In a method and apparatus for radio-based issuing of warnings of hazards to the driver of a vehicle having a data receiver, the data receiver receives data from at least one data transmitter of at least one other vehicle, and evaluates the received data. The received data comprising information about the position, speed and direction of travel of the transmitting vehicle. The approach speed between the receiving vehicle and transmitting vehicle are determined in order to evaluate the received data in the receiving vehicle. According to the invention, in order to evaluate the received data in the receiving vehicle, the distance between the transmitting vehicle and the receiving vehicle is determined, and it is determined whether information is output to the driver, based on the distance between the transmitting vehicle and receiving vehicle, and based on the approach speed between the transmitting vehicle and receiving vehicle.

This application claims the priority of German patent documents 102 41 133.6, filed Sep. 3, 2002 and 103 32 502.6, filed Jul. 17, 2003 (PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2003/009332, filed Aug. 22, 2003), the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a radio-based device for issuing hazard warnings to the operator of a vehicle.
European patent document EP 927 983 A2 discloses a radio based hazard warnings device, in which, in a vehicle that receives a hazard warning, the difference between the speed of a transmitting vehicle and the receiving vehicle is determined, and on the basis of the determined difference in speed a decision is made as to whether a warning signal is output to the driver.
French patent document FR 2 793 056 discloses a device for issuing hazard warnings, in which the type of hazard is indicated in the vehicle. In the receiving vehicle it is determined whether it is necessary to output the warning to other vehicles.
International patent document WO 01/61668 A1 discloses a hazard warning device, in which a warning zone is generated in the transmitting vehicle and is output together with the hazard warning. In the transmitting vehicle, the position of the vehicle and the type of road on which the vehicle is located are determined using a navigation system. The difference between the speed of the transmitting vehicle and the typical or maximum speed of other vehicles on the given type of road is included in the calculation of the warning zone in the transmitting vehicle. The received hazard warning is evaluated in the receiving vehicle using a navigation system, by checking whether the receiving vehicle is in the warning zone and whether the hazard warning relates to a section of road which possibly lies in front of the receiving vehicle.
In the publication "WARN—ein neues funkbasiertes Gefahrenwarnsystem im Kfz für mehr Sicherheit im Straβenverkehr [WARN—a new radio-based hazard warning system in motor vehicles for providing more safety in road traffic]", Brenzel, C., Hickel, F., Paβmann, C., VDI Berichte [VDI Reports] No. 1415, 1998, the type of hazard, the speed of the transmitting vehicle and information about the position of the transmitting vehicle are to be transmitted, together with the hazard warning. In the receiving vehicle, the difference in speed relative to the transmitting vehicle is determined, and information about the position of vehicles is used to determine whether the warning message has been generated by a vehicle traveling in front, by a vehicle traveling behind, or by the oncoming traffic.
In the document "Wireless Vehicle to Vehicle Warning System", Paβmann, C., Brenzel, C., Meschenmoser R., SAE Paper, 2000-01-1307, icons which symbolize the type of hazard are displayed in the receiving vehicle. In addition, the distance from the location of the hazard is indicated in the receiving vehicle.
German patent document DE 199 52 392 A1 discloses a method in which warning information that is dependent on the route is made available to the driver. Digital road maps are used to detect, for example, whether the driver is approaching a curve. If so, and if the current speed of the vehicle is higher than a speed limit for the curve, the driver is first warned visually. If he or she does not react to the visual warning within a certain time (i.e., if he or she continues to drive with undiminished speed), an additional audible warning is issued. Since the curve has a fixed position, the approach to it is always detected at a sufficiently large distance ahead, and various warning stages of increasing urgency are successively triggered.
One object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for issuing hazard warnings, including an improved manner of outputting information to the driver.
This and other objects and advantages are achieved by the radio based hazard warning device which generates a hazard warning that extends beyond the visual range of a hazard warning system, thereby extending the range of the classic hazard warning system. A significant component of the device is a radio modem which permits direct exchange of data between vehicles in real time, with a sufficiently large range of approximately 1 km. In addition, the device may also include a locating module with which the position of the vehicle can be determined by locating means. The locating module may be a component of (or connection to) a navigation system, so that the position of the vehicle can be determined with even greater accuracy because the measured position of the vehicle can be represented on the digital map of the navigation system by map matching. As a result, errors in the determination of a position can be compensated by the locating module.
The data which are received by the transmitting vehicle include information regarding the position of the transmitting vehicle, determined by a locating device and/or a directional course of the vehicle. A directional course of the vehicle is formed from the direction of travel and speed of the vehicle at various times. The received information relating to the position may also include additional information about earlier positions of the transmitting vehicle, forming a position chain of the vehicle which is composed of a sequence of points at which information relating to the position of the vehicle is present. In this context the position chain can be a directional course and/or a sequence of positions which are determined by means of a locating system or navigation system.
In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, a relevance measure is determined from the received data of the transmitting vehicle and the position, speed and direction of travel data of the receiving vehicle. The relevance measure expresses the probability that the transmitting vehicle is located on the part of a route lying in front (that is, upstream) of the receiver. The receiving vehicle advantageously has information about the route which is used to estimate in advance its future route. The relevance measure (which expresses the probability that the transmitting vehicle is located on the predicted future route of the receiving vehicle) is advantageously determined from the received data of the transmitting vehicle and the predicted future route of the receiving vehicle.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, incorrect warnings are detected by reference to a time profile of the relevance measure. This means, for example, that information whose relevance measure is too low is not output.
In still another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the outputting of information to the driver is terminated as soon as a warning is determined to be incorrect. In this context, it is advantageous if, as soon as the outputting of information is terminated due to an incorrect warning, the driver is explicitly informed, by means of a directly following information output, that the previously reported hazard is no longer relevant to him.
The decision as to whether information is output to the driver is taken during the evaluation of a received radio message in a computer unit in the receiving vehicle. The basic idea of the triggering concept is that the decision as to whether information is output to the driver includes at least the approach speed between the transmitting and receiving vehicle and the distance between the two vehicles. As a result, the invention allows for the fact that for the urgency level of a warning, it is particularly decisive how much time remains for the driver to react to the warning and brake his vehicle. This time is however calculated at least from the distance and the relative speed between the receiver and transmitter so that both variables are decisive for the triggering concept (that is, the decision as to when information is output and the decision as to when the outputting is terminated).
By linking the distance to the approach speed, the time which remains until the transmitter is reached becomes the determining variable for triggering. This also corresponds to the human perception of hazards in road traffic. The driver evaluates the degree of danger of a situation mainly according to the time which remains to carry out necessary actions and driving maneuvers in order to avoid an accident.
A warning is not triggered if the distance from the transmitter is so long or the approach speed so low that there is initially no need for action on the part of the driver. Likewise, the triggering can, if desired, be adapted in such a way that triggering of a warning is dispensed with if the distance is so short or the approach speed so high that the driver would no longer be able to react appropriately to the warning before reaching the transmitter as a result of the short prewarning time.
In an embodiment of the invention, an urgency level for outputting information is determined using the distance between the transmitting vehicle and receiving vehicle, as well as the approach speed of the transmitting vehicle and receiving vehicles.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the manner of outputting information to the driver depends on the determined urgency level, based on the distance and the relative speed between the receiver and transmitter.
How and when the driver is informed about a received radio message depends on the urgency level. This is advantageous in particular for the high speeds at which vehicles travel on highways, at which the driver must concentrate entirely on the task of driving and is capable only to a limited degree of absorbing information and warnings which are output by a vehicle system. The driver can intuitively understand the warnings and react to them correctly.
The invention helps to prevent, for example, mass vehicle pileups which can occur on motorways, frequently due to poor visibility conditions (for example fog), on sections of a route with poor visibility (for example before a curve which cannot be seen into satisfactorily) or traffic disruption (for example the end of congestion or roadworks). The radio based hazard warning device according to the invention makes it possible for the drivers of following vehicles to detect the hazard ahead in sufficient time to be able to brake their vehicle and avoid the hazard. In one embodiment of the invention, the vehicle can be braked automatically by an intervention in vehicle control systems.
In addition to the distance and the approach speed of the receiver and transmitter, a further embodiment of the invention takes into account additional data in order to decide to trigger a warning, as well as its urgency level. Examples of such data are the speed and acceleration of the receiving vehicle and the time which has passed since the last warning. Information about routes (determined, for example, by means of a digital roadmap) can also be used to determine the urgency level.
It is thus advantageous to trigger a warning only if the receiver is driving sufficiently fast, since at low speeds timely visual detection of the hazard by the driver is ensured, and an additional warning by the system is thus unnecessary.
By reference to the current acceleration of the vehicle, it is possible to check whether the driver of the receiver is already braking hard enough to avoid a rear end collision with the transmitter. If so, a warning can also be dispensed with.
Finally, the urgency of a warning can also be defined as a function of the time which has passed since the last warning. If two warnings follow one another in rapid succession, it is reasonable to assume that the driver is still traveling with increased alertness due to the first warning. For this reason, a low urgency level can also be assigned to the second warning if the transmitter will be reached within a short time.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the radio based hazard warning device comprises a data transmitter which is triggered, for example, by the hazard warning system of the vehicle. If the hazard warning system is triggered, a corresponding radio message is emitted to all the vehicles in the vicinity of the transmitting vehicle. The transmitted data of each transmitter includes its current speed, its position chain and a type of hazard. In one embodiment of the invention it is also possible for the transmitter to transmit its identification number.
In another advantageous embodiment, information about the degree of urgency is output by a voice output means, and/or by means of a single time voice output.
Using an indicating/display method, one of a plurality of predefined indicating display modes, which includes at least a voice output and a further type of indication, are selected as a function of the urgency.
Issuing different voice outputs in order to distinguish between different urgency levels combined with an additional type of indication (for example, a visual display and/or a haptic indication) has the advantage that the corresponding voice output already contains the important information without requiring that the driver interrogate a further information source for this purpose (for example, without the driver's having to read a display unit for presenting a visual display). The additional visual display serves only as a visual information store which the driver can access when necessary in order to refresh the information. As a result, distraction is minimized and the comprehensibility of the warnings and the acceptance of the system are increased.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the voice output for a first urgency level, which is determined with a low degree of urgency, can contain information which indicates the approximate distance from the source of the hazard. Such information informs the driver that he still has sufficient time to reduce his or her speed by releasing the accelerator and possibly braking slightly.
When a second urgency level with a high degree of urgency is determined, a warning indication can be output which signals to the driver that a rapid reaction is necessary, and that he or she must implement a braking deceleration process which may lie outside the normal range of driving comfort.
At both urgency levels, the voice output is carried out for the purpose of keeping the distracting effect as low as possible. The different degrees of urgency are conveyed by the various contents and formulations of the voice output.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, at least one of the indicating display modes can comprise a single time voice output which warns of the hazard and contains information about the degree of urgency which has been determined. The distraction of the driver is reduced further by the fact that the voice output occurs only once.
In addition to information about the degree of urgency of the hazard warning it is also possible, for example, to use a visual display and/or the voice output to indicate information about a type of hazard for the two urgency levels.
In order to determine the urgency, for example external data are received from other vehicles or from a control center and evaluated. Alternatively or additionally it is also possible to evaluate data from vehicle sensors which can also comprise a locating system with a digital map and/or a navigation system.
In order to carry out the indicating/display method, the indicating/display device according to the invention comprises a control/evaluation unit, a voice output unit with a specific functionality and a further indicating/display unit.
In addition, it is possible to provide a data receiver and/or a sensor unit at the vehicle end which, for example, provide the control/evaluation unit with data for determining the urgency and/or the distance from the location of the hazard. External data, for example from other vehicles or from a control center, can also be evaluated by the data receiver.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Device and method for radio-based danger warning


A hand pad for stabilizing and supporting on a floor or other surface the hand of a user during stationary and dynamic exercises includes a body having a top surface defining a debossed profile of a human hand for receiving therein the hand of a user, and a bottom surface having a slip-resistant texture.

In recent years, the yoga (and many other floor-based stretching and exercise practice) have proliferated at an incredible pace, particularly as individuals, both young and old, realize the profound health benefits. In general, yoga is a combined and integrated physical, mental, and spiritual practice or discipline. The origins of yoga speculatively date back many centuries to areas of Asia. The practice of yoga came to the attention of an educated Western public in the mid-19th century, along with related topics of Indian philosophy. Arguably, the current explosion in the popularity of yoga began in the 1980's, and is often practiced as a purely physical system of health exercises outside of and unconnected to any religious denomination.
There is also a significant physical exercise aspect to the practice of yoga. These physical exercises, which are beneficial for expanding the flexibility and range of motion of a practitioner's body, are typically practiced upon a relatively thin resilient mat supported upon a hard ground or floor surface, such as wood. Many of the movements and poses necessarily require utilization of one or both hands to support at least a portion of the practitioner's body, during body movements and during stationary poses. Unfortunately, for individuals having preexisting medical conditions and ailments, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and physical injuries, for example, many floor-based exercises, yoga movements and poses, and the like, although performed on a mat can cause significant pain. As a result, many individuals, for whom yoga would be an incredibly useful tool for reducing, if not completely eliminating, the corresponding debilitating effects relating to various preexisting ailments, conditions, and injuries of the hands and wrists, are unable to practice yoga and other related floor-based exercises.
Another issue that is commonly encountered during yoga and other floor-based exercise practices is inadvertent slipping of the hands. In addition to placing a practitioner's palms on the surface of the floor or, more typically, a floor-covering mat, to support a portion of the body, combinations of lateral and longitudinal movement of the practitioner's body often place directional stresses on the hands, fingers and wrists, of the users that are typically only counteracted by the forces of friction between the mat surface and the portion of the user's hands in direct contact with the mat. However, this frictional contact and resistance for supporting the user's body during yoga exercise, or non-yoga specific related stretching and exercise movement, is often inadequate. The potential for hands slipping is further exacerbated by perspiration formed on the palms and sweat dripping off of the body and onto the underlying mat surface. This can cause undesirable hand slipping, which can result in the potential for serious hand, wrist, arm and other bodily injuries. Accordingly, there has been an ongoing effort, often by practitioner's themselves, to device products to minimize, and preferably avoid, hand slipping, as well as devices aimed at reducing stress on the hands and wrists. Still, there is a need for a single system that could effectively address both of these commonly encountered issues. It would be highly desirable to provide such a system that is lightweight, portable, easy to use, and lends itself to easy and efficient manufacture to enable the production of an affordable, cost-effective system. With regard to yoga, many individuals use so-called "yoga blocks," which are function as props to make individuals more comfortable and improve alignment. For example, blocks are great for standing poses in which one hand is on the floor, such as Ardha Chandrasana. The blocks provide a raised surface for the user to help get into postures safely and with proper alignment, allowing the user to experience the pose and its benefits even if the user's hamstrings or shoulders are tight. They help to make yoga accessible to beginners and those experiencing injury or other physical limitations. They can also help bring awareness to the body to feel how to properly engage and support muscles in a specific pose. Therefore, it would be highly desirable and incredibly beneficial to provide a system that not only includes a component that addresses hand slipping and painful pressure upon the hand and wrist, but also is adapted to be quickly and efficiently engaged with a resilient block component to provide the aforementioned added benefits of a yoga block.

Resilient hand pad and block system for relieving hand and wrist stress, and related pain, during yoga and related floor-based poses and exercises


A dispensing system for dispensing viscous fluids from flexible packages is provided. The flexible package is connected to a pump by way of a conduit. A buffer system may be provided which results in an emptying of the flexible package of fluid first prior to the emptying of the buffer system. A valve may be provided to isolate the flexible package thereby enabling the flexible package to be removed and replaced with a full package while the pump continues to draw fluid out of the buffer system. Accordingly, the flexible package of fluid may be replaced without interruption of the dispenser. A self-cleaning closure for the outlet to the dispenser may be provided to keep the outlet clean.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids and, more particularly, to dispensing viscous fluids contained in flexible packages.
In many industries, a thick or viscous fluid is added to a mixture in small amounts. Because only a small amount of the viscous liquid is required for each final product, a container or reservoir of the viscous fluid must be designed so that the viscous fluid is not exposed to air for prolonged periods of time. Otherwise, the viscous fluid may dry making it difficult to mix with other fluids or liquids or resulting in the viscous fluid having to be reprocessed or wasted.
Another problem associated with the dispensing of viscous fluids is the tendency of the fluids to leave a residue or crust at the dispenser outlet. The residue can build up and potentially block the outlet or otherwise interfere with the discharge of fluid through the outlet.
Still another problem associated with the dispensing of viscous fluids is the exposure of the viscous fluid to air through the outlet. The invasion of air through the outlet can result in the build up of residue and crust inside the outlet which will interfere with the flow of fluid through the outlet and which could possibly result in blockage of the outlet.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved dispensing apparatus for viscous fluids which minimizes the exposure of the fluid to air during the dispensing of the fluid and which maintains the outlet port in a clean condition and substantially free of residue.

Dispensing apparatus for fluid contained in flexible packages


A system configured to assist a user in scanning a physical environment in order to generate a three-dimensional scan or model. In some cases, the system may include an interface to assist the user in capturing data usable to determine a scale or depth of the physical environment and to perform a scan in a manner that minimizes gaps.

The presence of three dimensional (3D) imaging and virtual reality systems in today's world is becoming more and more common. In some cases, the imaging system or virtual reality system may be configured to allow a user to interact with a three-dimensional virtual scene of a physical environmental. In some case, the users may capture or scan the physical environment in a complete manner to generate the three-dimensional virtual scene. However, users often miss or leave gaps during scanning sessions resulting in an incomplete virtual scene.

System for generating a three-dimensional scene of a physical environment


An ocular optical system suitable for a head- or face-mounted image display apparatus which is compact, lightweight and satisfactorily corrected for aberrations, and in which no intermediate image is formed. The image display apparatus includes an image display unit (9) and an optical system (10) for projecting a displayed image into an eyeball (7). The optical system (10) is arranged such that light rays which are emitted from the image display unit (9) and enter the eyeball (7) are reflected at least three times by surfaces (12, 13 and 14) having power in backward ray tracing.

The present invention relates to an image display apparatus and, more particularly, to a head- or face-mounted image display apparatus which is retained on a user's head or face to project an image into an observer's eyeball.
In recent years, helmet- and goggle-type head- or face-mounted image display apparatuses have been developed for virtual reality or for the purpose of enabling the user to enjoy a wide-screen image personally.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 2-297516 discloses an image display apparatus including, as shown in FIG. 16, a two-dimensional display device 1 for displaying an image, an objective collimator lens 2, and a parallel transparent plate 3 having off-axis parabolic mirrors at both ends thereof. Image display light from the two-dimensional display device 1 is formed into parallel rays through the objective collimator lens 2. Thereafter, the light rays successively undergo a first transmission by one of the parallel surfaces of the parallel transparent plate 3, a reflection by the first parabolic mirror, some total reflections in the parallel transparent plate 3, a reflection by the second parabolic mirror and a second transmission by the other of the parallel surfaces (a total of 8 reflections and a total of 2 transmissions), thereby forming an intermediate image at the point F and projecting the intermediate image into an observer's eyeball 4.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,026,641 discloses an image display apparatus in which, as shown in FIG. 17, an image displayed by an image display device 1 is converted into a curved object image by a transfer optical element 5, and the object image is projected into an observer's eyeball 4 by a toric reflecting surface 6.
In an image display apparatus of the type in which an image of an image display device is relayed, as shown in FIG. 16, a relay optical system is needed in addition to an ocular optical system. Consequently, the entire optical system increases in both size and weight, and an amount by which the optical system projects from the observer's face or head also increases. Therefore, this type of image display apparatus is not suitable for use as a head- or face-mounted image display apparatus.
In the optical system that focuses parallel rays to form an intermediate image, and also in the optical system that projects an intermediate image into an observer's eyeball, only the parabolic mirror has power. Therefore, exceedingly large aberrations are produced in these optical systems.
When a concave mirror alone is used as an ocular optical system as shown in FIG. 17, even if the concave mirror is a toric surface as in the case of FIG. 17, the ocular optical system produces exceedingly large aberrations, causing the image quality to be degraded.
Accordingly, it is necessary to use a transfer optical element 5 such as a fiber plate for correcting field curvature produced by the ocular optical system. However, comatic and other aberrations cannot satisfactorily be corrected even if the transfer optical element 5 and the toric reflecting surface 6 are used.


A process and apparatus for dense phase, at least partially co-current, fluidized bed regeneration of FCC catalyst are disclosed. Catalyst regeneration occurs in a dense phase fluidized bed, with catalyst flowing laterally from a spent catalyst inlet to a regenerated catalyst outlet. Regeneration air flows up through the dense bed into a dilute phase region defined at the base by the dense phase bed and at the top by a horizontal baffle. The plate has openings or baffles forcing the dilute phase, consisting of entrained catalyst and flue gas, to flow horizontally in the same direction as the lateral flow of catalyst in the dense bed. Concurrent flow of at least the dilute phase material and the dense bed material improves regeneration and can reduce NOx emissions.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to regeneration of catalytic cracking catalyst.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons is carried out in the absence of externally supplied H2, in contrast to hydrocracking, in which H2 is added during the cracking step. An inventory of particulate catalyst is continuously cycled between a cracking reactor and a catalyst regenerator. In the fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) process, hydrocarbon feed contacts catalyst in a reactor at 425C-600C, usually 46OC-560C. The hydrocarbons crack, and deposit carbonaceous hydrocarbons or coke on the catalyst. The cracked products are separated from the coked catalyst. The coked catalyst is stripped of volatiles, usually with steam, and is then regenerated. In the catalyst regenerator, the coke is burned from the catalyst with oxygen containing gas, usually air. Coke burns off, restoring catalyst activity and simultaneously heating the catalyst to, e.g., 500C-900C, usually 600C-750C. Flue gas formed by burning coke in the regenerator may be treated for removal of particulates and for conversion of carbon monoxide, after which the flue gas is normally discharged into the atmosphere.
Most older FCC units regenerate the spent catalyst in a single dense phase fluidized bed of catalyst. Although there are myriad individual variations, typical designs are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,291 (Owen) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,934 (Owen et al), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,114 (Chester et at.) which are incorporated herein by reference.
Most new units are of the High Efficiency Regenerator (H.E.R.) design using a coke combustor, a dilute phase transport riser, and a second dense bed, with recycle of some hot, regenerated catalyst from the second dense bed to the coke combustor. Units of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,926,778 (which is incorporated by reference) and many other recent patents. The H.E.R. design is used in many new units because it operates with less catalyst inventory (and hence less catalyst loss and lower catalyst makeup), and tends to have both less CO emissions and less NO.sub.x emissions than the single dense bed regenerators.
Unfortunately, it has not been economically justifiable to convert older style, single dense bed regenerators to the modern H.E.R. design because of the high capital cost associated with simply scrapping the old single bed regenerator. Attempts to use the old regenerator as part of a modern two stage, H.E.R. design have not been too successful, as the old single stage units are larger than either of the beds in an H.E.R. unit.
Rather than scrap older FCC regenerators, refiners have tried to solve some of the problems associated with such units. Poor flow patterns and stagnant regions are problems in themselves, and make worse the NO.sub.x problems associated with bubbling dense bed regenerators. Attempts to improve flow patterns in bubbling dense bed regenerators, and generic attempts to deal with NOX emissions in any type of FCC regenerator will be reviewed below.

Baffled FCC regeneration process and apparatus


A card edge connector includes an elongated housing, a plurality of contacts retained to the housing, and a retainer located at one end of the housing along an elongated direction of the housing. The housing has a pair of side walls and a central slot between the side walls. The retainer has a resilient retention arm and a rigid stop arm diverging from the retention arm along a transverse direction perpendicular to the elongated direction. The retention arm has a locking section extending along the elongated direction to lock a daughter board and an operating section obliquely extending from the locking section along a third direction different from both elongated direction and transverse direction. The stop arm has an abutting section behind the operating section along a fourth direction perpendicular to the operating section to limit a deflection of the operating section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to card edge connectors, more particularly to card edge connector with an improved retainer.
2. Description of Related Art
Card edge connectors are employed widely in computers to be soldered on a mother board for receiving a daughter board. The card edge connector usually has an elongated housing and a plurality of contacts retained in the housing for electrically connecting the daughter board and the mother board. The housing has a body portion and a retainer at one end thereof. The body portion has a pair of side walls and a central slot between the side walls for receiving the daughter board. Each contact has a contact portion protruding into the central slot.
The retainer extends along an elongated direction from one side wall, and is located at one side of the central slot along the elongated direction. The retainer has a resilient retention arm which is deflectable from an initial position to a final position, and a rigid stop arm located at an outer side of the resilient arm and diverging with respect to the retention arm along a transverse direction of the housing. The retention arm has a locking section extending along the elongated direction from the side wall and an operating section obliquely extending from a free end of the locking section. The locking section is formed with a latching projection inwardly extending from an inner side thereof to lock the daughter board in a non-deflected position of the retention arm. The rigid stop arm is located at an outer side of the locking section for limiting the deflection of the locking section in order to avoid excessive stress or strain occurring in the locking section.
However, the stop arm is merely located at the outer side of the locking section, while does not extend to an outer side of the operating section, thereby when the operating section is pulled by an excessive stress or strain to drive the locking section outwardly for ejecting the daughter board, the operating arm or stop arm is easily broken.
Hence, an improved card edge connector is desired to overcome the above problems.

Card edge connector with improved retainer


A burner construction and method of making the same are provided, the burner construction comprising a burner body having a chamber therein and a removable cap closing one end of the burner body, one of the burner body and the cap having an annular surface interrupted by a plurality of radially disposed main grooves that are spaced apart by lands of the annular surface and that define a generally repeating pattern of a set of a certain number of the main grooves and the lands separated from the next adjacent set of the certain number of the main grooves and the lands by one of the lands that is not part of the sets and that has an annular length that is longer than the annular length of any one of the lands of the sets separated thereby, the free end surface of each land that is not part of the sets having a small radially disposed and substantially Y-shaped groove therein that is closed on one end thereof by an annular surface of the other of the burner body and the cap to provide small carry-over flames between the sets of main grooves adjacent that respective land that is not part of the sets.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new burner construction and to a new method of making such a burner construction.
2. Prior Art Statement
It is known to provide a burner construction comprising a burner body means having a chamber means therein and having opposed end means one of which is open to the chamber means and the other of which has means for interconnecting a source of fuel to the chamber means, and a removable cap means closing the one end means of the body means, the burner construction having main port means interconnecting the chamber means to the exterior of the burner construction and through which the fuel can issue to burn externally to the burner construction, one of the body means and the cap means having an annular surface means interrupted by a plurality of radially disposed main groove means that are spaced apart by land means of the annular surface means and that define a generally repeating pattern of a set of a certain number of the main groove means and the land means separated from the next adjacent set of the certain number of the main groove means and the land means by one of the land means that is not part of the sets and that has an annular length that is longer than the annular length of any one of the land means of the sets separated thereby, the other of the body means and the cap means having an annular surface means cooperating with the annular surface means that has the main groove means therein to close the main groove means on one end thereof whereby the main groove means define the main port means, each land means having a free end surface means that faces the annular surface means of the other of the body means and the cap means, the free end surface means of the land means that are not part of the sets each being spaced from the annular surface means of the other of the body means and the cap means to provide for small carry-over flame means between the sets of main groove means adjacent that respective land means that is not part of the sets. For example, see the Riehl U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,970.
Also see the Riehl U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,334 and the Sigler U.S. Pat. No. 5,112,218 for similar burner constructions.
It is also known to provide a burner construction comprising a burner body means having a chamber means therein and having opposed end means one of which is open to the chamber means and the other of which has means for interconnecting a source of fuel to the chamber means, and a removable cap means closing the one end means of the body means, the burner construction having main port means interconnecting the chamber means to the exterior of the burner construction and through which the fuel can issue to burn externally to the burner construction, one of the body means and the cap means having an annular surface means interrupted by a plurality of radially disposed main groove means that are spaced apart by land means of the annular surface means, each land means being of the same annular length, the other of the body means and the cap means having an annular surface means cooperating with the annular surface means that has the main groove means therein to close the main groove means on one end thereof whereby the main groove means define the main port means, each land means having a free end surface means that faces the annular surface means of the other of the body means and the cap means, the free end surface means of the land means each having small radially disposed groove means therein that leads from the chamber means to the exterior of the burner construction and that is closed on one end thereof by the annular surface means of the other of the body means and the cap means to provide small carry-over flame means between the main groove means adjacent that respective land means, each small groove means being substantially uniform throughout the length thereof.

Burner construction and method of making the same


This invention modifies a windsurfing boom, to allow the clew of a windsurfing sail to move laterally away from the sailor. An elongated tail piece and roller assembly are used to facilitate movement of said sail.

Until now, all windsurfing booms have a tailpiece that fixes the clew of a sail in essentially one position , relative to the sailor. I have thought for some time that a windsurf sail would have better shape if it was allowed to move laterally away from the sailor. I built a device to tested the concept.
After two months of testing I found the following results:
1. the sail is more manageable in overpowering conditions. PA1 2. the sailboard goes upwind better. PA1 3. the sailboard goes faster.
I'm not an aerodynamic engineer. I can't explain why I'm getting these results. But I feel that the sail has better shape if the clew is positioned further away from the sailor than current windsurfing booms now allow. It is well known that enlarging the outhaul, flattens the sail and makes it perform better in overpowering conditions.


Structures for signal distribution are produced by applying a metallic seed layer over a semiconductor body. An insulating layer is applied over the metallic seed layer and openings in the insulating layer are produced by photolithographic patterning of the insulating layer. Each opening in the insulating layer is trapezoidal in cross section such that an upper portion of the insulating layer is wider than a lower portion of the insulating layer. A conductor is selectively formed over exposed portions of the metallic seed layer. After selectively forming the conductor, the insulating layer is anisotropically etched such that portions of the insulating layer abutting sidewalls of the conductor remain. Alternatively, a second insulating layer can be formed and anisotropically etched.

In modern semiconductor technology, it is customary for terminals placed on a semiconductor wafer to be diverted to other terminals by metal interconnects. This allows or simplifies external connection.
The metal interconnects are applied to the semiconductor wafer in a dedicated plane and consist of coated metal, the metals copper, nickel and gold, in this order, usually being used.
To apply the metal interconnects, the semiconductor wafer is coated with a copper seed layer. Then, a photoresist layer is applied and patterned by means of a photolithographic process, thereby forming a photomask for the subsequent electrolysis process.
The openings, which are formed, are then filled with layers of metal by means of an electrolysis process. After the photoresist layer has been removed and the copper seed layer required for the electrolysis process has been etched, the layer structures for signal distribution are what remain.
It is customary for the upper layer of the layer structures to be a precious metal, such as for example gold, with the result that the surfaces of the layer structures are as far as possible protected from environmental influences. However, the base metals of the layer structure are also accessible at the side faces.
This aspect has proven to be a problem, since oxidation and corrosion processes attack sidewalls of the layer structures, thereby reducing the service life of the layer structures and also the reliability of the circuit as a whole.

Process for producing layer structures for signal distribution


An electronic device includes an enclosure defining a chamber and a first output port communicating the chamber with outside of the enclosure; a loudspeaker module disposed within the chamber. The loudspeaker module includes a first front cavity in communication with the first output port, a second front cavity acoustically connected with an inside space of the enclosure, a rear cavity, a transducer disposed between the first front cavity and the rear cavity, and a first passive radiator disposed between the second front cavity and the rear cavity. The passive radiator is capable of radiating low-frequency sound to the inside space of the enclosure via the second front cavity and an inside port or a second passive radiator. Then, the low-frequency sound re-radiates through surfaces of the enclosure and possible leaks in the enclosure to the outside environment. The low-frequency output is boosted.

In conventional loudspeaker modules for portable devices such as phones, tablets/PADs and so on, the back cavity of the module is usually sealed to prevent sound from radiating to the interior space of the portable device from the rear side of the loudspeaker module. However, it is difficult to achieve a high efficiency and good extended low-frequency response in a very small enclosure due to fundamental theoretical limits of the portable devices.
Therefore, it is desired to provide an improved loudspeaker module for portable electronic devices.

Electronic device with loudspeaker module


An ultrasound scanning system includes a graphical user interface that provides visually intuitive feedback to a user to assist the user in properly aligning an ultrasound scanner to a desired acquisition state. In addition to providing pose information, the feedback may direct the user as to a target contact force applied by the ultrasound scanner to a surface undergoing a scan.

While medical ultrasound images can be quickly and cheaply obtained from a handheld ultrasound imaging device, this type of imaging generally suffers from a lack of accurate information concerning the conditions under which the scan was captured. As a result, two-dimensional ultrasound images from handheld probes are generally limited in use to a qualitative evaluation of the imaged tissue.
There remains a need for tools and techniques to return an ultrasound imaging device to a previous or otherwise predetermined acquisition state that includes, e.g., a position, an orientation, a rotation and/or an instantaneous contact force.

User interface for ultrasound scanning system


An oxygen storage amount of the catalyst (3) is estimated using a detection result from a front A/F sensor (4). An HC storage amount is calculated as a time integral of the product of the storage rate by the catalyst (3), the air-fuel ratio and the intake air amount, and a target air-fuel ratio is corrected so that a deficiency relative to a target amount of the oxygen storage amount is compensated based on this computation result.

The present invention relates to an engine exhaust purification device provided with a catalyst.
JP-A-H9-228873 published by the Japanese Patent Office in 1997 discloses a technique wherein an oxygen amount stored in a three-way catalyst (hereafter, xe2x80x9coxygen storage amountxe2x80x9d) is estimated based on an engine intake air amount and an air fuel ratio of an exhaust flowing into the catalyst, and engine air-fuel ratio control is performed so that the oxygen storage amount of the catalyst is constant.
To maintain the NOx (nitrogen oxides), CO and HC (hydrocarbon) conversion efficiency of the three-way catalyst at a maximum, the catalyst atmosphere must be maintained at the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. If the oxygen storage amount of the catalyst is maintained constant, oxygen in the exhaust is stored in the catalyst even if the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust flowing into the catalyst temporarily becomes lean, and conversely, oxygen stored in the catalyst is released even if the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust flowing into the catalyst temporarily becomes rich, so the catalyst atmosphere can be maintained at the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
Therefore, in an exhaust purification device performing this type of control, it is required to calculate the oxygen storage amount precisely to maintain the conversion efficiency of the catalyst at a high level, and various methods of computing the oxygen storage amount have been proposed.
However, non-oxygen components such as HC, CO are stored by the catalyst apart from oxygen, and an error occurs in the real oxygen storage amount due to their influence. In the prior art, the reason for this error was not considered, so there was a risk of decreasing the precision of air-fuel ratio control of the catalyst atmosphere and impairing exhaust emissions.
It is therefore an object of this invention to resolve the above problems, and to provide an exhaust purification device for an engine which eliminates the effect of non-oxygen components and permits precise control of the oxygen storage amount.
In order to achieve above object, this invention provides an engine exhaust purification device which comprises a catalyst provided in an engine exhaust passage, a first sensor which detects an exhaust characteristic flowing into the catalyst, a second sensor which detects an exhaust characteristic flowing out of the catalyst, and a microprocessor programmed to compute an oxygen storage amount of the catalyst using the detected exhaust characteristic, to compute the storage amount of a non-oxygen component of the catalyst, to compute the air fuel ratio of the engine so that the oxygen storage amount of the catalyst is a target amount based on the computed oxygen storage amount, and to control the computed air fuel ratio based on the computed non-oxygen component storage amount.


A first reference voltage is applied to a plurality of pixels during a data writing period when data is written and a second reference voltage is applied to the plurality of pixels during a light emitting period when the plurality of pixels emit light, in which each of the plurality of pixels includes a switching transistor to transfer a data voltage applied to a data line to a first node; a driving transistor controlling a driving current flowing into an OLED according to the voltage of the first node and a first power supply voltage; and a storage capacitor including a first electrode connected to the first node and a second electrode receiving one of the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage. A difference between the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage is determined according to a threshold voltage deviation characteristic of the display unit.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to a pixel, a display device, and a driving method thereof, and, more particularly, to a display device capable of controlling an output range of a data driving IC and a driving method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organic light emitting diode display uses an organic light emitting diode (OLED) in which luminance is controlled by current or voltage. The organic light emitting diode (OLED) includes a positive electrode layer and a negative electrode layer forming an electric field and an organic light emitting material emitting light by the electric field.
Generally, organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays are classified into a passive matrix OLED (PMOLED) and an active matrix OLED (AMOLED) according to a mode driving the organic light emitting diode (OLED). The AMOLED devices that control light emission for each unit pixel are superior from the viewpoint of resolution, a contrast, and operation speed, and have become the most commonly used.
One pixel of the active matrix OLED includes an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a driving transistor controlling a current amount supplied to the organic light emitting diode (OLED), and a switching transistor transferring data voltage controlling a light emitting amount of the organic light emitting diode (OLED) as the driving transistor. The light emitting amount of the organic light emitting diode (OLED) is determined according to the current amount controlled by the driving transistor.
Image quality of a display panel may be determined according to how accurate the driving transistor included in each of a plurality of pixels controls the current amount according to the data voltage. However, threshold voltages of driving transistors substantially deviate due to precision limitation of a producing process. The threshold voltage deviation between the driving transistors included in one display panel may not be significant, while the threshold voltage deviation between driving transistors between different display panels may be significant. For example, the threshold voltage of the driving transistors in one display panel may be −1 V, while threshold voltage of the driving transistors in another display panel may be −4 V.
As one method for compensating the threshold voltage deviation of the driving transistor, the data driving IC may output data voltage in which a compensation value for compensating the threshold voltage deviation of the driving transistor is reflected to compensate the threshold voltage deviation of the driving transistor. However, the data voltage in which the compensation value is reflected may exceed an output range of the data driving IC. For example, the data voltage in which the compensation value is reflected in the display panel in which the threshold voltage is substantially −1 V may be within the output range of the data driving IC, but the data voltage in which the compensation value is reflected in the display panel in which the threshold voltage is substantially −4 V may exceed the output range of the data driving IC. When the data voltage in which the compensation value is reflected exceeds the output range of the data driving IC, the threshold voltage deviation of the driving transistor is not normally compensated and deterioration in image quality due to the threshold voltage deviation of the driving transistor may occur. In order to solve the problem, a data driving IC having a sufficiently wide output range needs to be used. However, the data driving IC having the wide output range increases power consumption and cost.
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.

Display device and driving method thereof for compensating a threshold voltage deviation characteristic of the display

INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION HANYANG UNIVERSITY


A reusable plant protector apparatus which can be anchored to the earth comprises a polymeric sheet having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges. The two side edges further comprise a plurality of matching pairs of apertures which are offset from the side edges. The matching apertures are aligned such that an aperture on one side edge bas a corresponding aperture on the other side edge when the sheet is formed into a cylinder with a side edge overlap. The plant protector apparatus also includes a stake and a plurality of flexible ties extending through the apertures and around the stake for securing the overlapping side edges and the stake to each other. The ties are tightenable to tighten the stake against the overlapping edges thereby sealing the edges and forming a flexible cylinder around the plant to be protected. The plant protector creates a sheltered climate of higher temperature and humidity around the plant. The plant protector apparatus may also be vented to adjust the temperature and humidity surrounding the plant.

This invention relates generally to the field of plant protectors which are placed around a plant to provide protection and a favorable growing environment for plants, such as trees.
Plant protectors are used to protect young trees and other types of plants from animals, particularly rabbits, rodents and deer. They are also useful for increasing the humidity near the plant thereby creating a favorable sheltered climate inside the plant protector. The sheltered climate inside the plant protector has a higher humidity due to retention of water vapor by the plant protector.
A plant protector may also raise the temperature of the sheltered climate around the plant, which is especially beneficial during colder spring months. Use of a plant protector may protect the plant from early spring cold spells, lengthen the growing season and increase the rate of growth. The increased growth may be beneficial to reforesting or orchard operations. Plant nurseries may also benefit from the increased plant growth which often occurs with the use of plant shelters. However, elevated temperatures in the sheltered climate may cause problems in the fall months by delaying when the plant goes dormant. Thus, the plant protector optimally is removed or is vented to lower the temperature surrounding the plant.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,486 to Hurlstone relates to a tree shelter having an elongated tubular body including a longitudinal channel or groove for receiving a stake and which is open at opposing ends. The device is formed of unperforated plastic material which allows light to pass therethrough. Hurlstone contemplates a continuous walled tubular body so that it lacks any capacity for enlarging the diameter of the tubular body. The Hurlstone device is further limited in application because of the inherent difficulty of placing a closed cylinder over plants having spreading branches.
Other types of plant protectors include U.S. Pat. No. 3,816,959 to Nalle which discloses a plant protector having tubular mesh to prevent plants from being damaged by animals. However, this particular device provides little favorable sheltered climate effect due its use of open tubular mesh which permits circulation of air there through.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,507 to Allen discloses a tree bark protector made from high impact polyurethane plastic molded into half sections which can be fitted over the base portion of a tree trunk where it widens into the soil. The Allen device includes ground engaging anchors for a bottom flange. The facing edges of the half sections accommodate molded locking connectors in enlarged or swollen portions.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,875,533 to Weaver discloses a tree protector formed from concrete which rests on the surface of the ground and surrounds the base of a tree, The disclosed apparatus includes three longitudinal solid sections of identical size and shape secured in assembled relation by wires.


A process for further chemical activation of activated carbon is disclosed comprising activation of an active carbon precursor material with a potassium hydroxide solution, pre-drying the blend to 5% to 15% moisture content, activating this blend at from about 650.degree. to about 1100.degree. C., and acid washing and drying the microporous activated carbon product, which is characterized by greater than 50% of its total pore volume comprising pores of from about 8.ANG. to 20.ANG. in width and greater than 70% of its total pore volume comprising pores of less than 20.ANG. in width and greater than 95% of its total pore volume comprising pores of less than 50.ANG. in width.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the improved production of activated carbon. More particularly, it is directed to the production of highly microporous activated carbon. Specifically, the present invention is directed to the production of highly microporous activated carbon from an activated carbon precursor by a subsequent chemical activation process employing potassium hydroxide. One use of such activated carbon is in the adsorption of gaseous hydrocarbon fuels, including natural gas.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Practical storage of gaseous hydrocarbon fuels, such as natural gas which is comprised primarily of methane, for such uses as a vehicle fuel and the like involves portable containerization of the gas. Natural gas, in particular, is a leading contender for use as an alternative fuel for automobiles, particularly in areas designated as "zero emission" zones under the 1990 Clean Air Act. The majority of natural gas vehicles operating in the United States use compressed natural gas at pressures of up to 3600 psi. However, low pressure storage systems are being developed in which natural gas is contained in storage containers packed with adsorbent material to achieve near-liquid methane density. The storage containers may be formable or nonformable tanks, cylinders, or other closed vessels. Economic evaluations by the natural gas industry indicate that adsorbed natural gas (ANG) would be comparable economically with compressed natural gas (CNG) at a deliverable gas capacity of 150 volumes of gas per container (cylinder) volume (v/v) at a storage pressure of 500 psi (measured at 25.degree. C.).
Natural gas, which is primarily methane, is adsorbed in pores and on surfaces of the adsorbent medium. Under such conditions, the adsorbed gas assumes properties not unlike those of its liquid state. Typical adsorbents are solids with pores and fissures throughout their structure. Methane molecules preferentially adsorb in pores having a diameter of about 10-15 Angstroms (.ANG.). The carbon material of the present invention may also be suitable for storage of other gases of a similar molecular size.
Active carbon long has been used for removal of impurities and recovery of useful substances from liquids and gases because of its high adsorptive capacity. Generally, "activation" refers to any of the various processes by which the pore structure is enhanced. Typical commercial activated carbon products exhibit a surface area (as measured by nitrogen adsorption as used in the B.E.T. model) of at least 300 m.sup.2 /g. For the purposes of this disclosure, the terms "active carbon" and "activated carbon" are used interchangeably. Typical activation processes involve treatment of carbon sources--such as resin wastes, coal, coal coke, petroleum coke, lignites, polymeric materials, and lignocellulosic materials including pulp and paper, residues from pulp production, wood (like wood chips, sawdust, and wood flour), nut shell (like almond shell and coconut shell), kernel, and fruit pits (like olive and cherry stones)--either thermally (with an oxidizing gas) or chemically (usually with phosphoric acid or metal salts). Such activated carbons maintain the original macrostructure of the starting material and, therefore, a similar pore distribution of micropores of less than 20.ANG. in width, mesopores of 20.ANG. (divided between small mesopores of 20.ANG. to less than 50.ANG. in width and large mesopores of 50.ANG. to 500.ANG. in width), and macropores of greater than 500.ANG. in width.
As the surface area of an active carbon is directly proportional to the carbon's microporosity and since the methane adsorption capacity of an active carbon is enhanced by increasing its volume of micropores (less than 20.ANG. in width) and small mesopores (20-50.ANG. in width), as a percentage of total pore volume, activation methods are sought which are pore size specific. In particular, micropores in the range of from above 8.ANG. to about 20.ANG. are suitable for adsorption of methane. More particularly, pore sizes of from about 10.ANG. to about 20.ANG. in width are preferred for methane adsorption. Most preferred are pore sizes of from about 10.ANG. to about 15.ANG.. Therefore, carbon materials are desirable which are comprised of a high volume (e.g., greater than 50%) of pores less than 16.ANG. in width as a percentage of total pore volume. Such materials which are comprised of a higher volume (e.g., greater than 80%) of pores less than 20.ANG. in width as a percentage of total pore volume also are desirable. Also desirable are such materials comprised of an extremely high volume (e.g., greater than 95%) of pores less than 50.ANG. in width as a percentage of total pore volume.
Citing disclosures of potassium hydroxide (KOH) activation of coal in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,764,561 and 4,082,694, the patentees of U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,359 teach the production of active carbon which enables high adsorption of gases per unit volume by treating coal with a liquid mixture comprising KOH and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and subsequently carbonizing at 500.degree.-800.degree. C. A method of producing activated carbon with a large surface area and a low sulfur content also is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,805 by mixing coconut shell char with melted potassium hydroxide hydrate at a temperature sufficiently high to cause activation. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,694 teaches solid KOH activation of specific carbonaceous feeds including coal, coal coke, and petroleum coke to produce cage-like microporous structures particularly useful for water purification.
Chemical activation of wood-based carbon with phosphoric acid (H.sub.3 PO.sub.4) is disclosed in US. Pat. No. Re. 31,093 to improve the carbon's decolorizing and gas adsorbing abilities. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,162,286 teaches phosphoric acid activation of wood-based material which is particularly dense and which contains a relatively high (30%) lignin content, such as nut shell, fruit stone, and kernel. Zinc chloride (ZnCl.sub.2) also is a common chemical activation agent. Phosphoric acid activation of lignocellulose material also is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,310 as a step in preparing carbons of high activity and high density.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,359 teaches producing active carbon by treating coal cokes and chars, brown coals or lignites with a mixture of NaOH and KOH and heating to at least 500.degree. C. in and inert atmosphere. U.S Pat. No.5,102,855 discloses making high surface area activated carbon by treating newspapers and cotton linters with phosphoric acid or ammonium phosphate. Coal-type pitch is used as a precursor to prepare active carbon by treating with NaOH and/or KOH in U.S. Pat. No. 5,143,889. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,706 teaches storing natural gas under pressures of 1400 to 4500 kPa using a carbon sieve adsorbent made by impregnating a polymer precursor of the carbon molecular sieve with additional monomers and polymerizing the monomers before carbonizing the precursor.
None of these activated carbons, however, achieve the desired objective of providing 150 v/v of deliverable gas capacity at 500 psi. Such a carbon is taught, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/143,551, (U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,056) to be produced by a two-step chemical activation process. A lignocellulosic material was first activated with phosphoric acid and then activated with potassium hydroxide under thermal conditions. While permitting small scale, laboratory production of the desired carbon material, the disclosed process has several disadvantages which preclude commercial production to avail the product to public use. The large volume of wet carbon material, upon blending with activating agent solution, presents material handling problems. Also, the batch nature of the process, combined with the requirement of a relatively long duration of thermal treatment with gradual incremental temperature increases, precludes efficient, economical production rates. In addition, it was discovered that the disclosed process leaves residual potassium which, along with calcium adsorbed from the wash water, adversely impacted the highly microporous carbon's performance.
Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide an improved process for manufacturing a highly microporous activated carbon capable of meeting the industry target for a deliverable capacity of a gaseous hydrocarbon fuel stored on activated carbon. It is also an objective of this invention to provide a highly microporous active carbon material that is specific for storage of methane in natural gas to provide a deliverable capacity of 150 v/v of the methane at 500 psi (at 25.degree. C.). It is a further objective of this invention to provide a method for storing natural gas at low pressure using the highly microporous activated carbon.

Highly microporous carbons and process of manufacture


A kitchen appliance includes a main body, a pivoting arm, which is arranged pivotably on the main body at a bearing, and a lever device for assisting a pivoting movement of the pivoting arm. The lever device, which assists the pivoting movement of the pivoting arm on the main body of the kitchen appliance, makes it possible to provide an operation which is safe for a user, since the movement of the pivoting arm is always controlled by the lever device. Furthermore, pivoting of the pivoting arm can be provided without direct interaction of the user.

The present invention relates to a kitchen appliance, in particular a food processor, having a main body and a pivot arm, which is arranged pivotably on the main body at a bearing.
Food processors or universal food processors are usually electrical kitchen appliances which are used, as is known, for kneading, stirring, grating, pureeing, or extracting juice. These appliances consist of a main unit with a stirring or collecting dish and various attachments, such as a cutter, mixer attachment, grinding mill, or juice press, as well as various inserts (cutting and grating disks, kneading hooks, pounding and stirring heads). In order to carry out these functions, food processors exhibit a plurality of processing tools. The processing tools can be disk-shaped, drum-shaped, or spherical. Some devices allow for the attachment of individual kneading hooks or eggbeaters. Stirring or collecting dishes are integrated in the device or can be removed; in part, some tools are permanently integrated. Some additional devices are complete units (mincer, juice press), which only make use of the drive system of the processor. The revolution speed with electrical devices can in most cases be regulated in several steps, or is infinitely adjustable. To connect the processing tools, food processors exhibit at least one interface or coupling point, which is set up to connect tools to the electrical drive system.
These food processors exhibit essentially an L-shaped main housing with a horizontal base piece. A processing dish can be arranged on this horizontal base piece, in which the desired ingredients can be processed with the aid of the tool. These generic food processors further exhibit an extension arm, which is attached to the main housing with the aid of a joint. The extension arm exhibits a series of coupling points for said tool. In order, for example, to be able to remove the processing dish, the extension arm exhibits a pivotable bearing point on the main housing, such that, by tilting the arm upwards, the processing dish can be easily removed. A further advantage of the pivotable bearing of the extension arm on the main housing is the possibility, for example, of space-saving storage of the food processor, since the extension arm can be fixed in a perpendicular position. In this position, moreover, additional coupling points can be provided, for a mixer attachment or the like, for example.
In order to control the pivot movements of the extension arm, the devices comprise different appliances on the main housing. WO 2008/132429 A1 accordingly discloses a universal food processor of the type cited, with an extension arm, the movement of which is controlled with the aid of an elastic spring. The kitchen appliance further exhibits a damping means, which counteracts the spring force in order to avoid an uncontrolled folding out of the arm. The damping means corresponds to a hydraulic damper and, according to WO 2008/132429 A1, can exhibit different degrees of damping. This arrangement has proved to be inflexible and complicated, since the spring force exerts a corresponding torque onto the pivot arm, which corresponds to a unilateral outwards pivoting of the arm. Moreover, with this arrangement it is essentially not possible to guarantee a vertical position of the pivot arm.


A device for testing a scuba tank air supply for carbon monoxide comprising a transparent or clear inflatable enclosure such as a balloon and a tablet that changes color when exposed to carbon monoxide mounted inside said balloon and a hermetically sealed package containing the balloon and the CO tablet to prevent the activation of the tablet prior to testing the air supply in the scuba tank.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to test equipment to determine if an air supply contains deadly carbon monoxide and specifically to a portable low-cost carbon monoxide test device for use with a SCUBA air tank.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, commonly known as SCUBA, allows a person to swim underwater using a tank of compressed air for breathing. It is critical that the compressed air tank filled with safe air that is not harmful to a human being. In the United States of America typically businesses that provide compressed air periodically are checked for the safety of the air being provided. Such supervision is often not available outside the United States.
In order to ensure that a compressed air tank does not contain carbon monoxide from a bad air compressor, the invention described herein allows a user to quickly determine if the tank's actual air is contaminated with CO gas.

Portable carbon monoxide test device for scuba air tanks


A method and apparatus for generating hot stamped single and multi-colored images wherein a transferable image is generated at a first station and a substrate or container is decorated at a second station. The transferable image is generated via a hot stamping mechanism (a single or multi-head station) onto a transfer film at the first station, and the transfer image is then transferred via hot stamping onto the part or substrate at the second station via a hot stamping transfer technique referred to as foilprint.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for generating hot stamped single and multicolor images whereby a transfer is generated at a first station which is part of the apparatus, and a substrate or container is decorated at a second station which also is part of the apparatus. In particular, a transferable image is generated via a hot stamping mechanism (a single or multi-head station) onto a transfer film, and the transfer image is then transferred via hot stamping onto the substrate or container to be decorated at the second station by employing a transfer technique called foilprint.
Hot stamping or transfer decorating is a method of dry printing or dry decorating. An image or design is transferred from a foil or carrier film onto a surface by application of heat and pressure.
The transfer image or design can either be preprinted on a release coated carrier or generated with an engraved, etched or formed die. In the actual stamping or transfer process, a hot die is pressed against the hot stamping foil or transfer film which is sandwiched between the die and the surface to be decorated.
Conventional hot stamping requires a die, as described above, and a hot stamping foil to create an image. The hot stamping foil is a composite of layers of coatings on a carrier, such as polyester film. The coatings are then transferred to a surface as an image, copy or solid. The foils can be metallized or non-metallized (pigments) by design, and can possess a number of inherent qualities.
Preprinted images are formed by printing a copy, text or design via silk-screen, gravure, flexo or offset onto a release coated carrier such as paper or polyester film also called a transfer film. The completed transfer, which also includes an adhesive layer, is then off-line transferred via hot stamping onto a surface to be decorated.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,063 (Brown) discloses an apparatus and process for hot-stamping molded plastic containers in which the container is moved passed a heated die having a platen with a printing die, the die being universally movable so that linear uniform pressure is exerted between a confronting container surface and the die surface. The uniform linear pressure between the container and the die, transfers foil to the accompaniment of rotation of the container so that a lamination of the foil is transferred onto the container surface.
Another known method is pad printing wherein wet ink is transferred from an engraved plate to a substrate. A solvent or water based ink system is wiped onto an engraved metal plate and the subsequent design or image is then picked up by a soft rubber ink pad, and transferred onto the substrate or part to be decorated. Both operations are accomplished on an apparatus referred to as a pad printer.
As is the case with any wet printing system, the pad transfer image must undergo a drying operation. Multi-colored designs are accomplished by moving the substrate or part to be decorated from one pad printing station to another. Accordingly, such wet printing processes are disadvantageous in that they often require pre-printing treatment including drying time and wet handling in addition to wet cleanup of rollers, ink wells, etc. Further, any wet residue must be formally disposed of in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.

Method and apparatus for generating hot stamped single and multi-color images


A system for vehicle interior electrical power distribution includes an electrical power track assembly having at least one electrical power strip and at least one electrical ground strip, and an electrical connector assembly slidable in the track assembly. The electrical connector assembly has a first set of electrical contacts and a second set of electrical contacts. The first set of electrical contacts are configured to maintain electrical connection with respective ones of the at least one electrical power strip and the at least one electrical ground strip during sliding such that the slidable connector assembly provides electrical power to respective ones of the second set of electrical contacts, and the second set of electrical contacts are configured to electrically couple to and provide electrical power to at least one removable electrical accessory that is installed to the slidable connector assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for an electrical power track and slidable accessories.
2. Background Art
Operators (i.e., users, passengers, drivers, operators, etc.) of vehicles, particularly, but not exclusively large vehicles such as sport utility vehicles, cross-over vehicles, vans, minivans, busses, etc. with a cargo area (generally in the center or rear area of the vehicles and having a length generally greater than a meter or more) often desire electrical power outlets, lighting and other electrical accessories at locations throughout the cargo area.
Conventional approaches to providing the desired power outlets, lighting and other electrical accessories have the deficiencies of being expensive when multiple electrical power outlets, lighting and other electrical accessories are implemented, and unwieldy when lengthy electrical cables are used.
Conventional approaches to implementing track mounted slidable electrically powered accessories have had the deficiencies of being unsuitable for multiple accessory use, lacking in physical robustness, and having excessively sticky movement of the sliding mechanism.
Thus there exists an opportunity and need for an improved system and method for an electrical power track and slidable accessories.

System and method for electrical power track and slidable accessories

International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc.


The incorporation of a wire harness and a carpet provide a modular combination which reduces the required assembly steps for a vehicle. The wire harness may be attached to the underside of a carpet in any way to form the modular combination. Once the modular combination is completed, it is then mounted into a vehicle.

This invention relates to the use of a one piece modular assembly which incorporates both the carpeting and a floor wire harness for a vehicle.
Modern vehicles are typically provided with carpeting in the vehicle cab. In addition, a wire harness typically has ran beneath the carpeting. As vehicle electronics become more and more complex, there are more and more wires and wire harnesses incorporated into the vehicle.
Typically, these wire harnesses have been placed into the vehicle and connected to the vehicle floor prior to installation of the carpeting. This prior art method has required additional method steps. More importantly, the wire harness has remained exposed and subject to damage during assembly.
The prior art has also typically required indented channels in the metal floor to accommodate the wires, and/or alternatively, has used a plastic routing member (trough or convolute). It would be desirable to eliminate the need for any special routing structure. In addition, the wires are left exposed for a period of time until the carpet is placed in the vehicle.

Modular wire harness and carpet for vehicle


The invention is directed to a hearing instrument for positioning in the ear of a user, incorporating a faceplate having first and second spatially separated sound openings for receiving sound to be provided to respective inlets of a microphone; at least one screen partially blocking the sound openings and positioned to increase effective distance between the first and second spatially separated sound openings; and a housing for containing the microphone, the housing having the faceplate mounted thereon and being sized to fit within the ear of a hearing instrument wearer.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the invention concerns hearing instruments, and particularly hearing instruments with directional microphones.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional hearing instruments typically comprise a single omni-directional microphone, which amplifies sound substantially equally from all directions. Because of the omni-directional nature of these hearing instruments, it is often difficult for the wearer to distinguish between a speaker's voice and background noise. Hearing instruments have therefore been developed that accentuate a speaker's voice over background noise.
Directional microphones may be implemented in hearing aids in several ways. In one system, two or more omni-directional elements are linked to two or more individual ports. One microphone is linked to each port, and electrical signals are processed in order to extract the directional response. Alternatively, one or more directional elements may be linked to two or more ports. One directional microphone is linked to two ports, and the signal is processed by the directional element. The difference in sound intensity on the closely-positioned ports of this type of directional hearing aids is typically negligible and the information about the direction of arriving sound signals is derived from the phase differences of the sound signals.
However, directional microphones, although suitable for isolating a speaker's voice, typically have signal-to-noise ratios less than that of omni-directional microphones. Also, directional microphones are very sensitive to wind noise. Thus, in environments with little background or high wind noise, an omni-directional microphone is more desirable for use in processing sound. Therefore, hearing instruments have been developed that include both an omni-directional and a directional microphone, wherein a wearer switches between the two modes as desired.
Unfortunately, hearing instruments that contain both an omni-directional microphone and a directional microphone typically have lower sensitivity in the directional mode and are larger in size as compared to hearing instruments containing only an omni-directional microphone. These dual mode hearing instruments generally have two separate microphone cartridges and a separate toggle switch for switching between them. The total space occupied by these components limits their use to users with ears large enough to accommodate the devices. An unfortunate result is that children often cannot make use of these larger devices.
Accordingly, the hearing instrument industry seeks reduced sized hearing instruments with improved sensitivity and simplified assembly, yet having the advantages of both omni-directional and directional functionality.

Hearing instrument microphone arrangement with improved sensitivity


A method for adding an additive into a polymer melt, preferably a polyester polymer melt such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), comprising:                a. discharging a polymer melt from a reactor to form a discharged polymer melt stream, and        b. solidifying said discharged polymer melt stream, and        c. prior to solidification, feeding a portion of the discharged polymer melt stream to a slipstream to form a slipstream polymer melt, and        d. feeding an additive into said slipstream polymer melt to form an additive containing slipstream, and        e. feeding the additive containing slipstream to a location upstream from the feed location forming said slipstream.

Polymers, and in particular, polyester polymers are frequently made containing one or more additives depending upon the desired end use of the polymer. For example, in the case of polyester polymer, it is common to incorporate one or more ultra-violet inhibitors, particles for improving the reheat of bottle preforms made from the polyester polymer, toners or pigments or colored particles, acetaldehyde scavengers or inhibitors, catalyst deactivators or stabilizers, oxygen barrier material, friction reducing aids, crystallization aids, impact modifiers, and so forth. In some cases, these additives are insoluble in the polymer and require good mixing. Additionally, some additives may be sensitive to exposure to high temperatures for extended periods of time as typically seen in a polycondensation process. In other cases, some additives may inhibit the activity of catalysts.
Thus, there is a desire to provide a method for adding the additives to a polymer melt stream in a manner which at least minimizes exposure time to high temperatures, or does not inhibit activity of catalysts, or provides for good mixing, or a combination of the foregoing.
Methods for adding additive dispersions or solutions in low molecular weight carriers such as ethylene glycol, or in higher molecular weight reactive carriers such as polyoxyalkylene polyols, into a melt phase reaction after esterification and into polycondensation are also known. These processes, however, result in adding extra glycol into an oligomer mixture or into the polymer melt, which is undesirable in some cases especially as one proceeds further toward concluding the polycondensation reaction. Adding the additive neat without a carrier is usually too difficult to meter or add in desired amount.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for addition of additives into a polymer melt


Method and systems for early detection of potentially hazardous material associated with the collection of mail or other objects. In an embodiment of the method of this invention, image characteristics for an image of an item being examined are obtained. A predetermined profile is then retrieved from a profile database. The image characteristics for the image of the item are compared to the image characteristics present in the predetermined profile. If the image characteristics present in the predetermined profile substantially match the image characteristics for the image of the item, the item is identified for special processing. If the image characteristics present in the predetermined profile do not substantially match the image characteristics for the image of the item, another predetermined profile is retrieved and compared to the image characteristics for the image of the item. A system that implements the method of this invention includes a transport sub-system and a computing sub-system.

This invention relates generally to the detection of hazardous material and, more particularly, to the application of image processing to early detection of potentially hazardous material associated with mail collection or the collection of other objects.
Recently there has been increased awareness of the potential for large-scale introduction of hazardous materials, for example, biological organisms, to create chaos or to harm an intended set of victims. One potential delivery method that terrorists or other criminals utilize to deliver such hazardous materials is through the mail or other form of a delivery. In so doing, not only is damage incurred by the intended victims, but also by any set of potential victims that may be in a position of handling such objects as the mail during the delivery or distribution process.
There is currently technology available to law enforcement organizations for detecting the presence of chemical and biological threats. Such test materials generally are sensitive to specific hazardous materials and are utilized by directly putting them in contact with such hazardous materials. To date, however, there is a lack of early detection of such hazardous material especially during the early phases of mail handling or processing. Systems in place today do not deal with detection prior to entering into the formal distribution process. Thus, throughout the distribution process potential non-intended victims are being subjected to hazardous material carried by, for example, letter or package mail.
While complete inspection would be costly, early detection, which allows suspected items to be culled from the processing stream and be fully inspected, is desirable. There is a need for automated technology to help identify mail pieces with threat-consistent characteristics for early detection. Once the candidate mail pieces have been identified as potentially harmful, the analysis, inspection, and neutralization efforts could be focused on a manageable subset of the mail.

Mail image profiling and handwriting matching


According to one embodiment, there is provided an image forming unit including: an image carrier; a charger; a latent image forming unit; a developing roller; and a regulating member. The charger charges the image carrier. The latent image forming unit forms a latent image on the image carrier. The developing roller is arranged to face the image carrier and develops the latent image with a developer including a carrier and a toner. The regulating member regulates a layer thickness of the developer of a surface of the developing roller. The regulating member extends in a direction approaching the developing roller. A magnetic force exerted by the developing roller at a tip end of the regulating member in an extending direction is 55 mT or less.

In the related art, there are image forming apparatuses such as a multi-function peripheral (hereinafter, referred to as an "MFP") and a printer. The image forming apparatus includes a developing device that develops a latent image on an image carrier. In recent years, in order to save energy, a developer containing a toner having a low melting point is used in a developing device in some cases.
In the image forming apparatus, the amount of developer transported in the developing device is reduced, which may affect an image.

Image forming unit and image forming apparatus