The present invention encompasses a system and method for automatically interrupting a flow of power from an external electrical energy source to at least one device upon the extinguishing of power to another device. The system includes a power strip, a voltage sensing device (e.g., a 5 Volt power tap), and a switch. The power strip has at least one switched outlet adapted to receive an electrical power cord plug from at least one secondary or peripheral device. The voltage sensing device selectively detects an operating voltage of a primary device, wherein the operating voltage is less than a voltage associated with power supplied by the energy source. The switch is coupled to the voltage sensing device and selectively supplies electrical energy from the energy source to the switched outlet(s) depending upon whether or not the voltage sensing device detects the operating voltage of the primary device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electrical power delivery devices, and, more particularly, to an electrical extension cord with electrical outlets (commonly referred to as a "power strip") controlled by a personal computer (PC) for providing and interrupting power to peripheral equipment.
One type of electrical extension cord, commonly known as a power strip, generally comprises an elongate box-like housing having a row of plug-receiving receptacles formed therein, an on/off switch, and a single power cord which is connectable to a standard AC nominal 110 volt (foreign 220 volts) wall or other outlet. The power cord is typically plugged into the power outlet to energize the power strip. Thereafter, a plurality of devices may be plugged into the various plug receiving receptacles of the power strip. When the on/off switch of the power strip is turned to its "ON" position, current will flow to the plug-receiving receptacles and any devices which are plugged into the receptacles will become energized. Conversely, when the on/off switch is placed in its "OFF" position, devices which are plugged into the electrical power strip will become de-energized. Some of the currently available electrical power strips include resettable circuit breakers and generally include circuitry involving power surge suppression and noise filtration, to protect the personal computer from power surges, noise that comes from standard AC power, and power outages or blackouts. Some power controllers also include backup power supply in the form of a battery that can sustain the computer if a power outage or blackout occurs. These conventional power controller devices function to transmit power to a computer and peripheral devices, but generally fail to affect any operative functions of the computer or its peripheral devices.
Other power controllers are generally confined to outlet strips that enable a computer and several peripheral devices to be connected to the power strip, which is connected directly to a standard AC wall outlet. In computer systems, there is a problem of how to conveniently turn on the CPU and peripherals from the desktop. This problem is commonly handled by the use of a manually operated master switch on a conventional multi-outlet power strip or under monitor power centers. This approach however requires that the power strip be located next to the computer or under the monitor, something that is often undesirable. Another approach is to use a power strip, which is remotely controlled by a smaller switching unit, located at the desktop. This still suffers from the problem of requiring an additional piece of equipment on the desk. Power supply units in older PC's, such as the model XT and AT, provided only one such controlled outlet for the connection of a monitor. When several peripheral devices were connected to a computer system, an extension line was needed to provide peripheral equipment with AC power supply. However, because the extension line was not connected in series to the power outlet of the power supply unit of the computer system, the installed peripheral equipment had to be turned off separately when the computer system was turned off. If the computer user forgot to turn off the peripheral equipment, the peripheral equipment remained ON and consuming and wasting electrical power.
When using modern computers it is desirable and customary to cause a plurality of peripheral equipment to become energized and de-energized concurrently with the CPU. For example, when using a computer, it is sometimes desirable to energize/de-energize a group of secondary or peripheral devices concurrently with the computer. Examples of such secondary devices, which may be powered externally of the computer, include monitor, printer, plotter, scanner, sub woofer and speakers, etc.
However, it is unduly laborious to have to turn each of the secondary or peripheral devices on and off independently, rather than utilizing the single on/off switch of the power strip to effect simultaneous energization and de-energization of the secondary devices. And, the under-monitor control center is obsolete because it does not support the automatic software turnoff feature common in today's software products as will be described below.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In order to provide background information so that the invention may be completely understood and appreciated in its proper context, reference may be made to a number of prior U.S. patents as follows:
4,204,2494,675,5375,506,7904,312,0354,685,0235,731,9474,368,3944,747,0415,904,5914,484,2584,794,5256,211,5814,463,9675,250,8514,395,6405,347,1674,623,9675,359,5404,647,7215,424,903
U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,640 to Bone, issued Jul. 26, 1983, discloses a "special electric convenience outlet." Specifically, the invention discloses a home convenience electrical outlet unit which includes the particular combination of both normally energized outlets for powering appliances requiring constant power and switch controlled outlets for selectively energizing appliances. This device incorporates a manually operated switch and is not intended to be used in connection with personal computer equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,250,851 to McKnight, et al., issued Oct. 5, 1993, discloses a "video monitor support and power distribution assembly". This is the well-known under-monitor control center and is not capable of automatic connection or disconnection of power to computer equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,167 to Singh, issued Sep. 13, 1994, discloses a "power controller using keyboard and computer interface". This invention is a power control device which incorporates a microcontroller to control the switching of power to and from a plurality of outlets. A host computer communicates with the microcontroller through the computer's keyboard interface to instruct the device to turn on or off one or more of the outlets either immediately or at one or more preset future times. An operator communicates with the microcontroller through the computer's keyboard to intercede to instruct the device to initiate a sequence of pre-programmed on/off events. This invention works only with Apple Computers using the Macintosh operating systems due to its use of ADB (Apple Desktop Bus). This device requires special software known as "PowerKey Pro Software" in order to function.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,359,540 to Ortiz, issued Oct. 25, 1994, discloses a "computer assisted electric power management" system, and describes a complex power control apparatus connected to a parallel port of a computer. This device utilizes apparatus which connects through a computer in which electrical power outlets are independently switched in response to control signals from user switches, the computer, or other devices (telephone ring signal, timer alarm, etc.), and on demand transmits to the computer logic status and hardware interrupt signals. The device requires a "memory resident routine or program to control the on/off state of the electrical power outlets automatically and/or in response to keyboard commands".
U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,903 to Schreiber, issued Jun. 13, 1995, discloses an intelligent power switching system for controlling the electrical connection of a power source to each of a plurality of outputs, such as personal computer components or electronic entertainment equipment. Switch circuitry is coupled to relay circuitry for generating signals responsive to user commands to select an "ON" or "OFF" state with respect to each output. A processor receives switching signals and generates control signals to effect actuation of the relays. Responsive to user programming commands, the processor stores the switching signals, their sequence and the time delay between their generation. Responsive to a subsequent abbreviated user "power-on" command, the processor generates control signals by reading the stored switching signals, their sequence and time delay, and automatically actuates the relays with respect to each output in the same order and with the same time delay as defined by the user programming commands. A "power off" command causes the relays to be actuated in the reverse order. The Schreiber device is a micro-processor controlled sequencer unit with time delayed sequencing. This intelligent power switcher needs very complex hardware and software in order to function and to achieve its goals. It is also a self-operated device without the action of a human being and does neither allows manual operation nor implements the objects of the present invention. The instant invention permits both automatic software shutoff as well as manual shutoff by switching the CPU master on/off switch to the off position.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,506,790 to Nguyen, issued Apr. 9, 1996, discloses a "single-chip microcomputer programmable power distributor", which is an apparatus for controlling an electrical power distributor for a personal computer, its peripherals, and other devices. The apparatus includes a parallel interface, single-chip microcomputer, plurality of relays, power source connector, and plurality of electrical outlets. Communication with the distributor is made by a software program for the personal computer that translates simple commands from the user into commands sent through the parallel port of the personal computer to the distributor. This intelligent power switcher needs very complex hardware and software in order to function and to achieve it goals.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,201 to Karageozian, issued Nov. 26, 1996, discloses an electrical power strip device for energizing and de-energizing at least one secondary device substantially simultaneously with the energization and de-energization of a primary device of the type having a power supply cord which is connectable to a first electrical power source and a power output jack which becomes energized and de-energized simultaneously with the energization and de-energization of said primary device via its power supply cord. This device uses an electro-mechanical relay which requires significant voltage and current to function. Further, the relay of Karageozian only operates in response to the presence or absence of primary 110 volt AC power in the power supply cord, and does not sense the secondary side of the 110 Volt AC signal.
Further, Karageozian discloses the use of a radio frequency transmitter connected to the power output jack of the primary device to emit a radio signal when the power output jack is energized and a radio frequency receiver connected to the relay switch to receive the radio signal and to close the electromechanical relay switch when a radio signal is received.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,591 to Shiau, issued May 18, 1999, discloses a "power connector system for use with a computer system synchronously" describes a power connector system for connection to a monitor outlet of a computer power supply. This is an older version of a power supply unit where the computer system provides a 110V AC outlet for the connection of a monitor and uses a relay connected to this output in order to be synchronized with the master power switch.
Also using any split connectors like the keyboard connector, mouse connector or any connector supplying 3 to 32 volts (Standard PC power supply provides voltages within PC are +5V red or +12V yellow). Our does sense the secondary DC side by means of 5V power tap.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,947 to Hirose, issued Mar. 24, 1998, discloses an "electricity tapping apparatus which automatically turns on the slave units by sensing the power status of the master unit", describes a power plug for inserting in a wall outlet and a tapping table consisting of more than one outlet for accepting power plugs of slave units connected by an electric cord, a switch provided in the cord, the switch ON/OFF controlled by a switch control means which detects through a second power plug connected with a service outlet of a master electronic equipment power voltage provided in parallel with power voltage to be supplied to the master electronic equipment, the switch control means controls whether to provide slave units connected with outlets of the tapping table with power supply voltage when the master electronic equipment is energized. This invention is directed to another complicated power strip containing circuitry which will disable certain outlets on the power strip in response to the interruption of power of the main unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,211,581 to Farrant, issued Apr. 3, 2001, discloses a "power bar with remote control", describes the Power Bar with Remote Control that allows a user to control from a distance the power of each outlet contained in the attached Power Bar. This device is similar to the under monitor described previously where a human being must operate a master switch other than the master switch on the CPU. A master switch also allows the power to all outlets to be turned on or off in unison. This device, however, requires that equipment have USB Fireware IEEE 1394 protocol dedicated exclusively to the task of controlling the power in order to have integrated dual AC 110V power and is not capable for automatic connection or disconnection of computer equipment. Cannot be used automatically by the computer, but must be human operated.
Whatever the precise merits, features and advantages of the above cited references, none of them achieves or fulfills the purposes of the present invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for automatically interrupting power to a secondary device upon the extinguishing of power to a primary device


A computer enclosure includes a chassis having a rear wall, a transfer card, a mounting bracket, and a PCI card. An expansion slot is defined in the rear wall of the chassis. A detachable shielding cover is formed on the rear wall adjacent to the expansion slot. The transfer card is secured in the chassis. The transfer card has a circuit board perpendicular to the rear wall. The mounting bracket is secured to the rear wall of the chassis and has a width substantially equal to a length of the expansion slot. The PCI card is secured to the mounting bracket and perpendicularly attached to the transfer card. A receiving space corresponding to the shielding cover is defined shielding cover and the PCI card, for receiving a connector between the mounting bracket and the circuit board of the transfer card.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer enclosures, more particularly to a computer enclosure adapted for accommodating different types of transfer cards.
2. Description of Related Art
Peripheral component interconnect cards (PCI) are widely used in computers. PCI is a kind of bus structure, which is used for connecting modem cards, monitor cards, sound cards or other peripheral equipment to a computer. A computer usually includes a plurality of PCI cards mounted on a rear wall of a computer chassis. Conventionally, one end of a PCI card is secured to a metal piece. Then, the metal piece is secured to the rear wall of the computer chassis via screws. An expansion slot is defined in the rear wall of the computer chassis corresponding to connectors of the PCI card. A transfer card perpendicular to the rear wall is secured to a bottom wall of the chassis at a position adjacent to the expansion slot. Another side of the PCI card is inserted into the transfer card and perpendicularly abuts thereon. Generally, component configurations in computers vary according to the different requirements of customers. In some case, customers may need a computer enclosure with a transfer card having another type of connector different from that of the PCI card. Thus, the conventional computer enclosure cannot satisfy the demand of customers since the PCI card abuts on the transfer card so that any other connectors installed on the transfer card would interfere with the PCI card.
What is needed, therefore, is a computer enclosure adapted for accommodating different types of transfer cards.

Computer enclosure adapted for mounting different types of transfer cards


A power supply apparatus includes a transformer which has a primary coil and a secondary coil, a primary side semiconductor component which configures a primary side circuit connected to a side of the primary coil of the transformer, a secondary side semiconductor component which configures a secondary side circuit connected to a side of the secondary coil of the transformer, a choke coil which is connected to the secondary side semiconductor component, and a base plate on which the transformer, the primary side semiconductor component, the secondary side semiconductor component, and the choke coil are mounted. Any two of the transformer, the primary side semiconductor component, the secondary side semiconductor component, and the choke coil configure a first stacked body stacked in a normal direction of the base plate, and other two of the transformer, the primary side semiconductor component, the secondary side semiconductor component, and the choke coil configure a second stacked body stacked in the normal direction of the base plate. The power supply apparatus has a pair of first lines connecting the primary side semiconductor component and the transformer to each other, and a pair of second lines connecting the transformer and the secondary side semiconductor component to each other. The first lines and the second lines respectively have a pair of first current paths and a pair of second current paths which are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other and are configured so that currents flow in the normal direction of the base plate. At least one of the pair of the second current paths is adjacent to at least one of the pair of the first current paths in a second direction orthogonal to a first direction in which the pair of the first current paths are adjacent to each other. The first current paths and the second current paths adjacent to each other in the second direction are configured so that currents flow therethrough in directions opposite to each other.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a power supply apparatus including a transformer.
Related Art
A power supply apparatus such as a DC-DC converter has a transformer, a primary side semiconductor component connected to a primary coil side of the transformer, a secondary side semiconductor component connected to a secondary coil side of the transformer, and a choke coil connected to the secondary semiconductor component. These components are mounted on a base plate, and are arranged in the extension direction of the base plate (refer to JP-A-2007-221919).
However, when the transformer, the primary side semiconductor component, the secondary side semiconductor component, and the choke coil are arranged in the extension direction of the base plate, the power supply apparatus increases in size in the extension direction of the base plate. Hence, it can be considered that groups of two of the transformer, the primary side semiconductor component, the secondary side semiconductor component, and the choke coil are mounted on the base plate in a state where the two of the transformer, the primary side semiconductor component, the secondary side semiconductor component, and the choke coil are stacked in the normal direction of the base plate. Accordingly, two stacked bodies are closely arranged to decrease a space of the base plate where the components are mounted, which can decrease the power supply apparatus in size.
However, when forming the two stacked bodies and mounting them on the base plate, connection lines connecting between the components are easily close to each other. Hence, due to wiring arrangement of the connection lines, magnetic fluxes produced from the connection lines interfere with each other, which may easily produce large electromagnetic noise.


A cosmetic applicator includes an elongate hollow threadable insert having a mouth situated at a front end, an interior, and circumferential splines at an opposite end. An exterior surface of the opposite end of the insert includes an integral partially circumferential cam terminating in a radial edge, the insert having a direction of rotation about an axis of the applicator. A piston having a threaded rod is proportioned in diameter for push-fittable axial insertion through the threadable insert and engagement with a refill cartridge. The rod is proportioned in length to the threadable insert. The refill cartridge receives a stick or column of cosmetic to be applied to the user, and includes a front portion having an annular collar and a portion having a cylindrical internal diameter proportioned for press-fittable receipt of the threaded insert.

In a typical prior art lipstick dispenser, there exists a hollow tube and piston which holds the cosmetic material of the lipstick. However, none of the dispensers in the prior art have refill cartridge tubes in the shape of a teardrop or non-cylindrical shape. The inventive teardrop tube shape will re-create the teardrop shape for any type of extrudable cosmetic material used for lipstick. The teardrop shape in the cosmetic industry is important because it creates an appearance on the lips of women that is desired today. It is therefore desirable to provide a mechanical system that can cost-effectively facilitate such a product.
From the economic side, prior art lipstick dispensers have more complicated methods of assembly and are mechanically complex. A traditional lipstick cosmetic assembly is time consuming and otherwise costly to make. The current invention can be assembled and filled with ease and at low cost. Once a production person has the pieces of the dispenser, they can be assembled in less than 10 seconds. Also, the current invention can be used for both full size and slim line types of lipstick in the market today.
Additionally, some dispensers in the prior art waste cosmetic material by using a mechanism which swivels the cosmetic material in the hollow up-and-down tube and piston that contains the lipstick. This causes a bacteria build up and formation of air pockets between the cosmetic material, hollow tube, assembly cap and the piston. As a result the air pockets cause the cosmetic material to break, bend, bend, scrap, shrink or fragment. The current invention also has a locking mechanism which prevents backwards movement of any cosmetic material used. As a result, no air pockets are formed and bacteria build-up around and inside said cosmetic lipstick and hollow tube is prevented.
Another problem with existing eyeliners and lipliner refill dispenser designs lies in placement of a color label on the outside of the refill cartridge, but which is hidden under the cap. As such, consumers cannot see the color of an eyeliner or lipliner, in the store, or after purchase, without first taking off the cap and advancing the cosmetic. This creates confusion when trying to find a certain color of eyeliner or lipliner. The current invention prevents this confusion with a color label on the part of the cartridge of greatest diameter and which is visible without removal of the lipstick cap or advance of said cosmetic.
My U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,441 (1999) discloses a similar body design but is a disposable unit and there is no formation of a teardrop shape in the hollow tube. Also, the patent is meant only for lipsticks having a rectangular cross-section. There also exist material mechanical differences, such as a circumferential multi-position locking system at an end portion of the refill cartridge interacting with the cam on the threadable insert in the current invention.
U.S. Pub. No. 2006/291,949 A1 (2006) to Holloway has an elevator rod and tube that is not in the shape of a teardrop. Also this design retracts the cosmetic column which causes air pocket formation. There are also mechanical differences including the method of advancing the cosmetic. The current invention uses a multi-position locking system at one end of the refill cartridge in conjunction with a cam on a threadable insert to prevent retraction of the cosmetic material. Also, Holloway teaches a lipstick elevator rod and tube, not a refill system. It locks into the body thereof and, after normal use, is discarded as a complete unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,434 (2005) to Ohba also has no tear drop shaped tube. Also, it attempts to protect the cosmetic material used in its design but it still advances and retracts the cosmetic material, which is not desirable. The mechanical differences are the same as above and lock a circumferential multi-position locking system and the cam on the threadable insert.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,042 (1994) to Ackerman and U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,804 (1998) to Hurlburt have mechanisms to prevent backwards movement of the cosmetic material but there is still no formation of the tear drop shape. The mechanical difference lies in the method of advancement of the cosmetic material. Again, the older inventions do not use multi-position locking in conjunction with a cam on a threadable insert providing a simple (without use of gears or springs) locking mechanism to prevention of backwards movement of the cosmetic material. The Ackerman and Hurlburt locks only to stop the cosmetic from turning back into an hollow tube. After use, the lipstick is turned back in a conventional manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,811 (2006) to Breidenbach tries to create a teardrop shape but only uses the tip of the lipstick cosmetic, not the entire body thereof. This can cause distortion of the teardrop shape after only a few uses if only the top of the lipstick cosmetic is shaped like a teardrop. The mechanical differences of the invention are the same as above with the inventive multi-position locking system acting in conjunction with the cam on the threadable insert to advance the cosmetic material through the inner teardrop shaped refill cartridge in the current invention.
Based on the deficiencies of the art above, there exists a long felt need for an improved cosmetic dispenser design to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above in addition to providing additional advantages, set forth below.

Cosmetic applicator with axial advance and retraction control


A display apparatus comprises a monitor on which pictures are displayed, brackets installed on the monitor and having slits on opposite sides of each bracket, spring brackets combined to the brackets and having locking members inserting into the brackets through the slits and stands selectively inserted into the brackets and locked in the locking members of the spring brackets. The present invention provides a display apparatus that can maintain a consistent connection between the monitor and the stands from frequent locking and unlocking and keeps the control point accurate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display apparatus, and more particularly, to a display apparatus that can selectively attach and detach a monitor and a stand using a bracket connection structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
A display apparatus generally comprises various devices displaying data in the form of letters and diagrams on a Braun tube. An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a flat panel display device, tends to extend its range of utility from a computer monitor to a TV.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional display apparatus includes a monitor 2 on which pictures are displayed; a spring bracket 4 having a lock 5; and a stand 6 attachable to and detachable from the lock 5 and supporting the monitor 2.
Since the conventional displaying apparatus comprises only one spring bracket which supports four directional (up/down/left/right) movements of the stand 6, the stand 6 may not maintain an accurate control point if used for a long period of time. It also requires frequent replacement of the bracket because the elasticity of the spring bracket may be reduced due to frequent locking or unlocking between the monitor 2 and the stand 6.


A priority queue is used to sequence template instantiations in compiling C++ programs. If the analysis of a C++ code fragment encounters a name that requires full instantiation and no matching full instantiation exists, the parse is terminated and rescheduled, and a full instantiation is scheduled as an antecedent of the failed parse. "Antecedent" means that the failed parse code fragment will not be reparsed until after the full instantiation has succeeded. Only when the full instantiation has succeeded will the terminated parse be reconsidered. Parsing full instantiations may cause additional full instantiations. These are handled in the same manner; the additional instantiation is scheduled, and the current parse is failed and rescheduled. At the time of scheduling, the antecedent instantiation is marked with its dependent, so that the dependent chain give the chronology of the instantiation. This makes it easy to generate historical or "traceback" information for meaningful error messages.

Compilation is that process that takes place in the computer in which a computer program written in a human readable programming language is translated, through a series of steps of lexical analysis, parsing and semantic analysis, into binary code capable of execution by a data processing system. Commonly, the compiler itself produces a number of compilation or translation units that are linked into the final output, an executable file, by a linker or linker/loader.
C++ is an object-oriented programming language in which programs are created using abstractions and constructs to create user-defined classes for defining the methods and variables for a particular type of object. All objects of a particular class are identical in form and behaviour but contain different data on their variables.
The C++ language also provides templates, which define families of classes and functions that are structurally identical but contain different kinds of data in their variables or function parameters. Each family is specified by a template declaration, and each member of the family is called an instantiation. Instantiations are created by the compiler.
A template declaration has two parts: the template parameters, and the class or function, written using the template parameter names. For example, this class template represents a list:
______________________________________ template<class ElementType> class List: public SimpleList<ElementType> { // Add and remove elements from the list // void add(ElementType&); void remove(ElementType&); // Obtain the last element of the list. This causes a ListViewer<ElementType> // template to be instantiated. // ElementType last( ) { ListViewer<ElementType>it(*this); return it.last( ); } ______________________________________
This template has a single template parameter, "ElementType", is a subclass of another templatized list, SimpleList, and has a function body that uses a third template, called ListViewer. The template is instantiated by specifying a set of template arguments that match the parameters, e.g., List<int>. Instantiation creates a new class, called, "List<int>", with ElementType replaced by int. This instantiated class behaves like a normal (non-template) class in post-parse phases, like type and overloading analysis.
In the course of instantiating a template, it may be necessary to instantiate others. In this case, before List<int> is instantiated, SimpleList<int> must be instantiated, and before the function body List<int>::viewer( ) can be instantiated, ListViewer<int> must be instantiated. The instantiation of SimpleList<int> and ListViewer<int> are respectively antecedents of (the instantiations of) List<int> and the body of List<int>::viewer( ). Similarly, the instantiation of List<int> is a dependent of the instantiation of SimpleList<int>. Because the programmer has not explicitly requested antecedent instantiations, error messages about antecedent instantiations must include information tracing back the dependent instantiations so that the programmer can understand the origin of the errors.
Current C++ compilers generate poor error diagnostics for templates. Cascading template instantiation error messages (or "traceback" messages) are not generated by most compilers, and even those error messages that are generated by current compilers are difficult to decipher.
One reason for this is that most compilers perform antecedent instantiations by recursively invoking the compiler. This means that the compiler suspends the instantiation currently being processed while the antecedent instantiation is being done.
If a compilation error occurs while performing the antecedent instantiation it can be difficult to produce additional error messages that relate that error to the dependent instantiation. For example, the following has a syntax error because member type Base<int>::ElementType cannot be used as a base class:
template<class T>class Base {typedef T ElementType; }; PA0 template<class T>class Derived: public Base<T>::ElementType { }; PA0 Derived<int>derived;
The antecedent error "Base<T>::ElementType is not a class" is not helpful without an additional error message "Error while instantiating Derived<int>". It is difficult to synthesize these error messages from a recursive invocation of the compiler.
Another drawback to recursive antecedent instantiation is the requirement for unbounded memory because of the recursion. For example, the following defines an array inductively: an array of dimension n is defined as a sub-class of an array of dimension n-1, and an instantiation of Array<100> would invoke the compiler 100 times recursively.
______________________________________ // Define an array template recursively. // template<int I> class Array: public Array<i-1> { int E; }; // The base case. // template< > class Array<0> { }; ______________________________________
In addition to the foregoing, some current compilers delay the creation of error messages until the translation unit has been completed, or even until the entire program is linked. This makes it difficult to match error messages with source code fragments. The time lag between compilation and linking in conventional compilers exacerbates this problem.

Sequencing and error detection of template instantiations during compilation of C++ Programs

International Business Machines Corporation


A luminescent screen includes a luminescent zeolite containing rare earths, such as terbium (Tb), and europium (Eu), and an oxide of a transition metal, such as, molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), niobium (Nb), and tantalum (Ta). It was found that a zeolite containing both terbium, and tungsten oxide had an absorbability that was approximately 60 times as high as that of a zeolite containing only terbium, thus increasing the luminescent efficiency of the zeolite.

The invention relates to a luminescent screen comprising a bearer provided with a luminescent material comprising a luminescent zeolite containing rare earth ions.
The invention also relates to luminescent zeolites for use in such a luminescent screen and a method for preparing such zeolites as well as to a low pressure mercury discharge lamp comprising such a luminescent screen.
A luminescent screen as described in the opening paragraph is known from international patent application WO 95/16759. In general a luminescent screen is used to convert excitation energy into radiation with a certain range of wavelengths. The excitation energy can for instance consist of an electron beam, X-rays or UV- radiation of relatively short wavelengths. Among many other applications luminescent screens find application in lamps, particularly in low pressure mercury discharge lamps or fluorescent lamps. The excitation energy then mainly comprises UV-radiation of approximately 254 nm generated by mercury present in the plasma of the fluorescent lamp. The composition of the luminescent screen is chosen in dependence on the desired spectral composition of the light radiated by the fluorescent lamp. In the known luminescent screen the rare earth ions contained in the zeolite are Ce.sup.3+ ions. When the known luminescent screen is excited by UV radiation with a wavelength of 254 nm it emits light having an emission maximum at a wavelength between 300 and 400 nm. Such a luminescent screen can for instance be used very effectively in low pressure mercury discharge lamps for use in photochemical processes, such as polymerization, lacquer hardening, drying, curing, medical irradiation purposes or suntanning. The quantum efficiency of the zeolite in the known luminescent screen is very high. Because the rare earth ions are enclosed by the zeolite structure the known luminescent screen is also very stable in different chemical environments and within a wide temperature range. Zeolites are also generally very cheap and environment-friendly. Most of the time, however, it will be desirable that the fluorescent lamp radiates light in the visible part of the spectrum. Such an emission in the visible part of the spectrum can be realized by the incorporation of other rare earth ions in the zeolite such as e.g. Tb.sup.3+ ions. When a luminescent screen provided with a luminescent material comprising a zeolite containing Th.sup.3+ ions is excited by means of UV-radiation with a wavelength of 254 nm, visible radiation with wavelengths within the range 450-650 nm is emitted by the luminescent screen. A problem, however, that is associated with many zeolites containing rare earth ions emitting visible light upon excitation with UV-radiation with a wavelength of 254 nm, is that the absorption of the exciting radiation is very low so that the amount of visible light that is generated out of the exciting radiation is relatively low.

Luminescent screen including a luminescent zeolite


A method, apparatus, and system of encryption, including embedding reconfiguration information within a ciphertext block destined for a decryptor. The decryptor identifies the reconfiguration information, extracts such information, and uses it to alter a pre-cipher, which is used for decryption. The encryptor alters its pre-cipher synchronously with the decryptor.

Increasingly, implantable medical devices, such as cardiac rhythm management devices, detect a wide range of physiological and/or behavioral data that may be useful to health care providers servicing the individual in which the device is implanted. For example, a cardiac rhythm management device may record information regarding the physical exertion of a patient, the patient's rate of breathing, heart sounds generated by the patient, and so on. Such information may be transmitted from the implanted device to a programmer in a doctor's office, for example. Alternatively, such information may be transmitted to an access point for a wireless network, whereupon the data may be stored in a datastore for later retrieval by a physician or other health care provider. The physician may access the data, using a web browser, for example, to remain updated about the patient's condition.
In such a scheme, it may be important that communication between the implanted medical device and the access point (or other external system, such as a computer, personal digital assistant, or programmer) is confidential and secure. To that end, encryption schemes may be employed to attain the desired security. Thus, before transmission from the implanted device, data is encrypted, and may be decrypted by the appropriate receiving device (and vice versa).

Symmetric key encryption system with synchronously updating expanded key


A robotic system includes a hub assembly rotatable about a vertical axis. A robotic arm has a first end connected to the hub assembly and an opposite second end connected to an end effector, which is configured for holding an item. The system is configured to support an agent on or above the hub assembly for working on the item held by the end effector. The operation of the robotic arm and end effector to move the item does not obstruct operation of the agent.

The present application relates generally to robotic systems and, more particularly, to robotic systems performing work on an item in an assembly line.
In a commercial assembly line, an item (e.g., an object or a container for holding objects) is transported along a line while work is being done on the item (e.g., alteration of object(s) or container(s)), addition of object(s) to container(s), removal of object(s) from container(s)) by an external agent (e.g., a person or a robot). Existing solutions to automate this conveyance require physical space to place and operate the conveyance equipment (e.g., conveyors, robot arms), which can be expensive or otherwise prohibitive. For instance, many food industry premises (e.g., restaurants, canteen kitchens, retail salad makers, quick-service restaurants, catering service providers) transport foodstuff containers while being continuously filled with ingredients to make a desired recipe. Since restaurants typically have limited space, operators rely on humans to pass the containers from one station to the next.
Assembly line tasks typically require collaboration between several agents, which necessitates a way to pass items to different stations. When machines are the agents, they are often fixed in place, which requires a mechanism to transport the items. When humans are the agents, they can simply pass the bowl to their colleagues, or use a mechanism such as a conveyor belt. Existing mechanisms are generally unidirectional (or bidirectional) or require a large physical area. In many situations today, such as busy factory floors or food industry premises, reserving such a large area for conveying materials is inefficient and uneconomical. Passing items often poses a risk to humans.
Human workers can hurt themselves when manipulating items that are heavy or unwieldly. There is also risk to consumers, where the pick and place mechanism must be accurate and stable to not create any spillage, misplacement, cross-contamination, or assembly line failures. For example, during the assembly of food meals, food items should not fall into incorrect containers since they could be allergens affecting another customer's order.
In addition to conveyance, it may be advantageous to automate other aspects of the assembly line (such as alterations to the conveyed object) to boost the line's overall efficiency while maintaining a small physical footprint. For instance, in a food industry application, one agent may be assembling a recipe while another agent may be preparing ingredients for assembly (slicing an onion, peeling a carrot, etc.). In an automated warehouse instance, one agent could be filling boxes while the ancillary agent could close and seal these boxes.
Humans have limited measurement capabilities. Obtaining accurate data regarding the objects being manipulated by the agent is useful in various applications. For instance, in a food industry application, the container might be a serving bowl and objects being added to the container might be foodstuffs. To accurately and repeatably make a recipe, it is advantageous to have mass measurement capabilities to improve recipe consistency.

Robotic systems and methods for conveyance of items


A three-dimensional space scanner is configured so that a reflecting mirror is rotated and tilted so as to scan a mobile object in a horizontal as well as vertical direction, thereby obtaining spatial data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional space scanner, and more particularly, to a three-dimensional space scanner, in which a reflecting mirror is rotated and tilted so as to scan a mobile object in a horizontal as well as vertical direction, thereby obtaining spatial data.
2. Description of the Related Art
An autonomous mobile (walking) device such as a mobile robot senses a surrounding object and measures a distance from the object using a laser beam, supersonic waves or the like in order to locate its position and determine a moving direction.
Laser range finding is known as a most accurate method for measuring the distance to an object, particularly, by sensing a laser beam reflecting from the object and measuring the time taken for the laser beam to travel to the object and back.
A conventional autonomous mobile device adopting such a laser range finding technique scans a surrounding space using laser beams emitted directly along a two-dimensional horizontal plane. Accordingly, the autonomous mobile device can sense surrounding objects and measure distances from the objects only if the objects are located at a specific height corresponding to a laser emitter.
That is, sensible objects are limited to those onto which the laser beams are emitted and to those which are located at the same horizontal plane of the laser emitter. Thus, it is impossible to scan other ranges and distance information on only a specific horizontal plane can be obtained.
However, while consumer demands on autonomous mobile devices capable of performing more accurate drive and more various operations are increasing, the distance information only on a specific horizontal plane cannot sufficiently ensure safety and functionality.


This layered element (11) for encapsulating an element (12) that is sensitive to air and/or moisture, especially an element that collects or emits radiation such as a photovoltaic cell or an organic light-emitting diode, comprises a polymer layer (1) and a barrier layer (2) against at least one face (1A) of the polymer layer. The barrier layer (2) has a moisture vapor transfer rate of less than 10−2 g/m2 per day and consists of a multilayer of at least two thin hydrogenated silicon nitride layers (21, 22, 23, 24) having alternately lower and higher densities.

A radiation-collecting device is typically a photovoltaic module comprising at least one photovoltaic cell suitable for collecting and converting the energy from radiation into electrical energy. A radiation-emitting device is typically an OLED device comprising at least one organic light-emitting diode, or OLED, suitable for converting electrical energy into radiation.
In a known manner, the energy conversion elements of a device that collects or emits radiation, namely the photovoltaic cells in the case of a photovoltaic module or the OLED structures in the case of an OLED device, comprise a material suitable for providing the energy conversion and two electrically conductive contacts on both sides of this material. However, regardless of their manufacturing technology, such energy conversion elements are susceptible to degradation under the effect of environmental conditions, in particular under the effect of exposure to air or to moisture. By way of example, for OLED structures or organic photovoltaic cells, the front electrode and the organic material are particularly sensitive to environmental conditions. For thin-film photovoltaic cells comprising an inorganic absorber layer, the front electrode of the cell, formed based on a transparent conductive oxide (or TCO) layer or based on a transparent conductive coating (or TCC), is also very sensitive to environmental conditions.
In order to protect the energy conversion elements of a device that collects or emits radiation with respect to degradations due to exposure to air or to moisture, it is known to manufacture the device with a laminated structure, in which the energy conversion elements are encapsulated and combined with a front substrate and also optionally with a rear substrate, or substrate having a support function.
Depending on the application of the device, the front and rear substrates may especially be composed of a transparent glass or of a transparent thermoplastic polymer, for example made of polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, polyimide, polycarbonate, polyurethane, polymethyl methacrylate or a fluoropolymer. In the case of a photovoltaic cell comprising an absorber layer based on a chalcopyrite compound, in particular comprising copper, indium and selenium, known as a CIS absorber layer, optionally with the addition of gallium (GIGS absorber layer), aluminium or sulphur, a polymer lamination interlayer is positioned between the front electrode and the front substrate, in order to guarantee a good cohesion of the module during its assembly, especially by lamination. It has however been observed that, when a radiation-collecting or radiation-emitting device comprises a polymer lamination interlayer or a polymer substrate positioned against an energy conversion element that is sensitive to air and/or moisture, the device exhibits a high degree of degradation. This is because the presence of the lamination interlayer, which tends to store moisture, or of the polymer substrate, which has a high permeability, promotes the migration of contaminants such as water vapor or oxygen to the sensitive element, and therefore the impairment of the properties of this element.
It is these drawbacks that the invention intends more particularly to remedy by proposing a layered element which, when it is integrated into a device that collects or emits radiation, gives this device improved resistance, especially to air and to moisture, by providing an effective and very long-term protection of the energy conversion elements of the device that are sensitive to air and/or moisture.

Layered element for encapsulating a senstive element

SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORPORATION


A system and method for discharging a transfer slurry from a first polymerization reactor through a transfer line to a second polymerization reactor, the transfer slurry including at least diluent and a first polyethylene. A product slurry is discharged from the second polymerization reactor, the product slurry including at least diluent, the first polyethylene, and a second polyethylene. The velocity, pressure drop, or pressure loss due to friction in the transfer line is determined, and a process variable adjusted in response to the velocity, pressure drop, or pressure loss not satisfying a specified value.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to polyethylene production and, more specifically, to operating a transfer slurry between two or more polyethylene polymerization reactors.
Description of the Related Art
This section is intended to introduce the reader to aspects of art that may be related to aspects of the present invention, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
As chemical and petrochemical technologies have advanced, the products of these technologies have become increasingly prevalent in society. In particular, as techniques for bonding simple molecular building blocks into longer chains (or polymers) have advanced, the polymer products, typically in the form of various plastics, have been increasingly incorporated into various everyday items. For example, polyethylene polymer and its copolymers are used for piping, retail and pharmaceutical packaging, food and beverage packaging, plastic bags, household items, various industrial products, and so forth.
Polyethylene may be produced from the monomer ethylene. If the sole monomer ethylene is used for polymerization, the polyethylene polymer is referred to as a homopolymer, while incorporation of different monomers in addition to ethylene creates a polyethylene copolymer or terpolymer, and so on. In polyethylene production, the comonomer 1-hexene is commonly used in addition to ethylene to control density of the polyethylene. The monomers (ethylene, 1-hexene, etc.) may be added to a polymerization reactor, such as a liquid-phase reactor or a gas-phase reactor, where they are convened to polymers. In the liquid-phase reactor, an inert hydrocarbon, such as isobutane, propane, n-pentane, i-pentane, neopentane, and/or n-hexane, may be utilized as a diluent to carry the contents of the reactor. A catalyst (e.g., Ziegler-Natta, metallocene, chromium-based, etc.) may also be added to the reactor to facilitate the polymerization reaction. Unlike the monomers, catalysts are generally not consumed in the polymerization reaction.
As polymer chains develop during polymerization, solid particles known as "fluff" or "flake" or "powder" are produced. The fluff may possess one or more melt, physical, rheological, and/or mechanical properties of interest, such as density, melt index (MI), comonomer content, molecular weight, and so on. Different fluff properties may be desirable depending on the application to which the polyethylene fluff or subsequently pelletized polyethylene fluff is to be applied. Control of the reaction conditions within the reactor, such as temperature, pressure, chemical concentrations, polymer production rate, catalyst type, and so forth, may affect the fluff properties.
In some circumstances, to increase capacity of a polymerization line or to achieve certain desired polymer characteristics, the polymerization conditions may benefit from employing more than one polyethylene polymerization reactor, with each reactor having its own set of conditions. The conditions, including the polymerization recipe, in the reactors can be set and maintained such that polyethylene polymer product is monomodal, bimodal, or multimodal. In the case of bimodal or multimodal polymers, at least two polyethylene polymers, each having a different molecular weight fraction, for instance, may be combined into one polymer product. In a general sense, a polyethylene produced in each reactor will be suspended in a diluent to form a slurry. The reactors may be connected in series, such that the slurry from one reactor may be transferred to a subsequent reactor, and so forth, until a polyethylene polymer is produced discharging from the final reactor with the desired set of characteristics. For example, a bimodal polymer may be produced by two reactors in series, a trimodal polymer may need three, and so on.
In some instances, unfortunately, the flow of slurry that is transferred from one reactor to the next may become unstable or the transfer slurry flow is lost or greatly reduced, giving unstable production of polyethylene polymer in the reactor system, fouling of the slurry transfer line, and so on. Such problematic operation may result in off-spec polyethylene polymer and downtime of the polyethylene reactor system.

Polyethylene production with multiple polymerization reactors


An improved circuit protection device (30) comprises a PTC element (10), at least two electrodes (2 and 3) connectable to a source of electrical power (12) so that current passes between the electrodes (2 and 3) through the PTC element (10), and at least one nichrome electrical lead (122, 123) which electrically connects one of the electrodes (2, 3) to the source of electrical power (12).

Overload protection devices such as current limiters and positive temperature coefficient (PTC) conductive polymers, commonly called a PolySwitch.RTM. registered to Raychem and described in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,598, assigned to Raychem, and hereby incorporated by reference are usually used together as seen in FIG. 1, especially in a hazardous environment. Hazardous environments are occasions in which the atmosphere contains gas vapor or dust particles which could easily be ignited by sparks or thermal heating.
Individually, a PTC element has a relatively low resistance under the normal operating conditions for the circuit, but is "tripped", (i.e. converted into a high resistance state), when a fault condition such as an excessive current (short circuit) or temperature occurs. When the circuit protection device 29 comprising the PTC conductive polymers 10 is tripped, the current passing through the series connected PTC element 10 causes it to self-heat to an elevated temperature at which it is in a high resistance state. However, the leads 13 of the PTC circuit protection device 29 are usually made out of nickel, which does not provide enough resistance to limit the current through the battery 12 before the PTC element 10 increases its resistance to further limit the current and substantially provides an open circuit.
Individually, a current limiter 15 is, conventionally, a fixed resistor of some particular height, (such as a fixed series resistor which is a wire-wound or a nichrome strip or any other kind of a nichrome assembly as described in the H52910 Raychem sales brochure for the "Protection of Batteries with PolySwitch.RTM. Devices and hereby incorporated by reference) to provide a high enough resistance to limit the current. However, the current limiter, such as the commonly used nichrome strip, generally, allows a percentage of the maximum short circuit current to still flow under fault conditions, which may deliver enough energy to cause the fixed nichrome resistor or strip to overheat and cause ignition of the explosive atmosphere. Thus a PTC element is usually used in combination with the nichrome strip to prevent this occurrence as seen in FIG. 1 of an intrinsically safe battery pack.
However, the combination of both the nichrome strip and the PTC element increases both the size and the cost to the protection circuit that must be built inside the battery housing.

Thermally regulated safety device for portable energy units


For recognizing information conveyed by a received signal, represented by convention by possible elementary forms of the signal to be transmitted, a device includes a correlator for establishing a correlation between the received signal and various possible forms of signal, in accordance with the convention. A neural network using correlation coefficients obtained from the correlator is trained by application to its input of correlation coefficients corresponding to a received signal conveying given information whilst imposing the given information at its output. The network supplies recognized information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a device for recognizing information conveyed by a signal received via a transmission channel and therefore likely to be affected by distortion and/or interference by the very fact of its transmission via that channel.
The present invention can be applied to digital information, i.e. information represented by convention by elementary forms of the signal to be transmitted each of which is defined for a duration equal to that of an information symbol.
The present invention is applicable to the demodulation of signals modulated using discrete modulation (such as FSK, MSK or GMSK modulation) and received via a radio transmission channel, for example a mobile radio channel.
Thus the present invention is applicable to receiving signals transmitted in a GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) type mobile radio system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A signal received after transmission through a radio channel is degraded by the following phenomena:
variable attenuation due to losses (depending on the distance between the transmitter and the receiver) and the presence of obstacles along the transmission path (hills, buildings, vegetation, etc), PA1 multipath propagation caused by reflection or diffraction of the transmitted signal by various obstacles, PA1 the addition of noise (such as thermal noise), and interference due to others using the same resources (co-channel interference) or nearby resources (adjacent channel interference). PA1 correlator means for establishing a correlation between the received signal and various possible forms of signal, in accordance with said convention, and PA1 a neural network using correlation coefficients obtained from said correlator means, said network being trained by application to its input of correlation coefficients corresponding to a received signal conveying given information whilst said given information is imposed at its output, said network supplying recognized information.
The Viterbi algorithm can be used for such demodulation (see, for example, pages 256-258 of "The GSM System for Mobile Communications" by Michel MOULY and Marie-Bernadette PAUTET). This algorithm reconstitutes the most likely sequence of symbols transmitted by making a number of hypotheses as to the possible signals and the noise characteristics.
The present invention concerns a device for recognizing information conveyed by a received signal that can be applied to the demodulation of signals conveying digital information received via a radio transmission channel, for example a mobile radio channel, this device being based on a different technique whereby such hypotheses can be dispensed with.
The present invention uses neural networks. The present invention is essentially directed to applying to a neural network used to recognize information conveyed by a received signal, rather than the received signal itself, parameters obtained from the signal that are the most pertinent to the task to be accomplished by the network and which therefore substantially reduce the complexity of the network and/or enhance the quality of recognition.
The GSM recommendations specify that the demodulator must be able to process a signal in the case of two equal power multipaths spaced by 16 .mu.s. This is regarded as a limiting situation given the level of intersymbol interference that is generated and in this case equalization is required beforehand, this equalization necessitating an estimate of the impulse response of the transmission channel.
Another aspect of the invention lies in the simplification resulting from the fact that the two operations of equalization and demodulation usually carried out separately and successively, for example in a GSM receiver, can now be carried out in a single operation and the fact that the estimate of the impulse response of the transmission channel usually required to carry out said equalization operation is no longer needed.
A receiver for phase modulated signals (for example a GSM receiver) requires two channels in quadrature (called the I and Q channels) in order to be able to demodulate the signals. Another aspect of the invention lies in a further simplification due to the fact that only one of the two quadrature (I and Q) channels usually required in a demodulator for phase modulated signals (as in the GSM system mentioned above, in particular) is needed, although this does not prevent the use of two quadrature channels, in particular to implement a form of reception diversity.

Device for recognizing information conveyed by a received signal


The invention relates to ammunition for fire and pneumatic smoothbore weapon and can be used for producing bullets for hunting and sporting guns. The inventive method consists in deforming the rear part of a tubular blank in such a way that an aerodynamic empennage is formed and in arranging a core in the front part of said blank. The core is introduced into the tubular blank prior to deforming and is fixed in said blank by deforming the front and rear parts thereof. Deformation is carried out by pressing the blank wall without modifying the thickness thereof. The deformation of the tubular blank can be carried out by longitudinally clamping said blank between two crimping matrixes. Said core is embodied in such a way that an extractor in the form of an aerodynamic needle is formed in the material thereof, the core being inserted when said extractor is disposed outside the internal volume of the blank.

An arrow-shaped bullet is known in the conventional art. This bullet is produced from a solid bar, the front part of which is tapered and the rear part of which is deformed to create an aerodynamic empennage (tail section) in the shape of longitudinal surfaces (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,878, published on Nov. 12, 1974).
The disadvantage of the method for producing such a bullet is its high manufacturing complexity.
Another method for producing an arrow-shaped bullet is known in the conventional art, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,785, published on May 14, 1996. This method deforms the rear part of a tubular blank to create an aerodynamic empennage (tail section) and insert a functional filling (core) in the tube's cavity. The rear part of a tubular blank is deformed by inelastic deformation (plastic flow) of the tube's material, and the thickness of the tube's walls is altered.
After the empennage is formed, a core is inserted in the tube's cavity. A core can have a granular or jelly filling, e.g., a load released at the moment the bullet hits the target. This core is kept in the tube's cavity by friction or capillary forces. This method is not used for inserting solid cores, e.g., metal cores.
The disadvantage of this method is its high manufacturing complexity. Also, a bullet produced by this method cannot be used for commercial or sport hunting.
A cartridge comprising a shell having means for inflammation (a primer), a propelling charge, a damage agent, and one or more wads is also known in the conventional art (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,928, published on Aug. 31, 1993). The drawback of this cartridge is that it is not possible to use arrow-shaped bullets.

Arrow-shaped bullet, ammunition cartridge using same, and method of manufacturing same


A connector includes a body and a cap configured to be threadedly coupled with the body. The body is configured to receive a fiber optic cable therein and to be coupled with a sub-assembly of a fiber optic connector, an inner surface of the body includes an annularly-extending ridge that protrudes radially inward, and the body is configured to be radially compressed on a jacket of the fiber optic cable when the cap is threadedly coupled with the body.

Fiber optical communication systems typically use a network of fiber optic cables to transmit large volumes of data. Typical fiber optic connectors include a ferrule that supports an end portion of an optical fiber. When two fiber optic connectors are interconnected, end faces of the ferrules, on each connector, directly oppose one another. Thus, the optical fibers, which are supported by each ferrule, are also directly opposed to each other. Furthermore, springs in each connector bias the optical fibers towards each other when the connectors are in this interconnected state. An optical signal can then be transmitted from one optical fiber to the other optical fiber.
Conventional fiber optical connectors are either fastened to a Kevlar strengthening member that is included in the fiber optic cable or crimped onto a crimp ring through the use of a crimp tool. Attaching the connector to the Kevlar strengthening member creates a relatively weak connection that is easy to bend. Further, some types of fiber optic cable, such as Miniflex® fiber cable, contains less Kevlar than other standard jumper cord, which could result in a less reliable connection under load.
Crimp-type fiber optic connectors are not convenient because they require every installer to carry a specialized tool for crimping the connector onto the cable. Also, use of a crimping tool can lead to a poor connection due to potential installer error.
It may be desirable to provide a connector that overcomes one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional fiber optics connectors. For example, it may be desirable to provide a connector configured to couple a fiber optic cable with a fiber optic connector with increased connection strength and where the risk of craft error is reduced.

Mechanical connector with cable retention feature


A movable barrier operator system includes a motorized operator which moves a barrier between limit positions, and a photo-electric safety system connected to the motorized operator. The photo-electric safety system monitors for obstructions at more than one height along the barrier's path between limit positions. This is done by installing a supplemental photo-electric safety system to work in conjunction with a pre-existing photo-electric safety system connected to the motorized barrier operator.

For convenience purposes, it is well known to provide garage doors which utilize a motor to provide opening and closing movements of the door. Motors may also be coupled with other types of movable barriers such as gates, windows, retractable overhangs and the like. An operator is employed to control the motor and related functions with respect to the door. The operator receives command signals for the purpose of opening and closing the door from a wireless remote, from a wired or wireless wall station or other similar device. It is also known to provide safety devices that are connected to the operator for the purpose of detecting an obstruction so that the operator may then take corrective action with the motor to avoid entrapment of the obstruction.
How safety devices are used with a door operator system have evolved from the days of no uniform standard to the currently applied government regulations as embodied in Underwriters Laboratories Standard 325. UL Standard 325 encompasses safety standards for a variety of movable barriers such as gates, draperies, louvers, windows and doors. The standard specifically covers vehicular gate or door operators intended for use with garages and/or parking areas. Such devices require a primary safety system and a secondary safety system which are independent of each other. Primary entrapment systems sense the operator motor's current draw or motor speed and take the appropriate corrective action if the monitored value is exceeded. Primary systems must be internal within the operator head. Secondary entrapment systems are typically external from the operator head and may include a non-contact or contact type sensor. But, secondary systems may also be internal to the operator head as long as they are independent of the primary system.
One of the more widely used secondary entrapment, non-contact devices is a photo-electric eye which projects an infrared light beam across the door's travel path. If the light beam is interrupted during closure of the door, the operator stops and reverses the travel of the door. Regardless of how the safety devices work, their purpose is to ensure that individuals, especially children, are not entrapped by a closing door. The photo eyes consist of an "emitter" unit and a "receiver" unit. The emitter emits an infrared (IR) signal that the receiver receives. Upon receiving the IR signal, the receiver responds back to the operator. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the typical photo eye systems use a 2 wire connection system. Each photo eye set, the emitter and the receiver, has two wires. One wire is identified as the "+" (plus) wire, and the other wire is identified as the "−" (minus) wire. The plus wire is both the power source, typically 10 VDC to 35 VDC, and the signal wire, while the minus wire is the DC 'ground' reference wire. The emitter is connected to a power source, preferably in the operator power head, by a wire-1A that includes the plus wire and the minus wire. In a similar manner, the receiver is connected to the operator power head by a wire-1B that also includes a plus wire and a minus wire.
Referring now to FIG. 1C, it can be seen that the receiver, upon detecting an IR signal generated by the emitter can "pull" the power/signal plus wire to a low voltage level close to DC ground. The operator power head detects the power/signal line being pulled low by the receiver and interprets this as a successful IR signal transmission between the emitter and receiver. If the IR signal is interrupted as the door moves downwardly—the power/signal line is not pulled low—then the operator power head takes corrective action and at least stops movement of the barrier.
UL 325 requires that the photo eye system be installed to detect a 6 inch high object. Thus the photo eyes are typically installed at a height of 4 inches to 6 inches above the garage floor. At this height, the IR beam will be interrupted by a small child lying on the floor, which is under the door's path of travel. But, one issue consumers have with this arrangement is that the IR beam can shoot under a vehicle if it is parked only half-way into the garage. For example, many people park their vehicle half-way in the garage during service repair to the engine so as to allow more room for the person to maneuver in front of the vehicle. The IR beam shoots behind the front tires, in front of the rear tires and under the vehicle's frame, missing the vehicle completely. If a vehicle is parked in this position and then a person commands the door to close, the operator closes the door and the door strikes the top surface of the car. The operator then detects the car's presence by its primary inherent entrapment protection system and reverses the door's direction thereby opening the door to its fully-open position. But the door striking the vehicle can cause damage to the vehicle's surface. Therefore, some users of garage door operators mount the photo eyes at a height greater than 6 inches in an attempt to detect a vehicle parked half-way into the garage. But, mounting the photo eyes greater than 6 inches off of the floor creates a hazard since the photo eyes are unable to detect a child laying on the floor.
Several patents disclose various safety and photo-eye configurations, but none appear to directly address the problem of photo-eye height adjustment undertaken by the end user. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,168 to Waggamon, et al. discloses a safety system with universal attachment to existing garage door openers. A transmitter of infrared energy transmits a beam laterally of the door opening to detect any obstruction to door closing movement. A safety control circuit is adapted for connection to the main control circuit of the existing garage door opener. The existing push button switch is disconnected from the main control circuit and connected to the new safety control circuit. A flexible cable or cord is connected for actual movement in accordance with movement of the door and is connected to the safety control circuit at a reel on which the cord is wound. And the safety control circuit determines if there is actual door movement and actual door closing movement, as well as being responsive to an obstruction to door closing movement to apply a signal to stop the door and then apply another signal to start the door in its opening movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,136 to Duhame discloses an automatic door operator with a continuously monitored supplemental obstruction detector. In a first embodiment, the obstruction detector is a radiant beam obstruction detector that transmits a beam of modulated radiant energy across the door opening. A safety signal generator produces an active safety signal only on unobstructed receipt of radiant energy by a receiver. Failure to receive the active safety signal when the motor is closing the door at least stops the door. A two wire cable, which carries both power and the active safety signal, connects the supplemental obstruction detector to the automatic door operator. Constant activation of a portable transmitter or of a local push button can override the supplemental obstruction detector to close the door. An alternative supplemental obstruction detector includes a safety edge having a compressible tube disposed on a leading end of the door. Plural conductors change their conductive state upon compression of the compressible tube. An oscillator sealed within the tube at one end supplies the safety signal. This embodiment may include a delay upon detection of compression of the compressible tube so that contact with the floor is not detected as an obstruction.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,967 to Bates a modulated light beam obstacle detector for use as a safety mechanism in an automatic closure operator which must operate in varying ambient light conditions. If the obstacle detector senses the interruption of the light beam, the motion of the door is arrested or reversed. The obstacle detector uses an auxiliary light source connected in a feedback circuit to maintain a constant background illumination on the light detector and thereby hold the light detector in conduction at all times. In this manner, the presence of the light beam can be sensed regardless of the ambient light conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,428,923 to Waggamon discloses that a light beam in an obstruction detector is coded into packets of pulses by a transmitter according to a code generated only by the transmitter. When the light beam is received, the receiver recovers the code signal and supplies it to a code detection circuit. In one preferred embodiment, to detect the code, the code detection circuit supplies the code signal and a delayed version of the code signal to an "exclusive or" gate. In another embodiment, a frequency detection circuit determines whether the code signal detected by the receiver is within a predetermined permissible range. If the code is not present, the door operator system reverses the door if it is closing, and prevents the door from closing if it already is in the up position, or if it is opening. The door operator system will operate in this way not only in response to obstructions, but also, in response to errors and malfunctions in the wiring to the transmitter and receiver, and in the transmitter and receiver themselves.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,033 to Fassih-Nia discloses a safety system which comprises a light beam transmitter and receiver and means connected through a standard AC power plug to the main power supply of an automatic garage door opener for controlling the power thereto. The transmitter transmits a beam of light across the opening of a garage door. The receiver is positioned to receive the light beam if there is nothing obstructing the beam. The receiver generates a signal indicating when the beam is being received. The means disconnects the power to the garage door opener when a signal is generated indicating that the light beam is not being received. The garage door is thus prevented from making contact with and hurting or damaging a person or object in its path.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,145 to Teich discloses a wireless safety system for a garage door opener adapted for use at least in part with an independent energy source. The wireless safety system includes a control circuit for controlling movement of the garage door. An activation member provides an input to the control circuit to initiate motion of the garage door. A detecting member detects whether an obstruction is present in the path of the garage door. The detecting member includes a first state, wherein the detection member does not detect obstructions and consumes minimal energy, and a second state wherein the detection member detects obstructions. The detection member is selectively switchable between the first state (dormant) and the second state (active) by the control circuit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,656,900 to Michel, et al. discloses a garage door operator has an electric motor controlled by a control unit. A transmission is connected to the motor to be driven thereby to open and close a garage door. An infrared obstacle detector is connected to the control unit and includes a unitary infrared pulse emitter and an infrared detector. A missing pulse detector is coupled to the infrared detector to generate a door opening signal if the door is closing when the pulses are absent due to the infrared being interrupted by an obstacle or not having been generated. The control unit receives the door opening signal and causes the electric motor to open the garage door.
As will be appreciated from a review of the above patents, none appreciate the problem associated with the end-user surreptitiously moving the photo-eye set from the intended location. Therefore, there is a need in the art to further improve the safety features provided by a photo-eye system.

Motorized barrier operator system utilizing multiple photo-eye safety system and methods for installing and using the same


A mounting assembly includes a DIN rail for removably securing a number of electrical switching apparatus such as, for example circuit breakers, to a panel member of an electrical enclosure. First and second mounting members extend outwardly from first and second ends, respectively, of the DIN rail. Each mounting member has at least one lateral protrusion. The first and second mounting members are, for example, a number of first resilient legs and a number of second resilient legs, respectively, each of which is structured to bias a corresponding one of the lateral protrusions into engagement with one of the coupling elements of the panel member. The DIN rail, the number of first resilient legs, and the number of second resilient legs are structured to removably secure the circuit breakers to the panel member of the electrical enclosure, without requiring a number of separate fasteners.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to electrical enclosures and, more particularly, to electrical enclosures, such as load centers. The invention also relates to mounting assemblies for electrical enclosures. The invention further relates to panel assemblies for electrical enclosures.
2. Background Information
Electrical switching apparatus used in power distribution systems are often mounted within an electrical enclosure (e.g., without limitation, a panelboard; a load center) either individually or in combination with other switchgear (e.g., without limitation, circuit switching devices and circuit interrupters such as circuit breakers, contactors, motor starters, motor controllers and other load controllers).
Circuit breakers, for example, are sometimes mounted collectively on a panel member of a load center. Typically, the circuit breakers are disposed side-by-side in a row, with each circuit breaker being coupled to a DIN rail. DIN is short for Deutsches Insitut für Normung eV, which is a standard-setting organization for Germany. Accordingly, a DIN rail is a connecting rail structure that is designed to satisfy DIN standards. More specifically, some manufacturers of circuit breakers provide the circuit breaker with a DIN rail mounting structure, such as for example, an integrally molded recess sized to provide snap-on attachment to the edges of the DIN rail.
Spacing within the load center is often at a premium. Accordingly, it is desirable for the DIN rail and circuit breakers to occupy minimal space. It is also desirable for the DIN rail and/or the circuit breakers that are secured thereby to be able to be quickly and easily installed, exchanged, removed and/or adjusted.
There is room for improvement in electrical enclosures such as, for example, load centers. There is also room for improvement in panel assemblies and mounting assemblies for electrical enclosures.

Electrical enclosure, and panel assembly and mounting assembly therefor


A system related to enabling the in-service capabilities of mobile electronic devices in certain challenging environments. The present system enables recovery of mobile communication device dropped in water of a depth preventing any radio frequency transmission and making recovery of the device difficult. Preferred embodiments of the system contain a deployable flotation feature enabling an emergency, SOS/MAYDAY-signal transmission indicating GPS position via satellite link and/or cellular network in addition to strobe activation.

This invention relates to providing a system enhancing the functionality and durability of mobile electronic communication devices. More particularly, this invention relates to providing a system of recovery-assistance features to enhance the in-service capabilities of mobile electronic devices in certain challenging environments.
Advances in mobile-communication devices have provided individuals with unprecedented levels of communication capabilities. Many individuals around the world now routinely carry mobile phones and the daily use of internet-enabled "smart phones" is becoming increasingly popular.
Although personal mobile-phone technology now permits many individuals to enjoy on-demand communication capabilities, in many remote regions of the world, conventional mobile-communication access is sporadic or non-existent. The above limitation negates the usefulness of these devices in environments where the risks associated with remote travel could otherwise be mitigated by the operation of such devices. For many open-water boaters/fishermen, remote hikers, field personnel, etc., this represents a significant and undesirable assumption of risk.
Furthermore, in the interest of producing small highly-compact packaging, most mobile communication devices are of a density significantly greater than water, and thus sink. Although many current devices are relatively water-resistant, the inability to recover a device dropped in moderate to deep waters is a factor of additional concern to boaters, fishermen, and other personnel operating on or near water.

Flotation and related integrations to extend the use of electronic systems


An electronic socket is provided. The electronic socket includes a body, a strain gauge, an electronic control module, and a display unit. The body has a driving groove and a passive groove. The driving groove and the passive groove are connected to each other through a channel, wherein the body includes a containing space located on an outside and a recessed groove located in the containing space corresponding to the channel. The strain gauge is disposed in the recessed groove. The electronic control module and a display unit are disposed in the containing space, and the display unit is for showing a data sensed by the electronic control module which obtains from the strain gauge.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a socket. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an electronic socket.
2. Description of Related Art
As is known, the technology of a hand tool has developed towards electronization for easily using and operating. Therefore, many kinds of electronic hand tools have appeared now on the market.
Screw-driving hand tools are normally used to turn the screw to locate items. When a screw is used in the aviation equipment or other precision instruments, a precise force for turning the screw is needed, even the angle of rotation of the screw must also be considered. Therefore, some industry insiders have developed several kinds of hand tools with a strain gauge inside. In the prior art, an electronic socket with the strain gauge for measuring a torque suffered of the screw is provided. Thus, the conventional electronic socket can provide the tightening force for checking whether the tightening force is over-tightened which would cause damage of the screw, or whether the tightening force is insufficient and the screw should be further tightened. The conventional hand tool can calculate, save and transport a data that is measured by the strain gauge, however, the strain gauge is directly located on a surface of the hand tool, so the analytical sensitivity and the usability of the strain gauge is limited.
Furthermore, the conventional electronic socket can only show and record the data, and can not show a warning message proactively. Moreover, the conventional electronic hand tool has strain gauge projected from outside thereof that would cause the inconvenient operation and the inconvenient storage.


A pelletizing process, having two distinct serial stages. In the first stage, crude (or green) pellets of a given ore, or a mixture of ores (such as iron ore, manganese ore and other minerals), are produced, while in the second stage, a Device for Improvement of Crude Pellets, is used. The Device includes a slightly elastic and smooth surface, with reduced attrition rate, that may be striated, and that, encircled in itself, forms a cylindrical geometric hollow figure supported by a metallic structure, also cylindrical, with the set forming a finishing drum. The Device rotates with an inner and continuous charge of ore pellets, and can rearrange the structure of such pellets, improving their physical quality: compressive strength, sphericity and surface finishing, and assimilate fines generated during previous processes. This device allows application of diverse materials to the pellets to add required extra properties per specificities of subsequent industrial processes.

According to the state of the art, as far as extracting and processing a given ore or a mixture of ores is concerned, fines from mines that cannot be directly fed into metal ore production furnaces are set apart for pelletization processes. In a typical pelletization process, these ore or mixtures of ore fines are subjected to a preliminary process through which their granulometry become even finer as they are either ground with fluxing agents or subjected to separate dosage and, lately, are subjected to a binder dosage aiming at agglutinating the particles.
Pellets are made by taking this previously homogenized mixture with adjusted moisture and subjecting it to the pelletization process using pieces of equipment that are known to the state of the art, which are often called pelletizing discs or pelletizing drums in which microfine particles are agglomerated to form pellets (usually called crude or green pellets), partially spherically shaped with medium diameter, as required for use in subsequent industrial processes.
Further, these pellets are then classified and fed into a heat treatment or sinterization furnace for induration.
During handling, inside the pelletization disc and during the loading process into the heat treatment or sinterization furnace, it is known that the green pellets are oftentimes damaged due to a number of factors such as the distance they have to cover, the height and number of falls they are subjected to, the speed of the transfer belts, counter-flow transfers, and many other factors.
At the end of the sinterization process, these pellets are furthermore classified for the removal of fines, and fired fines-free pellets are eventually used in subsequent industrial processes. Typically, in the case of iron ore, fired pellets are commonly used in the production of pig or sponge iron, both consisting of raw materials employed on the production of steel.
Within the above described process, the pelletization disc comprises a metallic disc or circular tray fitted with a rotary movement in the inclined plane and scraping devices that favor the formation and growth of seeds by means of rolling and binding motions, in addition to the incorporation of particles until a pellet-shaped product is obtained, while the ore is fed into the disc. As variables are adjusted over the course of this process, the goal is to secure an improved sphericity, within the desired granulometry specification, in addition to the intended diameter for pellets within a most favorable productive range for use in subsequent industrial processes.
Nevertheless, one of the inconvenient factors of the state of the art is that the continuous loading of ore and the continuous scraping process carried out at the bottom of the disc or tray, along with other mechanisms, end up contributing to a final product containing significant quantities of fines and also to pellets comprised outside the desired size range, which can amount to over 20% of the total mass of the material. This problem gets even worse when the disc or tray is replaced with a pelletization drum, which, by nature, holds a very high degree of recirculation load, which is equivalent to the percentage of below and above a certain particle size range that is routed back to the fragmentation and pelletization process, and can amount to up to 50% of the total mass of the material.
Another inconvenience of the state of the art is the difficulty in obtaining pellets with adequate sphericity degree. This is due to the fact that several mechanical and physical complex processes, already known by the state of the art, occur simultaneously during the time pellets are forming and growing in an environment containing a large mass of material. Among complex pelletization processes, nucleation, coalescence (or fusion) and stratification (see FIG. 1) stand out.
These mechanisms are adversely affected by various sources, including the action of both bottom and side scrapers, which are common in pelletization equipment, and that redirect the flow of pellets being formed. Disc inclination and rotation speed, as well as feed ore moisture, and the production itself are also factors that influence the quality of pellets. Furthermore, low porosity plays an important role in the resistance of the agglomerate and, therefore, should be obtained prior to the heat indurating process.
Another inconvenience of the state of the art is the difficulty in ensuring an appropriate and homogeneous compactness and organization of the ore grains that make up the pellets, leading to pellets friable points or internal areas, which are conducive to the generation and propagation of cracks as pellets are transported to the furnace. If, on one hand, the rolling motion time is fundamental for such compaction, on the other hand an excessive speed developed by pellets inside the discs may lead to a crack formation process in case these pellets collide with the disc sides.
Another inconvenience of the state of the art is the difficulty in ensuring pellets with a lower degree of roughness in relation to its surface finishing, thereby making them coarse and predisposing them to the generation of fines through abrasion during their transportation to the heat treatment or sinterization furnace, in addition to the generation of dust as they are moved after being fired. This, too, is due to the various simultaneous processes used in pellet formation, including ore feeding rate and moisture.
In order to allow the elimination or reduction these hindrances, various control methods have been proposed for the pelletization process, including the variation of parameters such as moisture, amounts and types of binding agents, rolling motion time, mass proportions and size distribution of the used fines, with each method carrying its own disadvantages.
The time and the conditions available for produced pellets to show a more spherical shape are not enough in conventional pelletizing discs or drums. Hence, if the rolling motion time is increased for these devices while being concomitantly fed with ores, and owing to the mechanisms for shaping the crude pellets, the average size of such pellets increases without the occurrence of the corresponding appropriate sphericity, this being one of the identified disadvantages.
The state of the art also comprises the description of multiple-stage pelletization processes. However, oftentimes some of the disadvantages of such processes are the need to interrupt the processing flow due to the inclusion of additional phases for transporting and reloading pieces of equipment or the need for the assembly identical large-size equipment series or circuits, thereby leading to burdens associated with the use of space and resources.
Therefore, notwithstanding the control methods predicted by the state of the art aimed at improving pelletization processes, there remains in the state of the art the need to overcome the problems associated with these processes in order to obtain more compact and homogeneous ore or ore mixture pellets, without increasing the rolling motion time or volume, ensuring a decreased generation of fines, and using a fewer number of stages and less complex equipment.
Surprisingly, the present invention discloses that the use of a two-stage pelletization process in which an additional treatment stage following pellets generation and the preliminary production in pelletizing discs or drums result in an improved physical quality of crude ore or ore mixture pellets, thereby mitigating the inconveniences of the state of the art.

Device for the improvement of crude pellets and pelletizing process


A method of treating a chronic wound may comprise applying to the wound a first scaffold comprising an electrospun polymer fiber. The electrospun fiber may comprise a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyglycolic acid, poly(lactide-co-caprolactone), polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, copolymers thereof, and combinations thereof. The first scaffold may have a thickness from about 50 μm to about 1 mm, a length from about 1 cm to about 20 cm, and a width from about 1 cm to about 15 cm. The method may further comprise keeping the first scaffold on the chronic wound for a time period of about 3 days to about 21 days. After the time period passes, the chronic wound may have a decreased planimetric area.

Chronic wounds present serious health risks to patients, and represent a significant burden on the healthcare system as a whole. These wounds remain a significant healthcare challenge despite extensive research into their underlying physiology and many products developed for their treatment. Because these wounds are so challenging, there remains a need for efficient, effective methods of treating chronic wounds.

Methods of treating chronic wounds using electrospun fibers