The present invention provides a reflection detection type measurement apparatus for skin fluorescence, which is configured to perform light irradiation and light detection on a reference sample and a measurement target.

(a) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a skin autofluorescence measuring apparatus for diagnosing various diseases such as diabetes, by measuring autofluorescence of the skin from Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs) accumulated in the skin.
(b) Background Art
Recently, various apparatuses using light for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of diseases are being developed. Particularly, various apparatuses for diagnosing diseases using skin autofluorescence emitting out of the skin by excitation light irradiated from a light source are being developed and used.
The autofluorescence is the emission of light from the skin after excitation light is absorbed into the skin. Since having the biometric data inside the skin, the autofluorescence serves as a biomarker of diseases, and enables checking of the damage of physiological state of all body organs by a non-invasive method.
For example, Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs) are formed via glycoxidation of proteins in human body as a result of Maillard reaction which impairs the functioning of many proteins. In general, exposure to cardiac risk factors such as smoking, intake of high fatty acid containing foods, hypercholesterolemia, and oxidative stress due to acute diseases such as sepsis lead to generation of AGEs. Thus produced AGEs are slowly decomposed and accumulated over a long period of time in the body. An increase in AGEs production is associated with the progress of chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis. With the aging process, AGEs tend to accumulate in the body throughout a person's life.
During the continuation of hyperglycemia, continual reactions of non-enzymatic protein glycation and glycoxidation occur, and thus AGEs, i.e., a complex of irreversible glycogen and protein, are formed. Accumulation of AGEs rapidly progresses in patients suffering from diabetes, renal failure and cardiovascular diseases. AGEs are accumulated in various tissues including skin. AGEs have the characteristics of irradiating autofluorescence (AF) at a range of blue spectrum (peak near about 440 nm) by excitation light irradiation of the UV range (peak near about 370 nm)
AGEs can be used as a bio marker regarding a series of diseases, and enable to evaluate physiological damages of the whole body organs by measuring autofluorescence of skin using a non-invasive method. That is, AGEs can predict long-term complications in age-related diseases. In particular, the quantity of skin autofluorescence increases in patients suffering from diabetes and renal failure, and relates to the progress of vascular complications and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). The AGE accumulation can be measured by skin autofluorescence by a non-invasive method, a non-invasive clinical tool useful for the risk evaluation of long-term vascular complications under environments associated with the accumulation of AGEs and diabetes.
US Patent Application Publication No. 2004-186363 (hereinafter, referred to as Reference 1) discloses technology of evaluating AGEs by measuring skin fluorescence near the forearm of a patient as a method and apparatus that are proposed for AGE evaluation using skin autofluorescence measurement.
In Reference 1, an excitation light source is a blacklight fluorescent tube that emits light in a UV wavelength range of about 300 nm to about 420 nm. The collection and recording of light are performed by an optical fiber spectrometer. In order to increase a measurement area, the end surface of an optical fiber is disposed apart from a transparent window of the apparatus by a certain distance (d is about 5 mm to about 9 mm). In order to reduce an influence of light reflected from skin and window, the optical fiber is disposed oblique to the surface of the window at about 45 degrees.
Specifically, in Reference 1, the end surface of the optical fiber for collecting light is disposed as distant as possible from a target spot. In this case, the area of the target spot to be measured is about 0.4 cm2.
However, there is a limitation in the above method that a fluorescent signal that is collected is considerably reduced as the measurement distance (d) increases to increase the measurement area of the target spot. Accordingly, in Reference 1 according to a related art, the reliability of data detection may be reduced due to a limitation of the size of the skin area that can be measured. Particularly, such an accuracy limitation is considerably represented in parts such as moles, vessels, and wounds that are heterogeneous spots of skin.
Meanwhile, US Patent Application Publication No. 2008-103373 (hereinafter, referred to as Reference 2) discloses an apparatus for measuring AGEs to perform a screen test of a diabetic. Similarly to Reference 1, the apparatus disclosed in Reference 2 includes an optical fiber spectrometer to perform fluorescence measurement on the forearm skin. However, unlike in Reference 1, optical fiber probes are provided in a form of bundle including multiple branches.
In the apparatus of Reference 2, UV light and blue light emitting from light-emitting diodes are irradiated on the forearm of a subject through optical fiber probes, and skin fluorescence and diffusion reflection light emitting therefrom are collected through the probes. The collected light is wavelength-dispersed in a spectrometer, and then detected by a linear array detector. Two branches (illumination fibers; channel 1 and channel 2) of the optical fiber probe serve to irradiate light on a target spot, and a third branch (collection fibers) delivers light from the target to a multi-channel spectrometer. The end surface of a tissue interface, where the branch bundles of the optical fiber probes are combined, becomes in contact with skin to be irradiated.
Light from a white light LED is emitted from one branch of the optical fiber probe for reflection light spectrum measurement, and light from an appropriate LED among LEDs emitting light of ultraviolet to a blue light spectrum range is emitted from another branch of the optical fiber probe via a switching apparatus. Various wavelengths can be selected to select optimal fluorescence excitation conditions. The reflection light spectrum measurement is used to detect autofluorescence generated due to melanin and hemoglobin and compensate for the measurement result. Respective optical fibers are disposed in the optical fiber bundle by a certain sequence. Optical fibers from three branches of the optical fiber bundle are sequentially disposed in a mosaic pattern at an interval of b=0.5 mm.
In Reference 2, since light is irradiated on the forearm of a subject through an optical fiber probe, the optical fiber probe is included as an optical-transmission medium. However, the optical fiber probe has a limitation in delivery loss which occurs according to the small diameter and low numerical aperture of optical fibers.
Additionally, since both apparatuses disclosed in References 1 and 2 include optical fibers in a light-receiving unit that receives light, there is an inherent limitation in the optical fiber probe of the light-receiving unit. Since References 1 and 2 are configured to use an optical fiber spectrometer and a linear array detector, there is a limitation in that the autofluorescence signal wavelength of AGE becomes relatively smaller in a detection area that is occupied by the linear array detector. Accordingly, a detected fluorescence signal is dispersed, and the light intensity of a wavelength to be detected by the linear array detector becomes relatively smaller. Also, due to the optical fiber probe and optical fiber spectrometer, it is difficult to minimize facilities.
On the other hand, the diagnosis apparatuses disclosed in References 1 and 2 have a limitation in that it is impossible to diagnose diseases such as a diabetic foot accompanied by diabetes.
The diabetic foot is a sort of serious complications that incur a diabetic foot ulcer and a lower leg amputation according to the progress of diabetes. It is reported that the diabetic foot occurs in about 15% of all patients with diabetes and about 40% to about 60% of all lower leg amputation patients are diabetic patients. The diabetic foot ulcer is a cause in about 80% or more of all lower leg amputation patients. About 90% or more of patients with the diabetic foot can be cured without amputation when they are appropriately treated at an early stage. The autofluorescence measurement test can be used for an early diagnosis of the diabetic foot. At an early stage of the diabetic foot, the diabetic foot usually occurs in one foot before its progress in the other foot. Accordingly, the early diagnosis of the diabetic foot using the fluorescence test can be performed by comparing and evaluating the fluorescence degree of skin of the symmetrical foot part. Therefore, for early diagnosis of diseases such as diabetic foot together with typical diabetes, there is a need for the development of an apparatus that enables a selective diagnosis on body parts to be measured.
Particularly, for implementing the selective diagnosis apparatus, the miniaturization and the mobility of the apparatus has to be first prepared. Accordingly, the efficiency of light irradiation and fluorescence detection in the apparatus is needed.
Meanwhile, although such a selective diagnosis is performed on body parts, the intensity of the fluorescence generated from the skin is affected by the light scattering and absorption occurring inside the skin as well as fluorescence substances included in the skin.
Therefore, it is very important to improve the efficiency of the light irradiation and the fluorescence detection and reduce a measurement error due to the light scattering and absorption inside the skin in order to achieve an exact diagnosis on selective diagnosis parts for more clearly discriminating between persons with diseases and persons without diseases.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Reflection detection type measurement apparatus for skin autofluorescence

KOREA ELECTROTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A merchandising related method, apparatus and system which includes a product editor for providing product information for products, a classification editor to create hierarchies for the products, a distribution editor to assign distribution channels through which the products will be sold, a horizon editor to establish different time horizons for the sale of the products, and a line editor to provide line builds and produce line lists based on the information entered through the product editing means, classification editing means, distribution channel editing means, and horizon editing means. The method, apparatus and system will work across a variety of different distribution channels such as retail, wholesale, mail-order and the Internet in any number of horizons such as fiscal seasons, calendar seasons, design seasons and media seasons.

Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to the development of merchandise line lists and data foundation establishment for merchandising related applications for use across a variety of sales and distribution channels, such as retail, wholesale, Internet and mail order.
Recently, the dividing lines in the retail, wholesale, Internet and mail order markets have begun to overlap as retailers, manufactures and wholesalers have expanded their businesses into all facets of the marketplace. This expansion by businesses has been in response to increasing competition and a corresponding increase in the amount of more sophisticated consumers. As consumers have become more demanding, the importance of maintaining a current and ever growing and evolving supply of inventory has increased. Consequently the development of flexible merchandising systems to help track, plan and manage product lines is essential.
However, prior art merchandising systems typically are limited to single and specific sales and distribution channels. For example, a wholesaler will have systems designed to work specifically with issues like shipping, warehousing, and advertising allowance which a retailer will have systems designed for store specific issues such as allocation and distribution and details. Current consumer tastes and demands have forced businesses to diversify not only their product offerings, but also the sales distribution channels through which they take their product to market, channels such as retail, wholesale, Internet and mail order. Accordingly, these conventional applications are not well suited to the tracking, planning and managing of inventory over multiple sales and distribution channels.
Furthermore, conventional systems also suffer from the inability to spontaneously change product classifications without losing the prior sales history of the products. Furthermore, these systems are also limited as to the number of product extensions which can be used in the system (i.e., wool sweaters (regular, big and tall, petite sizes)).
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a merchandising system which could develop merchandise line lists and establish a data foundation for merchandising related applications across a variety of sales and distribution channels.
The invention includes a method, apparatus and system for the development of merchandise line lists, the gathering of data, and the storage of data in such a way that a foundation is established for merchandising related applications for use across a variety of sales and distribution channels, such as retail, wholesale, Internet and mail order. The invention includes a computer implemented method for use with a merchandising system which includes the steps of gathering product information for products, creating hierarchies for the products, assigning distribution channels through which the products will be sold, establishing different time horizons for the sale of the products and linking the product editing means, classification editing means, distribution channel editing means, and horizon editing means together to produce merchandise line lists.
The invention further includes an apparatus, system and computer readable medium for creating product line lists which may include a database having stored therein product data for a plurality of products, a merchandising system coupled to said database which includes a product editor for providing product information for products, a classification editor to create hierarchies for the products, a distribution channel editor means to assign distribution channels through which the products will be sold, a horizon editor to establish different time horizons for the sale of the products and a line editor means to build product line lists.
The method, apparatus and system will work across a variety of different distribution channels such as retail, wholesale, mail-order and the Internet in any number of horizons such as fiscal seasons, calendar seasons, design seasons and media seasons.

Method, apparatus and system for merchandising related applications


A production system placed inside a wellbore has a production tubing and an ESP for flowing fluid from the wellbore into the production tubing. A sensor string including distributed sensors is placed along the sensor string and provides temperature measurements along the production tubing uphole of the ESP. A controller determines from the temperature measurements a change in temperature that exceeds a threshold and determines therefrom level of a liquid in the wellbore.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates generally to production of hydrocarbons from wells using electrical submersible pumps.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Oil wells (wellbores) are drilled to a selected depth in earth formations for the production of hydrocarbons. Such wells are often cased after drilling with a metallic casing. A production string containing a variety of devices is placed inside the casing to flow fluid from the formations to the surface. Formation fluid often includes oil, gas and water. Oil is separated from water and gas at the surface and transported for processing. The production string includes a variety of device, such as zone isolation devices, such as packers, sand control devices for controlling flow of solid particles from the formation into the production tubing, and flow control device, such as valves that control the flow of the formation fluid into the wellbore, The fluid in the tubing flows to a surface separator, where oil is separated from gas and water. The formation fluid typically flows naturally into the production tubing because the pressure of the formation is greater than the pressure in the tubing. In the early phases of oil wells, the differential pressure between the formation and the production tubing is sufficient to cause the fluid in the tubing to reach the surface. In the later phases of some wells, this pressure differential is not sufficient to cause the fluid in the tubing to flow to the surface. In some such cases an artificial lift mechanism in the wellbore is used to pump the fluid in the production tubing to the surface. A common lifting mechanism used is an electrical submersible pump ("ESP"). An ESP is installed in the wellbore to draw or lift the liquid fluid from the wellbore into the production tubing. The ESP is designed to remain submerged in a liquid during operation. A selected level of the liquid (oil and/or water) above the ESP is desired for optimal ESP use.
The disclosure herein provides a system for controlling the liquid level (or "head") above the ESP in real or substantially real time and for controlling the operation of the ESP.

Apparatus and method for determining fluid interface proximate an electrical submersible pump and operating the same in response thereto


One embodiment is an apparatus comprising a semiconductor integrated circuit (“IC”) chip comprising at least one active component for implementing an amplifier circuit; and a laminate structure comprising a plurality of metal layers, the laminate structure further comprising a plurality of passive components and transmission line-based structures. The semiconductor IC chip is integrated with the laminate structure such that a top layer of the laminate structure comprises a shield over a top of the semiconductor IC chip and the passive components for limiting electromagnetic coupling of signals generated by the amplifier circuit beyond the laminate structure.

A variable gain amplification ("VGA") may be used to create a larger or smaller signal at an output thereof for the purpose of driving a power amplifier. In particular, the VGA may be designed to provide an interface between a radio frequency digital-to-analog converter ("RF-DAC") and a power amplifier to provide amplification as well as power control over octave bandwidths.

High-performance variable gain amplifier employing laminate transmission line structures


A state control system designed to work in a sequence of processing operations divided into a plurality of states, with jobs specified for performance in each of the states, and to make a transition to the next state on condition that all the jobs have been completed in each state. The state control system comprises a state control section for rewriting a current state on condition that the jobs in the current state have been completed. According to the state control system, the corpulence of only modules which perform control over the jobs and give instructions to the remote units can be prevented. Further, the state control system can make it relatively easy to equalize the sizes of the individual modules, with a reduction in the concentration of the processing operations in some particular modules and also an increase in the independence of the individual modules through establishment of clearly defined roles for the individual modules.

The present invention relates to a state control system in a recording equipment or apparatus incorporating a distributed CPU system.
In such a recording equipment as a copying machine, it has been in practice to employ a distributed CPU system, in which the entire system is divided into a plurality of subsystems, which individually perform their respectively required processes, and a main system performs an overall coordinating control over the operations of such subsystem, thereby integrating them into an organically structured system. In this system, a user interface (U/I), for example, constantly monitors the condition of keys. When the user enters any input with operations on the keys, the U/I judges what job mode has been input, and transmit a signal to the main system. Upon the reception of such a signal, the main system issues instructions to the individual subsystems to make preparations. Then, in response, the subsystems give a command indicating the completion of preparations, and the main system verifies the completion of the preparations by the system as a whole and thereafter gives a command for the execution of the job to the individual subsystems.
In order to perform the processes mentioned above in an unfailing and smooth way, it has also been in practice until the present time to divide the operating sequence into several states and to specify beforehand the processes which the individual subsystems should perform in each state, with such states being controlled by the main system. That is to say, the main system rewrites the state when the process to be executed in a given state has been completed and monitors the status of execution of the process to be performed in the next state. The control of the states in this manner has simplified the overall control of all the subsystems with an effective grasp of the status of the individual subsystems, thereby achieving efficient control over an expanding system and also accomplishing greater accuracy and a higher speed in the execution of the processes by the system as a whole in such a way that this system setup provides adequate means and measures for dealing with the multiple functions incorporated into recording machines or the like and with the higher operating speed of such machines.
Now, the conventional distributed CPU system offers the merit that it can operate with a fewer number of intermodular interfaces since it uses a small number of modules to perform the job control and to give instructions to the individual subsystems as the U/I performs the job control, such as the monitoring of the operations on the keys, the types and substance of the jobs input into the system, and the presence or absence of any contradiction of the job demanded by the input, while the main system issues instructions to the individual subsystems on the basis of the job mode which is transmitted from the U/I and gives execution commands to the individual systems on the basis of the responses from them. Yet, such a system presents the problem that the processing operations are concentrated on the U/I and the main system, with the result that the modules which perform such operations grow considerably large. In addition, the existing system is also faced with the problem that it can not be modified readily because alterations of the specifications require complicated work as an addition, change, or reduction of a given subsystem is necessarily accompanied with modifications of the main system, which gives instructions to the individual subsystems since the main system performs overall control of the entire system. Therefore, it is difficult to improve the productivity of the software, to detect bugs in it and to correct them, and such difficulties present problems from the viewpoint of the manufacturing processes.
The present invention has been made in order to overcome the problems mentioned above.

State control system for a distributed processing system


Security techniques may be selectively performed on data based on a classification of the data. One example technique includes receiving a memory access command specifying a target data block on a storage medium storing both security data and non-security data. The technique further includes determining whether data affected by the access command is security data. Response to such determination, one of multiple data management schemes is selected to implement the memory access command, where each of the data management schemes is adapted to implement the memory access command via a different series of processing operations to provide a different level of security protection for data affected by the memory access command.

As physical storage media technology changes, data management techniques for managing data also evolve. However, many existing virtual data storage systems do not lend themselves well to security data storage. For example, some data platforms do not have built-in mechanisms for ensuring secure erasure of stale data that is no longer in use. In some storage technologies, such as flash-based solid state devices (SSDs), data is constantly being moved around in memory in order to maintain wear-leveling across the device. Commonly used management techniques may permit critical security parameters to be copied and moved around without the knowledge of a host device. Having multiple unknown copies of security parameters stored on the media can present a security risk.


A core barrel for a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor plant has a carrying structure that is supported on an inner surface of the shroud of the barrel. The carrying structure receives a tension rod that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel and braces the shroud in the axial direction.

Field of the Invention
The invention lies in the field of nuclear power generation. More specifically, the invention pertains to a core barrel for a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor plant and to a method for repairing a core barrel. Such core barrels are known, for example, from AEG-Telefunken-Handbuch [AEG-Telefunken manual], Vol. 10, "Siedewasserreaktoren fur Kernkraftwerke" ["Boiling Water Reactors for Nuclear Power Plants"], Andrej Sauer, Berlin 1969, p. 100, or from U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,136 to Gallet et al. Those prior art core barrels are essentially cylindrical containers which are supported on the shell of the reactor pressure vessel, on bearings or projections, and which carry the reactor core.
During operation, particularly in boiling water reactor plants, the core barrel--disposed in the reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor plant for the purpose of receiving the reactor core--may be damaged at the weld seams located on its shroud. Although the loads acting on the weld seams are slight during normal operation, higher loads may occur in the event of design basis accidents, and these loads have to be safely eliminated in order to preserve the shutdown capability and the intactness of the core internals. It is necessary, in particular, to prevent a situation where a weld seam on the shroud of the core barrel (core shroud) ruptures completely resulting in the risk that the core grid could shift.

Core barrel for a reactor pressure vessel of a nuclear reactor plant and method of repairing a core barrel


An arrangement (10), for a vehicle (12) that has an actuatable occupant protection device (14), includes a vehicle seat (16) for a vehicle occupant (22). The arrangement (10) includes sensors (42 and 44) located within the seat (16) for sensing a characteristic that is indicative of a condition for which the protection device (14) is to be actuated. A controller (32) of the arrangement (10) is located within the seat (16) and processes sensory information from the sensors (42 and 44) to determine the occurrence of the condition for which the protection device (14) is to be actuated. A signal (36) indicative of the determination is output from the controller (32).

The present invention relates to vehicle occupant protection systems.
Occupant protection systems for use in vehicles are known in the art. One type of protection system includes an actuatable inflatable restraint module, which has an inflatable restraint that is commonly referred to as an air bag. A controller determines whether the air bag module is to be actuated to inflate the air bag within a vehicle occupant compartment. The air bag module is actuated by the controller upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition for which a vehicle occupant is to be cushioned by the air bag. For example, a sensor senses a vehicle condition indicative of a vehicle crash condition and, in response thereto, the air bag module is actuated.
In certain circumstances, even if the predetermined crash condition occurs, it may be preferable to refrain from actuating the air bag module (i.e., prevent inflation of the air bag). Specifically, if the occupant associated with the air bag module is at a location such that deploying the air bag will not enhance protection of the occupant, actuation of the air bag module does not occur.
One example in which an occupant is located such that deploying the air bag will not enhance protection of the occupant is when the occupant is very near the air bag module. Typically, an occupant who is very near the air bag module is referred to as being within an occupant out-of-position zone. Actuation of the air bag module for an occupant who is within the occupant out-of-position zone will not enhance protection of the occupant.
A protection system that provides for control of a protection system device (e.g., an air bag module) in response to a sensed occupant condition (e.g., occupant type and occupant location) is commonly referred to as a xe2x80x9csmartxe2x80x9d protection system. Smart protection systems control actuation of the associated protection system device (e.g., the air bag module), and may also control a deployment profile (e.g., timing and manner of deployment) of the device. For example, smart control of an air bag module can include control of the amount of inflation fluid used to inflate the air bag in response to sensed occupant location.
Control of such smart protection systems is associated with a rather larger volume of information processing and decision-making. In other words, a processor algorithm within smart protection systems can be rather complex. For example, a decision to deploy an air bag can depend on a plurality of factors such as crash severity, occupant size, occupant location, and occupant type (i.e., a large adult versus a child in an infant seat). In a staged, multilevel deployment system, the degree of deployment can also depend upon plurality of factors such as the above mentioned factors.
The information processed within a smart restraint system that is associated with the plurality of factors includes sensory signal information from several sources (e.g., sensors or sensor arrangements) at several locations. Examples of the variety of placed sensors that are used to provide sensory information in smart restraint systems include: crash deceleration sensors and crash safing sensors on a vehicle chassis, ranging sensors in an instrument panel and/or in a headliner, weight sensors in a seat or under a seat, and buckle sensors in a seat belt clasp.
Such sophisticated occupant protection systems have associated costs in terms of time and money to develop, manufacture, and install. First, the multiple sensor locations require an occupant protection system vendor, and particularly occupant sensing system personnel of the vendor, to interact with multiple responsible groups within a vehicle manufacturer. Examples of the groups with which an occupant protection system vendor must typically interact include an instrument panel group for panel mounted sensors, a headliner/overhead console group for overhead sensors, a seat group for seat mounted sensors, a chassis/body group for crash sensors, an styling/interior groups for many sensors and components, and so on. In terms of time and cost, an occupant protection system vendor has a considerable burden to work with and qualify an occupant protection system with all such groups.
In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides an arrangement for a vehicle having an actuatable occupant protection device. The arrangement includes a vehicle seat for a vehicle occupant. Sensor means of the arrangement is located within the seat and senses a characteristic that is indicative of a condition for which the protection device is to be actuated. Processor means of the arrangement is located within the seat. The processor means processes sensory information from the sensor means to determine the occurrence of the condition for which the protection device is to be actuated and outputs a signal indicative of the determination.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides an arrangement for a vehicle having an actuatable occupant protection device. The arrangement includes a vehicle seat for a vehicle occupant. The arrangement includes all components, which are contained within the seat, necessary for determining the occurrence of a vehicle condition for which the occupant is to be protected by the protection device and for controlling actuation of the occupant protection device.

Seat arrangement for a vehicle having an actuatable occupant protection device


A micromachined pressure switch and method of fabrication from silicon wafers using aligned fusion bonding. Pattern etched thermally grown silicon dioxide insulating pads are used to determine the size of silicon pressure membranes on an upper silicon wafer, with the desired switch gap set by the oxide thickness. The silicon membranes are formed by controlled thinning the upper silicon wafers. V-shaped vent grooves are pattern etched into a bottom silicon wafer to form electrodes to which the insulating pads are fusion bonded. The area between the electrodes and the membrane forms wells of specified sizes into which the membranes deflect upon application of pressure. The pressure switch operates when the membrane is deflected to contact the electrodes in the bottom wafer, and closes at the desired pressure threshold for both directions of pressure change with negligible hysteresis. The method of fabrication applies to a single element pressure switch as well as to an array of pressure switches.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to pressure switches, and more particularly to fabrication of a micromechanical digital pressure switch array from align fusion bonded silicon wafers.
2. Description of the Background Art
Mechanical pressure switches and their fabrication are well known in the art. Such devices typically provide an output signal in the form of a switch closure or the like in response to application of mechanical or atmospheric pressure. Current fabrication techniques for conventional pressure switches, however, result in pressure switches which are bulky and which do not provide accurate digital output for multiple pressure thresholds.
Several types of micromachined pressure switches can also be found. For example, Terry et al., A Monolithic Silicon Switch System for Tire Pressure Measurement, published in Transducers '87 Technical Digest p. 76 (1987) discloses a silicon micromachined pressure switch with electrostatic hysteresis for tire pressure monitoring. Huff et al., A Threshold Pressure Switch Utilizing Plastic Deformation of Silicon, published in Transducers '91 Technical Digest p. 181 (1991) discloses a threshold pressure switch utilizing plastic deformation of a silicon membrane using wafer bonding technology.
The foregoing information reflects the state of the art of which the applicant is aware and is tendered with the view toward discharging applicant's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information which may be pertinent in the examination of this application. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that none of these disclosures teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, applicant's claimed invention.

Digital pressure switch and method of fabrication

The Regents of the University of California


A method for adjusting a vehicle headlight during cornering, involves creating cornering light by superimposing a light distribution pattern (37) with a greater horizontal dispersion than that of a low-beam light onto the low-beam light distribution pattern (36). A fog-light distribution pattern (37) of a fog light is used as the light distribution pattern having the greater horizontal dispersion. A single headlight unit can be used for generating such cornering light according to the method of this invention.

This invention relates to a method for adjusting a vehicle headlight during cornering and/or at intersections.
This invention also relates to headlight units for generating cornering light, having a reflector surface designed for that purpose. Also, this function is appropriate for adverse weather lamps.
A headlight is known for adjusting vehicle lighting during cornering, in which the headlight is pivoted about a vertical axis, depending on a turning radius or steering deflection. This requires an additional pivoting device, is costly, and entails an increased space requirement in a vehicle body.
Furthermore, European patent document (EP 0 661 193 A1) discloses a headlight in which an upper region of a reflector is divided into two segments that can be moved by use of electrical signals. The movable segments are controlled as a function of lateral inclination of a motorcycle, as registered by a sensor. Such control of individual reflector segments is mechanically costly, expensive, and trouble-prone. On the other hand, of course, it is also appropriate to provide good lateral illumination of sides of roads when cornering, but without blinding on-coming traffic when driving straight.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an inexpensive, safe, and uncomplicated method of illuminating sides of roads, even during cornering, without blinding on-coming traffic when driving straight.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a headlight unit for carrying out the method of this invention.

Method of adjusting a vehicle headlight and headlight unit


A hydrodynamic bearing for use in a spindle motor, having a shaft, a bearing sleeve encompassing the shaft with a small radial space, and a skewback at one end face of the bearing sleeve which is fixedly connected to the bearing sleeve. The shaft features a thrust plate or a conical or cone-like extension at its end face which faces the skewback. The diameter of the conical extension increases in the direction of the end face of the shaft. A bearing gap formed between the shaft and the bearing sleeve is filled with a bearing fluid. Dynamic pressure generating grooves are provided on one of the outer surface of the shaft and the inner surface of the bearing sleeve to generate an excess pressure in the bearing fluid.

The invention relates to a brushless DC motor of the type used in spindle motors in disk drives and, in particular, to a hydrodynamic bearing for such spindle motors.
Disk drive systems have been used in computers and other electronic devices for many years for storage of digital information. Information is recorded on concentric memory tracks of a magnetic disk medium, the actual information being stored in the form of magnetic transitions within the medium. The disks themselves are rotatably mounted on a spindle, the information being accessed by means of transducers located on a pivoting arm which moves radially over the surface of the disk. The read/write heads or transducers must be accurately aligned with the storage tracks on the disk to ensure proper reading and writing of information. Thus the disks must be rotationally stable.
Electric spindle motors of the type used in disk drives conventionally rely on ball bearings to support a rotary member, such as a rotating hub, on a stationary member, such as a shaft. Ball bearings are known to wear parts, and, in time, increased friction will cause failure of the motor. In addition, ball bearings create debris in the form of dust or fine particles that can find their way into "clean" chambers housing the rotary magnetic disks which are driven by the motor. The mechanical friction inherent in ball bearings also generates heat, noise and vibration, all of which are undesirable in a disk drive motor.
Hydrodynamic bearings represent a considerable improvement over conventional ball bearings in spindle drive motors. In these types of bearing systems, lubricating fluid, either gas or liquid, functions as the actual bearing surface between a stationary base or housing and the rotating spindle or the rotating hub of the motor. For example, air or liquid lubricants, comprising oil or more complex ferro-magnetic fluids have been utilized in hydrodynamic bearing systems.
The advantages of hydrodynamic bearings over ball bearings include improved running accuracy, greater impact strength, and less noise development.
Spindle motors for data storage medium disks in which a motor shaft fixedly attached to a rotor is supported by means of a hydrodynamic bearing system are known in the art. A hydrodynamic bearing system according to the prior art comprises, for example, a bearing sleeve having a hollow cylindrical hole, which can be sealed on one side with a counter-plate. A motor shaft surrounded by a lubricating fluid, typically oil, is provided inside the bearing sleeve. One or more grooved patterns are provided on the inner surface of the bearing sleeve or on the outer surface of the motor shaft. These grooves generate hydrodynamic bearing pressure when the shaft rotates inside the bearing sleeve.
Furthermore, hydrodynamic bearings with axial track cap bearings in low-performance spindle motors are known in which the axial bearing forces in one direction are absorbed by supporting the bearing in its fulcrum on a counter-plate, while the axial opposing force is generated magnetically by, for example, the interaction between the rotor and the stator. However, these types of hydrodynamic bearings possess minimal axial rigidity in one direction. As a result, their use in hard disk drives is problematic because such applications require axial rigidity in both axial directions. On the other hand, hydrodynamic bearings with axial track cap bearings offer the advantage of having a very low level of friction loss and, consequently, a lower power consumption.
An example of a hydrodynamic bearings according to the prior art, as it is described above, is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,836.

Hydrodynamic bearing for a spindle motor


A weapon system effectively, efficiently and safely transmits high energy radio frequency energy into the confines of the breech environment to initiate propelling charges. Legacy components are leveraged, along with advanced manufacturing techniques, to create antenna structures which transmit the radio frequency energy throughout the breech to initiate radio frequency-based primers.

The invention relates in general to propulsion of projectiles and more particularly to propulsion of projectiles by radio frequency energy.
Conventional medium caliber and large caliber projectiles are launched by initiation of a propellant, which is either contained within a casing along with the projectile or contained in separate propelling charge cases. The propellant is typically initiated by a center-fire based primer which in turn is typically ignited through electrical or mechanical means. Medium and large caliber artillery systems and tank cannons, in particular, employ this scheme.
A feature common in many conventional artillery charges is that the ignition impetus occurs at the rear of the charge and at a single location. Under ideal conditions, single point rear ignition spreads progressively forward through the propellant bed. However, predictable progressive ignition does not always occur. Inconsistent ignition: and variation in the speed at which propelled deflagration occurs may result in a rarefaction wave phenomena which is detrimental to the weapon platform and projectile and may even cause catastrophic weapon failure. These problems become amplified as the length, weight and volume of the propellant or propelling charge increase.
A need exists for a system which allows for multipoint ignition of a propelling charge.

Radio frequency antenna for use in the confines of a breech

U.S. Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army


A golf putting green and associated ball return system are disclosed. The ball return system returns a ball generally to the original point of the putt. As a ball is hit and rolls into a target hole or gutter, it falls by gravity through an air gate and enters an air duct channel. The gate closes after the ball falls through it. A gutter is provided for missed putts. The gutter slopes to a hole that also includes an air gate, which momentarily opens to allow missed putt balls to enter the air duct channel. Using the force of air generated by an air producing unit, the ball is gently propelled through the channel, which extends uprange along the putting surface, and returns the ball at the end of the channel onto the putting area. As the ball exits the channel with momentum generated by the airflow, it follows along a curved frame structure, positioned around the periphery of one side edge of the putting area, which acts to deliver the ball to the point of the original putt. Counters may be included for detected made putts, missed putts, and total putts, etc.

The present invention relates to games involving balls such as golf, and more particularly to a golf putting system with an associated ball return system, and yet more particularly to systems and methods for returning a golf ball to a desired location from a desired location utilizing a controlled and adjustable air flow.
The game of golf has become increasingly popular in the United States and around the world. To remain competitive and improve performance, golfers constantly practice their game. There is a need in the field for more opportunities for golfers to practice their game without the associated time and expense involved in physically practicing at a golf course or range. In particular, there is a need for implements to enable golfers to practice putting repetitively yet in a short amount of time.
Various devices have been developed or proposed in order to allow persons to practice golf. While these devices have taken a variety of configurations, they typically consist of features such as a hitting surface, target hole(s) and sometimes a ball return system. Conventional ball return systems have, for example, employed gravity through the use of automatic or manually inclined surfaces and channels. Other conventional systems have contemplated or utilized a golf ball ejector or pressurized fluid chamber to return balls to a holding tank or another location. The shortcomings associated with these systems include the relatively long time delay from the time of hitting the ball towards the target hole and the ball""s return to the golfer. In addition, the ball is returned in a manner that still requires the golfer to physically move to retrieve or re-position the ball for the next putt.
Furthermore, while conventional systems have included or proposed ball returns that return a ball, either to a holding tank or another area, there is a need for an improved system that can return the ball to the point of origin of the putt. With such a system, the golfer need not retrieve the ball nor change his or her original stance, grip, or posture, and can maintain more complete concentration without interruption after a putt. As an example, it is believed that conventional systems cannot provide a means for a golfer to hit at least 100 putts at a target hole such as in 8-10 minutes. Such repetitive putting practice is believed to significantly aid in the development of a smooth, predictable and repeatable putting stroke that can improve the accuracy and consistency of the golfer""s putting.
The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for returning a putted ball to the hitting area after the ball is hit into the hole or into a gutter, thereby allowing the golfer to repeatedly hit the ball numerous times in a period of minutes without requiring a change in his/her physical position (e.g., without requiring movement of the feet, etc., in order to retrieve the ball, etc.).
As a ball is hit and rolls into a target hole, or past the hole and into a gutter which is sloped and includes a second hole, the ball falls through a membrane gate into a channel of an air duct system. As the ball falls through either hole, a membrane air gate is provided that momentarily opens and then closes after the ball falls through it. Using the force of air generated by an air producing unit, such as one or multiple fans, the ball is gently propelled in the channel, which extends uprange (or downrange) along the putting surface and ultimately returning the ball generally to the point of origin. The ball exits the channel with momentum caused by the airflow onto the putting area and preferably follows along a curved frame structure positioned at the periphery of at least one side of the putting area, which acts to deliver the ball to the point of the original putt and preferably in the direction to be putted. The amount of air flow through the channel, the length, and the curvature of the frame structure preferably may be adjusted for speed and aiming in order to return the ball to a desired location.
Balls that do not fall into the target hole may fall into the gutter positioned behind or in whole or part around but spaced apart from the target hole for missed putts. The gutter preferably is inclined to deliver the ball through a hole that delivers the ball to the same air duct channel as the target hole and preferably returns the ball by the same airflow through the channel. The putting surface in preferred embodiments is variable in length and may be covered by artificial grass, fabric, carpet, or smooth material depending on the type of surface a golfer wishes to have simulated. It preferably may also be adjusted to provide either a true and straight putting surface, or may be contoured by the use of lobes or thumbscrews or the like in order to provide a curved or breaking surface, and also provide for various inclination levels to allow for a change in the speed and difficulty of the putt.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a putting green or surface, which may be stationary.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a putting green or surface, which may be portable in the example of a lightweight reduced size travel model.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a putting green or surface with foldable hinges along the surface for easy storage or with a cabinet for the putting green or surface to fold into.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a putting green or surface, which may be used outdoors.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a putting green or surface, which may be used indoors in the example of a fold-down model to be built into a home or a collapsible model for a hotel room or office.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a putting green or surface, which is extendable, for example, up to at least 16 feet.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable mechanism so that the putting surface may be adjusted for a faster or slower roll.
Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable mechanism so that the putting surfaces may be adjusted to be flat and true or may be varied into a contoured surface and/or with adjustable incline levels.
Another object of the invention is to have more than one target hole.
Another object of the invention is to allow for a target hole to be reduced in size in an effort to enhance the accuracy of the putt.
Another object of the invention is to provide a coin operated industrial model of the golf putting green or surface such as for recreational parks.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention is to provide a preferably electronic score keeper or counter that detects balls putted versus putts attempted or may also assign different scores based on different positions on the green or surface.

Apparatus and method for returning a golf ball to a desired location


Apparatus and methods are disclosed for modifying video based on user input and or face detection data received with a mobile device to generate foreground regions (e.g., to separate a user image from background in the video). According to one disclosed embodiment, a method comprises receiving user input and/or face regions generated with a mobile device, producing an initial representation for segmenting input video into a plurality of portions based on the user input, where the initial representation includes probabilities for one or more regions of the input video being designated as foreground regions or background regions. Based on the initial representation, input video is segmented by designating one or more of the regions of the input video as foreground regions or background regions.

With the increasing popularity of mobile devices having image-capture functionality, including cellphone devices, handheld devices, handheld computers, smartphones, and PDAs, there is a need for improving the user experience. Modern mobile devices typically include the capability to capture and transmit video over a computer network in real time.
Mobile device applications, such as video chat applications, include the transmission and/or recording of video using a video camera coupled to the mobile device. Modifying image regions in video captured utilizing hand-held mobile devices presents challenges not addressed by existing techniques.
Therefore, there exists ample opportunity for improvement in technologies to allow mobile users use of improved video applications in the mobile domain.

Modifying video regions using mobile device input


A handle for hand-held tools, particularly files, that have an end portion (3) for insertion into the handle (1). The handle includes at least two parts (4, 5) which are separated in the insertion direction of the end portion of the tool and includes end-portion guides (6). One guide has the form of a hole (6) in one handle part (4). A surface on the guide in the other handle part (5) intended for coaction with the end portion (3) of the tool is displaced laterally in relation to a corresponding surface in the hole (6). The two handle parts (4, 5) are resiliently movable relative to one another, to permit reduction in the displacement between the surfaces in conjunction with inserting the end portion (3) of the tool into the handle (1). The end portion of the tool is automatically clamped firmly in the handle as the handle parts tend to spring back to their original positions.

The present invention relates to handles for hand-held tools and then particularly, but not exclusively, for files of the kind provided with a tang which is inserted into the handle, said handle including at least two parts which are separated in the tang-insertion direction and provided with tang guide means.
Several different designs of handles for hand-held files and like tools are known to the art. The majority of these handles fall into the following two main types.
The first and the simplest type of handle includes an axially extending hole or passage into which the file tang is pressed. The file tang is normally provided with a slightly conical, four-cornered attachment means. The handle thus has the simplest conceivable design, which enables it to be manufactured at low cost. One drawback with handles of this design, however, is that the handle cannot always be relied upon to grip the file firmly, and there is a risk of the file loosening in the handle and sliding therefrom while being used. This drawback has become particularly pronounced with handles that are made of plastic material, as is now more usually the case, which generates a low coefficient of friction between file and handle.
In the case of handles that belong to the second main type or category, the axially extending hole intended to receive the file tang is surrounded by thin, resilient jaws. The tang has a screw-threaded part and when the file has been inserted into the handle a nut is fitted over the file and tightened on the screw-threaded part of the tang. The resilient jaws are therewith pressed against the file and hold the file firmly in the handle. Manufacture of this handle, however, is a complicated process and the cost of manufacture is commensurately high.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,436,556 describes a file handle comprised of two halves of a metal shell which are pressed one against the other. Each shell half has cut therefrom two tongues which are pressed into the handle. By pressing the two shell halves together, a file can be inserted into the shaft and clamped firmly between said tongues, due to a tendency of the shell halves to spring back.
In addition to the manufacture of this handle being relatively complicated, another serious drawback with this known handle is that as the file is used it tends to loosen in the handle as a result of the workman involuntarily squeezing together the two handle halves with his/her hand during a working operation.


A storage box apparatus includes a base member which includes a lock loop. First and second storage compartment assemblies are supported by the base member and include first and second compartment regions. Sliding trays are positioned over the compartment regions. Hinged covers cover the sliding trays. Lock bars extend downward from distal edges of hinged covers which prevent the sliding trays from sliding outward when the hinged covers are closed. A third storage compartment assembly is supported by the base member and is located between the first and second storage compartment assemblies along a longitudinal axis. The third storage compartment assembly includes a plurality of drawers arrayed along a vertical axis, wherein each of the drawers includes a drawer handle. Each of the drawer handles is in linear alignment with the other drawer handles and the lock loop. One of the drawers, such as the bottommost drawer, includes internal divider walls for dividing an interior space in the one of the drawers into a plurality of smaller storage spaces. A locking pin is threaded through the drawer handles and the lock loop and is used for locking the drawers in a closed position. A padlock is provided for locking the locking pin into locking position with respect to the drawer handles. A first key lock assembly is connected to the first hinged cover, and a second key lock assembly is connected to the second hinged cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to storage boxes and, more particularly, to storage boxes especially adapted for being carried on the bed of a pickup truck.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known for storage boxes to be carried on beds of pickup trucks. In this respect, there are a number of features that would be desirable in such storage boxes. For example, for stability of a storage box, it would be desirable if the storage box had special features for engaging the walls adjacent to the pickup truck bed. For purposes of convenience, it would be desirable if a storage box for a pickup truck had trays which slide outwards over and past the sides of the walls of the pickup truck bed. It would also be desirable if a storage box for a pickup truck had sliding drawers which slide backwards towards the rear of the pickup truck over a portion of the pickup truck bed.
When a person uses a storage box for a pickup truck, the person often wants to store a number of both relatively large and relatively small articles. In this respect, it would be desirable if a storage box for a pickup truck had storage compartments for both relatively large and relatively small articles.
Articles that are stored in a pickup truck storage box are often very expensive and difficult to replace. With this in mind, it is important that such items in the storage box are secured from theft. In this respect, it would be desirable if a storage box for a pickup truck had suitable locking devices for securing articles retained in the storage box and for preventing theft thereof.
Thus, it would be desirable if a storage box for a pickup truck has the following combination of desirable features: (1) engages the walls adjacent to the pickup truck bed; (2) has trays which slide outwards over and past the sides of the walls of the pickup truck bed; (3) has sliding drawers which slide backwards towards the rear of the pickup truck over a portion of the pickup truck bed; (4) has storage compartments for both relatively large and relatively small articles; and (5) has suitable locking devices for securing articles retained in the storage box and for preventing theft thereof The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique truck storage box apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.


Compositions of encapsulated triboelectrically charged particles and methods for making them using a spinning disc process are disclosed. The methods can be used to make charged pigment particles embedded in a neutral polymer matrix. The polymer matrix keeps oppositely charged pigment particle from agglomerating. The particles can be used for electrophoretic displays.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to charged particles, such as those used in electronic paper-like displays, as well as methods for making such particles.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Paper-like displays based on the electrophoretic migration of electrophoretic particles are being developed for use in commercial displays document editing, and document retrieval. Examples of such displays are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,618 to Foucher et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,820 to Mikkelson Jr. et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,316 to Shigehiro et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,804 to Jacobsen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,584 to Albert et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,067,185 to Albert et. al each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In some examples, the electrophoretic particles may be provided in suspension and sandwiched between one or more transparent electrodes of the device.
Some such systems are one-particle systems, where a single type of particle (usually white) is dispersed in a dark dyed fluid. In a one-particle device, when the particles migrate to the top electrode, the device appears white. When the particles migrate to the bottom electrode, the white particles are hidden by the dyed fluid, and the device appears dark. Another example of a one-particle system involves bichromal rotating elements where each particle is bichromal, and the particles selectively rotate in response to an applied electric field to produce a two-color image. Other such systems are two-particle systems, where the display uses at least two types of particle groups. The particle groups have different color and charge characteristics with respect to each other and move differently when the electric field is applied. Examples of two-particle displays are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,657,612 to Machida et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,525,866 to Lin et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,529,313 to Lin et al., each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
One challenge in the development of two-particle electrophoretic displays is the particle design or structure. Each type of particle has to carry opposite charge so that the particles move in opposite directions in the electric field created by the electrodes. The interaction between these two oppositely charged particles should be minimal to prevent their agglomeration. In addition, the particles must possess the requisite chemical and thermal stability to permit their use in the display.
Current methodologies to make two particle electrophoretic display systems have focused on the use of different surface polymer coatings on the pigment particles to stabilize dispersions of the particles in the display. Examples of such coatings are disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0217929, to Albert et al., and World Patent Application Publication No. WO02/093246, to Honeyman et al, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Coated pigment particles are difficult to manufacture with consistent performance and at low cost. These kinds of coated particles can suffer from unpredictable dispersion interaction and poor particle charging, which limits device reliability.
Electrophoretic particles that have a polymer coating on the particles may be suspended in liquid media. Because of their small size, for example, about one to about two micron-sized particles, agglomeration is a problem. To prevent particle agglomeration, various combinations of surface coating procedures and dispersants are used. However, the incorrect formulation of stabilizers and additives can have an adverse effect on image bistability, and the image may not persist. The optimum level of dispersant draws a fine line between dispersibility and image persistence. Furthermore, the stabilizer and dispersant additives are physioadsorbed onto the electrophoretic particles. Over time and continuous particle migration cycles, these additives can desorb from the particles and into the surrounding fluid. This can lead to high conductivity of the fluid, dispersion instability (agglomeration), and loss of electrophoretic mobility. For a two-particle system, the charging mechanism of the particles is more complicated than for a one-particle system. The two types of oppositely charged particles may interact with one another and agglomerate. This complicates the formulation of the system.
Another two-particle system is based on dry toners. In this case, toner particles typically of an about ten to about twenty micron size are filled in a micropatterned array and sandwiched between two electrodes. Only an air gap separates the two electrodes. The challenge is the uniform filling of large area grid patterns to accommodate the toner and the charging of toner by vigorous mechanical tumbling. In the dry toner system, high voltages of nearly 400 volts are used to migrate the toner back and forth across the air gap.
There is a need for electrophoretic particles and compositions containing them that form stable dispersions and can be used in electrophoretic media such as displays. It would be desirable to provide electrophoretic particles for use in such media at low operating voltages. Further, there is a need to make electrophoretic particles with easily controlled electrophoretic properties in commercially useful quantities and in a cost effective manner.


For tracing multi-conductor cable runs from multiple phone/data locations throughout a building or complex to a junction facility where the cables need to be systematically identified and connected to a terminal panel, rapid tracing and identification are accomplished by deploying a large number of special low-cost senders, e.g. a set of forty eight senders, connecting as many senders as required to energize every cable at each location via its standard modular jack. Each sender delivers a unique identification signal, e.g. a spoken number from 1 to 48, energizing a corresponding phone cable and/or data cable. With all of the cables thusly energized simultaneously and distinguishably, a technician working with a proximity probe in the junction facility can rapidly identify and tag and/or connect all the cables in an uninterrupted session, without requiring the usual assistant and intercom link, and with no time wasted probing unenergized cables. For larger systems beyond the tracing capability of the set number of senders, a range switch provides three additional extension ranges with unique identification numbers to preserve a numerical sequence when more than one session is required. As an optional refinement, one or more of the senders may be further equipped to enable wire-mapping of all active conductors in the cables.

Indoor telecommunication hookup technology has evolved to a standard practice of utilizing cables with six or eight copper wire conductors for use as three or four pairs, where each pair provides one basic phone or data line. The six or eight wires in each cable are distinctively color coded and the active conductors are connected at the user end to corresponding contacts in modular jacks, typically of a six- or eight-position type that can be equipped with up to six or eight contacts respectively.
A simple single "phone line" or "data line" requires only one pair of conductors in the cable and one pair of contacts in a modular jack; however for purposes of easy identification between phone lines and data lines in installation, it has become a standard practice to utilize the six-conductor cable and the six-position modular jacks for phone lines, and to utilize the eight-conductor cable and the eight-position modular jacks for data lines. A small installation with two phone lines and one data line would most likely be implemented with a six-conductor cable for the phone lines, with four conductors connected to two contacts each of two six-position modular jacks, and with an eight-conductor cable for the data line, with two conductors connected to two conductors of an eight-position modular jack. Such a system could be implemented at lower material cost with a single six-conductor cable; however for minimum overall installation cost of labor plus material, the typical tradeoff results in the use of more than the possible minimum number of cables, and many of conductors in the cables may be left unutilized.
In the installation of phone/data lines in larger buildings and complexes, multiple cables are run from numerous user outlets in various rooms and locations to a junction facility or "phone service room" equipped with a terminal panel, known as a "patch panel", where the cables must be identified for interconnection to external communication lines. however this does not provide identification in a large bundle of cable ends, consequently these must be correlated with the various user outlets for systematic connection to the terminal panel.
Such tracing and identification as practiced in known art is highly labor-intensive, inefficient and costly, typically requiring at least two technicians and involving a large amount of repetitious and redundant testing.

Simultaneous tracing of multiple phone/data cables


A table system for use with an imaging device includes a base portion that supports the table system over a support surface, a patient support including a platform for supporting a patient in a standing position and a bed for supporting the patient in a lying position, a linkage portion coupled between the base portion and the patient support that is pivotable with respect to both the base portion and the patient support, a first drive mechanism that drives the pivoting of the patient support with respect to the linkage portion, and a second drive mechanism that drives the pivoting of the linkage portion with respect to the base portion, the first and second drive mechanisms moving the patient support between a vertical position in which the platform is substantially parallel to the support surface and a horizontal position in which the bed is substantially parallel to the support surface.

A variety of patient supports (e.g., tables) are used for different medical imaging applications, such as x-ray fluoroscopic and computed tomography (CT) imaging and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. These patient supports are often designed for use with a particular device or type of imaging device. For example, a patient support for an x-ray CT imaging device may be designed and dimensioned for sliding a patient in and out of an imaging bore of the device.
In many cases, it can be difficult to load and unload patients from the supports commonly used with medical imaging equipment. In addition, conventional patient supports may be limited in the types imaging devices they can be used with and/or the positions in which they can support a patient. Conventional patient supports may also need to be made relatively large and/or heavy to minimize dynamic sagging as the support slides in and out of the bore of an imaging device.
There is a continuing need for an improved patient support for medical imaging.


In a differential transmission line, a substrate has first and second surfaces parallel to each other, and a first grounding conductor is formed on the second surface of the substrate. A dielectric layer is formed on the first grounding conductor, and a second grounding conductor is formed on the dielectric layer. First and the second signal conductors are formed to be parallel to each other on the first surface of the substrate. The first signal conductor and the first and second grounding conductors constitute a first transmission line, and the second signal conductor and the first and second grounding conductors constitute a second transmission line. A slot is formed in the first grounding conductor to three-dimensionally intersect with the first and second signal conductors and to be orthogonal to a longitudinal direction thereof, and a connecting conductor is formed for connecting the first grounding conductor with the second grounding conductor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a differential transmission lines and, in particular, to a differential transmission line that transmits an analog high-frequency signal or a digital signal in a microwave band, a sub-millimeter wave band or a millimeter wave band.
2. Description of the Related Art
A differential signal transmission system, which has less radiation and is also robust to noises as compared with the single-ended signal transmission system that has been conventionally used, has been increasingly used for high-speed signal transmissions.
FIG. 12 is a top view of a prior art differential transmission line. FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view along the line C-C′ of the differential transmission line of FIG. 12 showing an electric field vector Ee in an odd mode. FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view along the line C-C′ of the differential transmission line of FIG. 12 showing an electric field vector Eo in an even mode.
Referring to FIGS. 12 to 14, a grounding conductor 11 (FIGS. 13 and 14) is formed on the back surface of a dielectric substrate 10, and strip-shaped signal conductors 2a and 2b in parallel to each other are formed on the front surface of the dielectric substrate 10. Differential high-frequency signals of signs opposite to each other are applied to the two signal conductors 2a and 2b, and the line functions as a differential transmission line. That is, a first microstrip line 20a (FIG. 12) is constituted by including the signal conductor 2a and the grounding conductor 11 sandwiching the dielectric substrate 10, and a microstrip line 20b (FIG. 12) is constituted by including the signal conductor 2b and the grounding conductor 11 sandwiching the dielectric substrate 10. In this case, the differential transmission line is constituted by including a pair of the microstrip lines 20a and 20b.
If the two microstrip lines 20a and 20b are adjacently placed to be parallel to each other so as to be electromagnetically coupled with each other as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, two modes of the even mode in which signals in an identical direction are transmitted through the two microstrip lines 20a and 20b and the odd mode in which signals in opposite directions are transmitted are generated. In the differential transmission line, a differential signal is transmitted by utilizing the odd mode.
The electric field vector Ee in the odd mode is schematically indicated by the arrow of FIG. 13, and the direction of the electric field vector Eo in the even mode is schematically indicated by the arrow of FIG. 14. In the odd mode, as shown in FIG. 13, the electric field vector Ee is directed from one signal conductor 2a toward the other signal conductor 2b, and the magnitude of the electric field vector directed from the signal conductor 2a to the grounding conductor 11 is small. That is, a virtual ground plane is formed on the symmetry plane of the two signal conductors 2a and 2b according to the differential transmission in the odd mode.
In designing a differential transmission line, a circuit design such that the inputted differential signal is not converted into a common-mode signal is indispensable. For example, in order for two signals inputted with opposite phases and an equal amplitude to keep the opposite-phase equal-amplitude relation, it is necessary to keep a circuit symmetry of the two microstrip lines 20a and 20b, through which the respective signals are transmitted. That is, the two microstrip lines 20a and 20b that constitute the differential transmission line need to be a pair of transmission lines that have identical amplitude characteristics and phase characteristics. However, at the bends of the differential transmission line (i.e., bend regions of the two microstrip lines 20a and 20b), unnecessary mode conversion from the differential signal to the common-mode signal easily occurs.
The Patent Document 1 of the first prior art discloses a measure for removing the unnecessary common-mode signal that has been disadvantageously superimposed on the differential transmission line. FIG. 15 is a top view showing differential transmission lines 20A and 20B of the first prior art. The construction of the differential transmission lines 20A and 20B disclosed in the Patent Document 1 is described below with reference to FIG. 15.
Referring to FIG. 15, a plurality of slots 21 are formed at a grounding conductor (not shown, but referring to a ground conductor formed on the back surface of the dielectric substrate 10) just under the differential transmission lines 20A and 20B. The slots 21 extend in a direction orthogonal to the transmission direction 25 of a differential signal. By adopting the construction as described above, impedance to the common-mode signal is selectively increased, and the common-mode signal is reflected. According to the differential-mode transmission, a virtual high-frequency ground plane is formed between a pair of signal conductors 2a and 2b that constitute the differential transmission line 20A, and therefore, an influence on the transmission characteristic is small even if the plurality of slots 21 are formed on the grounding conductor. Therefore, at the differential transmission lines 20A and 20B of the first prior art described in the Patent Document 1, the transmission characteristic in the differential mode is not negatively influenced, and it is possible to reduce a common-mode signal transmission intensity.
The Patent Document 1 further discloses a method for removing the common-mode signal at the bends of the differential transmission line 20B. That is, the Patent Document 1 describes that it is effective for the removal of the common-mode signal to form a slot 23 in a direction orthogonal to the local signal transmission direction 27 also in the case where the differential transmission line 20B has a bend shape as in the case of the linear shape. Moreover, the Non-Patent Document 1 discloses a principle that the common mode can be removed by forming the slots 21 and 23 at the grounding conductor.
The related documents to the present invention are as follows:
Patent Document 1: JP 2004-048750 A;
Non-Patent Document 1: F. Gisin et al., "Routing differential I/O signals across split ground planes at the connector for EMI control", 2000 IEEE International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Vol. 1, pp. 325-327, August 2000;
Non-Patent Document 2: M. Kirschning et al., "Measurement and computer-aided modeling of microstrip discontinuities by an improved resonator method", 1983 IEEE MTT-S International Micro wave Symposium Digest, Vol. 83, pp. 495-497, May 1983; and
Non-Patent Document 3: A. Weisshaar et al., "Modeling of radial microstrip bends", 1990 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest, Vol. 3, pp. 1051-1054, May 1990;
However, according to the prior art described above, the intensity of the common-mode signal transmitted through the differential transmission line can be reduced when the common-mode signal is inputted, whereas there is neither disclosure nor suggestion regarding a reduction in the unnecessary mode conversion intensity with which the common-mode signal is outputted when the differential signal is inputted.
FIG. 16 is a top view showing a differential transmission line 20C according to the Non-Patent Document 2 of a second prior art. The Non-Patent Document 2 discloses that the transmission characteristic is improved by removing the corner 29 of a signal conductor 2 at the bend of the single-ended microstrip line 20C as shown in FIG. 16. In general, a grounding capacitance generated between the signal conductor 2 and the grounding conductor tends to increase at the bend of the microstrip line 20C in comparison with the linear regions. Therefore, when the area of the signal conductor 2 is reduced at the bend, the transmission characteristic is improved. This technique is widely used for the contemporary high-frequency circuit design. As for software or the like to make a layout chart from a circuit diagram, it is often the case where the removal of the corner portion at the bend of the signal conductor is automatically set.
The Non-Patent Document 3 of a third prior art reports the high-frequency characteristic of a line structure exhibiting a satisfactory value as a transmission characteristic in the high-frequency band at the bend of the single-ended microstrip line. Although it is contemplated that the reflection of the transmission signal might occur in the construction of the second prior art, the high-frequency characteristic is improved by assuming the center of curvature at the curve of the transmission line and laying the signal conductor gently curved in the construction of the third prior art. Such a construction is also generally used in the high-frequency circuit to transmit particularly a high-frequency signal.
FIG. 17 is a top view showing a differential transmission line 20D according to a modified example of the first prior art. The bends of the differential transmission line shown in FIG. 17 can be achieved on the basis of the disclosed contents of the first prior art. The line structure of the bends shown in FIG. 17 corresponds to one such that the slot 23 is removed from the line structure of the bend shown in FIG. 15.
FIG. 18 is a top view showing a differential transmission line 20E according to a modified example of the third prior art. It is also possible to achieve the curve of the differential transmission line shown in FIG. 18 on the basis of the disclosed contents of the third prior art. In this case, the center of curvature is assumed at the curve, and two signal conductors 2a and 2b that are arranged gently curved are arranged so as to be parallel to each other.
According to the constructions of the Patent Document 1 and the Non-Patent Document 1, the effect of suppressing the unnecessary mode conversion from the differential signal (i.e., transmission signal in the odd mode) to the common-mode signal (i.e., transmission signal in the even mode) at the bends and asymmetric lines cannot be obtained. Since the unnecessary mode conversion significantly occurs as the transmission frequency increases at the bends of the differential transmission line, satisfactory differential-mode transmission cannot be achieved. Moreover, even if the structures proposed to improve the high-frequency characteristic of single-ended signal transmission by the Non-Patent Documents 2 and 3 are applied to the bends of the differential transmission line, the unnecessary mode conversion cannot be sufficiently suppressed.

Parallel differential transmission lines having an opposing grounding conductor separated into two parts by a slot therein


Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A base station may configure a first sub-band and a second sub-band of a system bandwidth for communication with a user equipment (UE). The base station may determine a spatial quasi co-location (QCL) relationship between the first sub-band and the second sub-band and may transmit signaling to the UE that indicates the determined spatial QCL relationship. Upon receiving the signaling, the UE may derive, based on the indicated spatial QCL relationship, spatial parameters (e.g., beam width, pointing angle, etc.) for communication with the base station via the second sub-band. The spatial parameters may be derived based on spatial parameters used for reception of a downlink transmission from the base station via the first sub-band. Subsequently, the UE may communicate with the base station via the second sub-band using the derived spatial parameters.

The following relates generally to wireless communication, and more specifically to cross-sub-band quasi co-location (QCL) signaling.
Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include code division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) systems, and orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, (e.g., a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, or a New Radio (NR) system). A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or access network nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).
In some wireless multiple-access communications systems, devices may transmit and receive communications over multiple antennas. For example, a device may transmit parallel data streams over respective antennas in order to increase throughput (e.g., as opposed to transmitting the data streams sequentially over the same antenna). Additionally or alternatively, a device may transmit a given data stream over multiple antennas simultaneously (e.g., to increase the range of the transmissions). In some cases, the use of multiple antennas may be based on one or more antenna ports. An antenna port is a logical entity used to map data streams to antennas. A given antenna port may drive transmissions from one or more antennas (e.g., and resolve signal components received over one or more antennas).
Each antenna port may be associated with a reference signal (e.g., which may allow the receiver to distinguish data streams associated with the different antenna ports in a received transmission). Some antenna ports may be referred to as quasi co-located, meaning that the spatial parameters of the channel over which a symbol on one antenna port is conveyed can be inferred from the spatial parameters of the channel over which a symbol on another antenna port is conveyed. This implicit relationship between antenna ports may improve the reliability of successfully decoding a transmission. However, such an implicit relationship may not be discernible in all situations. For example, two devices may communicate over multiple sub-bands (or carriers) simultaneously. Because these sub-bands may or may not be associated with the same set of antennas at the transmitting device (e.g., a base station), a receiving device (e.g., a UE) may not be able to assume any implicit relationship between antenna ports of the different carriers (e.g., even if these antenna ports would be quasi co-located if they were transmitted over the same carrier).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Cross-sub-band quasi co-location signaling


The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a multicoat refinish, in which process a metallic basecoat is applied by spraying to the pretreated old finish and dried and then a clearcoat is applied to the basecoat and the clearcoat is dried together with the basecoat. The process is characterized in that the aqueous basecoat composition is applied such that. a) in a first spray pass the aqueous basecoat composition is applied to the pretreated area of the old finish until a boundary is reached, PA1 b) the area of the old finish coated in step (a) is then coated in a second spray pass with the aqueous basecoat composition, PA1 c) steps (a) and (b) of the process are repeated in the region of the old finish which adjoins the previously coated region of the old finish, again until a boundary is reached, and PA1 d) process step (c) is carried out until the entire component to be coated is provided with a basecoat.

The substrates suitable for refinish are either an old finish (production-line finish or repair finish), new parts which have been primed (mostly by electrodeposition, especially in the area of the finishing of heavy goods vehicle bodies), and also steel, aluminum, zinc plate or plastic. The choice of suitable coating materials and the process employed for the preparation of a refinish are determined by the surface to be finished and by the requirements of the customer.
A multicoat refinish is conventionally prepared by thorough cleaning of the damage site, sanding, treatment, if desired, with a surfacer and application of a repair filler to the area to be coated. In the case of all-over finishes, the entire old finish to be coated is pretreated analogously. Subsequently the area pretreated in this way is finished.
In this context, however, the preparation of metallic refinishes is a particular problem, because the color and brightness of the effect depend heavily on the manner of processing. Decisive factors at play here include the nozzle width of the spray gun and the spray pressure. The nature of dilution and the spray viscosity also influence color and effect. Especially when using aqueous basecoat compositions, clouding and similar effects are often observed.
The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a process for the preparation of a refinish having a very good quality, even in the case of critical colors. This means that changes in color, clouding and the like are to be avoided.

Process for the preparation of a multicoat refinish


Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to a personal assistant controller. In one embodiment, the present disclosure includes a computer implemented method comprising receiving a voice audio signal in the personal assistant controller, converting the voice audio signal into a target command corresponding to one of a plurality of personal assistants, wherein different personal assistants comprise different target command protocols for executing different operations on different network enabled appliances, and sending the target command for execution by a backend system corresponding to the one of the plurality of personal assistants, and in accordance therewith, performing an operation on the backend system.

The present disclosure relates to computing, and in particular, to systems and methods for controlling computerized personal assistants.
Personal assistants are devices deployed in various locations that allow users to speak requests and receive responses and/or perform various computing operations. For example, personal assistants such as the Amazon® Alexa® ("Alexa"), Google Assistant® ("GA"), and Apple® Siri® ("Siri"), allow users to speak commands. The commands are processed by backend systems, and responses or other computing operations are performed. However, personal assistants are typically tied to proprietary protocols. Thus, different personal assistants have different unique protocols for command and control. If a particular location has multiple different personal assistants using different protocols, it becomes challenging for a user to interface with the devices.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide advantageous techniques for controlling personal assistants.

Intelligent personal assistant controller where a voice command specifies a target appliance based on a confidence score without requiring uttering of a wake-word


A method of containing molten aluminum using non-wetting materials comprising depositing MgAl2O4, or one selected from an oxide, Al2O3, nitride, AlN, BN, carbide, and SiC, onto a crucible. An apparatus for containment of molten aluminum using non-wetting materials comprising a layer of MgAl2O4, or one selected from an oxide, Al2O3, nitride, AlN, BN, carbide, and SiC, deposited onto a crucible.

This disclosure pertains to a method and apparatus of containing molten aluminum using a barrier layer of a non-wetting material.
Thermal evaporation is a very common method of depositing thin films of aluminum. In this technique, aluminum shot is placed into a crucible that is typically made of graphite, a refractory metal, or an oxide, and heated using either an electron beam or resistive coils. Unfortunately, molten aluminum has a strong propensity to wet most crucible materials and is highly corrosive to refractory metals, such as tungsten and molybdenum. As the molten aluminum creeps during the deposition, it can wet out onto other system elements, solidify on the backside of the crucible and cause thermal shock and cracking, corrode resistive heating elements, and change the thermal conduction properties of the crucible. This problem is typically managed by frequently replacing crucibles, leading to excess cost and material waste.

Containment of molten aluminum using non-wetting materials

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy


A buffered acid composition created by the combination of liquid ammonia and an acid and a method for making the composition. The buffered acid composition is for use as a cleaning agent and for balancing the pH of a fluid.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a buffered acid composition and a method for manufacturing said buffered acid composition.
2. Description of Related Art
Buffered acids have many different utilities, including use as cleaning compositions as well as pH balancers. One important use of buffered acids is for the pickling of stainless steel. Pickling is the cleaning and removal from stainless steel of any type of high temperature-related scale caused by heat treatment or weld burn. Stainless steel that is heated by welding, heat treating, or any other means may develop a multi-colored oxide layer (referred to as "bluing") on the surface. This oxidation is indicative of a chromium-depleted layer on the surface of the steel below the oxide layer. When the chromium content in stainless steel is decreased, the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel also decreases. Acid cleaners, also known as pickling agents, are the most effective means of restoring maximum corrosion resistance to oxidized stainless steel. Pickling is an acid treatment used to remove high temperature scale and red rust from the steel or from corrosion of contaminant iron and steel particles. High temperature dark scale is undesirable for aesthetic reasons and because the scale reduces the corrosion resistance of the underlying steel layer.
Several patents describe pickling agents produced from the mixture of an acid or acids and urea. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0004080 describes a pickling agent containing urea and the method of producing that agent. In most pickling agents, nitric acid is used, however, when the nitric acid contained in those pickling agents oxidizes metal, harmful free radicals of nitrogen oxide (referred to as NOx) and nitrates are released as a by-product of the pickling process. Fumes of the various nitrous oxides are toxic to humans working in close proximity to the pickling agent, and both the fumes and the nitrates are environmental hazards. Alternative pickling methods utilize hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid, and Fe3+ as oxidizing agents, thereby circumventing the problems inherent in the usage of nitric acid. However, pickling compositions using these particular alternative agents are not as effective as compositions using nitric acid.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,279, issued to Sargent et al., on Sep. 30, 1997, describes a method for removing the accumulation of water-insoluble metal salts from surfaces using urea hydrochloride. The '279 invention does not use liquid ammonium combined with an acid to create that cleaning composition.
Nitrous acid (HNO2) is also used as in buffered acid compositions, however, nitrous acid is unstable and is always prepared in situ. Nitrous acid is usually made by reacting a solution containing a nitrogen source (such sodium or potassium nitrate (III)) with hydrochloric acid. The nitrous acid is a weak acid and undergoes the following reaction:H+(aq)+NO2−(aq)HNO2(aq)Because nitrous acid is a weak acid, the position of equilibrium lies well to the right of the equation. Furthermore, the reactant solution will contain various ammonium ions and nitrite ions and also chloride ions from the hydrochloric acid. These ions remain in solution and are undesirable due to their toxicity.
A buffered acid solution is needed in the art which does not contain nitric acid or nitrous acid and which does not produce toxic flues or free radicals that are harmful to humans or to the environment, but that is effective for purposes of cleaning water-insoluble mineral and chemical accretions from hard surfaces as well as for balancing the pH of substances when needed.

Method for preparing a buffered acid composition