A light source module including a substrate, a plurality of light emitting devices installed on the substrate, and a plurality of lenses installed on the substrate to cover the plurality of light emitting devices, respectively, and each of the plurality of lenses having a pair of open end portions facing one another, the plurality of lenses arranged such that an open end portion of one lens faces an opened end portion of an adjacent lens is provided.

1. Field
Example embodiments relate to light source modules and/or lighting devices having the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional fluorescent lamps have a relatively short lifespan and consume relatively large amount of power. In order to remedy these shortcomings, recently, fluorescent-type LED lamps using a light emitting diode (LED) have been introduced because they consume a relatively small amount of power and have a relatively long lifespan.
However, the relatively high cost of LED lamps hinders widespread use of the LED lamps. One factor of the relatively high cost of LED lamps is the amount of LEDs to be employed. For example, one hundred to three hundred LEDs are commonly employed in an LED lamp provided to replace a 1200 mm, 40 W fluorescent lamp.
The amount of LEDs employed in LED lamps may be reduced to reduce cost, but decreases in the number of LEDs may cause relatively clear and/or large hot spots due to the sparse arrangement of the LEDs, thereby degrading or deteriorating luminance uniformity.

Light source module and lighting device having the same


A device for heating food includes a housing and a plurality of heated shelves or trays supported on the housing. Each tray includes a heater and a temperature sensor. The heater is operable to heat the tray and the temperature sensor is capable of sensing the temperature of the tray. A controller is coupled to each heater and each temperature sensor, and the controller is configured to operate the heater as a function of the tray temperature.

Pre-cooked and pre-packaged frozen meals and food items are a popular way to divide large amounts of food products prepared at a given time for final preparation and consumption in smaller individual or group portion sizes at a later time. Such meals typically require heating or warming to a temperature not only comfortable for consumption but also to a pathogenically safe level through conventional means such as the use of an oven, toaster oven, convection oven, microwave or similar device.
These items, however, generally require the product's seal to be broken in the rethermalization process. If the package containing the food's seal is not opened intentionally prior to the process, either due to incompatibility with the process or for other reasons, the vapor pressure within the package generally will become too great for the seal to sustain and break the seal. Either event allows for the food to dry out if held at elevated temperatures for an extended period of time.

Food warming and holding device construction and method


A shower caddy includes horizontal shelves and a vertically sloped panel having a smooth surface. A bottom edge of the panel is positioned above and in registration with a hair screen carried within a lowermost shelf. Hair from one's head and body caught on one's hands and fingers during washing are transferred to the panel by touching the panel or land directly on the panel. Water overspray during showering or direct splashing causes the hair to slide down the panel and become trapped in the screen, which is easily removed from the shelf for disposal of the collected hair.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to shower caddies and more specifically to a combined shower caddy and apparatus for the capture of hair prior to reaching a drain opening at the shower floor or tub bottom.
2. Antecedents of the Invention
Showers used in homes, hotels and other such structures usually are of two main types. One type includes a bathtub, with the shower arm protruding from a wall forming part of the structure which partially encloses the shower. Access is typically provided through an opening adjacent to the longer side of the tub. Usually, the opening is closeable by a shower curtain or by one or more sliding or swinging doors. A second type of shower consists of an enclosure or stall which has a shower arm and head protruding from a wall or ceiling, and which is also closeable by a curtain, or by a sliding or swinging door.
The clogging of shower drains with hair has been a constant problem. Many approaches have attempted to alleviate this problem, primarily directed to placing a hair catching device at or within a shower or tub drain. Examples of hair catching devices placed at the drain are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. D550,819 and D730,493 and Publication No. 2005/0223481, while examples of hair catching devices placed within the drain are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,003,642 and 8,505,125 B1. Unfortunately, the devices intended for placement at the drains, e.g. those exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. D550,819 and D730,493 were subject to inadvertent dislodgement and hair often bypassed the device and went directly down the drain while an individual showered.
Devices intended for placement within the drain, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,003,642 and 8,505,125 B1 required removal from the drain for cleaning and generally were not cleaned after each shower. Thus accumulated hair was not removed until water flow became restricted or clogged. The removal of tangled hair became a messy and time consuming task. Additionally, the removal of hair caught in both types of devices required one to bend down and lift up the hair catching device, which was a difficult task for handicapped individuals.
It is now common for the shower and tub area of a bathroom to be filled with a large number of products and accessories. These products include shampoos, hair conditioners, soaps, scrubs, lotions and oils. This has created a greater need for storage in what is most often a limited space. The many containers for such products can create clutter, be unsightly, and possibly cause a safety hazard.
Shower caddies have been used to organize the products found in a shower. Shower caddies most often hang on the shower arm pipe that comes out from the wall which holds the shower head. Most shower caddies currently available are constructed to be attached to the shower arm, by hanging the caddy on the arm. In some instances, such as that illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. D309,225, shower caddies have been employed to support a shaving mirror.


An aqueous solution containing a poly(meth)acrylic acid-based polymer which shows excellent dispersibility for inorganic substances, satisfactory long-term dispersibility, and a favorable color is provided. The aqueous solution of the present invention is an aqueous solution comprising a poly(meth)acrylic acid-based polymer, the poly(meth)acrylic acid-based polymer including carboxyl groups, wherein in 100 mol % of the carboxyl groups, 30 to 85 mol % of the carboxyl groups are in an alkali metal salt form of the carboxyl groups, and 15 to 70 mol % of the carboxyl groups are in an acid form of the carboxyl groups, the poly(meth)acrylic acid-based polymer containing a phosphorus-containing group, the poly(meth)acrylic acid-based polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 2000 to 9000, the aqueous poly(meth)acrylic acid-based polymer solution having a concentration of inorganic anions, each including a sulfur or phosphorus atom, of 1000 to 10000 ppm relative to the aqueous poly(meth)acrylic acid-based polymer solution.

Carboxyl group-containing polymers represented by sodium poly(meth)acrylate and the like are widely used for applications such as detergent builders, pigment dispersants (dispersants for inorganic particles), chemicals for water treatment (scale inhibitors). Polymers having better properties are demanded in the markets of these applications.
In order to meet the demand, Patent Literature 1, for example, discloses a polymer with a pH maintained at 4 or higher which is obtained by reacting 100 parts by weight of a polymer of α,β-monoethylenic unsaturated carboxylic acid with 1 to 70 parts by weight of a compound containing a metal such as calcium. Patent Literature 2, for example, discloses a method of producing a water-soluble polymer obtained by continuously adding a chain transfer agent during a predetermined period in the polymerization period, where the addition rate of the chain transfer agent to the monomers is changed at least once. Patent Literature 3, for example, discloses a method of producing a low-molecular weight (meth)acrylic acid (salt)-based polymer. The method includes polymerizing a monomer component including monomers such as a monoethylenic unsaturated monomer of a monocarboxylic acid (salt) in a highly concentrated aqueous solution in the presence of an alkali substance, using a polymerization catalyst. In the method, the polymerization catalyst is a combination of persulfate and hydrogen peroxide, and the total amount of the alkali substance is 99 mol % or lower of the amount required to neutralize the whole acid groups of the monomer component. Also, the dropping of the hydrogen peroxide is set to be ended more than ten minutes before the end of dropping the monomer component.
Patent Literature 4, for example, discloses a grinding agent including acrylic acid polymers and/or copolymers. The grinding agent is for an aqueous suspension of coarse mineral particles for pigments, and includes the polymers and/or copolymers which are partially neutralized by at least one neutralizing agent having at least one monovalent functional group. Patent Literature 5, for example, discloses a method of producing a dispersion of mineral particles suitable for use as pigments. The method includes the steps of: (A) preparing a mixture comprising water and a mineral to be ground, comprising particles and the mixture having at least 75% by weight of solids content, based on the total weight of the mixture; (B) introducing a fully neutralized dispersing agent into the mixture, in an amount of from 0.1% to 0.5% by weight, based on the dry weight of the mineral present in the mixture; (C) grinding the mixture to produce an aqueous dispersion; (D) introducing at least two portions of a partially neutralized dispersing agent, which has been at least 30% neutralized, based on equivalents of acid groups into the dispersion during grinding, wherein the total of the portions is from 0.2 to 1.0% by weight, based on the dry weight of the mineral present in the mixture; and (E) continuing grinding the dispersion until 95% or more of the mineral particles have a maximum particle size below 2 microns.

Aqueous poly(meth)acrylic acid-based polymer solution


The invention is an inner seal collar for inserting into pipes in order to seal leakage points in the pipes, comprising an expandable strip which is bent into the shape of a ring and which is preferably made of steel sheet, parts of the strip at least partly overlapping in the circumferential direction, and comprising a locking device which has at least two parallel rows of teeth, wherein a separate clamping pinion engages into at least two of the rows of teeth. The invention comprises a separate blocking pinion paired with each of the at least two clamping pinions, the blocking pinion pushing against the corresponding clamping pinion via a respective spring element and being engaged with the clamping pinion, and each of the blocking pinions is also engaged with the corresponding row of teeth.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an inner seal collar with improved locking mechanism for insertion into pipes, for the purpose of sealing leak points in the same.
Background of the Invention
Such internal sealing collars have been known for a long time, and are described by way of example in DE 44 01 318 C2. Using such internal sealing collars, it is possible to repair leakage points in, for example, underground pipes made of concrete or another material, without trenching. For this purpose, the internal sealing collar is inserted into the leaking pipe being repaired, up to the position of the leak. In this process, the internal sealing collar is initially spirally compressed such that it has a smaller diameter than the pipe being sealed. Once the internal sealing collar has been moved into the position of the leak in the pipe being repaired, the internal sealing collar is expanded by means of a mechanical installation device until it has come into very tight contact with the inner wall of the pipe, compressing the seal rings. The internal sealing collar is held in its expanded position by means of an arresting device which has a tensioning pinion which meshes with a toothed bar, and a spring-loading locking pinion which engages with the same.
EP 0 805 932 B1 suggests an arresting device which is improved over the above. The document discloses an internal sealing collar having an arresting device which enables very small locking steps and therefore ensures a strong, permanent contact with the inner pipe wall following its expansion, providing a strong press force on the sealing organs. The improved arresting device comprises, for this purpose, a slot arranged peripherally around the belt end on the inside, wherein a toothed bar is arranged on each of the two opposing longitudinal edges thereof. Two tensioning pinions are arranged in the slot, each of these engaging with one of the two toothed bars, and also being loaded by one locking pinion which functions as the locking organ. The locking pinion is pressed into the intermediate space between the two tensioning pinions by a tensioning spring.
An internal sealing collar having such an arresting device is in need of improvement with respect to the force load which can be achieved.
The aim of the present invention is therefore that of advancing the known internal sealing collars in such a manner that the arresting device can receive greater forces—that is, such that it is more difficult to unlock than previously.

Inner seal collar with improved locking mechanism


The method of producing a microbial adherence inhibitor for administration to food animals to control the incidents of acidosis in food animals by preventing the adherence of colony-forming lactic acid producing bacteria in the rumen or intestinal tracts of the food animals. The method includes inoculating female birds in or about their egg laying age with a lactic acid producing bacteria that colonizes in the intestinal tract of the food animal to be treated. Allowing a period of time sufficient to permit the production in the birds of antibody to the lactic acid producing bacteria and harvesting the eggs laid by such birds. The antibody-containing contents of the eggs are then separated by the shells.

Certain common bacterial immunogens in the rumen can produce large amounts of lactic acid. These include but are not limited to Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus spp. As the host consumes starch in the diet, these deleterious organisms produce very high amounts of lactic acid that can result in reduced performance and, in acute situations, dangerously low pH rumen levels. Once the pH lowers in the rumen, these bacterial species become the primary etiologic agents in rumen abscesses.
Lactic acid acidosis is produced in ruminants fed diets high in grain. These grain-fed animals are subject to a number of nutritional or metabolic problems, but most are secondary to acute acidosis. Lactic acidosis occurs when there is an abrupt increase in the intake of readily fermentable carbohydrates. A typical example would occur when range or pasture fed cattle, which may never have been fed grain in their lives, are brought into a feedlot and fed grain. If the amount of grain fed exceeds the ability of the rumen microbial population to move in an orderly transition from primary cellulite based to a starch-based diet, there is a shortage of amylolytic organisms. The void is quickly occupied by a fast growing amylolytic bacteria, Streptococcus bovis, which grows rapidly and produces lactic acid as a fermentation end product, particularly D-lactate which is poorly absorbed and metabolized. Lactobacillus spp. also produces lactate. As S. bovis increases, the rumen pH drops, causing spiraling accumulation of lactic acid in the rumen and a consequent lower pH. The accumulation of lactic acid in the rumen and blood causes rumen acidosis and metabolic acidosis. This has a corrosive affect on the rumen wall and causes the papillae to peel off. Absorption is impaired and bacteria inside the rumen wall can gain system entrance. A high incidence of liver abscesses can result. Additionally, lower rumen pH can inhibit the growth of all organisms, including beneficial microbes that aid in efficient feed digestion.
Chronic liver abscesses reduce growth rates, feed efficiency, and carcass dressing percentage. The incidence of liver abscess in feedlot cattle is 12-32%. It is a major economic import because of carcass condemnation and reduced animal performance. These ruminal lesions foster an invasion of bacterium, principally Fusobacterium necrophorum. It is generally accepted that the rumen lesions resulting from acidosis are the predisposing factors for liver abscesses. F. necrophorum prosseses a number of virulent factors that allow the organism to enter and colonize the rumen epithelium and subsequently enter and establish an infection in the liver.
The accumulation of lactic acid in the rumen increases the osmolotity of the rumen, drawing water from the blood into the rumen and causing dehydration. Recovery at this stage is unlikely. Absorbed acid may cause systematic acidosis with a lowered blood pH, electrolyte imbalance, and lead to kidney failure.
Acute lactic acidosis causes dramatic increases in rumen acidity and osmololity causing severe rumenity. Decreased blood pH, fatal dehydration, and chronic acidosis reduce feed intake and animal performance in feedlot cattle and dairy cattle.
Acidosis is not readily treated but best prevented. Antibiotics can be used to contain S. bovis and Lactobacillus spp.
Normally the rumen environment is anaerobic with pH of approximately 6.5. Rumen pH levels between 5.2 and 5.6 define sub-acute acidosis. Acute acidosis is when the rumen pH level dips below 5.2. The use of monensin, a feed additive marketed under the name Rumensin, has potential to improve health and production of dairy on high concentrate diets but not fully prevent ruminal acidosis. In many dairy operations, the challenge is not with acute but sub-clinical acidosis. Monensin, however, is not cleared for use in lactating dairy cows
The cascade effects of acidosis originating from the initial ingestion of carbohydrate depend upon the intensity and duration of the insult. The most critical is the pH threshold. This relates to microbial growth rates and shifts in ruminal population, and significantly influences the systemic metabolic state.
A principal objective of the present invention is to substantially prevent the colonization of deleterious organisms such as S. bovis, Lactobacillus spp. and F. necrophorum, as well as the growth of such organisms in the rumen and the intestinal tracts of food animals resulting in their substantial elimination from the animal by the administration of fowl egg antibody to the specific organisms.
Haptens are partial or incomplete immunogens such as certain toxins, which cannot by themselves cause antibody formation but are capable of combining with specific antibodies. Such haptens may include bacterial toxin, yeast mold toxin, viruses, parasite toxins, algae toxins, etc.
Under the most popular current feeding system, food animal feed efficiency is enhanced through the use of ionophores such as monensin, a feed additive marketed under the trade name Rumensin. This is a class of polyester antibiotics approved for feed given to beef cattle and diary heifers, but is not approved for use with lactating dairy cattle. Most gram-positive microorganisms are non-specifically vulnerable to the ionophores, antibiotics that can be quite toxic to the host animal if used improperly. As these antibiotics are not specific, many of the ruminal microorganisms required to digest the cellulose of ingested plant material may also be affected. The problem with carry over and development of resistant strains of microorganisms are also of major concern to the industry. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics has further drawbacks including vulnerability to human error, additional cost, consumer resistance, and the like. In addition, the monensin type additive cannot be added with the commonly used molasses-based supplements.

Immunogen adherence inhibitor directed to lactic acid producing organisms and method of making and using it


A mobile terminal includes first and second bodies rotatably coupled to each other, first and second display units formed on the first and second bodies, respectively, and a moving unit configured to allow the first and second bodies to rotate relative to each other between a folded configuration that one surfaces of the first and second bodies are overlaid by each other and an unfolded configuration that the first and second bodies are unfolded from each other, wherein the first and second display units are disposed on the other surfaces of the first and second bodies, respectively, to be externally exposed in the folded configuration, and wherein at least one of the first and second bodies relatively rotates with a rotation center thereof being moved by the moving unit such that the first and second display units form an obtuse angle with each other in the unfolded configuration.

1. Field of the Invention
This specification relates to a mobile terminal having a dual display unit.
2. Description of Related Art
Mobile device (mobile terminal, portable device, portable terminal) can be easily carried and have one or more of functions such as supporting voice and video telephony calls, inputting and/or outputting information, storing data and the like.
As it becomes multifunctional, the mobile terminal can be allowed to capture still images or moving images, play music or video files, play games, receive broadcast and the like, so as to be implemented as an integrated multimedia player.
Various new attempts have been made for the multimedia devices by hardware or software in order to implement such complicated functions. For example, a user interface environment is provided in order for users to easily and conveniently retrieve or select functions.
In recent time, a mobile terminal is developed in a bar type whose front surface is mostly configured as a screen. The bar type mobile terminal has the advantages in the aspect of no need of an opening and closing operation and a simplified design, but also has a disadvantage in view of difficulty in configuring a large screen. When a dual display unit is provided on the mobile terminal to configure the large screen, such advantages of the bar type may not be guaranteed. To overcome this, a new form factor which ensures the advantages of the bar type and also allows for use of the dual display unit may be considered.


An anchor structure for electronic devices includes a plurality of bars that are pivotally coupled through a hinged means. At least one of the bars has a housing space formed in a portion of the interior to allow the bars to be swivelable relative to one another. The anchor structure further has a fastening means which has a handle with a bottom end located in the housing space and hinged on a corresponding bar. The hinged portion on the bottom end of the handle runs through the bar and is fastened to a cam. The housing space also holds a slidable brake element corresponding to the cam and a spring to keep the brake element in contact tightly with the cam so that turning of the cam can selectively move the brake element to a position to escape the axle or to another position to form a tight contact with an axle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an anchor structure for electronic devices and particularly to an anchor structure that has a hinge means and a fastening means to adjust holding positions of an electronic device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional portable electronic devices such as handsets (mobile phones), PDAs, GPS (global positioning system) and the like can provide powerful communication functions, thus are widely accepted on the market. These portable electronic devices are often being installed on transportation vehicles to enable users to use during driving or riding.
In general, the conventional anchor structures, which are used to hold portable electronic devices, include a transformative bar structure or a plurality of hinged bars. Through a turning and fastening mechanism, the coupling tightness of the hinged axles can be altered, and the bars can be swiveled relative to one another about the axles or fastened, thereby to adjust the holding position to provide an optimal operating position for users. However, the stability and rigidity of the transformative bar structure are often not desirable. Swaying frequently occurs during driving. Moreover, the turning and fastening mechanism for the bars is easily loosened. It also is not convenient to use during driving and could result in hazardous conditions. There is still room for improvement.


Apparatus and method for estimating the angle-modulation imposed on a transmitted Radio Frequency (RF) or Intermediate Frequency (IF) carrier. The method estimates angle-modulation when communications channels add distortions such as noise to transmitted signals. The system provides reconstituted frequency modulation from a feedforward demodulator. The goal is to reduce the modulation index of a desired signal and to employ a narrower band-pass filter that passes this signal while rejecting the distortion that accompanies it. A plurality of stages, 1 through M, exist within the system. Stages 2 through M contain the same components, although filter coefficients and alignment delays may differ from stage to stage. Stage 1 of the demodulator differs slightly from the remaining stages, since the only input required by Stage 1 is a complex envelope signal that contains both the desired signal and the distortion added by the channel. The output of any particular stage of the demodulator consists of complex envelope signals and a real FM estimate. Each output from a stage p serves as input to stage p+1, for 2.ltoreq.p+1<M. The phase modulation estimate can be an output of Stage M.

General reference is made to S. Haykin, Commnunications Systems, (3.sup.rd Ed. New York, John Wiley & Sons, 1994) for a detailed teaching of angle-modulation systems. Angle-demodulation can be either non-coherent or coherent.
Non-coherent Angle-demodulation
Referring to FIG. 1, typically, non-coherent angle-modulation recovery or estimation uses a band-pass filter 101, a phase differentiator 102, and a low-pass filter/integrator 103. Band-pass filter 101 pre-conditions an input signal by passing through the frequency band occupied by the desired signal, s(t), and rejecting all other frequencies. However, since some of the distortion, W(t), occupies the same frequency band as s(t), band-pass filter 101 passes both the desired signal, s(t), and the distortion, N(t). The output of band-pass filter 101 can thus be modeled as EQU X(t)={s(t)}.sub.BPF +N(t),
where {.multidot.}BPF represents the effects of band-pass filter 101 and N(t)={W(t)}.sub.BPF. This filtered IF signal, X(t), is then input to a phase differentiator 102. The output is .phi..sub.1 '(t), as shown.
Among the many ways to carry out this task are (1) zero crossing measurement (which is inversely related to signal frequency) and (2) frequency-to-voltage conversion with envelope detection (often referred to as an FM discriminator). Either measures the rate-of-change of the phase of a signal with respect to time. The signal is processed by a low-pass filter within low-pass filter/integrator 103, whose cut-off frequency is commensurate with the bandwidth of the original message or information signal, m(t). The variable of interest, either .phi.'(t), the low-pass filtered rate-of-change of phase measurement, or its integral, ##EQU1## depends on the type of angle modulation, frequency or phase. For frequency modulation, .phi.(t) is generated at the transmitter source as ##EQU2## in which case the output signal, .phi.'(t).congruent.2.pi..multidot..DELTA..function..multidot.m.sub.FM (t), is proportional to the original message, m.sub.FM (t). Generally, the message signal, m(t)=m.sub.FM (t) or m(t)=m.sub.PM (t), is normalized such that -1.ltoreq.m(t).ltoreq.+1, and the factor .DELTA..function. controls the frequency deviation of s(t). For phase modulation, .phi.(t) is generated at the transmitter source as EQU .phi.(t)=k.sub.p .multidot.m.sub.PM (t),
and the output is .phi.(t).congruent.k.sub.p .multidot.m.sub.PM (t), where k.sub.p is a proportionality scale factor. More sophisticated angle-modulation systems may employ pre-emphasis/de-emphasis filters that operate on the message signal and the estimated message respectively to help offset the adverse effects of noise. However, without loss of generality, these filters can be modeled as incorporated into our message signal and low-pass filter/integrator 103.
To employ analytic signal representation in any practical system, the signal processed must be a band-pass signal. FIG. 2 illustrates an equivalent model of phase differentiator 102. An analytic signal extractor 201 generates an analytic signal, X.sub.+ (t). This signal contains both the imposed modulation and distortion. It can be represented as EQU X.sub.+ (t)=.vertline.A(t).vertline.exp{j.multidot.[2.pi..function..sub.c t+.phi.(t)+.eta.(t)-.theta.]}.
Here .vertline.A(t).vertline. is the envelope of X.sub.+ (t), and .theta. is a constant phase offset. The term .function..sub.c represents the center frequency, which is assumed to be known within a small tuning error. The term .eta.(t) represents a phase angle distortion from the imperfect receive channel. Following analytic signal extractor 201, a frequency translation module 202 multiplies the input, X.sub.+ (t), by the complex exponential EQU z.sub.- (t)=exp{-j.multidot.2.pi..function..sub.c t},
where .function..sub.c is the known constituent of the center frequency. This complex product produces the complex envelope of X(t). By employing analytic signal notation, the input signal becomes, in complex envelope form EQU X(t)=.vertline.a(t).vertline.exp{j.multidot.[2.pi..function..sub.e t+.phi.(t)+.eta.(t)-.theta.]},
where .function..sub.e =.function..sub.c -.function..sub.c is a small error in tuning frequency. Alternatively, X(t) can be represented in rectangular form as EQU X(t)=X.sub.i (t)+jX.sub.q (t),
where X.sub.i (t)=.vertline.A(t).vertline.cos[2.pi..function..sub.e t+.phi.(t)+.eta.(t)-.theta.] is the real and X.sub.q (t)=.vertline.A(t).vertline.sin[2.pi..function..sub.e t+.phi.(t)+.eta.(t)-.theta.] the imaginary component of X(t). The rate-of-change of phase of the complex signal X(t), after processing through a rate-of-change of phase module 203, is ##EQU3## From the above, the rate-of-change of phase of X(t) is EQU .phi..sub.1 '(t)=2.pi..function..sub.e +.phi.'(t)+.eta.'(t) (radians per second).
This estimate contains a bias term, 2.pi..function..sub.e, and an error term, .eta.'(t). It can easily be converted to units of Hertz by scaling with the factor 1/2.pi.. We find that for frequency modulation, with the low-pass filtering process indicated as {.multidot.}.sub.LPF, EQU .phi.'(t)={.phi..sub.1 '(t)}.sub.LPF ={2.pi..function..sub.e +2.pi..DELTA..function..multidot.m.sub.FM (t)+.eta.'(t)}.sub.LPF.
For phase modulation, EQU .phi.(t)={2.pi..function..sub.e t+k.sub.p .multidot.m.sub.PM (t)+.eta.(t)+.theta..sub.c }.sub.LPF,
where .theta..sub.c is a constant phase offset that depends on initial conditions. Note that m.sub.FM (t) and m.sub.PM (t) are related as ##EQU4##
The above summarizes non-coherent angle-demodulation. Each of the many implementations of the method can be modeled as shown. Note that these implementations include non-coherent angle-demodulation techniques that perform, prior to angle-modulation recovery, some type of "hard limiting", or normalization, on the envelope of X(t). This normalization is made evident by the factor 1/(X.sub.i.sup.2 (t)+X.sub.q.sup.2 (t)) employed in the phase differentiation process. The purpose of normalization is to desensitize the phase angle measurement to variations in envelope, thus reducing the phase distortion component, .pi.(t).
The development above exposes the limitations of the non-coherent method of angle-demodulation. This prior-art method does not take advantage of the fact that the message signal, m(t), and therefore the modulated signal, EQU s.sub.+ (t)=.vertline.a(t).vertline.exp{j.multidot.[2.pi..function..sub.c t+.phi.(t)-.theta.]},
can be highly correlated at consecutive instants. (Here, .vertline.a(t).vertline. is a slowly changing or constant envelope present on the transmitted signal.) More specifically, the spectral content of m.sub.FM (t) is essentially limited to some maximum frequency, .function..sub.m Hz. Therefore, when the deviation ratio .beta.=.DELTA..function./.function..sub.m is large (i.e., greater than 10), it is possible to employ adaptive band-pass filtering prior to measuring rate-of-change of phase. By doing so, the bandwidth of the band-pass filter process can be narrowed, thereby rejecting more of the additive distortion, W.sub.+ (t), the analytic constituent of W(t).
An additional related disadvantage of the prior-art, non-coherent method of angle-demodulation arises from the tuning error, .function..sub.e. This tuning offset can lead to an increase in the distortion, .eta.(t), since band-pass filter 101 operates at the estimated center frequency, .function..sub.c. The resulting off-centering of the input signal causes a distortion of the desired signal, so that {s(t)}.sub.BPF .noteq.s(t). In particular, the band-pass filter will have undesired attenuation and phase changes near the band edges that affect adversely the angle-demodulation process.
FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) demonstrate this tuning error. FIG. 3(a) shows correct tuning frequency; FIG. 3(b), tuning error offset. Referring to FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), dashed lines represent a magnitude response 301 of band-pass filter 101. The corners of the dashed lines show the lower and upper cut-off frequencies of band-pass filter 101. Solid lines represent a modulated signal spectrum 302.
Referring to FIG. 3(a), band-pass filter 101 causes little or no distortion, since modulated signal spectrum 302 falls entirely within the pass-band between the cut-off frequencies. Referring to FIG. 3(b), because modulated signal spectrum 302 goes beyond the upper cut-off frequency, magnitude response 301 of band-pass filter 101 distorts modulated signal spectrum 302.
Coherent Angle-demodulation
L. H. Enloe, "Decreasing the Threshold in FM by Frequency Feedback," 50 Proc, IRE 18-30 (January 1962) provides an overview of coherent angle-demodulation and addresses its limitations and disadvantages. The advantage of coherent over non-coherent angle-demodulation methods is that coherent methods utilize the a priori knowledge that a signal has a large modulation index, .beta.. Coherent methods are therefore able to reject more of the additive distortion, W.sub.+ (t), while minimizing the rejection of the desired signal, s.sub.+ (t).
The prior art teaches two specific coherent angle-demodulation methods in particular: phase lock loop (PLL) and FM with feedback (FMFB). There is no consensus which device performs better. J. A. Develet Jr., "Statistical Design and Performance of High-Sensitivity Frequency Feedback Receivers," IEEE Trans. On Military Electronics 281-284 (October 1963), identifies PLL and FMFB devices as "equivalent servo-mechanisms" under reasonable input signal and loop conditions. This discussion therefore presents only the FMFB demodulator.
Referring to FIG. 4, the FMFB demodulator employs low-pass filtering and integration within the device itself. However, further low-pass filtering and integration processes can be performed externally to the FMFB demodulator. Thus the FMFB demodulator replaces phase differentiator 102 of FIG. 1. If the negative of the derivative of the angle of the unit-envelope prediction signal, s.sub.+ *(t), closely follows the derivative of the angle of the modulated constituent of input signal, X.sub.+ (t), then the output of a complex multiplier 400 EQU X.sub.e (t)=X.sub.+ (t).multidot.s.sub.+ *(t)
contains a signal constituent with a reduced modulation index. This message-bearing constituent of the signal, X.sub.e (t), can pass through a band-pass filter 401, which is narrower than band-pass filter 101. For N.sub.+ (t), the analytic constituent of the distortion component, when N.sub.+ (t) and s.sub.+ (t) are not highly correlated and s.sub.+ (t) has sufficient strength, band-pass filter 401 passes less of N.sub.+ (t).
As a practical matter, band-pass filter 401 is a pair of identical real-valued low-pass filters, each operating on the real and imaginary components of X.sub.e (t). Thus the input and output of band-pass filter 401 are complex. Since band-pass filter 401 operates at an IF of 0 Hz, both the input and output are complex envelope signals. As such, a rate of-change of phase module 402 can be implemented as previously described. Passing this result to a low-pass filter/integrator 403 results in the reduced index frequency modulation estimate, .phi..sub.FB '(t). Given that the goal is to reduce as far as possible the modulation index at the output of band-pass filter 401, .phi..sub.FB '(t) can be viewed as an error signal, which should approach some small level. By integrating this "error signal" to obtain .phi..sub.FB (t) and by controlling sensitivity with a feedback gain 404, K, we can maintain a good quality prediction signal, s.sub.+ *(t). A negating angle-modulator 405 simply generates the unit-envelope prediction signal, EQU s.sub.+ *(t)=exp{-j.multidot.[2.pi..function..sub.c t+K.phi..sub.FB (t]},
which reduces the modulation index of s.sub.+ (t). Thus negative feedback is employed through the phase of the prediction signal, s.sub.+ *(t). With proper choice of feedback gain 404, band-pass filter 401, and low-pass filter/integrator 403, the FMFB system remains stable and reliably demodulates the input, X.sub.+ (t).
Though there are limitations to coherent angle-demodulation, both FMFB and PLL demodulators reduce the distortion, .eta.(t), in large .beta. systems. Specifically, these methods reduce the FM threshold effect, where a rapid decrease in output signal-to-noise ratio ("SNR") occurs for small decreases in input SNR. This threshold occurs at or about 10 dB input SNR. Threshold improvements from 3 to 7 dB or more have been reported. Another advantage of the coherent method is that the adverse effects of a tuning error, .function..sub.e, can be mitigated, as coherent angle-demodulation tracks the center frequency, .function..sub.c, thereby providing automatic tuning.
Coherent angle-demodulation has disadvantages. In a system with large .beta., processing with a particular combination of feedback gain 404, band-pass filter 401, and low-pass filter/integrator 403 can reduce the noise substantially. However, such processing can also cause excessive distortion of the original modulation. The coherent angle-demodulator provides no mechanism to compensate for this distortion.
Another disadvantage of the coherent angle-demodulator is that the modulation index is reduced. While a lower modulation index allows band-pass filter 401 to reduce the additive distortion, N(t), there is a commensurate reduction in the strength of the recovered modulation signal. The result is that coherent methods perform essentially the same as non-coherent methods of angle modulation recovery at input SNR values above threshold.
Standard Angle-Demodulation Results
Referring to FIG. 5, simulation results are presented for the FM demodulation of a pulsed carrier with imposed frequency modulation to demonstrate typical angle-demodulation. A discrete-time implementation employed the common rate, F.sub.s, of two samples per second. (This arbitrary but convenient choice of sample rate for simulations leads to a Nyquist bandwidth of 1 Hz.) The results come from a backward-difference FM demodulator with no explicit low-pass post filtering.
This demodulator is described in detail by the present inventor in "Numerical FM Demodulation Enhancements," Rome Laboratory Technical Report RL-TR-96-91, June 1996. The imposed FM modulation was a linearly varying instantaneous frequency, from approximately -0.08 radians, to +0.08 radians. Additive white Gaussian noise ("AWGN") was combined with the pre-pulsed carrier at a SNR of 30 dB. Pulses were 200 samples in duration. A total of 100 pulses were generated, band-pass filtered, demodulated, and the results averaged for comparison to the actual imposed FM modulation.
The band-pass filter was implemented in complex form with a finite-impulse response ("FIR") filter of 129 coefficients resulting from the Hanning windowed method of FIR filter design. A cutoff frequency of 0.25/4 Hz was used.
Referring to FIG. 6, the difference between the measured and actual FM modulation was also determined. The corresponding root-mean-square ("RIMS") error was 0.015182 radians.
The previous discussion demonstrates the drawbacks of the prior art. What is needed is an improved system and method to estimate the angle-modulation imposed on a transmitted RF or IF carrier, especially when communications channels add distortions such as noise to transmitted signals.
All of the references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties for their teachings.

Reconstituted frequency modulation with feedforward demodulator

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force


A wireless device constructs a message that includes a representation of a time-to-disconnect, and then transmits the message over a carrier network to a receiving computing system. The time-to-disconnect indicates a time beyond which the receiving computing system should not send a response to the message (or any other message) using the temporary network address that was assigned to the wireless device at the time the message was transmitted. The wireless device attempts to stay connected to thereby retain that address until the time-to-disconnect expires. When the response is ready to send back, if the time-to-disconnect has not yet expired, the response is sent to the wireless device using the same network address that the wireless device had at the time the original message was sent. Otherwise, if the time-to-disconnect is exceeded, then the receiving computing system does not attempt transmission of the response using that network address.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to mobile communications technology, and more specifically, to mechanisms for enforcing a time-to-disconnect when sending messages to a wireless device that has a transient network address.
2. Background and Related Art
Computing technology has revolutionized the way people work and play and has contributed enormously to the advancement of humankind. Computers now aid in innumerable applications such as word processing, computer simulations, advanced gaming, voice recognition, among many more. Computing systems now come in a wide-variety of forms including, for example, desktop computers, laptop computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and even mobile telephones and devices.
Some mobile wireless devices such as Personal Digital Assistants and wireless telephones have sophisticated memory and general processing capability that allow the mobile device to perform many tasks previously only performed by larger desktop computers. These tasks may even include tasks that require communication over data networks thereby allowing users to access the Internet and perform e-mail tasks even while they are mobile.
Generally speaking, there are two major transport level protocols that are used with the IP protocol. One is called Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). IP protocol deals only with the delivery of packets, whereas TCP enables two computing systems to establish a connection and reliably exchange data. TCP guarantees that the data will be delivered in the same order in which it was sent. The other major transport level protocol is User Datagram Protocol (UDP), which does not establish a connection between a sending and receiving computing system. Also, UDP provides very little error control. Since UDP does not involve an established connection between the two communicating computing systems, UDP is often referred to as a "connectionless protocol". Other connectionless protocols include, for example, Ethernet and IPX.
Regardless of the particular protocol used, a mobile wireless device may often need to have its address changed. For example, when communicating over an IP-based wireless carrier network, a wireless device may disconnect from the wireless network thereby forcing a disassociation of the IP address that identified the wireless device while connected. Furthermore, even while connected to the carrier network, the wireless device may move from one Public Switched Data Network (PSDN) to another thereby forcing a reassignment of the IP address associated with the wireless device.
Accordingly, if the wireless device were to send a message over the wireless carrier network to the receiving computing system, there is some possibility that by the time a response to the message is returned, the assignment of the network address to the wireless device may have been revoked thereby resulting in non-delivery of the response. Worse yet, the old network address may have been assigned to another wireless device resulting in the wrong wireless device being delivered the response.
Accordingly, what would be desirable are mechanisms for more reliably communicating in a wireless environment in which network addresses are only transiently assigned to wireless devices.

Time-to-disconnect enforcement when communicating with wireless devices that have transient network addresses


A novel xylanase, obtained from Bacillus subtilis strains, is provided which improves the consistency and increases the volume of bread and baked goods containing it. B. subtilis DSM 7147 containing the plasmid pIK 91 produces the xylanase. Genetic engineering insertion of the gene encoding the xylanase in the plasmid pUB110 is described.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention provides a new bacterial xylanase, a method for its production as well as a bacteria strain suitable for producing it. The invention also provides a plasmid containing a gene encoding the bacterial xylanase. The invention also provides a baking agent and a method for producing bread and baked goods using the new xylanase, wherein the xylanase increases the volume and improves the consistency of the dough.
2. Background of the Invention
In the production of yeast raised bread and baked goods, particularly in the production of white bread and rolls, it is desirable to obtain a high baking volume in the baked product. The baking volume depends on a number of factors, most of which are dependent on the properties of the flour used to form the dough. However, even when the best types of flour are used, it is still desirable to increase the baking volume. Accordingly, baking additives which increase the baking volume of bread and baked goods are desirable. Besides increasing the baking volume of baked goods made with high quality flour, it is also desirable to increase the baking volume of baked goods made with inferior types of flour.
Previous baking additives which have been found to increase the baking volume of baked goods include emulsifiers, oxidizers, reduction agents, yeast activators, enzymes such as amylases, proteases and pentosanases, pH stabilizers, mucins and fats.
For example, Kosmina ("Biochemie der Brotherstellung" [Biochemistry of Bread Production], Leipzig 1975, p. 324) disclose that although the presence of so-called "residual fractions", also referred to as mucins or tailings, in wheat flour increases the water absorption capacity of dough made from it, they also reduce the baking volume and worsen the porosity of the bread. These disadvantages can be eliminated by pretreating the "residual fractions" with a cellulase preparation made from Trichoderma viride ("MEICELASE", commercially available from Meiji).
The baking volume of dough can also be increased by adding enzymes, particularly amylases and/or proteases, to the dough, particularly when the flour used to form the dough has too low an enzyme content of its own. Unfortunately, this increases the baking volume of the dough only slightly. The incorporation of baking emulsifiers, in addition to these enzymes, results in a slight volume increase. Other additives, such as yeast activators, oxidizers and reduction agents, further increase the volume.
G. Reed ("Enzymes in Food Processing," Academic Press: New York & London, 1966, p. 253) disclose that the presence of insoluble pentosanes in flour reduces the baking volume of baked goods. To improve the baking volume, pentosanases, which reduce pentosan, were added to the bread dough. Unfortunately, the effects observed were only slight, and could not be reproduced consistently.
Rotsch ("Brot und Geback" [Bread and Pastry], 1966, p. 91) found that the effect of adding pentosanases to the bread dough could not be augmented by simultaneously adding baking emulsifiers. Thus, the effect is not additive when emulsifiers and pentosanases are used simultaneously.
Pentosanases have also been suggested as preservatives for baked goods. Cooke and Johnson (DT-AS 1,767,119) demonstrated that pentosanases were better preservatives than baking emulsifiers.
Pentosanases have also been added to rye flours which have a high pentosane-starch ratio. When this ratio is too high, the dough made with such flours has too high a viscosity, due to subsequent swelling of the rye pentosanes, and results in a baked product where the center is torn away from the crust. By adding pentosanases, the pentosanes can be reduced and the dough viscosity can be lowered accordingly. Consequently, the center does not tear away from the crust when the dough is baked.
When pentosanases are added to processed flours which have a balanced pentosane-starch ratio, the viscosity of the dough is reduced to such a degree that flat bread is formed. The addition of pentosanases is therefore advantageous only in exceptional cases, whereas it is disadvantageous in the majority of cases.
DE-A 40 17 150 describes the production of xylanase, a pentosanases, in cultures of fungus and bacteria containing beta-methyl xyloside. The properties of the xylanases formed are greatly dependent on the microorganism from which they are produced.
Baking additives according to this description are supplied under the brand name "OLYMPIAL" by Boehringer Ingelheim Backmittel GmbH, Bingen, Germany, under the brand name "ORKAN" by Ratjen-Backmittel, Flintbek, Germany, or under the brand name "S 500" by Puratos S. A., Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium. To date, nothing has been published about the characteristics of this enzyme mixture and how it is obtained. Along with the amylase activity, a xylanase activity can also be detected in the enzyme mixture. The scope of properties of this enzyme is consistent with those of fungal xylanases which belong to the enzyme group of pentosanases. However, the effect on the baking volume of baked goods produced by the enzyme mixture is far superior to that produced by known xylanases which all originated from fungi.
Although various other baking enzymes are availiable which degrade cellulose, their effect remains far behind that of the xylanase mentioned above.

Bacterial xylanase, method for its production, bacteria producing a xylanase, DNA fragment encoding a xylanase, plasmid containing the DNA fragment, baking agents containing a xylanase, and method for producing bread and baked goods using the xylanase


A composite moving apparatus made substantially of composites may include a plurality of longitudinal conductive electrical pathways extending along a substantial length of the composite moving apparatus, and a plurality of lateral conductive electrical pathways extending along a substantial lateral width of the composite moving apparatus. The longitudinal and lateral conductive electrical pathways may be connected in order to provide redundant electrical pathways extending along a substantial portion of the composite moving apparatus. The redundant electrical pathways may carry return current, carry fault current, provide grounding, carry lightning current, provide electromagnetic shielding, minimize resistance and voltage differential, and/or provide a bleed path for electrostatic charge.

Many moving apparatus, such as aircraft, spacecraft, ships, satellites, vehicles, and other types of moving apparatus, are made of metal and utilize their metal panels and structures in order to provide conductive electrical pathways for the return of normal direct current and alternating operating current, carrying fault currents, providing grounding, earning lightning current, providing electromagnetic shielding, minimizing resistance and voltage differentials, and/or for providing bleed paths for electrostatic charge. However, the use of metal structures and metal panels in moving apparatus increases cost and weight. Alternatively, discrete wiring has been used to serve one or more of these functions. However, the wiring may not provide redundancies required to accommodate for faults in the system, and/or may not be adapted to handle all of these functions. Modem moving apparatus may be made of composites in order to reduce weight, save cost, increase strength, and/or provide other benefits. In these composite modern moving apparatus, conductive electrical pathways are needed which do not rely on metal panels and structures, which are redundant to accommodate for faults in the system, and which are adapted to handle all of the above listed functions.
An apparatus and/or method is needed to decrease one or more problems associated with one or more of the existing apparatus and/or methods.


An automotive electric machine provided with: a stator; a rotor, which is rotationally mounted coaxially to the stator and inside the stator to rotate about a rotation axis; a shaft, which is rotationally mounted about the rotation axis, supports the rotor, and is hollow inside so as to have a longitudinal, central cooling channel filled with a cooling fluid; at least one pushing element, which is arranged inside the cooling channel, is integral with the shaft to rotate with the shaft itself about the rotation axis, and is helical-shaped to define at least one worm which extends within the cooling channel along the rotation axis to push the cooling fluid along the rotation axis due to its rotation.

Vehicles traditionally only have heat-engine traction, in which the driving torque is supplied only by a thermal internal combustion engine. In order to reduce polluting emissions and to reduce consumption, hybrid traction is becoming increasingly more popular, in which the driving torque is supplied by a thermal internal combustion engine and/or by an electric machine working as a motor. According to the type of motion of the vehicle and to the residual electric charge existing in the vehicle batteries, either only the thermal internal combustion engine or only the electric machine is used, or both are used in order to optimize fuel consumption and/or minimize polluting emissions. The electric machine may run as a motor, absorbing electricity and generating a mechanical driving torque, or as a generator, absorbing mechanical energy and generating electricity.
A problem which applies to automotive electric machines relates to the disposal of the heat produced by dissipation by the electric machine itself. In particular, while ensuring adequate cooling of the stator of the electric machine is relatively simple, ensuring adequate cooling of the rotor of the electric machine is not as straightforward. In other words, the heat produced in the stator may be easily evacuated by cooling it (e.g. with air or by means of a hydraulic circuit) because there are no problems of reachability, as it is static and arranged outside; on the contrary, in order to be evacuated, the heat produced in the rotor requires a more complex system due to the rotation of the rotor itself, which makes it more difficult to be reached, combined with the arrangement of the rotor inside the stator.
As described in patent applications JP2007228669A and US20050156471A1, for example, in order to cool the rotor of an electric machine, it has been suggested to provide a hollow shaft of the electric machine, i.e. provided with a longitudinal cooling channel; the first end of the cooling channel obtained within the shaft is connected to the delivery of a cooling circuit provided with a circulation pump and the second end, opposite to the first end, is connected to a cooling circuit inlet so that, in use, a stream of cooling fluid circulates through the cooling channel. However, such a solution is particularly complex and potentially not very reliable, because a passage for the cooling fluid needs to extend from a fixed part (the cooling circuit) to a movable part (the electric machine shaft) and vice versa. The passage of a cooling fluid from a fixed part to a movable part is particularly complex (and thus costly) to be made and always potentially exposed to the risk of leakage of cooling fluid.
In patent applications GB1283332A and US20060066156A1 it has been suggested to keep the longitudinal cooling channel of the electric machine shaft isolated and filled with cooling fluid; two heat exchangers are provided at the two ends of the shaft, which serve the function of removing heat from the shaft itself. In this case, the function of the cooling fluid present inside the cooling channel is to take the heat produced inside the rotor towards the ends of the shaft, where the heat is given to the heat exchangers. This solution has the considerable advantage of not needing a passage for cooling fluid that extends between a fixed part and a movable part, but on the other hand has a rather modest efficiency because the amount of heat carried by the cooling fluid present inside the cooling channel towards the ends of the shaft is relatively modest.
Patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,191,511B1 describes an asynchronous, liquid-cooled electric machine, which comprises a closed, liquid-cooling circuit which passes in sequence through the stator and the rotor shaft; a pump is incorporated in the rotor shaft and the cooling liquid is fed to the pump, by means of a static tube arranged axially inside the rotor shaft, and returns towards the stator passing between the rotor shaft and the static tube. The pump comprises a centrifugal pumping member, integral with a closed end of the rotor shaft, and longitudinal blades which are integral with the rotor shaft and are helical-shaped.


One or more electron sources are utilized to inject electrons into an ion beam being transported between the polepieces of a magnet. In some embodiments, the electron sources are located in cavities in one or both polepieces of the magnet. In other embodiments, a radio frequency or microwave plasma flood gun is located in a cavity in at least one of the polepieces or between the polepieces.

Ion implantation systems usually include an ion source for converting a dopant material into a well-defined ion beam. The ion beam is mass analyzed to eliminate undesired ion species, is accelerated to a desired energy and is directed onto a target plane. The beam may be distributed over the target, typically a semiconductor wafer, by beam scanning, by target movement or by a combination of beam scanning and target movement. A number of different ion implanter architectures are known to those skilled in the art.
The ion implanter typically includes one or more magnets, depending on the beam transport architecture. The magnets perform functions such as mass analysis to remove undesired species from the ion beam and angle correction, or collimation, of the ion beam. Such magnets typically include polepieces on opposite sides of a flight tube through which the ion beam is transported. The magnet produces a magnetic field which deflects charged particles in the ion beam in a desired manner. Examples of ion implanter architectures utilizing magnets are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,106, issued May 1, 1990 to Berrian et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,926, issued Sep. 27, 1994 to White et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,313,475, issued Nov. 6, 2001 to Renau et al.
Current semiconductor fabrication processes often require high-current, low-energy ion beams. High currents are required to limit implant time, while low energies are required to produce shallow junction semiconductor devices. Low-energy, high-current ion beams are very difficult to transport over large distances due to space charge blowup of the beam. It is known that space charge neutralization of an ion beam containing electrons is necessary for transport of low-energy, high-current ion beams. Electrons can be produced by both beam/surface and beam/gas collisions. However, at low ion beam energies, the cross-section for beam/gas collisions drops off dramatically, so that this method is unsatisfactory. In regions of magnetic field, the electrons that are produced by collisions are inhibited from moving to electron-deficient regions. Therefore, neutralization in regions of high magnetic field is particularly difficult. Techniques for beam containment in magnets are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,414,329, issued Jul. 2, 2002 to Benveniste et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,762,423, issued Jul. 13, 2004 to Liebert et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,515,408, issued Feb. 4, 2003 to England et al.
Prior art techniques have had one or more drawbacks, including but not limited to a relatively short lifetime and contamination of the semiconductor wafer. In those configurations that utilize filaments located between the polepieces of a magnet, the space occupied by the filaments reduces the space available for transport of the ion beam. Accordingly, there is a need for improved methods and apparatus for electron injection in magnets.

Electron injection in ion implanter magnets

Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.


A socket switch for a light bulb comprises a shell, a main body, a grounding unit, a switch unit, an electric conduction unit, wherein a holding chamber is formed inside the shell. The shell has two coupling holes formed thereon. The grounding unit, the switch unit, and the electric conduction unit are connected a surface of the main body, and this surface of the main body is screwed onto the shell via the coupling holes and located inside the holding chamber. The switch unit is designed for electrically connecting an electrode of a power supply, which is connected to the electric conduction unit, with an electrode of the light bulb for lighting up this light bulb. As a result, the purpose of saving energy can be achieved by controlling electric conduction between the power supply and the light bulb.

The socket for a light bulb is designed for electric conduction between the light bulb and an electric wire of a power supply, wherein the electric conduction between several light bulbs and several sockets are controlled by a power switch. All of the light bulbs are lighted up simultaneously even if only one or some of the light bulbs need to be light up for putting emphatic lighting on key exhibitions. As a result, it is troublesome for the user to adjust the lighting status of one or some of the light bulbs instantaneously.
The conventional socket has the following drawbacks, wherein: 1. the socket cannot save energy and protect environment since it cannot switch on or off some of the light bulbs in accordance with the need of the user; and 2. the attention of the user is dispersed and the purpose of putting emphatic lighting on key exhibitions cannot be achieved since these light bulbs are lighted up simultaneously.


Provided is a wireless power transmission system to increase efficiency in wireless power transmission. A wireless power transmitter may include: one or more capacitors; a power inputting unit configured to receive power from a power supply and to charge the one or more capacitors; a transmitting unit configured to transmit resonance power; and a switching unit configured to control electrical connection of the one or more capacitors to the power inputting unit and to the transmitting unit. A wireless power receiver is also described.

1. Field
The following description relates to wireless power transmission.
2. Description of Related Art
As use of portable electric devices have increased, so has the inconvenience of having a wired power supply. To overcome the inconvenience of having a wired power supply and the limited capacity of conventional batteries, research on short-distance wireless power transmission has been conducted. Short-distance wireless power transmission may generate a magnetic field using a transmission coil in a given operating frequency, and may transmit the energy stored in the generated magnetic field by generating an induction current in a reception coil. Wireless power transmission schemes may use a characteristic of resonance of radio frequency (RF) devices. One wireless power transmission system based on the characteristic of resonance may include a source that supplies power and a target that receives power.

Apparatus for wireless power transmission and reception


To provide a sliding construction for a sunroof which is capable of absorbing dimensional errors between a guide rail and a slider, preventing a panel from vertically and transversely vibrating, and allowing the panel to slide with a decreased sliding resistance, while avoiding any disadvantages, such as deformation even under a load, according to preferred embodiments, a sliding construction for a sunroof of the type having an opening formed in a fixed vehicle roof which is opened and closed by a cover panel which is supported on a guide rail having a longitudinally extending guide groove by at least one slider that is slidably disposed in the guide groove has the slider transversely movably fitted over a slider mounting portion of the cover panel. At least one of the slider and the guide groove have a sliding face with an inclined surface which slopes toward a vertical center of the guide groove in a direction into the guide groove, and at least one elastic member elastically presses the slider into the guide groove, such that opposing sliding faces come into contact with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sliding construction for a sunroof which slidably supports a panel which is movable to open and close an opening in a fixed vehicle roof.
2. Description of Related Art
Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication HEI 5-11690 discloses a prior art construction of the initially mentioned type in which a vehicle roof defines an opening that is opened and closed with a panel that is supported on its lateral sides on a guide rail having a longitudinally extending guide groove via a slider which is slidably disposed in the guide groove. The slider is transversely movably fitted over a slider mounting portion of the panel, and an elastic pressure means is provided for elastically pressing the slider deeper into the groove. The slider has a face with an uneven surface that slides on a sliding face of the guide groove of the guide rail, with that the uneven surface pressed against the sliding face of the guide groove.
Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. HEI 3-6496 discloses another prior art construction in which a slider is formed with an elastic piece having a substantially triangular tip secured to the slider mounting portion of the panel. The elastic piece is pressed into a substantially triangular guide groove of the guide rail.
With the first mentioned prior art construction, the uneven surface forming the sliding face of the slider is pressed against the corresponding sliding face of the guide groove of the guide rail, so that vertical jolting is unlikely in an unloaded condition. Further, since the slider is in contact with a surface of the guide rail situated deep within the guide groove, the panel is well positioned in the transverse direction. When a load, such as a torsional load, is imposed, however, it is difficult to prevent a back and forth shaking of the panel. In addition, the slider has a sliding face extending lengthwise in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction, thereby producing an increased sliding resistance.
With the second mentioned construction, the elastic piece having a triangular tip pressed into the triangular groove of the guide rail can prevent even slight vertical and longitudinal jolting. However, since the elastic piece is secured to the slider mounting portion of the panel and is pressed against the groove, a large sliding resistance is imposed created thereby, so that positional setting of the elastic piece is difficult and difficulties are encountered in transversely positioning the panel. If manufacturing errors in the transverse direction of the groove cause the elastic piece to shift transversely, vertical and longitudinal shaking occurs. In addition, the shock absorbing function of the contact between the elastic piece and the inclined surface of the groove becomes less effective.


An image receiving apparatus for transmitting data to and receiving data from a removable PVR device, and a data transmission and reception method thereof are disclosed. The image receiving apparatus includes an interface which transmits AV data and data corresponding to user commands to an external recording device, and a controller which inserts the data corresponding to the user commands into a stream containing the AV data and transmits the stream to the external recording device through the interface. Therefore, the general-purpose communication lines and data lines may be simplified so that the AV data can be easily stored and reproduced in a removable (hard disk drive) HDD.

1. Field of the Invention
Devices and methods consistent with the present invention relate to an image receiving apparatus for transmitting data to and receiving data from a removable personal video recorder (PVR) device, and a data transmission and reception method thereof, and more particularly, to an image receiving apparatus for transmitting and receiving data using a transport stream (TS) data structure when recording and reproducing audio/video (AV) data in a removable PVR device connected to the image receiving apparatus through a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) cable, and a data transmission and reception method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
As digital broadcasting has advanced, display apparatuses for displaying high-definition images and PVR devices with video recording capability have continually developed. PVR devices record and reproduce broadcast signals on high capacity hard disks. More specifically, PVR devices can record moving pictures without videotapes. Also, PVR devices can record moving pictures with a high definition that is five times more detailed than analog broadcasts.
Accordingly, using PVR devices it is possible to store digital broadcast programs, reproduce them with the quality of live broadcast programs without reproducing apparatuses, such as video cassette recorders (VCRs), and record many programs at the same time. Additionally, PVR devices can perform convenient functions such as high-speed reproduction, editing, repeat reproduction or the like, because the broadcast program is reproduced by a file reproducing method. A program viewing schedule may be adjusted according to individual preference using the PVR device, so that it is possible for a user to watch desired programs with the quality of live broadcast programs no matter when the user is watching them.
An image receiving apparatus for receiving broadcast signals and various image signals may include the PVR device that supplies the PVR functions and is provided inside the image receiving apparatus or outside the image receiving apparatus.
In a related art image receiving apparatus that uses a PVR device disposed on the outside thereof, data of the Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) standard (40 pin) is transmitted. However, if the length of a cable connecting the removable PVR device to the image receiving apparatus is increased, there is no impedance matching and, therefore, errors may be occur when receiving and transmitting data.
Additionally, in order to transmit data between the related art image receiving apparatus and the removable PVR device, the conventional image receiving apparatus and the removable PVR device need to be connected through a data line following ATA standards for transmitting the AV data, and a communication line providing an RS-232 interface for transmitting commands, such as recording, reproducing, or the like. Furthermore, when the AV data stored in the removable PVR device is transmitted to the image receiving apparatus, the related art image receiving apparatus and the removable PVR device need to be further connected through a data line providing a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) for transmitting the read AV data. Therefore, it is necessary to include three physical cables providing various interfaces for communicating between the image receiving apparatus and the removable PVR device.

Image receiving apparatus for transmitting data to and receiving data from removable PVR device and data transmission and reception method thereof


The present disclosure is directed to a method of manufacturing a rotor blade component of a wind turbine is disclosed. The method includes placing at least one first pultruded member into a curved rotor blade component mold. More specifically, the first pultruded member includes at least one design characteristic configured to allow the first pultruded member to sit substantially flush against an inner surface of the curved rotor blade component mold. The method also includes placing at least one second pultruded member atop the at least one first pultruded member and infusing the first and second pultruded members together to form the rotor blade component.

Wind power is considered one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly energy sources presently available, and wind turbines have gained increased attention in this regard. A modern wind turbine typically includes a tower, generator, gearbox, nacelle, and one or more rotor blades. The rotor blades capture kinetic energy from wind using known foil principles and transmit the kinetic energy through rotational energy to turn a shaft coupling the rotor blades to a gearbox, or if a gearbox is not used, directly to the generator. The generator then converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy that may be deployed to a utility grid.
Wind turbine rotor blades generally include a body shell formed by two shell halves of a composite laminate material. The shell halves are generally manufactured using molding processes and then coupled together along the corresponding edges of the rotor blade. In general, the body shell is relatively lightweight and has structural properties (e.g., stiffness, buckling resistance and strength) which are not configured to withstand the bending moments and other loads exerted on the rotor blade during operation. In addition, wind turbine blades are becoming increasingly longer in order to produce more power. As a result, the blades must be stiffer and thus heavier so as to mitigate loads on the rotor.
To increase the stiffness, buckling resistance and strength of the rotor blade, the body shell is typically reinforced using one or more structural components (e.g. opposing spar caps with a shear web configured therebetween) that engage the inner surfaces of the shell halves. The spar caps may be constructed of various materials, including but not limited to glass fiber laminate composites and/or carbon fiber laminate composites. Such materials, however, can be difficult to control, defect prone, and/or highly labor intensive due to handling of the dry fabrics and the challenges of infusing large laminated structures.
As such, modern spar caps may be constructed of pre-fabricated, pre-cured (e.g. pultruded) composites that can be produced in thicker sections, and are typically less susceptible to defects. As used herein, the terms "pultruded composites," "pultrusions," "pultruded members" or similar generally encompass reinforced materials (e.g. fibers or woven or braided strands) that are impregnated with a resin and pulled through a heated stationary die such that the resin cures or undergoes polymerization. As such, the process of manufacturing pultruded composites is typically characterized by a continuous process of composite materials that produces composite parts having a constant cross-section. Accordingly, the pultruded composites can eliminate various concerns and challenges associated with using dry fabric alone.
Most pultrusions are have a flat cross-section (e.g. are square or rectangular) because such shapes are easy to cut and bevel. Though the use of flat pultrusions can offer a significant improvement in cost and producability of rotor blade components, such pultrusions do not typically lay into curved molds without gaps between the pultrusions and the mold shape. Conformance to the mold can be achieved to a certain degree by breaking the pultrusions into thinner strips; however, this increases the cost of the pultrusion material, the cost of machining the pultrusions, and/or the difficulty of placing the pieces into the mold.
Accordingly, the art is continuously seeking new and improved methods of manufacturing rotor blade components, such as spar caps, using pultrusions. More specifically, methods of manufacturing rotor blade components using pultruded members having a special shape corresponding to the component mold would be advantageous.

Methods of manufacturing rotor blade components for a wind turbine


The compounds of formula (I), or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or any stereoisomer or mixture thereof, wherein: R1 is a (C1-C2) alkyl radical; R2 and R3 are radicals independently selected from the group consisting of F, CI and methyl R4 is H or OH; A is a birradical selected from the group consisting of —(CH2)n— and —(CH2)-phenyl-(CH2)—; t is an integer from 0 to 1; and n is an integer from 8 to 15, are useful for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a slow, progressive, and ultimately fatal neurodegenerative disorder, clinically characterized by a noticeable cognitive decline defined by a loss of memory and learning ability, together with a reduced ability to perform basic activities of daily living, and a diverse array of neuropsychiatric symptoms. It mainly affects older people. After 65, the likelihood of developing AD doubles every 5 years. Some 35 million people worldwide, i.e. about 0.5% of the world's total population, are suffering dementia, in most cases AD. AD is among the top ten leading causes of death in developed countries, but the only one among them that cannot be cured, prevented or even slowed down. As a consequence of its increasing prevalence and devastating effects, AD is currently affecting every health system in the world. The total worldwide estimated cost associated with AD accounts for approximately 1% of the world's gross domestic product. Worryingly, the figures associated to AD are rising both in terms of mortality and prevalence. Thus, death rates from other major diseases have dropped since 2000, whereas the number of deaths from AD has risen 66%. Also, it is estimated that the prevalence of AD will double every 20 years, reaching 66 million people worldwide by 2030 and 115 million by 2050. Consequently, there is an acute need for effective pharmacotherapies of AD.
Therapeutic interventions currently available for AD, namely the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine and the glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist memantine, are merely symptomatic. These drugs compensate for neurotransmitter deficits that arise at the end of the neurotoxic cascade of AD as a consequence of the neuronal death and are responsible for the cognitive decline of AD patients. In contrast, most drug candidates under clinical development have been designed to hit one of the biological targets involved in the early pathogenic events of the neurotoxic cascade of AD that are responsible for the neuronal death, mainly the formation of the beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ), which involves the proteolysis of the amyloid precursor protein by the sequential action of the enzymes β-secretase (BACE-1) and γ-secretase, and the subsequent aggregation of Aβ into toxic oligomers and fibrils. Disappointingly, the most advanced drug candidates in clinical trials hitting these biological targets have failed in the past years. The clinical development of the Aβ-antiaggregating compound tramiprosate and the γ-secretase modulator tarenflurbil, whose launching was expected by 2009/2010, was discontinued in advanced Phase III trials shortly before these dates due to efficacy issues. Analogously, clinical development of the promising BACE-1 inhibitor LY2811376 was discontinued in Phase I trials in 2011 due to toxicity findings observed in parallel longer-term preclinical studies in mice that are unrelated to BACE-1 inhibition.
Even though BACE-1, γ-secretase and Aβ aggregation, as well as tau aggregation or hyperphosphorylation or oxidative stress, among others, remain viable targets, it seems that they should be hit in a different approach. It is becoming increasingly apparent that diseases, in general, and complex diseases as AD, in particular, are not linear processes but rather complex networks of interconnected protein targets, with alternative, redundant, compensatory signaling pathways that render ineffective the modulation of a single target of the pathological network by compounds as those anti-Alzheimer drug candidates that are recently failing in clinical trials. Conversely, simultaneous modulation of several targets involved in the pathological network should result in a more efficient therapeutic approach. Thus, simultaneous blockade of several important nodes of the pathological network of AD is emerging as a therapeutic approach for efficiently interfering the underlying mechanisms of the disease.
The multitarget approach to AD can be accomplished by means of single compounds that are structurally suited to hit different biological targets.
In vitro inhibitory activities of AChE and AChE-induced Aβ aggregation have been reported for different families of dual binding site AChEIs. The catalytic site of AChE is involved in the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, whereas the peripheral site is involved in a binding process with Aβ that accelerates the aggregation of this peptide. Thus, simultaneous blockade of the catalytic and peripheral sites of AChE by dual binding site AChE inhibitors (AChEIs) results in the simultaneous modulation of two important targets of AD pathology, namely Aβ aggregation and the cholinergic deficit. Among the compounds disclosed having in vitro inhibitory activities of AChE and AChE-induced Aβ aggregation are memoquin (cf. e.g. A. Cavalli et al., "A Small Molecule Targeting the Multifunctional Nature of Alzheimer's Disease"Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, vol. 46, pp. 3689-3692) or some hybrid compounds having the 5,6-dimethoxy-2-[(4-piperidinyl)methyl)]-1-indanone moiety of donepezil (or the indane derivative thereof) and a unit of tacrine or huprine as the peripheral to mid-gorge and active site interacting moieties (cf. WO2007122274 or WO2011076969, respectively). There is only one example of dual binding site AChEI in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease, namely Noscira's NP-61, which entered phase I clinical trials in 2007. For this compound a potent AChE inhibitory activity and Aβ-antiaggregating effect have been reported.
Therefore, despite all the research efforts invested in the past, there is still an important need to find compounds for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease which could modify the course of AD, stopping or slowing down the disease progression.

Beta-amyloid-directed multitarget compounds for the treatment of alzheimer's disease

PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA DE CHILE


A method for making an ultra-thin dielectric printed circuit board (PCB) is provided. A first side of a first conductive layer is removably coupled to a disposable base. A first ultra-thin dielectric layer and a second conductive layer are laminated to a second side of the first conductive layer, where the first ultra-thin dielectric layer is positioned between the first and second conductive layers, and the first ultra-thin dielectric layer is thinner than at least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. The second conductive layer may then be patterned to form electrical paths. The patterned second conductive layer is then filled with a dielectric filler. One or more conductive layers and one or more ultra-thin dielectric layers may then be coupled to the second conductive layer. The disposable base may then be detached from the first conductive layer.

Consumers are increasingly demanding both faster, smaller, and lighter electronic products. The use of PCBs has grown enormously as new electronic applications are marketed. A PCB is formed by laminating a plurality of conducting layers with one or more non-conducting layers. While the size and/or thickness of a PCB may shrink, it may still need to provide electrical interconnections and integrate electrical characteristics (e.g., capacitive layers) to help support operations of ever complex and higher frequency circuits.
Thin dielectric printed circuit board (PCB) processes were developed as an advanced build up PCB process to achieve thin dielectric layer PCB compared to traditional laminate and dielectric prepreg formation structure. For instance, U.S. Publication No. 20140027156 (Kim et al) discloses a prior art method for manufacturing a thin dielectric multilayer printed circuit board in which a carrier substrate is used to form layers of the thin dielectric printed circuit board which, after removal from the carrier substrate, are then stacked/laminated together. The dielectric layers are unhardened film (or uncured prepreg) that form the insulating layers. This approach makes it difficult to form electrical patterns on conductive layers prior to laminating, which may cause reliability problems and is also an obstacle in creating very thin PCBs.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,181,342 (Chiang et al) also discloses a method for forming a thin dielectric multilayer printed circuit board by building up a structure of dielectric layers and conductive layers on a carrier and then separating the built-up structure from the carrier. However, this approach does not provide a way for making the resulting built-up structure thinner than in the prior art.
Therefore, a method is needed to form thin dielectric layer printed circuit board structures.

Methods of manufacturing ultra thin dielectric printed circuit boards with thin laminates


Described herein is a system and method for detecting correlated changes (e.g., between code files and configuration files). For a plurality of code files and a plurality of configuration files, a correlated change model is trained to identify correlated changes across the code files and the configuration files using a machine learning algorithm that discovers change rules using a support parameter, and, a confidence parameter, and, a refinement algorithm that refines the discovered change rules. The correlated change model comprising the change rules is stored. The correlated change model can be used to identify potential issue(s) regarding a particular file (e.g., changed code or configuration file(s)). Information regarding the identified potential issue(s) can be provided to a user.

Large services experience extremely frequent changes to code and/or configuration. In many cases, these changes are correlated across files. For example, a developer changes a code file to introduce a new feature in the service following which, the developer also changes a configuration file to enable the feature only on a small number of experimental machines. This example captures only one of numerous types of correlations that emerge organically in source-code and configurations of large services. Unfortunately, in almost all such cases, no documentation and/or specification guides engineers on how to make correlated changes and the engineers often miss these correlations. Such misses can be vastly disruptive to the service.

Detecting misconfiguration and/or bug(s) in large service(s) using correlated change analysis


A system, method and program product for copying data between disjoint data processing applications. A system is disclosed that includes: a source application having a system for selecting a data record and a triggering agent that extracts relevant data from the selected data record, launches a dialog box and displays the extracted relevant data in the dialog box; and a data transfer system having a keystroke simulator for copying and pasting data from the dialog box to an interface window in a target application based on a set of data transfer rules.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to sharing data among data processing applications, and more specifically relates to a system and method for transferring data from a source database application to a target database application.
2. Related Art
In large enterprise based organizations, the same information often needs to captured in multiple data processing applications. For example, employees may need to enter and track their time in both a time and billing application and a project management application. In many situations, the different applications are disjoint in that no backend programming interface can be implemented to automatically update the data in one system with data in the other.
In these situations, users are forced to manually enter the same data into both systems. Not only is this process tedious for the user, it is also an inefficient use of the user's time and is prone to errors. Accordingly, a need exists for an automated system that can automate manual transactions, such as transferring data, between disjoint systems.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for automating manual transactions between disjoint systems

International Business Machines Corporation


A foldable crate includes a base having a front end and a rear end and a pair of end gates, wherein an end gate is rotatably attached to each end of the base. Each end gate includes a cap attached adjacent to one end of each post of the end gate and a knob is attached adjacent to the opposing end of each post. A skid shoe is attached to the bottom of each corner of the base, wherein each skid shoe includes a socket for receiving the knob or cap of the corresponding end gate of an adjacent foldable crate when a plurality of foldable crates are stacked.

Shipping crates, especially those used to transport riding vehicles such as riding lawn mowers, four-wheel all-terrain vehicles, and the like are often made of wood. These wood crates can either be disposable (one-use) or returnable (multi-use). Wood shipping crates tend to wear down or deteriorate quickly due to natural environmental degradation from water damage, mold, and repeated loading and unloading of heavy vehicles. When wood shipping crates end their end-of-life, customer complaints increase. The wood can also create potential rusting issues with the metal on the lawn maintenance vehicle that touches the wood. The production of the wood crates themselves depends upon the availability of hardwood used for the crates, which can vary.
The metal shipping crates used to transport riding vehicles are often bulky, heavy, and require extensive time and effort by the customer to disassemble the metal crate in order to remove the vehicle. The same time and effort is also required at the manufacturing facility necessary for packaging a riding vehicle. The metal crates are also often formed of tubular steel, which increases the overall weight as well as making it difficult to provide for access points for forks of a fork lift.

Foldable crate for a lawn maintenance vehicle


A storage tank orifice flexible center mount sealing device comprising a first annular member being substantially flexible having a annular channel, a central orifice and a mating surface, wherein the mating surface is operably configured to be disposed against a wall of a container; and, a second annular member being substantially rigid having a central orifice, wherein the second annular member is disposed in the annular channel and the members are coaxially aligned. The sealing device further comprises a sealing boot disposed on the first annular member, wherein an enclosed environment is defined by the first annular member, the wall and a conduit, which passes through the wall, the central orifices of the first and second members and the sealing boot, wherein mounting hardware used to secure the first and second members to the wall are protected in the enclosed environment and first annular member has a boot mounting area.

1. Field of Invention
This present invention relates to sealing devices for conduits that penetrate through walls and the mounting devices therefore.
2. Description of Related Art
The most relevant prior art to which tank orifice seals belong is in the field of underground liquid and gas storage systems. Underground liquid and gas storage systems generally have various conduits or pipes penetrating the walls of such systems. An orifice must be cut in the wall of a storage tank to allow the conduit to penetrate the wall of the tank. This orifice must have a seal to prevent leakage of the tank contents into the exterior environment surrounding the tank. Further, the seal must prevent the environment external to the tank from seeping into the tank and contaminating the tank contents.
Many conventional storage tank fittings attempt to seal a tank orifice, however conventional fittings have several deficiencies. One such deficiency is that conventional tank sealing devices or boots have mounting hardware that is exposed to the corrosive environment both external and internal to the tank. For example, conventional fittings have metal bolts securing the device to the tank. In the underground environment, the dirt has moisture, which will corrode the bolts. The bolts will eventually break from the corrosion then allowing the contents of the tank to leak into the ground. Similarly, if the contents in the tank are corrosive, the mounting hardware inside the tank will erode away and eventually break, allowing either the contents in the tank out or the ground outside the tank in. This condition allows for corrosion of the mounting hardware, which thus accelerates the replacement cycle of the sealing device. This deficiency of corroding mounting hardware requires the early replacement of the conventional fittings, which is a costly and time consuming process.
Some conventional devices attempt to provide a means encapsulate the mounting hardware. However, these conventional devices that attempt to encapsulate mounting hardware are deficient in that they are ineffective and inefficient. Further, these conventional fitting devices are cumbersome, expensive and difficult to maintain.
As will be seen from the description below, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks and shortcomings of conventional storage tanks sealing boots.

Storage tank orifice flexible center mount fitting