Provided are methods for forming a reactive S-nitroso thioacid (NTA), comprising nitrosation of a thioacid with a nitrosation reagent. Also provided are methods for: acylating a nucleophile including selective acylation with a high degree of selectivity toward amines over hydroxyls; amide or peptide bond formation; forming a dipeptide or polypeptide; and peptide coupling/ligation, comprising use of thioacid and amine starting materials, wherein the reactions are mediated by very reactive S-nitroso thioacid (NTA) intermediates enabling extremely fast reactions under mild conditions, providing for broad applications.

Amide or peptide bond formation is an active area in organic chemistry due to the importance of these reactions in biology and drug discovery. A number of new strategies for the construction of amide bonds have been discovered in the past decade.1 In particular, thioacid or thioester derivatives are attractive starting materials. Recent studies have revealed some unique reactivity of these sulfur-based compounds and demonstrated some advantages of them compared to carboxylic acid derivatives in amide and peptide bond forming sequences.2 The present applicants, in recent efforts to develop new methods for the detection of S-nitrosothiols, have discovered a series of new reactions of S-nitroso compounds.3 As appreciated in the art, S-nitrosothiols are unstable moieties, and their chemistry, especially synthetically useful reactions, have not been well studied.4 S-nitroso thioacids (NTA) type molecules have never been clearly identified, although such compounds may be involved in some thiyl radical formation process.5

Facile amide formation via S-nitroso thioacid intermediates


A rotation angle detecting device includes magnetic field forming members such as a permanent magnet and a yoke, a plurality of magnetic sensors disposed in the magnetic field to rotate relative to the magnetic field forming members to provide output signals that are 90 degrees in phase different from each other, a judgment level calculating circuit that provides a judgment level based on the output signals and judging circuit that judges the output signals normal if the judgment level is within a prescribed range and not normal if the judgment level is out of the prescribed range.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for detecting a rotation angle of a rotating object.
2. Description of the Related Art
A rotation angle detecting device for detecting a rotation angle of a rotating object is well-known. For example, such a rotation angle detecting device is installed into an ignition device of an internal combustion engine to detect the rotation angle of an engine crank shaft. However, the internal combustion engine may fail if the rotation angle detecting device fails.
In order to prevent the above problem, JP-A-2002-104211 proposes to provide a rotation angle detecting device with an abnormality detecting function to be used for a motor-driven power steering system. This rotation angle detecting device includes a motor-rotation-angle sensor of a steering-shaft-driving motor and a steering-angle sensor of a steering shaft, so that the abnormality can be detected by comparing the motor-rotation-angle with the steering-angle. That is, in order to prevent the above-stated problem, the rotation angle detecting device disclosed in JP-A-2002-104211 necessitates a motor-rotation-angle sensor in addition to the steering-angle sensor.

Rotation angle detecting device having function of detecting abnormality


An optical information recording medium containing a first information substrate including a first substrate having a guide groove thereon, a first recording layer including a dye, overlying the first substrate and a first reflective layer being a semi-transmittance layer, overlying the first recording layer, a second information substrate comprising, a second substrate having a guide groove thereon, a second recording layer comprising a dye, overlying the second substrate, a second reflective layer being a semi-transmittance layer, located overlying the second recording layer and a light transmittance protective layer overlying the second reflective layer and a transparent intermediate layer. Further, the following relationships (1) and (2) are satisfied: (1) 0.3≦nd/λ≦0.7, wherein n represents refractive index in the complex refractive index n-ik of the light transmittance protective layer, d represents a thickness thereof, and λ is at least one of a recording wavelength and a playback wavelength, (2) k≦0.05, wherein k represents absorption index of the light transmittance protective layer of the complex refractive index n-ik.

1. Field of the Invention
This document claims priority and contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2004-081173 and 2004-343159, filed on Mar. 19, 2004, and Nov. 26, 2004, respectively, incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to an information recording medium in which information is recorded and played back with irradiation of a laser beam and more particularly to a double-layer Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) having two write-once information recording layers.
2. Discussion of the Background
In addition to read-only optical information recording media such as DVD-ROMs, recordable Digital Versatile Discs (DVD) such as DVD+RWs, DVD+Rs, DVD-Rs, DVD-RWs and DVD-RAMs have been introduced into the market. DVD+Rs and DVD+RWs are technically positioned as an extension of conventional recordable compact discs such as CD-Rs and CD-RWs. To secure compatibility between DVD+Rs and DVD+RWs and read-only DVDs, the recording density (track pitch and signal mark length) and the thickness of the substrate of DVD+Rs and DVD+RWs are changed to DVDs from CDs. The structure of a DVD+R and a CD-R is similar in the following ways: a dye is spin-coated onto a substrate to provide an optical information recording layer; further, a metal reflective layer is provided to the backside of the optical information recording layer to form an information recording substrate; and furthermore, another similar information recording substrate is attached to the information recording substrate with an adhesive material. In this case, a dye material is used to form the optical information recording layer. CD-Rs are characteristic in having a high reflectivity (i.e., 65%) complying with the specification of CDs. To obtain such a high reflectivity for the structure mentioned above, it is required that the optical information recording (absorbing) layer satisfies a predetermined complex refractive index for its recording wavelength and/or playback wavelength. The optical absorption characteristics of such a dye material is suitable to satisfy the requirement mentioned above. This is true in the case of DVD+Rs.
To increase the recording capacity, a read-only DVD having double information recording layers having improved optical absorption and reflection is proposed. FIG. 1 is a cross section of a DVD of prior art having double information recording layers. A substrate 1 and a substrate 2 are attached with a transparent intermediate layer 5 therebetween. The transparent intermediate layer 5 is formed of an ultraviolet curing resin. On the inside of the substrate 1, convexoconcave layers are formed, including a semi-transmittance layer 3 functioning as a first information recording layer is provided. On the inside of the substrate 2, a reflection layer 4 is formed. The semi-transmittance layer 3 is formed of a dielectric film or a thin metal film. The reflective layer 4 also functions as a second information recording layer and is formed of a metal layer or the like.
Recording signals recorded in each information recording layer are played back by using the effects of reflection and interference of a playback laser beam. By reading signals from the two information recording layers, its storage capacity becomes approximately 8.5 GB at maximum. Each of the substrate 1 and the substrate 2 has a thickness of 0.6 mm. The transparent intermediate layer 5 has a thickness of approximately 50 μm. The semi-transmittance layer 3, i.e., the first information recording layer, is formed to have a reflectivity of approximately 30%. The laser beam irradiated to play back information recorded in the reflective layer 4, also functioning as the second information recording layer, is reflected at the semi-transmittance layer 3 and attenuated in an amount of approximately 30% of the entire laser beam. Thereafter the rest of the laser beam is reflected at the reflective layer 4 layer functioning as the second information recording layer and attenuated again at the semi-transmittance layer 3 and goes out of the disc. A playback laser beam is focused on the first information recording layer or the second information recording layer to playback signals therein by detecting its reflection light. The wavelength of the laser beam for use in recording and/or playback signals in a DVD is approximately 650 nm.
However, the recordable DVDs, i.e., DVD+Rs, DVD-Rs, DVD-RW, DVD+RWs, etc., of prior art have only a single information recording layer readable from one side. To increase a storage capacity thereof, it is necessary to develop a medium which can be read from both sides. When an optical pickup irradiates with a writing laser beam the information recording layer located at the back in an optical information recording medium in which information is recorded and read in double information recording layers from one side with its focus thereon there is a problem in that the other information recording layer located at the front therein attenuates the power of the laser beam so that the medium does not have a good combination of optical absorption necessary to record information in the second information recording layer and optical reflection therefrom. Published unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. (hereinafter referred to as JOP) 11-622 discloses an optical information recording medium having double information recording layers formed of an organic dye in which information can be written and read from one side. However, this medium has just a structure of two attached substrates. These attached substrates have a conventional structure of a substrate on the incident side and a conventional structure of a substrate on the recording layer side. Therefore, the medium does not solve the problem of optical absorption and reflection deriving from the second information recording layer mentioned above. In addition, there is no description about drawbacks in a semi-transmittance layer when the layer is thin. JOP 10-340483 discloses an optical information recording medium containing a metal reflective layer, a dye-containing recording layer and a protective layer. The medium can use SiO and SiO2 in the protective layer. However, there is no specific description about manufacturing conditions and optical characteristics. JOP 2000-311384 discloses an optical information recording medium having a second barrier layer between an intermediate layer (adhesive layer) and a second optical absorption layer. However, the literature describes only a single example in which Au is used as a material for the second barrier layer. When a metal is used as in this case, the absorption index k in the complex refractive index increases. As a result, it is impossible to fulfill the purpose of the present invention. Further, described in JOP 2000-311384, "absorption index k of a material for use in the second barrier layer is preferably not less than 0.1". Thus there is no known teaching of lowering the absorption index k to a level not greater than 0.05.
For the foregoing reasons, a need exists for an optical information recording medium having double information recording layers to have a large storage capacity in which information can be recorded and played back from one side with good signal characteristics even for the recording layer located further from the light-incident side.


Technologies are shown for secure management of personal information data involving storing personal information data in a personal information data block and committing the personal information data block to a personal information data blockchain and authorizing access to the personal information data by a platform entity by storing a platform identifier corresponding to the platform entity in authorized access data. An access request is received from the platform entity that includes the platform identifier for the first platform entity. If the platform identifier is verified to be in the authorized access data, the personal information data is obtained from the personal information data blockchain and returned to the platform entity. In some examples, the authorized access data includes permissions that identify portions of the personal information data that the platform entity can access. In other examples, the authorized access data is secured on an authorized access data blockchain.

Users often provide digitized personal user information in a variety of different contexts, such as social network profile information, electronic health records, employment history, resume or curriculum vitae information, or personal preferences. Often, these contexts correspond to different platforms controlled by different operators, such as FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN or GOOGLE. Also, the operators of these platforms on which users store such personal information often do not allow users to transfer their personal information from one platform to another platform or even to the user's personal computing environment.
Further, these platform operators often leverage, exploit, and transact personal user information (with the consent of the platform's users through the platform's terms and conditions) primarily for their own business interests, such as identifying corresponding or complimentary products, services, or content to offer their users.
This current arrangement leaves users with little to no control in the portability of their own personal information stored on such platforms. Often, users are left to recreate their own personal information among different platform operators to utilize features that are unavailable on one platform, but available on another platform.
In addition, the manner in which these platforms maintain and access a user's personal information using internal systems generally provides little or no transparency on how the data is maintained and inhibits the traceability of changes in personal information.
It is with respect to these and other considerations that the disclosure made herein is presented.

User controlled storage and sharing of personal user information on a blockchain


A method of separating solid particles from gaseous matter comprises rotating a spinner about a spinner axis in a rotational direction. The spinner has fluid passageways that operatively connect a gaseous inlet environment to a gaseous outlet environment. The fluid passageways circumferentially extending in a direction opposite the rotational direction as the fluid passageways extend radially inward. The method further comprises forcing gaseous matter radially inward through the rotating spinner by creating pressure differential that is such that the pressure of the gaseous inlet environment exceeds the pressure of the gaseous fluid outlet. An assembly comprises a spinner configured to rotate in a rotational direction. The spinner has fluid passageways that operatively connect a gaseous inlet environment to a gaseous outlet environment. A heating element is positioned adjacent to the spinner in a manner such that particles flung from the spinner can strike the heating element.

Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a rotating centrifugal particle separator for preventing particulates suspended in gaseous matter from entering a passageway. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a centrifugal separator that comprises a spinner that revolves about an axis adjacent to an inlet into the passageway. The revolution of the spinner prevents particulates from entering the passageway, but allows gaseous matter to enter the passageway. The centrifugal separator was developed particularly for use in connection with gasifiers, but it also has use in connection with other systems and devices. A heating element may be provided adjacent the spinner to burn particles flung outward from the spinner or to prevent caking and build-up of tar and particles around the filter, and to facilitate gasification of soot and catalytic cracking of tars.
General Background
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0125848 A1 discloses a rotating centrifugal particle separator similar in basic operation to the rotating centrifugal particle separator of the present invention. That publication also discloses the use of such a device in a gasifier. The present invention overcomes some disadvantages associated with said prior art device.
During the gasification process of some fuels, such as wood, grass, and other biofuels, particulates of ash, tar, unburned solid fuel, and other liquids and solids become suspended in the syngas within the gasifier. When drawing out syngas from gasifiers, such particulates are often drawn out along with the syngas. Thus, it is desirable to filter or separate such particulates from the syngas. This is typically done downstream of the gasifier. However, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0125848 A1, it can be done within the gasifier in a manner that is highly advantageous to the gasification process.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0125848 A1 discloses a device comprising a spinning particle separator having bristles that are configured to cause particulate laden gas to swirl about the axis of the spinner before passing through openings of the spinner that allow such gas to travel through and beyond the spinner. Unfortunately, due to the gaps between the bristles, some gas particles can pass through the openings without first achieving the circumferential velocity of the bristles. Additionally, when used in a gasifier, some particles that are flung outward by the rotating bristles have the tendency to accumulate against the side wall of the gasifier. Such accumulation of particles is problematic.

Rotating centrifugal particle separator and gasifier having the same


Embodiments provide area-selective etching of silicon nitride for the manufacture of microelectronic workpieces through sequential exposure of silicon nitride layers to hydrogen ions/radicals followed by fluorine ions/radicals using beam delivery techniques such as ion beam and/or neutral beam techniques. The area-selective etch processes are anisotropic when hydrogen ions are used and are isotropic when hydrogen radicals are used. Further, sputtering of material onto a substrate for a microelectronic workpiece is not required for the disclosed embodiments. Further, by using ion beam and/or neutral beam techniques, area-selective etching of silicon nitride is achieved as opposed to the large-area etching provided by prior plasma processing techniques. For certain embodiments, the ion/neutral beam techniques described herein are used to fabricate silicon nitride hard masks without requiring the use of any mask.

The present disclosure relates to methods for the manufacture of microelectronic workpieces, and in particular, methods to etch material layers on microelectronic workpieces.
Device formation within microelectronic workpieces typically involves a series of manufacturing techniques related to the formation, patterning, and removal of a number of layers of material on a substrate. To meet the physical and electrical specifications of current and next generation semiconductor devices, processing flows are being requested to reduce feature size while maintaining structure integrity for various patterning processes.
Optical lithography reached an inflection point at 22 nm (nanometer) technology nodes as conventional approaches to scaling down the critical dimension (CD) or pitch of patterned features using resolution enhancement techniques (RETs) met its physical limit. Self-aligned multiple patterning has been used in high-volume manufacturing for sub-22 nm technology nodes. In addition, next-generation lithography techniques such as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, directed self-assembly (DSA), imprint lithography, and maskless lithography (e.g., electron beam (E-beam) direct write) are being developed. Maskless lithography, such as E-beam direct write lithography, represents a significant departure from the constraints of traditional optical lithography. Feasibility of E-beam lithography, however, is limited by low throughput and still requires a resist for patterning. As such, high throughput manufacturing of microelectronic workpieces is difficult to achieve using E-beam lithography techniques. In contrast, ion-beam lithography has higher throughput and does not require resist for patterning. However, this ion-beam technique typically sputters material in order to create desired patterning, and re-deposition of the sputtered material can cause undesirable micro-masking effects that degrade devices formed on the microelectronic workpieces.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for area-selective etching of silicon nitride layers for the manufacture of microelectronic workpieces


A flotation device capable of being used with a portable mooring system preferably includes a first bumper ring including a first male end and a first female end diametrically spaced therefrom, a second bumper ring including a second male end and a second female end diametrically spaced therefrom, an anchor bracket affixed to an outer surface of at least one of the first and second bumper rings, a cleat removably attached to the anchor bracket, and a quick release handle removably penetrated through one of the first and second male ends as well as a corresponding one of the first and second female ends. In this manner, the first and second bumper rings define a circle when interfitted to each other. Such first and second bumper rings are preferably formed from buoyant material.

Technical Field
This invention relates to mooring systems and, more particularly, to a portable boat mooring system for providing users with an easy and convenient means of securing their boats to a pier or the like without having to adjust the length of the tying member during high or low tides.
Prior Art
The recreational use of power boats, sail boats and smaller yachts has become a popular activity worldwide. These smaller sized recreational boats may be stored at home and carried to the water on boat trailers and down into the water. Larger boats may be kept at marinas, which offer a mooring protected from the weather and a variety of support services, such as fuel, equipment and so forth. These boats have to be tied to a pier for example when the boat is stored in the water. The equipment used usually comprises fenders, dock lines and other equipment to protect and secure the boat while docked. The currently used main functional parts may include an anchor, a rope to tie the anchor to the float, and a mooring float for tying the boat to.
A problem faced by many boaters is that the rope may have insufficient length resulting in a boat being "hung" from the rope during low tide. A rope that is too long may cause the boat to bump or be whipped against the securing pole or anchor and may cause damage to the boat or other boats during inclement weather. As such, boat owners may have to frequently check or call a friend to "check their lines" to be sure there is enough length or shortness depending upon the tides. Known devices designed to overcome this problem are permanently mounted, expensive, and appears complicated to install and maintain.
Accordingly, a need remains for a system in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a portable boat mooring system that is convenient and easy to use, lightweight yet durable in design, versatile in its applications, and designed for securing boats to a pier or the like without having to adjust the length of the tying member during high or low tides.

Portable boat mooring system and associated method


A baby carriage includes: a pair of front legs; a pair of connecting members; a pair of guide sleeves respectively fixed to intermediate regions of the pair of front legs, a pair of rear legs having their upper ends pivotally connected to the connecting members, respectively; a pair of push bars slidably held by the pair of connecting members and the pair of guide sleeves, respectively; a pair of slide members provided slidably on upper regions of the pair of rear legs, respectively; a back cross member having its upper end pivotally connected to the pair of slide members and its lower end pivotally connected to respective lower regions of the pair of rear legs; and a bottom cross member having its front end pivotally connected to respective lower ends of the pair of push bars, and its rear end pivotally connected to respective intermediate regions of the pair of rear legs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a pushcart and a baby carriage. More particularly, the present invention relates to a foldable pushcart that is reduced in size in front-back and width directions when folded, and a foldable baby carriage that is reduced in size in height and width directions when folded. Note that the term "pushcart" has a broad meaning including a baby carriage, a load-carrying cart, and the like.
2. Description of the Background Art
A baby carriage that is reduced in size in height and width directions when folded is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. S45 (1970)-13549 of examined applications and Japanese Patent Publication No. H07 (1995)-12824 of examined applications. The baby carriages disclosed in these publications are structured so that a pair of push bars extending in an up-down direction are bendable forward to a pair of front legs extending in the up-down direction, whereby the height in the folded state is reduced. The baby carriages are also reduced in size in a width direction when folded. In order to enable such reduction in size in the width direction, a pair of rear legs and the pair of push bars are connected to each other by a back cross member formed by two bar members that cross each other in an X shape.
The baby carriages disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. S45 (1970)-13549 of examined applications and Japanese Patent Publication No. H07 (1995)-12824 of examined applications are structured so that the pair of push bars are bendable forward in order to reduce the height in the folded state. Another type of a baby carriage is disclosed in, for example, Japanese National Phase Publication Nos. 2001-525291 and 2005-522372 of PCT applications. In the baby carriages disclosed in these publications, the height in the folded state of the baby carriage is reduced by moving a pair of push bars downward along a pair of front legs.
In the baby carriages disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. S45 (1970)-13549 of examined applications and Japanese Patent Publication No. H07 (1995)-12824 of examined applications, an upper part of the back cross member is connected to the back of the pair of push bars. It is therefore difficult to provide a backrest portion located between the pair of push bars in a reclinable manner.
In such a baby carriage having sliding push bars as disclosed in Japanese National Phase Publication Nos. 2001-525291 and 2005-522372 of PCT applications, there is no member that becomes an obstacle on the back of the pair of push bars. It is therefore possible to provide a backrest portion in a reclinable manner. From this standpoint, it can be said that a baby carriage having sliding push bars is preferable. In a baby carriage having sliding push bars, however, it is difficult to provide a back cross member, that connects a pair of push bars with a pair of rear legs. Improvement is therefore required for such a baby carriage to reduce the size in the width direction in the folded state.
Japanese National Phase Publication No. 2005-522372 of PCT applications does not include any description regarding reduction in size of the baby carriage in the width direction in the folded state. Japanese National Phase Publication No. 2001-525291 of PCT applications describes that the baby carriage is reduced in size in the width direction when folded, but does not describe any specific structure to implement such size reduction.

Foldable pushcart and foldable baby carriage


A synchronizer system and method allow synchronization of a plurality of rotating parts by determining a measured or calculated starting relative speed of the plurality of rotating parts, and based on the starting relative speed selecting a predetermined synchronizer force profile from among a plurality of candidate profiles for synchronizing the plurality of parts prior to engagement. The selected profile is retrieved and applied to a synchronizer between the plurality of parts to be engaged, and when the relative speed between the plurality of parts to be engaged becomes substantially zero, the plurality of parts can then be engaged to one another.

In the operation of motor or engine-powered transportation and/or work-producing machines, a power transmission component is typically used to convert rotary power of a given speed, torque, and direction to rotary power having a different speed, torque, and/or direction. For example, an engine output rotation may be geared down to reduce speed and increase torque. Similarly, a transmission may enable the operator to selectively reverse the power transmission output relative to the engine output direction, e.g., to provide both forward and reverse movement of the machine.
The modification of transmission characteristics is executed via the actuation and deactuation of one or more clutches or, less commonly, the meshing and unmeshing of toothed gears. The execution of the engagement of previously unengaged entities should be executed only when the rotational speeds of the entities are close enough to avoid damage to the transmission and jarring of the machine. In an automatic transmission, this task, often referred to as synchronization, is typically required in order to prevent shifts from completing while the two entities to be engaged are moving at substantially different rotational speeds.
For example, certain industrial and construction machines use a dual clutch planetary transmission to allow power upshifting and downshifting between gears, while retaining the high mechanical efficiency of a manual transmission and eliminating the typical inefficiency of an automatic transmission having a torque converter. However, to increase the durability and efficiency of the transmission, it is important to properly engage and disengage the various elements, both in terms of timing and force.
A synchronizer is a component used in a transmission to bring two rotating entities to a substantially similar rotational speed prior to full engagement. The force used to engage the synchronizer is referred to herein as a synchronizer profile. If the synchronizer engagement force is increased too rapidly, the shift will be hard, causing poor drivability and high component wear. Conversely, if the synchronizer engagement force is increased too slowly, the shift will lag, causing extensive clutch wear and poor machine response. While there have been attempts in the past to provide effective synchronizer profiles, the inventors have observed that there remains a need in the art for a system for actively controlling one or more transmission shift synchronizers to increase transmission durability and improve the user experience.
While the principles disclosed herein are directed at least in part to overcoming one or more existing disadvantages, noted or otherwise, it will be appreciated that the innovation herein is defined by the attached claims without to regard to whether and to what extent the specifically claimed embodiment overcomes one or more of the noted problems in the existing technology. Moreover, it will be appreciated that any discussion herein of any reference or publication is merely intended as an invitation to study the indicated reference itself, and is not intended to replace or supplement the actual reference. To the extent that the discussion of any reference herein is inconsistent with that reference, it will be appreciated that the reference itself is conclusive as to its teachings.

Synchronizer engagement relative speed-based force profile


A slide retainer for an injection mold tool with positive locking, recessed mounting, and guide bar capabilities. The retainer includes a track channel insert rigidly mounted in the base plate of an injection mold tool and a cooperating cylindrical insert mounted for rotational movement in the slide. The channel insert may be extended outwardly from the base plate to serve secondarily as the slide guide bar. The cylindrical insert includes an eccentrically mounted track pin and a torsional spring thereby biasing the track pin for rotation movement. The channel insert includes a circumferential heart-shaped channel that defines an island in the middle thereof. The track pin extends into the channel and traverses the circumferential path once during each mold cycle. A unidirection flapper gate is provided to route the pin through the channel in the proper direction. Slide retention and locking are achieved when the track pin is oriented in the indented portion at the top of the heart-shaped channel. Channel facilitate slide removal without tool disassembly.

The present invention relates to tooling for use in connection with, for example, injection molding, and more specifically to retaining mechanisms employed to restrain and lock tooling core pieces in their retracted position when the mold is open.
Injection mold tools are generally defined by a pair of mold members or die halves which part to expose and effect release of the molded piece part contained within the mold. For non-complicated parts, the mold tool members are simply separated with the molded component being pushed outwardly from the mold member in which it rests. For a large percentage of molds, however, piece geometry requires use of tool core members which must be withdrawn laterally, i.e. parallel to the parting plane separating the mold halves, from the molded part before that part can be released from the mold. These core members are designed to automatically cycle between retracted and inserted positions as the mold halves are correspondingly reciprocated between respective parted (i.e. part release) and mated (i.e. part mold) positions.
More specifically, the core members are affixed to movable portions of the tool commonly known as slides. As noted, a slide must be advanced to properly position the core member within the mold for part fabrication and thereafter retracted to facilitate part release. The present invention relates to mechanisms, known as retainers, employed to hold the slide in its retracted position while the mold is open.
Not all slides require retainers. Gravity, for example, may serve the retainer function for slides positioned below the tool die. However, many tools require multiple core members thereby necessitating placement of slides laterally or above the mold die. It is critical that these slides remain securely positioned in their retracted positions until the next recycled closure of the mold. Should the slide be misplaced during die closure, substantial damage or destruction of the mold may occur. Machined tool molds represent expensive investments, not uncommonly exceeding tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Slide retainers are not new. Several well-known designs are commercially available. As set forth in more detail herein, the present slide retainer offers several important advantages over these known designs including the very important feature of guaranteed slide retention.
A principal limitation of currently available slide retainers is the absence of a positive lock against inadvertent slide release. Each of the prior art structures employs spring-loaded jaws or cams or, in one known device, simply the clasping pressure afforded by elastically deforming plastic material to grip and retain the core slide. But each of these retention schemes has, in the first instance, a relatively low finite slide-holding potential or limit and, furthermore, the not-insignificant possibility of complete retention failure due to fatigue occasioned by the long-term cycling of the linear compression springs therein or, in the case of the elastically deformed plastic retainer, simple wearing of the plastic.
But it is the relatively low and finite overall load limit of these devices that represents one of their most significant shortcomings. These retainers, even if properly maintained and replaced according to manufacturers recommendations, can still cause the disastrous release of the core slide members due, as above noted, to the finite load limits thereof. The present retainer, by contrast, offers among other advantages a positive locking feature that virtually guarantees against unscheduled slide movement.
One well-known slide retainer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,645 to Feist. This retainer is typically mounted on the movable base member of the tooling die and defines a pair of spring-loaded jaws into which a pin, extending from the slide member, is received as the slide is urged, for example upwardly, to its fully core-retracted position. The jaws clamp the pin thereby, at least in theory, precluding its release and downward return into the die. There is nothing to foreclose the release of the slide other than the limited grasping ability of the spring-loaded jaws themselves. Indeed, upon tool closure the slide retention pin is forced--against this spring pressure--out of engagement within the locking jaws.
While such spring-loaded locking jaws are designed to hold specified slide weights, unexpected roughness (i.e. bumping or jerking) of the molding press or, even more likely, the inadvertent bumping of the slide by persons servicing the press, has been known to result in slide release. By contrast, the slide retainer described herein positively receives and positions the slide pin within a machined channel and behind a solid island of material thereby locking the slide against inadvertent release in the face of any conceivable load placed thereon. And, as previously noted, linear compression springs of the type shown by Feist are known to fatigue and fail if subjected to prolonged use and therefore must be periodically replaced to minimize the likelihood of retainer failure.
A further disadvantage of the Feist-type retainer overcome by the present invention is that related to the mounting thereof. Feist retainers are customarily affixed to the movable mold base above--in the case of a vertically retracting slide--the maximum upward travel thereof. As these retainers require between 11/2 to 31/2 inches of "real estate" for proper attachment, the mold base upon which the retainer is to be placed must be correspondingly larger. the added size of the required tool base--which is comprised of notoriously expensive machine grade steel--can significantly increase the overall cost of the associated completed tool. A further difficulty with the Feist retainer is its mounting orientation--outwardly of the slide and along the moving axis thereof--necessarily precludes the removal of the slide without, first, either removing the retainer or the slide attachment rails.
By contrast, the present retainer is positioned within the base and below the path of slide travel. In this manner, neither increased base volume is required to mount the retainer nor must the retainer be removed prior to removal of the slide.
A similar retainer to that of Feist is the urethane clip described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,875. This retainer uses the resiliency or elasticity of the plastic material to effect slide pin capture and locking. But this retainer suffers the same limitations noted above in its mounting and restricted grasping power and in its corresponding absence of any positive slide locking mechanism. Furthermore, while such retainer will not exhibit spring failure, normal wear of the urethane material is viewed as significantly limiting the cycle life of this device.
Yet another known retainer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,585. This retainer employs a linear spring-loaded plunger or ram--generally mounted to the base--that seats within a mating slotted holder on the slide. This arrangement exhibits many of the above-discussed limitations including limited holding power; the likelihood of linear spring fatigue-induced failure; and the absence of a positive locking mechanism to preclude inadvertent slide release.
As yet a further advantage of the present retainer is its dual-functionality as, foremostly, a positive-locking slide retainer but, secondarily, as a mechanism for properly guiding the associated slide. It is well known that slide guide bars are utilized in most high quality tooling to assure proper and repeatable tracking and positioning of the slide and associated tool core member. As set forth in more detail below, the present retainer may advantageously be configured to effect the secondary, but important, function of slide guiding thereby obviating the expense associated with the addition of conventional slide guide bar arrangements.
The above-noted features of the present slide retainer are achieved through the cooperation of track channel and cylindrical pin inserts mounted, respectively, within the so-called "B" plate of the movable half of the mold and the movable slide. Importantly, both inserts are retained largely within their respective base and slide members, i.e. do not protrude beyond the plane defined therebetween, and therefore do not require removal of either slide component to effect removal of the slide, itself. The track channel, however, may extend into operative engagement with the slide thereby providing the above-described slide guide function. Further, the track insert is positioned within the base generally below or adjacent the ordinary path of slide travel thereby employing portions of the mold base that are ordinarily present and otherwise required for proper tool design and slide operation. In this manner, proper slide retention is achieved without a corresponding increase in the size of the tool base material required.
Actual slide retention is effected through the engagement of a track pin, which pin extends from the cylindrical insert within the slide, across the previously noted plane defined between the slide and base, into a channel defined within the base track insert. Effortless slide removal (i.e. without first removing portions of the retainer or slide rails) is not compromised, however. Ingress/egress channels are provided at the longitudinally opposed ends of the track insert to facilitate this ease of removal.
The track channel defines a "one-way" circumferential course through which the mating track pin navigates during each cycle of the tool. Such uni-directional travel is achieved through the combination of a rotationally biased pin assembly and a uni-directional gate within the channel itself. More specifically, the track pin is rigidly and asymmetrically mounted to the cylindrical insert, the latter member being retained for rotational movement within a corresponding cylindrical slide bore. A torsional spring biases the cylindrical insert for rotation in a predetermined angular direction.
As the slide is retracted following each mold cycle, the track pin enters the circumferential channel being routed in the proper direction through this channel by reason of the previously noted gate. A second torsional spring maintains this gate in a closed position thereby inhibiting pin passage other than in the prescribed direction. It is significant that each of the above-noted springs is of torsional configuration. Such springs, when operated within restricted angular limits as herein, exhibit a substantially unlimited life expectancy thereby eliminating the probability of failure found in retainers employing linear springs.
As the slide reaches its maximum retracted position--a positioned defined by one or more generally conventional angle pins extending from the stationary half of the mold into a mating slide holes--the track pin, under the force of its torsional biasing spring, rotates and, traveling within a substantially lateral region of the track channel, firmly seats within a recess or indentation defined in the channel. This indented, lateral portion of the track channel is heart-shaped--the entire channel dipping at the point of indentation. This dip forms, not only the recess into which the track pin seats, but an opposed channel wall that precludes the continued movement of the track pin through the track channel. Thus, further rotation of the track pin and insert is inhibited until the slide is again engaged by the angle pins upon commencement of the next mold cycle.
A significant feature of the above-described topology is the positive locking achieved thereby. When received within the recessed portion of the track channel, a solid barrier or island of machine steel defined by the track channel wall, absolutely forecloses further movement of the track pin in the release direction, i.e. movement of the slide into the mold. The slide cannot be moved or released regardless of the weight of the slide, the vibration or other roughness of machine operation, or, the inadvertent pressure placed on the slide by persons working on the mold.
Release of the slide occurs only upon commencement of the next mold cycle, more specifically, upon re-entry of the angle pins into the mating holes within the slide. As the beveled end regions of the pins first engage the slide, the slide is forced a small additional distance upwardly thereby lifting the track pin from the track channel recess. Once released from the channel recess, the track pin continues its one-way journey to the end of the lateral portion of the track channel, again, under the rotational force of the spring-biased cylindrical insert.
The track pin is now free to travel downwardly through the remainder of the one-way circumferential channel, under the engagement and urging of the angle pins until it returns to the initial mold position. In completing this movement, the track pin must pass the gate, which uni-directional gate yields to the passage of the track pin in the prescribed return direction.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a slide retainer. The retainer should preferably accommodate a wide range of slide weights and should incorporate positive locking against inadvertent slide release.
A further object of the present invention is a slide retainer that may be affixed to and within the slide and mold base without requiring additional mold base material beyond that otherwise required to implement the desired mold tooling configuration.
Yet another object of the present slide retainer is the elimination of discrete slide guide bars through providing for an integral slide retainer guiding structure.
These and other objects will become apparent from the Drawings and the specification including the Description of the Preferred Embodiment that follow.


A sensor is provided with a conductive sensing element that has a composition adapted to provide a resistance large enough that predetermined magnitudes of voltage noise do not create a false indication of removal, e.g. by abrasion or corrosion. Also, the sensing element composition is adapted to provide a temperature coefficient of resistivity small enough that measurements are substantially independent of temperature. Resistance is preferably greater than 10 ohms and the absolute value of TCR is preferably less than 1000 parts per million per .degree. C. The conductive sensing element may be formed from several materials, including alloys of palladium or lead, particularly palladium-gold, lead-bismuth, or lead-palladium. A combination sensor is provided that includes an abrasion sensing element and a corrosion sensing element on the same substrate. A multi-purpose sensor with a single sensing element is provided by incorporating attributes of both an abrasion sensor and a corrosion sensor such that the multi-purpose sensor is susceptible both to abrasion and corrosion. A method is also provided for detecting when selected characteristics of a subject fluid, such as abrasiveness or corrosiveness, exceed a predetermined limit.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to the field of fluid sensors. More specifically the invention relates to fluid abrasion sensors, fluid corrosion sensors, combined abrasion and corrosion sensors, and a method for sensing abrasion and/or corrosion.
2. Background Art
Abrasion sensors and corrosion sensors are particularly important when an increase in the abrasiveness or corrosiveness of a fluid, such as oil, aqueous solution, or water, may damage equipment or upset a process. Some sensors exist that monitor the abrasiveness or corrosiveness of a fluid and yield a quantitative value such as milligrams of particulate matter per liter of fluid for abrasiveness or the pH for corrosiveness. Such sensors are typically expensive to purchase, use, and maintain and often may be used only in limited circumstances due to their fragility. Also, a quantitative value is often not needed so long as a sensor indicates when the abrasiveness or corrosiveness of a fluid exceeds an allowable limit. This is particularly true for internal combustion engines, hydraulic systems, and the like wherein abrasive particles and/or corrosive acids readily accumulate in oil circulating through such a device or system.
One type of sensor exists that includes a sacrificial amount of a conductive substance. The conductive substance is selected so that it will abrade or corrode when the respective abrasiveness or corrosiveness of the subject fluid exceeds an allowable limit. Also, the conductive substance is selected to corrode or abrade rapidly enough that the condition may be detected before significant damage to equipment or processes occur. Essentially, such a sensor will exhibit a given resistance (typically measured in ohms) when newly exposed to the subject fluid, but the resistance will increase as the conductive substance wears away, typically by abrasion or corrosion. Most commonly, such sensors are connected to electronic circuitry capable of measuring the resistance of the sensor. The electronic circuitry is used to apply a voltage across the sensor and measure the resulting current. The equation R=V/i, wherein R is resistance, V is voltage and i is current, can then be used to calculate the measured resistance. For abrasion sensors, such devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,278 to Stewart et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,337,668 to Zupanick, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,677 to Sargeant et al., each of which is hereby incorporated by reference for their pertinent and supportive teachings. For corrosion sensors, such devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,108,242 to Scott, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 3,124,771 to Rohrback, U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,087 to Frenck et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,094 to Caldecourt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,544 to Schmidt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,164 to Victor, U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,563 to Rhoades et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,204 to Luck et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,664 to Ansuini et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,297 to Perkins et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,961 to Hammerle, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference for their pertinent and supportive teachings.
Many types of fluids, for example, lubricating oil and hydraulic fluid, contain additives to prevent the buildup of corrosive compounds. Corrosion typically is limited if the fluid contains the proper amount and type of additives. The corrosive compounds are still generated, but the additives change the chemical characteristics of the corrosive compounds such that corrosion is suppressed. However, as the fluid ages, the additives are depleted and corrosive compounds begin to accumulate in the fluid. When a corrosion sensor of the type described above is present, the conductive substance will begin to corrode and the sensor's resistance will change, thus signaling an accumulation of corrosive compounds. Typically, an elemental metal such as lead or copper is selected for the conductive substance. It is a problem among the metals most often used that their resistivity is temperature dependent and a change in temperature of the fluid may be mistaken for an increase in corrosiveness. Accordingly, conventional corrosion sensors include a temperature reference for performing temperature correction of any changes in the measured resistance. Often, a Wheatstone bridge or Kelvin bridge arrangement is used as shown in several of the references indicated above. Unfortunately, requiring a temperature reference adds to the complexity and cost of a corrosion sensor and a sensor that does not require temperature correction is highly desirable.
It is also a problem among the metals most often used that their resistivity is relatively low, typically yielding corrosion sensors having a resistance of 1 ohm or less. It is a significant disadvantage of conventional corrosion sensors that their low resistance necessitates a relatively low applied voltage, allowing electrical noise to significantly influence measuring the resistance. This condition renders it difficult at times to reliably determine whether a change in resistance is from corrosion or just electrical noise. Accordingly, a sensor that reliably distinguishes between noise and corrosion is highly desirable.
Many types of equipment and processes that use fluids, for example, engines and hydraulic systems, include devices, for example, filters, to remove abrasive matter and prevent its buildup in the fluid. Abrasion typically is limited if the device works properly, however, the device may rupture or clog and allow abrasive matter to pass through it or around it via a bypass valve. When an abrasion sensor of the type described above is present, the conductive substance will begin to abrade and the sensor's resistance will change, thus signaling an accumulation of abrasive matter. Typically, an elemental metal or metal alloy such as nickel-chromium is selected for the conductive substance. It is a problem of many metals that their resistivity is temperature dependent as discussed above for corrosion sensors and a temperature reference is required. Unfortunately, requiring a temperature reference adds to the complexity and cost of an abrasion sensor too, so a sensor that does not require temperature correction is highly desirable. Also, as discussed above for corrosion sensors, it is a problem of conventional abrasion sensors that they have a resistance of 1 ohm or less. Accordingly, an abrasion sensor with a greater resistance to reliably distinguish between noise and abrasion is highly desirable.
Thus, it can be seen from the above discussion that it would be an improvement in the art to provide an abrasion sensor and a corrosion sensor that do not require temperature correction and reliably distinguish noise from abrasion or corrosion.

Fluid abrasion and/or corrosion sensors and method of sensing abrasion and/or corrosion


An exemplary embodiment provides a measurement system. A measurement system measuring body weight includes a weight detection unit detecting weight at predetermined detection cycles, and a calculating unit calculating an average value based on measurement values detected by the weight detection unit at the detection cycles. The detection cycle is shorter than a cycle at which a transient signal waveform predicted in accordance with measurement values detected by the weight detection unit can be obtained.

Conventionally, various methods of measuring body weight have been proposed. On this point, with the conventional methods, a measured object was required to stand still for a predetermined period, for example, on a weighing machine or the like. In the case where the measured object did not stand still, the measurement could not be conducted, or an incorrect measurement value could be provided.
On this point, with regard to a method of measuring a domestic animal conventionally having been difficult to stand still, a method of measuring body weight has been proposed. According to the proposed method, measurement values are analyzed which are acquired between placement of a measured object to a measurement position where measurement can be conducted and termination of measurement after the measured object moves from the measurement position, and then a group of stable measurement values is selected from the acquired measurement values.
However, according to the method described above, since it is necessary to acquire all of measurement values up to termination of the measurement, it disadvantageously takes a long time to complete measurement.
An object of the present disclosure is to solve the problem described above, and to provide a measurement system, a measurement method of a measurement device, a measurement device, and a non-transitory storage medium encoded with a computer readable control program control program, capable of completing measurement in a simple manner and promptly.
An exemplary embodiment provides a measurement system measuring body weight. The measurement system includes a weight detection unit detecting weight at predetermined detection cycles, and a calculating unit calculating an average value based on measurement values detected at the detection cycles by the weight detection unit. The detection cycle is shorter than a cycle at which a transient signal waveform predicted in accordance with measurement values detected by the weight detection unit can be obtained.
In the exemplary embodiment, the calculating unit calculates an average value based on measurement values detected by the weight detection unit during a predetermined interval.
In the exemplary embodiment, the calculating unit determines whether or not measurement values detected by the weight detection unit satisfy a predetermined condition, and the calculating unit calculates the average value based on measurement values for the predetermined interval when determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied.
In the exemplary embodiment, the calculating unit determines whether or not the measurement values detected by the weight detection unit for a predetermined period satisfy a predetermined condition, and the predetermined interval includes the predetermined period determined that the predetermined condition is satisfied.
In the exemplary embodiment, the predetermined interval corresponds to a period subsequent to the determination that the predetermined condition is satisfied.
In the exemplary embodiment, the calculating unit determines whether or not the measurement values detected by the weight detection unit is in a stable state, and the calculating unit calculates the average value based on the measurement values for the predetermined interval when determined that detected measurement values are in the stable state.
In the exemplary embodiment, the calculating unit determines whether or not a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the measurement values detected by the weight detection unit for a predetermined period falls within a predetermined range, and the calculating unit calculates the average value based on the measurement values for the predetermined interval when determined that the difference falls within the predetermined range.
In the exemplary embodiment, the calculating unit determines whether or not a difference between a maximum value and a current value of measurement values detected by the weight detection unit for a predetermined period falls within a predetermined range, and the calculating unit calculates the average value based on measurement values for the predetermined interval when determined that the difference falls within the predetermined range.
In the exemplary embodiment, the calculating unit determines whether or not a predetermined period has passed after the measurement values are detected by the weight detection unit, and the calculating unit calculates the average value based on the measurement values for the predetermined interval when determined that the predetermined period has passed.
In the exemplary embodiment, the calculating unit calculates the average value based on the measurement values detected by the weight detection unit, excluding a value deviating from a predetermined range.
In the exemplary embodiment, the calculating unit excludes the value deviating from the predetermined range based on distribution of the measurement values detected by the weight detection unit.
In the exemplary embodiment, the calculating unit calculates deviation values of the measurement values detected by the weight detection unit, and calculates the average value based on the measurement values detected by the weight detection unit, excluding the measurement values having calculated deviation values deviating from the predetermined range.
In the exemplary embodiment, the calculating unit determines whether or not a measurement value detected by the weight detection unit is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and the calculating unit terminates calculation of the average value when determined that the measurement value is less than or equal to the predetermined value.
In the exemplary embodiment, the detection cycle is substantially less than or equal to 100 ms.
An exemplary embodiment provides a measurement method of a measurement device measuring body weight. The measurement method includes the steps of detecting weight at predetermined detection cycles and calculating an average value based on measurement values detected at the detection cycles. The detection cycle is shorter than a cycle at which a transient signal waveform predicted in accordance with detected measurement values can be obtained.
An exemplary embodiment provides a measurement device measuring body weight. The measurement device includes a weight detection unit detecting weight at predetermined detection cycles, and a calculating unit calculating an average value based on measurement values detected by the weight detection unit at the detection cycles. The detection cycle is shorter than a cycle at which a transient signal waveform predicted in accordance with measurement values detected by the weight detection unit can be obtained.
An exemplary embodiment provides a non-transitory storage medium encoded with a computer readable control program executable by a computer of a measurement device measuring body weight. The control program controls the computer to serve as a module detecting weight at predetermined detection cycles and a module calculating an average value based on measurement values detected at the detection cycles. The detection cycle is shorter than a cycle at which a transient signal waveform predicted in accordance with detected measurement values can be obtained.
According to the exemplary embodiment, measurement can be completed in a simple manner and promptly.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Measurement system, measurement method of measurement device, measurement device, and non-transitory storage medium encoded with computer readable control program, capable of completing measurement in simple manner and promptly


A quadrature oscillator based on two cross-coupled gm/C cells utilizes the inherent nonlinearity of positive and negative impedance cells to control the amplitude of oscillation, thereby simplifying the oscillator and eliminating the need for an outer control loop. The oscillator includes a pair of cross-coupled gm/C stages. A negative impedance cell is coupled to each gm/C cell for assuring proper start-up and enhancing the amplitude of oscillation. A positive impedance cell is also coupled to each gm/C cell to dampen the amplitude of oscillation. The transconductance of each impedance cell varies in response to the bias current provided to the cell. Thus, by controlling the bias currents through the cells, the negative and positive impedances seen by each gm/C cell can made to cancel at the desired oscillation amplitude, so that the circuit oscillates without any damping or enhancement. By utilizing the inherent nonlinearity of positive and negative impedance cells, the bias currents provided to the impedance cells can remain fixed for a given frequency of operation, thereby simplifying the design of the oscillator and providing precise, robust control.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to quadrature oscillators, and more particularly, to a technique for maintaining low phase noise while modulating the amplitude of a quadrature oscillator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Quadrature oscillators based on two cross-coupled gm/C integrator stages provide high-frequency operation with low phase noise and are suitable for bipolar monolithic implementation. An example of such a quadrature oscillator is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,878 which is herein incorporated by reference. To assure low phase noise, the amplitude of such a quadrature oscillator must be limited so as to prevent a nearly perfect sinusoidal oscillation from becoming a large amplitude relaxation oscillation with high phase noise.
Some techniques for controlling the amplitude of a quadrature oscillator are described in the above-referenced U.S. Patent, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,911 which is also herein incorporated by reference. These techniques generally involve clamping the oscillation signal to a reference voltage or utilizing an outer control loop which senses the oscillation amplitude and then drives a positive or negative impedance cell responsive to the sensed amplitude so as to maintain a stable amplitude of oscillation.

Quadrature oscillator using inherent nonlinearities of impedance cells to limit amplitude


A portal for translating data is provided wherein users upload text to be translated. The text may be in the form of Web pages, in the form of hypertext mark-up language (HTML) files, or other formats. The portal at least partially translates the data and facilitates the selection of a vendor or vendors to complete the translation process. The portal makes use of a database containing previously completed translations, which database is utilized to at least partially translate new requests for translations, and thereby reduces the workload of the vendors selected to complete the process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a translation portal for at least partially translating data and facilitating the completion of the translation process. More in particular, the present invention is directed to a system for translating data which includes a source of data to be translated, a network connected to the source of data, a translation source connected to the network, and a portal system connected to the network for retrieving the data to be translated, and at least partially translating that data. Still further, the portal system includes a system for transmitting the at least partially translated data to the translation source for completing the translation of the data. Still further, the portal system includes a file storage memory for storing the data to be translated and a database for storing therein previously entered data to be translated associated with prior translations thereof.
2. Prior Art
Currently, there exists individual translation memory tools for use on a translator's workstation. Such translation aids analyze documents on a word-by-word basis, treating each new document as a totally new project. Such systems suffer from reduced efficiency in that they fail to take into account redundancies found in a document, similarities of one document to a previously translated document, and provide no means to enable team collaboration or involve the customer in the translation process.
There is therefore a need to provide a centralized translation database from which prior translations can be utilized to at least partially translated new documents to be translated. There is further a need to involve the translation customer in an iterative process, with intermediate approvals of translation work being obtained as a translation project progresses.
In an era where businesses are able to take advantage of a world wide marketplace utilizing a global computer network (Internet) it is important that such businesses are able to easily solicit business in multiple languages. Therefore, many businesses desire to have their Web pages translated into multiple languages, so that they are able to solicit business in many different markets. Therefore, a system which can upload a Web page and duplicate it in multiple languages is highly desirable. Further, as much multiple languages is highly desirable. Further, as much of the language of any one Web page is similar to that of other Web pages, it is further desirable to make use of the translations of previously translated Web pages to aid in the translation of other Web pages. By such an arrangement, the present invention reduces the workload of translators, whether it is translation of Web pages or other documents.


The present invention provides a new and distinct strawberry plant designated as ‘Caprice’ (a.k.a. ‘109862’).

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry plant designated as 'Caprice' (a.k.a. '109862').
'Caprice' (a.k.a. 109862) is the result of a controlled-cross between a female parent cultivar designated '109013' (not patented) and a male parent cultivar designated 'Crystalina' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,867) made by the Inventor and was first fruited in Watsonville, Calif. growing fields. Following selection and during testing, the plant was originally designated '109862' and subsequently named 'Caprice'. 'Caprice' is a day-neutral plant.
This new strawberry plant was asexually reproduced via runners (stolons) by the inventor at Watsonville, Calif. Asexual propagules from the original source have been tested in Watsonville growing fields and to a limited extent, grower fields in high elevation. The properties of this plant were found to be transmissible by such asexual reproduction. This plant is stable and reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.


A dental agent applicator has a barrel, a sealing plug, a delivery head and a plunger. The barrel has a proximal end, a distal end and a chamber defined through the barrel. The sealing plug is mounted in the chamber and hermetically obstructs the chamber. The delivery head is movably mounted on the distal end of the barrel and has a hub and a nozzle tip. The hub is mounted movably in the distal end and selectively moves the sealing plug to make the chamber communicate with the delivery head. The nozzle tip is mounted on the hub. The plunger is mounted slidably in the proximal end of the barrel. The delivery head is mounted permanently on the barrel. Using the dental agent applicator without having to replace any sealing cap with the delivery head is simple and convenient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an applicator, and more particularly to a dental agent applicator that has a barrel and a delivery head mounted permanently on the barrel and using the dental agent applicator requires no need to detach or attach any other components.
2. Description of Related Art
Dental agent such as bonding agent is applied to a tooth surface to firmly attach a dental restoration to the tooth surface.
Dental agent applicators are disposable and are used to store and apply dental agent to a tooth surface. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,578,055 and 4,997,371 discloses conventional dental applicators having a barrel, a plunger and a delivery tip. The barrel receives dental agent. The delivery tip is mounted on a front end of the barrel and has a brush mounted therein. Before use, a sealing cap covers the front end of the dental agent applicator. Right before use, the sealing cap is replaced with the delivery tip. After use, the delivery tip is replaced by the sealing cap and stored away.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,684 discloses another conventional dental agent applicator being similar to the aforementioned applicators and modifying the delivery tip. The modified delivery tip has a passageway and a helical ridge formed in the passageway to hold the brush in place. A sealing cap covers the front end off the barrel before using the applicator.
However, the delivery tips of aforementioned applicator does not have any sealing function so that the airtight sealing cap is necessarily mounted on the applicator to prevent oxidation or evaporation of the liquid dental agent. Therefore, replacing the sealing cap with the delivery tip wastes time. A package including the applicator, delivery tip, and sealing cap is cumbersome such that storing, transporting, or using such packages is inconvenient and costly.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a dental agent applicator to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.


An instrument holder assembly for use with a robotic surgical system can comprise one or more modules for holding or guiding an instrument. Each module can comprise a variable diameter jaw having movable teeth configured to hold or guide different sized instruments. Each module can be attached to opposite ends of a main shaft that can couple to an arm of the robotic surgical system. A central passage can extend through each module and the main shaft and the variable diameter jaws can constrict the central passage. Teeth of the variable diameter jaws can be biased to a closed or opened position. A tensioner tool can be used to hold biasing elements in position so that the teeth can be loaded into the module. The teeth can be loaded into slots of the module using a tooth holder device.

Imaging of anatomical features can be useful in preparing for and performing surgical procedures. In some surgical procedures it can be desirable to register the shape of the anatomy in the obtained images with another frame of reference, such as the physical space of an operating room. The physical space of the operating room can be correlated to a frame of reference for a robotic surgical system. Robotic surgical arms are used to hold various instruments in place in a desired orientation relative to both the anatomy and operating room during a procedure so that movement of an instrument in the operating room relative to the anatomy can be tracked on the anatomic imaging based on movement of the robotic surgical arm. It is, therefore, desirable to precisely mount instruments to the robotic surgical arm. An example of an adjustable instrument holder is described in Pub. No. US 2008/0086150 to Mathis et al.

Universal instrument holder and guide for robotic surgery


One aspect of the present invention relates to an adsorption filter containing an activated carbon and a fibrous binder. The adsorption filter has a density of 0.400 g/ml or more, and a pore volume at a pore diameter of 1 to 20 μm is 0.60 ml/g or less as measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry.

In recent years, safety and hygienic concerns have increased with regard to water quality of tap water, and removal of harmful substances contained in tap water, such as free residual chlorine, VOC (volatile organic compounds) such as trihalomethanes, agricultural chemicals, and musty odors, is desired.
In particular, chlorine which is used in tap water or the like for preventing propagation of bacteria is not a nontoxic substance, and when hair or skin is washed with tap water having a high residual chlorine concentration, the protein of the hair or skin may be denatured and damaged. A slight amount of trihalomethane which is dissolved in tap water is suspected to be a carcinogenic substance. In recent years, with enhanced health trend, removal of trihalomethane and the like is desired.
Hitherto, in order to remove these harmful substances, an adsorption molded body obtained by entangling a fibrillated fibrous binder with a granular activated carbon is used as a filter.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a molded adsorption body in which a filter material mainly composed of an activated carbon is molded with a fibrous binder, wherein the activated carbon is fine-particle activated carbon having a volume-based mode diameter of 20 μm or more and 100 μm or less, and the fibrous binder is mainly composed of a fiber material having a freeness of 20 mL or more and 100 mL or less by fibrillation.
When a powdery activated carbon having a small particle diameter is molded with a fibrous binder having a low freeness as in the molded adsorption body disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the moldability is improved, and also a filter having high adsorption performance and stable quality is obtained. However, a problem has been found that, when a fine powder activated carbon is included in the filter, an increase in pressure loss occurs in addition to a decrease in molded body strength, and moreover, clogging of the filter is apt to occur. If clogging occurs, problems arise such as not being capable of obtaining a sufficient water flow rate, breakage caused by a load of water pressure imposed on the filter, and outflow of water not purified yet or a filter material from a broken site.
Therefore, there is a demand for an adsorption filter retaining excellent filtration capability to remove harmful substances, being less likely to cause clogging, and composed of a powdery activated carbon and a binder.


An improved latch mechanism is disclosed for securing a multiple-wire connector to a corresponding multiple-wire receiver affixed to a chassis of an electronic apparatus such as a personal computer. The latch mechanism includes first and second pivotable clips affixed to opposed mounting sides of the connector, and an actuating bar interconnecting the clips. Each clip includes a pivot plate having a finger end and a pivotally opposed clasp end, arranged so that depression of the finger end toward the connector moves the clasp end to an open position away from the connector. A pivot spring biases each pivot plate toward the connector. The actuating rod extends from the finger end of a pivot plate of one clip, to the clasp end of the pivot plate of the opposed clip, so that depression of either finger end to which the actuating rod is affixed causes both clasp ends of the pivot plates to move away from the connector to their open positions. Consequently, a user of this latch mechanism need only depress the finger end of either clip to place the clasp ends of both clips in an open position, so the clasp ends can detachably engage the receiver.

The present invention relates to latches for securing electrical wire connectors to receivers. In particular, an improved latch mechanism is disclosed for securing a multiple-wire connector to a corresponding receiver on an electronic apparatus, such as a personal computer ("PC").
It is well known to utilize multiple-wire connectors to interconnect a variety of common electronic components. For example, an ordinary office PC typically includes a plurality of multiple-wire receivers. Each receiver is "hard-mounted" on the back of the PC chassis, and each receiver is specifically adapted to secure multiple-wire connectors from other electronic components, such as a keyboard, monitor, printer or modem.
To prevent accidental disconnection of such connectors from their respective receivers, it has become common to utilize latch mechanisms to secure a connector to its receiver. Several types of known latches are finger manipulated, while other types require use of hand tools. The finger or digitally manipulable latches are typically affixed to mounting flanges on opposed sides of the connector, and are adapted to engage latch blocks or posts on the corresponding receivers. An example of a well-known, common connector utilizing digitally manipulated latch mechanisms is commonly referred to as a "D subminiature" connector. Such connectors frequently have latches that include opposed, spring-biased clips, or sliding clips that engage latch blocks on receivers. Other known latches utilize jackscrews or thumbscrews on opposed sides of connectors, while additional latches utilize "bail locks", wherein mating clasps are deformed to secure the connector to its receiver.
While known latches effectively prevent accidental disconnection of multiple-wire connectors from receivers, they all suffer from inherent, structural limitations. All of the digitally manipulable latches require either simultaneous use of two fingers from opposed sides of the latch, or they require use of one finger, from only one side of the latch. Consequently, such finger-operated latches are often difficult to fully open or close in cramped locations, such as the typical "close quarters" between the back of a PC and a nearby office wall. Similarly, latches utilizing thumbscrews or jackscrews, or special mounting tools, also require access to both opposed sides of the latch for proper usage. Therefore, not only do they require additional costs in time and labor during use of the tools, but, like digitally manipulable latches, they also require simultaneous access to both sides, thereby limiting effective use of the latches in cramped locations.
Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved latch mechanism that overcomes the problems of the prior art.
It is a more specific object to provide an improved latch mechanism that secures a multiple-wire connector to a receiver without utilizing special tools.
It is another specific object to provide a latch mechanism that can be retrofitted onto known multiple-wire connectors.
It is yet another specific object to provide a digitally manipulable latch mechanism that can secure a multiple-wire connector to a receiver through use of one finger from either of two opposed sides of the connector.
The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent when the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Control circuitry uses modified average current mode control to regulate average current through an inductor of a power converter. Control circuitry uses modified average current mode control to regulate average current through an inductor of an active power filter. This average current mode control negates modulation of the average inductor current. In this way, output ripple current of the power converter does not have a significant effect on the input current drawn by the power converter.

Electronics systems, such as communication systems, radar systems, infrared sensor systems, laser tracking systems, or directed energy systems, whether ground based, mobile, airborne, shipboard, or spacecraft based, generally have several subsystems that are provided power from a power source over an electric power bus. Certain subsystems may draw a ripple current from the power source that may affect the other subsystems. Several specifications, such as MIL STD 461, address the quantity and frequency content of ripple current that may be reflected to an electric power bus, in addition to other EMC requirements.
For example, in the case of certain types of sensor systems, a cryogenic cooler electronics control system may draw 10 amps or more of ripple current at a nominal frequency between 70 and 100 Hz from the electric power bus. In some applications, such as a satellite system, this large ripple current draw may destabilize the bus and may degrade the performance of other electronics subsystems using the bus, particularly those managing low power sensor signals. For another example, in the case of a laser system that generates pulsed output energy, or a directed energy system that generates pulses of RF energy, the current required for the pulsed output may similarly reflect back to an electric power bus, and may destabilize the electric power bus.
Conventional approaches to reduce the ripple current on an electric power bus utilize low frequency low pass passive filters with large capacitors and inductors. However, the size and weight of the large capacitors and inductors required for low frequency low pass filter bandwidth make these approaches undesirable for applications where size and/or weight are important factors. Other conventional approaches include the use of shunt regulators in parallel with the fluctuating load. These shunt regulators draw load current under light load conditions and reduce shunt power under system heavy load conditions, thus keeping the net current draw from a power source constant.
Thus, there are needs for controls and methods that control power converter current accurately on a pulse-by-pulse basis using average current mode control. There are also needs for systems and methods that control and regulate input current drawn from an electric power bus. There are also needs to attenuate ripple current reflected to an electric power bus.

Method and control circuitry for providing average current mode control in a power converter and an active power filter