In a device comprising at least two graphics processors, a determination is made that the device has switched from a first or current graphics processor to a second or target graphics processor. At least a portion of settings corresponding to the first graphics processor are identified for application to the second graphics processor, and settings of the second graphics processor are updated based on these transferable settings. The transferable settings may be identified based on a change indicator(s) that signals which settings corresponding to the first graphics processor have been changed. Where necessary, certain ones of the transferable settings may have a translation or transformation applied thereto. Subsequent transitions in the active graphics processor may cause a similar transfer of settings to occur. In one embodiment, transitions between graphics processors may be caused by a change in power condition of the device.

With the ever increasing power demands of high-end, discrete graphics processors, it is becoming increasingly difficult to design battery-powered devices (e.g., laptop computers, wireless communication devices such as cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, etc.) with a long battery life. Even where techniques are employed to reduce power drain during standby periods, such graphics processors still require significant power consumption. While there is a strong market for premium devices that can deliver high performance, there is also a need to sacrifice significant amounts of this performance while running on batteries.
One solution to this problem is technology that provides both a high-performance, discrete graphics processor and a more power efficient, integrated graphics processor. In such a configuration, the discrete graphics processor is typically employed when the device is connected to a non-battery power source, such as an alternating current (AC) wall outlet, whereas the integrated graphics processor is used when the device is running from batteries. In such a system the discrete graphics processor is completely powered down while not in use thereby allowing substantially extended battery life, albeit while sacrificing graphics performance. Examples of this are the PowerXpress™ solutions offered by the assignee of the instant invention.
In such a solution, the transition between integrated and discrete graphics processors is designed to be nearly or totally seamless. As a result, the end user is often not aware which graphics processor they are using at any given moment. This is especially true for applications that are not graphics-intensive. Such systems often also contain a software-based control panel that is employed by the user to adjust various settings or parameters related to overall display quality and performance.
Where the same or similar settings exist on both types of graphics processors, a user may be confused why a change made in the control panel for, say, the discrete graphics processor is not reflected in the control panel for the integrated graphics processor after the devices have been switched. The reasons for this situation fall within three different classes. Settings that are unique to one device or the other constitute the first class. For example, these are settings that are available only on the discrete graphics processor due to its additional performance capabilities, or, on the other hand, that are only available on the integrated graphics processor due to its added power conservation abilities. Settings that are identical on each device constitute the second class. The third class includes settings that are similar on each device but, due to the different capabilities of the graphics processors, the allowable range of values are different.
Additionally, in cases where the different graphics processors are produced by different vendors, there may be different control panel applications for each device. As a result, the end user may have difficulty in determining which control panel should be used to control the currently active graphics processor.
What is needed, therefore, is a method whereby appropriate settings from one graphics processor can be automatically applied (and as required, translated) to another graphics processor. In addition, it would be beneficial to ensure that the correct control panel application is opened when requested.

Settings control in devices comprising at least two graphics processors


A lithium electrode and a lithium secondary battery including the same. The lithium electrode has a surface oxide layer with a controlled thickness and surface roughness. The lithium electrode may be used as a negative electrode of a lithium secondary battery, for example, a lithium-sulfur secondary battery. A lithium-sulfur battery including the lithium electrode has an enhanced lifetime due to suppression of side reactions with polysulfide.

Various battery-requiring devices requiring batteries from portable phones, wireless home appliances to electric vehicles have been recently developed, and with the development of such devices, demands for secondary batteries have also increased. Particularly, with the trend of smaller electronic goods, secondary batteries tend to be lighter and smaller as well.
Corresponding to such a trend, lithium secondary batteries using lithium metal as an active material have recently received attention. Lithium metal has a property of low oxidation-reduction potential (−3.045 V with respect to standard hydrogen electrode) and large weight energy density (3,860 mAhg−1), and has been expected as a negative electrode material of high capacity secondary batteries.
However, when using lithium metal as a battery negative electrode, the battery is generally manufactured by attaching lithium foil on a planar current collector, and since lithium explosively reacts with water and also reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere with its high reactivity as an alkali metal, there is a disadvantage in that manufacture and use are difficult under general environments. Particularly, an oxide layer such as LiOH, Li2O and Li2CO3 is obtained as a result of oxidation when lithium metal is exposed to the atmosphere. When such an oxide layer is present on the surface, the oxide layer functions as an insulator film decreasing electrical conductivity, and causes a problem of an increase in the electric resistance by inhibiting smooth lithium ion migration.
For such a reason, the problem of forming a surface oxide layer caused by lithium metal reactivity has been partly improved by performing a vacuum deposition process in forming a lithium negative electrode, however, fundamental suppression of surface oxide layer formation is still impossible by the exposure to the atmosphere in a battery assembly process. In view of the above, development of a lithium metal electrode capable of resolving a lithium reactivity problem and further simplifying a process while increasing energy efficiency by using lithium metal has been required.

Lithium electrode and lithium secondary battery including same


Various embodiments of the invention increase current monitoring accuracy in switching converters. In particular, certain embodiments of the invention allow reduce noise associated with transients that are typically generated at transitions when power FETs are turn on and off and allow to accurately sense inductor DC current of switching converters, thereby, increase current monitoring accuracy without requiring any blanking circuitry. In certain embodiments of the invention, this is accomplished by an acquisition circuit that dynamically monitors current in various operating modes. A phase frequency detector (PFD) and control circuit in the acquisition circuit automatically align a narrow sampling window and the midpoint of a turn-on signal. Certain embodiments utilize an analog multiplier circuit to sense current in skip mode operation.

A. Technical Field
The present invention relates to power conversion circuits and, more particularly, to systems, devices, and methods to monitor current in switching-type power conversion circuits that operate in CCM and DCM.
B. Background of the Invention
Electrical systems used in areas such as consumer electronics applications commonly employ switching power regulators to convert a voltage into another voltage that is suitable to operate various electrical devices within the system. Electronic switching-type regulators are particularly useful in reducing size and cost. They are operated mainly in one of two modes, continuous conduction mode (CCM) and discontinuous conduction mode (DCM), also known as skip mode. Generally, in CCM, the inductor current is always positive and does not change polarity, while in DCM the current flowing through the inductive element is set to zero in each cycle. Skip mode operation is a commonly used to enhance efficiency when the switching regulator operates with a fixed switching frequency under light load current conditions.
Oftentimes control circuitry measures and monitors the load current of the switching converter in real-time in order to obtain useful information about the currents flowing through electrical components connected to a given switching converter in a particular application. Numerous existing approaches to monitor current measure load current by sensing the current on one of multiple power FETs, converting it into a voltage signal, and filtering the signal in order to obtain an average DC voltage that is representative of the DC component of the sensed current. One major drawback with these approaches is that, particularly when measuring current in skip mode operation, the current is susceptible to noise caused by on and off switching transitions present in virtually all switching converters. The noise component of the resulting voltage signal can significantly degrade the accuracy of the detected voltage and, thus, negatively affect the accuracy of the current measurement. Existing designs usually require additional blanking circuitry to remove unwanted noise spikes, which limit the duty cycle range of the switching regulator. As a result, while switching converters that operate in CCM, i.e., under heavy load conditions, provide relatively accurate output signals, switching converters provide much less accurate results when operating in DCM.
What is needed are systems and methods that overcome the above-described limitations.

Systems and methods to monitor current in switching converters


Described herein is an oral care implement comprising: a handle; and a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising a main body and a release component coupled to the main body, the release component comprising: a water-dissolvable matrix comprising a first polymer having a processing temperature greater than or equal to 130° C.; and a release agent comprising at least one of zinc oxide, potassium nitrate, and tetrapotassium pyrophosphate; wherein the release agent is dispersed throughout the water-dissolvable matrix.

Toothbrushes comprising water-soluble release polymers are known to provide a release of a desired component to the user. The effect of such water-soluble release polymers was to provide a perceivable response by the user—such as color change—after the water-soluble polymer was exposed to water during usage. However, previously, such water-soluble release polymers have rapid release profiles—releasing the desired component within days of the first usage, thereby making those polymers unsuitable to last the entire lifespan of the oral care implement. Alternatively, such water-soluble release polymers may require low processing temperatures (less than 130° C.) because such polymers undergo severe degradation at temperatures above 130° C., thereby destroying the controlled release characteristics. Having such low processing temperatures creates long manufacturing times.
Thus, there exists a need for an oral care implement comprising a water-soluble release composition that can be formed at high temperatures without undermining the desired release characteristics.

Oral care implement having a release component


A method to greatly simplify and reduce the cost of displays when all of the images that need to be displayed are known beforehand. By precomputing the intersections of the images and addressing the intersections of the images, the number of drivers that are required becomes a function of the number of images rather than a function of the resolution. For example, four arbitrarily complex, overlapping images require, at most, 16 drivers. In general, n arbitrarily complex, overlapping images require, at most, 2n drivers. This result holds irrespective of the size of the display or the complexity resolution, or amount of overlap of the images. Further reduction of the number of drivers is possible if some of the images do not overlap some of the other images. For example, two images overlap each other in one area and two other images may overlap each other in a separate area while the two sets of images do not themselves overlap. In this case, at most eight drivers are needed instead of the 16 drivers that would be required if all four of the images overlapped each other. In general, if you consider N separate, distinct areas, each with a set of overlapping images where ni images overlap in area i (ie, n1 images that overlap in area 1, n2 images that overlap in area 2, etc.). Then the maximum number of drivers that are required will be summation for i from 1 to N of 2 raised to the power of ni.

This invention relates generally to display technologies and more particularly concerns a display which produces a specified set of images wherein each image is displayed with high resolution and can be arbitrarily complex, yet only requires a minimal number of drivers.
A wide variety of display technologies exist including LEDs, LCDs, CRT""s, electrophoretic and gyricon technologies. What each of these displays has in common is that they must all be addressed. Three of the most common types of addressing schemes for displays are active matrix addressing, passive matrix address and stylus or wand addressing.
Active matrix addressing places the least demands on the properties of the display because a separate addressing electrode is provided for each pixel of the display and each of these electrodes is continuously supplied with an addressing voltage. The complete set of voltages can be changed for each addressing frame. While this type of addressing places the least demands on the properties of the display medium, active matrix addressing is the most expensive, most complicated and least energy efficient type of addressing.
Passive matrix addressing makes use of two sets of electrodes, one on each side of the display medium. Typically, one of these consists of horizontal conductive bars and the other consists of vertical conductive bars. The bars on the front surface or window of the display are necessarily transparent. To address the display medium, a voltage is placed on a horizontal conductive bar and a voltage is placed on a vertical conductive bar. The segment of medium located at the intersection of these two bars experiences a voltage equal to the sum of these two voltages. If the voltages are equal, as they usually are, the sections of medium located adjacent to the each of the bars, but not at the intersection of the bars, experience xc2xd the voltage experienced by the section of medium at the bar intersection. Passive addressing is less complicated and more energy efficient because the pixels of the display medium are addressed only for as long as is required to change their optical states. However, the requirements for a medium that can be addressed with a passive matrix display are significantly greater than for the active matrix case. The medium must respond fully to the full addressing voltage but it must not respond to xc2xd the full addressing voltage. This is called a threshold response behavior. The medium must also stay in whichever optical state it has been switched into by the addressing electrodes without the continuous application of voltage, that is it should store the image without power. Passive addressing is the most widely used method of addressing displays and is the lowest cost.
Stylus or wand addressing consists of either an addressing electrode or an array of addressing electrodes that can be moved over the surface of the display medium. Typically, the medium is placed over a grounding electrode and is protected from possible mechanical damage from the stylus or wand by placing a thin window between the stylus or wand and the display. As the stylus or wand is moved over the display medium, it applies voltages to specific pixels of the medium for short periods of time and generates a full image each time the stylus or wand is scanned over the surface. In a variation on this method, the wand may comprise a two dimensional array of electrodes that is placed in contact with the surface of the display medium.
In each of these cases, the smallest size addressing unit, called a pixel is addressed. Each pixel has the same area and shape as neighboring pixels, only its location differs from the other pixels on the display. As the pixel size decreases the resolution of the displayed image increases but so also does the complexity of the addressing device and the number of drivers needed to address the display medium, because the number of driver circuits that are required is proportional to the square of the resolution. For example, an active matrix display with a 100 pixels/inch resolution that is 10 inches by 10 inches would require 1,000,000 drivers or one driver for each pixel. The same display configured with for a passive matrix addressing system would require 2,000 drivers, or one driver for each row and one driver for each column.
As the complexity of the addressing device rises, so also does the cost. Therefore, there is always a tension between displaying the best possible image with the highest resolution and using the least complex and most cost effective means of addressing the display.
The alternative to pixel addressing has been to fabricate addressing electrodes with fixed images such as are used in pagers, watches, cellular phones and clock radios etc. This allows for good resolution of a specific limited set of images cheaply. The drawback however, is that only a single fixed image can be produced in a specific location on a display. Taking as an example, the display for a clock, portions of the display may be reserved to display the time, a pm indicator, an alarm indicator, a xe2x80x9csnoozexe2x80x9d indicator, and a low battery indicator. Time may be displayed using the typical 8-segment numerical display in which 8 fixed displayable segments have been chosen which can be combined to form the various numbers. Time will always be displayed in the same portion of the display, as will the other indicators that are displayed on the clock face. For instance, the low battery indicator may consist of a small icon shaped like a broken battery which blinks in one comer of the display. The low battery icon could never, for instance, alternate with the time in the same portion of the display. Therefore, the entire display consists of independent, separately addressable, non-overlapping fixed images which can either be selected or not. This reduces the complexity of the addressing device and limits the number of drivers needed to the number of images displayed.
Up to this point, the choice of addressing displays has therefore been limited to higher complexity and cost pixel addressing which allows for the unlimited choice of images which can be displayed in any region of the display, or low complexity and cost addressing which uses reserved areas to display a single fixed image. However, there exists a need for displays which are capable of showing a limited set of fixed images which are not relegated to specific portions of the display and which use a low complexity/cost addressing system.
To use the clock example again, it might be useful to have the low battery image alternate with the time in the same portion of the display to provide a more readily noticeable indication that the battery is low. Another example is a highway sign which could be used to display varying road and weather conditions such as ice, rain, snow, and fog ahead. Further examples include point of sale advertising signage which might display the various products for sale by a vendor in a freezer case.
Accordingly, it is the primary aim of the invention to provide a display capable of displaying, at high resolution, a set of known, overlapping, arbitrarily complex fixed images without requiring a correspondingly complex addressing system requiring a large number of addressing drivers.
By precomputing all of the intersections of these images, the number of drivers that are required becomes a function of the number of images rather than a function of the resolution. For example, four arbitrarily complex, overlapping images require, at most, 16 drivers. In general, n arbitrarily complex, overlapping images require, at most, 2n drivers. This result holds irrespective of the size of the display, the complexity of the images, resolution, or amount of overlap of the images.
It is possible to further reduce the number of drivers if some of the images do not overlap some of the other images. For example, consider the case where two images overlap each other in one area and two other images overlap each other in a separate area. However, the two sets of images do not overlap. In this case, at most eight drivers are needed instead of the 16 drivers that would be required if all four of the images overlapped each other. In general, if you consider N separate, distinct areas, each with a set of overlapping images where ni images overlap in area i (ie, n1 images that overlap in area 1, n2 images that overlap in area 2, etc.). Then the maximum number of drivers that are required will be summation for I from 1 to N of 2 raised to the power of ni.
This invention discloses a method to greatly simplify and reduce the cost of displays when all of the images that need to be displayed are known beforehand. Applications include (but are not limited to) road signs, informational signs, advertising, user interfaces to electronic equipment, and many other applications.
Further advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.
Briefly stated and in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an addressing system for producing a set of N overlapping images, each image having at least an image portion, on at least a portion of a display medium which uses no more than 2N drivers in combination with a plurality of electrodes responsive to the drivers such that said plurality of electrodes can cause the display medium to display any one of the N images.
There is also provided a means of reducing the number of drivers needed to display a set of N overlapping images, each image having at least an image portion, on at least a portion of a display medium by using a plurality of electrodes, each electrode having a usage vector and electrically connecting together at least 2 electrodes having identical usage vectors.
Further, there is also provided a display for producing a set of N overlapping images, each image having at least an image portion, on at least a portion of a viewing surface of the display using a display medium, no more than 2N drivers, and a plurality of electrodes responsive to said plurality of drivers such that said plurality of electrodes can cause the display medium to display any one of the N images.
There is also provided a display which uses a reduced number of drivers needed to display a set of N overlapping images on a viewing surface of a display, each image having at least an image portion, on at least a portion of a display medium by using a plurality of electrodes, each electrode having a usage vector and electrically connecting together at least 2 electrodes having identical usage vectors.

Method and apparatus for a display producing a fixed set of images


A gas separation assembly for a gas turbine engine combustion chamber is disclosed having spaced apart partition walls which extend through an end of the combustion chamber so as to define an oxidizer chamber which communicates with a source of oxidizer. Downstream ends of the spaced apart partition walls within the combustion chamber are interconnected to a plurality of generally "V" shaped spacers oriented such that the apex of the "V" configuration faces toward the end of the combustion chamber. Downstream edges of the partition walls are notched, also in a "V" shaped configuration such that the notches extend between opposite legs of the spacers. The spacers are circumferentially spaced apart so as to define passageways which communicate with the oxidizer chamber to enable oxidizer to pass through the gas separation assembly into the combustion chamber. The notches in the downstream edges of the partition walls form a series of generally radially extending flues to facilitate heat transfer between the combustion zones by convection. The design also eliminates the hot spots of the known prior art separation assemblies.

The present invention relates to a gas separator assembly for a gas turbine engine combustion chamber, more particularly such an assembly which improves the heat exchange between combustion zones within the combustion chamber and eliminates high temperature concentrations on the assembly.
Combustion chambers having a generally annular configuration extending about an axis of symmetry and defined by opposite sidewalls and an end wall are known in the art. It is also known to utilize two distinct arrays of fuel injector nozzles to inject fuel into two combustion zones within the combustion chamber. Typically, one of the arrays of the fuel injectors are utilized to supply fuel to the combustion chamber in a first operational mode of the gas turbine engine, such as under low power conditions, while the other array of fuel injector nozzles inject fuel into the combustion chamber under second operational conditions, such as full power. It is also known to have oxidizer intake passageways through the end of the combustion chamber in order to supply oxidizer to support the combustion of the fuel/oxidizer mixture, as well as to provide a gas separating assembly attached to the end of the combustion chamber and inserted between the respective fuel injector arrays. A typical example of such structure can be found in U.K. patent application 2 010 408.
The design of the gas separator assembly is critical to the combustion chamber design in order to provide the proper heat exchange between the combustion zones in the chamber. The known gas separation assemblies, however, do not provide the optimum heat exchange due to the presence of "dead" zones wherein such heat exchange is nonexistent or inadequate. In particular, the known separation assemblies do not provide any heat exchange by convection. Also, the known gas separation assemblies comprise large projections inside the combustion chamber and tend to form hot spots thereon which interfere with the combustion process.

Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation "S.N.E.C.M.A."


An object of the present invention is to provide a conductive fine particle for producing a metal paste that can produce an electrode film having a low resistance, and a metal paste utilizing the conductive fine particle. The present invention is a conductive particle for electrode formation having a core/shell structure, and the conductive particle comprises a core particle made of Pt or a Pt alloy and having a particle diameter of 10 to 200 nm, and a shell made of a ceramic containing Al2O3 or ZrO2 and covers at least a part of the core particle, wherein the ceramic constituting the shell is added in an amount of 0.5 to 15% by weight based on the core particle to cover the core. The core particle is preferably Pt or a Pt alloy alloyed with Pd, Au, Ag, or Rh.

In producing a sensor electrode, a heater electrode and the like for various gas sensors such as an oxygen sensor, a NOx sensor, and an exhaust temperature sensor, these electrodes are generally produced by coating a metal paste including a conductive metal powder on a substrate by various methods such as a screen printing method and calcining it. The reasons for frequently using a form of a metal paste are that the metal paste can be adapted to a complex electrode pattern, and furthermore that coating and calcining the metal paste on a green sheet forming a ceramic substrate allow a substrate and an electrode to be produced simultaneously, which is preferable from the viewpoint of production efficiency.
A metal paste for electrode formation, which has been conventionally used is one that is obtained by mixing a conductive particle such as a precious metal and a ceramic powder such as Al2O3 or ZrO2 (YSZ) with a solvent. The reason for mixing a ceramic powder in a metal paste is that when the metal paste is coated on a green sheet and calcined to produce a substrate and an electrode as described above, the difference in shrinkage rate between the metal paste and the green sheet is so modified as to solve problems for warpage and deformation of a substrate due to the difference in shrinkage rate, thereby improving adhesion of an electrode. In addition, there is also an advantage that the mixing of a ceramic in a metal paste could prevent a conductive particle from being excessively sintered upon calcining.
On the other hand, since a metal paste for electrode formation is a precursor material for an electrode, it is naturally required to be low in electric resistance value (specific resistance). However, the mixing of a ceramic powder is an obstructive factor in terms of lowering the resistance of an electrode, and there has been a tendency that the resistance value of an electrode film formed by calcining a metal paste would be significantly higher than that of a bulk metal. That is, although the improving of adhesion with mixing a ceramic in a metal paste is contrary to a demand of lowering the resistance of an electrode, no or quite a little ceramic to be mixed makes an electrode formation itself become impossible.

Conductive fine particle and metal paste for electrode formation and electrode


A spare memory arrangement in which a defective chip in a memory array can be electronically replaced with a spare chip of identical construction. A defective memory chip is first detected and located by a suitable means, such as an error correction code (ECC), check sum, or parity check. A sparer chip is constructed to be actuated upon a read to the defective memory chip to replace the defective chip with a memory spare chip. The sparer chip includes a cross-point memory (CPM) cell having an address register for receiving data from a central processing unit (CPU) and routing the data to and from the spare memory chip. The cross-point memory (CPM) cell is actuated by control input from the (CPU).

As integrated circuit memories become larger and more complex, reliability of individual components becomes increasingly important. In general, no matter how reliable each component is the system reliability goes down inversely as the number of components increases. For memory systems, parity or error correction has historically dealt with this problem by considering that every device had an independent failure rate compared to every other device of the same nature.
In general, prior art error correction systems have been directed to independent failures on a board. In general, substitution of spare elements for defective elements incorporated in a memory involved the alteration of the circuit configuration on an individual chip. This was typically accomplished by the use of fusible links or destructive changes in individual cell characteristics by, for example, a laser beam directed at the chip. Other prior art error correction method involve redundant columns of cells which can be electronically substituted by suitable circuitry to columns containing defective cells.
In general, these prior art arrangements are effective for independent failures on a board. As memory technology advances, however, the dominant error mode will shift to multiple bit errors (dependent error mode). Today's DRAMs or memories have multiple outputs per chip (chip kill will affect from four to eight outputs per chip), giving each bit a dependent failure rate. In these situations, it would be desirable for a correction mechanism to map out and replace a failed memory chip in its entirety rather than just compensating for a single bit lane loss.
The present invention is directed to a mechanism for placing spare memory chips at any location in a memory array to replace defective memory chips. A memory of 256 MEGABYTES, for example will have about 2500 chips. By past experience, a time between failures of 3/4 of a year for the total system can be assumed. If the offending memory chip is replaced by a spare memory chip, then the 3/4 of a year failure rate can be stretched to the service life of the system.

200
MS
File;900
MS
File
FSS 425
FSS 200
FSS 10


The invention includes an electrically isolated electrically less-conductive component fluid-flow course and an electrically-grounded electrically more-conductive component fluid-flow course. The electrically more-conductive component fluid-flow course may be additionally electrically isolated at the preference of an operator. The invention includes an electrostatic spray gun a mixer positioned proximal to the electrostatic spray gun, and a first conduit which holds alternating segments of electrically more-conductive component and electrically less-conductive component. The alternating segments function in series to additively provide a combined resistance which electrically blocks the high-voltage potential generated at the electrostatic spray gun. This, in turn, effectively isolates the electrically more-conductive component fluid-flow course and electrically less-conductive fluid-flow course from the high-voltage potentials, which significantly improves the safety of an electrostatic spray gun used with water-based paints, while simultaneously permitting the use of a standard color change system.

This invention relates to electrostatically-aided atomization and dispensing systems for water-based coating materials and more particularly to systems which are able to mix and dispense both electrically more-conductive coating materials such as water or water-based coating materials, and electrically less-conductive coating materials such as organic solvent and resin-based coating materials. A problem exists when electrostatically-aided atomization and dispensing processes are used to dispense highly conductive coating materials. That problem is isolation of the electrostatic high-potential source from ground.
When applying paint with a hand-held electrostatic spray gun, it is desirable to electrically ground the spray gun body to protect the operator from risk of electrical shock. It is also desirable to electrically ground the paint supply, water supply, and/or solvent resin supply to prevent current from flowing from the paint-charging electrode at the spray gun tip through the paint column to electrically charge the entire paint or water supply. If the paint or water supply is isolated from ground and becomes charged, the operator is at risk of receiving a potentially hazardous shock from the paint or water source as it is replenished or otherwise serviced. It is desirable to protect an operator from electrical shock when the entire paint or water column from the source to the electrostatic spray gun is grounded which minimizes danger of accidents resulting from the rupture, cut or a pin-hole break in the paint supply hose allowing a spark from the paint column to ground. If the paint column were charged and a spark should occur, there is a risk that flammable paint solvents could ignite or explode.
The invention concerns a method for spray coating a product, notably an electrically-conductive coating product such as a water-soluble paint applied electrostatically, and is more particularly concerned with a new arrangement for changing such products rapidly. The invention is more particularly directed to solving the additional problems which arise in this context from electrostatic application of watersoluble paints having a relatively high electric conductivity.
In known conventional installations, the coating-product circuits, compressed-air circuits, and cleaning-product circuits are connected via isolation valves to a manifold having a common outlet branch connected to the electrostatic spray gun. This arrangement will be referred to hereinafter as a "coating-product change unit" or, more simply, a "color change unit." Conventionally, to change color the valve on the circuit of the coating product in use must be closed a particular "computed" time before the end of the current spraying phase and then the compressed air valve opens to propel the remaining product toward the sprayer. The cleaning cycles are then carried out compressing a succession of injections of cleaning product and compressed air until the pipes are clean and dry. Finally, the valve on another coating-product circuit is opened to fill the manifold and the pipes until a little of the new color-coating product exists in the sprayer. A new paint-spraying phase may then begin.

Water-based plural component spray painting system


There is described a method of encoding an input signal (20) to generate a corresponding encoded output signal (30), and also encoders (10) arranged to implement the method. The method comprises steps of: (a) distributing the input signal to sub-encoders (300, 310, 320) of the encoder (10); (b) processing the distributed input signal (20) at the sub-encoders (300, 310, 320) to generate corresponding representative parameter outputs (200, 210, 220) from the sub-encoders (300, 310, 320); and (c) combining the parameter outputs (200, 210, 220) of the sub-encoders (300, 310, 320) to generate the encoded output signal (30). Processing of the input signal (20) in the sub-encoders (300, 310, 320) involves segmenting the input signal (20) for analysis, such segments having associated temporal durations which are dynamically variable at least partially in response to information content present in the input signal (20). Such varying segment duration is capable of improving perceptual encoding quality and enhancing data compression achievable.

Audio encoders are well known. These encoders are operable to receive one or more input audio signals and process them to generate corresponding bit-streams of encoded output data. Such processing executed within the audio encoders involves partitioning the one or more input signals into segments, and then processing each segment to generate its corresponding portion of data for inclusion in the encoding output data.
Conventional methods of creating such bit-streams employ fixed uniform time segments. Beneficially, the segments are at least partially overlapping. An example of an encoder performing in this manner is Philips Electronics N.V.'s proprietary SSC codec whose mode of operation is now included in a known international standard MPEG 4 extension 2, namely text of ISO/IEC 14496-3:2002/PDAM 2 concerning "Parametric coding for High Quality Audio".
Other methods of encoding audio signals have been proposed. For example, in a published international PCT application no. PCT/SE00/01887 (WO 01/26095), there are described modern audio encoders which employ adaptive window switching, namely the audio encoders switch time segment lengths depending on input signal statistics. In one implementation, non-uniform time and frequency sampling of a spectral envelope of an input signal is achieved by adaptively grouping sub-band samples from a fixed size filter-bank into frequency bands and time segments, each of which generates one envelope sample. This allows for instantaneous selection of arbitrary time and frequency resolution within the limits of the filter-bank. Such encoders preferably default to relatively long time segments and a fine frequency resolution. In the temporal vicinity of signal transients, relatively shorter time segments are used, whereby larger frequency steps can be employed in order to keep data size within limits. Moreover, to enhance benefits from such non-uniform temporal sampling, variable length of bit-stream frames are used.


L-tert-leucine-2-pyridylamide or an acid addition salt thereof.

Compounds which have the property of inhibiting the action of metalloproteinases involved in connective tissue breakdown such as collagenase, stromelysin and gelatinase (known as "matrix metalloproteinases", and herein referred to as MMPs) are thought to be potentially useful for the treatment or prophylaxis of conditions involving such tissue breakdown, for example rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteopenias such as osteoporosis, periodontitis, gingivitis, corneal epidermal or gastric ulceration, and tumour metastasis, invasion and growth. MMP inhibitors are also of potential value in the treatment of neuroinflammatory disorders, including those involving myelin degradation, for example multiple sclerosis, as well as in the management of angiogenesis dependent diseases, which include arthritic conditions and solid tumour growth as well as psoriasis, proliferative retinopathies, neovascular glaucoma, ocular tumours, angiofibromas and hemangiomas. However, the relative contributions of individual MMPs in any of the above disease states is not yet fully understood.
Metalloproteinases are characterised by the presence in the structure of a zinc (II) ionic site. It is now known that there exists a range of metalloproteinase enzymes that includes fibroblast collagenase (Type 1), PMN-collagenase, 72 kDa-gelatinase, 92 kDa-gelatinase, stromelysin, stromelysin-2 and PUMP-1 (J. F. Woessner, FASEB J, 1991, 5, 2145-2154). Many known MMP inhibitors are peptide derivatives, based on naturally occuring amino acids, and are analogues of the cleavage site in the collagen molecule. A recent paper by Chapman et. al. (J. Med. Chem. 1993, 36, 4293-4301) reports some general structure/activity findings in a series of N-carboxyalkyl peptides. Other known MMP inhibitors are less peptidic in structure, and may more properly be viewed as pseudopeptides or peptide mimetics. Such compounds usually have a functional group capable of binding to the zinc (II) site in the MMP, and known classes include those in which the zinc binding group is a hydroxamic acid, carboxylic acid, sulphydryl, and oxygenated phosphorus (eg phosphinic acid and phosphonamidate including aminophosphonic acid) groups.
Two known classes of pseudopeptide or peptide mimetic MMP inhibitors have a hydroxamic acid group and a carboxylic group respectively as their zinc binding groups. With a few exceptions, such known MMPs may be represented by the structural formula (I) ##STR1## in which X is the zinc binding hydroxamic acid (--CONHOH) or carboxylic acid (--COOH) group and the groups R.sub.1 to R.sub.5 are variable in accordance with the specific prior art disclosures of such compounds. Examples of patent publications disclosing such structures are given below.
In such compounds, it is generally understood in the art that variation of the zinc binding group and the substituents R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 can have an appreciable effect on the relative inhibition of the metalloproteinase enzymes. The group X is thought to interact with metalloproteinase enzymes by binding to a zinc (II) ion in the active site. Generally the hydroxamic acid group is preferred over the carboxylic acid group in terms of inhibitory activity against the various metalloproteinase enzymes. However, the carboxylic acid group in combination with other substituents can provide selective inhibition of gelatinase (EP489,577-A). The R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 groups are believed to occupy respectively the P1, P1' and P2' amino acid side chain binding sites for the natural enzyme substrate. There is evidence that a larger R.sub.1 substituent can enhance activity against stromelysin, and that a (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl group (such as iso-butyl) at R.sub.2 may be preferred for activity against collagenase whilst a phenylalkyl group (such as phenylpropyl) at R.sub.2 may provide selectivity for gelatinase over the other metalloproteinases.
Tumour necrosis factor (herein referred to as "TNF") is a cytokine which is produced initially as a cell-associated 28 kD precursor. It is released as an active, 17 kD form, which can mediate a large number of deleterious effects in vivo. When administered to animals or humans it causes inflammation, fever, cardiovascular effects, haemorrhage, coagulation and acute phase responses, similar to those seen during acute infections and shock states. Chronic administration can also cause cachexia and anorexia. Accumulation of excessive TNF can be lethal.
There is considerable evidence from animal model studies that blocking the effects of TNF with specific antibodies can be beneficial in acute infections, shock states, graft versus host reactions and autoimmune disease. TNF is also an autocrine growth factor for some myelomas and lymphomas and can act to inhibit normal haematopoiesis in patients with these tumours.
Compounds which inhibit the production or action of TNF are therefore thought to be potentially useful for the treatment or prophylaxis of many inflammatory, infectious, immunological or malignant diseases. These include, but are not restricted to, septic shock, haemodynamic shock and sepsis syndrome, post ischaemic reperfusion injury, malaria, Crohn's disease, mycobacterial infection, meningitis, psoriasis, congestive heart failure, fibrotic disease, cachexia, graft rejection, cancer, autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, radiation damage, toxicity following administration of immunosuppressive monoclonal antibodies such as OKT3 or CAMPATH-1 and hyperoxic alveolar injury. Since excessive TNF production has been noted in several diseases or conditions also characterised by MMP-mediated tissue degradation, compounds which inhibit both MMPs and TNF production may have particular advantages in the treatment or prophylaxis of diseases or conditions in which both mechanisms are involved.
Recently, WO 93/20047 disclosed a class of hydroxamic acid based MMP inhibitors which also are active in inhibiting TNF production.
As mentioned above, MMP inhibitors have been proposed with hydroxamic acid or carboxylic acid zinc binding groups. The following patent publications disclose hydroxamic acid-based MMP inhibitors:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,361 (Searle) PA0 EP-A-0236872 (Roche) PA0 EP-A-0274453 (Bellon) PA0 WO 90/05716 (British Bio-technology) PA0 WO 90/05719 (British Bio-technology) PA0 WO 91/02716 (British Bio-technology) PA0 EP-A-0489577 (Celltech) PA0 EP-A-0489579 (Celltech) PA0 EP-A-0497192 (Roche) PA0 WO 92/13831 (British Bio-technology) PA0 WO 92/17460 (SmithKline Beecham) PA0 WO 92/22523 (Research Corporation Technologies) PA0 WO 93/09090 (Yamanouchi) PA0 WO 93/09097 (Sankyo) PA0 WO 93/20047 (British Bio-technology) PA0 WO 93/24449 (Celltech) PA0 WO 93/24475 (Celltech) PA0 EP-A-0574758 (Roche) PA0 EP-A-0489577 (Celltech) PA0 EP-A-0489579 (Celltech) PA0 WO 93/24449 (Celltech) PA0 WO 93/24475 (Celltech) PA0 X is a --CO.sub.2 H or --CONHOH group; PA0 R.sub.1 is hydrogen; (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl; (C.sub.2 -C.sub.6)alkenyl; phenyl; substituted phenyl; phenyl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl); substituted phenyl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl; heterocyclyl; substituted heterocyclyl; heterocyclyl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl; substituted heterocyclyl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl; a group BSO.sub.n A- wherein n is 0, 1 or 2 and B is hydrogen or a (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6) alkyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, heterocyclyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)acyl, phenacyl or substituted phenacyl group, and A represents (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl; amino; protected amino; acylamino; OH; SH; (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkoxy; (C.sub.1 -C6)alkylamino; di-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkylamino; (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkylthio; aryl (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl; amino(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl; hydroxy(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, mercapto(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl or carboxy(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl wherein the amino-, hydroxy-, mercapto- or carboxyl-group are optionally protected or the carboxyl- group amidated; lower alkyl substituted by carbamoyl, mono(lower alkyl)carbamoyl, di(lower alkyl)carbamoyl, di(lower alkyl)amino, or carboxy-lower alkanoylamino; PA0 R.sub.2 is a (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, (C.sub.2 -C.sub.6)alkenyl, (C.sub.2 -C.sub.6)alkynyl, phenyl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, heteroaryl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, cycloalkyl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl or cycloalkenyl(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6) alkyl group, any one of which may be optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, --O(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, --S(C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl, halo and cyano (--CN); PA0 R.sub.3 is the characterising group of a natural or non-natural .alpha. amino acid in which any functional groups may be protected; PA0 R.sub.4 is a phenyl or 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring wherein any ring nitrogen atom may be oxidised as an N-oxide, which may be optionally fused to a benzene ring or to a 5-, 6- or 7-membered heterocyclic ring, and wherein any of the rings may be optionally substituted by: PA0 R.sub.5 is hydrogen or a (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6)alkyl group; PA0 R.sub.3 may also be a group --CR.sub.a R.sub.b R.sub.c in which: PA0 More specifically with respect to the groups R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 in compounds of the invention: PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-2S-prop en-2-yl-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hydroxy-5-met hylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(5-methylthiadiazol-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-2S- hydroxy-5-methylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(3-methoxyphenyl)carbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hydroxy- 5-methylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-pyrid-3-ylcarbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hydroxy-5-methy lhexanohydroxamic acid and PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-2S-phth alimidomethylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(thiazol-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-2S-pr open-2-yl-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(thiazol-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hydroxy-5-m ethylhexanohydroxamic acid, and PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(4-ethoxycarbonylmethylthiazol-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propylcar bamoyl)-2S-hydroxy-5-methylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 N.sup.1 -2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propyl!-N.sup.4 -hydroxy-2R-isobutyl-3S-methoxy-succinamide PA0 5-Methyl-3R-(2-phenyl-1S-phenylcarbamoyl-ethylcarbamoyl)-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-phenylcarbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methylhexanohydroxam ic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methylhexanohy droxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-phenylcarbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hydroxy-5-methylhex anohydroxamic acid, PA0 2S-Hydroxy-3R-(3-methyl-1S-napth-2-ylcarbamoyl-butylcarbamoyl)-5-methylhexa nohydroxamic acid PA0 2S-Hydroxy-3R-(3-methyl-1S-(4-methoxyphenyl)carbamoyl-butylcarbamoyl)-5-met hyl-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(4-tertbutyl-2,6-dimethylphenyl)carbamoyl-propylcarbamo yl)-2S-hydroxy-5-methylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(4-methoxyphenyl)carbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hydroxy- 5-methylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-pyrid-4-ylcarbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hydroxy-5-methy lhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(4-hydroxyphenyl)carbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hydroxy- 5-methylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2-Benzylthio-2-methyl-1S-(pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl)propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hyd roxy-5-methylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-phenylcarbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hydroxy-5-phenylhex anohydroxamic aci PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-2S -hydroxy-5-methylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(5-bromo-thiazol-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hyd roxy-5-methylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(4-phenyl-thiazol-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hy droxy-5-methylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(4-tert-butylthiadiazol-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl) -2S-hydroxy-5-methylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-phenylcarbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-2S-propen-2-y l-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(4-methoxyphenylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-2S -propen-2-yl-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2-Benzylthio-2-methyl-1S-(pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-5-met hyl-2S-propen-2-yl-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(pyridin-3-ylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-2S-pr open-2-yl-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(4-hydroxyphenylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-2S -propen-2-yl-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(3-methoxyphenylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-2S -propen-2-yl-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(pyridin-4-ylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-2S-pr open-2-yl-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(2-methoxyphenylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-2S -thien-2-ylsulfanylmethyl-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-2S-th ien-2-ylsulfanylmethyl-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(2-methoxyphenylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-2S -thien-2-ylsulfinylmethyl-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(pyridin-2-ylcarbamoyl)-propylcarbamoyl)-5-methyl-2S-th ien-2-ylsulfinylmethyl-hexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-phenylcarbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hydroxy-5-phenylhex anoic acid, PA0 3R-(2,2-Dimethyl-1S-(N-oxy-pyridin-2-yl)carbamoyl-propylcarbamoyl)-2S-hydro xy-5-methylhexanohydroxamic acid, PA0 DIPE Diisopropyl ether PA0 DMF N,N-Dimethylformamide PA0 HOBt 1-Hydroxybenzotriazole PA0 LDA Lithium diisopropylamide PA0 mCPBA m-Chloroperbenzoic acid PA0 NMM N-Methylmorpholine PA0 THF Tetrahydrofuran PA0 TFA Trifluoroacetic acid PA0 TLC Thin layer chromatography PA0 EDC N-Ethyl-N'-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride
The following patent publications disclose carboxylic acid-based MMP inhibitors:


A surgical system is provided that includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis. A first member is rotatably positioned within the body and includes a first threaded surface. A second member is positioned within the body and includes a second threaded surface that engages the first threaded surface. The second member is non-rotatable relative to the body. A third member is positioned within the first member. An inflatable bone tamp includes an outer shaft coupled to the body, a balloon coupled to the outer shaft and an inner shaft coupled to the third member and the balloon. The first member is rotatable relative to the body to translate the third member along the longitudinal axis to move the balloon from a first length to a second length. Kits and methods are disclosed.

Height loss is commonly associated with spinal fractures, such as, for example, vertebral compression fractures. Spinal fractures affect a large segment of osteoporotic patients. It is estimated that approximately 700,000 spinal fractures occur annually from osteoporosis, for example. Procedures have been developed to treat spinal fractures. One such procedure is kyphoplasty. Kyphoplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that is used to treat spinal fractures, such as, for example, vertebral compression fractures by inserting an inflatable bone tamp inside a fractured vertebral body. The balloon or balloons of the inflatable bone tamp are inflated within the fractured vertebral body such that the cancellous bone of the vertebral body is pushed towards cortical walls of the vertebral body to form a cavity within the vertebral body. The cavity is then at least partially filled with a material, such as, for example, bone cement.
However, conventional inflatable bone tamps lack a means to control the longitudinal expansion of the balloon or balloons. Because longitudinal expansion of the balloon or balloons determine, at least in part, the size of a cavity created by the balloon or balloons, it is thus difficult to control the size of the cavity. That is, the size of the cavity created by the balloon or balloons may be smaller or larger than desired. In instances where the cavity is too small, a second cavity that overlaps the initial cavity may be required to increase the size of the initial cavity. In instances where the cavity is too large, the cavity is filled with more bone cement than is actually needed. Neither situation is desirable, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Furthermore, conventional inflatable bone tamps often do not allow the profile of the balloon to be reduced sufficiently to prevent or reduce trauma or injury to the patient as the inflatable bone tamp is removed from the patient. That is, the profile of the balloon, even when the balloon is deflated, is too large to prevent trauma or injury to the patient. This disclosure describes improvements over these prior art technologies.


An adjustable work platform includes a first ladder section and a second ladder section, each of which is adjustable in height. The platform includes a deck assembly adjustable in length supported by the first and second ladder sections. The deck assembly includes a first deck half and a second deck half that slide relative to each other and fit together. A method for using an adjustable work platform including the steps of extending the height of a first ladder section and a second ladder section. There is the step of sliding a first deck half relative to a second-half that fit together of a deck assembly to a desired length. The deck assembly supported by the first and second ladder sections.

Many homeowners today do their own maintenance and improvements to their homes. Several tasks such as painting and cleaning walls or ceilings require climbing ladders and reaching to gain access to certain areas. This can create a potential hazard such as falls from ladders as people overextend themselves and lose their balance. This also can create the inconvenience of climbing up and down ladders and repositioning them as the task progresses. This can become cumbersome and time consuming. Other options include multiple pieces of equipment which can be assembled together to form scaffolding. This can become expensive and cumbersome to use, as well as a potential hazard if not assembled correctly.
The primary purpose of this invention is, through the use of one product, to provide a means of reaching high spaces as well as provide the ability to traverse that space without reaching or readjusting equipment.


A sectional modular heat sink is formed from a plurality of stacked modular heat radiating units, each of which is provided on one side along each longitudinal edge with an upright ridge portion having two inclined sidewalls, at least one of which being provided with a groove; and on an opposite side with a channel corresponding to the ridge portion to have two inclined sidewalls, at least one of which being provided with a flange corresponding to the groove on the ridge portion. A plurality of the modular heat radiating units may be sequentially stacked and connected through engagement of the ridge portions and the grooves on a first modular heat radiating unit with the channels and the flanges on a second modular heat radiating unit, respectively, and thereby form a sectional modular heat sink.

An electronic apparatus generally includes an enclosure to define a closed inner space, within which a plurality of different electronic elements work for the electronic apparatus to operate. These electronic elements produce heat during work. Therefore, elements capable of dissipating heat produced by the electronic elements must be additionally provided in the electronic apparatus to help in cooling the heat-producing electronic elements. Heat sink is one example of such heat dissipating elements. The conventional heat sink is normally made of a metal material having high heat conductivity. In the past, a big-scale heat sink is manufactured by way of casting or forging. To manufacture the heat sink by casting or forging, it is necessary to develop a big-size mold, which is not only heavy and inconvenient to manufacture and transport, but also expensive and non-economic for use.
EP 0867937 discloses a sectional modular lamellar heat dissipator for electronic circuits. Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 that are exploded and assembled perspective views, respectively, showing the sectional modular lamellar heat dissipator 1 disclosed in EP 0867937. As shown, the heat dissipator 1 is assembled from a plurality of modular heat radiating units 11 made of extruded aluminum. Each of the heat radiating units 11 is formed on a first plane 111, say, a top surface, along each of two longitudinal edges with two parallelly extended fins 1111, and on a second plane opposite to the first plane 111 with a V-shaped groove 1112 corresponding to the two fins 1111. To stack and assemble two modular heat radiating units 11 together, the parallel fins 1111 on a lower one of the two units 11 are forced into the V-shaped grooves 1112 on an upper one of the two units 11. At this point, the parallel fins 1111 are deformed corresponding to the configuration of the V-shaped grooves 1112, so that the two modular heat radiating units 11 are connected to each other. Other modular heat radiating units 11 may be sequentially stacked in the same manner. With the sectional modular lamellar heat dissipator 1, the problem of heavy and expensive mold for casting or forging a big-scale heat sink is solved. However, the sectional modular lamellar heat dissipator 1 has some disadvantages in practical use thereof. When the fins 1111 are forced into the V-shaped grooves 1112 and deformed, stress concentration will occur at a neck portion of the fins 1111 in contact with the first plane 111. As a result, two modular heat radiating units 11 that have been connected to each other through engagement of the fins 1111 with the V-shaped grooves 1112 are still subject to separation due to broken fins 1111. Further, it is also possible the fins 1111 are not smoothly and fully forced into the V-shaped grooves 1112, and two modular heat radiating units 11 are not fully closely attached to each other. That is, there might be voids between the fins 1111 and the V-shaped grooves 1112 to cause thermal choking. Moreover, since the fins 1111 are deformed under external force, they are not repeatedly usable.
In brief, the conventional sectional modular heat sink 1 has the following disadvantages: (1) the modular heat radiating units have a connecting structure that is subject to breaking to thereby cause separation of two assembled modular heat radiating units from one another; (2) the modular heat radiating units could not be fully tightly connected and closely attached to one another to thereby cause thermal choking between them; (3) stress concentration tends to occur at deformed areas on-the modular heat radiating units; (4) the modular heat radiating units have poor structural strength; and (5) the modular heat radiating units are not repeatedly usable.
It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop a sectional modular heat sink assembled from a plurality of improved modular heat radiating units.


Disclosed is a power system having a turbocharger, a VG turbocompound turbine, and a controller. The turbocharger has a turbine coupled to a compressor, and the VG turbocompound turbine positioned downstream of the turbine relative to a direction of a flow of an exhaust gas flowing through the turbine and the VG turbocompound turbine. The controller sends a signal to adjust a geometry of the VG turbocompound turbine so as to adjust a boost level being provided by the turbocharger.

A standard turbocompound engine includes a turbocharged diesel engine with a turbocompound turbine placed downstream of the turbine of the turbocharger. In some known examples, the turbocompound turbine recovers exhaust energy and transmits power to the engine output shaft, to which the turbocompound turbine is coupled by a transmission. While the power turbine is useful in providing additional output shaft power, it has been found that the power turbine restricts air flow to unacceptable levels under certain operating conditions, such as at high altitudes, during low speed and high load conditions, and during transient load conditions. The insufficient air flow results in poor performance, high exhaust temperatures, and increased emissions.

Power system including a variable geometry turbocompound turbine


An imaging apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The method for controlling the imaging apparatus includes acquiring images having a same focal length by performing continuous imaging in a predetermined time when a user's imaging command is input, calculating motion vectors using the images and separating a foreground and a background of a first image among the images based on the calculated motion vectors and color information of the first image, and performing out focusing based on the separated foreground and the separated background.

Recently, images can be captured using not only general digital cameras but also various electronic devices, such as smart phones. In particular, an imaging apparatus including a camera provides various effects, such as out focusing.
On the other hand, various methods for providing out focusing have been developed recently, including a method for extracting depth information using a special device, such as a depth sensor or a stereo camera, a method for extracting depth information by acquiring several images through video capturing, and a method for separately extracting objects included in one image based on the result of learning.
However, the method using the depth sensor or the stereo camera in the related art has the problem that it requires special hardware (e.g., depth sensor and two camera modules). Further, the depth sensor that uses infrared rays may not operate well outdoors. Further, since the depth sensor extracts a low-resolution depth map, it is difficult to apply the depth sensor to a high-resolution image.
Further, since the method for capturing a plurality of videos should capture the same scene for several seconds, it is inconvenient to use the method above. Further, the method above may fail to obtain the depth map if a moving object passes by during the capturing of the image.
Further, the method above for extracting objects based on the result of learning has the problem that it is insufficient in performance to cope with various environments and variables in capturing an actual image.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Imaging apparatus providing out focusing and method for controlling the same


A method for displaying changes in spectral content of data signals over periods of time using a computer system. The method includes the steps of transforming time segments of digitized data signals into a frequency based spectral representation of the digitized data. The resulting spectral data are then grouped into appropriate frequency bins. Each frequency bin is normalized by the frequency range of the bin. The energy or power in each frequency bin is then multiplied by fn, where f represents an estimate of the frequency of the bin, and n is an exponent which is used to normalize the frequency content of the data. A logarithmic value is then calculated for each frequency bin. The logarithmic value of each frequency bin for each time period is then mapped to a color or gray-scale value. Finally, the mapped color or gray-scale value is displayed on a computer monitor in the computer system as an image, where the signal frequency is represented along one axis, time is represented along a second axis, and the value of the energy or power at that given time and frequency is displayed as the color or gray-scale value assigned to that point.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to computer display techniques used in connection with data analysis, and more specifically to a method and system for displaying spectral trends in complex signals.
2. Background of the Related Art
The history of techniques developed for data analysis of biological and non-biological signals is well documented. The French mathematician and physicist Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier originated Fourier's theorem on vibratory motion and the Fourier series around 1800. This provided a method for representing discontinuous functions by a trigonometric series. In 1938, A. M. Grass and F. A. Gibbs published "A Fourier transform of the electroencephalogram (EEG)" in the Journal of Neurophysiology.
Prior to this pioneering work, the electrical signals produced by the brain were displayed only as signals fluctuating over time. Using the Fourier transform, a 30 second segment of EEG was redisplayed, showing the relative amount of EEG energy present at different frequencies. This "pre-computer" era application used a combination of photographic, mechanical, and electronic apparatus to construct a graphical representation of the Fourier transform.
In the later half of the 20th century, the development of the digital computer greatly simplified the conversion of biological EEG signals into their corresponding frequency spectra. In 1965, J. W. Cooley and J. W. Tukey published "An algorithm for the machine computation of complex Fourier series" in Mathematical Computation. Their algorithm, known as the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), reduced to practice an algorithm that was practical for computing the frequency spectrum of any digitized signal. Many people, research publications, and text books have described methods for calculating the frequency spectrum of a signal. The complicated nature of the FFT, which has many subtleties that cannot be ignored, is well documented in such references.
From the late 1960s through the late 1980s, many researchers were using digitized EEGs, and publishing a wide variety of analyses, including spectral analysis. In the late 1980s through the early 1990s, most of the major electroencephalograph manufacturers introduced digital electroencephalographs. For example, Schwartzer GmbH (1988), Nihon Kohden (1991), Astromed-Grass (now Grass-Telefactor), Nicolet Biomedical (now Viasys), Stellate Systems, Bio-logic Systems, Cadwell Laboratories, Oxford Instruments, all offered products. With the explosion of digital electroencephalographs, software for displaying and processing EEG also emerged. Products were offered, for example, by Persyst Development Corp. and MEGIS Software GmbH.
The techniques for calculating or displaying the spectral content of a signal are generally applied to a short and/or finite segment of data. EEG data is often collected for longer time segments, such as many hours or days. Compressed Spectral Array (CSA) is one technique that has been used to display spectral data over longer segments of time.
In 1976, G. Astaldi et. al. published "Clinical use of "compressed spectral array" in Riv. Neurology. The CSA technique takes individual power spectral density graphs or "frames", and "stacks" a whole sequence of them in front of each other, with a slight vertical and/or horizontal shift between each frame. The effect is a pseudo three-dimensional visual effect; like looking at a mountain landscape or a contour map, with time running along one axis, and frequency running along a second axis. The CSA technique can use color or gray scales to highlight the individual lines, but that is not required. The CSA technique is effective for visualizing spectral changes over moderate time periods, but tends to be uninterpretable over very long time periods. CSA also requires a lot of display screen space.
In 1987, M. Salinsky introduced the technique of displaying EEG using color density spectral array (cDSA) in an article called "Representation of sleep stages by color density spectral array" in Electroencephalogr Clin. Neurophysiol. cDSA maps the logarithm of the EEG power in each frequency bin and at each epoch, or time period, to a color. For example, red could represent the highest level, orange somewhat less, and so on, through the color spectrum, yellow, green, blue, and violet, with violet being the lowest level. The cDSA technique can also use gray scale mapping instead of color mapping, but shows changes more strikingly in color. Since its introduction, many EEG manufacturers have adopted cDSA as a tool for displaying long-term trends in EEG data (for example, Persyst, Nihon Kohden, Viasys-Nicolet, MEGIS, Cadwell, and SpaceLabs).
Currently, cDSA is the method widely used within the industry to display long term (hours to days in time) biological signals such as spectral EEG data. Unfortunately, cDSA display is limited by the nature of the signals being analyzed. Specifically, the power in the EEG signal drops precipitously as frequency increases.
In standard cDSA display, the low frequencies are red in color, and the color gradually shifts through the color spectrum to orange, yellow, etc., to violet, as the frequency of the signal increases. While it is possible to see changes in the cDSA display over longer time periods, the changes are not particularly sensitive to changes in the relative spectral content of the EEG signal. Rather, the changes are PRIMARILY sensitive to the overall amplitude of the EEG signal, with a very secondary sensitivity to changes in the shape of the spectral density curves. This drop in spectral power is commonly referred to as a "1/f power law", because the power tends to drop proportional to the frequency, f, raised to a power.
This limitation of the cDSA display, due to the drop in spectral signal power, is overcome by the method for display of the present application, which is referenced as the "modified color density spectral array" (mcDSA) or "modified gray density spectral array" (mgDSA) or as the closely related "modified compressed spectral array" (mCSA). Additionally, standard spectral analysis techniques are all improved and extended by the present method of display disclosed here.

Method for displaying spectral trends in complex signals


A multi-layer golf ball and methods for preparing a portion thereof including a core having at least one core layer, a mantle having at least one layer including an amount of reinforcing polymer component and a resilient polymer component disposed concentrically adjacent the core, and at least one cover layer disposed concentrically adjacent the mantle, wherein the layer of the mantle is sufficiently rigid to inhibit the resilient polymer component from substantially altering shape prior to crosslinking. The invention also includes an elastomeric composition including a polybutadiene having a high molecular weight average and a predominantly 1,4-cis content, a free-radical initiator, and a reinforcing polymer component having a sufficiently low viscosity at a mixing temperature to permit substantially uniform dispersion of the polymer component with the polybutadiene and having a crystalline melting point sufficiently low to permit mixing while avoiding substantial crosslinking.

The present invention relates to a multi-layer golf ball and methods for forming a portion thereof including a core having a center with at least one center layer, a mantle having at least one mantle layer including an amount of reinforcing polymer component and a resilient polymer component disposed concentrically adjacent the center, and at least one cover layer disposed concentrically adjacent the core, wherein the mantle or at least one layer of the mantle is sufficiently rigid to inhibit the resilient polymer component from substantially altering shape prior to crosslinking. The invention also relates to the polymeric composition used in forming the mantle.
Multi-layer golf balls contain a core, which may include one or more layers of solid material or one or more layers of solid material encompassing a liquid therein, and a cover. Optionally, an elastic winding may also be used to form a layer surrounding the center to provide certain playing characteristics. Such balls are known as xe2x80x9cwoundxe2x80x9d balls. The multi-layer golf balls discussed herein include a core and a cover. The terms xe2x80x9ccorexe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cball core,xe2x80x9d as used herein, include a center having one or more layers and a mantle formed of one or more layers. The terms xe2x80x9ccenterxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cball center,xe2x80x9d as used herein, include a solid and/or liquid mass around which at least a mantle and cover are placed. The mantle is disposed between the center and the cover, typically in concentric fashion, with the cover being the outermost portion of the ball.
A variety of golf ball compositions are known and used in various methods of manufacture. Unfortunately, these compositions and methods tend to produce balls that do not consistently achieve a symmetrical core. See, for example, the discussion in co-pending application Ser. No. 08/943,932 by J. DALTON et al., which illustrates the poor centering that occurs in conventionally formed golf balls. This co-pending application is expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto for this purpose. Multi-layer ball production has been plagued by center portions that become off-centered during the manufacture of such balls. Off-center golf balls are a hindrance to many players, particularly those able to achieve great control using a symmetrical ball. This lack of symmetry is now believed to be caused, at least in part, by the materials and methods conventionally used in forming multi-layer golf balls. A number of these conventional multi-layer ball compositions are discussed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,383 discloses a solid three-piece golf ball made by covering a core, which has inner and outer layers, with a shell. The outer layer of cis-1,4-polybutadiene, zinc diacrylate, and zinc oxide is prepared by using a metal mold to prepare two hemispherical premolded products, which are used to cover the previously molded inner layer of the core. The outer layer is then cured around the inner layer by heating the entire core before adding the shell.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,434 discloses a two-piece golf ball having a solid core of more than 40% cis-1,4-polybutadiene and a cover having an inner layer of 0.1 to 2 mm thickness and an outer layer of 0.1 to 1.5 mm thickness. The inner layer is a thermoplastic resin, such as an ionomer, polyester elastomer, polyamide elastomer, thermoplastic urethane elastomer, propylene-butadiene copolymer, 1,2-polybutadiene, polybutene-1, and styrene-butadiene block copolymer, either individually or in combination.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,905 discloses a rubber composition usable in golf balls having at least one natural or synthetic rubber component, inorganic fibers subjected to surface treatment, and a non-sulfur type vulcanizing agent. The rubber may include known additives, such as organic modifiers of various resins like cumarone-indene, phenol, polystyrene, acrylic, polyamide, epoxy, urethane, polyolefin, and similar resins. The rubber may also include long fiber reinforcing material, such as fibers of glass, carbon, metal, quartz, ceramic, nylon, vinyl, polyester, aromatic polyamide, polyimide, and aromatic polyether amide.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,871 discloses a three-part golf ball including an elastomer core, an intermediate layer of a thermoplastic material containing at least 10%, preferably at least 35%, of ether block copolymer, and a thermoplastic envelope. The other copolymer of the intermediate layer is disclosed to be one or more ionomers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,187 discloses a golf ball having a core, as well as a cover having an inner layer of a cut-resistant material such as an ionomer resin and an outer layer of natural or synthetic balata and one or more thermally crosslinkable elastomeric polymers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,227 discloses a multi-piece solid golf ball having a solid core with an inner layer of a rubber and an outer layer of 100-50 wt % of a polyether ester type thermoplastic elastomer having a Tg of up to xe2x88x9225xc2x0 C. and 0-50 wt % of an ethylene-(meth)acrylate copolymer ionomer, and a cover of ethylene-(meth)acrylate copolymer ionomer.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,553,852 and 5,556,098 disclose a three-piece solid golf ball with a conventional rubber center core, an intermediate layer of thermoplastic elastomer or thermoplastic elastomer and ionomer resin mixture, and a cover typically of an ionomer resin, each portion having a particular hardness and thickness.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,502 discloses a three-piece solid golf ball including a core of a center having an xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated carboxylic acid metallic salt in an amount of 13 to 28 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of base rubber and an outer shell having an xcex1,xcex2-unsaturated carboxylic acid metallic salt in an amount of 28 to 35 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of base rubber. The base rubber preferably has a cis-1,4 structure of 40% or more, particularly 85% or more.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,898 discloses a golf ball having a solid core and a cover, with an intermediate layer including a first component of an uncrosslinked blend of n-butyl acrylate and ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer, which is sold under the name NUCREL, and a second component of a vulcanizate formed from polybutadiene and a peroxide curing agent. The vulcanizate is ground to a fine powder and then conventionally mixed with pellets of the NUCREL and melted for injection molding.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,312 discloses a golf ball having a fluid mass at the center, a first non-wound mantle layer of a thermoset rubber material, thermoplastic elastomeric material and plastic, a second non-wound mantle layer of a thermoset rubber material or thermoplastic elastomeric material, and a cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,191 discloses a multi-layer golf ball having a core with one or more layers, at least one cover layer, and one or more mantle layers disposed therebetween, wherein the mantle layer includes dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer, functionalized styrene-butadiene elastomer, thermoplastic polyurethane, metallocene polymer or blends thereof, and thermoset materials.
It is desirable to use thermoset material-containing hemispherical shells to form one or more mantle layers about a golf ball center, although this often results in poor centering of the mantle and other difficulties because thermoset materials are difficult to work with before they have been crosslinked. The polymers typically used in such shells tend to have a memory that urges the polymer back to its earlier or original shape, which necessitates rapid compression molding to crosslink the polymer as soon as the shells are formed. Hemispherical shells are also prone to trapping air in the apex of the mold cavities in which they are placed to assemble golf ball cores. Hemispherical shells also do not tend to readily fit within mold cavities having off-center parting lines, which also causes problems due to poor centering when forming is golf ball cores.
There is thus a need for an improved composition and method for manufacturing golf balls that avoids the disadvantages present when using thermoset material-containing hemispherical shells to form one or more mantle layers about a center. A new composition for one or more layers of a golf ball mantle, and a method for manufacturing a portion of a golf ball core using ellipsoidal shells around a center, advantageously improves the symmetrical formation of the core in golf balls in accordance with the present invention. The proposed compositions facilitate injection molding of the uncrosslinked shells and permit automated assembly, which greatly reduces production costs.
The present invention relates to a method of forming at least a portion of a golf ball core by mixing a resilient polymer component, a free-radical initiator, a crosslinking agent, and a reinforcing polymer component to provide an uncrosslinked first mixture having a rigidity measured by a flexural modulus of greater than about 3.5 MPa, wherein the mixing occurs at a temperature greater than the melting temperature but sufficiently lower than the crosslinking temperature of the reinforcing polymer component so as to substantially inhibit initiation of crosslinking, forming the first mixture into a plurality of shells in a desired shape, wherein the reinforcing polymer component imparts sufficient rigidity to the shells to maintain the desired shape until the first mixture is crosslinked, providing a center, assembling at least two shells concentrically about the center to form a first mantle layer, wherein the first mantle layer and center together form the ball core, and applying sufficient heat and pressure to the core as it is constrained within a rigid cavity for a time sufficient to at least partially crosslink the first mixture in the shells, thereby curing at least a portion of the golf ball core. In a preferred embodiment, the first mixture is formed into ellipsoidal shells.
In one embodiment, the method includes selecting the resilient polymer component to have a molecular weight average of between about 50,000 to 1,000,000. In another embodiment, the reinforcing polymer component is generally selected to have a crystalline melting temperature between 35xc2x0 C. and 120xc2x0 C. In another embodiment, the first mixture is formed into a plurality of shells by injection molding. These shells are preferably ellipsoidal in shape. In yet another embodiment, the desired ellipsoidal shells are formed by compression molding the first mixture.
In a further embodiment, the ball core has a midpoint and the center of the core is disposed within about 0.5 mm from the midpoint. In another embodiment, the uncrosslinked first mixture used to form the mantle has a flexural modulus that is at least about 7 MPa prior to cure. In yet another embodiment, the loss tangent of the crosslinked mantle material first mixture is adjusted to less than about 0.15 at xe2x88x9260xc2x0 C. and less than about 0.05 at 30xc2x0 C. at 1 Hz and 1 percent strain. In another embodiment, the dynamic modulus, used herein to mean the tensile storage modulus (Exe2x80x2), of the crosslinked first mixture is greater than about 100 MPa at xe2x88x9260xc2x0 C. and greater than about 50 MPa at 30xc2x0 C., also at 1 Hz and 1 percent strain.
In another embodiment, the melting temperature and the crosslinking temperature are selected to differ by about 60xc2x0 C. to 160xc2x0 C. In yet another embodiment, the core is selected to include a center surrounded by elastic windings, a solid center, or a liquid center. In another embodiment, at least one additional layer is formed about the center prior to assembling the shells concentrically about the center, after assembling the shells concentrically about the center, or after heating the core. In a preferred embodiment, at least one additional layer is formed around the core after heating the core to provide a cover disposed concentrically about the golf ball core.
The invention also relates to elastomeric compositions including a resilient polymer component of at least one polybutadiene having a high molecular weight average and a 1,4-cis content of greater than about 50 weight percent, a free-radical initiator, and an amount of reinforcing polymer component having a sufficiently low viscosity at a mixing temperature to facilitate mixing of the reinforcing polymer component with the resilient polymer component and having a crystalline melting point sufficiently low to facilitate mixing while avoiding substantial crosslinking, wherein the uncrosslinked composition has a flexural modulus of greater than about 3.5 MPa.
In one embodiment, the composition further includes a crosslinking agent in an amount sufficient to increase crosslinking between the polymer components. The invention also relates to an ellipsoidal article formed of the composition.
In another embodiment, the resilient polymer component has a molecular weight from about 50,000 to 1,000,000. In a preferred embodiment, the molecular weight average of the resilient polymer component is from about 250,000 to 750,000.
In a further embodiment, the free-radical initiator is an organic peroxide. In another embodiment, the reinforcing polymer component includes a block copolymer ether/ester, an acrylic polyol, a transpolyisoprene, a transpolybutadiene, a 1,2-polybutadiene, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, or a cyclooctene. In yet another embodiment, the composition also includes a crosslinking agent of a metallic salt selected from the group of an unsaturated fatty acid, a monocarboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, the reinforcing polymer component is present in an amount of about 1 to 40 weight percent of the resilient and reinforcing polymer components.
The invention also relates to a multi-layer golf ball having a core including a center, a mantle having at least one layer, the layer having a blend of a reinforcing polymer component and a resilient polymer component crosslinked and disposed concentrically adjacent the center, and at least one cover layer disposed concentrically adjacent the mantle and outwardly thereof, wherein the uncrosslinked mantle layer is sufficiently rigid to inhibit the resilient polymer component from substantially altering shape prior to crosslinking.
In another embodiment, the resilient polymer component and the core each include polybutadiene, natural rubber, polyisoprene, styrene-butadiene, or styrene-propylene-diene rubber, or mixtures thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the resilient Polymer component is 1,4-cis-polybutadiene having a 1,4-cis content of greater than about 50 weight percent. In a preferred embodiment, the 1,4-cis Content is greater than about 90 weight percent.
In still another embodiment, the amount of resilient polymer component is between about 60 to 99 weight percent of the polymer components. In a preferred embodiment, the amount of resilient polymer component present is from about 75 to 90 weight percent of the Polymer components. In another embodiment, the golf ball core further includes at least one of a filler, a free-radical initiator, or a crosslinking agent. In one preferred embodiment, filler is present and includes masterbatch red, zinc oxide, tin oxide, barium sulfate, zinc sulfate, calcium carbonate, barium carbonate, clay, tungsten, tungsten carbide, a silica, or cured ground rubber trimethyl-tripropane, or mixtures thereof, present in an amount from about 0.5 to 50 weight percent of the mantle. In another preferred embodiment, the free-radical initiator is an organic peroxide. In another preferred embodiment, the cross-linking agent includes a metallic salt selected from the group of an unsaturated fatty acid, a monocarboxylic acid, and mixtures thereof. In another embodiment, the uncrosslinked mantle layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 3.5 MPa.

Elastomeric compositions and methods for making same


In an aircraft (1) according to the invention the engine drives a blower and the compressed air is used to increase the lift of the wing (18) and the canard (22) using jet flap propulsion.. The airfoil profile has maximum thickness just forward of the control surface device (12) which has large included trailing edge angle and large leading edge radius. The control surface device hinge (17) is positioned close to the mean line (19) of the plane, and air slots (10) in the plane are blowing the control surface device.

The invention relates to an aircraft with jet flap propulsion and as presented in the preamble of claim 1, i.e. an aircraft with an ordinary main plane or a further development hereof as presented in the preamble of claim 2: An aircraft, which in addition to the main plane has a foreplane, a so-called canard plane.
Aircraft with jet flap propulsion have been known for many years, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 2,912,189 or U.S. Pat. No. 2,961,192. Also jet flap propulsion aircraft with a foreplane have been known for years, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 3,362,659. Even aircraft where both the foreplane and the main plane use jet flap propulsion are known, cf. for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,056,566.
In the past several aircraft have been made with special and extensive flap and slot arrangements to reduce stall speed and needed runway. These aircraft are called STOL (short take-off and landing) aircraft. The operating costs of such aircraft are in most cases approximately 30% higher than on conventional aircraft. This lies in added maintenance costs, higher fuel consumption per distance flown. The added wing area (lower wing loading) creates added drag and reduced cruising speed.
Most of all earlier aircraft designers using the blown flap theory have concentrated their efforts on increasing the lift coefficient of the wings to reduce landing speed or to obtain added control force. Blown flaps give extra thrust and this causes problems when the aircraft is being slowed down for landing. In most of the previous patents using blown flaps only a small part of the engine power is used to avoid the problem of extra thrust. If all engine power is used on blown flaps it is necessary to be able to deflect the jet sheet through more than 90 degrees to obtain drag on landing. To be able to deflect air by coanda effect, the outside pressure must balance the centrifugal force of the jet sheet. This is only possible if the radius of the control flap is relatively large compared with the slot height. Furthermore, the duct pressure must be relatively low.