An apparatus and method for managing cables in a communication rack system having a first upright support member, a second support member spaced apart from the first support member to define an upright plane, a plurality of fastening locations along the first and second support members, an electronic device releasably mounted to the support members at selected fastening locations, and a plurality of cables projecting from a front surface of the electronic device. In one embodiment, a cable management device includes a mounting structure and a support structure. The mounting structure generally has a plurality of universal mounting sites arranged to correspond to the fastening locations along a portion of the first and second support members so that the mounting structure can be releasably affixed to the support members at selected fastening sites. The support structure projects from the mounting structure in a cross-wise support plane transverse to the upright plane and transverse to the first and second support members. The support structure is positioned relative to the mounting structure to support the cables to run at least substantially cross-wise with respect to the first and second support members at a selected elevation outward from the upright plane with respect to the electronic device when the mounting structure is coupled to at least one of the upright support members. The cable management device supports and retains the communication cables either in the front or the rear of the electronic devices from which they project in order to protect the cables and to allow the electronic devices to be stacked closely together. The cable management device can also be adjustable to work with electronic devices of various sizes.

Communication racks and relay racks are used in communication rooms to manage voice and data lines at demarcation points between carriers and users, or at other points in a network. A typical communication rack has two upright rails upon which a number of patch panels and other related electronic devices, such as hubs or routers, are mounted to connect one set of lines to another. The rails are separated by standard distances depending on whether it is a data rack (19 inches) or a telecommunication rack (23 inches). The rails can be exposed, or they can be enclosed in a cabinet or another enclosure to provide better control of the moisture and temperature surrounding the electronic devices. As one example of such a rack, a plurality of patch panels are commonly mounted on the rails of the communication rack to connect an outside line (e.g., a T1 line) from a carrier with a number of individual lines.
A typical patch panel includes a flange for mounting the patch panel to the upright rails of the communication rack, a back panel having one or more horizontal rows of ports for receiving incoming lines, and a front panel having a plurality of jacks for receiving outgoing lines. Each jack in the front panel corresponds to a port in the back panel. The flange projects from the sides of the patch panel to overlap the rails, and the flange has a number of mounting holes corresponding to a pattern of fastening locations along the rails. The patch panel can be mounted to the rack at a selected elevation by aligning the mounting holes of the flange with the fastening locations on the rails at the desired elevation, and then attaching the patch panel to the rails with a plurality of fasteners. A number of panels can be stacked vertically in this manner.
The back panel of the patch panel has a number of ports for receiving the individual lines that have been separated out of a complex line, such as a T1 line. The ports are organized in horizontal rows, and each row commonly has 24 ports. Depending on the number of individual lines that are to be connected to the patch panel, the back panel may have one, two or three rows of ports. A patch panel having three rows of ports is known as a three-unit (3U) patch panel, and it occupies approximately 5.25 vertical inches of rack space. A two-unit (2U) device has two rows of ports and occupies approximately 3.5" of vertical rack space. Likewise, a one-unit (1U) device has one row of ports and occupies approximately 1.75" of vertical rack space.
The front panel of the patch panel has one or more horizontal rows of jacks that correspond to the rows of ports on the back panel. Outgoing cables are easily connected to and disconnected from the appropriate jacks on the front panel to couple lines connected to the back panel to desired devices. Thus, as the individual devices are moved to different locations throughout a building, the devices may be coupled to the same lines on the back panel by switching the outgoing cables to the appropriate jacks of the front panel.
In operation, a first group of patch panels commonly manages the primary lines coming into a communications room, and a second group of patch panels manages the secondary lines going to specific locations in a building. By systematically connecting a patch cord between a specific jack of the first group of patch panels and a selected jack of the second group of patch panels, one line can be connected to another line in the building. The patch cords projecting from the jacks on the first patch panel are routed to another location on the rack or to another rack to be connected to the second patch panel.
A number of problems exist with current systems for managing cables in communication racks. As a general matter, most communication cables may not perform efficiently if they are crimped or bent tighter than a minimum bend radius. This is particularly true with fiber optic cables because sharp bends affect the optical properties of the cables. For example, in 3U patch panels in which the rows of cables hang from the patch panel, the collective weight of the stacked cables causes the lower rows of cables to bend at a tighter radius than the upper rows of cables. The lower rows of cables may consequently experience cross-talk or other problems. To prevent this from happening, installation technicians often mount each patch panel to a rack to provide enough vertical space above and below the patch panels to run the cables between the patch panels. As a result, a typical communication rack with approximately 48U of total space will have between 20U and 30U of space used for cable management and only about 18U-28U of space occupied by patch panels or other equipment.
A significant problem with this type of cable management system is that the vertical rack space occupied by the cables reduces the number of patch panels and other electric devices that can be mounted to the rack. The additional number of lines required for fax machines and modems is just exacerbating this problem causing communication racks to quickly fill to capacity. For example, because conventional cable management techniques required 20-30U of vertical rack space for supporting the cables, many communication racks are already at full capacity and cannot hold additional electronic devices. In many applications, therefore, the installers must purchase new racks or even build a larger communications room. Thus, conventional cable management techniques can present significant problems for businesses and other users that need to reconfigure or install new communications equipment.
Futhermore, merely using additional vertical rack space for adding new patch panels is difficult when the cables hang vertically in front of the patch panels and completely obstruct the technician's view of the front of the rack. To insert additional patch panels, technicians must sometimes disconnect cables. Disconnecting cables, however, is highly undesirable because it interrupts phone or data lines, and it creates a risk that the line will be incorrectly reconnected. Debugging a complex communications rack is complicated and time-consuming, and can be extremely expensive. Thus, reconfiguring or otherwise retrofitting communication racks that have some excess capacity is also difficult.


The present invention relates generally to a new apparatus and method for customized cooling of chips using a plurality of thermally conductive materials. More particularly, the invention encompasses an apparatus and a method that provides customized cooling of a MCM (Multi-Chip Module) by using a plurality of thermally conductive materials.

Semiconductor devices are becoming smaller and more dense with the evolution of new technology. However, increases in circuit density produce a corresponding increase in overall chip packaging strategies in order to remain competitive. Chip and chip carrier manufacturers are therefore constantly being challenged to improve the quality of their products by identifying and eliminating problems, reducing package size and weight, decreasing package costs, providing improved thermal efficiencies and by producing better and more advanced chips. Whereas significant improvements are being made to eliminate systematic problems by reducing process variability. Process improvements alone are not sufficient to eliminate all the problems which effect both performance and reliability.
One way to increase performance and reliability is to provide the shortest and most efficient thermal cooling path for the integrated circuit chips. This could be done by bringing the chip physically as close as possible to the heat sink. Another way would be to provide more efficient cooling of the chip. However, when the chips are brought closer to the heat sink, means also have to be provided to securely provide a thermal contact between the chip and the heat sink. In some cases highly thermally conductive epoxies have been used to provide a better thermal contact between the chip and the heat sink. However, this would create a problem if different types of chips are present on the MCM, because some chips may be "under cooled" while others may be "over cooled".
The introduction of MCMs has helped packages perform better electrically, but at the same time it has made them more difficult to cool. Moving chips from single chip modules (SCMs) to MCMs greatly affects the module heat flux density, even when chip flux densities are unchanged. The cooling of large MCMs has been the subject of many inventions, such as, for example, the use of pistons to cool the chips, and most recently FPC (flat plate cooling). While the previous approaches used tight tolerance mechanisms to provide a thermal/mechanical path for the heat to flow from the chip to the cooling fluid (air or water).
Flat plate cooling uses much fewer parts, and it uses a single thermal compound to provide the cooling path between the chip and the flat plate. In general, the concept of FPC is to install a flat thermally conductive "hat" just above, and parallel to the chip back side surfaces. The gap between the chips and the hat is typically filled with a single thermally conductive material. The single thermally conductive material (thermal compound, grease or paste) is installed in specific locations with sufficient quantity so that the back side of each chip is entirely covered. Although the compliant thermally conductive material has a thermal conductivity much lower than the metals used in previous inventions, it is able to provide better thermal performance at a lower cost because the thickness of the paste filled gap is small, there are fewer interfaces for the heat to cross, and it is insensitive to chip pitch.
A typical application of FPC would be to have an array of chips on a substrate, where each had the same size and height, cooled by FPC. In this application, each chip would have the same thermal resistance to the cooling hat.
One example of flat plate cooling is Umezawa, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,695, where a heat conducting compound is present between the chips and the flat cooling plate.
Research Disclosure, No. 270, Publication No. 27014 (October 1986), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a stick-on heat sink. A heat sink is attached to a module by sliding the module into the heat sink and where the edges of the heat sink snap close to secure the heat sink to the module. It is also disclosed that an adhesive or double sided tape could also be placed on the bottom surface of the heat sink to assure intimate contact between the module and the heat sink.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,697 (Spaight), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses placing a film of thermally conductive material between the chip and the heat sink or heat radiator.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,233,645 (Balderes et al.), discloses placing a block of porous material which is impregnated with a suitable liquid between the chip and the heat sink to provide a thermally conductive path.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,856 (Funari et al.), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a direct chip to heat sink attachment process where a thermally conductive adhesive is used to directly secure the heat sink to the chip.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,570 (Bickford et al.), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses another direct chip to heat sink attachment process where a thermally conductive adhesive is used to directly secure the heat sink to the chip.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,699 (Christie, et al.), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses solder interconnection whereby the gap created by solder connections between a carrier substrate and semiconductor device is filled with a composition obtained from curing a preparation containing a cycloaliphatic polyepoxide and/or curable cyanate ester or prepolymer thereof; filler having a maximum particle size of 31 microns and being at least substantially free of alpha particle emissions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,101 (Frey, et al.), the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a coverless chip carrier which uses at least two encapsulants. The first encapsulant is used to provide flip-chip fatigue life enhancement. The second encapsulant is used to provide limited environmental protection. A third encapsulant is also required for carriers using peripheral leads to contain the second encapsulant prior to curing. Also disclosed is that the encapsulant have a CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion) which is within 30 percent of the CTE of the solder balls.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,265 (Turlik, et al.) discloses that cushions could provide a thermally conductive path between an exposed back face of a chip and a heat sink. Also disclosed is the fact that a solder preform may be used for the cushions with the preforms being held in place using grooves or cavities or a combination thereof.
The inventors of this invention, however, are using an entirely different approach to solve this age old problem. They are customizing the thermal cooling area by providing a different thermal coefficient thermal fluid or paste or compound for each chip so that each chip could be cooled within its specific specifications. Also disclosed is that by varying the depth of the gap or the blind hole which is filled with the individualized thermal fluid one could also further fine tune the individual cooling regimes.
Furthermore, the structure and process of this invention offers several advantages over the prior art. For example, it provides a customized thermal path with a simplified modular construction which allows the ease of workability or repair of the assembled module.

Method for cooling of chips using a plurality of materials

International Business Machines Corporation


A power-operated lift, adapted to be mounted in a vehicle trunk has linkage means for raising a load-supporting platform in a vertical direction. The platform can be manually moved in a horizontal direction to remove the load from the trunk. The platform can be pivoted about the frame to provide access to a wheel well beneath the lift. A reversible motor is connected to the linkage for either raising or lowering the platform with respect to the trunk floor.

This invention is related to a lifting mechanism adapted to be installed in the trunk of a vehicle or the like, and more particularly, to a power-operated lift for raising a load-bearing platform in a vertical direction, and then permitting the user to slide the platform in a horizontal direction to remove the load from the trunk in a motion independent of the lifting motion.
Travelers, salespersons, golfers, and others sometimes carry a relatively heavy, bulky load in a vehicle trunk. Such a load is difficult to manipulate because of its bulk and weight. To overcome the problem of transporting such a load in the trunk, the prior art discloses a mechanism such as is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,022 which issued Aug. 5, 1986 to Elroy E. Bourgraf. A lift platform is mounted in the trunk of the vehicle for supporting a load. The platform is mounted on a pair of levers pivotally mounted on a base. A pair of handles are connected to the levers to swing the platform from its lower, storage position to a raised position in an arc in which the load is removed through the trunk opening, either with or without a power assist.


A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head has a near-field transducer (NFT) with a distal end having a leading side taper inclined at an acute angle to the ABS, such that an acute angle is formed between a leading surface of the leading side taper and the ABS. A main magnetic pole is disposed in the head facing a trailing side of the NFT. A waveguide core layer is disposed in the head facing the leading side taper of the NFT, on which a high refractive index material (HRIM) layer is positioned.

The present disclosure relates to a near-field transducer (NFT) in heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) heads that locally heats media during recording. When light from a laser diode is introduced into the NFT in conventional HAMR heads, the NFT reflects some of the light back to the laser diode. This reflected light causes power fluctuations of the laser, which then results in shifts of data transition points and optical near-field spots in the recorded track as well as changes in the track width, thereby compromising the recording precision and accuracy of the HAMR head. Without addressing these power fluctuations, further advances and improvements in NFT technology will be difficult to realize.

Near-field transducer with adjacent high-refractive index material layer


A carrier for the assembly, test and calibration of a mass air flow sensor on a production line. The support carrier consists of a structure having a well for receiving a first portion of the sensor head of the mass air flow sensor and a transverse air flow passage provided through the support structure aligned with the well and parallel to the top surface of the support structure. A clearance aperture connects the bottom of the well with an air flow passage and permits the sensor elements of the mass air flow sensor to be centrally disposed in the air flow passage. Sealing surfaces provided at the opposite ends of the air flow passage permit the carrier to be connected to a controlled source of air. Locating pins align the mass air flow sensor on the carrier with the sensor elements accurately positioned in the air flow passage.

Various types of carriers for the assembly, test and calibration of mass air flow sensors on automated production lines are known in the art. In general, the mass air flow sensor must be removed from the assembly carrier for test and calibration. Each time the mass air flow sensor is removed from the assembly carrier, there is a possibility that the sensor elements at the end of the sensor head may be damaged. Also, during the tests and calibration, the air flow profile of the different test and calibration stations are not only different from each other, but also may be different from the air flow profile which the mass air flow sensor is in actual use. As a result, the calibration of the mass air flow sensor is not as accurate as could be and often requires trimming and/or adjustment at the final installation in a control system, such as an electronic fuel control system for an internal combustion engine.
The invention is directed to a carrier which eliminated the removal of the mass air flow sensor for test and calibration and which provides an air flow profile during test and calibration which is repeatable and simulates the air flow profile the sensor will be exposed to in its ultimate application.

Carrier for mass air flow production line


This invention relates to a collapsible article of luggage or bag in which a plurality of pivotally mounted reinforcing panels and corner insertions permit the luggage to assume either a rigid or semi-rigid configuration or collapsed space-saving shape. Additionally, the top and bottom enclosure are secured to each other by a continuous zipper or slide fastener. This provides for ease of assembly by the manufacturer by merely zippering or fastening these elements together and welding the zipper at two points along its length to provide for permanent attachment of the top member to the bottom enclosure.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improved soft-sided structured luggage.
More particularly this invention relates to collapsible structured luggage which can be collapsed for storage by the user and which can be easily assembled by both the retailer and the user.
More specifically, this invention relates to a collapsible article of luggage in which a plurality of pivotally mounted rigid reinforcing or stiffening side panels and rigid corner insertions permit the luggage to assume either a rigid or semi rigid configuration or collapsed space saving shape. Additionally, the top cover member and bottom enclosure are secured to each other by a continuous zipper or slide fastener. This provides for ease of assembly by the manufacturer by merely zippering these elements together and welding the zipper or slide fastener at two points along its length to provide for permanent attachment of the top member to the bottom enclosure.
2. Prior Art
A common type of luggage is soft-sided structured luggage, which is formed of pliant material. Typically, one of the walls of the soft-sided luggage is hingeably mounted and constitutes a cover for the container or enclosure portion of the luggage. However, such soft-sided luggage can not be reduced in size when not in use. Such rigid or semi-rigid luggage is bulky in size when shipped or stored in an empty condition. The fixed external dimensions increase the volume occupied during shipment between the manufacturer, distributor and/or user and interfere with convenient space saving storage of the luggage at the wholesale and retail outlet, and the home. Attempts have been made in the past to provide collapsible luggage which when empty would be economical to ship and convenient to store.
Typically, known collapsible luggage is provided with stiffening inserts to create a structure of fixed dimensions. These designs, however, suffer from several defects that render them unsatisfactory for wide spread use, i.e. they are either inconvenient to use or rely on impractical designs. For example, such designs have included expansible bag inserts which are not suitably anchored in the erected bag causing such luggage to accidentally collapse in transport and handling. Further, some known "knock down" luggage is designed in a manner which adversely affects its ability to accommodate items within the bag because of frame cross structures. Further still, no known collapsible luggage has removable wheels.
More specifically, the following U.S. Pats. include some of the aforedescribed structures:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. INVENTOR ______________________________________ 732,983 Whitney 948,165 Erstling 2,699,848 Kaplan 2,718,943 Braverman 3,447,648 Schwennicke 4,588,056 Bernbaum 4,589,530 Sher 4,655,329 Kaneko 4,781,278 Sadow 4,951,818 Johnson ______________________________________
U.S. Pat. No. 732,983 to Whitnev describes a dress suitcase having a detachable tray. The suitcase has two lids (B) and (C) each having overlapping edges (See FIG. 2 of Whitney).
U.S. Pat. No. 948,165 to Erstling describes a handbag. The handbag has a bottom wall (1) which is formed by two sections which form extensions on the side walls and are united by a seam. Tacks (12) may be placed in the seam. (See FIGS. 2 and 3 of Erstling).
U.S. Pat. No. 2,699,848 to Kaolan describes foldable and adjustable luggage. The luggage is hard luggage wherein a pair of end frames are detachably assembled with a foldable body. The body is adapted to be collapsed into a flat condition when not in use to permit storage in a small area. The body is formed from a single piece of flat material, e.g. fibrous stock, foldable along lines extending transversely thereof midway between its ends. The construction of the luggage permits it to be sold with a single pair of end frames and a plurality of collapsible bodies differing from one another in respect to the size thereof. As a result, when a valise or trunk of a particular size is needed, one selects the body found most suitable for the specific occasion and assembles the selected body with the end frames. Such a structure may be stored in a small area when not in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,718,943 to Braverman describes a collapsible traveling bag. The bag may be readily reduced in size for storage. Referring to FIG. 1 of Braverman, the front wall is provided with an access opening which is closed by a flap. The flap may be closed and opened by a slide fastener or zipper and apparently, may be completely removed. The bag is provided with a collapsible frame. (See FIG. 3 of Braverman) for extending the bag from the operating condition. Wire frame extensions and which are on hinges pivot to extend the suitcase to its operating position. When collapsed the suitcase may be folded.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,447,648 to Schwennicke describes a variable volume suitcase. The suitcase has in it two rigid frames which extend along the edges of the two large opposite faces of the soft suitcase. The frames may be variably spaced from each other to change the volume of the suitcase.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,056 to Bernbaum describes a collapsible article of luggage which has internal stiffening panels. The stiffening panels may be released to an unsecured position to permit the luggage to collapse. In its reinforcing position, the stiffening panels are anchored by an elongated retaining member affixed thereto. For example, in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 of Bernbaum the reinforcing members comprise a pair of rigid panels and which are sewn or otherwise attached to internal portions of the bag. Flexible strips of material, affixed to an edge portion of panel members and, are sewn or otherwise attached internally to the bag. The reinforcing panels and are not capable of swinging movement due to their attachment to the bag by flexible flaps, allowing the panels to be lifted away from the position shown in FIG. 4 of Bernbaum and to be rearranged in a position essentially parallel to walls.
Also provided are a pair of retention panels of a relatively rigid material which are sewn adjacent the bottom walls of walls and and may be swung from the position shown in FIG. 4 of Bernbaum to the position shown in FIG. 3 of Bernbaum. The retention panels may be affixed by hinge strips of flexible material in the manner of reinforcing panels as desired.
Strips of Velcro material are disposed along an edge portion of each of the reinforcing panels and are arranged to engage the corresponding Velcro strips formed on the retention members. Such anchoring of the end reinforcing panels expands the bag with a dimensional rigidity through expansible support of collapsible walls.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,530 to Sher describes luggage having a side stiffening board which, when removed, permits the luggage to collapse.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,329 to Kaneko describes luggage which is collapsible, the sides being freely foldable sheets of board (See FIGS. 1 and 2 of Kaneko).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,278 to Sadow describes soft luggage formable into "hard" luggage by a provision of axially extending stiffening members.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,818 to Johnson describes an equipment carrier having tensioning members held in pockets of the sides thereof (See FIG. 4 of Johnson). Additionally, the apparatus has wheels thereon.

Samjung-Dong Joon-Ku Buchun City Kyunggi-Do


Disclosed herein is an overcharge protection device including a diagnostic function. The overcharge protection device comprises: a mechanical overcharge protection device, connected between the relay actuation coil of a main relay and a ground, for disconnecting the connection between the relay actuation coil and the ground when the degree of swelling of a battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined value; and a control unit for diagnosing whether the mechanical overcharge protection device is operating or has failed by detecting the voltage between the two ends of the mechanical overcharge protection device. Accordingly, because whether the mechanical overcharge protection device is operating or has failed may be diagnosed accurately, it is possible to detect in advance that the mechanical overcharge protection device may not be operating normally due to the defects or failure thereof whereby a fail-safe overcharge protection device may be embodied and safety may be improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an overcharge protection device and method that include a diagnostic function.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a lithium-ion battery, which is a rechargeable battery, may explode and ignite when it is overcharged. Also, a battery module usually includes multiple battery cells in order to provide the required output power. When any one of the battery cells included in the battery module is overcharged and thus explodes or ignites, it may affect not only the overcharged battery cell but also the other battery cells. Therefore, it is essential to prevent the battery from being overcharged in order to secure the safety of the battery.
Generally, overcharge protection devices may be categorized into electrical overcharge protection devices and mechanical overcharge protection devices.
An electrical overcharge protection device continuously monitors the voltage of a battery cell by being connected to one of the cells included in a battery module. When the battery cell is overcharged and the voltage of the battery cell exceeds a certain voltage, the electrical overcharge protection device opens the switch of a main relay by interrupting the supply of voltage applied to the actuation coil of the main relay, whereby the electrical connection between the battery module and the charging power source or load is disconnected.
The mechanical overcharge protection device continuously monitors whether a battery cell abnormally swells by being connected to one of the cells included in a battery module. When the battery cell is overcharged and the internal pressure thereof increases, the battery cell swells. In this case, the swelling of the battery cell causes the mechanical overcharge protection device to open the switch of a main relay by opening a closed circuit that includes the actuation coil of the main relay, whereby the electrical connection between the battery module and the charging power source or load is disconnected.
However, because a conventional mechanical overcharge protection device does not include a diagnostic function for the overcharge protection device itself, it may not determine whether the mechanical overcharge protection device is in a normal state or in a nonfunctioning Ss state, and may not check whether the overcharge protection operation, which actually disconnects the electrical connection between the battery module and the charging power source or load, has been performed appropriately in response to the abnormal swelling of the battery cell.
When the contact points of the mechanical overcharge protection device have worn down due to vibration or the like, the mechanical overcharge protection device may not operate normally due to failure of the contacts. Accordingly, even if the battery is overcharged and swells, the conventional mechanical overcharge protection device may not detect this, and the battery may explode or ignite.
A patent application mentioned below in the documents of the related art relates to a failure diagnosis circuit capable of diagnosing the failure of a switchgear unit installed in the charging and discharging path of a secondary battery while reducing the increase of discharge current of the secondary battery, and a battery pack including this failure diagnosis circuit. However, the patent application mentioned in the following documents of the related art may not diagnose the operating state and the failure of a mechanical overcharge protection device.
Therefore, required is an overcharge protection device and, method that can diagnose the operating state and the failure of a mechanical overcharge protection device.

Overcharge protection device and method including diagnostic function


A simplified LDAP access language system provides user-defined attributes that tell the directory system who the user wants to give read or write access to a specific set of his attributes. The read and write attributes are separate lists and may, in fact, differ, thereby giving the user the flexibility to better manage access to his attributes. The value of the read and write attributes are in an LDAP Filter format which is an Internet standard (RFC 2254) which allows the user to specify not only users local to his intranet, but users across the Internet as well. Access control lists (ACL) are created by the System Administrators and list the specific attributes that the user is allowed to control read or write access, giving the Administrators full control of what information the user can give out. The ACLs are stored in the directory along with the entries. When a user accesses an entry in a directory, the server checks the ACL specified for the attributes being accessed. The read or write attribute for the owner of the attributes being accessed are used by the server when it checks the ACL. The combination of the read or write attribute and the ACL determine whether the user has permission to perform the read or write access to the attribute being accessed.

1. Technical Field
The invention relates to accessing information from a directory structure in a computer environment. More particularly, the invention relates to controlling access to data within LDAP directory structure in a computer environment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory (such as Netscape Communications Corporation's Directory Server) is a collection of "entries." Each entry has a name (called the Distinguished Name) and a list of attribute values. The entries in a directory are organized in a tree structure, with major groupings that are subdivided into smaller units. A directory might contain several organization entries, each of which contains several organizationalUnit entries. These entries can be further subdivided.
LDAP provides search operations that can be performed over specified portions of the directory tree. Trees and subtrees, therefore, are a natural way to deal with data stored in an LDAP directory.
Entries and attributes correspond to a wide variety of data types such as personnel information, server configuration, business relationships, and user preferences. Since all entries are stored within a single directory, a method is required to restrict the availability of specific information to authorized users.
The method used to control access is via Access Control Lists (ACL). The Directory Server Administrator (DSAdmin) creates some basic ACL rules that grant permission to certain users to access various information in the directory. Most of the security considerations will require from tens to hundreds of rules to implement. The smaller number of ACL rules offers better performance and easier manageability.
Because a directory is the critical central repository in an intranet containing collections of information, e.g., about people, it is imperative that a rich set of access options/features be provided. For example, the user should be able to modify his entry, or to update his home address or home phone number without any DSAdmin intervention.
A better feature would be to give the user the ability to decide who can access some of his personal information. The only way to do that is to allow users to create ACLs. However, a directory can contain millions of entries such as the directory used by Netscape's Netcenter. To support this size of a directory using the traditional approach would require millions of ACLs which would not only degrade the server's performance but would also be highly unmanageable. It also creates a risk, i.e., the user can create a rule denying the DSAdmin some privileges which is unacceptable.
Another disadvantage is that ACL syntax are generally complex. A normal user is unable to understand the format and fields of the rules to be able to use the rules effectively and safely.
It would be advantageous to provide a simplified access control language that gives the system administrator the ability to allow a user to specify a list of people that have access to certain attributes of that user's directory entry information. It would further be advantageous to provide a simplified access control language that provides a simple mechanism to allow a user to make those specifications.

Simplified LDAP access control language system


A torsion bar (50) and seat belt retractor (20). The torsion bar (50) has a circular cross section where the torsion bar is formed as a cold headed extruded part and wherein the grain structure of the metal is aligned along the axis (axial direction) of the bar generally in the center of the bar and the grain structure smoothly diverges from the axial direction near an end formation (52a,b). The torsion bar is later annealed and twisted about 180 degrees.. The seat belt retractor (20) includes: a frame (22) to rotationally support the torsion bar and spool (30). The torsion bar (30) is characterized by an elastic deformation zone and a sharp onset into a plastic deformation zone. The spool is operatively connected to rotate with the torsion bar. The retractor also includes a locking device, activated during a vehicle accident and operatively linked to the torsion bar for preventing one side of the torsion bar from rotating while permitting the other side and the spool to rotate once loaded by the occupant.

The present invention generally relates to torsion bars usable in energy absorbing seat belt retractors.
The classic type of seat belt retractor comprises a frame with a spool rotationally mounted upon the frame. The spool will typically include one or more lock wheels each having a plurality of teeth which are engaged and locked by a corresponding lock pawl. The lock pawl or lock dog is rotationally mounted to the frame and movable from a disengaged position to an engaged position with a tooth of the lock wheel. In this type of retractor once the spool is locked, further rotation of the spool is prohibited. One skilled in the art will appreciate that all forward motion of the occupant will not be stopped in this type of retractor because as the occupant loads the locked retractor, the seat belt is stressed and stretches and the seat belt slips over itself (the so called film spool effect).
However, with an energy absorbing retractor, the spool and its associated mechanisms are permitted to rotate and the seat belt is controllably permitted to protract in response to the load imparted to the seat belt by the occupant. The forward motion of the occupant is restricted by a reaction force or torque generated within the retractor and modified by the stretching seat belt. In this way the protraction of the seat belt and the forward motion of the occupant are controlled. Energy absorbing seat belt retractors often employ a deformable member such as a crushable bushing or a torsion bar. In either case, the bushing is crushed or the torsion bar twisted beyond its elastic limit into its plastic range or zone of operation to generate the desired (theoretically constant) reaction torque which acts against the torque transferred to the retractor spool via the forces imparted to the seat belt by the moving occupant.
The goal of an energy absorbing retractor is to generate a generally constant reaction force to oppose the forward motion of the occupant and to be able to generate this reaction force during the accident event, that is, during the entire time that the seat belt is loaded by the occupant. In theory this can be achieved by utilizing a crush bushing or torsion bar that always operates in its constant plastic zone.
In a torsion bar, seat belt retractor, one end of the torsion bar is fixedly attached to a lock wheel and the other end is fixed to the retractor spool. During an accident the lock wheel is prevented from rotating by interposing a lock dog or lock pawl within the teeth of the lock wheel. As the seat belt is loaded by the occupant, the spool will tend to rotate in opposition to the reaction torque generated within the torsion bar, as the torsion bar is twisted. The generated reaction torque depends upon the amount that the torsion bar is rotated or twisted as well as upon the physical characteristics of the torsion bar.
More specifically, the reaction torque generated by a torsion bar will vary depending upon whether the torsion bar is in its elastic, transition or plastic zones or ranges. As mentioned, in an ideal torsion bar, the elastic range is characterized by a steep (preferably infinitely steep slope or deflection curve) and the plastic range is characterized by a perfectly constant torque deflection region having a sharp transition from the elastic region. In this ideal torsion bar and corresponding seat belt retractor, once a first end of the torsion bar is locked and the spool loaded, the torsion bar will immediately make a transition from its elastic range (see curve 100 of FIG. 1) into the plastic range of operation such that a constant reaction force is generated by the retractor as the seat belt is protracted.
Prior art torsion bars have been made using a number of different manufacturing methods. In one method, an over-sized metal bar is machined to reduce its diameter to a desired dimension. Subsequently, end formations are formed on the machined bar such as by cold rolling. The machining of the bar may produce stress risers which are typically non-uniform and the cold rolling of the machined bar, it is believed, reorients the grain structure of the metal in an undesirable manner. To make the stress distribution within the torsion bar more uniform, an annealing step is often used, which adds to the cost of the final product. However, this type of torsion bar does not achieve the objects of the present invention as it displays the characteristic torque deflection curve similar to that shown in curve 102 of FIG. 1 having an elastic zone, an extended elastic/plastic transition zone and a plastic zone. In another method of manufacture the torsion bar is made using a cold-formed process in which a metal bar or wire (large diameter), has a diameter less than the desired dimension. The smaller than desired diameter bar is expanded into a bar having the desired larger diameter. This type of bar has been tested and it displays or shows a characteristic torque deflection curve similar to that of curve 102 of FIG. 1. The prior art has also suggested a method of making a torsion bar having a shortened or abrupt elastic/plastic transition zone. In this method a pre-machined or pre-formed torsion bar is work hardened (by being pre-torqued or twisted beyond its yield torque level) prior to installation within a seat belt retractor. One potential deficiency of this technique is that the pre-twisting reduces the useful range through which the torsion bar can be additionally twisted, during an accident, once installed within a retractor.
I have previously proposed another methodology of making a torsion bar for use within a seat belt retractor. The torsion bar was formed of a ductile, elongated body, located between the end formations and formed by pre-stressing bar stock by extruding an oversized metal bar into a bar of a reduced diameter with its grain structure in the vicinity of a center of the bar aligned in a longitudinal direction. The end formations of the torsion bar were formed by a cold heading process. In this process the cold headed bar was not annealed. In this process, the cold heading did not disturb the longitudinal direction of the grain structure in the central portion of the torsion bar.
I have found that if the bar stock is first extruded, with the formations cold headed as I had first proposed but subsequently if the torsion bar is annealed but not at a temperature or duration which will not cause the grain structure to increase and the torsion bar is pre-twisted, excellent results can be expected.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a torsion bar which displays an abrupt transition from its elastic zone to its plastic zone. A further object of the invention is to provide an energy absorbing seat belt retractor which uses the above type of torsion bar.
Accordingly, the invention comprises: a torsion bar having a circular cross section where the torsion bar is formed as a cold headed extruded part. Preferably, the grain structure of the metal is aligned along the axis (axial direction) of the bar. If the grain structure diverges from the axial direction near an end formation it does so smoothly. Subsequent to being cold headed, the bar is annealed and thereafter twisted to generate a determinable level of work hardening. For the disclosed bar the amount of twist is about 180 degrees (0.5 twist).
Additionally, the invention comprises a seat belt retractor having: a frame; wherein the torsion bar is rotationally supported relative to the frame and wherein the torsion bar is capable of generating a determinable reaction torque as it is twisted (with one end thereof fixed). The torsion bar is characterized by an elastic deformation zone and a sharp onset into a plastic deformation zone. The retractor also includes a spool operatively connected to rotate with the torsion bar; lock means, adaptable during a vehicle accident and operatively linked to the torsion bar for preventing one side of the torsion bar from rotating while permitting the other side and the spool to rotate once loaded by the occupant.
Many other objects and purposes of the invention will be clear from the following detailed description of the drawings.

Energy absorbing seat belt retractor having a torsion bar


A process for making a compound of formula I wherein the substituents are as described in the specification comprising reacting a ketone of formula II with succinic anhydride and an alkoxide base to form a compound of formula III which is reacted with a compound of formula IV to form a compound of V and reacting with an alcohol to form the corresponding ester of formula VI and reacting the ester with N-methylhydroxylamine.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process of preparing 1,5-diaryl-3-substituted pyrazoles of the formula wherein
R1, R2, R3 and R4 are the same or different and are individually selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, amino, acetamido, phenyl, halo, hydroxy, lower alkylsulfonyl, lower alkylthio, nitro, trifluoromethyl, omega-trifluoromethyl lower alkoxy, or where R1, R2 or R3, R4 taken together with the phenyl group to which they are attached, form a naphthyl or substituted naphthyl group.
In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a process of making 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-N-hydroxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-propanamide, a compound of formula Ia, known as tepoxalin.
The compounds of formula I and method of making and using the compounds of formula I are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,868, issued May 2, 1989, incorporated by reference herein.
Tepoxalin is a potent inhibitor of both the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of the arachidonic acid cascade (U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,868 and Robinson, C., Drugs of the Future, 15, 9. 902 (1990)).
Known methods of synthesizing tepoxalin include the following. U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,868 describes reacting the alcohol, 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-3-propanol with Jones reagent to form the acid, 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazole-3-propanoic acid, which is reacted with dimethylformamide and oxalyl chloride in tetrahydrofuran ("THF") which is then reacted with methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride and triethylamine in THF.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,952 describes a process for making tepoxalin which comprises reacting a hydrazine with a diketoacid to form a pyrazole acid which is reacted with dimethylformamide and oxalyl chloride to yield the pyrazole acid chloride which is reacted with methyl hydroxylamine hydrochloride and triethylamine to yield tepoxalin. The diketoacid is prepared by adding an appropriately substituted acetophenone to a solution of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA made from diisopropylamine and n-butyllithium in THF at low temperature). Alternatively, lithium hexamethyl disilazide may be employed as the base in place of lithium diisopropylamide. Succinic anhydride is then added to this solution to produce the diketoacid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,054 describes a process wherein p-chloroacetophenone is reacted with succinic anhydride to form 4-chloro-γ,ε-dioxo-benzenehexanoic acid which is reacted with acetic anhydride or acetyl chloride to yield 5-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxoethylidene] dihydro-2(3H)-furanone. This compound is then added to a mixture of N-methylhydroxylamine hydrochloride and an amine base such as triethylamine, Hunig's base, pyridine or lutidine and a solvent such as methylene chloride or chloroform to form 4-chloro-N-hydroxy-N-methyl-γ,ε-dioxo-benzenehexanamide which is combined with 4-methoxyphenyl hydrazine hydrochloride, an amine base as described above in an alcoholic solvent such as methanol, ethanol or propanol.
The preparation of 4-chloro-γ,ε-dioxo-benzenehexanoic acid from p-chloroacetophenone utilizing various bases selected from lithium diisopropylamide (LDA); LDA•LiCl; magnesium diisopropylamide (MDA); MDA•1LiBr; MDA•2LiBR or lithium bis (trimethylsilyl) amide was disclosed in Murray et al, Synthesis 1991, p. 18-20.
Due to cost, toxicity, and hazard considerations, it is desirable to be able to synthesize 1,5-diaryl-3-substituted pyrazoles, particularly tepoxalin, without the reagents lithium hexamethyl disilazide, oxalyl chloride and methylene chloride and without excess p-chloroacetophenone.
The current invention produces tepoxalin in a much higher over-all yield and at a decreased cost than the known processes.

Process for preparing 1,5-diaryl-3-substituted pyrazoles


A lithium or lithium alloy cathode, instead of the cathode foils of commercial electrolytic capacitors, can substantially increase the volumetric energy density of a valve metal/metal oxide capacitor. The capacitors exhibit a voltage capability unexpectedly higher than the voltage supported by the anode alone. This unexpected advantage is achieved by constructing a capacitor including (1) a negative electrode comprising lithium or a lithium alloy; (2) a positive electrode comprising a relatively high surface area valve metal having a relatively thin oxide surface film; (3) a separator material disposed between the positive and negative electrodes to physically separate the electrodes and capable of allowing the passage of ions through the material between the electrodes and (4) an organic, non-aqueous electrolyte containing lithium ions and compatible with both electrodes.

Electronic equipment controlled by microcomputer requires a reserve power source to protect the microcomputer system from memory loss resulting from a momentary main power shut-down. A reserve power source for microcomputers must be small in size yet have sufficient capacitance to store enough electric charge to protect the computer memory from erasure during momentary power failure.
New capacitors have been developed in an attempt to provide a reserve power supply having a small size and increased capacitance, including an activated carbon electrode and an ionically conductive sulfuric acid electrolyte (see Sanada and Hosokawa, Electric Double Layer Capacitor "Super Capacitor", NEC Research and Development, No. 55 Oct. 1979, pages 21-27). The unit cell voltage for the "Super Capacitor" is 1.2 volts. Accordingly, to achieve the required voltage for microcomputer memory protection of, say 5 volts D.C., it is necessary to stack several unit cells.
This assignee, similarly, has developed a new capacitor having a high surface area carbon-electrolyte electrode, a lead metal-electrolyte electrode, and an ionically conductive electrolyte to achieve a capacitor having a high capacitance and a small volume, Phillips et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,481. Again, however, the maximum voltage each cell can support is only about 1.25 V D.C. making it necessary to stack a plurality of cells in series to achieve the required operating voltage of, for example, 3 to 5 V D.C.
It is well known in the art of capacitor manufacturing that the necessity of stacking capacitors is time consuming, may require selection and testing of appropriate unit cells to be stacked together and is otherwise economically inefficient. However, in spite of the obvious drawbacks and long felt need associated with stacking capacitors to achieve the needed operating voltage in a capacitor having a small volume, others have been unable to provide a single unit cell having the required small volume capable of microcompuer memory protection. One area of pursuit has been to provide various capacitor electrode materials having a very large surface area/volume ratio to achieve a high capacitance at a small volume, such as the activated carbon disclosed in the Phillips U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,481. While the volumetric efficiency is substantially improved in the capacitor described in the Phillips et al. '481 patent, each cell has a maximum applied voltage of only about 1.25 V so that four cells must be stacked in series to provide a typical voltage rating of 5 V D.C. as a back-up power source for a typical semiconductor memory device.
Other anode materials, such as the oxide coated valve metals having relatively thick oxide coatings are known to support higher voltages, but the capacitance of such materials is limited because of the smaller surface area and the thickness of the oxide coating. Aluminum and tantalum electrolytic capacitors are typical examples of the use of higher voltage supporting, less capacitance, capacitor electrodes, having relatively thick oxide coatings.
Any reduction in the thickness of the anode oxide coating on these electrodes, while increasing the capacitance of the device, also decreases the maximum voltage that the capacitor can support so that more than one of the capacitors must be stacked in series to achieve necessary voltage rating, at a small volume.

Lithium/valve metal oxide/valve metal capacitor


A semiconductive resin composition includes a plurality of thermoplastic resins forming a sea-island structure including a sea portion and an island portion; and a plurality of conductive fillers. The sea portion includes at least two of the thermoplastic resins, at least one of the at least two of the thermoplastic resins is a copolymer, and the content of the copolymer is from 20% to 60% by weight per 100% by weight of the thermoplastic resins in the sea portion, and the following relation is satisfied:1.5≦B/A≦10wherein A represents an average primary particle diameter of one of the conductive fillers having the smallest average primary particle diameter and B represents an average primary particle diameter of one of the conductive fillers having the largest average primary particle diameter.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a semiconductive resin composition, a member for electrophotography and an image forming apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
As one of members for electrophotography for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an intermediate transfer belt formed of a semiconductive resin is known. Recently, image forming apparatuses have been required to have lower cost, and the intermediate transfer belt is required to have lower cost as well. At the same timer, the intermediate transfer belt needs to ensure image quality and durability.
However, it is difficult to control resistance in a semiconductive area while maintaining mechanical properties and durability in variation of environment. Particularly, although extrusion molding with a thermoplastic resin is advantageous to cost reduction because of being capable of producing continuously, resistance deviation in a circumferential direction of the belt due to the die tends to be large.
In order to solve this problem, a method of blowing a gas again from an outer circumference of the tube near the upper end of the mandrel where an extruded tube is most deformed such that the outer circumferential temperature is close to that of the mandrel to control the surface resistance level of the endless belt to be not greater than ±1 order is disclosed.
However, a new device blowing an outer gas from the outer circumference increases production facilities and complicates production process, resulting in cost increase. Therefore, cost reduction is not achieved.
Meanwhile, when the resistance deviation in a circumferential direction is large, a first transfer and a second transfer are difficult to execute at a high resistance portion, resulting in production of defective images. The resistance deviation in a circumferential direction is not sufficiently reduced by conventional technologies. Therefore, a semiconductive resin composition suppressing the resistance deviation is desired.

Semiconductive resin composition, member for electrophotography and image forming apparatus


An infrared heater includes a combustion chamber having a radiator with a surface arranged to direct radiant heat in a forward heating direction. A fan has an outlet opening which is located to direct a flow of air above the radiating surface, thereby deflecting convective air heated by the combustion chamber in the forward direction. The fan is mounted above and on the rear side of the chamber so that it is out of the influence of radiant and convective heat developed by the chamber. A motor which drives the fan is mounted at one end of the fan so that the motor is also not affected by the radiant and convective heat.

The present invention related generally to heating apparatus, and more particularly to heating apparatus including a radiator which is brought to red heat by combustion of a fuel.
Conventional fuel combustion heating apparatus is generally known as an infrared ray heater. In the conventional infrared ray heater, about 55% of the thermal energy generated by the combustion of fuel is radiated from the heater radiator element in a given direction, usually forward of the heater, while the rest of the thermal energy flows into the surroundings as exhaust heat in a spontaneous convection merely raising the temperature near the ceiling. This renders the heating operation, with the conventional heater, quite inefficient.
Further, when articles to be dried are placed in front of the known infrared ray heater for a long period of time, the temperature differences between the portions of the articles facing the heater and the portions of the articles facing in the opposite direction are significantly large and cause the articles to deflect or warp due to differences in thermal expansion. The conventional infrared ray heater has the further disadvantage that it is necessary to rotate the articles to accelerate drying, and to arrange a number of the articles equidistant from the heater to obtain even drying. This is not only troublesome, but inefficient as well.
An object of the present invention is to overcome the above and other disadvantages in conventional heaters, and to provide a heater of high efficiency including an infrared ray heater and a fan for deflecting heated convective air in the same direction as the radiated heat.
In accordance with the present invention, a heating apparatus comprises a combustion chamber including a generally cylindrical housing, and a radiator forming a part of the housing and having a radiating surface which extends over the axial length of the chamber for directing radiant heat in a forward heating direction. A fan has an outlet opening substantially coextensive with the radiating surface in the axial direction of the chamber to deflect convective air heated by the chamber in the forward direction. The fan is mounted above and to the rear side of the chamber housing so that the fan is out of the influence of radiant and convective heat developed by the chamber. A motor is mounted at one end of the fan so that it is also out of the influence of the radiant and convective heat.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention .


A beverage holder for a beverage container for example a can, a cup, or a beaker is provided for installation into a dashboard of a motor vehicle and has a pulled-out portion arranged to be displaceably guided as a drawer and having an insertion opening for a beverage container, wherein the beverage container has a shape of an arc of a circle and is provided with an arcuate slide guide and a support rotatable through 180xc2x0 for supporting the inserted beverage container securely against tipping over.

The invention relates to a beverage holder.
Such beverage holders are known per se and are provided for installation, for example, in a dashboard of a motor vehicle. The known beverage holders have a pull-out portion that is guided displaceably back and forth in the manner of a drawer, by means of a slide guide, between an inserted position in which it is not in use and an extended in-use position. In the inserted not-in-use position, the pull-out portion is recessed in the dashboard of the motor vehicle and terminates flush with the dashboard, especially by means of a cover panel. In the extended in-use position, the pull-out portion projects from the dashboard. The pull-out portion has one or more insertion openings for the insertion of a beverage holder, which openings, in the extended in-use position of the pull-out portion in which it projects from the dashboard, are accessible and can be used for the insertion of a beverage holder. Beverage holders may be, for example, a drinks can, a cup, beaker or the like.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a beverage holder which can be adapted to a given installation space in and behind a dashboard.
In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a beverage holder which has a pull-out portion that has an insertion opening for insertion of a beverage holder; a slide guide which guides said pull-out portion displaceable back and forth as a drawer between an inserted non-in-use position and an extended in-use position, said slide guide being formed as a curved guide that displaceably guides said pulled-out portion at a start of an extension movement with a large vertical component and toward an end of the extension movement with an increasingly horizontal component, said pull-out portion including a support having a rotation bearing for a beverage holder inserted in said insertion opening, with an axis of rotation of said rotation beverage bearing having a position selected from a substantially vertical position and a substantially inclined position forward in a direction of extension when said pull-out portion has been extended.
The displacement path of the pull-out portion on extension thereof, starting from the inserted position of the pull-out portion in which it is not in use, extends initially upwards or obliquely upwards. As the extension movement continues, the direction of displacement of the pull-out portion by the curved guide increasingly changes to the horizontal. In this, the direction of displacement does not have to be exclusively horizontal, even when the fully extended in-use position of the pull-out has been reached; instead the direction of displacement of the pull-out portion can also extend at an angle to the horizontal direction even at the end of the extension movement. The terms used to illustrate the invention that define spatial direction, such as xe2x80x9cupwardsxe2x80x9d, xe2x80x9chorizontalxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cverticalxe2x80x9d are to be understood as relative to a proposed installation positions of the beverage holder.
As a result of the curved guide of the pull-out portion according to the invention, the space required for the beverage holder in a notional approximately horizontal plane or in a direction approximately perpendicular to the dashboard in and behind the dashboard is reduced. Of course, there must be available for the beverage holder an installation space that is directed downwards in a curved shape behind the dashboard. By means of its curved guide, the beverage holder according to the invention is adapted to a given installation space behind a dashboard of a motor vehicle.
As a result of the curved guide, the pull-out portion of the beverage holder according to the invention slopes away to the rear, xe2x80x9crearxe2x80x9d being intended to mean relative to the extension movement of the pull-out portion. This has the consequence that the height of the insertion opening for the beverage holder in a region of the insertion opening is reduced, xe2x80x9ca rear regionxe2x80x9d being intended to mean a region of the insertion opening face the dashboard in the extended in-use position of the pull-out portion and located to the rear in the direction of extension of the pull-out portion. In order to support an inserted beverage holder reliably and at sufficient height against tipping over, claim 1 provides a support having a rotation bearing for a beverage holder inserted in the insertion opening. The axis of rotation of the rotation bearing in the in-use position of the pull-out portion extends approximately vertically or inclined forwards relative to the vertical in the direction of extension. In order to insert a beverage holder into the insertion opening, the support in a pull-out portion that has been extended to the in-use position is rotated backwards into the rear region of the insertion opening. The backwards-rotated support projects upwards above the pull-out portion and supports a beverage holder inserted in the insertion opening in the rear region of the insertion opening above the pull-out portion. As a result of the backwards-rotated support, the inserted beverage holder is supported and held reliably against tipping over. A further advantage of the rotatable support is that it enables the insertion opening to be widened sideways. As a result of the rotatable support, the diameter of the insertion opening can be increased beyond the width of the pull-out portion.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the beverage holder has a pulled-out portion that has an insertion opening for insertion of a beverage holder; a slide guide for guiding said pulled-out portion displaceably back and forth as a drawer between an inserted not-in-use position and an extended in-use position, said slide guide being a curved guide that displaceably guides said pulled-out portion at a start of an extension movement with a large vertical component and toward an end of said extension movement with an increasingly horizontal component, said pulled-out portion including a support that, in a support position, is located in a rear peripheral region of said insertion opening and above said pulled-out portion and is recessed in said pulled-out portion in a non-supporting position.
When the beverage holder is designed in accordance with the present invention it provides a support that can be moved from a non-supporting position to a support position. In the support position, the support is located in the rear portion of the peripheral region fo the insertion opening above the pull-out portion. The support supports a beverage holder inserted in the insertion opening in the rear region of the insertion opening above the pull-out portion, so that the beverage holder inserted in the insertion opening is held securely against tipping over. The support supports a drink container inserted in the insertion opening in that region of its periphery in which the height of the insertion opening in the pull-out portion is reduced as a result of the curved guide thereof. In a non-supporting position, the support is recessed in the pull-out portion, which means that the support does not project to the side of or above or below the pull-out portion. In that embodiment of the invention also, it is possible to move the support outwards to the side during movement to the support position, in order to increase the diameter of the insertion opening beyond the width of the pull-out portion.
The support that moves upwards into the support position and the rotating support can each be provided separately or jointly on a beverage holder.
The curved guide of the pull-out portion is not necessarily in the form of an arc of a circle, but a preferred embodiment of the invention does provide an arcuate guide as slide guide for the pull-out portion. An arcuate guide enables sliding guidance of the pull-out portion, which is especially also arcuate, in an arcuate housing.
A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a mechanical drive for the support, which rotates the support as the pull-out portion is being extended and/or inserted. The mechanical drive is drive by the displacement movement of the pull-out portion. The drive may comprise a control curve mechanism for its drive.
In a further development of the invention, a pivot lever is provided as a component of the drive, which, on extension and/or insertion of the pull-out portion, is pivoted and engages with the rotatable support and as it pivots it rotates the support. The pivot lever is pivoted during extension and/or insertion of the pull-out portion by means of the control curve mechanism.
An embodiment of the invention provides a pivot bearing for the support on the pull-out portion in order to guide the support on the pull-out portion movably from the non-supporting position to the support position and vice versa. A development provides an oblique pivot axis of the pivot bearing. The pivot axis is so arranged that the support is pivoted both upwards and outwards to the side, relative to the pull-out portion, upon movement from the non-supporting position to the support position. As a result, both the support height in the rear region of the insertion opening is increased, in order to hold a beverage holder inserted in the insertion opening securely against tipping over, and the insertion opening is also increased. The widening of the insertion opening makes it possible to increase the diameter of the insertion opening beyond the width of the pull-out portion.
In a preferred construction, the beverage holder according to the invention comprises a mechanical drive for the support, which drive, on extension of the pull-out portion to the in-use position, moves the support upwards and optionally outwards to the side into the support position and/or, on insertion of the pull-out portion into the not-in-use position, moves the support downwards and optionally inwards into the non-supporting position in which it is recessed in the pull-out portion. The mechanical drive may comprise, for example, a spring element, which presses the support into the support position. On extension and insertion of the pull-out portion, the support slides, for example, along an edge of a housing in which the pull-out portion is displaceably guided, so that, on extension of the pull-out portion to the in-use position, the support moves to the support position and, on insertion of the pull-out portion, the support moves to the non-supporting position in which it is recessed in the pull-out portion, each of those movements of the support being actuated by a spring. That construction of the invention has the advantage that the support moves automatically.
A development of the invention provides two supports, each of which moves upwards and outwards to different sides in the support position. That construction of the invention enables greater widening of the insertion opening as a result of movement of the supports into the support position and thus a more narrowly constructed pull-out portion and beverage holder for a given diameter of the insertion opening.
In accordance with still a further feature of the present invention, the beverage holder in accordance with present invention has a pulled-out portion having an insertion opening for insertion of a beverage holder, a slide guide for guiding said pulled-out portion displaceably back and forth as a drawer between an inserted not-in-use position and an extended in-use position, said slide guide being a curved guide that displaceably guides said pulled-out portion at a start of an extension movement with a large vertical component and toward an end of the extension movement with an increasingly horizontal component; and means for damping the extension movement of the beverage holder such that damping increases towards an end of said extension movement of said pulled-out portion.
When the beverage holder is designed in accordance with the present invention it provides increasing damping of the pull-out portion towards the end of the extension movement. The damping can increase, for example, suddenly before the fully extended in-use position of the pull-out portion has been reached or continuously (progressively), linearly or nonlinearly over the entire extension movement or over a portion at the end of the extension movement.
The purpose of increasing damping at the end of the extension movement of the pull-out portion is as follows: as a result of the curved guide of the pull-out portion, the extension movement extends initially perpendicularly or steeply upwards and at the end of the extension movement extends flat or even horizontally. The effect of gravity counteracting the extension movement thus decreases during the extension movement of the pull-out portion, the pull-out portion accelerates at the end of the extension movement and, as a result, impacts abruptly at the end of the extension movement. The acceleration during extension of the pull-out portion is increased as a result of the fact that friction of the slide guide decreases during extension of the pull-out portion, since the guidance length over which the pull-out portion is guided displaceably decreases as extension progresses and consequently as the pull-out portion projects further, for example, from a housing of the beverage holder or from the dashboard of the motor vehicle. The damping that increases towards the end of the extension movement of the pull-out portion reduces or prevents violent contact of the pull-out portion at the end of its extension movement against an end stop or the like of the slide guide. The damping that increases towards the end of the extension movement of the pull-out portion can be provided on embodiments of the beverage holder according to the invention independently or jointly with the above-described rotatable support for a beverage holder inserted into the insertion opening of the pull-out portion.
In an embodiment of the invention, the damping that increases towards the end of the extension movement of the pull-out portion is achieved by means of a damping element that becomes effective only towards the end of the extension movement of the pull-out portion. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a toothed wheel of a damping element engaging a toothed rod only towards the end of the extension movement of the pull-out portion. It is also possible for the rotating movement of the rotatable support or for the pivoting of the pivot (ever that rotates the support to be dampened when the support is rotated only towards the end of the extension movement of the pull-out portion or when the pivot lever is pivoted only towards the end of the extension movement of the pull-out portion. Since the mechanical drive for rotating the support derives its movement from the displacement of the pull-out portion, the damping of the rotation of the support or of the pivot lever has an effect back on the extension movement of the pull-out portion and damps the extension movement of the pull-out portion at the end of the extension path. In addition to the damping element described, which becomes effective only towards the end of the extension movement of the pull-out portion, it is also possible to provide a damping element that damps the extension movement of the pull-out portion over its entire displacement path.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

fischerwerke Artur Fischer GmbH and Co. KG


A method and apparatus for establishing a non-contact signal pathway to conductive surfaces of a circuit includes a laser beam generator and an optical system for focussing a laser beam from the beam generator onto a plasma forming foil. The foil is positioned near the conductive surface so that the plasma touches the foil at a spot. The signal pathway is thus established between the foil and the conductive surface through the plasma. Signals can be applied to and read from the conductive surface through the pathway.

The present invention relates in general to methods and apparatuses for monitoring signals from and injecting signals to functional electrical circuitry, and, in particular to a new and useful method and apparatus of achieving these functions without contacting the electrical circuitry. For this purpose, the present invention utilizes laser-induced photoionization which creates plasma volumes that are utilized for monitoring and injecting the signals.
Mechanical pin contact electrical testers have been used for many years to monitor signals from and inject signals to electrical circuitry. The testers are brought into contact with printed wiring boards (PWV) and thus make physical contact with the various conductive connections of the electrical circuitry connected to the wiring boards. The simultaneous reduction of printed wiring board features and the utilization of a multitude of imbedded signal layers has rendered the use of mechanical electrical testers obsolete.
Fragile, "one-chance" connectors on high density input/output (I/O) boards require electrical testing of PWB's without actually contacting the connectors.
Non-contact technology is not currently available however, to achieve this function.
Extremely expensive functional and in-circuit testing equipment is, however, currently available, for example from Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). Without non-contact testing (NCT) methodology, it is not practical to utilize this equipment on fragile and complex circuitry.


This invention provides a system and method of Advanced Process Control for optimal operation of multi-unit plants in large scale processing and power generation industries. The invention framework includes the following components: continuous real time dynamic process simulation, automatic coefficient adjustment of dynamic and static process models, automatic construction of transfer functions, determination of globally optimal operating point specific to current conditions, provision of additional optimal operating scenarios through a variety of unit combinations, and calculation of operational forecasts in accordance with planned production.

Advanced Process Control (APC) and Multivariable Predictive Control (MVPC) are considered established technologies in the large scale processing and power industries with a plethora of published material, e.g. Qin S. Joe and Thomas A. Badgwell, "An Overview of Industrial Model Predictive Control," AIChE Conference, 1996, J. A. Rossiter, "Model-Based Predictive Control: A Practical Approach," 2003 and Eduardo F. Camacho and Carlos Bordons, "Model Predictive Control," 2007.
Recently a lot of attention was paid to optimal operation of multi-unit plants, e.g. a white paper by Honeywell, "Optimization Solution White Paper: an Overview of Honeywell's Layered Optimization Solution", 2009, and another white paper by ABB, "Lifecycle Optimization for Power Plants," 2004, followed by ABB's news release in 2012 titled "Life cycle management and service". Additionally, IBM has been promoting its Smarter Planet for energy and utilities, see, for example, white paper, "The State of Smarter Energy and Utilities," 2010.
As equipment performance, production demands, and process and ambient conditions all fluctuating, determine the optimal operating mode across multi-unit plants are complicated. Control and data acquisition systems provide an extensive quantity of process data. However, the multidimensional analysis required to achieve optimal operation are often beyond human ability.
Some of the challenges addressed in these publications are the inefficiencies existing in current large scale processing and power generation providers and the need for holistic control, not just geared towards specific units, but for the entire plant operation or even a plant network, involving multi-unit designs, which ultimately provides optimal process operation.
Examples of multi-unit plants in large scale processing and power industries include:                Oil field operations with a large number of surface pumping units, oil pipe line networks, well test gathering stations, and storages.        Gas and oil pipeline networks, equipped with a large number of pumping stations and pumping units.        Steam flood operations with a large number of steam generating stations and steam generators.        Hydrocarbon processing plants.        Power Generation plants equipped with gas/steam turbine driven generators, heat recovery steam generators, and boilers.        Power distribution network with a large amount of electrical producers and consumers.        Water treatment plants and water distribution network.
The benefits of APC/MVPC (with basic foundations described well in U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,033 issued on April 1998 to Wassick et al. as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,519,605 issued on May 1996 to Cawlfield) systems implementation into multi-unit plants include the following:                Assistance in achieving optimal operation by accurately responding to real time demands and limitations.        Process optimization to reduce energy consumption in meeting delivery commitments.        Enhancing companies' ability to manage data and make better operating and prospecting decisions.        Improving process stability, allowing operation closer to target, constraint and optimum values.        Forecasting, process simulation, determining the ability to meet obligations.
The large scale processing and power industries exhibit high demand for a decision support system that encompasses all of the above automation functions for plant networks, that is loaded with the state-of-the-art algorithms and models, and that is ultimately able to effectively communicate its performance and recommendations to decision makers throughout the organization. The current invention is the cost effective solution to this demand.

Method of large scale process optimization and optimal planning based on real time dynamic simulation


An infant garment band including fastener ends to secure the band in surrounding relationship relative to a waist portion of an infant is provided to include a plurality of fastener members extending above and below the band for securement of an infant tee shirt and diaper relative to the infant. A modification of the invention includes a locking loop directed through a forward surface of the band through the fastener portion for mounting a tether line thereto, wherein the apparatus further is arranged to provide for securement clasps mounted to a rear surface of the band to permit securement of the band and the infant relative to a cart structure and the like preventing inadvertent and accidental loss of the infant from such transport vehicles.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to infant apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved infant garment band apparatus wherein the same is arranged for securement about a torso portion of an individual for securement of infant garments to the infant.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Infant tee shirts and diapers due to the physiological configuration of infants are prone to displacement relative to the infant, wherein the instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing for a securement band apparatus to maintain proper positioning of infant garments relative to the infant. Prior art support structure is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,682 to Hall setting forth a suspender structure for supporting pants and the like to an individual.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,932,897 to Young sets forth a hockey garter belt wherein a flexible belt includes band members directed downwardly therefrom.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,285,069 to Hall sets forth a garter belt structure utilizing downwardly directed support bands.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,489 to Greenwood sets forth a garment support structure utilizing a garment mounting a suspender-like member directed downwardly therefrom for securement to a diaper and the like about an infant.
As such, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved infant garment band apparatus as set forth by the instant invention which addresses both the problems of ease of use as well as effectiveness in construction and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.


The present invention provides a system and method (60) for providing a graphical user interface. The proposed method (60) for graphical user interface includes generating an application window (10) containing a plurality of controls (12-34). A first user input (64-72) is received for selecting an area (36) within the application window (10). A group of controls (18-34) are then identified, among the plurality of controls (12-34), which are included within the selected area (36). A second user input (76) is received to enter a value in one of the controls (18) in the identified group of controls (18-34). The same value is then updated in the remaining controls (20-34) in the identified group of controls.

In an application having multiple controls, such as combo controls, at any point of time, it is only possible to change value in one of the controls. Even though programmatically it is possible to change values in multiple controls, the user does not have a choice to dynamically select a group of controls and change the values (preferably same) in them simultaneously. In a situation where there are more than one combo controls and all are having same set of entries, and if user wants to select same value in all the combo controls, it has to be done individually. There is no way this can be done at one-shot for the desired combo controls. The user has to select explicitly every combo control to set the same value in all the combo controls.
Hence, there is a need for an improved graphical user interface for such applications that address the above-mentioned problems.

System and method for graphical user interface


An elastomeric coating composition for glass fibers is provided that gives the glass fibers improved weaveability. The coating contains an elastomeric latex, an external plasticizer that is soluble, dispersible or emulsifiable in the elastomeric latex; an antioxidant; and an elastomeric curing agent. Also the coating composition can contain melamine aldehyde polymer, emulsifier, wetting agents, surfactants, synthetic waxes, stabilizers, lubricants, solubilizing agents and anti-foaming agents.

The present invention is related to treated glass fibers and, more particularly, to an elastomeric coating composition for treating glass fibers that yields coated glass fibers having improved weaveability. Glass fibers constitute continuous glass fibers as well as strands, yarns, cords, and fabrics formed thereof. Glass fibers have been used in various ways in woven products, such as, those in the carpet industry.
The use of glass fiber strand in woven products requires that the glass fibers have a soft protective coating to protect the glass fibers in the strand from interfilament abrasion and to provide characteristics such as lack of brittleness needed in the production of the woven product. The coated glass fiber strand must have sufficient weaveability to allow its use in woven products.
Weaveability is a characteristic that glass fiber strand must have to undergo satisfactorily the weaving process, where the strand is wound around a cop inside a shuttle of a weaving loom. The process involves transporting the shuttle, or the strand itself in a shuttleless loom, back and forth across the loom so the strand unravels from the cop to supply the weft in between the warp strands running perpindicular to the weft strands. As the strand unravels, it is coiled to some degree due to its previously wound condition. The coiled strand is vulnerable to breakage from the force applied to it in being transported across the loom. To avoid breakage from this force the strand should have a good knot tensile strength. The knot tensile strength as measured by American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) Standard D-2256 measures the tensile strength of the strand when folded over itself in a knot. Generally glass fiber strand composed of glass fibers having small diameters have better weaveability than strands composed of coarser glass fibers. The problem with this is that strands composed of fine glass fibers are more expensive to produce.
Coated glass fiber strand composed of glass fibers having a large diameters and possessing good weaveability would be useful in many woven products. For example in the past the fill material for woven carpets that is used as the weft to lock in the pile and other components was composed of jute fibers. Jute fibers made good carpet fill material, since the fibers are quite strong and reasonably stable. Recently the availability of jute has become a problem. This coupled with the recognized problem of lack of uniformity of jute fibers has led to the replacement of jute with glass fibers as carpet fill material. The glass fibers used to replace the jute have been in the form of waste tire cord or glass fiber strand composed of small diameter glass fibers. Coated glass fiber strand is an excellent replacement for jute in carpet fill material because of the uniformity, dimensional and heat stability and strength of the glass fiber present therein. The replacement of jute by glass fiber strand requires a coated glass fiber strand with good weaveability and one that is not too tacky. This is obtained when the glass fibers in the strand have a small diameter, i.e. G-fiber diameter or smaller. In "The Manufacturing Technology of Continuous Glass Fibers," K. L. Lowenstein, Elsevir Scientific Publishing Company, New York, 1973 at page 26, there is an explanation of the filament diameter and strand designation by letter, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The economic penalty incurred in using strands with small diameter glass fibers must be tolerated, since strands with glass fibers of larger diameters lack good weaveability to make a good carpet fill material or other woven products. Waste tire cord is not readily used in producing woven products because the cord is too tacky and involves additional process steps to reduce the tackiness.
Also, it is well known in the art that plasticizers or softeners can be used in a material to increase the material's susceptibility to plastic flow, flexibility, workability, and distensibility. But it is also well known in the art, that the incorporation of a plasticizer into a material decreases the strength of the material and in some cases when plasticizers are added to materials render them tacky.
It is an object of the present invention to provide coated, coarser, glass fibers that possess sufficient strength, stability and lack of brittleness, and adequate knot tensile strength characteristics without being too tacky to produce coated glass fiber strands with improved weaveability.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a coating composition to coat glass fibers to increase the glass fibers strength, stability, lack of brittleness, and weaveability and knot tensile strength without an adverse increase in tackiness to permit the glass fibers to be produced in coarser, more economic filaments that are made into strands for use in woven products.

Elastomeric coating composition for glass fibers and coated glass fibers made from same