A digital superconducting quantum interference device type fluxmeter includes a flux sensor unit which detects external magnetic flux to be measured using a SQUID ring, and outputs pulse signals of corresponding directions and numbers, and a counter unit which counts the number of pulse signals output by the flux sensor unit inclusive of the directions thereof, in order to measure the external magnetic flux based on the counted result of the counter unit. The fluxmeter further includes an offset detection unit which detects the offset quantity of the counter unit generated by the magnetic flux trapped by the SQUID ring, and a feedback unit that feeds back to the flux sensor unit a signal that is obtained based on the detected offset quantity and the counted result of the counter unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital magnetic flux measuring apparatus using a superconducting quantum interference device. More particularly, it relates to a digital magnetic flux measuring apparatus using a superconducting quantum interference device (hereinafter referred to as a SQUID) for detecting external magnetic flux by using a SQUID ring to measure the number and direction of output pulse signals and t digitally process the output of the SQUID.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a highly sensitive fluxmeter utilizing a SQUID device has in recent years been used for the measurement of a very weak magnetic field generated from living bodies and the like. In particular, a measurement of magnetic field distribution in the brain and the heart makes it possible to estimate the source of electric current that generates the magnetic field, offering very meaningful data for diagnosis and contributing to clarifying nerve activities in the living body system. In order to measure such very weak magnetic flux, it is necessary to operate the SQUID device which is a sensor, by maintaining stability at all times. However, the superconducting SQUID device often produces a phenomenon (called flux trapping) in which the SQUID itself traps magnetic flux at a time when it shifts from the normally conducting state to the superconducting state or due to excess external noise even when it is in a superconducting state, causing the operation of the SQUID to become unstable. In a multi-channel SQUID fluxmeter in which a plurality of SQUID sensors are arranged to measure a magnetic field distribution at one time, it is very important that the individual SQUIDs operate stably, and a digital SQUID fluxmeter is necessary to compensate for the effect of flux trapping.
The fundamental operation of the above digital SQUID fluxmeter has been mentioned in, for example, N. Fujimaki et al., "A Single-Chip SQUID Magnetometer", IEEE Trans. Electron Device, Vol. 35, No. 12, 1968, pp. 2412-2418. This literature also refers to a single-chip SQUID in which the counter unit and the feedback unit consist of superconducting circuitry.
As a matter of fact, however, since the magnetic flux trapped by the SQUID ring is compensated, the counter generates a corresponding offset quantity and thereby the counting range or the dynamic range of the counter is narrowed. Moreover, since the magnetic flux is trapped, it becomes difficult to correctly measure the external magnetic flux.
The object of the present invention therefore is to provide a digital SQUID fluxmeter which is newly equipped with a circuit that cancels the quantity which is produced by the counter and which is equal to the compensation of flux trapping, maintaining a maximum dynamic range, improved reliability, and stability at all times.
Another conventional SQUID fluxmeter picks up magnetic flux by using a pickup coil and transfers it to the SQUID via a flux transformer.
Examples of this kind of digital SQUID include a SQUID consisting of a two-junction quantum interference element which operates on AC bias to produce pulses (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 63-29979) and a DC SQUID which operates in an analog manner and in which the voltage thereof is applied to a superconducting converter or to a one-bit A/D converter to obtain pulse outputs ( Drung, Cryogenics, Vol. 26, pp. 623-627, 1986).
Therefore, the feedback circuit is provided with an offset voltage control circuit that detects the trapped amount counted by the up-down counter and an offset voltage generator that applies an offset voltage to the feedback circuit in response to a signal from the offset voltage control circuit, in order to always compensate the offset amount caused by the flux trapping using the offset voltage control circuit and thereby to prevent the dynamic range from decreasing.
According to the above prior art, however, when the amount of magnetic flux to be fed back per pulse is decreased in an attempt to decrease the effect of quantization noise and to improve the sensitivity of the fluxmeter, it becomes no longer possible to compensate the trapped magnetic flux .PHI..sub.t despite the feedback current being fed from the D/A converter to the feedback circuit at the full-range. After the power source circuit is closed, therefore, the feedback operation is not carried out and the fluxmeter fails to work.

Digital magnetic flux measuring apparatus using superconducting quantum interference device with flux trapping prevention features


An improved saddle for bicycles includes a device for coupling the saddle to a saddle sleeve to be coupled to the bicycle framework and comprising a saddle frame, defining an elongated central body, having an open slot, lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the saddle sleeve, the central body being encompassed by an open bushing engageable with the arms of a fork coupled to the saddle sleeve, the bushing being adapted to be clamped by a locking pin passing through the open slot.

The present invention relates to an improved saddle including a coupling device for coupling said saddle to a cycle, bicycle and the like.
As is known, bicycle saddle are conventionally coupled to a sleeve element for clamping the saddle to the bicycle frame, through a coupling device so designed as to allow the saddle to be slanted with respect to a horizontal axis and to be longitudinally arranged with respect to the bicycle framework, i.e. designed for allowing the saddle to be moved toward/away with respect to the bicycle handlebar.
Prior saddle coupling device are so arranged as to provide a saddle swinging axis arranged under the region clamping the saddle to the bicycle frame.
Thus, owing to this arrangement, it is necessary to perform very complex adjustment operations, since a variation of the saddle inclination also causes a displacement of the saddle in the longitudinal direction, since the rotary pivot pin is arranged under the saddle frame or body.
Another problem is that prior solutions further require very complex adjusting operations and, in many cases, several clamping steps for properly clamping and arranging the saddle.

Saddle including a device for coupling said saddle to a bicycle and the like


The invention provides methods, compositions, and kits containing a minocycline topical suspension, for treating meibomian gland dysfunction and related disorders.

Functioning meibomian glands play a critical role in maintaining optimal ocular surface conditions. One common disorder observed in patients by eye care professionals, including ophthalmologists and optometrists, is meibomian gland dysfunction. Meibomian gland dysfunction typically features meibomian glands that either hyposecrete or are obstructed. Meibomian gland dysfunction has historically been treated on a chronic basis through either mechanical therapy (e.g., eyelid hygiene, eyelid massage, or eyelid compression/expression) alone or in combination with topical or systemic antibiotics or topical immunosuppressants such as steroids or cyclosporine. The need exists for meibomian gland dysfunction therapies that are more effective and/or have reduced adverse side effects.
Minocycline crystal forms, formulations of minocycline, and medical uses of the foregoing have been described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,258,327; 9,592,246; and 10,213,443. Oral administration of minocycline to human patients has been described in the American Journal of Ophthalmology (December 2012). However, oral administration of minocycline raises the risk of adverse side effects due to systemic exposure to minocycline.
The present invention addresses the need for improved therapies for meibomian gland dysfunction and provides other related advantages.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and compositions for treating meibomian gland dysfunction


A mechanism for transforming a rotational movement into a linear movement, comprising a non-deformable nut, that is prevented from rotating but not from axially moving, a radially deformable tubular screw, having freedom of rotation but not of axial movement and having a pitch equal to that of the nut but of a slightly external smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the nut. A pushing device inside the screw, with the ability to rotate and to push against the internal wall surface of the screw at least at three circumferentially equidistant points so as to radially deform the screw wall outwards, until bringing the screw wall to rest against and screw into the nut at an equal number of points. The pushing device may be constituted of independent rolling elements like rolling bearings on a core on a support or may be a cam in contact with the screw or through rolling elements.

The present invention refers to a mechanism for transforming a rotational movement into a linear movement, and hereinafter called linear transformation mechanism. It is especially applicable within the aerospace industry.
Aerospace exploitation has required the advance of a new technology of high precision and reliability. Engineering has had to face problems such as the deployment of solar panels, craft coupling, etc., in which high mass restrictions and very strict specifications prevail.
Currently, one of the most demanding fields is the deployment of antennas after launch of a vehicle and subsequent positioning of the antenna in a continuous manner, for which high precision and highly efficient linear movements, originating from rotational movements, are necessary.
Systems existing on the market for transforming a rotational movement into a linear movement offer excellent load and efficiency ranges, but not in combination with feed rates per revolution in the order of tens of microns and not in the combination of various mechanisms of interest to comply with these requirements, due to the consequent weight gain, volume increase, and loss of efficiency and reliability.
In applications of linear transformation mechanisms, two clear tendencies can be distinguished, namely those giving precedence to a very small feed per revolution for operations of adjustment or trimming, orientation, guidance, . . . etc. with high efficiency, and those giving priority to the ability to move large loads and their irreversibility for the deployment of appendages (booms, antennas . . . ) and their maintenance in the final position.
Mechanisms with the purpose described not only have an application within the aerospace field, but may also provide a good choice for use in a machine tool, which requires great precision in linear positioning, or even for use in lifting mechanisms, given their load capacity, due to the great reduction they provide.
Basically, the systems developed until now for the orientation of antennas start from small revolutions caused by "stepper" and geared motors of a very different nature (Harmonic Drive, Planetary Systems, . . . ). The angle most suitable for emitting and receiving signals in antennas on satellites, aircraft . . . , is directly oriented in this way.
A new line followed by the applicant consists in adjustment or trimming systems starting from the rotation of a plane according to predetermined axis systems. The difference in this case is in the concept used to achieve the precise and irreversible rotational movement.
The concept is to fix a point of the plane by means of a ball joint, allowing rotation thereon. On the other hand, two other ball joints are symmetrically joined to the plane, but they have vertical movement ability. Angles of rotation of a magnitude much lower than previous systems are thus obtained.
To obtain upward or downward movement of the latter two points, linear transformation reducing systems fed by the rotation of a "stepper" motor are used. Linear transformation systems are also applicable in deployment mechanisms, usable in equipment and systems requiring prior firm structural fastening. Typical examples include antennas, deployable appendages such as solar panels and deployable radiators, aeronautics, military equipment, etc.
These components should be strongly anchored to the structure of the satellite to survive launch loads on them, whereas in order to be operative, they must be in a different configuration, decoupled, distanced or disconnected from the structure of the satellite. Appendages such as antennas, radiating solar panels, experiments, protective covers, etc., may have to be deployed once the vehicle is in an operative position.
Basically, three types of mechanisms currently exist which can be compared in some aspects with the proposed transformation mechanism. These are known as roller screws, harmonic screws and harmonic drive.
Roller screws imply a step forward with respect to ball screws for some applications. Ball recirculation screws are characterized by their high efficiency in the transformation of movement. This advantage is due to the use of balls between the nut and the screw for transmitting stresses through rolling and not through sliding, as in the most conventional systems. Nevertheless, since the balls need axial space, they have limited pitch reduction. Replacement with rollers allows maintaining the rolling contact together with the longitudinal decrease between thread faces, making feeds per revolution as small as half a millimeter possible. A very high efficiency and a very low feed per revolution ability are achieved with these systems, but they are not low enough for applications of the type set forth.
"Harmonic screw", encompasses all mechanisms which use a deformable screw and a nut to achieve a very reduced pitch in the transformation of rotational into translational movement. In all cases, very accurate positioning is sought. But, the efficiency of actuation is not taken into account, nor is the design of the screw and the wave generator for providing the mechanism with a large load capacity provided for. A mechanism of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,979,964. U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,153 discloses a type of harmonic screw having rollers which each push against one point of the deformable screw so as to achieve a contact zone with the nut. This gives little stability to the assembly and reduces its load capacity. Furthermore, those rollers do not have balls or rollers of smaller diameter facilitating the rolling and favoring high efficiency of the mechanism. Very reduced pitches are obtained with this type of mechanism, but they do not achieve high efficiency nor a large load capacity.
Finally, harmonic drive consists of a simple mechanism with which a great reduction and high efficiency and load capacity are obtained. But it provides a reduction from rotational movement to rotational movement, i.e. it constitutes a reducer, and there is meshing between its parts at two points. The working principle consists of a flexible ring which, by means of a slightly elliptical bearing, is cyclically deformed to achieve meshing with an outer, non-deformable ring, wherein the reduction increasing as the difference in diameter between the flexible ring and the non-deformable ring decreases.
Meshing between the flexible ring and the non-deformable ring is equivalent to pure rolling due to friction between the elements mentioned. As the outer non-deformable ring is fixed, the flexible ring will be the one to roll on its interior perimeter. Conceptually, this system is very suitable due to its high reduction and compact form. Nevertheless, the ellipsoidal bearing, known as Wave Generator, offers a very poor support for the typical axial loads of a linear transformation mechanism.

Mechanism for transforming a rotational movement into a linear movement


A lateral bale pick-up assembly comprising an elongated wheeled frame having a bale conveyor positioned thereon for receiving large round bales thereon and for conveying the same either rearwardly or forwardly. A bale pick-up cradle is mounted at one side of the wheeled frame and is pivotally movable from a substantially vertically extending position upwardly from one side of the wheeled frame to a position extending outwardly from the one side of the wheeled frame. The cradle includes spaced-apart inner and outer tines which are adapted to engage the underside of the bale and to lift the same upwardly onto the bale conveyor on the wheeled frame. The forward end of the inner tine has a rotatable member provided thereon which is adapted to engage the bale resting on the ground and to turn the same 90.degree. so that the bale will be received between the inner and outer tines with the ends of the bale being arranged in a fore and aft position.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hay bale pick-up assembly and more particularly to a hay bale pick-up assembly which is mounted at one side of a trailer or the like and which includes means for turning the bale 90.degree..
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hay balers are generally of two types. One type of hay baler is the type that forms rectangular bales. A second type of baler which has become extremely popular in recent years is the "round" baler which picks up hay from the ground and rolls the same into large cylindrical bales. The large cylindrical bales are dumped or ejected from the rearward end of the baler with the ends thereof being arranged transversely with respect to the longitudinal movement of the baler.
In many cases, a bale pick-up apparatus closely follows the hay baler and picks up the bales and places the same on an elongated wheeled frame means such as a trailer having a bale conveyor means mounted thereon. Inasmuch as the bales are approached by the bale pick-up assembly with the ends of the bales disposed transversely with respect to the direction of movement and inasmuch as the bales must be placed on the bale conveyor means with the ends thereof being arranged in a fore and aft condition, the bales must somehow be turned 90.degree. prior to the bales being placed on the bale conveyor means on the wheeled frame means. Many elaborate devices have been previously provided but the same are extremely expensive to build and are difficult to use and to maintain.

Lateral bale pick-up assembly having a bale turner mounted thereon


An armature coil is formed by welding upper and lower coil conductors each having a coil trunk, a pair of coil arms and a pair of coil extensions. Between an upper coil extension and a lower coil extension to be welded together, a recess is formed. This recess may be formed at the corner between a side face of an upper coil arm which is at the side of the armature core and a radially inner side face of the upper coil extension. The radially inner side face of the upper coil extension has a space against the radially outer side face of the lower coil extension only at the location where the recess is provided, while the radially inner side face except for the recess contacts the radially outer side face of the lower coil extension.

The present invention relates to an armature of a rotary electric machine using U-shaped upper and lower coil conductors joined for forming an armature coil and, more particularly, to an armature of a rotary electric machine in which joined parts of upper and lower coil conductors are assuredly protected from centrifugal force and insulated from circumferentially adjacent joined parts.
An armature for a commutator-type rotary electric machine is known as disclosed in JP-A 7-231618. This armature includes, as shown in FIG. 15, lower coil conductors 200 and upper coil conductors 300 assembled to an armature core 100.
The coil conductors 200 and 300 comprise, respectively, coil trunks 210 and 310 accommodated in slots 110 of the armature core 100, coil arms 220 and 320 formed to extend from both axial ends of the coil trunks 210 and 310 radially inwardly toward a shaft in parallel with the axial side end faces of the armature core 100, and coil extensions 230 and 330 formed to extend from the radially innermost peripheral ends of the coil arms 220 and 320 toward the axially outer side. The tip ends of the coil extensions 230 and 330 aligned radially are electrically joined by welding or the like to provide an armature coil. As this armature uses one coil arm 320 of the upper coil conductor 300 as a commutator segment, a commutator need not be provided separately and resistance of the armature coil against centrifugal force can be enhanced. Thus, the armature can be used in high speed rotation environment. As the speed reduction ratio can be set larger in case of a starter having a speed reduction mechanism for an automotive vehicle, the armature contributes to the reduction of the starter in size.
In each of the coil conductors 200 and 300 used in the above armature, however, the volume (heat capacity) of the coil arms 220 and 320 is larger than the volume (heat capacity) of the coil extensions 230 and 330. Therefore, when the tip ends of the coil extensions 230 and 330 are joined by welding, the welding heat dissipates from the coil extensions 230 and 330 to the coil arms 220 and 320. This results in, as shown in FIG. 16, imperfect joint part A at a joint between the radially outer face of the lower coil extension 230 and the radially inner face of the outer coil extension 330. This imperfect joint part A means, from the standpoint of fracture mechanics, that a crack exists initially at a boundary with the joined part. Therefore, it is likely to occur that the crack progressively extends from the imperfect joint part A to cause a crack in the joined part (i.e., from left to right in FIG. 16) as well due to the centrifugal force, when the armature rotates at a high speed.
For obviating the imperfect joint part A, the welding heat may be applied until the coil extensions 230 and 330 melt sufficiently or the axial length L of the coil extensions 230 and 330 may be shortened as shown in FIG. 17. However, the coil extensions 230 and 330 will melt excessively causing the conductor material melted by the welding heat to extend in the circumferential direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 18, joined parts 400 which are located circumferentially adjacently will come into contact with each other disabling assured electrical insulation therebetween.

Armature for rotary electric machine having welded joint between upper and lower coil conductors


A method for at least temporarily retaining moisture in a soil-based substrate includes applying an acrylamide pyranose polymer to the soil-based substrate.

There are many problems and health safety issues when dust and/or debris is present in an environment such as construction and agricultural environments. As heavy machinery moves over unpaved roads and construction and agricultural sites, dust may be thrown into the atmosphere. Such dust may pose both health and economic risks to construction workers, farmers and others near these environments. Such risks may come from two sources, among others: suspended dust drying out the atmosphere around the site and from the inhalation of dust. The drying of the atmosphere from the suspended dust particles may lead to rapid dehydration of individuals, which can lead to heat stroke, sluggishness, hallucinations, and a variety of other physical and psychological ailments. Airborne crystalline silica that originates from the earth, concrete, masonry and rock on a site may become lodged in the membranes and/or lungs of the respiratory systems of the people on and near the site. Once there, they may harden and cause permanent damage and even death.
Economic risks may be a consequence of the health risks and from loss of productivity of the land. Dehydration may lead to loss in productivity. Workers may need more breaks to replenish fluids, may be less productive because they are uncomfortable, and may be less energetic, which leads to less work being accomplished per unit time. Longer term health issues may lead to loss of skilled workers and may increase the risk of lawsuits.
Additionally, dust may lead to loss of moisture from plants and animals. In turn, more water may be consumed in agricultural processes. Dust may also lead to loss of topsoils (e.g., soils which may contain the most minerals and nutrients for productive plant growth). Loss of water from soil may lead to crop failure and failure to retain water in the soil may lead to greater water consumption, as water may be needed to be constantly applied.
Previous solutions to these problems have included the constant application of water to sites using tanker trucks, fire hydrants and/or hoses. However, in such solutions, the water evaporates quickly, as it is not retained. This may lead to resumption of dust kick up into the atmosphere. Thus, water must be constantly applied. However, too much water at any given time may lead to muddy conditions. Oils have been used to suppress dust, but such oils are difficult to clean and are generally irreversible. Polymers and emulsions such as latex rubber and poly(vinyl acetate/vinyl alcohol) have been used as a fixation media but lack biodegradability and do not retain water. These polymers are generally used at a high concentration, and tend to bind soil, gravel and/or rocks together into large clumps. Under certain conditions (such in helicopter landing environments) large clumps of material may be thrown through the air, causing a safety hazard.

Soil fixation, dust suppression and water retention


The retrieval system includes a storage device for storing compressed image data of the image of interest and a retrieval device for retrieving the image while the compressed image data is in a compressed state, and preferably further includes a compression device for compressing image data of the image to produce the compressed image data. More preferably, the storage device stores the compressed image data of the image and information of the image under a correspondence therebetween. Further preferably, the information of a corresponding image is read from the data base in accordance with a result retrieved by the retrieval device. The image processing apparatus includes the retrieval system, a setting device for setting image processing in accordance with the information of the image and an image processing image device for performing the set image processing on the image or the image data thereof. The retrieving system is able to retrieve image-related information such as the information of the image data or the image processing from the data base and also the image processing apparatus is able to achieve a coincidence in color and density between the simultaneous print and the reprint by utilizing the retrieving system.

The present invention relates to the technical field of a retrieval system which retrieves an image, image data thereof and image processing information of the image from data base and also to the technical field of an image processing apparatus which is capable of outputting a reprint which appropriately reproduces an image of a simultaneous print utilizing the retrieval system in a photographic printing system or the like.
Heretofore, the images recorded on photographic films such as negative films and reversal films (which are hereunder referred to simply as "films") have been commonly printed on light-sensitive materials (photographic paper) by means of direct (analog) exposure in which the film image is projected onto the light-sensitive material to achieve its areal exposure.
A new technology has recently been introduced and this is a printer that relies upon digital exposure. Briefly, the image recorded on a film is read photoelectrically, converted to digital signals and subjected to various image processing operations to product image data for recording purposes; recording light that has been modulated in accordance with the image data is used to scan and expose a light-sensitive material to record a latent image, which is subsequently developed to produce a (finished) print. The printer operating on this principle has been commercialized as a digital photoprinter.
In the digital printer, images can be processed as digital image data to determine the exposure conditions for printing. Hence, it is capable of performing various image processing operations such as the correction of washed-out highlights or flat (dull) shadows due to the taking of pictures with backlight or an electronic flash, sharpening and the correction of color or density failures and this enables the production of prints of high quality that has been impossible to achieve by the conventional direct exposure. Further, not only the assembling of images and the splitting of a single image into plural images but also the composition of characters can be performed by processing the image data and, as a result, prints can be outputted after various editing and/or processing operations have been performed in accordance with specific uses.
The digital printer is not limited to the above capability; the image recorded with a digital camera or the like can be outputted as a print; the image is not only outputted as a print, but also can be converted to image data which is then supplied into a computer or the like and/or stored in recording media such as a floppy disk and the like; hence, the image data can be put to various non-photographic uses.
The digital photoprinter having such features basically comprises a scanner (image reading apparatus) for reading an image recorded on the film photoelectrically by projecting a reading light to a film and reading its projection light, an image processing apparatus for carrying out a specified image processing on an image data read by the scanner or an image data supplied from a digital camera or the like so as to obtain an output image data for image recording, that is, exposure condition, a printer (image recording apparatus) for recording the image as a latent image by exposing a light-sensitive material by, for example, scanning with light beam corresponding to an image data outputted from the image processing apparatus, and a processor (developing apparatus) for carrying out development processing on the light-sensitive material exposed by the printer so as to produce a (finished) photographic print in which the image is reproduced.
In the photographic print which is outputted from not only such digital photoprinter, but also the image recorded on the film and the image data recorded with the digital camera, an opportunity often occurs in which the image (frame) printed once is outputted again as a reprint, namely, reprinting is performed in accordance with a request for the extra printing or the like.
In this case, if an instruction for correction is not particularly given, it is demanded that color and density of the image coincide with a previously outputted print (usually, the print outputted at the time of the simultaneous printing that is carried simultaneously with developing the photographed film). In practice, however, a case often occurs in which the color and density of the image differ between the preceding print and the reprint because of an error in judgment or operation of an operator so that many a complaint from a customer is often heard.

Retrieval system and image processing apparatus


A punch assembly for a hydraulic punch press machine that affords the ability to compensate for punch point metal loss due to resharpening by facilitating accurate repositioning of the punch point relative to an aperture in a stripper plate through which the punch point member projects during a stamping stroke of the punch assembly.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to high-speed automated punch press for processing sheet metal and more particularly to the design of a punch assembly used in such machines.
II. Description of the Prior Art
In producing various products from sheet metal, it is often necessary to punch out predetermined hole patterns in the sheet metal workpiece. This is commonly done by a machine that positions a punch assembly and then employs a hydraulic ram to drive a sharpened punch point member of a predetermined shape through the workpiece and into a die underlaying the workpieces, thereby creating an aperture through the sheet metal of the predetermined shape.
After repeated strokes of the punch, the punch point can become dull and requires sharpening so that it is able to produce well-defined apertures. Repeated sharpening cycles remove metal from the punch point so that it can no longer punch through the workpiece and only serves to distort the workpiece, resulting in an undesired scrap rate. In most punch assemblies, when repeated sharpenings have been performed, it becomes necessary to replace the punch assembly's punch point with a new one, which is a relatively costly solution. Thus, a need exists for a way to increase the useful life of a punch assembly's punch point. The present invention satisfies this need.
Prior art metal punch assemblies have relied on the use of urethane strippers to allow punching close to non-flat workpiece surfaces. Such urethane strippers, however, suffer from the fact that they are incapable of accurately holding the workpiece during punching, resulting in misalignment of the punched hole. Also, urethane strippers are subject to rapid wear.

Punch assembly with separate adjustable punch guiding shim block


A system for propelling a vehicle along an elevated, pneumatic power tube carried by exterior support structure above ground. First and second angles define tracks for the vehicle and extend parallel to the power tube. Undercarriages secured to the vehicle including vehicle support and guidance wheels which are rotatable about axes inclined relative to legs of the angle tracks have a periphery that engages the legs of the angle tracks so that the weight of the vehicle is supported by the tracks and the support structure only. A pneumatic propulsion unit is movably disposed inside the power tube and is guided along rails on the inside of the power tube. A magnetic coupler having first and second cooperating magnetic elements is attached to the vehicle and the propulsion unit in operative alignment with each other. A portion of the power tube located between the magnetic elements is constructed of a non-magnetic and non-conductive material and extends over the length of the power tube. The propulsion unit has a thrust carriage with a thrust valve that forms a collapsible, frusto-conically shaped wall formed by a multiplicity of overlapping, angularly inclined blades that are concentrically disposed in the power tube. An actuator is coupled to the blades for selectively increasing an angle of the blades until free ends thereof contact an interior surface of the power tube, to thereby prevent the flow of air through the tube past the wall, and for retracting the blades so that the free ends thereof are spaced apart from the interior surface of the power tube, the valve generating a force acting in the longitudinal direction of the power tube when the free ends of the valve blades engage the interior surface.

Rapid mass ground transportation systems offer many benefits over non-mass transportation means such as the use of automobiles, particularly in metropolitan areas experiencing severe traffic congestion and pollution problems. Mass ground transportation may also be a desirable alternative for short-range as well as long-range air travel. Although there has been a general recognition of the need for a reliable, safe rapid transportation system, utilization of rapid transit systems has been hindered by the high cost of construction and operation as well as technical difficulties in developing an efficient and versatile light rail system.
Conventional approaches have not produced a light rail transportation system that is sufficiently versatile, efficient and cost-effective to be a feasible substitute for non-mass transportation and air travel alternatives. For instance, some so-called light rail systems have rather heavy transportation modules due to the use of heavy undercarriage or a heavy power system, high traction requirements, high on-board fuel requirements, or the like. Systems that rely on traction drives tend to have difficulty with steep grades. Moreover, external elements such as severe weather conditions and contaminations can pose substantial difficulty in the operation and maintenance of light rail systems. Additionally, traction drive mechanisms employing wheels tend to produce a lot of noise as well as wear.
The present inventor's U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,670 B1, which is incorporated herein by reference, overcomes some of these difficulties and disadvantages in an efficient and cost-effective light rail transportation system that uses a guideway system that does not depend on traction for movement. In a specific embodiment disclosed in that patent, the pod assembly is placed inside a guide tube, the exterior of which preferably supports and guides the vehicle as it moves along the tube. Motion is generated by providing a pressure differential inside the tube between the upstream region and the downstream region of the pod assembly. The pressure differential can be generated by a stationary power system that produces a vacuum on the downstream region or pressurizes the upstream region or both. The speed of the pod assembly is controlled by modulating the amount of gas flow through the pod, that is, from the upstream side to the downstream side of the pod. The speed of the pod assembly is increased by reducing the amount of gas flow through the pod assembly to thereby increase the thrust on it, and is decreased by permitting a larger amount of gas to flow past the pod assembly to decrease the thrust.
Because the thrust required to move the pod assembly is generated by stationary power systems, the vehicle does not require heavy on-board engines or drive trains. The pod assembly and guide tube are relatively light in weight and are well-suited for use in a light rail system. The guide tube can be elevated because of the light overall weight of the system, reducing right-of-way costs. When elevated, grading costs and requirements are significantly reduced.
In that earlier patent, a magnetic coupling apparatus is used to couple the pod assembly inside the guide tube with the transportation module outside the guide tube. The use of a magnetic coupling apparatus eliminates the need to mechanically connect the pod assembly and the transportation module with a strut that would otherwise have to extend through a longitudinal opening in the wall of the guide tube. This allows the interior of the guide tube to be a closed system and avoids the need for a seal assembly for maintaining a desired pressure differential in the guide tube as the strut moves through the longitudinal opening of the guide tube, thereby improving mechanical integrity and pressure integrity of the system. Moreover, the use of the magnetic coupling apparatus instead of a mechanical coupling device makes it easier to clean the exterior of the guide tube and coupling apparatus or clear those areas of debris such as the removal of ice and snow. Magnetic coupling also allows disengagement of the pod assembly and transportation module without any mechanical linkage or disengagement. Because the transportation module is supported by the exterior surface of the guide tube, the weight of the transportation module is not carried by the pod assembly.
Although the transportation systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,670 B1, as well as in related U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,485 and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,058, which is also incorporated herein by reference, provide important advances for elevated rail transportation technology, actual tests and theoretical evaluations have shown that some of the components of the system which is the subject of these earlier U.S. patents have certain disadvantages such as, for example, excessive wear or friction, maintenance problems, and the like. The present invention seeks to overcome these disadvantages and provides the improvements discussed below.


Methods and systems for enhancing rates of carbonation of peridotite both in situ and ex situ are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods and systems include the following: fracturing a volume of peridotite; heating the volume of peridotite; injecting an adjustable flow of carbon dioxide into the volume of peridotite; injecting bicarbonate materials into the volume of peridotite; and forming carbonate with the volume of peridotite and the carbon dioxide in an exothermic reaction thereby generating a self-sustaining heat source, the heat source heating the volume of peridotite.

Recognition that anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) input to the atmosphere has substantially increased atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, coupled with the theory that increased carbon dioxide, in turn, could drive rapid global warming, has focused attention on techniques—known as carbon sequestration—to remove some carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. One possibility is the conversion of carbon dioxide gas to stable, solid carbonate minerals such as calcite (CaCO3) and magnesite (MgCO3).
Because of its high concentration of Mg, tectonically exposed peridotite from the Earth's upper mantle, which is composed largely of the mineral olivine ((Mg,Fe)2SiO4), with lesser proportions of pyroxene minerals ((Mg,Fe,Ca)2Si2O6) and spinel ((Mg,Fe)(Cr,Al)2O4), and its hydrous alteration product serpentinite, have been considered a promising reactant for conversion of atmospheric carbon dioxide to solid carbonate.
Natural carbonation of peridotite has been found to be surprisingly rapid. For example, carbonate veins in mantle peridotite in Oman have an average 14C age of approximately 26,000 years, and are not 30 to 95 million years old as previously believed. These data and reconnaissance mapping show that approximately 104 to 105 tons per year of atmospheric carbon dioxide are converted to solid carbonate minerals via peridotite weathering in Oman. Mantle peridotite is ordinarily more than 6 km below the seafloor, and is strongly out of equilibrium with air and water at the Earth's surface. Its exposure along large thrust faults and along tectonic plate boundaries creates a large reservoir of chemical potential energy.
Despite the available chemical potential, engineering techniques for carbon sequestration have many challenges. Engineering solutions involve grinding peridotite to a fine powder, purifying carbon dioxide gas, using reaction vessels at elevated pressure, and/or heating reactants to 100 degrees Celsius or more, and this comes at a substantial financial and energy cost.
Various methods have been experimentally evaluated, including direct carbonation of olivine and serpentine powders at elevated temperature, dissolution of serpentine or olivine in hydrochloric acid followed by carbonation of Mg and Ca ions in solution, and reaction of olivine and serpentine with carbonic acid (very similar to natural alteration). Reaction kinetics have been found to be too slow for significant sequestration of carbon dioxide unless the olivine or serpentine reactants are raised to more than 50-100 degrees Celsius, ground to a fine powder, and/or pre-treated at >600 degrees Celsius to increase reactive surface area. For the most part, because of the requirements for heating and processing, these approaches have been found to be too expensive—in financial terms and, more importantly, in energy expenditure—to be commercially viable at present.

Systems and methods for enhancing rates of carbonation of peridotite

The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York


A transformable push-up assembly and method of use thereof that includes first and second push-up bodies each having an upper end, a lower end, and an outer hemispherical surface spanning from the lower end of the push-up body toward the upper end of the push-up body, wherein each of the bodies have a handle coupled thereto. The assembly also includes a medicine-ball configuration with the first and second push-up bodies removably coupled together with at least one fastener and with the upper ends of the first and second push-up bodies in an overlapping adjacent relationship with each other and a push-up configuration with the first push-up body and the second push-up body uncoupled from, and independent of, one another and the handles of the first push-up body and the second push-up body disposed in a substantially upright orientation for gripping by the user.

Strength training, which preserves and enhances lean muscle mass, is an important part of an overall fitness program or workout regimen. Of course, a strength-training program that targets the major muscle groups typically requires a gym' worth of equipment and a considerable amount of the user's time. Among the various strength-training exercises, the push-up is the quintessential upper-body exercise because it targets the large upper-body pectoral and triceps muscles. Done properly, the basic push-up also increases upper back strength and shoulder proprioception.
Devices that improve upon the basic pushup are well-known. For example, the most basic device allows the user to grasp a pair of handles positioned on the floor. The handles raise the position of the user's hands by several inches and thereby increase the range of motion as the user lowers his or her chest to the floor, past the position of the hands. This not only stretches the muscles but also requires additional exertion to raise the chest back to the starting position. Other push-up devices utilize rotating handles which arguably allow the user's arms to move more naturally and engage more muscles. Unfortunately, these devices only increase the range of motion of the hands, wrists, and forearms and otherwise do not develop muscle groups apart from those engaged with a traditional pushup. Further, both fixed-handle and rotating-handle push-up devices lack versatility because they are not adaptable for use with other strength-training exercises. They also require the user to store or travel with two separate bulky devices despite the devices being useful for only a single exercise. These push-up devices are also designed to provide the user with stable contact with the floor or ground, even though it may be desirable for a push-up device to be relatively unstable in order to develop muscles involved in balancing the body and enhancing motor skills and balancing coordination.
Other known push-up devices improve upon the aforementioned devices by providing an inflatable base. The inflatable base is intended to provide cushioning and also introduces an element of instability. These inflatable bases do not have an outer surface that is conducive for a large angular rotation with respect to the ground surface. Therefore, these devices provide an element of instability that is unforgiving of a user's orientating of the device beyond a certain degree of tilt, thereby providing an unsafe and dangerous device when the device is being used. Otherwise, the device suffers from the disadvantages of similar push-up devices having handles.
Most known push-up devices also fail to provide users the ability to transform into other workout devices that stimulate various other muscle groups. In this vein, those devices lack the ability for the user to effectively and efficiently add weight so they can be used in a progressive workout regime that may include weight training exercises such as bicep curls, chest presses, squats, etc.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

Transformable push-up assembly and method of use thereof


Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to methods wherein when a main pole is processed by using an ion milling technique, a re-adhesion layer created on the side face of the resist mask is removed with certainty. In one embodiment, an inorganic insulator from 5 nm to 100 nm which is soluble in an alkaline is arranged between the main pole material and a mask for processing the main pole material, and the main pole is processed by ion milling. After this process, the mask is peeled off, a surface treatment is performed by using an alkaline solution, resulting in the re-deposition film being removed.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to a manufacturing method of a thin film magnetic head utilized for reading/writing to a magnetic disk system.
The needs for storing images and music, etc. in a hard-disk drive have been spreading rapidly to such an extent that they are seen as hard-disk drives added to video recorders and hard-disk drives built into televisions, etc. With the increase in image data, there is a demand for increased density, even in the longitudinal recording density of a magnetic disk drive. Currently, in order to achieve a high recording density of 100 Gbit/inch2 or more in a magnetic head, the transfer in technology from a longitudinal recording to a perpendicular recording has been progressing rapidly. This is due to thermal fluctuations of the magnetization which occur in the medium when the bit length is made smaller, and the longitudinal recording density cannot be increased in the case when a current longitudinal recording method is used.
On the other hand, in a perpendicular magnetic recording method, this thermal fluctuation can be avoided because it is magnetized in the perpendicular direction of the medium. Moreover, since a single pole head is used for recording, the magnetic loss is small, and since there is a soft under layer on the medium side, the recording ability is also improved. This also becomes a motivation for the aforementioned transfer to a perpendicular magnetic head. By the way, in this perpendicular write head, an improvement in the longitudinal recording density is required. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to reduce the write track width. However, the reduction of the recording track brings a decrease in the magnetic field applied to the magnetic recording disk from the tip of the main pole. In order to prevent this decrease in the magnetic field, a thicker film thickness of the main pole is preferable. On the other hand, in a magnetic disk system, it is necessary to read/write over a wide range from the inner radius to the outer radius of the magnetic recording disk. At this time, the read/write is performed in a state where the magnetic head has a skew angle of about 0 to 15° against the tangent in the rotation direction of the magnetic recording disk at the inner radius and the outer radius of the magnetic recording disk. In this case, a problem arises where the adjacent track is erased when the shape of the main pole at the air bearing surface is rectangular, so that the write track width cannot be reduced. To solve the problem, a so-called reverse-trapezoid shaped main pole is proposed, which will accommodate the narrow track width, that is, by the track width at the reading side of the main pole being made narrower than the width at the trailing side of the main pole. As a manufacturing method of a magnetic head having a reverse-trapezoid shaped main pole, a manufacturing method, especially applying an ion milling technique, is disclosed. For instance, JP-A No. 18836/2005 A discloses a manufacturing method applying an ion milling technique by using a resist, a non-magnetic insulation film, and a non-magnetic metal film as a mask. Moreover, JP-A No. 203311/2003 A discloses an ion milling angle for processing a reverse-trapezoid shape by using a buffer layer as a mask.
However, when a manufacturing method using an ion milling technique is applied to the aforementioned formation process of a main pole, a magnetic material which is a main pole material etched by ion milling, and alumina and an organic resin which are mask materials inevitably adhere again to the side face of the mask of the main pole in the track direction. The re-deposition film formed like this remains like a fence after removing the resist. If the re-deposition film remains, it brings such problems like the creation of a starting-point of voids during formation of alumina in the following process, and coverage failure, and, as another problem, a non-uniform plating failure occurs which is due to the failure of the under-layer while forming a shield for an improvement of the field gradient by plating. Thus, the yield not only is remarkably decreased, but it also causes a characteristic deterioration, and the reliability will be reduced when the re-deposition film remains.

Manufacturing method of a perpendicular recording magnetic head

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A method and system for controlling an output signal power level of a wireless transmitter can be created by detecting the signal power level of the transmitter with a detector, selectively attenuating the output signal power level with an attenuator having variable attenuation levels, and monitoring the output signal power level and comparing the output signal power level, as determined by the detector, to a predetermined threshold with a processor. The processor preferably controls the attenuator in accordance with the comparison of the output signal power level and the predetermined threshold.

Two-way satellite communication systems transmit and receive data in various frequency bands. For example, some systems operate in the Ka-band, which is between about 17 and 36 GHz. Other systems operate in bands such as the C-band (3.7-6.4 GHz) or the Ku-band (11-15 GHz), for example. Future systems may use higher frequencies (e.g., 60 GHz).
Modulation and upconversion are essential methods used in two-way satellite communication systems and in other wireless communication systems. Upconversion is the translation of a signal's frequency from baseband, or the original frequency before modulation, to a higher frequency. The signal is then transmitted at this higher frequency. Upconversion is performed because most antennas can only receive signals that have short wavelengths. Frequency is the inverse of wavelength. Therefore, the higher the frequency a signal has, the shorter its wavelength. Consequently, signals upconverted to a higher frequency are easier to transmit.
Modulation is a method used to transmit and receive data using a carrier signal. Modulated signals can be analog or digital signals. By varying the phase of a digital carrier signal, for example, information can be conveyed. This type of modulation is called phase-shift keying (PSK). There are several schemes that can be used to accomplish PSK. The simplest method uses only two signal phases: 0 degrees and 180 degrees. The digital signal is broken up time wise into individual bits (binary digits-zeros and ones). The state of each bit is determined according to the state of the preceding bit. If the phase of the wave does not change, then the signal state stays the same (low or high). If the phase of the wave changes by 180 degrees—that is, if the phase reverses—then the signal state changes (from low to high, or from high to low). Because there are two possible wave phases, this form of PSK is sometimes called Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK).
A more complex form of PSK is called Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK). QPSK modulation employs four wave phases and allows binary data to be transmitted at a faster rate per phase change than is possible with BPSK modulation. In QPSK modulation, the signal to be transmitted is first separated into two signals: the In-phase (I) signal and the Quadrature (Q) signal. The I and Q signals are orthogonal, or 90 degrees out of phase. Thus, they are totally independent and do not interfere with each other. Each signal can then be phase shifted independently. Both the I and Q signals have two possible phase states. Combining the possible states for the I and Q signals results in four total possible states. Each state can then represent two bits. Thus, twice the information can be conveyed using QPSK modulation instead of BPSK modulation. For this reason, QPSK modulation is used in many two-way satellite communication systems.
Currently, upconversion in most two-way satellite communication systems entails a multi-stage conversion process. First, baseband QPSK I, Q streams arc modulated and then upconverted to an Intermediate Frequency (IF) (e.g., 1.7-2.2 GHz). This conversion is performed by in an Indoor Unit (IDU). The signal is then upconverted again to a transmit frequency, fTx (e.g., 29.5-30.0 GHz), in an Outdoor Unit (ODU) located at the terminal's antenna. The upconversion is then complete and the signal is ready for transmission.
The output signal (transmit signal) of the ODU has associated with it a certain power level. The ODU output signal power level is regulated in many countries and cannot exceed certain levels. The maximum allowable output signal power level varies by country.
In many two-way satellite communication systems, for example, the optimal output signal power level of the ODU is 4 watts. Some countries allow this output signal power level. However, other countries are more limiting in their regulations and allow ODU output signal power levels of no more than 2 watts, for example.
A high ODU output signal power level is preferable to a low ODU output signal power level because the higher output signal power level is easier to detect and receive. A high ODU output signal power level requires a smaller receiving antenna than does a small ODU output signal power level. Small antennas are usually easier and more cost-effective to design and constrict than are large antennas.
The same various limitations on transmitter output signal power levels could be imposed on any transmitting device used in wireless communication systems. Thus, as used hereafter and in the appended claims, the term "two-way satellite communication systems" will be used to refer expansively to all possible two-way satellite communication systems and other applications where the maximum output signal power level of a transmitter is regulated. In addition, the term "ODU" will be used to refer expansively to all possible transmitters.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and system of limiting the ODU output signal power level to various levels so that it is always equal to the maximum allowable power level depending on the country within which the two-way satellite communication system operates.
There have been several approaches to complying with the various ODU output signal power level restrictions. One solution is to fix the ODU output signal power level to equal the lowest maximum allowable output signal power level of the countries within which the two-way satellite communication system might operate. For example, if the lowest maximum allowable output signal power level is 2 watts, the ODU amplification circuitry could be modified so that the maximum power level of the output signal never exceeds 2 watts. This ODU output signal power level is obviously not optimal in the countries with higher maximum allowable output signal power levels.
Another traditional solution to limit the ODU output signal power level to various levels is to use Automatic Gain Control (AGC). AGC is a process or means by which the gain (output power versus input power) of the ODU is automatically adjusted as a function of a specified parameter, such as the output signal level. However, AGC cannot be used in the ODU of many two-way satellite communication systems because it takes too long to lock into the desired gain. Also, the ODU output signal power level needs to change according to varying weather conditions. It is currently difficult, if not impossible, for an AGC circuit to adjust for varying weather conditions.
Another possible solution is an IDU that is capable of adjusting the ODU input signal level power. This requires a means for calculating the ODU gain and an interface unit for communicating this gain information to the IDU. The IDU would then need to adjust the ODU input signal power level based on this gain information so that the ODU output signal power level can change to the desired level. However, this process is currently limited by the speed at which the interface unit between the ODU and ODU operates and is therefore too slow for many applications. In addition, it requires an IDU capable of adjusting the input signal level power of the ODU. This capability might not be present in many systems.
Another possible solution that has been explored is to monitor the direct current (DC) current of the output signal of the ODU. Then, according to the monitored DC current, the IDU varies the output signal level which is input into the ODU to adjust the power level of the output signal.
For example, if the power level of the output signal is desired to be less than 2 watts, but it is currently higher than 2 watts, then the DC current of the output signal is higher than it would be at the desired power level. Reducing the ODU input signal power level decreases the ODU output signal power level as well as the DC current of the output signal.
However, in many two-way satellite communication systems, it is difficult to correlate the DC current and the radio frequency (RF) output signal power. This is, in part, due to the use of a class-A wideband power amplifier (PA) in the ODU. Class-A PAs are used because they reproduce the input signal with little distortion. They are, however, the least efficient among the different classes of PAs because the power of their output signals is only a small percentage of the DC power used in the amplification process. The degree of inefficiency varies from PA to PA and thus, the correlation between the DC current of the output signal and its power level is unpredictable.

Control system for controlling an output signal power level of a wireless transmitter


A filter device for changing a sample rate of a discrete representation, e.g., to change a size of an image signal (I), includes a plurality of multipliers (Mi), summing circuitry (Ai) coupled to outputs of the multipliers (Mi), and a plurality of delay cells (Di) arranged for repeatedly supplying identical values to corresponding ones of the multipliers (Mi) during a number of times corresponding to an expansion ratio by which the discrete representation (I) is to be expanded, or for, in cooperation with the summing circuitry (Ai, Ai'), accumulating output values from the multipliers (Mi) during a number of times corresponding to a compression ratio by which the discrete representation (I) is to be compressed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a filter device for changing a sample rate of a discrete representation, e.g., to change a size of an image signal, and to an image display apparatus comprising such a filter device.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the advent of computer technology in the consumer electronics area by means of, e.g., internet, games and video conferencing, it is likely that the display technologies of television and computers are going to merge. As a result of this emerging trend, the desire for improved quality in TV images will increase, because the spatial resolution of PC-based synthetic images outperforms those of natural video scenery. Furthermore, in these state-of-the-art consumer electronics products, a need for high quality image scalers arises. Until now, sampling rate converters were more or less dedicated and optimized to perform one function, e.g., size conversion for Picture In-Picture (PIP). This leads to products in which sampling rate converters, tuned for different applications, are scattered. We foresee a need for a more flexible high quality scaler that can be used for a range of functions, not only to allow new advanced scaling features, but also to be able to handle different picture formats and display types. One could think of PIP, split-screen, multi-window features, high quality size conversion of graphics and video, and size adaptation for LCD or plasma displays.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,145 discloses direct type and inverted type digital FIR filters. When such FIR filters are used for compression, i.e., for decreasing the size of an image signal, too many samples are obtained as such a FIR filter calculates one output sample for each input sample. This means that at the output, some of the output samples have to be discarded, which implies a waste of calculation resources used to obtain these discarded samples. Moreover, there is no indication as to how an expansion is to be effectuated.


A mounting device and process are provided for arranging a protective bellows on a component. The device includes a basic body, a mounting head, which is displaceable at the basic body, an adjusting device for providing an adjusting action and including an electromechanical drive and a position recognition system and gripping elements movable. The gripping elements include gripping arms and clamping fingers movable in relation to the gripping arms. The process includes bringing the gripping arms of the device into contact with the inner surface of a collar of the protective bellows and fixing the collar by the clamping fingers. The collar is expanded in preparation for the mounting and then released by loosening the clamping fingers such that the collar of the protective bellows jumps into a recess provided on the component as a consequence of its intrinsic elasticity after the necessary positioning of the protective bellows in relation to the component to be protected has been established.

The need to provide components with elastic protective bellows arises, as a rule, from the requirement that the unrestricted ability of these components to function must be maintained over a comparatively long period of time. This is of particular significance for components that are connected with one another and whose positions in relation to one another can be changed, as they are used, among other things, in motor vehicles in the area of the drive and the chassis. Since the parameters of protective bellows for a certain intended use frequently vary, it is desirable to use mounting devices adapted to the range of variation of the protective bellows.
A device for arranging a rubber-elastic bellows on a rolling stamp of a motor vehicle air spring is known from EP 0 934 840 A2. A counterstamp, which acts on the end of the bellows located opposite the rolling stamp, is an essential component of this device, both stamps being sealingly in contact with the ends of the bellows, so that the relative movement of the stamps, which are directed toward one another, generates an overpressure, which can be amplified by an additional pressure source. As a result of such a force action on the rubber-elastic bellows, a beaded ring of the air bellows is expanded and displaced into the groove of the rolling stamp and consequently into its position of use.
Such a solution is associated with the drawback that the tool described, whose handling is relatively complicated, is suitable for special rubber-elastic bellows only.
Furthermore, an automatic mounting device for premounting ring-shaped parts on parts with hollow parts made of an elastic material and for mounting the latter on other parts is known from the patent specification DE 87 2321. An outer cylinder, which carries pivotable jaws, which can engage an opening of the preform for expanding same in this area, is arranged displaceably in the housing of the device.
The mounting device is designed for integration in a fully automatic mounting process. A special design of the jaws, which is designed for handling the collar areas of the parts consisting of an elastic material in the correct position, is not provided for in this solution.

Device for handling an elastic protective bellows and mounting process for arranging a protective bellows on a component


A system to provide dynamic content to a static page includes a database to store the dynamic content to be incorporated into the static page. A non-application capable server is provided to store the static page. The non-application capable server has no database connectivity and no ability to execute applications. A dynamic page is adapted to make a connection to the database and execute an application code. An application-capable server is provided to store the dynamic page, to parse the application code and to connect to the database. The static page incorporates the dynamic page to provide the dynamic content to the static page.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Internet Web pages, and more specifically, to a system and method of providing dynamic content to a static page stored on a non-application capable server.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Internet Web pages have become very sophisticated, incorporating not only "static" content, such as text and pictures, but "dynamic" content as well, such as scripts or programs that provide rich, dynamic content from a database. By utilizing dynamic content, Web pages may be personalized, for example, by welcoming the user to the Web site, or providing information and links customized by the user. Scripts are typically a list of operations or commands that may be executed without user interaction. Some examples of scripting languages include Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript), JavaScript, and Perl.
As Internet Web sites take more dominant roles in business, the ability for a Web site to feature dynamic content is important in conveying information to a user, and/or attracting users to the Web site. Therefore, many businesses have a large Web content base, having both static content and dynamic/application content. Static content need not reside on an application-capable (script-enabled) server, while dynamic content needs to reside on an application-capable server. A non-application capable server is one that is not server-side scripting enabled, and does not have database connectivity. Accordingly, a non-application capable server does not perform any parsing of Web pages, and only serves up static pages. On the other hand, an application-capable server is adapted to interpret server-side scripting, and has database connectivity. Application-capable servers parse dynamic pages, compile server-side scripting, and insert database elements before delivering the dynamic content to a user's Internet browser.
In order to provide database-driven, personalized, and "application-like" features into a static environment, the static content is typically stored with the dynamic content on an application-capable server. However, it is preferable that static content be kept separate from the dynamic content for several reasons. When static content and dynamic content are stored separately, content authors can publish revisions to the static content (such as "journalistic-type" content, like text and still images) stored on the non-application capable servers through a document management/processing program without the fear of a wayward script being introduced into and bringing down the entire server infrastructure. Additionally, by revising only the static content stored on the non-application capable server, the approval process for making such revisions is generally easier to obtain or not necessary at all, as would be required for revising scripts or applications that are stored on application-capable servers.
Moreover, application-capable servers are much less scalable than non-application-capable servers. Therefore, performance is greater if static content is kept separate from the dynamic content. But, static content and dynamic content may be stored separately only by utilizing a third-party software package residing in the server infrastructure acting as an intermediary between the database and the content, such as BroadVision Enterprise (from BroadVision, Inc., Redwood City, Calif.). However, introducing additional software components such as an intermediary software package to the server infrastructure creates greater complexity and greater opportunity for instability in the server network.

Dynamic content delivery to static page in non-application capable environment


A facemask is provided that is made from a clear thermoplastic polymer with a sufficiently low glass transition temperature that a customer may engage in post-sale customization of the facemask. The facemask is configured to be heated and then reshaped by the customer, so as to better fit the customer's face. The facemask may include filter cavities or filter adaptors that conveniently hold removable filters. Methods of manufacturing a set of a plurality of facemasks, matching a customer to an appropriately sized facemask, and then enabling the customer to engage in post-sale customization are also provided.

The present disclosure relates to the field of protective facemasks. In particular, this disclosure relates to custom fitted reusable facemasks that are transparent, lightweight, and have removable filters.
Existing facemasks are used in a variety of medical, industrial, and personal settings. Many such facemasks rely on pressure to deform the facemask into fitting a user's face. For example, one or more straps may be tightened to force a facemask onto a user's face so as to create an air seal. This may be uncomfortable to the user over long periods of time, or may create additional complications for users with e.g. skin conditions that cause sensitivity to pressure on the face. Other facemasks may not include an air seal at all, allowing particulate matter to circumvent the filtration system.
Existing facemasks may also suffer from other deficiencies. For example, known facemasks generally obscure the user's mouth in such a way that makes understanding the user's speech to be difficult. Additional, many existing facemasks are disposable "one time use" facemasks—or use disposable filters. This may result in high turnover in the usage of the facemasks, potentially resulting in higher cost of use as well as shortages.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved facemasks that address these and other shortcomings in the art.

Fittable facemasks and related methods of manufacture and customization


An optical laminated member having an antiglare hard coat layer and a clear hard coat layer sequentially laminated on at least one side of a transparent polymer substrate, the antiglare hard coat layer being a cured layer of a coating composition for forming an antiglare layer and having continuous random irregularities on its surface, and a ten-point average roughness RzJIS of a surface of the antiglare hard coat layer is 0.1 to 2 μm, the clear hard coat layer is a cured layer of a clear hard coating composition, the clear hard coat layer is laminated on a part of the antiglare hard coat layer.

Displays are used in a wide variety of fields such as computers, televisions, cellular phones, portable information terminal devices (tablet personal computers, mobile devices, electronic notebooks, etc.), and automobile display panels such as digital meters, instrument panels, navigation devices, console panels, center clusters and heater control panels. In many of such displays, an antiglare (AG) layer, which roughens the surface of a display, is provided on the display surface. By providing an antiglare layer on the surface of a display, it is possible to irregularly reflect external light by irregularities on the surface of the antiglare layer and thereby blur the contour of an image reflected on the display surface. This makes it possible to reduce the visibility of the reflected image on the display surface and to eliminate obstacles to screen visibility due to reflection of the reflected image at the time of using the display.
Displays like those mentioned above (e.g., a liquid crystal display) commonly have an image display unit and an image non-display unit. For example, when a display is incorporated in another peripheral member and an antiglare layer is provided on the display surface, some methods for forming the antiglare layer will allow the antiglare layer to be formed on both an image display unit and an image non-display unit. On the other hand, in many automobile display panels or the like, their image non-display units have a deep color such as black for reasons such as exuding a sense of high quality while maintaining a sense of unity with other automobile interior peripheral members. In automobile display panels, forming an antiglare layer also in a deep color part that is an image non-display unit may reduce a glossy feeling and a sense of high quality of the deep color part.
JP2014-41244 A (Patent Literature 1) discloses that a laminated film for molding characterized in that a hard coat layer having a crack elongation of 5% or more and a low refractive index layer having a refractive index of 1.47 or less are provided in this order on a substrate film. This laminated film for molding is described as having a lower luminous reflectance, a reduced reflection of external light or a reduced sense of glare as well as a reduced whitishness and a high transmittance. On the other hand, the laminate film for molding disclosed in Patent Literature 1 fails to provide both the antiglare performance required in the image display unit of a display (for example, a liquid crystal display) and the design property required in the image non-display unit.
JP2015-57655 A (Patent Literature 2) discloses an antiglare hard coat film having an antiglare hard coat layer containing fine particles on at least one side of a transparent plastic film substrate. With regard to the antiglare hard coat film, the total haze value of the antiglare hard coat film and the surface roughness of the antiglare hard coat layer are required to be within specific ranges. This antiglare hard coat film is described as having an extremely low haze and a superior antiglare property, preventing white blur, and being superior in blackness at the time of black display. On the other hand, like Patent Literature 1, this antiglare hard coat film also fails to provide both the antiglare performance required in the image display unit of a display and the design property required in the image non-display unit.

NIPPON PAINT AUTOMOTIVE COATINGS CO., LTD.


A coil array component including an element assembly that includes a filler and a resin material, a first coil portion and a second coil portion that are embedded in the element assembly and that are composed of a first coil conductor and a second coil conductor, respectively, and four outer electrodes electrically connected to the first coil portion and the second coil portion. Also, four extension electrodes that extend from end surfaces of the element assembly to the bottom surface and are electrically connected to the outer electrodes on the bottom surface are further included. In addition, the extension electrodes are covered with insulating layers on end surfaces of the element assembly.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a coil array component.
Background Art
A coil array component in which an insulating material is interposed between a primary coil and a secondary coil is known as a coil component in which two coils are embedded in an element assembly, that is, a so-called coil array component, as described, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 8-88126. Such a coil array component has outer electrodes on end surfaces.
In the above-described coil array component, the outer electrodes are present on the end surfaces and, therefore, it is necessary to ensure sufficient distance between adjacent components to avoid the occurrence of short circuit during mounting. Consequently, high-density mounting is difficult.


A circuit for the limitation of over-voltages in energy storage modules having a series circuit of energy storage elements connected between a first potential and a second potential includes voltage-limiting elements associated with combinations of the energy storage elements. Where “M” is the maximum number of directly interconnected energy storage elements of a predetermined combination, wherein for M≧2 a voltage-limiting element is connected in parallel with each combination and a respective voltage-limiting element is connected in parallel with a first energy storage element connected to the first potential and with an nth energy storage element connected to the second potential. For M>2 a respective voltage-limiting element is connected in parallel with each sub-combination of at least two directly interconnected energy storage elements of the combination having an energy storage element connected to the first potential or to the second potential.

The present invention relates to a circuit arrangement for the limitation of over-voltages in energy storage modules composed of energy storage elements. The circuit includes a series circuit of "n" energy storage elements, wherein the series circuit is connected between a first potential and a second potential and voltage-limiting elements are associated with the "n" energy storage elements.
Energy storage modules serve for the storage of electrical energy. The storage capacity of conventional energy storage elements is usually smaller than the required total amount of energy to be stored. The maximum permissible voltage across an energy storage element is usually less than the voltage required for the application. Accordingly, several energy storage elements with smaller energy storage capacity are combined to form an energy storage module. Energy storage modules are usually designed as capacitors or accumulators. Super-capacitors (SCAP) form a special kind of capacitors. These super-capacitors are also termed thin-layer capacitors, ultracaps, boostcaps or supercaps. Super-capacitors of that kind have increasing significance as electrical energy stores for a number of applications, particularly in automobile construction or in portable electrical appliances, in which very high load quantities have to be stored or released rapidly.
However, an individual super-capacitor can be operated only with a permissible voltage Umax of 2.3 V to 2.5 V, so that for most cases of use several super-capacitors have to be connected together in a series circuit and the energy storage module with a maximum voltage of N·Umax is formed. Super-capacitors are subject to a production tolerance which can result in a capacitance fluctuation of −10% to +30%. Moreover, capacitance losses of approximately 20% can arise due to ageing. The ageing process of super-capacitors is temperature-dependent and thus not equal for all super-capacitors contained in an energy storage module. An unequal voltage distribution between the individual energy storage elements results therefrom in the case of charging of an energy storage module containing super-capacitors. Ultimately, the super-capacitor, which due to the ageing process has the smallest capacitance, in the series circuit is loaded with the greatest voltage. However, there are various procedures for achieving a uniform voltage distribution and avoiding damage of the super-capacitors.
One possibility is selecting the super-capacitors, which are used in an energy storage module, by measuring the capacitance and a corresponding selection of the super-capacitors with small production tolerances. This has the disadvantage that selected super-capacitors of that kind with smaller tolerance are accompanied by higher production costs. Moreover, this approach does not offer any security against ageing effects, since even super-capacitors with small production tolerance are subject to ageing and exposed to losses of capacitance. Thus, the super-capacitors used in an energy storage module can be damaged, since the voltages at the individual capacitors are different.
A further possibility for protection against over-voltages due to losses of capacitance consists in operating an entire energy storage module at a lower overall voltage. However, this is disadvantageous because the entire energy storage module is not utilized efficiently. In order to avoid over-voltages at the super-capacitors it is also possible to connect, in parallel with the super-capacitors, resistances which are, however, accompanied by a high discharge current and thus produce during operation an energy loss which is consciously taken into account. If the resistances are selected to be too large, then the symmetry gain is thereby impaired. A further possibility of counteracting damage of super-capacitors of that kind in an energy storage module consists in using an active over-voltage shunt with Zener diodes. For this purpose the Zener diodes are each connected in parallel with a respective super-capacitor. However, this has the disadvantage that Zener diodes with a breakdown voltage of 2.5 V have, due to their relatively soft diode characteristic curve, equally a large spontaneous discharge below the breakdown voltage and thus are not efficient. Alternatively to use of an active over-voltage shunt by means of Zener diodes it is also possible to use integrated threshold value circuits which guarantee an active over-voltage limitation. However, threshold value circuits of that kind are usually constructed as integrated circuits and consequently relatively expensive.
A current storage installation with batteries and capacitors, in which super-capacitors are used, is shown in publication WO 02/15363 A2. As illustrated above, super-capacitors cannot take over-voltage and thus have to be monitored. In the WO 02/15363 A2 publication several different wiring variants for avoidance of over-voltages are described. There is a description of connecting a Zener diode across several super-capacitors, wherein, however, only the voltage across all super-capacitors lying in parallel with the Zener diode is limited not across a super-capacitor alone. The individual super-capacitor is thus not protected against over-voltages.
If, apart from the Zener diode connected in parallel across several super-capacitors, there is no additional protective wiring then the super-capacitor with the smaller capacitance has a greater voltage after a charging process. If the Zener diode limits the voltage to twice the respective permissible voltage of the super-capacitors the super-capacitor with the smaller capacitance is overloaded.
Ageing usually has the consequence of a decrease in capacitance. Moreover, the ageing processes advance in an accelerated manner with increased voltage, i.e. it is necessary to reckon on a halved service life in the case of a voltage increase by 0.1 V. There is thus a disastrous loop: The smaller capacitance leads to an increased voltage. The increased voltage leads to more rapid ageing and this in turn to an accelerated capacitance decline. In the case of renewed charging this element is then loaded with an even higher voltage and thus ages more rapidly. This means that the asymmetry is then amplified up to the point of total failure of the super-capacitor. This is because the smallest capacitance value in the series circuit determines the overall capacitance.

Circuit arrangement for limitation of over-voltages in energy storage modules


Provided is a mobile telephone easily associating ringing tones and an address book. A control unit implementing the mobile telephone includes an input unit accepting input of data, an instruction detecting unit detecting an instruction for executing an action specific to the mobile telephone based on the input data, a flag setting unit setting for each address a flag for discriminating an address to be assigned a ringing tone from an address not to be assigned the ringing tone, a ringing tone retrieving unit retrieving the ringing tones assignable to the address book, a registrant-by-registrant basis ringing tone assigning unit executing an operation for assigning the ringing tone to each address book based on an entered instruction and the result of the retrieval by the ringing tone retrieving unit, and an output unit writing the flag set by the flag setting unit in a storage unit.

In the mobile telephones and other portable communication terminals, sound data that can be stored has been increasing owing to increase in memory capacity or a data compression technology. The mobile telephone has a function by which a user of the mobile telephone receiving an incoming call for telephone or e-mail can easily determine that it is made by a specific caller. Thereby, the user can discriminate the A specific callers such as a family, friends and the like from unspecified callers.
Technologies for identifying a party on the other end have been disclosed, e.g., in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Nos. 2001-168952, 2002-261875 and 2005-094081 (publications 1, 2 and 3).
Technologies relating to download of sound data have been disclosed, e.g., in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-259010 (publication 4). Further, technologies for reproducing sound based on downloaded sound data have been disclosed, e.g., in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-191912 (publication 5).    Publication 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-168952    Publication 2: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-261875    Publication 3: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-094081    Publication 4: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-259010    Publication 5: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-191912

Information communication terminal, mobile telephone, contents distributing apparatus, contents distributing system, and program product