The present invention relates to an ice dispenser apparatus having an ice storage bin removably mounted to the refrigerator for receiving and storing ice pieces from an ice maker, a metering device for separating individual ice pieces, and a sensing device for detecting the presence of ice pieces. Actuation of a motor causes the metering device to separate individual ice pieces and the sensing device detects ice pieces before, after, or during dispensing.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an ice dispenser for a refrigerator and more particularly to measured dispensing of ice pieces and sensing of dispensed ice pieces.
2. Description of Related Art
Ice dispensing systems for use in a home refrigerator are commonly known. A typical ice dispensing system includes an ice storage bin for receiving and storing ice pieces from an ice maker. The ice storage bin typically has an agitator to prevent the formation of large ice chunks. When a user requests ice, rotation of the agitator also functions to move ice pieces through an opening in the ice storage bin to be dispensed through a chute. The dispensed ice is usually in the form of ice cubes, crushed ice, shaved ice, or crescent-shaped ice. The ice dispensing system may be disposed within the freezer compartment of the refrigerator or may be mounted in a refrigerator closure member or door. U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,130, to Pastryk et al. is an example of a prior art ice dispensing system that is mounted in a refrigerator closure member or door.
One problem with conventional ice dispensing systems is the inconsistency of the ice dispensing. The refrigerator may initially dispense one cube and then suddenly dispense several cubes, which is undesirable for a user. This problem is especially manifested when dispensing crescent-shaped ice pieces. The elongated form of crescent-shaped ice pieces results in a number of orientations of the ice pieces in the storage bin. The different orientations make it difficult to consistently transfer ice pieces from the storage bin to the dispensing chute. Additionally, the orientation of the crescent-shaped ice pieces in the chute can lead to jamming in the chute, in which case ice pieces cannot be dispensed. Several dispensing methods have been explored in the prior art to address this problem.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,096, to Glass et al. discloses a volumetric ice dispensing and measuring device for use in a beverage dispensing machine. As illustrated, ice is moved from an ice bin by a paddle through a chute when a door is opened. When passing through the chute, the ice displaces a measuring wheel. A sensor monitors the rotation of a measuring wheel by observing pulses of light broken by teeth of the wheel. One rotation of the wheel correlates to a pre-determined volume of ice to be dispensed. A control system is connected to the sensor and shuts the door to the ice bin when the sensor determines that the correct volume of ice has been dispensed. One disadvantage of this system is that there is no assurance that an accurate quantity of ice is dispensed. Since the sensor only monitors the rotation of the wheel and not the ice, the wheel may not have ice in it, but the sensor would still count a rotation as having dispensed ice. Furthermore, the sensing system comprises an additional moving part in the measuring wheel. Moving parts add complexity to the design and manufacturing of the system and potentially decrease its reliability.
Another ice dispensing apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,075,363, to Conto. The design shown in Conto comprises an ice-collecting wheel mounted in a beverage dispensing machine. A motor drives the ice-collecting wheel and as the wheel rotates, each spoke collects a volume of chipped ice. The volume of ice contained in the spoke is then dispensed through an opening. This design is not well suited for the dispensing of cubed ice. The spokes of the wheel can cause the system to become jammed due to variation in the shape of the ice. Additionally, there is no assurance that ice will be dispensed.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,942,979, to Linstomberg et al. discloses an ice dispensing apparatus that utilizes a helical structure to dispense discrete quantities of ice pieces. The helical structure separates the ice pieces and is rotated for a period of time to dispense a pre-selected volume of ice pieces. One disadvantage of this invention is in the amount of space required in the ice dispenser to house the helical structure and driving mechanism. Additionally, there is no assurance that an accurate quantity of ice is dispensed.
As can be seen, the above mentioned patent references lack an ability to detect whether or not ice has in fact been dispensed. Although the designs seek to separate and dispense a predetermined quantity of ice, there is no assurance that a user will obtain the desired quantity. Ice chunks in the storage bin as well as the orientation of ice pieces could prevent ice from being dispensed in the desired quantity. Therefore, an improvement over the prior art would be to detect whether or not an ice piece has been dispensed and to count the ice pieces as they are dispensed.
Another disadvantage of the prior art ice dispensing systems is in the metering device. Systems that utilize a sorting wheel or helical structure can become jammed due to ice chunks and the various orientations of the ice pieces. Therefore, an improvement over the prior art would be a metering device that is less likely to become jammed during operation.


A method and apparatus for overcoming polarization induced signal fading in both heterodyne communication and interferometric sensing. An adjustable birefringent element in series with a linear-polarization beam splitter forms an elliptical-polarization beam splitter. The birefringent element controllably evolves the states of polarization of two input signals thereby controlling the power contribution of each signal onto the orthogonal axes used by the linear beam splitter. When the states of polarization are evolved such that there are equal signal to reference power ratios on the beam splitter axes, subsequent detectors generate a constant, optimum amplitude signal without the need for weighting or decision circuits.

The present invention relates to the polarization induced signal fading of optical signals and particularly to an apparatus and method for minimizing the fading.
Mixing between a reference signal and a data signal is often necessary to extract information from an optical carrier. In communication, the mixing is typically between the received signal and a local oscillator signal at a different frequency. The result is an intermediate frequency (IF) that can be demodulated. In interferometric sensing, the mixing would be between a reference signal and a signal whose phase has been modified by the parameter being measured. The result is an interference signal. In both communication and interferometric sensing, amplitude of the mixed output is dependant upon efficiency of the mixing between the two input optical signals.
When two signals have the same state of polarization, their mixing is 100% efficient; when two signals have orthogonal polarization states, no mixing occurs. Between these two limits, only that portion of the signals whose states of polarization resolve onto a single axis undergo mixing. The reduction in the amplitude of the mixed signal due to an unmixed component in an orthogonal state of polarization is termed polarization induced fading.
The present art uses polarization diversity to overcome polarization induced fading in communication applications. A stable reference signal is equally divided between orthogonal axes. One method of accomplishing this is by aligning the state of polarization of a laser at 45.degree. to the orthogonal axis of a linear-polarization beam splitter. A random state of polarization input is resolved onto the orthogonal axes of the beam splitter. The signal is divided between horizontal and vertical channels, each of which contains equal amounts of reference light: the resolved signal components mix with the reference components and no signal fading occurs.
This solution, while overcoming the polarization induced fading, creates new problems. Because the signal is resolved onto the orthogonal axes as a function of the arbitrary input state of polarization while the reference signal is equally divided between the axes, the mixed signals from the two orthogonal axes do not sum to an optimum signal. Weighting or decision circuits are used to combine the signals from the two channels. Also, the arbitrary state of polarization of the input may align with one of the reference axes. If this occurs, the optical detector for the orthogonal channel will receive nothing but reference light: shot noise from this detector degrades the system signal-to-noise ratio.
In the case of applications to fiber interferometers, the state of polarization of the light in both fibers is arbitrary and varies over time. Therefore, the polarization diversity technique devised for communication applications, i.e., of equally dividing the reference light, cannot be used for interferometric sensor applications. Polarization masking provides some advantages: e.g., masking using axes at 0.degree., 60.degree., and -60.degree. assures that an interference signal is always present. However, because the measurement and reference lights are equally divided among the axes, the maximum output available is only one third of the input signal even if an individual axis is optimized.

Adaptive polarization diversity detection scheme for coherent communications and interferometric fiber sensors

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


Methods and devices provide for a dynamic bias voltage control in detector photodiodes. The methods and systems use a bias control loop to make continuous detections of changes in the effective breakdown current of the detector photodiodes, thereby enabling the devices to change the bias voltage as needed. In one embodiment, a sense diode is added and operated at the breakdown current while the detector diode is operated at a small offset from the breakdown current. As performance conditions change, a feedback loop with the sense diode detects changes in the breakdown current and is used to adjust the bias voltage as necessary. In another embodiment, no sense diode is used. Rather, the detector diode itself is maintained at the breakdown current by a low frequency feedback loop. The optical signal is measured by a high frequency filter.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of optical data transmission systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to optoelectronic devices having a bias control loop to dynamically adjust the reverse bias applied to avalanche photodiodes during operation and thereby improve the operation of the avalanche photodiodes.
2. The Relevant Technology
Computer and data communications networks continue to develop and expand due to declining costs, improved performance of computer and networking equipment, the remarkable growth of the internet, and the resulting increased demand for communication bandwidth. Such increased demand occurs within and between metropolitan areas as well as within communications networks. Moreover, as organizations have recognized the economic benefits of using communications networks, network applications such as electronic mail, voice and data transfer, host access, and shared and distributed databases are increasingly used as a means to increase user productivity.
This increased demand, together with the growing number of distributed computing resources, has resulted in a rapid expansion of the number of fiber optic systems required. Through fiber optics, digital data in the form of light signals is formed by light emitting diodes or lasers and then propagated through a fiber optic cable. Such light signals allow for high data transmission rates and high bandwidth capabilities.
In a typical fiber-optic network, the transmission and reception of data is not strictly limited to optical signals, however. Digital devices such as computers may communicate using both electronic and optical signals. As a result, optical signals need to be converted to electronic signals and electrical signals need to be converted to optical signals. To convert electronic signals to optical signals for transmission on an optical fiber, a transmitter having a light emitter such as a laser is used. A transmitter uses an electronic signal to drive the light emitter to generate an optical signal. When optical signals are converted to electronic signals, a receiver is used. The receiver has a photodiode that, in conjunction with other circuitry, detects optical signals and converts the optical signals to electronic signals. A transceiver is a common device that incorporates both a transmitter and a receiver.
One very sensitive type of photodiode is an avalanche photodiode. Avalanche photodiodes are well-known devices that serve at least two functions: 1) conversion of optical signals into electrical signals; and 2) amplification of the electrical signal through avalanche multiplication. Typically, an avalanche photodiode has an absorption layer where an optical signal is absorbed. Photons in the optical signal impinging the absorption layer generate an electron-hole pair or a carrier. A multiplication layer in the avalanche photodiode is designed such that one carrier causes an avalanche of other carriers where the number of other carriers is dependent on the gain of the avalanche photodiode.
The gain of an avalanche photodiode is facilitated by a pre-applied electrical voltage across the avalanche photodiode, the result of which is that a reduced amount of power from an optical signal is required to trigger the "breakdown," or the avalanche of carriers in the avalanche photodiode that results in the detection of an optical signal. This pre-applied electrical voltage is applied by a bias voltage in the circuitry driving the avalanche photodiode. It is preferable to raise the bias voltage to as near the breakdown level as possible without allowing the diode to go into breakdown. The amount the bias voltage is backed off from the breakdown level is sometimes referred to as the offset.
Though generally effective, present avalanche photodiodes suffer from various problems that reduce their longevity or increase their cost. For example, the correct bias voltage is a strong function of the temperature of the avalanche photodiode chip. Present avalanche photodiodes must therefore have their avalanche photodiode bias voltage calibrated over a range of temperature extremes to ensure proper operation. Still, thermal gradients within an optoelectronic device and component aging can render the calibration inaccurate.
In addition, some conventional avalanche photodiode systems have a problem in that the back off (or "offset") in bias voltage is quite large. This is necessary since the control of the voltage versus temperature is crude and since it is important that the voltage never exceed the breakdown level. The large offset causes lower performance in the receiver. This can result in lower yield, relaxed (less competitive) specifications, and/or can require higher performance (higher price) components to reach the desired specifications.
As previously noted, the correct bias voltage is a strong function of the temperature of the avalanche photodiode chip. Various conventional products use a temperature sensor and a look-up table to set the bias. The values in this table are determined at manufacture time by placing the module in a temperature chamber and adjusting the avalanche photodiode bias voltage at cold, room, and hot temperatures. The performance of the avalanche photodiode improves as the bias voltage increases until the voltage becomes too high and the diode breaks down. Therefore, in devices using a temperature look-up scheme the voltage can be typically adjusted within about 2 volts or less of breakdown. Other products which use simpler control mechanisms are often set more than 5 volts below breakdown.
The conventional scheme using a temperature look-up table is disadvantageous, however, in that the temperature sensor is not located at the avalanche photodiode chip so any temperature gradient creates an error in setting the bias voltage. If the gradient is large enough (for example 10° C. in some designs), the diode can be driven into breakdown despite the use of the temperature look-up table. In addition, setting the table requires significant test time during manufacturing due to the need to calibrate the module at different temperatures. Also, once the module is calibrated, there is no allowance for aging or drift in the values of the many components which make up the avalanche photodiode system.


Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to maneuvering autonomous vehicles. Specifically, the vehicle may use a laser to collect scan data for a section of roadway. The vehicle may access a detailed map including the section of the roadway. A disturbance indicative of an object and including a set of data points data may be identified from the scan data based on the detailed map. The detailed map may also be used to estimate a heading of the disturbance. A bounding box for the disturbance may be estimated using the set of data points as well as the estimated heading. The parameters of the bounding box may then be adjusted in order to increase or maximize the average density of data points of the disturbance along the edges of the bounding box visible to the laser. This adjusted bounding box may then used to maneuver the vehicle.

Autonomous vehicles use various computing systems to aid in the transport of passengers from one location to another. Some autonomous vehicles may require an initial input or continuous input from an operator, such as a pilot, driver, or passenger. Other autonomous systems, for example autopilot systems, may be used only when the system has been engaged, which permits the operator to switch from a manual mode (where the operator exercises a high degree of control over the movement of the vehicle) to an autonomous mode (where the vehicle essentially drives itself) to modes that lie somewhere in between.
Such vehicles are typically equipped with various types of sensors in order to detect objects in the surroundings. For example, autonomous vehicles may include lasers, sonar, radar, cameras, and other devices which scan and record data from the vehicle's surroundings. These devices in combination (and in some cases alone) may be used to identify the shape and outline objects in a roadway and safely maneuver the vehicle to avoid the identified objects. This detection and identification is a critical function for autonomous vehicles but may be very difficult because the sensor data may include vast amounts of information. For example, laser sensors from a single autonomous vehicle may collect tens of thousands of data points off of a single object, such as another car. Processing such a large amount of data points in three dimensions is very time consuming and impractical for real time use of the data.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A method and apparatus for detecting residual ink in a sample by illuminating by diffused infra-red light a series of spots on a sample and examining a small area on each spot by collecting light in a video camera to form a frame for each spot, digitizing each of the frame and detecting areas in the frames having a brightness below a selected level to determine the total dark area of each frame. The number of such frames processed in a set of frames used to categorize the sample is defined when a certain minimum number of frames have been processed and when a selected degree of convergence of the data collected for the set and the data from the frame currently being processed is obtained, or after a preset maximum number of frames have been processed. The sample is characterised on the basis of the ratio of the dark area to the total area processed.

The concept of detecting dirt in pulp or counting the number of specks, i.e. areas of different color, based on analyzing a moving web using a charge coupled device (CCD) camera has been used for example in the Intel Dirt Counter.TM. made by Intel and described in On-Line Automated Pulp Dirt Count Measurement by Kenesy et al presented at the TAPPI Proceedings Pulping Conference in 1987. This device scans the pulp surface using a CCD Camera each pixel of which functions as a discrete sensor. The camera is focused onto the pulp surface so that each pixel measured a section of pulp 0.15 mm wide. The surface of the pulp is illuminated from the same side as the camera and the dirt detected is size classified and a dirt count number weighted by particle size and normalized is determined.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,657 issued Jun. 5, 1990 to Houston et al also discloses a dirt counter which counts the number of pixels of intensity below a certain level as set by thresholding the signal with acceptance or rejection being based on the total area occupied by dirt particles or by the inclusion of significant large areas of single dirt spots.
It is also common practice to inspect the pulp visually and determine the quality of pulp subjectively and to base acceptance or rejection of the pulp for cleanliness on the subjective judgement of the inspector.
None of these techniques for detecting dirt are adequate or capable of defining the residual ink in recycled paper products.


A connector (15) for connecting modules together comprises plastic connector member (16), an expander rod (17) and a threaded expander rod displacer (18). The connector member (16) has spaced dovetail style enlargements (19) on one side and a full length dovetail enlargement (20) on the other side. The connector member (16) is designed to slide in the confronting slots with the wasted sections (21) of the expander (17) located inside each of the sections (19). Once in position the threaded expander rod displacer (18) is used to axially displace the expander (17) to force the enlarged sections of the expander (17) into the sections (19) thus engaging the slot and at the same time biasing the modules together.

Many arrangements are used to connect building panels in edge to edge relation. Typical arrangements are tongue and groove arrangements. Some arrangements involve cooperating edge configurations where bridging fitting is used to secure the panels together.
Australian Patent No 540685 uses a panel where the edge is and I-shaped tongue which effectively has side slots and is fitted freely into a slot with a cross shape in profile on the other panel, the cross shaped slot effectively has opposed side slots align with side in the slots in the tongue resulting in longitudinal spaces on either side of the tongue and bridging the tongue and the slot. The panels are locked together by pins or rods located in the spaces thus blocking removal of the tongue.
DE2343047 connects panels using alternating hook like lobes separated by recesses. The lobes and recesses are the same width and are offset on each panel.
GB2291687 describes panel edges having lugs and recesses so the lugs fit into the recesses of the other panel, each lug has a through hole and they all line up so a rod through the lugs locks the panels together.

Connector systems for building materials


A communication system using OFDM transmission from a base station to subscriber units, includes means for achieving a bi-directional channel. These means comprise transmitting means in the subscriber units for the transmission of signal synchronous with the guard time interval in the OFDM transmission, and receiving means in the base station for the reception of the transmitted signals. The system also includes signal shaping means in the receiver of the base station and/or the subscriber unit for the application of a window in time to signals received therein. A communication system includes a combination of CDMA modulation codes and OFDM coding/decoding means to achieve orthogonality between signals from the various users in the uplink. A communication system includes a combination of OFDM and channeling means for achieving orthogonality between signals from the various users in the uplink. Automatic Frequency Control is achieved with means in the mobile unit for achieving a frequency-lock to the base station.

Heretofore, Advanced communications today use the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) modulation for efficient transmission of digital signals. These signals may include video, voice and/or data.
OFDM is a commonly used implementation of Multi-Carrier Modulation (MCM).
The Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) is a modern advanced modulation method, that achieves better use of the frequency spectrum, as detailed below.
OFDM has been used in recent years in many applications where robustness against severe multipath and interference conditions is required, together with high system capacity, flexibility in providing variable bit rate services, scalability and a capability to perform well in Single Frequency Networks (SNF). OFDM forms the basis for various communication standards, including for example the Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), wireless LANs and Wireless Local Loops.
A particular example of the use of OFDM is in DVB systems.
Digital video broadcasting (DVB) systems are now being developed, based on several standards, in Europe, U.S.A. and Japan. Each standard addresses cable broadcasting as well as satellite and terrestrial/area broadcasting.
In Europe, various standards define the digital video broadcasting (DVB) system, including DVB-T (DVB-Terrestrial), DVB-C (DVB-Cable) and DVB-S (DVB-Satellite).
For example, the European standard EN 300 744 defines the DVB-T.
The OFDM modulation method has been chosen, for example, for the digital television broadcasting (MPEG-2) per standard DVB-T.
A disadvantage of presently used DVB-T systems is their unidirectional operation. That is, information is only transmitted from a base station (the transmitter) to subscribers (the receivers). A system may contain many base stations and subscribers, however there is always an unidirectional flow of information.
An interactive system can be achieved by using a telephone line as a return channel from the set top box, however this method is slow and inconvenient.
A fast, flexible link from subscriber to the base station is required for the multitude of advanced services that are in demand today.
To achieve a bi-directional link is a difficult task, that requires an innovative approach as detailed below. The problem is further aggravated by the requirement that the solution should cause no deterioration in performance; moreover, updated subscriber units capable of bi-directional operation should coexist with older subscriber units that do not have these transmission capabilities.
To understand the difficulty of complying with these requirements, one should delve into the intricacies of contemporary digital video broadcasting standards. These standards specify advanced signal processing, to achieve higher quality communications at very high bit rates.
Thus, in the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) modulation method, a block of information is divided among N frequency channels, so that a portion of the information is transmitted in each of the abovementioned channels or frequencies. Since each channel is orthogonal to the others, a better utilization of the frequency spectrum is achieved.
The OFDM method achieves lower Inter-Symbol Interference ISI, since the distribution of the information over N carriers allows each bit of information to be sent for a longer time period (N times longer). For a low ISI, the overlap between adjacent symbols should be lower than 10%. The ISI increases as the percentage of overlap between adjacent symbols increases. In OFDM, since each symbol is N times longer, the percent overlap between adjacent symbols decreases, hence the Inter-Symbol Interference ISI is lower.
Still better spectrum utilization is achieved by QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) on each of the N carriers.
An IFFT (Inverse Fourier Transform) is performed on the modulated carriers, to form the signal in the time domain that corresponds to the above modulated carriers. The signal is transmitted as a frame that contains the block of information to be transmitted.
A possible problem with the above modulation method is multipath, that may result in interference between adjacent transmitted frames. To address this problem, a guard time period is inserted between adjacent frames. The guard time is especially important in QAM, that is more sensitive to interference. In DVB-T systems, the guard time is chosen as either ¼, ⅛, 1/16 or 1/32 of the symbol time.
A disadvantage of presently used OFDM channels is the need to reserve a guard interval in order to battle multipath and to enable operation in SFN networks. The guard interval, which is up to 25% of the symbol duration, is in effect a wasted time, because no information is transmitted during that time interval.
Although the guard time is used to address the multipath problem, it is a costly solution, since it reduces the capacity of the communication system. It would be highly desirable to use other means for solving the multipath problem, that would allow channel operation at full speed.
Therefore, it is a formidably difficult task to try and improve or change these complex communications standards.
Several methods are now used to separate signals transmitted over a common channel, including:
TDMA—Time Division Multiple Access
FDMA—Frequency Division Multiple Access
DS-CDMA—Direct Sequence/Code Division Multiple Access
CDMA systems may use either DS/CDMA or FH/CDMA. In DS/CDMA multicode or DS/Multicode/CDMA, the separation of signals transmitted over a common channel is achieved using orthogonal codes.
At present, a problem in DS/CDMA is how to generate these orthogonal codes. It is possible to have N channels using orthogonal Walsh codes to multiply each channel, wherein each user has a different Walsh code. In the downlink channel (DL), that is the channel from the base station to subscribers, the orthogonality is preserved, since transmission to all users is prepared and transmitted at the same time. Each user receives all the encoded messages at the same time.
In the uplink, however, each user has a different timing because of a different propagation time delay.
Thus, each Walsh code (corresponding to a specific user) may be shifted in time relative to the other codes (that correspond to the other users). This effect creates interference between channels.
The problem is further aggravated by multipath, that may cause the phase shift in each channel to change in time.
In prior art CDMA, alignment up to a portion of one chip was required to maintain orthogonality between signals. This is a severe requirement, that affects the cost and complexity of the communication equipment.
A reduced orthogonality may cause a higher level of inter-user interference, caused by cross-correlation effects.
Undesired frequency deviations pose a difficult problem in the uplink channel (from subscribers to base), since the base has to concurrently receive and process signals from a plurality of subscribers: each subscriber may have a different deviation, from Doppler Or other causes.
If part of the signals from one user overlap with another's because of a frequency deviation, these signals cannot be separated in the receiver—the damage cannot be repaired, and it may cause interference between users.
Various attempts in prior art at solving this problem are not effective.
In one prior art system, there are a plurality of receivers at the base station, each receiver is tuned to one subscriber transmitter, with a closed loop to track and correct frequency deviations in that transmitter.
Such an approach may be highly complex and expensive when there are a large number of subscriber units.
The above solution cannot be used where subscribers share a common channel, rather frequency multiplexing is used, a different band for each subscriber.
The present disclosure presents a more effective approach, which allows higher performance and flexibility at a lower cost, using a common receiver at the base, for processing signals from all the subscriber transmitters.
In this approach, however, performance degrades rapidly if there are frequency deviations in the received signals. As frequency variations may have different values for the various subscribers, the common receiver cannot track them.
Wideband Systems, and more so broadband systems, are very sensitive to such frequency deviations, which may cause a deterioration in the orthogonality of subcarriers and information in the received signals, resulting in errors, thus reducing channel quality.
A Doppler frequency shift may result from a mobile subscriber's motion. For example, at a frequency of 2 GHz and a vehicle velocity of 100 km/h, a Doppler of about 185 Hz is expected. The received signal may have any value of deviation, between −185 Hz and −185 Hz; the deviation will usually change with time; the same applies to the other subscribers.
At a higher velocity and/or frequency, a larger Doppler deviation is expected (the Doppler deviation is proportional to velocity and frequency). There are other sources of undesired frequency deviations, such as multiplexers in a fiber-optic channel, etc.
In another prior art system, the subscriber locks on a signal from the base and transmits at that signal. One or more pilots may be used. This, however, will not correct for frequency deviations due to multiplexers in the charnel, both in the downlink and the uplink: as the signal from base deviates because of various causes, the signal received back at the base accumulates all the deviations on the way.
This system will not solve the Doppler frequency shift: assuming a moving subscriber receiving a signal from the base at a frequency deviation of +Fd, if it transmits at the received frequency, then the signal received at the base will have double the deviation or +2 Fd, since the Doppler acts the same way in both directions.
Another problem in prior art uplink channels is the need for signals from all the subscribers to arrive at about the same time window at the base, to allow their processing together. Due to different distances to base, the subscribers will be received each at a different time delay—a subscriber farther from base will have a longer time delay.
Yet another problem in prior art communications is the need for dynamic allocation of channels: The radio spectrum is a precious resource; allocating it wisely is of paramount importance.
Various users need each a different channel capacity—some say want to send or receive pictures, which require large amounts of data; others transmit voice or music, which requires less data; others are idle, thinking or waiting for something. Each user's needs may change at a moment's notice. It would be highly desirable to provide a system and method for allocating bandwidth in the amount required by each user—to each user to allocate bandwidth in the system, dynamically, according to their momentary needs.
Prior art systems apparently do not disclose a system similar to that detailed in the present disclosure.
Thus, Seki et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,224, discloses an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing transmission system and transmitter and receiver therefor. It transmits an OFDM transmission frame, with null symbols and reference symbols being placed in the beginning portion of the frame and QPSK symbols are placed in an information symbol data region in the frame, with equal spacing in time and frequency.
The carrier amplitude and phase errors are corrected by a correction information producing section on the amplitude and phase variations of the received signal detected by the variation detector to produce corrected information.
Apparently, Seki does not address the problem of reverse link transmissions. Moreover, Seki performs a different type of signal processing.
Baum et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,044, discloses a multicarrier reverse link timing synchronization system. A center station transmits a forward link signal, receives a reverse link signal, and determines a timing offset for signals received on a reverse link timing synchronization channel. A reverse link symbol timing synchronization can be used in a system having a plurality of transmitting overlap bandwidth subscriber units on an OFDM-like spectrally overlapping reverse channel. The modulation method may comprise M-ary Quadrature Phase Shift Keying(M-PSK), M-ary Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) or other digital modulation method.
Gudmundson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,790,516, discloses a method and system for pulse shaping for data transmission in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) system.


The invention relates to a cooled shroud in a gas turbine stationary blade which is able to flow a cooling air in the entire area of an inner shroud for cooling thereof. Three stationary blades are fixed to the inner shroud 2, a cover 13, 14 is provided to form a space 21 and space 22a, 22b and 22c, respectively. The cooling air is introduced through an independent air passage 3A of a leading edge of each stationary blade into the spaces 22a, 22b and 22c and is flown therefrom through a tunnel 18 and air reservoirs 19-2, 19-3 and 19-4 to be blown out of a trailing edge while cooling surfaces of the shrouds and the trailing edges. Also, a portion of the cooling air from the space 22b is flown into the space 21 through a tunnel 11, a leading edge side passage 12 and an endmost tunnel 11 and is then blown out of the trailing edge through a tunnel 18 and an air reservoir 19-1, so that the leading edge portion, the endmost portion and the endmost trailing edge portion are cooled. By use of the independent air passage, the cooling air is introduced to cool the entire area of the shroud.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cooled shroud having a cooling structure in a gas turbine stationary blade.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing one typical example of a cooling system in a prior art gas turbine stationary blade. In the figure, numeral 30 designates a stationary blade, numeral 31 designates an outer shroud thereof and numeral 32 designates an inner shroud. Numeral 33, 34 and 35, respectively, designates an insert, arranged in the order of place from a leading edge side toward a trailing edge side, inserted in the direction from the outer shroud 31 toward the inner shroud 32, numeral 33a, 34a and 35a, respectively, designates an air injection hole provided to the respective insert and numeral 36 designates a trailing edge fin. Numeral 37 generally designates an air injection hole provided in a blade surface for blowing air, wherein numerals 37a and 37c are shown in the figure and numeral 37b is not shown.
In the stationary blade 30 of the above structure, cooling air is introduced through the outer shroud 31 and the inner shroud 32, respectively, into the inserts 33, 34 and 35 and is blown from the air injection holes 33a, 34a and 35a toward a blade inner surface to perform an impingement cooling of the blade inner surface and is then blown from the air injection holes 37a, 37b and 37c, provided in the blade surface, to perform a shower head cooling, a film cooling and a pin fin cooling of the blade.
Also, as for the cooling of the shroud, it is done, as shown in the figure as one example, such that the cooling air which flows in is injected to impinge rectangularly on an impingement plate 39 which is provided in the inner shroud 32 in parallel thereto so that the air passes through a multiplicity of holes to be diffused to cool an entire surface of the inner shroud 32 and is then flown out of a rear end of the shroud.
FIG. 6 shows another example of a stationary blade cooling system. In the figure, numeral 40 designates a stationary blade, numeral 41 designates an outer shroud thereof and numeral 42 designates an inner shroud. Numeral 43A, 43B, 43C, 43D and 43E, respectively, designates an air passage, numeral 45 designates an air injection hole of a trailing edge and numeral 46 designates a turbulator provided to an inner wall of the air passage 43A to 43D, respectively, for making the air flow there turbulent for enhancement of a heat transfer.
In the present stationary blade cooling system, a cooling air 47 flows in from the outer shroud 41 into the air passage 43A to flow to a base portion, to enter therefrom the next air passage 43B, to flow to a tip portion, to enter therefrom the next air passage 43C and then likewise to flow in the air passages 43D and 43E, sequentially, to cool the blade, and is blown out of the air passage 43E through the air injection hole 44 of the trailing edge and a remaining air flows down out of the inner shroud 42.
In the cooling system shown in FIG. 6, while there is constructed a serpentine cooling passage by the air passages 43A to 43E so that air flows there to cool the blade, there is considered nothing of a cooling of the shroud.
In the prior art gas turbine cooling system as described above, the cooling of the shroud is done, as the example shown in FIG. 5, such that the cooling air is flown to impinge on the impingement plate provided in the shroud and is flown in the shroud through the multiplicity of holes to cool the shroud and then is discharged through an air passage in the rear end of the shroud, however, there is applied no cooling of the shroud in the stationary blade of a turbine rear stage side, as shown in FIG. 6.
The cooling of the shroud by use of such an impingement plate as mentioned above is not necessarily sufficient and, moreover, there are many cases where such cooling is done on the shroud on a turbine front stage side but no cooling is done on the turbine rear stage side, hence, a means for further enhancing the cooling effect as a whole has been desired.

Cooled shroud of gas turbine stationary blade


An ink reservoir (1) for maintaining ink (10) at a negative pressure by using the suction provided the printhead and then regulating the negative pressure with a pressure regulator (16) that allows air into cartridge at a specified pressure difference. The pressure regulator may be a porous member such as a membrane or mesh filter, or a simple pressure relief valve. The membrane (16), mesh or foam is selected such that its bubble point equates to the specified pressure difference.

The inkjet printheads in the above cross referenced documents have an array of nozzles, each nozzle having an associated ink ejection actuator within a nozzle chamber. Ink from a cartridge or other reservoir is fed to the chambers where the ejection actuators force drops of ink through the nozzle for printing. As printers predominantly use removable cartridges, the invention will be described with specific reference to ink cartridges. However, it will be appreciated that the invention equally applies to any fluid reservoir for supplying a printhead.
During periods of inactivity, the ink is retained in the chambers by the surface tension of the ink meniscus that forms across the nozzle. If the meniscus bulges outwardly, it can 'pin' itself to the nozzle rim to hold the ink in the chamber. However, if it contacts paper dust or other contaminants on the nozzle rim, the meniscus can be unpinned from the rim and ink will leak out of the printhead through the nozzle.
To address this, many ink cartridges are designed so that the hydrostatic pressure of the ink at the nozzles is less than atmospheric pressure. This causes the meniscus across the nozzle openings to be concave or drawn inwards. Paper dust or other particulate contaminants are less likely to contact the meniscus when it is inverted into the nozzle. Furthermore, a positive pressure in the ink chamber helps to drive the flow of ink leaking from the chamber once the meniscus is compromised by paper dust.
The negative pressure in the chambers is limited by two factors. It can not be strong enough to de-prime the chambers (i.e. suck the ink out of the chambers and back towards the cartridge) and it must be less than the ejection pressure generated by the ejection drop ejection actuators. However, if the negative pressure is too weak, the nozzles can leak ink if the printhead is jolted or shaken. While this can happen during use, it is more likely to occur during the shipping and handling of the primed printheads.
To establish a negative pressure, some cartridges use a flexible bag design. Part of the cartridge has a flexible bag or wall section that is biased toward increasing the ink storage volume. U.S. Ser. No. 11/014,764 and U.S. Ser. No. 11/014,769 (listed above in the cross referenced documents) are examples of this type of cartridge. These cartridges can provide a reliable and constant negative pressure, but the design is relatively complex, bulky and costly to make. Also the ratio of ink used for printing, to the total volume of ink in the cartridge is typically low. Unless the cartridge is refillable, much of the ink is wasted when the cartridge is discarded.
Another way of generating a negative pressure in the ink chambers is shown in FIG. 1. A piece of foam or porous material 2 is placed in the cartridge 1 over the outlet 3. The foam 2 has a section that is saturated with ink 4, and a section 5 that may be wet with ink, but not saturated. The top of the cartridge 1 is vented to atmosphere through the air maze 7. Capillary action (represented by arrow 6) draws the ink from the saturated section 4 into the unsaturated section 5. This continues until it is balanced by the weight of the increased hydrostatic pressure, or 'head' of ink drawn upwards by the capillary action 6. The hydrostatic pressure at the top of the saturated section 4 is less than atmospheric because of capillary action into the unsaturated section 5. From there, the hydrostatic pressure increases towards the outlet 3, and if connected to the printhead (not shown), it continues to increase down to the nozzle openings (assuming they are the lowest points in the printhead). By setting the proportion of saturated foam to unsaturated foam such that the hydrostatic pressure of the ink at the nozzle is less than atmospheric, the ink meniscus will form inwardly.
This is a much simpler and cheaper design, but the amount of ink retained in the foam when the cartridge is discarded is still high. The need for an unsaturated section of foam, and the foam itself, makes the volumetric efficiency quite low, i.e. the ratio of ink volume to total cartridge volume is low. Furthermore, the negative pressure at the nozzle will increase as the ink level in the cartridge drops. As the negative pressure must be established at the nozzles when the cartridge is first installed, and the negative pressure increases as the ink in the cartridge is used, there are practical limits on the volume of ink that can be supplied by cartridges of this type. As previously discussed, the negative pressure at the nozzles can not be stronger than the ejection actuators or greater than the de-prime threshold.
One attempt to address this is schematically shown in FIG. 2. The cartridge 1 essentially has two chambers 8 and 9; one holding the foam 2 and the other holding ink 10 only. The chambers are connected by a narrow passage 11 at the floor 12 of the cartridge. The hydrostatic ink pressure below the balance line 13 is the same in each chamber for corresponding heights. The negative pressure in the sealed air space 14 above the ink in the second chamber 9 can be expressed as follows:Pair=−(ρ.g.H+Pfoam)
Where:                ρ is the density of ink        g is gravity        H is height above the balance line.        Pfoam is the pressure at the balance line under the influence of capillary action in the foam.
The negative pressure at the nozzles is provided by capillary action 6 to the unsaturated section of the foam 5. However, the foam 2, and therefore the printhead, is fed additional ink from the second chamber 9. As ink drains from the second chamber 9, tiny bubbles of air 15 form at the opening 11 and rise up to the head space 14. This arrangement is more volumetrically efficient but still suffers from many of the problems associated with the design shown in FIG. 1. A substantial amount of ink remains in the foam when the cartridge is discarded and the second chamber 9 introduces an extra degree of complexity for manufacturing and charging with ink.
The present Applicant has developed a range of pagewidth printheads for high speed, 1600 d.p.i. full color printing. High speed pagewidth printheads introduce additional problems for cartridges with foam inserts. Firstly, the cartridge is supplying a much greater number of nozzles than a scanning printhead. In a high speed printer (speeds greater than an A4 page per second) the nozzles have a higher firing rate. Therefore the ink flow rate out of the cartridge is much greater than that of a scanning printhead. The fluidic drag caused by the foam insert can starve the nozzles and retard the chamber refill rate. More porous foam will have less fluidic drag but also much less capillary force.
Secondly, pagewidth printheads have a generally elongate structure. By definition they must extend (at least) the width of a page. If one end of the printhead is raised during installation or shipping, the head of ink above the lower-most nozzles can be much greater than when the printhead is horizontal. This increase can overcome the negative pressure at the lower nozzles and cause leakage.


A pet feeder holding food and/or water dishes for domestic animals. The pet feeder helps to keep pets from scattering their food or splattering their drink out of their dishes, and is especially useful for preventing dogs with floppy ears from getting their ears wet. In the preferred embodiment, the invention has interfitting top and bottom parts. The top part has a handle, and two opposite openings. Likewise, the bottom part has a bottom surface, and two opposite openings, which continue and are equal in width with the openings in the top part. Within each opening a dish can be placed, which may contain food or water. Normally, food will be placed in one dish, and water in the other. In an alternative embodiment, there is a hole in the top part to retain a water bottle allowing two different foodstuffs being placed in the dishes. The device prevents the long, floppy ears of certain animals from getting into the bowl. The top part may be lifted off the bottom part, using the handle. In yet another alternative embodiment, the device is a single unitary part, having a handle, a pair of opposing openings, and an optional retainer for a water bottle, or the like.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a pet feeder, and more particularly pertains to a feeder for holding food and water dishes which provides for the maintenance of a groomed pet having long ears.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Animal feeding devices are well known in the art. Particularly, feeding devices having separate compartments are widely used in many areas. Such types of separate compartment feeding devices are found in places like zoos or farms, allowing multiple animals individually to feed or drink without interference from an adjacent animal. Feeding dishes for domesticated animals also are well known. Compartmentalized feeding dishes provide a single unit for holding food and water independently, so as to conveniently provide nourishment for the animal. This convenience produces a significant dilemma for the animal owner. The dilemma is, in particular, maintaining animal grooming. For example, a long-eared show dog feeding and or drinking from a dish often will have its ears fall into the dish. The results are quite obvious: after eating or drinking, the owner must clean the ears of the dog. This is an inevitable occurrence each time the dog feeds or drinks. The prior art does not provide any type of feeding device suitable for reducing the amount of time for maintaining the appearance of the animal, or minimizing the attention necessary for maintaining the appearance of the animal.
U.S. Pat. No. 556,900, issued on Mar. 24, 1896, to Don L. Richmond, discloses a combined feed box and manger, in which the manger can be swung out of the way when hay or other feed is fed to an animal. The instant invention is distinguishable, in that it has no pivotally moving parts.
U.S. Pat. No. 804,991, issued on Nov. 21, 1905, to John W. Alkire and Jacob Orndorff, discloses a feed trough having a plurality of alternating upward-slanting U-shaped members on the tops of each of two sides, through which animals can feed, and a bottom with a V-shaped cross-section in which food or water is placed. The instant invention is distinguishable, in that it has a flat bottom, in which separate food and water dishes can be placed, and the openings through which the animal feeds are also flat and parallel with the bottom.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,172,985, issued on Feb. 22, 1916, to Michael Joseph Hager, discloses a feed rack for calves. The feed rack includes a plurality of vertical partitions for separating the calves during feeding, and a bowl fastened to the rack intermediate each set of adjacent partitions and near the ends of the rack. Each bowl is elevated from the ground on which the animals stand while feeding. The instant invention is distinguishable, in that it is designed for only one animal, with space for both food and water dishes provided, with the dishes not being substantially elevated above the surface on which the animal feeds, which is more suitable for smaller animals such as dogs.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,831,593, issued on Nov. 10, 1931, to Frank A. Garvey, discloses an outdoor feeding device for animals that is designed especially for foxes on fox ranches. The device includes a plurality of feeding dishes fixed in place, under a roof on the device to protect the food from the weather, and on a platform elevated from the ground. The instant invention is distinguishable in that it may be used indoors, it is for only one animal, and it has separate openings for a food dish and a water dish.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,584,301, issued on Feb. 5, 1952, to Melroy Sinclair, discloses a moated dog feeder with separate dishes for food and drink that are elevated from the ground. Each dish is protected by a water-filled moat to keep ants and similar pests out of the dish. The instant invention has no moats, but does have sides that can keep the long-ears of a feeding pet from falling into the dishes.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,612,137, issued on Sep. 30, 1952, to Charles C. Fuls, discloses a self-feeder for rabbits or other animals, with two oppositely positioned compartments, each having openings with downwardly directed flanges to prevent the animal from scattering the food. The instant invention is distinguishable, in that it allows both food and water to be placed in separate dishes, and the openings are in both horizontal and vertical sides of the feeder.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,651,787, issued on Mar. 28, 1972, to Pauline E. Cooper, discloses an adjustable pet feeding stand, the height of which is vertically adjustable. It does not disclose the oppositely positioned openings of the instant invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,335, issued on Dec. 21, 1982, to Allan Livingston, discloses an animal feeder with a cone in the center of a circular member such as a tire. Feed is placed in tale space between the cone and the circular member. The instant invention is distinguishable, in that it allows the animal to feed only at specific separate openings, one of which may contain food, while another has water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,907, issued on Nov. 13, 1984, to Steen Blicher, discloses a method and apparatus for feeding animals. The apparatus includes a plurality of separate feeding places in a row, with obstacles designed to encourage the rooting instincts of animals such as hogs. The instant invention is distinguishable, in that it is designed to provide food and drink to only one animal, and does not have obstacles to encourage rooting.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,691, issued on Aug. 29, 1989, to Lowell A. Mayer, discloses an animal feeder with separate compartments for food and water which an animal can access from the same side of the feeder. The instant invention is distinguishable, in that its compartments can be accessed by the animal only from opposite sides of the feeder.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,401, issued on Oct. 9, 1990, to John E. Hellerman, discloses a manger divider that is removably attached to a stall frame and stanchion for livestock. The instant invention is distinguishable, in that it does not require a pre-existing manger, frame or stanchion.
British Patent No. 113,855, complete specification accepted on Mar. 14, 1918, to Fleetwood Hesketh, discloses a feeding trough for poultry, with bars over the top of the trough to prevent feed from being scattered. The instant invention is distinguishable, in that it is not a trough, but rather a box with oppositely positioned openings to allow an animal access to food and water dishes.
French Patent No. 740,985, published on Feb. 3, 1933, to Robert E. Gardiner, and British Patent No. 389,371, complete specification accepted on Mar. 16, 1933, to Robert Ernest Gardiner, disclose an animal feeder, being a trough with a plurality of compartments, with halters by which the neck of each animal feeding is held, so that it cannot withdraw its head. The instant invention is distinguishable, in that it does not have a trough, it is not designed for a plurality of animals, and it does not prevent an animal from withdrawing its head from an opening.
European Patent Application No. 390,245, published on Oct. 3, 1990, to Guido Dervaux, discloses a feeding trough for rabbits or other animals. The trough is covered by a tunnel with apertures having flexible shutters which limit access for young animals that, cannot push open the shutters, but allows older animals (that are strong enough to push back the shutters) to feed. The instant invention is distinguishable, in that it does not have a trough or shutters.
As can be seen from the prior art, a feeding device that provides access to food and/or drink of the animal, while maintaining the appearance of the animal is not found. In addition, a device capable of maintaining the appearance of an animal, by reducing the occurrences of regrooming the animal after each feeding or drinking is not found in the prior art. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.


An automatic developing apparatus which can supply a photographic film without use of a leader. The automatic developing apparatus 100 has an automatic loader 31 in which a plurality of film containers 1 are held in a holder 32, a feed-out control mechanism 33 and a shutter mechanism 35 to individually and successively position the containers 11 in a film draw-out position, a film draw-out mechanism for withdrawing the film 1 in the condition that the curling of the film 1 is prevented, and a developing tank for developing the film. According to another embodiment of the invention, in the case where the container 1 is not used, after the cartridge 2 has been supplied into the film draw-out position, positioning of the cartridge 2 is performed by rotating the cartridge 2 so that the draw-out portion of the cartridge 2 is correctly oriented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a film container adapted for automatically developing a photographic film which does not have a leader attached thereto, and an automatic developing apparatus adapted for developing the photographic film.
2. Background Art
A conventional photographic film 1 is rolled in a cylindrical cartridge 2 as shown in FIG. 15 allowing the end of the film to be withdrawn from the cartridge substantially tangentially thereto. Since the film 1 is wound around a core in the cartridge 2, the film 1 has a curled shape, as illustrated, after it has been withdrawn from the cartridge.
On the other hand, in a developing apparatus for developing the film 1, the film 1 is carried while successively submerged in a series of treatment solutions. As shown in FIG. 16, the film 1 is intended to be positioned between a draw-out roller 4, rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow by a driving system 3, and a nip roller 5, so that the film 1 can be conveyed to a developing tank (not shown).
However, the curl of the film 1 often prevents the end of the film 1 from being properly positioned between the draw-out roller 4 and the nip roller 5, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 8. As a result, the film 1 cannot be properly conveyed or otherwise may become jammed.
To prevent the aforementioned problem, the curling of the film 1 may be corrected by removing the film in a manner that causes the film to curl in the opposite direction to its natural curl or by attaching an uncurled leader to the film. However, the decurling of the film must be performed in a dark room to avoid exposure of the film to light resulting in attendant disadvantages. Further, the attaching of the leader must be performed by hand, so that not only preparation of the leader is required but much labor is required for attaching the leader.
Although a method of automatically supplying the film 1 to the developing apparatus in the condition that a leader is attached to the end of the film 1 has been proposed (see Unexamined Japanese Patent Application (OPI) Nos. Hei-3-12305 and Hei-3-12306), an apparatus for automatically supplying and processing the film 1 without use of any leader has not been devised.
The present invention is designed to overcome these problems. Specifically, an object is to provide a film container adapted for automatically supplying a film to a draw-out position, and also to provide an automatic developing apparatus arranged to efficiently perform a series of development treatments by automatically supplying films to the developing apparatus.

Film container and automatic developing apparatus


A wheeled system for coolers including a wheel support and a handle support securable to a cooler using handle grips and tie-down anchor points defined on the cooler body. The wheeled system can include a telescoping handle, brake, lock, and connector tightener.

Typical wheeled coolers often include small plastic wheels and a telescoping handle to pull the over flat terrain. Such coolers typically are not well suited to carrying heavier loads over rough or difficult terrain, e.g., loose sand or rocky inclines. Moreover, with reference to FIG. 1, many larger or heavier coolers are not available with wheels or handles, leaving consumers to choose between wheeling a smaller/lighter cooler and carrying a larger/heavier cooler.
Accordingly, improvements are sought in wheeled transport of coolers within broader range of cooler sizes and loaded cooler weights.


The invention relates to a digital information system for displaying information on at least one display means with the aid of at least one television set or camera. The exposures are presented at places accessible to and frequented by a general public. The information system includes external information mediators and information is controlled dynamically through the medium of a communication interface and through the medium of an exposure handler in a central computer. The inventive system also includes a communication interface against an elective number of cinema computers having connected television or camera computers which control television sets or cameras for displaying pictures or exposures. The cinema computers and peripheral equipment are situated at mutually distanced places.

Systems that are used to show information in the form of advertisements, timetable messages or arrival and departure times in present-day public service infrastructures with regard to buses, trains, subway traffic, etc., is of a static nature. Such information is given on notice boards, posters, charts, tables, verbally through loudspeakers, and on digital displays, etc. A characteristic feature of such information media is that the information media is not coordinated, but is in the form of individual items which are controlled and updated separately, often manually.
Modern digital displays used, e.g., in conjunction with subway railway traffic gives some of the aforesaid information but is not controlled to display advertisements, warning messages, etc. Furthermore, the information is often supplemented with verbal messages transmitted from traffic control centers. The information channel cannot be subscribed to directly for the display of external information suppliers, such as advertising bureaux, the authorities, newspapers, etc., but is processed administratively and fed manually into the information display systems.
Although the administration of information is often processed manually with the aid of modern computer technology, the available display time will nevertheless contain "dead time", among other things due to back-logging caused by the manual infeed process.
Thus, present-day systems do not enable information to be updated dynamically for display in real time. Neither do present-day systems enable external mediators to update information for display in a central control system, nor yet the administrator who makes the display of information available, but that it is the administrator who determines when, where and how the information shall be displayed.
The present-day static information display systems are therefore beset with a number of problems.
Also known to the art are systems for displaying or showing picture series in local public places, such as assembly halls, lecture halls, and conference rooms in industry. The systems comprise diapositive television set or cameras which are controlled to display pictures, images and sound in an attractive manner, often with rapid picture changes and overlaps, so as to avoid the risk of boring viewers, as with conventional display with diapositive television set or cameras. The computer control of such systems may well be both complicated and advanced.
Unfortunately, these systems are nevertheless static insofar as they are used in one and the same locality and controlled and managed on the display site. The display must be planned carefully beforehand, this planning often being carried out by experts within the technical field in question, so as to obtain a finished display product. For instance, when a company wishes to change its display and introduce a new picture series combined with sound, the process again becomes static by virtue of the need to employ experts to program and arrange the new display.
The same problem as that mentioned above is also met when showing pictures through diapositive television set or cameras in one and the same locality, because the display subscriber has very little chance of influencing the display, especially in real time. The picture display is directed towards a limited public and towards scheduled display of one and the same information material to the public concerned. The picture display is not directed to a large number of people, as in the case of a railway station platform, a subway platform or in airports. In places of this nature, it should be possible to spread the information and to display different information in different places within said stations and it should be possible to update and change the information quickly. When the information displayed on said stations is not effectively coordinated, the displays on which information is presented will often become static, for instance show the time of the next display or show a pause picture, i.e. dead time. This becomes nerve-wracking to travelers, who often wait for long periods in waiting halls or stand on platforms. Neither is the failure to utilize expensive information display equipment to the highest possible degree compatible with good economy.
Further, It is a known problem when new films or movies are to be released at different locations such as cinemas that there are pirate copies made when the movies or films are distributed to the locations where they are going to be displayed to the public.
Still further, the advertisement sent at cinemas during the projection of a film is static, i.e. not instantly changeable.
Also, for advertisement on television the same drawbacks as for other systems are valid e.g. concerning changing of advertisement spots.
Yet further, the new standards for digital television will in a near future revolutionary television viewers demands on available services, such as pay per view, video on demand, interactive viewing etc, not to say what would be the case if it is combined with satellite transmission or cable carried broadband transmission.


A gas turbine engine includes a seal assembly that is supported by a member at a joint. The seal assembly includes a seal support having a radial flange secured to the joint. A first bend adjoins the radial flange to a first leg, which is oriented generally in an axial direction. A second bend adjoins the first leg to a second leg, which is conical in shape. A seal is supported by the second leg.

This disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine mid turbine frame bearing support.
One typical gas turbine engine includes multiple, nested coaxial spools. A low pressure turbine is mounted on a first spool, and a high pressure turbine is mounted on a second spool. A mid turbine frame, which is part of the engine's static structure, is arranged axially between the low and high pressure turbines. The turbine frame includes an inner hub and outer shroud with a circumferential array of airfoils adjoining the hub and shroud, providing a gas flow path.
One typical static structure design includes a hot airfoil structure that is cooled by air channeled in a cooling cavity. The hot airfoil creates one side of this cavity, while the cold frame, or support, provides the other. The cold frame is also coupled to the bearing compartment, which must be kept cool to prevent the oil from overheating. The cooling cavity is sealed. Any leakage from the cooling cavity is heated by convection against the hot airfoil, causing the leakage to drive a thermal gradient across the seal carrier and cold frame.


An exhaust heat recovery apparatus includes an evaporation unit and a condensation unit communicated with the evaporation unit such that an operation fluid circulates therein. The evaporation unit is disposed in a first fluid passage through which a first fluid flows, and performs heat exchange between the first fluid and the operation fluid, thereby evaporating the operation fluid. The condensation unit is disposed in a second fluid passage through which a second fluid flows, and performs heat exchange between the second fluid and the operation fluid. The exhaust heat recovery apparatus further includes a wet area increasing member in a tube of the evaporation unit for increasing a wet area of the operation fluid due to surface tension of the operation fluid. The wet area increasing member is disposed adjacent to an inner surface of the tube and has extension surfaces extending in directions intersecting with the inner surface.

It is known to recover heat of exhaust gas exhausted from an exhaust system of a vehicular engine based on the principle of heat pipe and use the recovered heat for other purposes such as for warming up the engine. As an example of an exhaust heat recovery apparatus, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 4-45393 describes a looped heat pipe heat exchanger.
The disclosed heat exchanger includes a closed looped circulation passage filled with an internal heat-transfer fluid, an evaporation unit disposed on the circulation passage for evaporating the internal heat-transfer fluid therein by receiving external heat and a condensation unit disposed on the circulation passage at a position higher than the evaporation unit for performing heat exchange between the evaporated internal heat-transfer fluid and an external heat-transfer fluid.
In such a heat exchanger, efficiency is improved by increasing the surface area for boiling the internal heat-transfer fluid in an evaporation unit. To increase the boiling surface area, for example, it is proposed to form grooves on inner surfaces of tubes of the evaporation unit by cutting.
In fact, the evaporation unit is subjected to a high temperature environment. Therefore, the tubes of the evaporation unit need to have strength and to be resistant to oxidizing. To form the grooves on the inner surfaces of the tubes by cutting, it is necessary to increase the thickness of tube walls. The increase of the thickness of the tube walls results in an increase of weight and a reduction of yields. Further, in the case that the grooves are formed on the inner surfaces of the tubes by cutting, the tube walls need to have sufficient thickness in consideration of stress applied thereto.


An interface device for interfacing a set of wayside systems with a radio transmitter includes a plurality of input ports each having at least one input for receiving a signal representing a state of a corresponding wayside system and first and second parallel data paths coupled to the plurality of input ports. Each data path includes input protection circuitry coupled to the inputs of the input ports for preventing short-circuit and open-circuit conditions from triggering a false input state, a multiplexer for selecting between the input port; and a processor for scanning the input ports with the multiplexer to determine the state of current signals appearing at the inputs. In response to determining the state of the current signals appearing at the inputs, the processor generates a message communicating a current state of the wayside systems for delivery to the radio transmitter.

In any transportation industry, reliable communications systems are mandatory for avoiding serious, if not catastrophic, accidents. In the particular case of the railroads, reliable and secure communications must be maintained between railroad central offices, railroad locomotives, service vehicles operating on railway tracks, and wayside systems, among other things.
Railroad central offices normally communicate with a network of wireless base stations through wired telecommunications links. These base stations then support wireless communications with locomotives, service vehicles, and wayside systems. Electronic train management systems (ETMS) allow locomotives to communicate directly (peer-to-peer) with the wayside systems and base stations using on-board radios. The locomotives are therefore able to receive, for example, up-to-date wayside aspect information, track database updates, and track authorizations, well before the wayside systems (e.g. signals) are within sight.
Remote wayside interface systems monitor a corresponding set of wayside systems such as signals, switches, and track circuits and directly provide the locomotives with real-time critical aspect and status information. In addition to directly communicating with the locomotives, the wayside interface systems also provide this wayside status and aspect information to the central office via the network of base stations.
Given the criticality of the information being gathered and transmitted, reliability and security are key features in wayside interface system design and construction. Among other things, these systems must accurately ascertain the current state of the monitored signals, switches, and/or track circuits and then transmit that information to oncoming locomotives with minimal error. Furthermore, wayside interface systems must be substantially robust to withstand potentially severe field conditions, as well as be resistant to tampering and similar intentional human interference.


Provided are methods for sequencing a nucleic acid with a sequencing enzyme, e.g., a polymerase or exonuclease. The sequencing enzyme can optionally be exchanged with a second sequencing enzyme, which continues the sequencing of the nucleic acid. In certain embodiments, a template is fixed to a surface through a template localizing moiety. The template localizing moiety can optionally anneal with the nucleic acid and/or associate with the sequencing enzyme. Also provided are compositions comprising a nucleic acid and a first sequencing enzyme, which can sequence the nucleic acid and optionally exchange with a second sequencing enzyme present in the composition. Compositions in which a template localizing moiety is immobilized on a surface are provided. Also provided are methods for using data from analytical reactions wherein two different enzymes are employed, e.g., at a same or different reaction regions.

Nucleic acid sequence data is valuable in myriad applications in biological research and molecular medicine, including determining the hereditary factors in disease, in developing new methods to detect disease and guide therapy (van de Vijver et al. (2002) "A gene-expression signature as a predictor of survival in breast cancer," New England Journal of Medicine 347: 1999-2009), and in providing a rational basis for personalized medicine. Obtaining and verifying sequence data for use in such analyses has made it necessary for sequencing technologies to undergo advancements to expand throughput, lower reagent and labor costs, and improve accuracy (See, e.g., Chan, et al. (2005) "Advances in Sequencing Technology" (Review) Mutation Research 573: 13-40, and Levene et al. (2003) "Zero Mode Waveguides for Single Molecule Analysis at High Concentrations," Science 299: 682-686), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entireties for all purposes.
Single molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT) is a highly parallel sequencing-by-synthesis technology that permits the simultaneous surveillance of, e.g., thousands of sequencing reactions in arrays of multiplexed detection volumes, e.g., zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs). (See e.g., Levene et al. (2003) Zero-mode waveguides for single-molecule analysis at high concentrations, Science 299:682-686; Eid, et al. (2009) Real-Time DNA Sequencing from Single Polymerase Molecules, Science 323:133-138; U.S. Ser. No. 12/767,673, filed Apr. 26, 2010; Published U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2010/0221716 and 2003/0044781; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,917,726 and 7,056,661, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entireties for all purposes). Each detection volume in an array creates an illuminated visualization chamber that is small enough to observe the template-dependent synthesis of a single single-stranded DNA molecule by a single DNA polymerase.
When a particular base in the template strand is encountered by the polymerase during the polymerization reaction, e.g., in a ZMW, the enzyme complexes with an available fluorescently labeled nucleotide or nucleotide analog and incorporates that nucleotide or nucleotide analog into the nascent growing nucleic acid strand. During this time, the fluorophore emits fluorescent light whose color corresponds to the nucleotide's or analog's base identity. The polymerase cleaves the bond linking the fluorophore to the nucleotide or analog during the nucleotide incorporation cycle, permitting the dye to diffuse out of the detection volume. The signal returns to baseline, and the process repeats.
A single molecule sequencing reaction is typically localized to a detection volume by immobilizing a DNA polymerase enzyme within or proximal to the site at which the reaction takes place. Ideally, the immobilized polymerase retains its activity and can be used repeatedly and continuously in multiple sequencing reactions. However, it has been observed that in some cases, the processivity, accuracy, and/or activity of the polymerase enzyme can decrease. In particular, in at least some cases, damage to the DNA polymerase, e.g., by exposure to optical energy during fluorescent or chemiluminescent detection, can have a detrimental effect on the enzyme's activity.
Current strategies for single molecule sequencing-by-synthesis employ a polymerase that has been tethered within or proximal to a reaction region within a detection volume, e.g., in a ZMW. What is needed in the art are new methods and compositions that can maintain the processivity, accuracy, and polymerase activity in, e.g., a single-molecule sequencing reaction, while still localizing the polymerization reaction to a defined observation volume. The invention described herein fulfills these and other needs, as will be apparent upon review of the following.


A timing generator includes a frame rate information receiver, a display control section, and a determination unit. The frame rate information acquisition section is configured to receive information indicating a frame rate of an image sensor. The display control section is configured to output dot clocks in a first cycle to a display which includes a counter being configured to count the number of the dot clocks for a synchronization period, where the dot clocks are a synchronization signal. The determination unit is configured to determine whether or not the number of the dot clocks in the synchronization period is expected to exceed a predetermined number, where length of the synchronization period is based on at least the frame rate of the image sensor. The display control section is configured to switch from the first cycle to a second cycle, if the number of dot clocks is expected to exceed the predetermined number.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is related to a timing generator for displaying an image of an object on a display, an imaging device provided with the timing generator and adapted to display an image of an object on a display, and a dot clock output method.
2. Background Technology
There are well-known imaging devices in which an image captured by an imaging sensor is displayed on a liquid crystal display, and various types of techniques have been developed in order to prevent the image of an object displayed on a liquid crystal display from being displayed with a delay relative to the object. For example, in patent document 1, a technique is disclosed in which an imaging device provided with a VRAM for recording an image signal in a single frame reads the image signal and displays the image signal on the liquid crystal display before the image signal in the single frame has finished being written into the VRAM. Specifically, a configuration is described in which an image begins to be displayed on the liquid crystal display with a playback timing that is delayed by ΔT from the drive timing of the imaging sensor.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-243615 (patent document 1) is an example of the related art.

Timing generator, imaging device, and dot-clock output method


Method and apparatus are disclosed for determining the caster angle and the steering angle inclination of a steerable wheel on a vehicle. The wheel is supported on a member which has freedom of motion along the fore-and-aft and transverse axes of the vehicle and freedom of rotation about a mutually perpendicular rotation axis. When the wheel is turned both right and left to a given steering angle from the straight ahead direction, a rotary encoder measures the steering angle and an X-axis encoder and a Y-axis encoder measure the linear displacement along the transverse and fore-and-aft axes, respectively. These measurement values, along with known values of axle height and wheel camber angle, as well as the automobile manufacturer's design dimensions of caster offset and steering axis inclination offset, are supplied to a computer which calculates the caster angle or the steering angle inclination, or both, in accordance with a functional relationship of the measured values and known values.

It is known that the proper alignment of the steerable wheel of a vehicle plays an important part in the steering performance, road handling characteristics and tire wear. Wheel alignment is designed specifically to meet the requirements of a given vehicle and thus a manufacturer has different alignment specifications for each different model of vehicle. In the manufacture of a vehicle, great care is taken to establish the steerable wheel alignment according to design specifications and such alignment should be maintained during the life of the vehicle. However, certain aspects of alignment are difficult to measure or otherwise determine from the vehicle itself.
As is well understood by those skilled in the art, the front wheels of a car are typically supported in a geometry that is especially designed to enhance certain attributes of car performance such as road handling and tire wear. Included in this geometry of the front wheels are the features known as camber, caster, toe and steering axis inclination (SAI). These features all have values which may be expressed in terms of an angular quantity. The car manufacturer specifies a design or nominal value for each of such features and, in some cars, the value may be zero for a given feature, and may be different for the left and right wheels of the car. The values of these features for a given car should conform to those specified by the manufacturer. Accordingly, as a matter of quality control the manufacturer typically measures or otherwise checks these features. In some cases it may be part of an audit procedure of the manufacturer and in some cases adjustments are made as required.
This invention is addressed to the determination of the caster angle; and in connection with that, the camber angle and SAI angle are also considered. The caster angle is the forward or rearward tilt of the steering axis. The steering axis is an imaginary line drawn through the center of the kingpin or through the centers of the upper and lower ball joints or other such pivot members. The camber angle is the inward or outward tilt of the wheel relative to a vertical plane. The SAI angle is the angle formed between the steering axis and a vertical line, as viewed from the front of the vehicle. These aspects of the geometry of the front wheel alignment result in a tendency of a point of tire contact with the ground (road) to change in response to steering rightward or leftward from the straight ahead direction. Movement of the point of tire contact with the ground due to the wheel being steered rightward or leftward is also affected by the distance between the center of the wheel and the intersection of the steering axis with the horizontal plane containing the wheel's rotational axis. The component of this distance along the automobile's fore-and-aft axis is known as caster offset (CO). The component of this distance along the automobile's perpendicular or transverse axis is known as the steering axis inclination offset (SAI offset).
The camber angle and the toe angle are readily measurable on the vehicle and it is common practice to use camber and toe measuring apparatus in the vehicle factory as well as for service and maintenance during the life of the vehicle. These values are measured between the plane of the wheel and a horizontal or vertical plane with the vehicle on a horizontal surface and such planes are readily accessed on the vehicle for measurement. However, the caster angle is by definition the tilt of the steering axis of the wheel in a vertical plane and it cannot be readily accessed on the vehicle because it is an imaginary line drawn between two points such as the upper and lower ball joints. Similarly, the SAI angle is the angle of an imaginary line, the steering axis, relative to the vertical. The determination of these angles presents a special problem and there has been a longstanding need for a method for accurate determination for quality control and manufacture of the vehicle as well as subsequent maintenance.
One prior art method and apparatus for checking alignment for a pair of spaced vehicle wheels is shown and described in Merrill et al. U.S. Pat No. 3,187,440 granted Jun. 8, 1965. The method and apparatus of that patent utilize a pair of spaced wheel engaging rolls which are movable relative to each other along their axes in response to axial wheel forces imposed thereon. The total and differential axial movement of the rolls due to rotation of the vehicle wheel is used to cause pivotal movement of the rolls so as to align their axes with the wheel axis. This new position of the rolls relative to their initial position is measured and can be used to determine camber angle. Camber angle is measured in this way at various steer positions of the wheels. The angle through which the wheel is steered and the change in camber at the various steer positions is then used to determine caster angle and kingpin angle.
Another prior art method and apparatus for determining caster trail of a steerable wheel on a vehicle is described in Merrill U.S. Pat. No. 3,793,734 granted Feb. 26, 1974. The apparatus of this patent includes a pair of fore-and-aft rollers which support the steerable wheel at two points of reference. The swinging of the wheel away from a straight ahead direction is said to cause a force to be applied to the rollers parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. According to the patent, the force distributed along each roller is measured and compared, one with the other, to compute static, kinetic and pneumatic caster trail. In one embodiment, the patent describes the measurement of the reference points along the transverse axis of the vehicle with the wheel steered right through a given steering angle and also with the wheel steered left through the same angle. From this information, the caster trail of the wheel is calculated.
A general object of this invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for determining the caster angle and the SAI angle of a steerable wheel on a vehicle and to overcome certain disadvantages of the prior art.

Method and apparatus for determining caster and steering axis inclination angles


Systems and methods are provided for analyzing a series of images. A contour initializer establishes a plurality of initial contours from respective images within the series of images. A model initializer interconnects the plurality of initial contours into a surface model. A model refiner refines the plurality of initial contours by manipulating the surface model.

Modern imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET), allow the imaging of the interior of a target object without physically penetrating the surface of the target. Common non-invasive imaging techniques include X-ray tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and positron emission tomography. These techniques are used extensively in the medical field. By allowing indirect observation of the interior of the human body, these imaging techniques give medical professionals increased diagnostic information without the accompanying risk of conventional exploratory techniques.
The use of medical imaging in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disorders has assumed special prominence over the last decade. Heart disease presently accounts for nearly half of all deaths in developed nations. The detection of anomalous cardiac function in a timely and efficient manner is critical in diagnosing and treating heart disease. As the average age of populations within developed nations continues to increase, early diagnosis of heart disease will become increasingly important.
A common technique for diagnosing abnormalities in the human heart is echocardiography. Echocardiography allows a medical professional to view a functioning heart and evaluate any anomalies in the structure or function of the heart in real time. Echocardiograms have been used successfully in the evaluation of cardiac function, the diagnosis of mitral-value prolapse, the evaluation of aortic and pulmonary values, and the diagnosis of congenital heart disease. Advances in ultrasound imaging have greatly increased the accuracy and definition of echocardiogram images, making it possible to perform increasingly accurate quantitative evaluations of the structure and function of the heart.
Most evaluation of echocardiograph results is performed qualitatively from a human review of the images, but valuable data can be obtained through quantitative assessment as well. Currently, a quantitative evaluation of the results of an echocardiogram requires an operator to manually outline the visible structures within a series of images. Parameters of interest can then be calculated from the outlined contours and the regions they enclose. This process is both time-consuming and subjective. As a result, it is difficult to obtain accurate and reproducible results for cardiac measurements in a reasonable period of time. This problem is exacerbated by an increasing volume of patients, which further decreases the time available for the evaluation of the echocardiogram images.


The invention provides a charged particle beam device that can accurately move a convergence point of a charged particle beam to a surface of a sample and facilitates a user to grasp a positional relation between the surface of the sample and the convergence point of the charged particle beam. The charged particle beam device according to the invention includes: an electron optics system configured to irradiate a sample table with a charged particle beam; a movable stage on which the sample table is to be placed; a sample chamber that accommodates the movable stage; a detector configured to detect a signal from a sample placed on the sample table; a camera configured to capture an image of the sample table and the sample; an extraction means configured to extract outer shape information relating to outer shapes of the sample table and the sample from the image captured by the camera; a control unit configured to control the movable stage based on the outer shape information; and a display unit configured to display an image relating to the outer shape information together with the image captured by the camera.

In a charged particle beam device, it is necessary to dispose a sample table in a vacuum sample chamber in order to prevent scattering of a charged particle beam used for observation. A charged particle beam device is known in which in order to confirm a state of an inside of a sealed sample chamber, the inside of a sample chamber is provided with an optical camera and can be observed via an external monitor.
However, when the inside of the sample chamber is imaged by the optical camera and displayed on the external monitor for confirmation by an operator, the operator needs to simultaneously observe an observation image of a sample based on irradiation of the charged particle beam (image intended to be observed) and an image of the inside of the sample chamber imaged by the optical camera and adjust a position of the sample table. For this reason, a throughput of inspection may be reduced, or the operator may accidentally damage the sample.
Therefore, a device that automatically detects a position of a sample table on which a sample is placed and automatically adjusts the position of the sample table (movable stage) is also known from, for example, Patent Literature 1. In the device of Patent Literature 1, the position of the sample table can be automatically detected by making a reflectance of the sample chamber and a reflectance of the sample table to be detected different from each other. However, in the technique of Patent Literature 1, it is necessary to make the reflectance of the sample table and of the sample chamber different from each other, which has a problem of lacking versatility. In addition, devices that automatically detect a sample table are also known from Patent Literature 2, Patent Literature 3, etc., but in each case, there are restrictions on a relative positional relation between the camera and the sample table, properties of the sample, etc., which also has the problem of lacking versatility.
Further, although well-known devices such as Patent Literatures 1 to 3 can automatically determine and specify the position of the sample table, a position of a convergence point of the charged particle beam is set on a surface of the sample table to be detected. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not easy to control the movable stage or the like in consideration of the position of the surface of the sample. Further, since a user cannot clearly grasp the position of the surface of the sample, it is not always easy to accurately grasp a movable degree of the movable stage when looking at the image captured by the camera.


The present invention is a system for translating angular rotation between rotary components. The system includes a rotor and a contact wheel. The rotor is rotatable about a rotary axis at a rotary angular velocity. The rotor includes a radial distance which extends between an exterior radius and an interior radius. The contact wheel is rotatable about a contact axis at a contact angular velocity. The contact axis extends in parallel relationship to the radial distance. The contact wheel is disposed in rotational contact with the radial distance. Rotation of one of the rotor and contact wheel is translated to rotate the other one of the rotor and contact wheel by virtue of the rotational contact between the rotor and contact wheel.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a system for translating power between rotary devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditional rotary devices are connected to rotate in a fixed relationship. An example of system where rotary devices connected to rotate in a fixed relationship is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,157,011 to Liddle (the '011 patent). In the '011 patent, pair of rotary devices, i.e., a compressor and a turbine, rotate each rotate about a rotary axis. A drive shaft extends along the rotary axis and interconnects the compressor and the turbine in a fixed rotational relationship. Therefore, the compressor and the turbine must rotate at the same fixed rotational velocity. To change the output of the compressor and turbine, a turbine power shaft extends from the turbine on the rotary axis and terminates at a pair of engine reduction gears. To vary the output of the compressor and turbine, a continuously variable transmission extends from the engines reduction gears.
This use of the engine reduction gears and the continuously variable transmission, which are external to the compressor and turbine, add complexity to the system. The complexity is in the form of added bulk in packaging and a lot of components external to the compressor and turbine. Additionally, there is no way to vary the rotational velocity of the compressor with respect to the turbine.