided, such as a full crown manipulation.

Field
The present application generally relates to dental planning, and more particularly to user interfaces and associated technology for case designing in dental prosthetics.
Description of Related Technology
The use of computer systems to design dental prosthetics has increased in recent years. The computer systems allow a dentist, dental technician, or other operator to design dental prosthetics for individual patients. These individual prosthetic designs are often called "situations," "dental plans," or "prosthetic plans." Operators using the computer systems can design plans based on a library of the teeth shapes and positions, patient data, and available equipment and hardware. For example, an operator may have at her disposal 3D models built based on scans of gums, bones, implants, dental models, etc. The patient's anatomy can define aspects of the dental plan. For example, desired symmetry with other teeth and antagonistic teeth help define the functional and aesthetic aspects of the dental plan. Based on these data, the operator may make a custom dental plan for the patient. All of this is typically done using a mouse and a two-dimensional computer interface.
A problem with the approach described above is that it may be difficult to manipulate the inputs to the dental planning software (such as the patient-specific data) and the various aspects of the dental plan. Together, all of the inputs to the dental planner, including the patient-specific data, combined with all the aspects of the desired dental plan might be called the "dental data." In order to visualize the relative placements, all of the various aspects of the dental data would be rendered in a manner that collocates them on the computer screen such that they overlap on the visual display. The overlapped nature of the interface makes it very difficult to select and/or manipulate the various aspects of the dental data.
There are also problems with the individual manipulation of the various aspects of dental data. For example, when working on a bridge, it is important that the buccal cusps of the teeth on the bridge are aligned. Manipulating various pontics, or units, that make up the bridge when manipulating the shape, position, and size of the units may cause, among other problems, misalignment of the buccal cusps.
These problems and others are addressed by the systems, methods, and devices and computer-readable media described herein.

Dental prosthetics manipulation, selection, and planning


A semiconductor laser is disclosed wherein the active region has been doped with deep-level electron traps either by proton bombarding the active region or by doping with an impurity, such as oxygen, iron, or chromium. The density of traps is such that an optical absorption parameter of greater than 30 cm.sup.-1 is achieved. This laser, when combined with an ordinary photodiode, exhibits overall optical gain thereby permitting an array of optical logic circuits.

This invention relates to semiconductor lasers and, more particularly, to heterostructure semiconductor lasers that are doped with deep-level traps.
Ordinary heterostructure semiconductor lasers generally exhibit an efficiency in terms of elecrical input versus optical output of about 20 percent. Heterostructure semiconductor lasers of the type under consideration herein are well known to those skilled in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,875 issued on Sept. 11, 1973 to I. Hayashi and U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,044 issued on July 1, 1975 to W. P. Dumke. Ordinary photodetectors without avalanche gain exhibit an efficiency of about 80 percent. It is therefore impossible to combine an ordinary photodiode with a semiconductor laser and achieve a combination that exhibits optical gain. In an effort to achieve optical gain, some have proposed that an avalanche detector be combined with a laser thereby creating optical circuits that may be connected in tandem. Avalanche photodiodes, however, require a high electrical bias voltage and it is therefore difficult to combine this type of photodetector into logic circuits exhibiting AND and OR functions. it would be highly advantageous to create a semiconductor laser whose efficiency is greater than one, thereby permitting the creation of optical logic arrays.
Some studies have been conducted to determine the effect of deep-level traps in the active region of a double heterostructure semiconductor laser. See, for example, the article entitled "Microscale Degradation in (GaAl) Double-Heterostructure Diode Lasers" by D. Kato, Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 31, No. 9, November 1977, pp. 588-590. As pointed out in the Kato article, these deep-level traps can result in self-sustained pulsations. As also pointed out in the Kato article, the deep-level traps can be formed or developed by crystal imperfections and/or the presence of added impurities.

Trap doped laser combined with photodetector

Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated


A foreign particle inspection apparatus, for detecting a foreign particle on a reticle or the like includes an illumination system for irradiating an inspection area on a specimen with inspecting light, and plural light-receiving systems adapted to condense the scattered light from a foreign particle in the inspection area and having respective light-receiving areas on the specimen, each smaller than the inspection area. Each of the light-receiving areas of the plural light-receiving systems overlaps partially with at least one of the other light-receiving areas. The plural light-receiving systems are so arranged that any point in the inspection area is covered by the light-receiving areas of at least two of the plural light-receiving systems. A foreign particle in the inspection area is detected by a detection system, based on the lights condensed by the plural light receiving systems.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foreign particle inspection apparatus, adapted for detecting a foreign particle deposited on the surface for example of a mask, a reticle or a glass plate (such as glass substrate for liquid crystal display device) to be used in an exposure apparatus for producing a semiconductor device, a liquid crystal display device or the like.
2. Related Background Art
If an exposing mask or reticle (hereinafter collectively called reticle), to be used in the photolithographic manufacture of a semiconductor device or the like, has a surfacial defect such as a foreign particle, there will result a loss in the production yield of the manufactured semiconductor devices. For avoiding such loss, the surface of the reticle has been inspected with a foreign particle inspection apparatus, prior to the exposure operation. Also for avoiding the deposition of such a foreign particle directly on the pattern bearing face or the rear face of the reticle, a dust-preventing film, called a pellicle, may be applied on the reticle. Since such a pellicle is displaced or offset from the pattern bearing face of the reticle, conjugate with the exposed face of the photosensitive substrate (such as wafer), a foreign particle of a given size has less influence when deposited on such pellicle than when directly deposited on the reticle. However, the foreign particle present even on the pellicle affects the result of exposure when it exceeds a certain limit, so the surface of such pellicle and the rear face thereof (facing the reticle) are also inspected for the defect such as a foreign particle, by the foreign particle inspection apparatus. In the following description, the reticle will be explained as the object of inspection, but it will be understood that a reticle bearing a pellicle thereon is also included.
FIG. 16 shows an example of the conventional foreign particle inspection apparatus, wherein a reticle 1 is placed on a stage 2 which is movable in the Y-direction by a drive unit 3. The amount of movement of the stage 2 in the Y-direction is constantly measured by a length measuring device 4 such as a linear encoder, and a position signal S1, indicating the measured value of the length measuring device 4 is supplied to a signal processing unit 5. On the other hand, a light beam L1, emitted from an unillustrated light source (such as a laser light source), is reflected and deflected by a galvano scanning mirror 6 (or a polygon scanning mirror) driven by a drive unit 7, and formed by a scanning lens 8 as a light beam L2 converging onto the reticle 1, thereby effecting a scanning operation in the X-direction, along a scanning line 10 between two points 9A and 9B on the reticle 1. The entire surface of the reticle 1 can be scanned with the light beam, by causing the light beam L2 to effect scanning operation in the X-direction and moving the reticle 1 in the Y-direction by the drive unit 3, with a speed lower than that of said scanning operation.
In case the reticle 1 has a surfacial defect such as a foreign particle 11, scattered light L3 is generated by said foreign particle 11 from the light beam L2. The scattered light L3 is respectively condensed by light-receiving lenses 12.sub.1, 12.sub.2, 12.sub.3 onto light-receiving faces of photodetectors 13.sub.1, 13.sub.2, 13.sub.3 such as photomultipliers, which effect photoelectric conversion on the condensed light to respectively provide detection signals S3.sub.1, S3.sub.2, S3.sub.3 to the signal processing unit 5. The three light-receiving optical systems, respectively containing the light-receiving lenses 12.sub.1 -12.sub.3, are provided at optimum positions for receiving the light, and are designed to independently receive the light from the entire range of the scanning line 10.
The signal processing unit 5, also receiving a deflection angle signal S2 supplied to the drive unit 7 for the galvano scanning mirror 6, can identify the presence of the foreign particle 11 from the detection signals S3.sub.1, S3.sub.2 and S3.sub.3. In this identification, the foreign particle 11 is identified for example only if all the three detection signals S3.sub.1, S3.sub.2, S3.sub.3 become at least equal to a predetermined level, in order not to misunderstand the diffracted light from the proper circuit pattern on the reticle 1 as the scattered light from the foreign particle.
At the same time, based on the position signal S1 from the length measuring device 4 and the deflection angle signal S2 for the drive unit 7 for the galvano scanning mirror 6, corresponding to the detection of the foreign particle in said three detection signals, the signal processing unit 5 can recognize the position of said foreign particle 11. More specifically the X and Y coordinates of the foreign particle 11 can be respectively identified from the deflection angle signal S2 and the position signal S1.
Also, based on a fact that the scattered light L3 becomes more intense as the foreign particle becomes larger, the signal processing unit 5 identifies the size of the foreign particle 11 from the magnitude of the three detection signals S3.sub.1, S3.sub.2, S3.sub.3. Thus the signal processing unit 5 can display, on a CRT display 14, the coordinates (X, Y) of the foreign particle and the size thereof, for example in the form of a table. Otherwise, simultaneous with the scanning of the reticle 1 with the light beam, the coordinates (X, Y) and size of the detected foreign particle can be displayed on the CRT display 14 in the form of a two-dimensional map.
In such conventional foreign particle inspection apparatus, each of plural light-receiving optical systems, provided in different directions with respect to the scanning line 10, independently receives the light from the entire range of the scanning line 10, and the foreign particle is identified by the photoelectric conversion signals obtained from the light received by said light-receiving optical systems. However, with the recent increase in size of the liquid crystal display device or the like, the reticle to be inspected has become larger and it has become difficult to receive, in each light-receiving optical system, the light from the entire range of the scanning line crossing such large-sized reticle.
Also for such longer scanning line crossing the reticle, the signal processing system becomes complex if plural light-receiving optical systems are arranged along such scanning line and the foreign particle is identified by parallel entry of the photoelectric conversion signals obtained from the lights received by the respective light-receiving optical systems. Also the signal processing system becomes larger in proportion to the number of the light-receiving optical systems, so that the inspection apparatus becomes bulkier and requires a larger electric power consumption.


A laser photopeak location system comprises a gamma-ray spectrometer and a processor. The processor computes a plurality of correlation coefficients based on a comparison of a pulse-height spectrum of the gamma-ray spectrometer with an array of values. The processor locates one or more photopeaks of the pulse-height spectrum based on at least one of the plurality of correlation coefficients. Additional apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed.

Natural gamma-ray elemental concentrations in formations provide information that is useful for petrophysical evaluation purposes. For example, thorium and potassium are useful for mineral identification, especially when combined with other logging measurements. As a further example, zones with high uranium concentrations can be used to identify volcanic zones, and in many organic shale reservoirs, uranium content often correlates with total organic carbon content.
Various methods have been developed to derive these elemental concentrations from pulse-height natural gamma-ray spectra. However, deviations from measurement instrument calibration settings, including those for spectrometers, can occur for a variety of reasons. For example, voltage drifts due to changes in temperature can lead to deviations in spectrometer gain and channel offset. Similarly, light output from most scintillation crystals varies with changes in crystal temperature which, in turn, affects the gain of detector systems. In addition, aging photomultiplier cathodes can cause spectrometer gain to change over time. For some detector systems a phenomenon known as photomultiplier fatigue occurs when large counting rate changes occur over short intervals of time. In well logging, spectrometers are often operated for long periods of time, and it is not uncommon for the gain to change because of some or all of these effects.
A variety of techniques have been developed in an attempt to compensate for departures from the desired energy scale calibration of gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements. Some conventional techniques involve continuously monitoring the location of a photopeak, requiring that one or more identifiable photopeaks be present in the observed spectra. Other techniques introduce a known source of gamma rays into the detector system to be superimposed on the spectrum produced by gamma rays external to the spectrometer. However, small inaccuracies in determining the known source's location in the spectrum can lead to gain adjustments that magnify errors at larger gamma ray energies. Further, using chemical sources as a calibration reference often creates a number of safety, security, regulatory, and environmental concerns.


A filter cleaner for wet/dry vacuum is provided for effectively cleaning filter cartridges employed for use in a class of vacuum cleaners commonly referred to as “wet/dry vacs.” The filter cleaner apparatus includes a cylindrical catch tank supported by a base. The catch tank supports an attachable circular lid. A motor cover, which is disposed atop the circular lid, is mounted with a handle. Housed within catch tank is an electric motor which spinably drives an upper filter plate via a rotatable shaft. A lower filter plate assembly housed within catch tank includes a rotatable lower filter plate being spring-biased in an upward manner. The lower filter plate assembly further includes a debris directional funnel which directs debris to a removable collection tray.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to filter cleaners and, more particularly, to a filter cleaner for wet/dry vacuums.
2. Description of the Related Art
Numerous vacuum devices which effectively suction both wet and dry materials have gained wide popularity. These devices generally have a sizeable holding tank and a suction mechanism mounted along its top. A hose serves to draw materials into the tank. These vacuum devices are a member of a class of vacuum cleaners commonly referred to as "wet/dry vacs." These wet/dry vacs are sold by a number of companies under trademarks including SHOP VAC®, GENIE®, SEARS CRAFTSMAN®, HOOVER®, BLACK & DECKER®, and RIGID®. These devices include a filter element for containing debris within the tank.
However, after vacuuming under harsh conditions, specifically suctioning fine, dry particles and other debris, the filter becomes quickly obstructed necessitating replacement thereof.
Accordingly, a need has arisen for a means by which filter cartridges employed for use in wet/dry vacuum systems can be effectively cleaned and thus recycled for use in a manner which is quick, easy, and efficient. The development of the filter cleaner for wet/dry vacuums fulfills this need and facilitates extension of filter element life.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related.
The following patents disclose a filter apparatus for use in combination with a canister for removing toxic substances from a vaporous fuel generated in a fuel tank for an internal combustion engine:
U.S. Pat. No. 6,346,130 B2, issued in the name of Suzuki; and                U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,526 B1, issued in the name of Suzuki.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,697, issued in the name of Syson et al. discloses a dual cyclonic vacuum cleaner having a first cyclone designed to remove relatively large particles from the airflow, a second cyclone designed to remove fine dust particles from the airflow, and a plurality of bleed valves arranged therebetween.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2002/0108204 A1, filed in the name of Buss et al. discloses a vacuum cleaner having an electric motor for driving an impeller which creates suction and for driving a pump impeller which draws liquid material from the bottom of the tank and expels it therefrom.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,883, issued in the name of Philp discloses a vacuum bag cleaning system that eliminates cleaning vacuum cleaner bags by hand and instead provides a vacuum exhausted compartment into which a cloth vacuum cleaner bag is placed and dirt encrusted thereon is blown from the pores of the bag by a concentrated current of air.
U.S. Patent Application No. 2001/0047721 A1, filed in the name of Scanlon discloses an improved vacuum cleaner bag and method of operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,129, issued in the name of Kierzkowski et al. discloses a moisture separator for filtering air being provided to a marine power plant.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,677, issued in the name of Scott discloses an improved filter for a vacuum cleaner exhaust to remove particles exhausted by vacuum cleaner.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,086, issued in the name of Scanlon et al. discloses a hydrophobic and air permeable filter for a wet/dry vacuum cleaner for wet material collection.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,562,093 B2, issued in the name of Oh discloses a cyclone dust collecting device which is mounted on a telescopic extension pipe of a vacuum cleaner to filter out and collect contaminants of relatively large particles drawn into vacuum cleaner.
Consequently, a need has been felt for a means by which filter cartridges employed for use in wet/dry vacs can be cleaned in a manner which is quick, easy, and efficient.


A holster for a weapon that has a lovable actuator, such as a safety, has a movable holster part, such as a hood, that is supported on a body portion of the holster for movement relative to the body portion between an open position allowing the weapon to be removed from the body portion of the holster and a closed position blocking removal of the weapon from the body portion of the holster. The hood has an engagement portion that engages the safety of the weapon when the hood is moved from the open position to the closed position at a time when the weapon is in the holster.

A typical holster for a weapon such as a handgun or an electric discharge weapon includes a body portion defining a chamber having an opening. A muzzle portion of the weapon is inserted through the opening into the chamber. The weapon is thereby received and supported in the body portion of the holster.
Holsters with pivoting (rotating) hoods are known. The hood is supported on the body portion of the holster for pivotal movement relative to the body portion between (i) an open position uncovering the opening and thereby allowing the weapon to be inserted into the body portion, and (ii) a closed position extending across the opening arid thereby blocking removal of the weapon from the body portion. Closing the hood in this manner aids in retention of the weapon in the holster. One such type of hood is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,581, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
Many weapons that can be holstered have a "safety", that is, a manually engageable member on the weapon that must be moved from an activated (or "on") position to a released (or "off") position, in order for the weapon to be fired. It is often desired that the safety be in the "safety on" position when the weapon is in the holster, to minimize chance of accidental discharge. Other holsterable weapons, such as an electrical discharge weapon ("EDW" one brand of which is Taser), might additionally or alternatively have a different type of "actuator", for example an electrical on/off switch, which desirably is in the "off" position when the weapon is holstered.


Provided is a device and methods for facilitating mobile device payments using a wearable personal digital device. The device may comprise a processor, a memory unit, a timepiece module, a communication circuit, a display, a camera, control elements, a connection port, and a band adapted to secure the device on a human body or clothes. The processor may be configured to retrieve information encoded in a barcode, generate barcodes, display retrieved information and barcodes on the display. Additionally, the device may comprise a swipe card reader to make payments using the wearable personal digital device by swiping a payment card through the device. In addition to that, the device may comprise one or more sensors and one or more accelerometers to measure biometric parameters of the user, display measured parameters on the display, and store the parameters to the memory of the device.

Mobile devices gain growing importance in daily activities of their users with more and more functions being performed by mobile devices. Some of such functions may include mobile payments using QR codes, scanning QR codes to get information, and so forth. In addition to that, most retail shops, cinemas, clubs, sports facilities, and other organizations provide discount or membership cards to their clients, issue tickets or boarding passes.
Having a certain card or paying using a mobile device may save time or grant a person some benefits, privileges, or discounts. At the same time, inconvenience related to carrying a number of cards may quickly offset any benefits or costs savings. Furthermore, carrying a mobile phone, tablet PC, or laptop may not always be comfortable. For example, during physical activity or leisure time.

Wearable personal digital device for facilitating mobile device payments and personal use


A method and apparatus are disclosed for adjusting the individual data hold time of data output buffers. Clock signals for the output buffers are respectively and individually adjusted for each of the output buffers to ensure a desired timing relationship among all of the data output by the buffers.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional output circuit for a digital circuit. To simplify discussion, this application will assume that the digital circuit is a memory circuit; however, it should be understood that the invention described herein applies to any circuit which outputs data. Data lines 11a, 11b . . . 11n each receive a respective data bit DQ0, DQ1 . . . DQn from a memory core, and provide the respective data bits to respective output buffer latches 13a, 13b . . . 13n which in turn deliver the latched output data DQ0, DQ1 . . . DQn to a plurality of output data lines 15a, 15b . . . 15n. The output buffer latches 13a, 13b . . . 13n are clocked by a clock signal which originates from a clock source 17 and is provided to the output buffer latches 13a, 13b . . . 13n in common, either directly from clock source 17, or through a delay circuit 19. The clock signal applied to the output buffer latches 13a, 13b . . . 13n causes the output buffers to latch in data from the data lines 11a, 11b . . . 11n and make it available on the output lines 15a, 15b . . . 15n for a period of time know as the data hold time, commonly referred to as toh.
As shown in FIG. 2 a first clock cycle is used to synchronize a READ operation which causes the data DQ0, DQ1 . . . DQn to be delivered from a memory core to the lines 11a, 11b . . . 11n and a subsequent clock cycle T1 causes the output buffers to latch and hold the data on lines 11a, 11b . . . 11n for the data hold time. The time the data DQ0, DQ1 . . . DQn is accessed from memory locations and during which it is made available on lines 11a, 11b . . . 11n is commonly referred to as memory access time, tac.
Referring back to FIG. 1, a delay circuit 19 is often employed to ensure that data is available on all of the data input lines 11a, 11b . . . 11n before the output buffers latch and hold the data.
As the speed of digital circuits continues to increase there are ever increasing demands placed on the timing circuitry for memory devices due to shorter clock periods. In addition, the very complex circuitry of modern digital circuits, e.g., memory devices, often leads to clock signal lines being routed to the output buffer latches 13, 13b . . . 13n with unequal circuit path lengths both inside a chip and/or outside a chip in the chip packaging. As a consequence of these signal path length differences, and other timing aberrations caused by circuit topology within a chip, at higher clocking speeds, it is becoming increasingly difficult to time align the data across all the output lines 15a, 15b . . . 15c of a memory device.

Method and apparatus for adjusting data hold timing of an output circuit


According to one embodiment of the present invention, a level of a first hierarchy and a second hierarchy of data attributes is determined where the first hierarchy and the second hierarchy share the determined level and each subordinate hierarchical level. The embodiment further removes from a set of tuples of a database operation at least one tuple that lacks corresponding data in a data source based on the tuple containing elements corresponding to non-intersecting sets of attributes at the determined level. Embodiments of the present invention include a method, system and computer program product for reducing tuple sets in substantially the same manner described above.

1. Technical Field
Present invention embodiments relate to On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP), and more specifically, to removing non-existent tuples from cross-joins of plural hierarchies of a dimension.
2. Discussion of Related Art
OLAP systems allow users to interactively analyse and aggregate multidimensional data. An OLAP database can be conceptualized as a multidimensional array called a "cube." The elements of the cube are "cells" containing a set of numerical "measures." A cell is identified by a tuple of "members" or "data attributes" designating regions of each dimension. For example, in the business domain, sales data may have a time dimension and a geographic area dimension. The time dimension may have a member for each month and the geographic area dimension may have a member for each city. The tuple, (August of 2010, Chicago), identifies a cell of the cube that contains the corresponding set of measures (e.g., unit sales, gross revenue, etc.).
The members of each dimension may be arranged in one or more hierarchies. For example, a geographic area dimension may have a hierarchy that includes levels of Country, State, and City. A time dimension may have levels that include Year, Month, and Day. Hierarchies allow a user to easily request aggregate data at various levels of granularity. By way of example, a user may request data aggregated over a given year and a given state by specifying a tuple, such as (2011, Illinois).
A dimension may have plural hierarchies that share levels. For example, a time dimension may have a Fiscal Calendar hierarchy with levels of Year, Quarter, Month, and Day, while a Regular Calendar hierarchy may include levels of Year, Month, and Day.
A cross-join request may include plural hierarchies of the same dimension that share levels, but not common data, thereby resulting in a request for data that cannot possibly exist. For example, a user may request a cross-join of the members [Fiscal Calendar].[2011].[Q1] and [Regular Calendar].[2011].[January]. These members do not share a common month if the fiscal calendar year begins in July. Thus, no data can satisfy this request. Displaying cells for which no data can possibly exist can impact end-user productivity because users have to disregard those cells.
OLAP reporting tools can apply "null suppression" to remove cells having no data from a visual display. However, null suppression is performed after the query has been processed, and operates on the entire cross-join set of tuples specified by a crosstab report. In another approach, a system may filter a dimension for members where all member attribute values equal those in at least one of the tuples and for which there exists data in the fact table. However, this involves additional SQL queries against the underlying database to check for data existence.

Tuple reduction for hierarchies of a dimension

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Methods and compositions, useful in the treatment of amyloidosis and conditions and diseases associated therewith, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD). These methods involve administering to a subject a pharmaceutical composition including one or more agents which modulate APP catabolism and amyloid deposition. Accordingly, the methods and compositions are useful for inhibiting amyloidosis in disorders in which amyloid deposition occurs. The methods are based, at least in part, on modulating catabolism of APP in APP-containing cells through the use of a mobile ionophore, such as carbonyl cyanide p-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone, which does not substantially alter the viability of those cells.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common dementing brain disorder of the elderly. The key features of the disease include progressive memory impairment, loss of language and visuospatial skills, and behavior deficits. These changes in cognitive function are the result of degeneration of neurons in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, basal forebrain, and other regions of the brain. Neuropathological analyses of postmortem Alzheimer's diseased brains consistently reveal the presence of large numbers of neurofibrillary tangles in degenerated neurons and neuritic plaques in the extracellular space and in the walls of the cerebral microvasculature. The neurofibrillary tangles are composed of bundles of paired helical filaments containing hyperphosphorylated tau protein (Lee, V. M and Trojanowski, J. Q, The disordered Cytoskeleton in Alzheimer's disease, Curr. Opin. Neurobiol. 2:653 (1992)). The neuritic plaques consist of deposits of proteinaceous material surrounding an amyloid core (Selkoe, D. J., "Normal and abnormal biology of the .beta.-amyloid precursor protein", Annu. Rev. Neurosci. 17:489-517 (1994)).
Evidence suggests that deposition of amyloid-.beta. peptide (A.beta.) plays a significant role in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease. A portion of this evidence is based upon studies which have been generated from data with regard to familial Alzheimer's disease. To date, this aggressive form of Alzheimer's disease has been shown to be caused by missense mutations in (at least) three genes: the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene itself (Goate, A. et al., "Segregation of a missense mutation in the amyloid precursor protein gene with familial Alzheimer's disease", Nature 349:704-706 (1991) and Mullan, M. et al., "A pathogenic mutation for probable Alzheimer's disease in the APP gene at the N-terminus of .beta.-amyloid", Nature Genet. 1:345-347 (1992)), and two genes termed presenilins 1 and 2 (Sherrington, R. et al., "Cloning of a gene bearing missense mutations in early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease", Nature 375:754-760 (1995) and Rogaev, E. I. et al., "Familial Alzheimer's disease in kindreds with missense mutations in a gene on chromosome 1 related to the Alzheimer's disease type 3 gene", Nature 376:775-778 (1995)). The missense mutations in APP are located in the region of the protein where proteolytic cleavage normally occurs (see below), and expression of at least some of these mutants results in increased production of A.beta. (Citron, M. et al., "Mutation of the .beta.-amyloid precursor protein in familial Alzheimer's disease increases .beta.-amyloid production", Nature 360:672-674 (1992), Cai, X-D. et al., "Release of excess amyloid.beta. protein from a mutant amyloid.beta. protein precursor", Science 259:514-516 (1993) and Reaume, A. G. et al., "Enhanced amyloidogenic processing of the beta-amyloid precursor protein in gene-targeted mice bearing the Swedish familial Alzheimer's disease mutations and a humanized A.beta. sequence", J. Biol. Chem. 271:23380-23388 (1996)). Initial analyses of the structure of the presenilins have not suggested whether or not they might alter production of A.beta., however, recent data has indicated that these mutations cause an increase in A.beta. secretion (Martins, R. N. et al., "High levels of amyloid-.beta. protein from S182 (Glu.sup.246) familial Alzheimer's cells", 7:217-220 (1995) and Scheuner, D. et al., "Secreted amyloid beta-protein similar to that in the senile plaques of Alzheimer's disease is increased in vivo by presenilin 1 and 2 and APP mutations linked to familial Alzheimer's disease", Nature Medicine 2:864-870 (1996)). Thus, increased production of A.beta. is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Corroborating evidence has been derived from at least two other sources. The first is that transgenic mice which express altered APP genes exhibit neuritic plaques and age-dependent memory deficits (Games, D. et al., "Alzheimer-type neuropathology in transgenic mice overexpressing V717F .beta.-amyloid precursor protein", Nature 373:523-525 (1995); Masliah, E. et al., "Comparison of neurodegenerative pathology in transgenic mice overexpressing V717F .beta.-amyloid precursor protein and Alzheimer's disease", J. Neurosci. 16:5795-5811 (1996); Hsiao, K. et al., "Correlative memory deficits, A.beta. elevation, and amyloid plaques in transgenic mice", Science 274:99-103 (1996)). The second piece of evidence comes from study of patients suffering from Down's syndrome, who develop amyloid plaques and other symptoms of Alzheimer's disease at an early age (Mann, D. M. A. and M. M. Esiri, "The pattern of acquisition of plaques and tangles in the brains of patients under 50 years of age with Down's syndrome", J. Neuro Sci. 89:169-179 (1989)). Because the APP gene is found on chromosome 21, it has been hypothesized that the increased gene dosage which results from the extra copy of this chromosome accounts for the early appearance of amyloid plaques (Kang, J. et al., "The precursor protein of Alzheimer's disease amyloid A4 protein resembles a cell-surface receptor", Nature 325:733-736 (1987); Tanzi, R. E. et al., "Amyloid .beta. protein gene: cDNA, mRNA distribution and genetic linkage near the Alzheimer locus", Science 235:880-884 (1987)). Taken together with the evidence derived from cases of familial Alzheimer's disease, the current data suggests that genetic alterations which result in an increase in A.beta. production can induce Alzheimer's disease. Accordingly, since A.beta. deposition is an early and invariant event in Alzheimer's disease, it is believed that treatment which reduces production of A.beta. will be useful in the treatment of this disease.
The principal component of the senile plaque is the 4 kDa .beta.-amyloid peptide (A.beta.). Ranging between 39 and 43 amino acids in length, A.beta. is formed by endoproteolysis of APP. Alternative splicing generates several different isoforms of APP; in neurons, the predominant isoform is of 695 amino acids in length (APP695). As APP traverses the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and trans-Golgi network (TGN), it becomes N- and O-glycosylated and tyrosine-sulfated. Mature holoprotein can be catabolized in several compartments to produce both non- and amyloidogenic APP fragments.
APP is expressed and constitutively catabolized in most cells. The dominant catabolic pathway appears to be cleavage of APP within the A.beta. sequence by an enzyme provisionally termed .alpha.-secretase, leading to release of a soluble ectodomain fragment known as APPs.alpha.. In contrast to this non-amyloidogenic pathway, APP can also be cleaved by unidentified enzymes known as .beta.- and .gamma.-secretase at the N- and C-termini of the A.beta., respectively, followed by release of A.beta. into the extracellular space. Several different C-terminal fragments are produced as intermediates in APP catabolic processing; of particular interest is the production of an intracellular an 12 kDa C-terminal fragment (C100) which is produced following .beta.-secretase activity and contains the entire A.beta. sequence.
Abundant evidence suggests that extracellular accumulation and deposition of A .beta. is a central event in the etiology of AD. However, recent studies have also proposed that increased intracellular accumulation of A.beta. or amyloid containing C-terminal fragments may play a role in the pathophysiology of AD. For example, overexpression of APP harboring mutations which cause familial AD results in the increased intracellular accumulation of C100 in neuronal cultures and A.beta..sub.42 in HEK 293 cells. Moreover, evidence suggests that intra- and extracellular A.beta. are formed in distinct cellular pools in hippocampal neurons and that a common feature associated with two types of familial AD mutations in APP (`Swedish` and `London`) is an increased intracellular accumulation of A.beta..sub.42. Thus, based on these studies and earlier reports implicating extracellular A.beta. accumulation in AD pathology, it appears that altered APP catabolism may be involved in disease progression.
Numerous studies have suggested that proteolytic cleavage of APP occurs within acidic compartments of the cell based on the inhibitory actions of agents which are known to disrupt intracellular pH and/or acidic organelles. For example, exposure of cells to the monovalent ionophore, monensin, or high concentrations of ammonium chloride (NH.sub.4 Cl) been shown to decrease APP proteolytic processing accompanied by concomitant alterations in full-length cellular APP. Similarly, the vacuolar H.sup.+ -ATPase inhibitor bafilomycin A1 (baf A1) has been reported to produce alterations in APP catabolism which are both cell-type and APP mutation specific. However, the ionophores noted above have been found to be toxic, unacceptably inhibit ATP formation, and alter cellular viability and endosomal and lysosomal function.
Thus, in view of the anticipated benefits of modulating APP catabolism as a treatment for diseases such as AD, compositions and methods for modulating APP catabolism in APP-containing cells which do not substantially alter the viability of those cells, have been desired and are addressed by the present invention.

Method and composition for modulating amyloidosis


A seamless video display is generated from multiple discrete video images by overlapping the images and ramping the image brightness in the overlaps. The resulting composite image is of uniform brightness and has no seams between the images of which it is composed.

Theater audiences continuously seek out larger displays with greater resolution. In the motion picture industry this has resulted in a gradual increase in the size of the film format from 16 mm to 35 mm to 70 mm to "IMAX". In the television industry, screens have increased in size so much that projection TVs can now fill an entire wall of an average sized living room.
However, while the larger film formats have brought high resolution, commercial television resolution is limited by the commercial industry broadcast standards. The broadcast standards define both the aspect ratio and the resolution of the image. The broadcast standards limit resolution by defining the number of horizontal lines per frame and the number of picture elements in each line. An increase in the size or horizontal scope of a commercial television image necessarily brings no increase in the number of lines or the number of picture elements in that image. Therefore, a very large picture will not be as sharp and clear as a smaller image. Several commercial-type video signals may be combined to form a single image with a different aspect ratio, with more picture elements, or with more lines per frame. However, this requires either combining several projectors to form that single image, or developing a whole new format different from the commercial standards.
In the film industry there have been several experiments with multiple projector systems. One such experiment was the "CINERAMA" systems of the 1950's. In "CINERAMA," three films, shown through three projectors, were combined to form a single panoramic image. Disneyland and its affiliate parks continue to use a different multiple projector system. At Disneyland, a circle of projectors shine onto a screen that circles the wall of a round room.
In the video field, multiple projector systems have been suggested for flight simulators, see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,103,435 to Herndon, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,764 to Taylor. In addition, it is known to place several video screens next to each other to form a large image display from multiple projectors. However, the difficulty with all video based multiple projector display systems is making the multiple images appear to be one single continuous image on the display screen.
When two images are projected side by side on a single screen, there will normally be a seam between the two images. The final display image will either appear to be two images placed side by side with a gap in between or, if the images are made to overlap on a single screen, there will be a bright line where the two images overlap. Because of the inconsistencies in conventional cameras and projectors, it is exceedingly difficult to perfectly match video images with no gap and no overlap between the images. If the images are brought very close together on the same screen, there will likely be both gaps and overlaps at the seam.


A method of manufacturing an inner lined pipe in which a lining layer is formed to the inner circumferential surface of a pipe using a centrifugal molding method, wherein a resin mortar material and a hardening agent for lining are mixed at the top end of an arm member of a supply device and discharged, thereby enabling to select a lining material of a short pot life to attain efficient production, as well as eliminate wasteful consumption of the lining material.

Concrete pipes, earthern pipes, iron pipes, etc. have been used as service or sewage water pipes, drain pipes or agricultural water pipes. However, these pipes involve a drawback of easily suffering from corrosion in contact with acids, salts or oils and fats. In view of the above, lining layers comprising synthetic resins such as unsaturated polyester resin, vinyl ester resin, urethane modified (metha)acrylate resin, etc. as a binder in admixture with inorganic aggregates are formed to the inner surface of pipes and used as inner lined pipes (inner lined pipes as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid Open Sho 60-90713).
As a method of manufacturing inner lined pipe, there has been known a centrifugal molding method as shown in Japanese Patent Laid Open Sho 50-76174.
FIG. 8 is a schematic explanatory view of an apparatus used for such a method in which a pipe 1 to be lined is placed on rotating rollers 2 . . . and the rotating roller 2 is driven by a driving device (not illustrated) to exert a centrifugal force of greater than several tens of g (by gravitational unit) to the inner circumferential surface of the pipe 1. Lining material scattered from a lining material discharge nozzle 32 to the inner circumferential surface of the pipe is smoothed by the centrifugal force upon reaching the inner circumferential surface of the pipe. The device for supplying the lining material comprises rails 4 laid in parallel with the longitudinal direction for the axis of the pipe 1, a carrier 3 placed movably horizontally thereover and an arm member 31 is attached to the carrier 3 on the side of the pipe 1, retractably in the longitudinal direction of the pipe axis at the inside of the pipe 1, and the lining material discharge nozzle 32 is disposed at the top end of the arm member 31. The discharge nozzle 32 is connected by way of a lining material supply pipe 33 to a hopper 34 on the carrier 3, and a resin mortar R.sub.1 (mixture of resin material and inorganic aggregate) and a hardening agent H.sub.1 previously mixed are stored in the hopper 34. The stored lining material is supplied by means of air pressure, etc. of a compressor 35 by way of the supply pipe 33 to the discharge nozzle 32. The lining material is sprayed from the discharge nozzle 32 to the inner circumferential surface of the pipe 1 and smoothed by the rotational centrifugal force of the pipe 1 to form a hardened lining layer. Accordingly, by gradually advancing the arm member 31 deeply to the inside of the pipe 1, the lining layer is formed to the circumferential surface over the entire length thereof.
By the way, since the resin mortar as the lining material is previously mixed with the hardening agent before discharge from the discharge nozzle 32, the lining material should have a long pot life. If the selection of the material is not proper, the material hardens in the supply pipe 33 or the discharge nozzle 32 to result in clogging troubles. Further, if clogging does not occur, since the lining material which starts hardening and gradually loses flexibility is supplied to the inner circumferential surface of the pipe 1, it is necessary to considerably increase the centrifugal force or use an additionally physical smoothing means (for example, spatula, etc.) in order to smooth the material. This inevitably lowers the production efficiency and the material once mixed with the hardening agent has to be spent completely soon, which may lead to wasteful consumption of the lining material.
On the other hand, although the lining material is spread and coated to the inner circumferential surface of the pipe by the centrifugal force of the pipe, the lining material is not firmly adhered to the inner circumferential surface of the pipe 1, depending on the material and the smoothness at the inner circumferential surface of the pipe and, accordingly, the inner lined layer may sometime be peeled off readily by internal stresses caused by the difference in heat shrinkage or external load applied from the outside because of the insufficiency in the adhesion.
As a means for overcoming such problems, Japanese Patent Laid Open Sho 58-78618 discloses a technique of disposing a grinding means at the top end of the arm member 31 for roughening the circumferential surface of the pipe. However, the technique makes the apparatus complicate and, nevertheless, can not completely overcome the foregoing problem and, in addition, results in an additional problem of lowering the production efficiency due to the increase in the production steps.

Method of manufacturing an inner lined pipe


A handrail friction checking device comprises a handrail gripper for gripping the handrail and movable together with the handrail, a spring with one end of the spring being fixed and the other end being connected to the handrail gripper so that the spring can apply a spring force which is opposed to the direction of handrail movement to the handrail gripper when the handrail gripper moves along with the handrail and a sensor which is disposed in a way that it is distanced from the handrail gripper and can be triggered by the handrail gripper when the handrail gripper moves along with the handrail.

This invention generally relates to passenger conveyors. More particularly, this invention relates to a device for checking the frictional driving force for a handrail of a passenger conveyor.
Passenger conveyors have proven effective for carrying people between different levels within a building or across an elongated pathway, for example. Typical arrangements include a plurality of steps or a belt upon which an individual stands to be carried from one location to another. A handrail typically rides over a balustrade and provides a surface for an individual to grab onto for stabilizing themselves.
Handrails are driven to move in unison with the steps or moving belt. A handrail drive mechanism causes the desired movement of the handrail. Typical arrangements rely upon wheels or rollers that frictionally engage the handrail to generate enough friction to drive the handrail in the desired direction.
A fabric layer is provided on the side of the handrail opposite the side grabbed by an individual to allow the handrail to readily slide along a guide to follow the balustrade. The same surface is frictionally engaged by the handrail drive mechanism. The friction caused by the wheels or rollers in the handrail drive mechanism tends to wear the fabric layer. As this fabric layer becomes worn, the handrail eventually can not operate as desired and requires repair or replacement.
Further, misalignment or displacement of the wheels or rollers in the handrail drive mechanism may also affect the frictional driving force of the handrail. Therefore, it is necessary to check on a regular basis if there is a sufficient frictional force for driving the handrail.


According to the present invention, there is provided a stereoscopic display system for displaying a model stereoscopically using a pair of images seen from two different viewpoints and adapted for the right eye and the left eye, comprising P, gaze range determining means for determining a range to which a viewer is likely to fix his or her eyes with respect to the model, model move means for moving the model in a direction perpendicular to a display screen so that the gaze range determined by the gaze range determining means comes in a region in which stereoscopy is easy by changing data of the model, model enlargement/reduction means for enlarging/reducing a size of the model moved by the model move means according to a distance over which the model is moved by changing data of the model changed by the model move means, and image data creating means for creating image data to be displayed on the display according to data of model which has been moved by the model move means and whose size has been changed by the model enlargement/reduction means.

The present invention relates to a stereoscopic display system, and more particularly to a stereoscopic display system which automatically adjusts the stereoscopic display conditions in accordance with changes of a displayed scene, thereby reducing viewer's discomfort.
Conventionally, a binocular stereoscopic display system has been known in which images for right and left eyes (i.e., images viewed by the right and left eyes, respectively, and hereinafter, referred to as right- and left-eye images or right and left images) are displayed certain on a display screen, i.e., a two- dimensional plane, and both the images are fused by the viewer's brain into a single, three-dimensional image. This system has an essential problem of a discrepancy between accommodation and convergence of eyes. That is, the viewer's eyes are always adjusted so that they are focused on the display screen.
On the other hand, the position of a gazing point on which the viewer's right and left eyes are fixed by eye-ball movement (convergence) depends on the distance between the left and right images on a display screen, normally parallax; thus, in most cases, that point is not located on the display screen.
When such discrepancy is not so large, humans will have the capacity for fusing the right and left images into a single, three-dimensional image. When the degree of discrepancy is large, on the other hand, humans will become unable to fuse the right and left images, or, they will feel fatigue in their eyes. In such a case, it becomes impossible or difficult for them to obtain stereoscopic vision.
Therefore, users used to adjust the stereoscopic display conditions on a trial and error basis to solve the problem. This adjustment work is relatively easy for still images. However, for motion images, it is required to change the setting of the stereoscopic display conditions for each scene because the position of the viewer's gaze point changes with displayed objects of shooting. This is very troublesome. For motion pictures, therefore, the fact is that no change is made to the stereoscopic display conditions.
On the display screen in a stereoscopic display system are often displayed graphical user interface components such as character information, menus, buttons. However, when these graphical user interface components are not adequately displayed in accordance with the change of stereoscopic display conditions, viewers often have strange feeling for the images.
The recent development of the media like digital versatile disks (DVDs) has realized a system in which viewers can freely see the images from various viewpoints. The function for presenting good stereoscopic images are required in such a system. To realize the function, it is strongly desired to solve the above-described problems.


A hollow lumen coil for a surgical instrument is made from a continuous helically wound filament which is wound with different preload tension at different portions of the coil. When a relatively high preload tension is applied to the filament as the coil is wound, the coil will be relatively stiff. When a relatively low preload tension is applied to the filament as the coil is wound, the coil will be relatively flexible. By varying the preload tension applied to the filament while winding the coil, the coil is provided with areas of different stiffness and flexibility. The preload tension may be varied gradually or abruptly and may be varied several times along the length of the coil. Surgical instruments incorporating the coil are also disclosed. The coil is preferably made from stainless steel Type 304 wire having a diameter of approximately 0.021 inches and is wound with tensions ranging from nil to several pounds.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to flexible surgical instruments incorporating a hollow lumen coil. More particularly, the invention relates to a surgical instrument with a hollow lumen coil having areas of different preload tension to effect areas of different stiffness and flexibility in the coil, and to methods for imparting different preload tension to the coil.
2. State of the Art
Flexible surgical instruments, in particular endoscopic biopsy forceps and tissue scrapers, are used for taking tissue samples from the human body for analysis. These instruments typically have a long flexible hollow lumen coil containing one or more control wires coupled to a proximal actuating handle which moves the control wires relative to the coil to effect a tissue sampling operation at the distal end of the coil. In biopsy forceps devices, a pair of forceps jaws are mounted on a clevis at the distal end of the coil and coupled to the one or more control wires so that movement of the control wires causes the jaws to open and close to bite a tissue sample. In biopsy tissue scrapers, a brush or scraping tool is attached to the distal end of the coil and the control wire flexes the distal end of the coil to cause the scraping of a tissue sample.
The endoscopic biopsy procedure is accomplished through an endoscope which is inserted into a body and guided by manipulation to the biopsy site. The endoscope typically includes a long narrow flexible tube with an optical lens and a narrow lumen for receiving a biopsy forceps or tissue scraper. The practitioner guides the endoscope to the biopsy site while looking through the optical lens and inserts the biopsy forceps or tissue scraper through the lumen of the endoscope to the biopsy site. While viewing the biopsy site through the optical lens of the endoscope, the practitioner manipulates the actuating handle to effect a tissue sampling operation at the distal end of the instrument. In the case of biopsy forceps, the practitioner must align the open jaws with the tissue to be sampled so that upon closing the jaws, a portion of the tissue is trapped between the jaws. It is a known problem with biopsy forceps that as the jaws are closed the distal end of the flexible coil deflects because the force applied at the actuating handle to the control wires is transferred to the distal end of the flexible coil. The deflection of the distal end of the coil just as the jaws are about to close on a tissue to be sampled often displaces the jaws relative to the tissue to be sampled and results in a failure to acquire the sample or the acquisition of an undesired sample. Therefore, in the case of biopsy forceps, it is desirable to stiffen the distal portion of the coil to prevent it from deflecting when the jaws are being closed.
Co-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,451 to Bales et al. discloses a biopsy forceps device having a stiff distal portion. The distal portion of the flexible coil is made stiff by wrapping it with a stiffening sleeve which extends for several inches along the coil and covers a portion of the clevis. While the sleeve advantageously stiffens the distal portion of the coil, it also increases the outer diameter of the coil and provides an uneven surface. The increased diameter of the coil at the location of the sleeve is can hinder the travel of the coil through the narrow lumen of the endoscope. The uneven surface of the coil can also possibly cause undue wear or damage to the inner surface of the endoscope lumen.
Biopsy scraping tools, on the other hand, rely on the ability of the distal end of the coil to flex. Although the coil is generally flexible throughout its length, in a biopsy scraping tool, it is desirable to provide added flexibility at the distal end of the coil. U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,312 to Tsukagoshi shows a flexible body cavity inserting instrument which is a biopsy scraping tool. The tool has a long flexible coil attached at its proximal end to an actuation handle and one or more control wires which extend from the actuation handle through the coil to the distal end of the coil. The distal end of the control wire is coupled to a part of the distal end of the coil or the end effector so that pulling on the control wire causes the distal end of the coil to flex like a finger. A resilient member at the distal end of the coil returns the coil to a straightened position when tension on the control wire is released. A scraping end effector such as a brush or a cup with a sharp edge is fixedly attached to the distal end of the coil. To take a biopsy sample, the scraping end effector is positioned up against a tissue to be sampled and the actuating handle is manipulated to cause the distal end of the coil to flex. The flexing of the distal end of the coil causes the scraping end effector to move across the surface of the tissue to be sampled and to scrape off a sample. Tsukagoshi enhances the flexibility of the coil's distal end by providing the coil with a loosely wound distal end. At the distal end of the coil, the spirals forming the coil are spaced farther apart than the remainder of the coil which is closely wound with the spirals of the coil close together. The enhanced flexibility of the distal end allows it to bend up to 180 degrees which, in addition to enhancing the efficacy of the scraping end effector, also allows the tool to be bent to sample tissues which cannot be reached by an endoscope.
It is apparent, therefore, that in flexible surgical instruments having hollow lumen flexible coils, it is sometimes desirable to stiffen the distal portion of the coil and it is sometimes desirable to enhance the flexibility of the distal portion of the coil. Unfortunately, the known methods of altering the flexibility of the distal portion of the coil each have significant drawbacks. Moreover, the manufacturing procedures used to enhance the flexibility of the distal portion of the coil are so different from those used to stiffen the distal portion of the coil that the coils cannot be manufactured with the same machines. In addition, it is often desirable to stiffen the proximal portion of the coil to prevent buckling of the coil when the coil is inserted through an endoscope.

Flexible surgical instruments incorporating a hollow lumen coil having areas of different preload tension


A device hub system includes: a control unit configured to: generate a workroom for providing access to a workroom accessible resource, including an enterprise multifunctional printer, protected by a network firewall; provide authentication for a participant device to access the workroom; receive a workroom request through the workroom; generate a workroom sharable information from the workroom request; and a communication unit, coupled to the control unit, configured to distribute the workroom sharable information within the workroom.

Modern consumer and industrial electronics, especially devices such as multifunctional peripheral devices, network devices, and electronic appliances are providing increasing levels of functionality to support modern life including resource sharing and solutions for these devices. Research and development in the existing technologies can take a myriad of different directions.
As more devices include advanced security features, device owners insist on using their devices to connect to organization networks and use the organization resources that may not be associated with those organizations. Furthermore, to improve productivity, these devices require additional means to exchange information with other devices and utilize protected or restricted resources on the organization networks.
Thus, a need still remains for a device hub system with resource access mechanism for managing information exchange protected network resources. In view of the ever-increasing commercial competitive pressures, along with growing consumer expectations and the diminishing opportunities for meaningful product differentiation in the marketplace, it is increasingly critical that answers be found to these problems. Additionally, the need to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and performance, and meet competitive pressures adds an even greater urgency to the critical necessity for finding answers to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Device hub system with resource access mechanism and method of operation thereof


A method of imaging an object on one or more sensor pixels and with reduced glare. The method includes irradiating a scattering medium and the object behind the scattering medium, creating backscattered radiation and imaging radiation that are received on the one or more pixels. The method includes digitally adjusting a phase, an amplitude, or a phase and amplitude, of reference radiation transmitted onto the one or more sensor pixels, wherein the reference radiation destructively interferes with the backscattered radiation (glare) on the one or more sensor pixels while the object is imaged on the one or more sensor pixels using the imaging radiation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and devices for suppressing glare.
2. Description of the Related Art
(Note: This application references a number of different publications as indicated throughout the specification by one or more reference numbers in brackets, e.g., [x]. A list of these different publications ordered according to these reference numbers can be found below in the section entitled "References." Each of these publications is incorporated by reference herein.) The problem of trying to see through fog has long been a serious challenge in automotive, aeronautical, and military applications, creating dangerous situations when trying to navigate without being able to see clearly. Several approaches have tried to tackle this problem by implementing real time holography systems to try and peer through the fog. However, these approaches were hampered by low resolution, limited imaging distance, and slow operating speed [36-38].

Glare suppression through fog by optical phase conjugation assisted active cancellation


A fence system for a band saw. The band saw defines an actual cutting plane and has a table having a table surface defining a desired cutting plane. The fence system comprises a rail member, a base member, a locking assembly, a fence member defining a fence surface, and an adjustment system. The rail member is mounted on the table and defines a rail axis that is substantially perpendicular to the desired cutting plane. The base member is supported by the rail member. The locking assembly selectively locks the base member at a selected position along the rail axis. The adjustment system mounts the fence member to the base member at a selected angle relative to the rail axis. The base member defines a pivot point about which the fence member is rotated by the adjustment system, and the pivot point is adjacent to the rail member.

The present invention relates to fences for woodworking equipment and, more particularly, to fences for band saw fences that may be adjusted to compensate for drift introduced by the band saw blade.
Band saws basically comprise a table for supporting a workpiece and a blade formed by a thin metal band in the form of a closed loop and having teeth formed on one edge. The blade is supported on upper and lower rollers such that it extends through a hole in the table. The blade is displaced along its axis, and the workpiece is moved relative to the blade to form the cut. The use of a thin metal band allows the cut to follow a curved path. The inherent flexibility of a thin blade, however, makes band saws less appropriate for forming straight cuts.
Fences have long been used with band saws to help form straight cuts. The band saw defines a desired cutting plane that corresponds to a vertical plane extending through the blade at a right angle to the table. A band saw fence is fixed relative to table such that a fence surface is parallel to the desired cutting plane. The workpiece is held against the fence and moved relative to the blade to form the cut.
Depending upon a number of factors, the actual cutting plane of a band saw blade will often xe2x80x9cdriftxe2x80x9d at an angle that is offset from the desired cutting plane. This drift angle is generally consistent for a given machine under a given set of operating condition, but can change over time or if the operating conditions change.
With a conventional band saw fence, the drift of the blade will cause the cut to move towards or away from the fence. If the cut moves towards the fence, the distance between the cut and the edge of the workpiece adjacent to the fence will become smaller than desired, and the workpiece will tend to pull away from the fence. If the cut moves away from the fence, the distance between the cut and the edge of the workpiece adjacent to the fence will become larger than desired, and the workpiece will tend to bind between the fence and the blade. Both scenarios are unfavorable, and the need thus exists for a band saw fence that quickly easily adjusts to accommodate blade drift for different band saws and under different operating conditions.
The following references were uncovered during a professional patentability search conducted on behalf of the applicants.
Of the patents turned up in the search, only U.S. Pat. No. 3,508,590 to Sprague, Sr. is specifically designed for use with a band saw. While this patent discloses a guide member that is angularly adjustable relative to the saw blade, this guide member is intended to be moved relative to the workpiece to obtain a cross cut and not to form a stable surface for a rip cut. The Sprague, Sr. patent in no way recognizes the problem of blade drift, and the angular adjustment disclosed in this patent could in no way be used accommodate for such blade drift.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,064,607 to Hirtz, Sr. discloses a guide member for woodworking machines, including band saws. The guide member is angularly adjustable. This angular adjustment is described as either making the guide member parallel to the blade or to allow the guide member to function as a stop. This patent fails to recognize any problems specific to band saws, such as blade drift, and thus does not teach using angular adjustment offset such blade drift.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 381,752 and 575,709 to Beach and Drew disclose guide assemblies for table saws having two screws arranged on either side of a pivot point to adjust the angle of a guide member relative to a saw blade. These guide assemblies are not specifically designed for use on band saws. Further, the angular adjustment is designed to allow the guide member to be aligned with the saw blade and not to be offset to accommodate blade drift.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,710,633 to Oberg discloses a miter gauge for a table saw that can also be used as a rip fence. The miter gauge allows angular adjustment, but this patent does not relate to band saws and does not disclose obtaining an offset angle to accommodate blade drift.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,048 to Osborne discloses a gauge for a sawmill that is adjustable relative to a rotary saw blade. Again, this patent does not relate to band saws and could not disclose, teach, or suggest the use of an offset angle to accommodate blade drift.
The present invention may be embodied as a fence system for a band saw. The band saw defines an actual cutting plane and has a table having a table surface defining a desired cutting plane. The fence system comprises a rail member, a base member, a locking assembly, a fence member defining a fence surface, and an adjustment system.
The rail member is mounted on the table and defines a rail axis that is substantially perpendicular to the desired cutting plane. The base member is supported by the rail member. The locking assembly selectively locks the base member at a selected position along the rail axis. The adjustment system mounts the fence member to the base member at a selected angle relative to the rail axis. The base member defines a pivot point about which the fence member is rotated by the adjustment system, and the pivot point is adjacent to the rail member.
The present invention may also be embodied as a method of supporting a workpiece on a band saw to form a desired cut in a work piece. A rail member is mounted onto the table of the band saw. The rail member defines a rail axis that is substantially perpendicular to a desired cutting plane defined by the band saw. A base member is supported on the rail member. The base member is locked at a selected position along the rail axis. A fence member having a fence surface is mounted on the base member. The fence member is attached to the base member such that the fence member engages and rotates about a pivot point on the base member. First and second bolt assemblies are arranged on either side of the pivot point to attach the fence member to the base member at a selected angle relative to the rail axis. The workpiece is then moved relative to the band saw to form the desired cut.
Other configurations of the present invention are also novel, so the scope of the present invention should be determined based on the scope of the claims attached hereto and not this Summary of the Invention.


A base station is provided which supervises the quality of a radio link and including a generator circuit for generating a supervising signal having a desired baseband frequency, a measuring circuit for monitoring the level of the baseband supervising signal, and a transmitting circuit for frequency-modulating a transmitting-frequency carrier of said baseband supervising signal. The measuring circuit comprises an A/D converter for deriving digital sample values from the baseband supervising signal, and a control circuit which monitors the deviation of sample values from that of a digital sample value corresponding to a supervising signal level causing a desired deviation in the output signal of the transmitting circuit on the basis of at least one reference value stored in a memory in connection with the calibration so that the deviation is no more than a predetermined difference value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a base station for a radio system, the base station supervising the quality of a radio link between the base station and mobile stations, and includes a generator circuit for generating a supervising signal having a desired baseband frequency; a measuring circuit for monitoring the level of the baseband supervising signal; a transmitting circuit for frequency-modulating a transmitting-frequency carrier of the baseband supervising signal and transmitting it to the mobile radio station, a receiving circuit for detecting the supervising signal transmitted back from the mobile radio station and modulating it to a receiving frequency; and a signal processing circuit for determining the quality of the used radio link.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the NMT (Nordic Mobile Telephone) mobile telephone system, the quality of the radio link between a base station and a mobile telephone is supervised by special supervising signals. The base station generates a supervising signal, e.g. by lowpass-filtering from a clock signal having a desired supervising signal frequency. The NMT system utilizes four supervising signal frequencies with spacings of 30 Hz. The base station transmits a supervising signal to the mobile telephone, which returns the supervising signal immediately to the base station, and the base station determines the quality of the used radio link, especially the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, by way of the received supervising signal.
When the level of the baseband supervising signal generated at the base station changes for some reason before transmission, this change in level appears as a number of deviation variations in the radio-frequency signal transmitted from the base station to the mobile telephone and frequency-modulated by the supervising signal and also affects the measuring accuracy of the S/N ratio of the radio link. In order to ensure that the measured S/N ratio describes the quality of the radio link sufficiently accurately, the NMT specifications define that the deviation caused by the supervising signal must not deviate from a set value by more than 10%. Today the level of the supervising signal is monitored by a measuring circuit comprising a rectifier and comparators, for which appropriate threshold voltages corresponding to the lowest and the highest allowable level of the supervising signal are set by a calibration circuit including adjustable resistors. Such a measuring circuit is, however, slow and difficult to calibrate, as it requires at least two adjusters and four adjusting procedures.

Monitoring and alarm circuitry for a base station transmitting supervising signals to one or more mobile radio stations