An adapter for installing a connector to a terminal post, wherein the connector is attached to a cable, is presented. In an embodiment, the adapter is comprised of an elongated collet member having a longitudinal axis comprised of a first collet member end, a second collet member end, an outer collet member surface, and an inner collet member surface. The inner collet member surface at the first collet member end is used to engage the connector. The outer collet member surface at the first collet member end is tapered for a predetermined first length at a predetermined taper angle. The collet includes a longitudinal slot that extends along the longitudinal axis initiating at the first collet member end for a predetermined second length. The first collet member end is formed of a predetermined number of sections segregated by a predetermined number of channels and the longitudinal slot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a connector adapter for installing a connector that is attached to the end of a cable onto a terminal post and more particularly to a means for assuring a proper torque setting of an electrical cable connector, wherein the cable is a coaxial cable or the like, installed in functional systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the past, connectors and more particularly, electrical connectors have been installed by turning the connector "by-hand" without the use of tools. This by-hand procedure is convenient and fast, however the "finger tight" connector-to-terminal post engagement does not provide the necessary torque required for a variety of applications. For example, in space flight applications, a required torque level is necessary for accelerometer cable connectors to avoid the occurrence of loosening due to various vibrations that transpire during certain flight phases such as ascent, on-orbit operations, and descent. As another example, in terrestrial-based applications, a required torque level is necessary in certain electrical connectors to avoid moisture penetration to protect high impedance contacts. As still another example, in certain electrical connectors, a required torque level is necessary to compress elastic fillers in a terminal post and secure a pin or a plurality of sockets connected to wires extending from the connector to their functional terminals. Accurate torque application is necessary to preclude under or over compression of the connector filler with consequences of loss of electrical contact at its pins or sockets, or distortion of the same through over tightening. Thus, a manufacturer for a particular connector may require a specific torque range for proper operation of their connectors.
Open-end wrenches have been and are employed directly to the connector to obtain a tighter connection. However, post access with this bulky tool is difficult, and the connection is sometimes over-tightened resulting in damage to the connector, post, or both. Further, off-center wrench applicators often provide erroneous readings and result in slippage of contact surfaces. To address these problems, a variety of adapter devices have been developed in connection with a proper applicator tool. These devices all vary in design and purpose. Most devices are limited to operating on hexagonal-head connectors, because hexagonal-head connectors are generally the industry standard. Therefore, these devices do not address the issue of operating on non-hexagonal head connectors, such as, for example, round connectors. Further, as will be discussed in more detail infra, most devices have a means for establishing a pre-application hoop compression load to hold the connector in place before installing the connector. There are two primary designs in the prior art for establishing this pre-application hoop compression load.
The first primary type of design is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,791, issued on Aug. 7, 1990, to Herschler et al., who discloses an adapter used for applying a specified torque to the back shells of electrical connectors. Herschler et al. uses a clamping means with a separable closure and adjustable friction-producing strap bonded to the outer lower lip of the adapter for establishing a pre-application hoop compression load. A user inserts the connector in Herschler's adapter and then proceeds to tighten the clamping means with a separate tool so that the friction-producing strap firmly compresses the connector against the inner surface of the adapter. For obvious reasons, use of Herschler's invention, although functional, is time-consuming and awkward.
The second primary type of design is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,065, issued on May 16, 1995, to McMills, who discloses a hand tool employed to tighten a connector nut at the end of an electrical cable on a cable terminal post. McMills uses sleeve, which is separable from the body member of his hand tool. A user inserts the connector in McMills' hand tool and then slides the separate sleeve over the end of the hand tool wherein the connector now resides. McMills' hand tool is tapered such that when the user slides the sleeve the compression load is increased as the sleeve is slid further along the hand tool. McMills' design is also functional, but the use of a separate sleeve member can result in the user losing or misplacing the separate sleeve member. Further the user may inadequately slide the sleeve, which can result in the sleeve falling off before the user installs the connector. In addition, the hand tool's working load tension has a critical value above which the tensile expansion of the sleeve permits the side walls of the hand tool to slip around the connector when a predetermined torque value is exceeded. Thus, the sleeve is directly dependent to meeting the proper torque value.
It would be desirable to design a more elegant approach for installing a connector attached to a cable to address the variety of problems that still exist in the prior art.

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


A cutting chain for a chainsaw may include a plurality of drive links, and a plurality of cutter links. Each of the drive links includes a top portion and a bottom portion that interfaces with a guide bar of the chainsaw. The cutter links are operably coupled to respective ones of the drive links at the top portion thereof. At least one of the cutter links includes a base portion and a cutting portion extending away from the base portion. The cutting portion includes a side plate and a top plate, the top plate including a top face and a bottom face. The side plate includes an outer face and an inside face. Multiple coating materials are provided on respective different surfaces of the drive links or cutter links such that different coating materials are applied based on a wear context of the respective different surfaces.

Chainsaws are commonly used in both commercial and private settings to cut timber or perform other rigorous cutting operations. Because chainsaws are typically employed in outdoor environments, and the work they are employed to perform often inherently generates debris, chainsaws are typically relatively robust hand held machines. Chainsaws can be powered by gasoline engines or electric motors (e.g., via batteries or wired connections) to turn a chain around a guide bar at relatively high speeds. The chain includes cutting teeth that engage lumber or another medium in order to cut the medium as the teeth are passed over a surface of the medium at high speed.
Given that the chainsaw may be employed to cut media of various sizes and types, it should be appreciated that the design of the chain itself may have an impact on the effectiveness of the cutting operations. In particular, cutter edges of the chain may wear over time. This wear occurs based on the edges being grinded or abraded by the material that the chain is cutting, or that is encountered while the chain is cutting. For softer materials, such as wood, this wearing process may be relatively slow. However, even wood may have hardness variations at various different parts of the wood. For example, the bark may be exposed to other materials (e.g., sand, ash, dirt, etc.). Thus, if the bark has some of these particles embedded therein (e.g., by the wind or other natural forces), the wearing process may be accelerated when the chain is engaged in cutting of the bark.
Wear may also be experienced between portions of the cutting chain that contact each other, and between the bar and portions of the cutting chain that contact the bar. As such, it may be desirable to explore a number of different bar and chain design improvements that could be employed alone or together with other design changes to improve overall chainsaw, and cutting chain, performance. In particular, it may be desirable to improve the wear resistance of the cutting chain and portions thereof that interact with the bar or other portions of the cutting chain and material being cut.

Chainsaw chain and/or bar with coatings having specific properties


Systems and methods for an autonomous marketplace system include a server that extracts borrower data including financial, operational and business data, and lender data from prospective lenders including financial data and a target profile for each prospective lender. It then generates, using artificial intelligence, an autonomous ranked match of prospective lenders. The artificial intelligence identifies relationships between the borrower data and the prospective lender data to generate the autonomous ranked match based on a preference of the borrower and a correlation between the identified relationships. Upon the borrower entering an internet based chat room, the identities of the prospective lenders are revealed. The borrower selects one or more prospective lenders to receive a finance request, and after selection by the borrower, the selected prospective lenders are first notified and informed of an existence of the finance request of the borrower.

Obtaining a commercial loan requires finding a lender that meets the borrower's needs. Whether in person or through an electronic marketplace, the process requires multiple meetings, conversations and possibly presentations that absorb the time of both the lender's and borrower's management teams. Currently, there is no way to determine if a lender can lend to a specific borrower or a specific project in advance of the lender knowing the borrower's identity and financing request specifics. Currently, the primary way to reduce the time to receive a formal proposal is to limit the number of lenders invited to a deal; however, this often results in sub-optimal terms, including a failed deal, due to either an unwillingness to spend the additional time required to investigate a larger number of lenders or a lack of awareness of lenders.
The current process typically involves the borrower identifying a select group of lenders, which are primarily lenders known to the borrower through personal relationships. The lenders will then commence two levels of the diligence: the initial level is diligence conducted to determine if the borrower's request falls within the risk parameters of the lender such that they can provide a Terms Sheet; the second level is diligence is a much more robust and detailed process that is conducted only if the borrower has agreed to their Terms Sheet.
In the initial level of diligence, the borrower and lender connect in person or telephonically several times to discuss all aspects of the business and financing request. The lender may request financial statements and other diligence items to be sent via email, courier, or mail. Several rounds of questions between the lender and borrower will be asked and answered via email, phone, and in person meetings. This process can take weeks or months. To meet the borrower's funding timeline this process must occur with all other selected lenders concurrently, which absorbs a significant amount of the borrower's time. A lender will not know whether the loan request falls within their risk parameters until the end of their initial diligence process. If the deal does fall within their risk parameters, then they will be able to provide a term sheet for the transaction. The borrower will then need to decide which lender is best suited to win the business after manually comparing each of the term sheets.
Currently, to help run a more efficient process, borrowers utilize human intermediaries, such as investment bankers, who are familiar with many lenders and their underwriting parameters. However, this methodology is often a process whereby the intermediaries are unable to know who exactly will do the transaction. This uncertainty is driven by the fact that even though lenders have set underwriting policies, those policies are modified regularly. Additionally, lenders are capable of making decisions outside of their guidelines depending on certain circumstances. Due to policy changes, lender performance, market conditions, lender competition, and other factors, no human intermediary has the capacity to know all of the exceptions, trends, or underwriting policies for each lender in real time such that they could predict with certainty the lenders that will be willing to underwrite a deal as well as predict the terms that are likely to be offered.
When the lender prepares the term sheet, it does not know what the other lenders are providing and, therefore, will not know if any or all their terms are either out of market or not competitive until after they have delivered their term sheet and have heard back from the borrower. Lenders are not guaranteed a second chance at revising terms and so there is a business desire to having an indication of whether a lender's proposed terms are in market before the term sheet has been delivered.
The credit markets for lenders and borrowers are opaque, which makes it difficult for both lenders and borrowers to understand what they could do to win more business and improve the terms of their credit facilities, respectively. Lenders often are not aware of why they lost deals because the borrowers are often prohibited from doing so through non-disclosure agreements and because borrowers have no incentive to share the specific reasons and factors that led to them selecting one lender over another. As such, lenders are often unable to understand why they lost business, which makes it more difficult to determine strategies to improve the probability of winning new business.
Borrowers often are not aware of the specific detail of the risk rating system that a lender may be using to determine the size and terms of a proposed credit facility. This lack of understanding makes it very difficult for a borrower to develop financial strategies to improve their financial standing in the private credit markets. A better understanding of the impacts of elements of their financials and operations would help a borrower make better business decisions to improve their credit capacity.

Artificial intelligence derived anonymous marketplace


A distance measuring apparatus in which two, right and left optical systems respectively comprise sensors (5, 6) is disclosed. Sensor output values (35, 36) representing received-light images (31, 32) on the sensors (5, 6) suffer variations due to sensitivity differences between the sensors (5, 6). In order to correct the variations, the minimum values (RD.sub.L, RD.sub.R) of the two sensor output values are normalized to zero level, and thereafter, the smaller maximum value (e.g., S.sub.R) is normalized to the larger maximum value (e.g., S.sub.L). The correlation calculation is made on the basis of the two normalized sensor outputs to calculate the distance to the object to be measured.

The present invention relates to a distance measuring apparatus and method for measuring the distance to an object to be measured on the basis of a signal obtained by photoelectrically converting an optical image of the object to be measured.
In a conventional distance measuring apparatus, a light-emitting element projects a beam spot brought to a focus via a projection lens, light reflected by an object is received by a position detection means (such as a PSD or the like), and the distance to the object is measured based on the principle of trigonometric measurements using the received-light output. Also, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-22843, Japanese Patent Application No. 7-40542, or the like has proposed a distance measuring apparatus, which can perform so-called skimming for discharging (resetting) a predetermined amount of charges, which correspond to external light components other than signal components obtained upon incidence of a beam spot and are obtained from a light-receiving element, by circulating the received-light output obtained by receiving the beam spot projected by a light-emitting element and brought to a focus via a projection lens, i.e., charges obtained by photoelectric conversion, in a charge transfer means such as a CCD, which is arranged in a ring shape, so as to integrate the charges. Furthermore, based on this apparatus, a distance measuring apparatus, which has two light-receiving systems and calculates the distance on the basis of the correlation between two received-light images obtained by the two light-receiving systems, has been proposed by Japanese Patent Application No. 7-263182. Such distance measuring apparatus is used in an AF (auto-focusing) mechanism of a camera and the like.
The distance measuring apparatus proposed by Japanese Patent Application No. 7-263182, i.e., the apparatus which can perform skimming, has two light-receiving systems, and calculates distance based on the correlation between two received-light images obtained by the two light-receiving systems, will be briefly described below with reference to FIG. 6. This apparatus is the foundation of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a first light-receiving lens for forming the first optical path; 2, a second light-receiving lens for forming the second optical path; 3, a projection lens for projecting a beam spot onto the object to be measured; and 4, a light-emitting element which is turned on/off to project the beam spot. Reference numerals 5 and 6 denote first and second sensor arrays, each consisting of a linear array of a plurality of sensors. Reference numeral 7 denotes a first clear portion providing an electronic shutter function of clearing charges photoelectrically converted by the sensors of the first sensor array 5 in accordance with pulses ICG (Integration Clear Gate). Reference numeral 8 denotes a second clear portion providing an electronic shutter function for clearing charges photoelectrically converted by the sensors of the second sensor array 6 in accordance with the pulses ICG as in the first electronic shutter portion 7.
Reference numeral 9 denotes a first charge accumulation portion, which includes ON and OFF accumulation portions (not shown) for accumulating charges obtained by the first sensor array 5, and accumulates charges in units of pixels in accordance with pulses ST (storage) 1 and ST2 which are respectively synchronous with the ON and OFF periods of the light-emitting element 4. Reference numeral 10 denotes a second charge accumulation portion, which accumulates charges obtained by the second sensor array 6 in units of pixels in accordance with the pulses ST1 and ST2 as in the first charge accumulation portion 9. Reference numeral 11 denotes a first charge transfer gate for parallelly transferring charges accumulated in the first charge accumulation portion 9 to a charge transfer means (e.g., a CCD; to be described below) in accordance with pulses SH (shift). Reference numeral 13 denotes a first charge transfer means, which partially or entirely has a ring-shaped arrangement, and independently adds charges accumulated in the first charge accumulation portion 9 during the ON and OFF periods by circulating them. A portion that forms the circulating portion will be referred to as a ring CCD hereinafter, and a portion other than the circulating portion will be referred to as a linear CCD hereinafter. Reference numeral 12 denotes a second charge transfer gate, which is the same as the first charge transfer gate 11. Reference numeral 14 denotes a second charge transfer means, which is the same as the first charge transfer means.
Reference numeral 15 denotes a first initialization means for performing initialization by resetting charges in the first charge transfer means 13 in response to pulses CCDCLR (clear). Reference numeral 17 denotes a first skim means for resetting a predetermined amount of charges. Reference numeral 18 denotes a second skim means similar to the first skim means 17. Reference numeral 19 denotes a first output means for outputting a signal SKOS1 used for discriminating whether or not a predetermined amount of charges are to be reset. The first output means 19 reads out the charge amount present in the first charge transfer means 13 in a non-destructive manner while leaving them as charges. Reference numeral 20 denotes a second output means for similarly outputting a signal SKOS2. Reference numeral 21 denotes an output means for sequentially reading out charges in the first charge transfer means 13, and outputting them as signals OS1. Similarly, reference numeral 22 denotes an output means for outputting signals OS2 based on charges in the second charge transfer means 14. Reference numeral 23 denotes a first comparator for discriminating based on the signal SKOS1 if skimming is to be performed. Reference numeral 24 denotes a second comparator for performing discrimination based on the signal SKOS2 as in the first comparator 23. Reference numeral 25 denotes a control unit including a microcomputer for controlling the entire apparatus and performing calculations.
Skimming in the above-mentioned distance measuring apparatus will be explained below.
FIGS. 7A and 7B show received-light images 33 and 34 as the signal waveforms of the output signals OS1 and OS2 from the sensors, which respectively correspond to received-light images 31 and 32 on the first (left) and second (right) sensor arrays 5 and 6. In the coordinate system in FIGS. 7A, and 7B the ordinate plots the magnitude of the output signals OS1 and OS1, and the abscissa plots the position, x, on the sensor. The signal levels of pixels in a portion other than the received-light images 33 and 34 of the sensor output signals equal a reset level RD of the CCD. In this apparatus, the distance is calculated by calculating the correlation between the two images.
However, even when the received light images on the sensor arrays 5 and 6 are the same, as shown in FIGS. 7A, and 7B different levels RD (RD.sub.L and RD.sub.R) due to different reset levels of the two sensors, and different received-light outputs (S.sub.L and S.sub.R) due to differences in sensitivity of the sensor, gain of the output means 21 and 22, brightness of the-optical systems, and the like are produced in practice, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. As a consequence, two received-light images 35 and 36 have different shapes. The differences between the L (left) and R (right) images are determined by the individual differences of the apparatus. When correlation is calculated for the two images shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, respectively correlation reliability is impaired as compared to the correlation result of ideal sensor outputs that form two images of the same shape, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, respectively thus lowering the distance measurement precision.


A first polynucleotide including at least two complementary regions that are complementary to a target nucleic acid and have a reverse configuration, a second polynucleotide complementary to the first polynucleotide, and uses thereof, are provided.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a first polynucleotide including at least two complementary regions that are complementary to a target nucleic acid and have a reverse configuration, a second polynucleotide complementary to the first polynucleotide, and uses thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Methods of amplifying nucleic acids include extending a nucleotide sequence from the 3′-terminal of a primer in the presence of a nucleic acid polymerase. The primer includes a sequence complementary to that of a target nucleic acid. To extend nucleotide sequences, primers and target nucleic acids need to be specifically and stably hybridized with each other. The stability of the hybridized product of nucleic acids is known to be proportionate to the length of a complementary sequence. Meanwhile, if the length of a primer increases, the length of a target nucleic acid to be amplified shortens. Therefore, there is still a need to develop a polynucleotide that is specifically and stably binding to a target nucleic acid and increases the length of an amplified target nucleic acid.


An electronic level includes a visual display (similar to a ruler scale) having a number of parallel line segments. The inclination of the device is shown by illuminating various of the scale line segments on either side of the central line. When the device is at a null (typically level or plumb) only the central scale line is illuminated, indicating the inclination away from the null. Each scale line segment indicates 1/64th of an inch of inclination per foot of horizontal distance which conforms to the normal use of such levels by building tradesmen. A multi-tone audio output corresponds to the visual display line segments, with one tone being provided for each increment of inclination arranged in order of the musical scale. A fixed offset mode is provided showing if the device is at a particular slope such as 1/8" per foot. In addition, a variable user offset mode allows indication of any predetermined inclination within the full 360.degree. range. The level circuitry averages the input signals from a capacitive sensor to provide a crisp indication of the indication of the null position and rapid display of the amount of inclination. User calibration is provided in any physical orientation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to improvements in an electronic level and specifically to improvements in the visual display, providing an audible tone indication of level, and providing sensing in all inclination positions of the level.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electronic levels known in the art include that sold by Wedge Innovations Inc. and what is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,662 issued Mar. 27, 1990 to Butler et al. (assigned to Wedge Innovations Inc.). The displays of these levels tend to be relatively difficult to read in terms of the amount of inclination from the desired null position (typically level or plumb). Furthermore, prior art electronic level displays such as that disclosed by Butler et al. show the inclination in degrees or percent slope, which are typically not the inclination measurements used by tradesmen (carpenters, masons etc.). Prior art devices often do not provide a satisfactory indication of how far from level or plumb one is, and are not very useful for indicating inclinations other than level or plumb, such as some arbitrary angle, unless one is able to read the display.
Furthermore, typical prior art levels do not indicate audibly to what extent one is off level or off plumb. Additionally, the prior art devices are relatively slow to respond.

Electronic level with display scale and audible tone scale


Provided is a vehicle wheel with which manufacturing costs can be reduced. The vehicle wheel includes a sub air chamber member as a Helmholtz resonator on a well portion of a rim. The sub air chamber member includes a protrusion portion which protrudes toward the rim, and the rim has a hole portion into which the protrusion portion is inserted to engage with the sub air chamber.

There has been known a vehicle wheel including Helmholtz resonators on an outer peripheral surface of a well portion of a rim thereof (Japanese Patent No. 5657309, for example). The Helmholtz resonator of the vehicle wheel is, on both sides thereof in a wheel width direction, provided with a pair of rising walls of a well portion, which face to each other over the resonator. In particular, circumferential grooves are formed in respective facing surfaces of the rising walls so as to extend in a wheel circumferential direction. Then, both edge portions in the wheel width direction of the Helmholtz resonator are fitted into and engaged in the respective circumferential grooves.
According to such a vehicle wheel, even when a large centrifugal force acts on the Helmholtz resonator at high speed rotation of the wheel, the Helmholtz resonator is securely held with respect to the rim.


An off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces includes a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, a tertiary mirror, and a detector. The primary mirror is located on an incident light path. The secondary mirror is located on a primary mirror reflecting light path. The tertiary mirror is located on a secondary mirror reflecting light path. The detector is located on a tertiary mirror reflecting light path. Each of the primary mirror, the secondary mirror, and the tertiary mirror is an xy polynomial freeform surface up to the fifth order.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces, and particularly to an off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces which can achieve small F-number and large field angles.
2. Description of Related Art
Compared with conventional rotationally symmetric surfaces, freeform surfaces have asymmetric surfaces and more degrees of design freedom, which can reduce the aberrations and simplify the structure of the reflective scanning system. Thus, freeform surfaces are often used in off-axial three-mirror optical system.
However, conventional off-axial three-mirror optical systems with freeform surfaces are mainly applied to linear field of view with small field angles and large F-number, but the applications in the field of view with large field angles and small F-number are limited.
Another problem in some related art is the assembling and aligning of the conventional off-axial three-mirror optical systems with freeform surfaces is complicated, for the primary mirror, the secondary mirror, and the tertiary mirror in the conventional off-axial three-mirror optical systems with freeform surfaces are all separate from each other.
What is needed, therefore, is to provide an off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces, which can achieve large field angles, small F-number and simple assembling and aligning.

Off-axial three-mirror optical system with freeform surfaces


For input image data (`A`) before conversion, each pixel is converted into N (=3) parts. In this case, the three sub-pixels of data corresponding to a recording pixel (black pixel) are converted into recording sub-pixels on both sides of the three (`B`). This eliminates the density variation within a single pixel. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the dot spacing at slanted area, for example, and hence eliminate jaggies, providing a reproduced image easily recognized.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process or the like, such as a copier, printer, facsimile machine, etc., in particular, relating to a technique for converting the resolution of the image in the image forming apparatus and a method for improving the practical resolution hence to make the reproduced image more distinct.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
In image forming apparatuses, typically, using an electrophotographic process, the surface of the photoreceptor as a recording medium is irradiated with light in accordance with an image to be formed. Static charge on the surface of the photoreceptor which has been previously uniformly electrified is discharged from the areas which are irradiated with light, thus the remaining charge forms a static latent image. This static latent image is visualized with toner as the coloring matter, forming a toner image, which in turn, is transferred to a properly fed, sheet-like transfer material, etc. This transfer material is made to pass through the fixing unit so that the toner image carried thereon may be permanently retained on the transfer material, and then this is discharged from the image forming apparatus.
As the means for radiating the light image onto the photoreceptor in accordance with an image to be formed, a semiconductor laser or the like, which is controlled as to its light radiation in accordance with the image information, is used so that the light beam illuminates the surface of the photoreceptor with an image to be formed. Accordingly, the light image formed by the light beam in accordance with the image information is made up of selected pixels.
In such an configuration, no problem occurs in creating an image if the input image information is composed of simple horizontal and/or vertical lines. However, when an image containing slanted lines etc. needs to be created, pixel spacing and jaggies are formed causing degradation. To deal with this, in order to eliminate jaggies and the like, conventionally it is checked whether the edges of image elements are inclined, and if an image element has an inclined portion, the pixels are interpolated or modified in their shape to eliminate the jaggies etc. to the eye, improving the practical resolution.
For example, it is disclosed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,139, that jaggies etc., at image edges or slanted portions are adapted to be eliminated by checking whether the edges of the input image are formed of slanted lines and curved lines and then the dots of recording pixels within the detected portions are changed in size, by adding extra dots or by deleting some dots to thereby eliminate jaggies etc., at the image edges and slanted portions.
In accordance with the above U.S. Patent disclosure, jaggies at the image edges, etc., can be eliminated by checking edges or curved lines (including slanted lines etc.) in the image information of pictorial images and text images etc., recognizing the pixel arrangement of the peripheral pixels, those to the top, bottom, left and right of the detected area, judging the balance of the image based on the pixel arrangement and modifying the size and shape of the recording pixels of the detected area, thus smoothening the image. Therefore, the reproduced image will be improved, being practically equivalent to that produced by a high-resolution process, thus providing more markedly clear and distinct images.
However, in accordance with the technique of the U.S. patent publication, it is necessary to provide a means for detecting edges and curved lines in the image as well as providing a plurality of storage (a plurality of registers etc.,) in order to refer the pixel arrangement of the peripheral pixels around the observed pixel as a recording target. Further, in order to recognize the condition of the peripheral pixels held in the storage, a reference pattern storage or the like for previously holding a large number of reference states of the peripheral pixels is needed. Thus, the circuit configurations unavoidably become very complicated. Moreover, an increased processing time for recognizing edges etc., in the image, inclusive of the processing time for comparing the detected pattern with a large number of reference patterns, is needed, resulting in an impossibility to perform high-speed processing.
As stated above, in order to recognize the peripheral conditions, i.e., those to the top, bottom, left and right of the observed pixel, it is necessary to provide a storage of high capacity for a buffer for temporarily storing the input image information and the memory for storing a large number of reference patterns, increasing the cost over and above that of the complicated circuit configurations.
There is another technique which simply divides each pixel of the image information into a prescribed number of parts. Even in such a case, it is impossible to eliminate jaggies etc., by dividing the pixels. Therefore, when the sub-pixels (the divided pixels) are made black or white, the conditions of the upper, lower, left and right pixels around the observed pixel are checked in the same manner as above. Therefore, this case also results in complicated circuit configurations.


A power supply circuit includes a first electronic switch mounted near a front universal serial bus (USB) interface, a second electronic switch mounted near a rear USB interface, and a third electronic switch. The first electronic switch supplies power for the front USB interface. The second electronic switch supplies power for the rear USB interface. The third electronic switch supplies power for the front USB interface and the rear USB interface when the first and second electronic switches are off.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a power supply circuit for supplying power to universal serial bus (USB) interfaces.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a front USB interface and a rear USB interface are respectively mounted on front and rear sides of a motherboard. Because the front USB interface is further away from the motherboard power connector than the rear USB interface, the transmission lines from the connector to the front USB interface is longer and hence must be more robust and larger. This is an inconvenience to designers and manufacturers because of the trend towards miniaturization.

Power supply circuit for universal serial bus interface

HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD.


Hydrogenated pyrido[4,3-b]indoles, pyrido[3,4-b]indoles and azepino[4,5-b]indoles are described. The compounds may bind to and are antagonists of the adrenergic receptor α2A. The compounds may also bind to and are an antagonist of the adrenergic receptor α2B; or the compounds are not antagonists of the adrenergic receptor α2B and the compounds are administered in conjunction with a second agent that reduces, or is expected to reduce, blood pressure in an individual. The compounds may find use in therapy, e.g., to regulate blood glucose level, increase insulin secretion and treat diseases or conditions that are, or are expected to be, responsive to an increase in insulin production. Use of the compounds to treat type 2 diabetes is particularly described.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious and prevalent disease. This form of diabetes may involve insulin resistance and impaired insulin release. Approximately 25.8 million people in the United States alone suffer from diabetes, whereby type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90-95% of all diagnosed diabetes cases. From 1980 to 2008 the number of Americans with diabetes has more than tripled. Diabetes is also increasingly prevalent elsewhere, such as in certain Asian countries whose populations have experienced a dramatic increase in the disease. For example, in India and China, where rapid lifestyle and economic changes have led to a more sedentary lifestyle and poorer diet among the overall population, diabetes is becoming a major health concern. In addition, more than a third of adults at least 20 years old have pre-diabetes, which is a significant risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. Other diseases and indications, such as glucose intolerance and metabolic syndrome may also be associated with impaired insulin release.
There remains a need for new and improved therapies that enhance insulin secretion and/or promote insulin release into the blood stream in individuals who have a reduced or impaired ability to secrete insulin and/or release insulin into the blood stream.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compounds and methods for treating diabetes


Apparatus for engaging at least one associated intravenous tube used in the delivery of medication or nutrient to a patient which includes a first generally U-shaped member having first and second generally straight elongated legs. Each of the legs has inner and outer faces. The inner faces are disposed in opposed relation and the first leg is movable between a first position in which the respective inner faces of the first and second legs are disposed in spaced relation and a second position in which the respective inner faces of the first and second legs are closer than in the first position, the inner faces being disposed in the first position with a space sufficient to allow insertion of an intravenous tube therebetween, the inner faces being dimensioned and configured to engage the sides of the associated intravenous tube in the second position.

The invention relates to apparatus for mounting intravenous tubes and for controlling the flow of fluids through intravenous tubes. Intravenous tubes have been widely used for supply nutrients and medication to patients. In many cases the same patient may have more than one such tube connected to his or her body. In some case several tubes may be connected to each of several patients that are located in adjacent beds. In emergency situations it is of great importance to be able to quickly determine with absolute certainty which tube is connected to which patient and which nutrient or medication.
At least some of the prior art devices are extremely difficult to use. More specifically, at least one uses the combination of an inclined plane and a roller that is moved along the inclined plane to allow more or less flow through the intravenous tube. The so-called Adelberg clamp is delivered pre-assembled to the tube by the manufacturer or are delivered by the manufacturer as a set. Other devices are designed such that it is essential to have access to a free end of the intravenous tube because the clamp can only be slipped on the free end.
It is an object of the invention to provide a construction that will enable the easy identification of each intravenous (IV) tube quickly.
It is another object of the invention to provide apparatus that will enable the health care professional to alternatively to completely shut off flow or to modulate the flow to allow selection of a desired flow rate.
It is still another object of the invention to provide apparatus which is inexpensive to manufacture.
It is also an object of the invention to provide apparatus that will work with any of various standard size intravenous tubing sizes.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide apparatus that facilitates organization a large number of tubes to prevents accidental shutoff or other changes in the wrong tube.

Intravenous tube mounting and control apparatus


The present invention relates to a punch for manufacturing of metal beverage cans of a cemented carbide comprising a hard phase comprising WC and a binder phase the cemented carbide composition comprises, in wt-%, from 50 to less than 70 WC, from 15 to 30 TiC, and from 12 to 20 Co+Ni.

Around 260 billion cans are produced every year world wide. A single production line can make up to 500,000,000 cans per year in a continuous process from aluminium or steel strip. As an example, a cup, pressed from the metal sheet, is formed into the can body in one continuous punch stroke in about one fifth of a second, forming the inside diameter of about 66 mm, and increasing the height from 33 to 57 mm, then, through three ironing rings, to stretch the wall to 130 mm high, before forming the concave dome at the base of the can.
Due to the very tight tolerances required for the tooling (±0.002 mm) to keep the correct can dimensions, the alignment of the punch with respect to the ironing rings and dome die is critical.
The manufacture of cans is a continuous process and therefore a reliable and predictable service life between servicing is essential.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,658 discloses a component of tooling preferably used in the deep-drawing of aluminium and steel cans. The tooling is comprised of a nickel-bonded cemented carbide. However, as no cobalt is added to the binder phase, the grade is non-magnetic, which could be a critical drawback for the can maker that requests magnetic materials for the punch tool, and furthermore has a very low WC content to obtain a material with low density.
WO 2008/079083 discloses a punch tool of a cemented carbide containing tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, niobium carbide, cobalt and chromium together with other possible additions.


To provide a purification adsorbent capable of effectively removing impurities contained in a perfluorocarbon and obtaining a perfluorocarbon reduced in the impurity content to 1 ppm by mass or less; a process for producing the adsorbent; high-purity octafluoropropane or octafluorocyclobutane; processes for purifying and for producing the octafluoropropane or octafluorocyclobutane; and uses thereof. Purification is performed using a purification adsorbent produced by a method comprising (1) washing an original coal with an acid and then with water, (2) deoxidizing and/or dehydrating the original coal, (3) re-carbonizing the original coal at a temperature of from 500 to 700° C. and (4) activating the original coal at a temperature of from 700 to 900° C. in a mixed gas stream containing an inert gas, carbon dioxide and water vapor.

Perfluorocarbon such as octafluoropropane (hereinafter referred to as "FC-218") or octafluorocyclobutane (hereinafter referred to as "FC-C318") is used as an etching gas or a cleaning gas in the process of manufacturing a semiconductor device.
For producing FC-218, a method of electrolytically fluorinating 1-chloropropane (see, U.S. Pat. No. 3,709,800), a method of reacting trifluoropentachloropropane and manganese trifluoride (see, U.S. Pat. No. 2,578,721) and a method of reacting propane or propylene with hydrogen fluoride and chlorine (see, U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,083) are known. However, these methods use a compound containing chlorine as a starting material and therefore, have a problem in that chlorine-containing impurities are yielded as by-products.
With respect to the method using a starting material or the like free of chlorine, a method of electrolytically fluorinating propane (see, U.S. Pat. No. 3,840,0445) is known, however, the apparatus therefor is very complicated and the yield is low, therefore, this is not an industrially advantageous method. Also, a method of fluorinating hexafluoropropene (hereinafter referred to as "FC-1216") to produce FC-218 is known. For example, a method of reacting FC-1216 with a fluorine gas under dilution with an inert gas and a reaction product gas (see, JP-B-62-61682) (the term "JP-B" as used herein means an "Japanese Examined Patent Publication (Kokoku)"), a method of electrolytically fluorinating FC-1216 in hydrogen fluoride (see, JP-B-62-61115), and a method of reacting a high-order metal fluoride containing at least one member selected from cobalt trifluoride, manganese trifluoride and silver difluoride (see, JP-B-62-54777) are known.
For producing FC-1216, a method of using thermal decomposition of chlorodifluoromethane (hereinafter referred to as "HCFC-22") is known. In addition, a method of fluorinating perhalogenated C-3 chlorofluorocarbon and then dehalogenating the fluorination product to produce FC-1216 (see, U.S. Pat. No. 5,057,634) is known. These methods also use a chlorine-containing compound as a starting material, therefore, FC-1216 contains a chlorine-containing compound as impurities in many cases and FC-218 produced starting from this FC-1216 contains chlorine-containing impurities together with unreacted FC-1216 in many cases. The boiling points of chlorine-containing impurities are shown in Table 1. The impurities can be mostly separated by distillation, however, the boiling points of chloropentafluoroethane (hereinafter referred to as "CHF-115") and FC-1216 each is approximated to the boiling point of FC-218 and therefore, separation of these impurities by distillation is very difficult.
TABLE 1BoilingStructuralPointCompound NameFormula(° C.)Octafluoropropane (FC-218)CF3CF2CF3−36.7Hexafluoropropene (FC-1216)CF3CF═CF2−31Chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22)CHClF2−412-Chloro-1,1,1,2-CF3CHClF−12tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124)Chloro-1,1,2,2-CHF2CClF2−10.2tetrafluoroethane (HCFC-124a)1H-Heptafluoropropane (HFC-227ca)CHF2CF2CF3−19Chloropentafluoroethane (CFC-115)CClF2CF3−38.71,2-DichlorotetrafluoroethaneCClF2CClF2−3.8(CFC-114)Tetrafluoroetylene (FC-1114)CF2═CF2−31Octafluorocyclobutane (FC-C318)c-CF2CF2CF2CF2—−6
Similarly, octafluorocyclobutane (FC-C318) can be obtained by purifying FC-C318 yielded as a by-product at the production of tetrafluoroethylene (hereinafter referred to as "FC-1114") or hexafluoropropene (FC-1216). For producing FC-1114 or FC-1216, a method of thermally decomposing chlorodifluoromethane is used as described, for example, in EP451793, however, by the thermal decomposition reaction, many kinds of substances are produced. Also, unreacted HCFC-22 and many chlorine-containing compounds are contained in the product. The boiling points of FC-C318 and compounds contained as impurities are shown in Table 1. Most of these reaction products and unreacted HCFC-22 can be separated by distillation. However, the boiling points of FC-1216, 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (hereinafter referred to as "HCFC-124"), 1-chloro 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (hereinafter referred to as "HCFC-124a"), 1H-heptafluoropropane (hereinafter referred to as "HFC-227ca") and 1,2-dichlorotetrafluoroethane (hereinafter referred to as "CFC-114") each is approximated to the boiling point of FC-C318. Furthermore, HCFC-124 and HCFC-124a each produces an azeotropic mixture with FC-C318. Therefore, FC-C318 reduced in the concentration of these impurities to 1 ppm by mass or less can be hardly obtained by a purification method using separation by distillation.
Other than the separation by distillation, the purification method includes extractive distillation, membrane separation and adsorption separation. However, the extractive distillation method has a problem in that the equipment costs highly and the process is complicated. The membrane separation method has a problem in that an appropriate membrane having properties necessary for separating FC-218 or FC-C318 from impurities is not known and purification to an impurity content of 1 ppm by mass or less is unavailable. The molecular sizes (calculated values at stable state structure) of FC-218 or FC-C318 and their impurity compounds are shown in Table 2. The separation by adsorption using a known adsorbent such as activated carbon, silica gel, zeolite (Molecular Sieves) or Molecular Sieving Carbon (hereinafter referred to as "MSC"), can hardly attain the purification because there is almost no difference in the molecular size and boiling point between FC-218 or FC-318 and their impurities and furthermore, there is similarity in the physical properties between FC-218 or FC-C318 and their impurities.
TABLE 2Molecular SizeCompound Name(calculated value)Octafluoropropane (FC-218)4.9 to 6.1 ÅChloropentafluoroethane (CFC-115)4.3 to 5.6 ÅHexafluoropropene (FC-1216)4.9 to 5.9 ÅChloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane4.3 to 5.6 Å(HCFC-124)Chloro-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane4.3 to 5.6 Å(HCFC-124a)1H-Heptafluoropropane (HFC-227ca)4.3 to 6.2 Å1,2-Dichlorotetrafluoroethane4.8 to 5.6 Å(CFC-114)Octafluorocyclobutane (FC-C318)5.2 to 5.8 Å
Activated carbon is effective in adsorbing and thereby removing FC-1216 which is one of impurities, but cannot separate all other impurities. In conventional purification methods, it has been particularly difficult to obtain FC-218 having a CFC-115 concentration of 1 ppm by mass or less or FC-318 having a HCFC-124 and HCFC-124a concentration of 1 ppm by mass or less.
The present invention has been made under these circumstances and the object of the present invention is to provide a purification adsorbent capable of effectively removing impurities contained in a perfluorocarbon which have been heretofore difficult to remove from a perfluorocarbon by conventional purification methods, in particular removing FC-1216, CFC-115, etc. from FC-218 and FC-1216, HCFC-124, HCFC-124a, HFC-227ca, CFC-114, etc. from FC-C318, and thereby obtaining a perfluorocarbon reduced in the contents of those impurities to 1 ppm by mass or less.
The object of the present invention includes providing an adsorbent for purification of a perfluorocarbon; a process for producing the adsorbent for purification of a perfluorocarbon; high-purity octafluorpropane or octafluorocyclobutane; processes for purifying and for producing the octafluorpropane or octafluorocyclobutane; and uses thereof.

Adsorbent for purifying perfluorocarbon, process for producing same, high purity octafluoropropane and octafluorocyclobutane, and use thereof


In an electron irradiation system, a gas-tight housing encloses a cathode region and an irradiation region, which communicate through at least an aperture. In the cathode region, there is arranged a high-voltage cathode for emitting an electron beam. In the irradiation region, there is an irradiation site arranged to accommodate a stationary or moving object to be irradiated. The migration of cathode-degrading debris is limited by means of an electric field designed to prevent positively charged particles from entering the cathode region via the aperture. The invention can be embodied with an axial electric field, which realizes an energy threshold, or a transversal field which deflects charged particles away from trajectories leading into the cathode region.

Systems for generating X rays by irradiating a liquid target are described in the applicant's International Applications PCT/EP2009/000481, PCT/EP2009/002464, PCT/EP2010/068843 and PCT/SE2011/051557. In these systems, which typically operate at very low pressures, an electron gun comprising a high-voltage cathode is utilized to produce an electron beam which impinges on the target. Free particles, including debris and vapour from the liquid target, tend to gradually degrade the cathode (e.g., by corrosion) and reduce its useful life. Similar problems associated with chemical cathode degradation have been noted in high-energy electron irradiation systems with cathodes operating at a high potential and/or high temperature.


Provided herein are immunoreactive peptides which can selectively bind Ehrlichia-specific anti-p120 or anti-p140 antibodies. Methods and kits utilizing the immunoreactive peptides are also provided. The immunoreactive peptides may be utilized, e.g., for determining whether or not a subject is infected with Ehrlichia chaffeensis or Ehrlichia canis. In certain embodiments, the immunoreactive peptides may be utilized in an ELISA or lateral flow assay.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the diagnosis and treatment of Ehrlichia infection. In particular, the invention is related to p120/p140 immunoreactive peptides derived from Ehrlichia proteins, and the use of such peptides in the detection of Ehrlichia infection in humans and animals.
II. Background and Description of Related Art
Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia canis are tick-transmitted, obligately intracellular bacterium that cause monocytrotropic ehrlichiosis, an emerging life-threatening disease in humans and a mild to severe disease in wild and domestic canids. A number of studies have demonstrated that antibodies play an essential role in immunity against Ehrlichial pathogens (Feng and Walker, 2004; Winslow et al., 2003; Winslow et al., 2000; Yager et al., 2005). However, only a small subset of E. chaffeensis and E. canis proteins react strongly with antibodies in sera from infected humans or dogs, and thus are considered to be major immunoreactive proteins (Chen et al., 1997; Chen et al., 1994; McBride et al., 2003; Rikihisa et al., 1994). Molecularly characterized major immunoreactive proteins of E. chaffeensis and E. canis include four protein ortholog pairs (p200/p200, p120/p140, p47/p36, and VLPT/p19, respectively) (Doyle et al., 2006; Luo et al., 2008; McBride et al., 2003; McBride et al., 2007; McBride et al., 2000; Nethery et al., 2007). Three of these ortholog pairs (p120/p140, p47/p36, and VLPT/p19) have acidic serine-rich tandem repeats (TRs), and continuous species-specific epitopes have been identified in the TRs of p47/p36 and VLPT/p19 (Doyle et al., 2006; Luo et al., 2008; McBride et al., 2007; McBride et al., 2000).
The p120 is differentially expressed by dense-cored E. chaffeensis, and is found on the surface of the organism and free in the morula space; however, the role of this protein in pathobiology or in eliciting a protective immune response is unknown (Popov et al., 2000). E. chaffeensis p120 has two to five nearly identical serine-rich 80-amino acid TRs, and similarly orthologous E. canis p140 contains 12 or 14 nearly identical serine-rich 36-amino acid TRs (Yabsley et al., 2003; Yu et al., 1997; Yu et al., 2000; Zhang et al., 2008). Specific regions of the p120 and p140 proteins are immunoreactive (McBride et al., 2000; Yu et al., 1996; Yu et al., 2000); however, it is presently unclear as to which sequences within the immunoreactive regions may be recognized by a host immune system.
Current methodologies for diagnosing human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (HME) present significant clinical limitations. Clinical diagnosis of HME is usually confirmed retrospectively by detection of Ehrlichia-specific antibodies in patient sera using an indirect fluorescent-antibody assay (IFA)(Dumler et al., 2007). The limitations of IFA include lack of standardization between laboratories, false positive interpretations due to autoantibodies or antibodies directed at conserved bacterial proteins, and cross-reactive antibodies produced by related organisms (for example, E. canis, E. ewingii, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) that can make identification of the specific etiologic agent difficult (Carpenter et al., 1999; Chen et al., 1994; Comer et al., 1999; Paddock and Childs, 2003; Unver et al., 2001). Furthermore, IFA requires expensive microscopy equipment and highly skilled technicians to produce the antigen and interpret results. Molecular diagnostic methods such as PCR are useful for specific and sensitive detection of E. chaffeensis prior to development of reactive antibodies (Childs et al., 1999), but PCR is not useful after antibiotic therapy is initiated, and the clinical sensitivity of PCR in the primary care setting has not been unequivocally determined. Therefore, PCR is currently considered only a valuable adjunct to IFA for diagnosis (Walker et al., 2000). HME diagnosis thus presents significant clinical limitations, and Ehrlichiosis continues to be an emerging infectious disease. Clearly, there is a need for new and improved methods for the detection and diagnosis of Ehrlichiosis.


According to one embodiment of the present invention, a print head comprises a print head body defining an interior chamber and an orifice plate. The orifice plate has an outer surface and further defines a cleaning fluid orifice through the orifice plate for conducting a flow of a cleaning fluid through the cleaning fluid orifice and onto an outer surface of said orifice plate. The orifice plate also defines a drain orifice for conducting a flow of cleaning fluid from the surface to the interior chamber. A supply of pressurized cleaning fluid is disposed in said cavity and connected to the cleaning fluid passageway. During cleaning operations, the fluid flow system defines a flow of a cleaning fluid from the passageway and onto said outer surface. The drain orifice receives cleaning fluid from the outer surface and channels the cleaning fluid into the fluid return.

This invention relates to a print head for use in printers having cleaning features.
Ink jet printers produce images on a receiver by ejecting ink droplets onto the receiver in an image wise fashion. The advantages of non-impact, low-noise, low energy use, and low cost operation in addition to the capability of the printer to print on a receiver medium such as a plain paper are largely responsible for the wide acceptance of ink jet printers in the marketplace.
Many types of ink jet printers have been developed. One form of ink jet printers the xe2x80x9ccontinuousxe2x80x9d ink jet printer. Continuous ink jet printers generate stream of ink droplets during printing. Certain droplets are permitted to strike a receiver medium while other droplets are diverted. In this way, the continuous ink jet printer can controllably define a flow of ink droplets onto the receiver medium to form an image. One type of continuous ink jet printer uses electrostatic charging tunnels that are placed close to the stream of ink droplets. Selected ones of the droplets are electrically charged by the charging tunnels. The charged droplets are deflected downstream by the presence of deflector plates that have a predetermined electric potential difference between them. A gutter may be used to intercept the charged droplets, while the uncharged droplets are free to strike the receiver.
Another type of ink jet printer is the xe2x80x9con demandxe2x80x9d ink jet printer. xe2x80x9cOn demandxe2x80x9d ink jet printers eject ink droplets only when needed to form the image. In one form of xe2x80x9con demandxe2x80x9d ink jet printer, a plurality of ink jet orifices is provided and a pressurization actuator is provided for every nozzle. The pressurization actuators are used to produce the ink jet droplets. In this regard, either one of two types of actuators are commonly used: heat actuators and piezoelectric actuators. With respect to heat actuators, a heater is disposed in the ink jet orifice and heats the ink. This causes a quantity of the ink to phase change into a gaseous bubble and raise the internal ink pressure sufficiently for an ink droplet to be expelled onto the recording medium.
With respect to piezoelectric actuators, a piezoelectric material is provided for every nozzle. The piezoelectric material possesses piezoelectric properties such that an applied electric field will produce a mechanical stress in the material. Some naturally occurring materials possessing these characteristics are quartz and tourmaline. The most commonly produced piezoelectric ceramics are lead zirconate titanate, barium titanate, lead titanate, and lead metaniobate. When these materials are used in an ink jet print head, they apply mechanical stress upon the ink in the print head to cause an ink droplet to be ejected from the print head.
Inks for high speed ink jet printers, whether of the xe2x80x9ccontinuousxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9con demandxe2x80x9d type, must have a number of special characteristics. For example, the inks should incorporate a nondrying characteristic, so that drying of ink in the ink ejection chamber is hindered or slowed to such a state that by occasional xe2x80x9cspittingxe2x80x9d of ink droplets, the cavities and corresponding orifices are kept open.
Moreover, the ink jet print head is exposed to the environment where the ink jet printing occurs. Thus, the previously mentioned orifices and print head surface are exposed to many kinds of airborne particulates. Particulate debris may accumulate on the print head surface surrounding the orifices and may accumulate in the orifices and chambers themselves. Also, ink may combine with such particulate debris to form an interference burr that blocks the orifice or that alters surface wetting to inhibit proper formation of the ink droplet. Of course, the particulate debris should be cleaned from the surface and orifice to restore proper droplet formation.
Ink jet print head cleaners are known. An ink jet print head cleaner is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,535 titled xe2x80x9cInk Jet Print Head Face Cleanerxe2x80x9d issued Nov. 13, 1990 in the name of James C. Oswald. This patent discloses an ink jet print head face cleaner that provides a controlled air passageway through an enclosure formed against the print head face. Air is directed through an inlet into a cavity in the enclosure. The air that enters the cavity is directed past ink jet apertures on the head face and out an outlet. A vacuum source is attached to the outlet to create a sub-atmospheric pressure in the cavity. A collection chamber and removable drawer are positioned below the outlet to facilitate disposal of removed ink. However, the use of heated air is not a particularly effective medium for removing dried particles from the print head surface. Also, the use of heated air may damage fragile electronic circuitry that may be present on the print head surface.
Cleaning systems that use a cleaning fluid such as an alcohol or other solvent have been found to be particularly effective when used to clean print heads. This is because the solvent helps to dissolve the ink and other contaminants that have dried to the surface of the print head. However, it is not a simple matter to apply a cleaning fluid to a print head to clean the print head or to remove the cleaning fluid once it has been used.
One way to use a solvent to clean a print head is known as wet wiping. In wet wiping, a cleaning fluid is applied to the print head and a wiper is used to clean the cleaning fluid and contaminants from the print head. Examples of various wet wiping embodiments are found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,734 by Rotering et al. Each of these embodiments uses a cleaning station to apply a metered amount of cleaning fluid to the print head and to wipe cleaning fluid and contaminants from the print head. However, wipers can damage the fragile electronic circuitry and Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) that may be present on the print head surface.
Another ink jet print head cleaner is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,928 by Braun et al. Braun et al. shows a continuous ink jet printing apparatus having an ultrasonic print head cleaning system. During cleaning, the print head is moved to a cleaning area and a cleaning station is fixed to the print head. Once that the print head is so positioned, a meniscus of ink is supported proximate to the ink droplet orifices, a charge plate and/or an ink catcher surface. Cleaning is then accomplished by ultrasonically vibrating the meniscus. This cleaning can be enhanced by providing a fluid pressure differential in the meniscus to cause the meniscus to enter into orifices to be cleaned and to be released from the orifices. Once that the cleaning operation is completed, ink from the print head is ejected into a sump in the cleaning station.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,485 to Anderson et al. describes a cleaning station having a jet to define a flow of a cleaning fluid at a print head forming a meniscus bridge of cleaning fluid between the print head and the jet. Anderson et al. teaches that the print head can be cleaned the agitating the fluid by use of an ultrasonic vibrator and removing the fluid by way of a pair of vacuum sources disposed on the cleaning station and flanking the jet.
It will be noted that in the prior art, the supply of the cleaning fluid that is used to clean the print head does not come from a cleaning fluid source that is contained within the print head. In Braun, et al., ink is used as a cleaning fluid and a fluidic connection is defined between the print head and the supply of ink. In Rotering, et al., and Anderson et al. the cleaning station supplies the cleaning fluid used for cleaning the print head.
It will also be noted that in the prior art, a cleaning station is required to receive cleaning fluid and any entrained contaminants that are removed from the print head.
Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a self-cleaning printer and self-cleaning print head with a supply of cleaning fluid contained within the print head.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a self-cleaning printer and self-cleaning print head that do not require a cleaning station to receive cleaning fluid and contaminants from the surface of a print head after cleaning operations.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a print head comprises a print head body defining an interior chamber and an orifice plate. The orifice plate defines a cleaning fluid orifice, an ink jet orifice and a drain orifice and further defines an outer surface between the orifices. A supply of pressurized cleaning fluid is disposed in said interior chamber and is connected to the cleaning fluid orifice. A fluid return is disposed in said interior chamber and is connected to the drain orifice. During cleaning operations, the supply of pressurized cleaning fluid defines a flow of a cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid orifice and onto said outer surface and the drain orifice receives cleaning fluid from the outer surface and channels the cleaning fluid into the fluid return.
According to another embodiment, a printer is provided having a print head with a print head body defining an interior chamber and further defining an orifice plate having an outer surface with the outer surface having a cleaning orifice and a drain orifice defined therethrough. A supply of a pressurized cleaning fluid is disposed in said interior chamber and connected to said cleaning orifice. A cleaning member is provided to clean the outer surface. During cleaning, the supply of cleaning fluid causes a flow of cleaning fluid onto the outer surface and said cleaning member uses the cleaning fluid to clean the outer surface. A fluid return is disposed within said interior chamber, and connected to said drain orifice. The drain orifice receives cleaning fluid from the outer surface and channels the cleaning fluid into the fluid return. According to one embodiment, the cleaning member moves the used cleaning fluid into the drain orifice.

Self-cleaning ink jet printer and print head with cleaning fluid flow system


A server facilitates a raffle within a single jurisdiction, wherein the server communicates with clients via a network. The server includes a memory storing an operating system, an instruction set, agent data, sponsor data and Web site data. A processor runs the instruction set and communicates with the memory and the network. The processor is operative to present rules associated with the raffle to entrants, receive acceptance of the rules by entrants, and accept an order for the raffle from entrants. The processor is also operative to associate an entrant agent with each entrant, issue tickets for the raffle to the entrant agent, determine a winner of the raffle and notify the winner to collect a prize associated with the raffle. Preferably, the prize is a high intangible value item.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject disclosure relates to methods and systems for raffles via a distributed computing network, and more particularly to improved methods and systems for raffles being conducted within a single jurisdiction while utilizing the inherent distribution benefits of a distributed computing network and the innate demand and cost characteristics of high intangible value low tangible value assets.
2. Background of the Related Art
With regard to raffles and lotteries, the terms often being interchangeable, both have been used for thousands of years. Moses used a lottery to award land west of the River Jordan. Raffles have funded everything from the Great Wall of China to the first British settlement in North America, Jamestown Va. (interestingly, Anglican Churches held two of three winning tickets for the Jamestown lottery). In America, the continental congress used lotteries to fund the revolutionary war and John Hancock used a lottery to rebuild historic Faneuil Hall in Boston. From 1790 to the Civil War, 50 colleges, 300 schools and 200 churches were funded by lotteries, of these the most notable being Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia.
However, from 1820 through 1878, corruption in privately operated lotteries became rampant and governments, unable to regulate these lotteries, began to prohibit them. The first state to do so being New York which passed a constitutional ban on lotteries in the 1820's. Many states followed and by 1878, the only state that allowed lotteries was Louisiana. In 1890, Congress banned all lottery material from the U.S. Mail and in 1895 Congress banned all lottery material from interstate commerce. In 1905, the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed the states' use of police powers to control gaming to effectively end the Louisiana Lottery (which was a private lottery) and all other gambling.
In the 1950's, the U.S. Government began allowing charities to conduct certain types of gaming and, in 1964, the New Hampshire Legislature created a state lottery, the first legal state lottery in the 20th century. It was labeled a "Sweepstakes" and tied to horse races to avoid the 70 year-old federal anti-lottery statutes. In 1967, New York became the second state to attempt a lottery and several other states followed. In 1971, Automated Wagering implemented the worlds first on-line lottery system in New Jersey. Subsequently, several federal laws and U.S. Supreme Court rulings have allowed not only lotteries but also casino gambling to establish itself in the United States. These laws have also provided additional opportunities for non-profit charities to participate in gaming. However, while these laws have expanded lotteries and gaming in the United States, they have also sought to restrict interstate competition between State run lotteries and to prevent on-line casino gambling, which is operated from outside the United States.
As can be seen, raffles and lotteries have been widely used and well understood in the art. As noted above, in the United States, such devices are governed by state law. As a result, the ability to conduct an interstate raffle is limited by the requirement of needing to clear the legal hurdles in each and every state.
Further, prize winners for many raffles become disillusioned when they learn that a tax consequence results from the value of the prize. However, there are numerous assets that have little or no tangible value but an extremely high intangible value. These assets include such items as golfing with Tiger Woods, being the honorary captain of one of the Super Bowl teams, calling the coin toss for your team at the Super Bowl, or even having Easter Dinner with the Pope at the Vatican. Tens or even hundreds of millions of people worldwide would like to get one of these assets. Yet each of these assets is relatively unique and, thus, there is not enough supply necessary to meet the demand. Currently, the holders of these assets will at times, for charity, auction them off to the highest bidder.
The results of these auctions in general are less then stellar. For example, at a recent Sotheby's Auction for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, such assets were auctioned off at an average auction price of $7,500 and the highest price paid for any one item was $13,000 (results as presented on NBC's "The Apprentice" which aired on Feb. 12, 2004). The items auctioned off included a walk-on role on NBC's "Third Watch", a day with Regis Philbin; an evening of disco bowling with the stars from "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy", and the item receiving the highest bid, dinner for fifty at Rocco DiSpirito's.
In recent times, the Internet has become recognized as an efficient means for connecting buyers and sellers of a variety of items. On-line retailers and auctioneers have had great success. The Internet has also been envisioned as a tool in many other consumer related transactional matters. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,572 to Riordan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,681 to Burke et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,606 to Bell et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference. However, attempts at using the Internet have not properly leveraged the technology to be successful. For example, see published U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2002/0152130 and 2001/0037239, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. One reason for the poor performance is that entities simply take the traditional raffles, for traditional types of prizes such as trips, televisions or automobiles, and simply move on-line. Although this created substantial savings in processing costs, such as printing tickets and the waste of left over tickets, what the entities failed to realize is that tickets were more often sold more on guilt than demand for the prize. Without additional drive of demand, the wider audience proved meaningless. Accordingly, traditional raffle profits are rarely above 32% of the gross proceeds with typical meager profits of $6,500 per raffle.

Methods and systems for a single jurisdiction raffle in a distributed computing network


A syringe assembly includes a hollow cylindrically shaped barrel. The external side of the barrel has a first portion at its proximal end, a second portion adjacent the first portion and a third portion adjacent the second portion. The diameter of the second portion is less than the diameter of the first portion resulting in formation of a shoulder at the intersection of the first and second portions. The third portion outside diameter adjacent the second portion is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the second portion and increases to the outside diameter of the barrel. The assembly further includes a finger flange with a first side and a second side and an opening with an inside wall. The flange opening has an annulus positioned within it which has an opening. The annulus has an end attached to the inside wall of the flange opening and an unattached end projecting toward the first side of the flange, and forms an acute angle with the inside wall of the flange opening. The flange is held by the barrel so that the opening of the annulus rests at the second portion and the unattached end of the annulus is positioned adjacent to the shoulder so that a distal force for installing the flange is less than a proximal force for removal of the flange.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to syringes and more particularly to syringes with a finger flange attached to a barrel.
2. Description of Related Information
Generally speaking, a hypodermic syringe consists of a cylindrical barrel, most commonly made of a thermoplastic material or glass, having a distal end connected to a sharp needle or adapted to be connected to a hypodermic needle assembly, a proximal open end having an external finger flange and internally adapted to receive a resilient stopper.
In most cases, the finger flange is integrally formed with the barrel. The process of integrally forming the flange and the barrel limits the design of the flange, particularly in the case of a glass barrel formed from glass tubing. Further, the need to provide sufficient strength for the flange requires the proximal end of the barrel portion to be more massive than would be required to accommodate only the volume. This additional size may affect the ability of the syringe to be fit into syringe pumps.
In the case of syringes intended for prefilling and subsequent use as a package for a medicament, the presence of a fixed flange constrains the design of the processing and filling apparatus. Further, the presence of a fixed flange may make the barrel more prone to breakage during the processing and filling operations, as well as during handling, preparation and set up for the injection.
Syringes have been in use for many years. Several early designs of syringes have had flanges formed from materials other than glass and subsequently attached to the barrel by clamping, threading or the like. Patents exemplary of these types of devices are described below.
U.S. Pat. No. 801,912 teaches a glass syringe barrel with a proximal rim and a metal finger flange apparently put on from the distal end of the barrel and slid proximally to engage the rim. The metal flange is held against the rim by an internal flat spring compressed against the barrel.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,142,682 teaches a separate flange installed over the distal end of the syringe and slid proximally alonq the barrel to a proximal rim. The flange includes a spring which serves to hold the collar with the flange against the barrel's proximal rim and also maintains tension against the plunger.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,798,116 teaches a two part finger flange which has a threaded collar containing the flange placed over the distal end of the syringe, then slid upwardly to the proximal end of the syringe. A threaded plug is then inserted into the proximally placed threaded collar on top of a swedging ring and tightened down to hold the flange in position at the proximal end of the barrel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,112,945 teaches a syringe designed to receive a prefilled cartridge which has threaded cap with radially extending arms to provide finger holds. When the cap is threaded onto the barrel containing the cartridge, the cap serves to retain the cartridge and provide the finger holds.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,482 teaches a disposable syringe having a finger grip connected around the barrel according to the "so-called snap-cap principle." This device apparently comprises a planar flange with a central extended collar to fit around and over the proximal end of the syringe. There is no teaching in the specification of the structure of the "so called snap cap," however, FIG. 1, element 16 apparently shows a semicircular projection on the cap in apparent conjugation with a recess on the proximal end of the barrel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,329 teaches a syringe in which the cylindrical body is an ampoule having closures at each end. The proximal closure functions as a plunger stopper after attachment of a plunger rod. A finger grip is mounted on the outside of the ampoule by the "so-called snap cap principle." The '329 patent teaches that the finger grip is preferably manufactured from a slightly resilient but non-deformable material, for example a synthetic. The '329 patent also teaches another embodiment where the finger grip forms are one assembly with the ampoule and may then be formed as a flange like part of the ampoule projecting radially outwards.
British Patent Specification 1,479,536 teaches a finger grip consisting of a tensioning collet which is clamped around the end of the barrel by means of a tensioning sleeve. The patent teaches a finger grip preferably of slightly resilient material for example plastic.
While the art presented above shows several different forms of finger flanges made from metal, glass and plastic, most of the devices taught are multi-component, are applied from the distal end of the barrel and slid to the proximal side. In most of these prior art examples, the assembly of the finger flange requires a complex assembly procedure, a fitting on, a sliding together, a threading and a tightening. In some of the examples a hoop stress or compression is exerted upon the barrel by the flange assembly. Such a stress would be exacerbated by out of-roundness conditions which would tend to concentrate the stress. This stress may lead to distortion or cracking of the barrel, particularly when the barrel is glass.
Thus, in the field of syringes with finger flanges, there still exists a need for a simple to manufacture syringe assembly having as a design feature a finger flange with a higher force for removal than the force for assembly. The higher removal force provides functional utility while the lower installation force provides easy assembly.


A card edge connector (100) includes an elongate insulative housing (1), a plurality of signal contacts (3) and a pair of power contacts (4) retained in the insulative housing (1). The insulative housing (1) defines a pair of opposed side walls (11) and a central slot (13) between the side walls (11). Each side wall (11) defines a plurality of passageways (110) communicating with the central slot (13). Each signal contact (3) has an engaging portion (32) exposed to the central slot (13.) Each power contact (4) has a securing portion (41) retained in the insulative housing (1), a plurality of contact portions (42) extending upwardly and sidewardly into the central slot (13) from the securing portion (41) and arranged in a row along a length direction of the insulative housing (1), and at least one tail portion (43) extending downwardly from another end of the securing portion (41).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to card edge connectors, more particularly to card edge connectors with power contacts.
2. Description of Related Art
Card edge connectors are employed widely in computers to receive a memory card for increasing memory capacity of the computers. With rapid development of electronic industry, the computer has a rapid speed of data operation, and need a mass of electric current to supply the data operation. Therefore, the card edge connector is arranged with a plurality of power contacts to supply added transmission channels for transmitting a mass of current to the computer. However, when the power contacts have been added into the card edge connector, the impedance of contacts in the card edge connector is increased at the same time, therefore, the power contacts will produce more heat when a mass of current transfluxes the power contacts, and affect the signal transmission stability of card edge connector.
Hence, an improved card edge connector is desired to overcome the above problems.


A photographic backdrop with stand includes a photographic backdrop and a support structure. The photographic backdrop includes a backdrop screen and four pockets attached to the four corners of the backdrop screen. The support structure includes a photographic light stand, a base connector and four support rods. Each support rod includes a substantially triangular end. The photographic light stand includes a vertical mounting tube. The vertical mounting tube is inserted into a bottom of the base connector. The four support rods are also inserted into pre-existing holes in the base connector. The backdrop screen is stretched over the four support rods, such that the four substantially triangular ends are inserted into the four pockets. Four extension rods may be used to extend the length of the four support rods for larger backdrop screens.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to photography and more specifically to a photographic backdrop with stand, which includes a support structure that may be disassembled and collapsed into short lengths for storage in a small bag.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
There are numerous photographic backdrops assemblies in the art. Many of the photographic backdrop assemblies are collapsible or may be disassembled for storage and transportation. However, the photographic backdrop assemblies in the art collapse or disassemble into fairly large elements.
Accordingly, there is a clearly felt need in the art for a photographic backdrop with stand, which includes a support frame that may be disassembled and collapsed into short lengths and stored in a small bag with a folded backdrop.


A computed tomography system and an X-ray collimator thereof are provided, which have a good collimator effect. The X-ray collimator includes a plurality of first plates extending in the circumferential direction of the computed tomography system and a plurality of second plates extending in the axial direction of the computed tomography system. The first plates and the second plates are inserted and engaged. Two adjacent first plates and two adjacent second plates define a through hole, and the extensions of the side walls of the through hole intersect at the focal spot of an X-ray source, so that the X-rays can pass through the through hole in a straight line. Since the extensions of the side walls of the through holes intersect at the focal spot of the X-ray source, the through holes are aligned with the radiation direction of corresponding X-rays.

In the computed tomography (CT) system, X-rays, which are radiated from the focal spot of an X-ray resource like a point, pass through a subject to be checked. After penetrating the subject, the X-rays are attenuated in two-dimensional distribution and measured by a detector, and then its distributed data are processed by a computer to generate a corresponding tomography image.
In the current medical computed tomography system, a solid detector is mainly used for X-ray measurement. Such a solid detector is often an array of an X-ray photoelectric receivers, for example, 16×16 or 16×32 pixel matrix, formed by arranging a plurality of photoelectric semiconductor units in a grid matrix.
In the ideal condition, an X-ray travels in a straight line. The data that shall be collected on each pixel of an X-ray detector correspond to the attenuation of the X-rays which penetrate the subject to be checked in the straight path from the focal spot to this pixel. The X-ray that is radiated from the focal spot to the X-ray detector in a straight line is referred to as a primary ray.
In the practical use, when an X-ray emanated from the focal spot passes through the subject to be checked to a surface of the detector, it is inevitable that the X-ray interacts with the subject so that the primary ray is scattered to form a scattered ray referred to as a secondary ray. The secondary ray formed by scattering travels in a path deviated from its original straight path and radiates on a surface of a pixel in the vicinity of the original pixel. Finally, besides the primary rays, the X-rays detected by each pixel of the detector further include the scattered secondary rays.
It can be known from the principle of formation of the secondary ray that a noise source may certainly be formed as a result of the secondary rays blending with the primary rays traveling in straight lines, causing reduction of the recognition capability of the detector on small difference of the contrast and decrease of the density resolution of the image system. Thus, it is a technical problem to be solved presently for those skilled in the art to reduce the scattered rays reaching the detector.
To solve the above technical problem, an X-ray collimator is often placed between the subject to be checked and the detector for reducing the influence of the scattered rays on the image density resolution.
Reference is made to FIG. 1, which is a schematic view of a conventional CT scanner having an X-ray collimator in the prior art.
A conventional X-ray collimator consists of a structure array which can absorb X-rays and is similar to the array of detector. A Chinese patent application No. 03826552.4 discloses an anti-scattered X-ray collimator of a CT scanning device. As shown in FIG. 1, the CT scanning device includes an X-ray source 2′, which may generate a conical X-ray beam 1′ indicated by dash lines in a controllable way, and an array 4′ of the X-ray detector 3′. The conical X-ray beam 1′ radiates from the focal spot 21′ of the X-ray source 2′. The array 4′ includes rows 31′ and columns 32′ of the X-ray detector 3′, wherein the rows 31′ are orthogonal or approximately orthogonal to the scanning center axis of the scanning device, and the columns 32′ are parallel or approximately parallel to the scanning center axis. The X-ray detector 3′ in the array 4′ is shielded by a two-dimensional X-ray collimator 5′. The X-ray collimator 5′ in FIG. 1 is partially cut away to illustrate the X-ray detector 3′. The X-ray collimator 5′ includes "row" slices 51′ positioned between the rows 31′ of the X-ray collimator 3′, and "column" slices 52′ positioned between the columns 32′ of the detector 3′. The "row" slices 51′ and "column" slices 52′ can be positioned such that their respective planes substantially intersect at the focal spot 21′.
With the above X-ray collimator 5′, the "raw" slices 51′ and "column" slices 52′ define and form a plurality of through holes or through gaps whose side walls are oriented in line with the straight paths from the focal spot 21′ to the surface of the X-ray detector 3′. That is to say, the extensions of the side walls of the plurality of through holes or through gaps intersect at the focal spot 21′. In this way, the area of the X-ray detector 3′ shielded by the side walls of the through holes or through gaps is smallest, i.e., the primary ray is shielded minimally, so that the primary rays may pass through the through holes or through gaps to the X-ray detector 3′ with least attenuation, thereby ensuring a high efficiency of the X-ray detector 3′.
As can be known from the above operating principle of the X-ray collimator 5′, there is a need for the X-ray collimator 5′ to absorb the scattered rays as many as possible on the one hand and to make most of the primary rays reach the surface of the X-ray detector 3′ with least attenuation on the other hand. The above requirement can be met by adjusting the height of the X-ray collimator 5′, the thickness of the walls of each through hole, and the shape of each through hole. And, it also has a high requirement for the size precision of each through hole in the X-ray collimator 5′. If the through holes cannot align with the pixel units of the X-ray detector 3′, on the one hand, the effective primary rays may be shielded, causing decrease of the detecting efficiency, and on the other hand, the non-uniform of the units may cause the image distortion. Therefore, the X-ray collimator 5′ plays an important role on a high-quality image scanned through a computed tomography system.
The current X-ray collimator as shown in FIG. 1 may be made by a first method in which sheet metal is stamped to form bended grid members and the grid members are adhered to each other, referring to the Chinese patent application No. 03826552.4 titled "Anti-scattered X-ray collimator of a CT scanning device" for further details. However, the collimator formed by the first method has a low precision due to springback during stamping. The X-ray collimator as shown in FIG. 1 can be made by a second method in which the slices with an array of grids are stacked, referring to the Chinese patent application No. 200810009502.5 titled "stacked CT collimator and the manufacturing method thereof" for further details. However, the stacked structure of multiple slices formed by the second method is complicate, and it is difficult to ensure uniformity of anti-scattering since the regions of slices where the primary rays pass through are required to have uniform sizes. The X-ray collimator can be made by a third method similar to 3D printing, referring to the Chinese patent applicant No. 02144468.4 titled "method of manufacturing scatting grid or collimator" for further details. However, the wall thickness of the through holes formed by printing in the third method may be thicker so as to greatly shield the primary rays, and may be non-uniform so as to cause non-uniformity of anti-scatting effect. The X-ray collimator may be formed by a fourth method of tenon connection, referring to the U.S. patent application with publication No. 20070258566A1 titled "ANTI-SCATTER-GRID" for further details. However, the X-ray collimator formed by the fourth method has a large number of components, causing the complicate assembling process.
Therefore, it is a technical problem to be solved presently for those skilled in the art to design an X-ray collimator of computed tomography system having an improved collimation effect and a simple structure.

Computed tomography system and X-ray collimator thereof

SHENYANG NEUSOFT MEDICAL SYSTEMS CO., LTD.


Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward controlling electronic devices based on hand gestures detected by detecting the topography of a portion of a user's body. For example, pressure data indicative of a user's bone and tissue position corresponding to a certain movement, position, and/or pose of a user's hand may be detected. An electromyographic (EMG) sensor coupled to the user's skin can also be used to determine gestures made by the user. These sensors can be coupled to a camera that can be used to capture images, based on recognized gestures, of a device. The device can then be identified and controlled.

Many electronic devices are useful to control remotely. Common examples include televisions, set top boxes, DVRs, media players (e.g., CD players, DVD players, Blu-ray players), tablets, desktop and laptop computers, and teleconferencing equipment. Currently, common ways for a user to control such equipment is to use a remote control device such as might be used with a television. This can be inconvenient in several ways. First, it requires the user to possess a remote control device. Second, the remote control device which needs to be used may only work with a specific piece of equipment, so multiple remote control devices may be needed for locations with multiple devices that can be controlled remotely.

Gesture-based device control using pressure-sensitive sensors


A gas combustor has a peripheral premix burner, and a central diffusion burner whose nozzle defines an eccentric first channel housing an ignition device, an axial second channel, and a third channel interposed radially between the first and second channel; the gas combustor is controlled, at a first start-up step, to keep the peripheral burner off and to feed a fuel gas stream along the third channel; at a second step, after a given load is exceeded, the peripheral burner is activated, and the gas stream in the central burner continues to be fed along the same channel as at the first step, and is regulated to reduce its flow to a value greater than zero.

As is known, a premix burner flame is characterized by lower temperature (1500° C. as compared with 2000° C. typical of a diffusion flame) and therefore lower nitric oxide emissions.
In known solutions, the central secondary burner comprises a nozzle extending along the axis of the gas combustor, and which supplies an air stream and two separate fuel gas streams: a first fuel gas stream is fed to the combustion chamber, where it mixes with the air to produce a diffusion flame when igniting and starting up the gas turbine; and, once the system exceeds a given power or load after start-up, the premix burner is activated, the central secondary burner feeds a second fuel gas stream into the combustion chamber to keep a pilot flame, for stabilizing the premix burner flame, alight, and the first fuel gas stream is cut off.
Known solutions as described above therefore call for conduits and valve assemblies by which to feed and control two separate fuel gas streams through the central secondary burner.
In the known gas combustor described above, forming and/or connecting the conduits upstream from the central secondary burner nozzle involve/s a good deal of time and money, and relatively complex systems are required to control the valve assemblies.

Method of controlling a gas combustor of a gas turbine