An insulated shipping container includes a formed body of foamed polymer material. This formed body defines a chamber, an opening from the chamber outwardly to ambient, a transition surface surrounding this opening, and an exterior surface. Preferably, the chamber and exterior surface are both cylindrical prismatic shapes of like configuration so that a uniformly thick wall of insulative foamed polymer material is provided between the chamber and ambient. A single sheet of plastic is integrally bonded to the foamed polymer body such that it faces all of the chamber, the transition surface, and a substantial portion of the exterior surface of the container. In one embodiment of the container the remainder of the exterior surface of the container is faced with a separate sheet of plastic, and the two pieces of plastic cooperate to define an escape slit at which excess foamed polymer material escapes during formation of the container in a fixture. In another embodiment of the container this un-foamed plastic sheet faces all exterior surfaces of the foamed polymer material, including those which bound the chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of shipping containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to shipping containers which are insulated in order to maintain an article shipped in such containers at a refrigerated temperature for several days while the container and its contents are in shipment. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to such containers which are formed at least in part of foamed polymer material.
2. Related Technology
Conventional insulated shipping containers of the so-called box-within-a-box configuration are well known. These conventional box-within-a-box containers have an outer box formed of corrugated cardboard and a smaller inner open-topped box also formed of corrugated cardboard. These two boxes define a void space therebetween, which during manufacture of such shipping containers is filled with a foamed-in-place foamed polymer material. The favored polymer material for this use is light to medium density foamed polyurethane material.
During the manufacture of such box-within-a-box containers, the inner box is supported on a manufacturing fixture having a upstanding plug member over which the inner box is closely received in inverted position. Next, the outer box is inverted onto this manufacturing fixture with its top closure flaps turned outward, and its bottom closure flaps opened. The manufacturing fixture includes an outer movable wall structure which supports the side walls of the outer box. The polymer material in a liquid pre-foamed condition is sprayed into the void space between the two boxes, and foams in place. The foaming of this polymer material takes a sufficient interval of time that the bottom closure flaps of the box may be closed before the foam fills the void space, and a lid is closed over these closure flaps to support the box against the internal pressure created by the foaming polymer. As this polymer material foams in place, it bonds to both the inner and outer boxes and exerts a considerable pressure against both the inner and outer boxes. Were it not for the support to these boxes provided by the manufacturing fixture, the boxes would be seriously distorted or destroyed by the foam pressure. After an additional time interval (total time of a minute or less) the foam hardens sufficiently that the substantially finished shipping container may be removed from the fixture.
In the use of such conventional shipping containers, it is common to insert the article or articles to be shipped into the inner box along with a piece of dry ice and some loose-pack material, such as styrofoam peanuts, and to insert a form-filling cut piece of comparatively thick closed-cell foam sheet at the opening of the inner box. This closed-cell foam serves as a thermal insulator and prevents the infusion of warm ambient air or loss of chilled air from within the inner box, while also allowing the escape of carbon dioxide resulting from deliquescing of the dry ice. Next, the top closure flaps of the outer box are closed and taped, and the shipping container is ready from shipment with the attachment of a shipping label.
Unfortunately, this conventional insulated shipping container has several shortcomings. First, this conventional container is both labor and materials intensive to make. More seriously, the materials of this conventional container are not recyclable because the foamed polymer material bonds securely to the inner and outer cardboard boxes. Because these dissimilar materials are bonded together so securely that they can not be conveniently separated, most recycling facilities will not accept these containers. One suggestion for recycling these containers has been to use them as part of the fuel to an incinerator. However, the polyurethane polymer material represent air pollution concerns when so incinerated.
This shortcoming of the conventional insulated shipping containers is a serious concern with more and more states and countries requiring that shipping materials which have their destinations within their jurisdictions be recyclable, or be subject to a penalty taxation or fee for special disposal.
One suggestion which has been proposed to allow the separation of foamed polymer material and cardboard boxes of the conventional insulated shipping containers has been to simply bunch a flat sheet of plastic film within the outer box and over the inner box before the foam polymer material in a liquid form is injected. However, such an expedient results in the sheet plastic material forming folds and fissures in the excess sheet material. These folds and fissures too often form airflow pathways through which refrigerated air can escape from the container, and through which warm ambient air can enter. Also, the thickness of insulative foamed polymer material which is sometimes provided around the chamber of such insulated containers is uncontrolled and unreliable. As a result, some containers made by use of this expedient show areas where the insulating foam is too thin, and where in effect the refrigerated contents are exposed to "hot spots" of ambient heat leaking into the container. Because such insulated containers are frequently used to ship medical specimens or materials which are irreplaceable or critical to the health or life of a person, and which could be damaged or destroyed by a hot spot in the insulation around these materials in shipment, the risk is too great for such an unreliability container to be used.
In view of the deficiencies of the related technology, it is recognized as desirable to provide an insulate shipping container which is more time-efficient and material-efficient to make than the conventional insulated shipping container.
Another desirable feature for such an new insulated shipping container is for it to be totally recyclable.


A heat exchanger is disclosed, having a vessel for containing a refrigerant, the vessel having a chamber bounded by a surface of a vessel wall, the vessel including an inlet and an outlet for transport of a refrigerant into and out of the chamber. At least one tube portion is inside the chamber, to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the tube portion through a first orifice and a second orifice. This at least one tube portion has an average diameter. The chamber has a space for the refrigerant, with the space having a volume, and the at least one tube portion has an outer surface in contact with the space for the refrigerant, this surface having an area. The volume divided by a product of the area and the average diameter is smaller than or equal to a constant.

A fluid cooler can be used to cool a liquid such as water, a consumable liquid such as lemonade or beer, or another fluid. Such fluid coolers are widely employed in industry, household appliances, drinking establishments, restaurants as for example fast food restaurants, catering industry, etc. The fluid refrigerated by the fluid cooler often should be dispensed, for example in a glass. In this kind of industry, it is known to use fluid coolers including a refrigerating vessel comprising a tube containing refrigerant that goes through the inside of the refrigerating vessel. In this way, a cooling liquid, such as water, can be stored inside of the refrigerating vessel; and the refrigerant that flows through the tube, can cool the water. The consumable liquid can be fed through another tube that is immersed in the cooled water. However, usually the dimensions of such kind of fluid coolers are big, therefore using a large amount of space in the establishments in which they are used. Another drawback of these fluid coolers is that they are energy inefficient.
More generally, heat exchangers are known to be used in refrigerating systems. However, there would be a need for an improved heat exchanger.
GB 1247580 discloses a refrigerating system including a compressor, a condenser, a fluid line, and a cooling unit wherein this cooling unit comprises an annular refrigerant chamber containing refrigerant.
DE 10 2012 204057 further discloses a heat exchanger comprising a cavity which is filled with refrigerant coming out of an evaporator in order to regulate the temperature of the refrigerant before sending it to the condenser.


A circuit board has a metal pattern that is formed on a surface of the circuit board to be connected with bumps in two-dimensional arrangement for mounting an electronic device that has the bumps. A plurality of the bumps which has even electrical potentials is electrically connected by the metal pattern on the surface of the circuit pattern.

The present invention relates generally to a circuit board, a mounting structure, a mounting method, and an electronic apparatus, and more particularly to a circuit board that mounts an electronic device (for example, a condenser) that has bumps arranged two-dimensionally on its front surface or both of front and back surfaces or its mounting structure. The present invention is suitable for a printed circuit board on which a various electronic devices are mounted, for example, a motherboard or a graphic board, and for an electronic apparatus (for example, a server or a mobile phone) that contains the printed circuit board.
For recent widespreading of the electronic apparatus, the demand for the apparatus of higher performance and the cheaper is now growing. As a structure for mounting the electronic device such as a condenser on the printed circuit board used in the electronic apparatus such as a personal computer, a server, a mobile phone, or a PDA (personal digital assistants), FIG. 5 shows a connection of bumps 4 that are arranged two-dimensionally on an electronic device 2 and pads 8 that are arranged two-dimensionally on a circuit board 6. The bumps 4 and the pads 8 are connecting terminals and are generally formed approximately hemispheric with using solder. The bumps 4 and the pads 8 are arranged in 4×4 square arrangement respectively and are arranged V-lines (high voltage terminal lines) and G-lines (ground terminal lines) alternately.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the electronic device 2 is conventionally mounted on the circuit board 6 by the process of contacting the bumps 4 to the corresponding pads 8, putting the electronic device 2 and the circuit board 6 into a reflow furnace to heat them and melt solder, and connecting the bumps 4 with the pads 8. And as shown in FIG. 5B, the electronic device 2 is observed from the side by eye and "short/open check" that is an inspection for checking a gap of the circuit board 6 and the package of the electronic device 2 is approximately 0.1 mm evenly has been done. References 1 to 4 disclose the structures or the methods for mounting the electronic device onto the circuit board.
Reference 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-274238
Reference 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-177226
Reference 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-214442
Reference 4: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-181208
However, an inspector has to be skillful because the inspection of the gap of 0.1 mm by eye is not easy. Therefore, the quality of the short/open check depends on the quality of the inspector and it is difficult to maintain a quality of the inspection constantly. And the short/open check needs a lot of time for observing by eye from several directions. So, a short/open check that is simple, high quality, and automatic is demanded to be real.
The electronic device 2 as is used generally has bumps 4 arranged squarely like shown as a conventional example. It may cause the mis-mounting of the electronic device 2 in a direction of 90° as shown in FIG. 5C. The mis-mounting cannot be found in the short/open check which uses eyes. The mis-mounting of the electronic device 2 will be finally found in a operation test of the circuit board 6 done after a lot of electronic devices were mounted on the circuit board 6.
In removing the electronic device 2 from the circuit board 6, there is no choice except using a pinching means such as tweezers or pliers (a removing with destruction method) as shown in FIG. 6A nor melting solder by blowing hot air from outside of the electronic device 2 (a hot air method) as shown in FIG. 6B. However, in the removing with destruction method, the electronic device 2 is destroyed with excessive stress and cannot be reused. The residue such as a part of the electronic device 2's bump 4 is left on the circuit board 6 after removing the electronic device 2, and should be taken off to reuse the circuit board 6. In the hot air method, it is easy to melt solder of the bumps 4 arranged near around the package 10 of the electronic device 2, and is difficult to conduct the heat to the solder of the bumps 4 arranged near the center of the electronic device 2. When removing the electronic device 2 in this state, the electronic device 2 should be taken off by using the pinching means and might be destroyed. Heating the bumps 4 sufficiently so as to melt solder of the bumps 4 arranged near the center of the electronic device 2 causes problem because of too much heat stress of the circuit board 6 and the electronic device 2.

Circuit board, device mounting structure, device mounting method, and electronic apparatus


A resonant power converter holds energy within the circuit for a variable period to provide fixed-frequency, zero-voltage switching power conversion. A first switch alternately connects and disconnects a DC voltage source to one side of the primary winding of the transformer of a power converter. A second switch is connected between the other side of the primary winding and ground. A switch controller is responsive to the difference between a reference voltage and the voltage level present at the output of the circuit associated with the secondary winding of the transformer. Energy is added to the circuit while the first and second switches are closed. The first switch is then opened and energy is held in the circuit for a variable period of time to delay the beginning of resonance. Finally, both switches are opened and the energy within the circuit resonates. The energy holding period is adjusted as necessary to maintain a fixed frequency with varying loads. Accordingly, the switch controller is configured to open and close the first and second switches to maintain fixed-frequency operation of the power converter and switching of the second switch under zero-voltage conditions and in the presence of varying loads.

There are a variety of DC-to-DC power converters available for transforming an input DC voltage of one magnitude to an output DC voltage of another magnitude. In general, switching power converters function by operating an active switch to alternately connect and disconnect a source voltage to a load. In order to deliver continuous power to the load, the power converter must store energy for use during periods in which the switch is open and the voltage source is disconnected. The amount of energy that must be delivered to the load by the energy storage device, and therefore the amount of energy that must be stored in the energy storage device, is related to the switching frequency. Consequently, by increasing the operating frequency of the power converter, the energy storage capacity is reduced. Similarly, the size and weight of the power converter may be reduced by increasing the switching frequency.
There are at least two primary types of power converter topologies. In a "flyback" converter, a voltage source is connected through a switch in series with the input winding of a transformer. By alternately opening and closing the switch, a pulse is produced in the secondary winding of the transformer, which is connected through a diode to an output capacitor. Because the switching rate and the rates of change in the current in both the primary and secondary windings are very high, electromagnetic and radio frequency interferences are produced in the circuit. Filters must be used to attenuate this interference, increasing the complexity and cost of the system, and diminishing its efficiency.
In a "forward" converter, an inductor is typically added after the secondary winding of the transformer, to reduce the absolute current magnitude in the secondary circuit. A second diode is also included in the secondary circuit to close the circuit between the output capacitor and the inductor when the input switch is opened. As with the flyback converter, electromagnetic and radio frequency interferences are produced in the forward converter, which requires filters to attenuate. For both the flyback and forward converters, simultaneous occurrence of a voltage across and a current through the switch occurs, resulting in a dissipation of energy. The net result is an overall reduction in efficiency and reliability due to the higher component operating temperature.
More recently, many of the limitations found in the forward and flyback converters have been addressed by improvements found in the "resonant" power converter. In the resonant power converter, the converter is tuned or components are added to the power converter to establish an effective LC circuit that defines the time scale for the rise and fall of energy through the windings of the transformer. By taking advantage of this energy rise and fall, or resonance, one or more switches in the switching power converter can be switched open and closed at zero current through the switch, zero voltage across the switch, or both. By switching at either zero-voltage or zero-current switching losses that result from the dissipation of energy during the simultaneous occurrence of a voltage across and current through the switch are reduced. At the same time, much of the noise produced by the switches can be eliminated.
Although resonant power converters generally have less switching loss than previous typologies, they still suffer to a larger degree to electromagnetic and radio interference produced in the circuit. Consequently, even resonant designs typically include input filters to attenuate these interferences.
In addition, as with previous power converters, the performance of resonant power converters generally suffers due to influences such as drift, input line or load impedance variations, or other external factors. Such influences, particularly including changes in the input line or load impedance, typically cause corresponding changes in the resonant frequency of the power converter. Because of this frequency variation, the power converter filters must be designed in a manner to filter noise across a wider frequency range. This design constraint adds expense and complexity to the design. Further, many applications simply cannot tolerate such frequency variations. For example, when the frequency of a power converter associated with a cathode ray tube (CRT) is asynchronous with the raster scan rate of the CRT, the resulting noise may produce visual effects, such as hum bars, on the CRT screen. In addition, this frequency variation may cause an otherwise resonant power converter to switch at times when there is voltage across, or current through the switch, causing additional noise and inefficiencies.
Although some power converter designs are intended to operate resonant at a fixed frequency, they are only able to maintain resonance over a fairly narrow range of input line or load impedance variations, which depending on the application, could become a performance limitation.


A biopolymer (e.g. DNA) sequencing system comprises a biopolymer capture element for capturing a biopolymer from a sample disposed on a substrate for receiving the sample which capture element is preferably provided by a helicase which further acts as a size exclusion molecular motor for delivering a biopolymer such as DNA to a discrete detection means associated with the capture element and the substrate. The detection means may detect signals or variances in a signal associated with the biomolecule and, in particular, components of the biomolecule (e.g. nucleotides or bases). The biomolecule may be returned to the sample. Highly efficient, high speed, low cost sequencing of biopolymers such DNA are thereby achievable.

DNA sequencing is the process by which the nucleotide sequence of DNA or RNA in a specific gene, genetic region, chromosome or entire genome may be determined. There is increasing demand for DNA sequencing.
Several methods for DNA sequencing have been developed. They typically require expensive instrumentation and require significant sample preparation and expensive reagents. These methods are variations of the Sanger 'sequencing by synthesis' method. Such methods have variable accuracy, variable read-length capability, variable time per read and more importantly variable, but typically high, cost.
Among the more recent developments in DNA sequencing techniques is the nanopore sequencing method under development by Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd. This nanopore sequencing method is based on the passage of a single strand of DNA through a nanopore protein residing in a membrane that separates two fluid chambers and identification of its sequence by detecting the variation in the ionic current flowing through the pore as a result of the perturbation or interruption of a constant applied charge across the membrane. A variation on this method proposed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies involves the physical association of an exonuclease component with the protein nanopore in the membrane and in turn identifying each cleaved nucleotide by the current variation resulting from its interaction with the protein pore. The technical and commercial merits of this method await determination.
There is a need for new methods of DNA sequencing that are low-cost, fast and effective.


Provided is a heart treatment device (1) including a heartbeat detecting unit (2) that detects heartbeats by using an electrode disposed at a heart (A), a pulse transformer (5) having a primary winding (5a) and a secondary winding (5b), the heartbeat detecting unit (2) being disposed on the side of the primary winding (5a) and the secondary winding (5b) being connected to the vagus nerve (B), and a pulse generating unit (8) that supplies an electric pulse to the primary winding (5a) of the pulse transformer (5) on the basis of the heartbeats detected by the heartbeat detecting unit (2), the electric pulse having a pulse width not exceeding the voltage-time product of the pulse transformer (5).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to heart treatment devices.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Applications Nos. 2009-152067 and 2009-203556, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally known heart treatment devices treat fibrillation or tachycardia of the heart by electrically stimulating the vagus nerve when fibrillation or tachycardia occurs (e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Applications, Publications Nos. Hei 8-38625, 2004-173790, and 2009-28397).
In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. Hei 8-38625, electric pulses having a pulse width of one tenth to several tenths of milliseconds are used to stimulate the vagus nerve. In Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2009-28397, a vagus-nerve stimulating unit that outputs electric pulses to the vagus nerve is electrically insulated from a heartbeat detecting unit, thereby preventing leakage of the electric pulses to the heartbeat detecting unit. Furthermore, electric power supplies are provided individually in mutually insulated regions.


A system for determining the density, flow velocity, and mass flow of a fluid comprising at least one sing-around circuit that determines the velocity of a signal in the fluid and that is correlatable to a database for the fluid. A system for determining flow velocity uses two of the inventive circuits with directional transmitters and receivers, one of which is set at an angle to the direction of flow that is different from the others.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for metering flow velocity. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system that measures acoustic pulses in a flowing fluid. In particular, the present invention relates to a velocimeter and a method of comparing acoustic transmission delays between at least two velicometers.
2. Relevant Technology
Many fluid flow applications require real-time evaluation for various reasons such as fluid quality evaluation and process control. Such real-time evaluation allows for dynamic control and monitoring of the fluid flow application. The evaluation of fluid flow in a conduit may be due to the need to control, monitor, or adjust the dynamic volume of fluid being delivered through the conduit. Measuring the flow in a conduit is useful in a number of applications.
One such application is measuring the flow of water through an irrigation pipe, particularly in commercial irrigation applications. Flow measurement is useful for several reasons, including the ability to track the amount of water delivered to a portion of land in order to provide adequate irrigation. Additionally, where irrigation is used, water needs to be employed efficiently. For such reasons, irrigation systems require the ability to monitor the volumetric delivery of water and to measure flow rate.
Another application is measuring the flow of natural gas through a pipe, particularly as it is delivered from the gas fields to metropolitan areas. Measuring both the flow and the concentration of gas is useful for several reasons including the ability to track the total amount of gas being delivered from the gas fields as a response to consumer demand.
Closer to the end use, the monitoring of natural gas as it is mixed with ambient air and charged to a combustion device, may be critical for proper operation of the device. As gas flow meters typically measure a pressure drop such as by using the Venturi principle, the pressure drop may adversely affect the combustion device.
A number of devices for measuring flow rate exist for various applications. The size of the conduit being used, accuracy, cost, and other factors may play a role in determining what type of measuring device will be used for a specific application. One flow metering system uses differential pressures that are detectable with pressure transducers. Measuring flow in this manner requires the conduit to contract. Typical systems for contracting the flow profile include installing a section of pipe which tapers to a significantly smaller diameter.
The contraction of the flow of water through an irrigation pipe is undesirable for a number of reasons. For example, irrigation water often contains debris which can cause an obstruction in a small diameter pipe or which can become caught against a restriction. An obstruction will result in plugging of the pipe, requiring time, energy, and expense to unplug or otherwise repair it. In addition, time required to reverse plugging may jeopardize crops which go unwatered during unscheduled down time.
Another problem with differential pressure producing devices is that there is often significant retrofitting required to incorporate them into the system where flow is being measured. For example, in the case of devices which use a gradual reduction in the diameter of the conduit, a relatively long section of conduit must be removed and replaced with a tapering conduit section.
Another problem with measuring flow in a conduit is that variations in temperature and humidity can adversely affect detection conditions. These are often the types of conditions of commercial irrigation applications. More pronounced is the effect of temperature and humidity variations upon gaseous flow due to the tendency of the gas to expand or contract, and to change in quality where humidity is different between the gas source and the delivery point.
Another approach to measuring flow rate is the so-called elbow flow meter in which a curved section of pipe in the fluid delivery system is fitted with pressure sensors to measure pressure differential in the elbow. In order to measure the flow accurately, the sensors must be precisely placed in both the outer and inner circumferential walls of the elbow, in the same radial plane, and then must be calibrated.
The elbow flow meter itself, however, presents problems of its own. Initially, the mere fact that an elbow must be put into a pipe requires designing the pipe with a bend therein, or removing a section of the pipe to put a first elbow that diverts the flow direction, and a second elbow that restores the flow direction. The elbow flow meter may be configured with pressure transducers that measure the pressure of the fluid both before and after the elbow.
One problem occurs where transducers are located at different elevational levels, particularly for liquids, such that a slight pressure measurement bias is introduced due to the elevation difference. An elevation difference therefore requires calibration of the pressure transducers. Two or more transducers may be placed at each location both above and below the elbow but this requires averaging of the pressure measurements and a single malfunctioning pressure transducer will give a spurious average.
Another problem with elbow flow meters is the disturbance caused by the elbow bend itself that creates eddies, and other turbulence that may cause a spurious pressure reading downstream from the bend. As such, under certain flow regimes such as the laminar flow- to the laminar-to-turbulent-transition region, the disturbance at the bend may require the downstream transducer to be placed at a significant distance, thus complicating configuration of the flow meter. Additionally, where flow velocity variations may vary significantly between laminar and fully turbulent flow, the placement of a downstream transducer at a single location will be inadequate to monitor pressure drop for all flow regimes.
What is needed in the art is a fluid flow meter that avoids the problems of the prior art. Additionally, what is needed in the art is a fluid flow meter that does not require the obstruction or constriction of the flow in the conduit. What is also needed in the art is a fluid flow meter that does not require redirecting the flow of the fluids such as with an elbow and the like.
Such systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed and claimed herein.
The present invention relates to a system for measuring fluid flow that avoids the problems of the prior art. The inventive system uses a plurality of xe2x80x9csing-aroundxe2x80x9d circuits that may filter out capacitive couplings for gaseous systems and that filter out electronic noise for fluid systems in general.
The inventive system uses at least two non-intrusive sing-around circuits that send an audio signal through the flowing fluid within a conduit. A first sing-around circuit sends an audio signal in a direction perpendicular to the flow of the fluid. A second sing-around circuit sends an audio signal in a direction that is oblique to the direction of flow of the fluid in the conduit. Although such variables as fluid density, fluid temperature, fluid pressure, and fluid velocity must be monitored during ordinary metering of fluid flow, the inventive combination of the two sing-around circuits eliminates the need to monitor fluid density, fluid temperature, and fluid pressure.
Transit time for a signal to move a known distance between a transmitter and a receiver is determined for two separate sing-around circuits. Thereby, the transit-time shift velocity or sound velocity difference is determinable due to the fluid flow velocity. From the transit-time shift velocity, the flow velocity can be determined by understanding the trigonometric relationship between directional placement of each transmitter and receiver.
In the inventive circuit, an audio signal is generated from a transmitter and detected by a receiver. A portion of the audio signal reaches the receiver. The audio signal is converted into an electronic signal that is sent to a triggering system. The electronic signal may be boosted by an amplification circuit sufficient to create a triggering signal.
In the triggering system, the electronic signal may be amplified to assist in overcoming attenuation of the audio signal. Following optional amplification, the signal is rectified and gathered into a substantially half wave form. Spurious signals that are generated are filtered out by a gate or digital filter. The digital filter is tuned to anticipate approximately the time period when actual signals should pass therethrough and the digital filter simply eliminates any other signals that come outside the anticipated signal time window. Following digital filtration, the wave form is converted into a square wave and optionally changed in pulse width to optimize it as a triggering signal. The triggering signal is then ultimately sent to a pulser that instructs the transmitter to generate another audio signal.
A xe2x80x9ckeep-alivexe2x80x9d circuit is also provided in the sing-around loop for the occasion where no signal is detected to be cycling within the loop. The keep-alive circuit is configured to look for a pulse coming from upstream in the circuit loop. It looks for a pulse of a particular waveform, namely the square wave, and of a particular pulse width that is characteristic of that which was made of the circuit following digital filtration and conversion into a square wave. Where the anticipated signal is not received within a particular time window, the xe2x80x9ckeep-alivexe2x80x9d circuit generates its own signal, directed to the pulser, that instructs the transmitter to generate another audio signal in the direction of the receiver.
In any event, a pulse signal is generated and directed to the transmitter. At this point, a new audio signal is generated from the transmitter and detected by the receiver. After a number of cycles, the xe2x80x9csing-aroundxe2x80x9d circuit settles down to its designed cycling time. The amount of time required to relay the signal from the receiver around to the transmitter is known. The largest time lapse in the circuit is the time required for the audio signal to bridge the distance between the transmitter and the receiver. As such, the speed of sound in the known multiple-component fluid can be extracted from the total cycling time of the circuit.
It is therefore an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a system that overcomes the problems of the prior art. It is also an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a system for the measurement of fluid flow in a conduit without constricting or redirecting the flow of the fluid.
It is also an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a sing-around circuit to measure flow of a fluid that filters all spurious signals.
It is also an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a system for measurement of flow of a fluid that is being used in a dynamic system. It is also an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a system for the measurement and control of fluid flow that is being conveyed in a conduit.
These and other objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.


A hydraulic transmission system includes the use of a geared cone 12 having geared rings 46-52 which mesh with respective clutches 30-36 of a drive shaft 16. The clutches 30-36 individually engage by use of hydraulic pressure directed by an input chamber 102. Engagement is accomplished when an internal parted disc 62 separates as a result of hydraulic fluid pressure and engages upon an, otherwise free-wheeling, internal surface of the clutch's external dish 60. When engagement occurs, work is transferred from the input shaft 18, through the gear cone 12, to the dish 60, through the engaged disc 62 and to the drive shaft 16.

It is known in the art to provide a transmission for converting energy derived from an engine into torque that is useable to drive the wheels of an automobile, or other vehicle, in which the transmission is implemented. A clutch is generally coupled between the drive portions and the driven portions to engage and disengage the driven portion. Many such systems use a single clutch to engage a variable number of gear pairs, each pair having a different gearing ratio. Other systems may implement a fairly complex gearing system. A disadvantage with such a conventional transmission system is that when the clutch apparatus eventually wears out, it is fairly expensive to repair the transmission. Such repairs are often included in the initial warranty of a vehicle in which the transmission is implemented, which increases the overall cost the vehicle manufacturer must absorb as an ongoing cost of doing business.
It would be desirable to reduce the initial cost of manufacturing a transmission as well as to increase the useful life of a transmission such that the overall costs associated with the transmission are reduced. It is further desirable to reduce the number of machined parts for further cost reduction purposes, along with decreasing the overall weight of the transmission in order to improve drive performance and fuel economy.


An information display device having a large display screen which enables a user to operate an object displayed at a position distant from a user operation position is provided. The information display device has the display screen with a touch sensor, and enables a remote control of the display screen through a touch operation on the small screen area which is set to display a demagnified version of an image displayed on the display screen, by shifting a touch operation position in the small screen area to a position on the display screen. Hence an operation on the display screen and that on the small screen can be executed as the operations corresponding with each other.

Conventionally, a white board is equipped with a printing means that optically scans the contents of proceedings (image information) written on the whiteboard with such a writing material as Magic Marker (registered trademark), and that prints the obtained image information on a thermal paper. The contents of proceedings (image information) written on the whiteboard is printed on the thermal paper by using the printing means after the conference ended, and copies of the contents of proceedings are distributed to participants in the conference.
At a conference using a conventional whiteboard, the printed contents of proceedings may have to be turned to electronic data after the end of the conference, using a word processor, etc.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-56747 discloses an electronic conference system which enables to write the contents of proceedings directly on a large display in a free format using a direct input means (e.g., touch pen), and to turn all of the contents to electronic data in order to facilitate document management, distribution of the contents of proceedings to participants, contents processing, etc., that are carried out after the end of a conference.
In a case of such an electronic conference system, it is assumed that the system is used in a conference room with a certain space, and that the display has a height within a person's reach and a length that is not so long as to be obstacle for a person to operate it.
The size of a display device, such as a liquid crystal display, however, has been increasing these days. This leads to such a problem that when a large display device is placed in a spacious place, such as a university lecture room and an international conference room, a presenter or lecturer faces trouble of not being able to reach the upper part of the display, of moving to the end of the display to write, etc., in manipulating the display device.

Information display device in which changes to a small screen area are displayed on a large screen area of a display screen


This invention relates to amidopyrazole compounds that are inhibitors of Interleukin receptor-associated kinases, in particular IRAK-4, and are useful in the treatment of cellular proliferative diseases, for example, cancer, hyperplasia, restenosis, cardiac hypertrophy, immune disorders and inflammation.

This invention relates to amidopyrazole compounds that are inhibitors of Interleukin receptor-associated kinases, in particular IRAK-4, and are useful in the treatment of cellular proliferative diseases, for example, cancer, hyperplasia, restenosis, cardiac hypertrophy, immune disorders and inflammation.
Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinases (IRAKs) are key components in the signal transduction pathways utilized by interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R), interleukin-18 receptor (IL-18R), and Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Since TLRs initiate the first-wave of inflammatory signals and innate immune responses, they play a key role in many disease processes, including response to infections and auto-inflammatory disorders.
IRAK-4 belongs to a family of mammalian IRAKs that include IRAK-1, IRAK-2 and IRAK-M (also known as IRAK-3). IRAK-4 shares the domain structure of the other IRAKs and it is able to activate similar signal transduction pathways, namely NF-κB and MAPK pathways. It rapidly and transiently associates with IRAK-1 and TRAF6 in an IL-1-dependent manner but it is not functionally redundant with IRAK-1. Most strikingly, IRAK-4 is an active protein kinase and requires its kinase activity to activate NF-κB. Additionally, IRAK-4 might act upstream of IRAK-1 as an IRAK-1 activator. See Li, S. et al., "IRAK-4: a novel member of the IRAK family with the properties of an IRAK-kinase," Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2002 Apr. 16; 99(8):5567-72.
All four IRAK family members appear to play a role in Toll and IL-1R signaling. However, out of four members in the mammalian IRAK family, IRAK-4 is considered to be the "master IRAK", the only family member indispensable for IL-1R/TLR signaling. Mouse knock-out studies have demonstrated the essential role for IRAK-4 in IL-1R, IL-18R and most TLR signaling (see, Suzuki, N, et al, "Severe impairment of interleukin-1 and Toll-like receptor signaling in mice lacking IRAK-4," Nature, 2002, 416, 750-756). Furthermore, knock-in experiments by several groups have clearly demonstrated that IRAK-4 requires its kinase activity for its function.
In humans, mutations resulting in IRAK-4 deficiency have been linked to susceptibility to bacterial infections, especially recurrent pyogenic bacterial infections (see, Picard, C., et al. "Pyogenic bacterial infections in humans with IRAK-4 deficiency." Science, 2003, 299, 2076-2079). While IRAK-4 deficient children are susceptible to certain pyogenic infections, adults are not prone to chronic infections. It is possible that protective immunity remains sufficiently preserved to protect against infection while modulation of IRAK-4 function through kinase inhibition may tone down inflammatory response.
Given the critical role of IRAK-4 in inflammatory processes, modulation of IRAK-4 kinase activity presents an attractive therapeutic approach for the treatment of immune and inflammatory diseases. The recent success in the determination of the 3-dimensional structure of the IRAK-4 kinase domain in complex with inhibitors has facilitated the understanding of the mechanistic role of IRAK-4 in immunity and inflammation as well as the development of specific IRAK-4 kinase inhibitors. See, Wang, et al, "IRAK-4 Inhibitors for Inflammation," Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, 9, 724-737.
It would be useful to develop potent IRAK-4 inhibitors with desired properties as new anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic therapeutic agents.
A number of studies have established the relationship between activation of the NF-κB and the progression of cancer. Since TLRs are prominent activators of the NF-κB pathway, it has been hypothesized that stimulation of TLRs is a factor in the development of human cancers. See, Chen, et al, "Inflammation, Cancer, and Chemoresistance: Taking Advantage of the Toll-Like Receptor Signaling Pathway," American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 2007, 57 (2), 93-107. Given the central role of IRAK-4 in the TLR driven inflammation pathway, it has been proposed that inhibition of IRAK-4 may lead to a new class of anticancer agents. See, Shaw, et al, "Characterization of Novel Diaryl Oxazole-Based Compounds as Potential Agents to Treat Pancreatic Cancer," Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2009, 331 (2), 636-647.
There exists a need in the art for small molecule compounds having desirable physiochemical properties that are useful for treating cancer and other proliferative disorders. Specifically, it would be useful to develop potent IRAK-4 inhibitors with desired properties as new anticancer therapeutic agents.

Amidopyrazole inhibitors of interleukin receptor-associated kinases


A pneumatic tire is provided in the outer surface of each sidewall portion with a serrated zone formed by a number of serration grooves extending at an angle of at most 45 degrees with respect to the tire radial direction. Each of the serration grooves has a variable depth such that the deepest point lies between the radially outermost end and innermost end of the serration groove. The deepest point is positioned in a range between 0.2 time and 0.4 times a radial distance Ha from the maximum carcass section width position to the radially outermost end of the tire. As a result, the rolling resistance of the tire can be reduced.

The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire, more particularly to an external structure of the sidewall portion capable of reducing the rolling resistance of the tire.
In recent years, in view of resource saving and global environmental problems, pneumatic tires are strongly required to decrease the rolling resistance.
The rolling resistance can be decreased by decreasing the energy loss in various rubber components of a tire.
However, if a tread rubber having a low heat generation property is used in order to decrease the energy loss during running, the road grip, braking performance and steering stability are liable to deteriorate, therefore, the use of such rubber has its own limits.
On the other hand, the sidewall portions of a pneumatic tire are largely deflected during running. With this deflecting motion of the sidewall portions, the tire shoulder portions or tread shoulder portions are subjected to large stress or deformation, causing an energy loss in the tread rubber or so called wing rubber disposed in the tire shoulder portion.


An oscillator circuit includes a Wien-bridge oscillator. A non-detuned oscillating signal and a detuned oscillating signal are tapped from the Wien-bridge oscillator. A sum of a weighted detuned signal and a weighted non-detuned signal is coupled as feedback signal to the Wien-bridge to control the oscillation amplitude.

In many electric circuits including so-called integrated circuits, i.e., ICs, a fully integrated oscillator is needed for generating a reference clock signal with high frequency accuracy and with very low temperature and long-term drift. Clock signal generators are known to be used for a variety of applications, for example, for digital signal processing circuits. Highly accurate clock signal generators are typically used in analog-to-digital devices, i.e., for sampling an analog signal to produce a corresponding digital signal.
In conventional applications and for this purpose relaxation oscillators have been used, which exhibit low complexity and can be easily adjusted or programmed. However, a drift in frequency typically does not only originate from parameter changes of the primary passive frequency determining components like resistors and capacitors. Also active circuit components such as transistors in current mirrors, switches and comparators may cause a drift in frequency effectuated by temperature influence or stress on the components.
To a large extent this additional drift in frequency effectuated by parameter changes of active circuit components can be avoided through use of a harmonic oscillator comprising a resonator having a high quality factor wherein it is assumed that the active circuit portion fulfills some minimum requirements. In the case of a Wien-bridge oscillator and when operated at oscillation frequency the amplifier stage must comply with a minimum amplification and a maximum phase shift, in order to stay below a predefined maximum frequency drift of, for example, ±1%. As long as the minimum requirements are fulfilled the high quality factor of the resonator provides for corresponding high frequency stability. The quality of an open oscillatory circuit system is a measure of the capability of the closed oscillatory to suppress variations in the oscillation frequency. Then the drift in frequency is substantially independent of parameter changes of the active components and is caused primarily by temperature variations of the passive circuit devices.
In the following and with reference to FIG. 1 the basic properties of a Wien-bridge oscillator 110 are described wherein a conventional Wien-bridge 110 shown in the dotted circle.
The resonant frequency ωr of the Wien-bridge is determined by resistors R1, R2 and capacitors C1, C2 as
      ω    r    =      1                  R                                                            1          ·          R                                                                    2          ·          C                                                                    1          ·          C                                                          2            wherein in many applications the values of the components is chosen as R1=R2=R and C1=C2=C. Consequently the resonant frequency is determined by
      ω    r    =      1          R                                      C
The complex transfer function normalized to the resonant frequency is
                              F                                (                          s              =              jΩ                        )                          =                              -                          1                              3                +                ɛ                                              ·                                    1              -                              Ω                2                            -              jɛΩ                                      1              -                              Ω                2                            +                              3                                jΩ                                                                        (        1        )            wherein
      Ω    =          ω              ω        r              ,and wherein variable ε is a positive number, ε<1, and that describes the detune of the bridge circuit.
From equation (1) the frequency response Φ of the phase shifting follows as
  Φ  =      arctan              [                        -                      (                          3              +              ɛ                        )                                                        Ω                                      (                              1                -                                  Ω                  2                                            )                                                                          (                                  1                  -                                      Ω                    2                                                  )                            2                        -                          3                                            ɛΩ                2                                                        ]
FIGS. 2a and 2b depict the frequency response of the amplitude (magnitude) and of the phase shifting (phase) for ε= 1/15. FIG. 2c illustrates the relation between phase shifting and detune ε (eps) in a frequency range of about ±2% around the resonant frequency.
As shown in FIG. 2b the frequency response of the phase shifting exhibits a steep slope around normalized resonant frequency. Based on this property, high-quality oscillators, i.e., oscillators exhibiting high stability in frequency, can be implemented based on Wien-bridge resonators. However, a downside of a Wien-bridge oscillator is the attenuation of the signal amplitude at resonant frequency. For calculating the gain of the circuit, we assume that oscillation frequency matches resonant frequency, which is approximately true for a phase shift of less than 10 degrees, confer FIG. 2b, and if the detune ε is small.
In a non-detuned Wien-bridge circuit, i.e., ε=0, the differential output signal would be zero. As a consequence the Wien-bridge necessarily must be detuned slightly in order to comply with the requirement of oscillating with constant amplitude.
The quality factor of a resonant circuit is
  Q  =                    1        2                                    ⅆ          Φ                          ⅆ          Ω                                  (                  Ω          =          1                )              =                            1          ɛ                +                  1          3                    ≈              1        ɛ
Note that generally the quality of a resonant circuit is defined as partial derivative of amplitude and phase at oscillation frequency. Since in the case considered here the partial derivative of the amplitude is zero at resonant frequency, the partial derivative of the phase remains.
Accordingly the correlation between detune and quality, i.e., stability in frequency, of a resonant circuit can be characterized in that the lower the detune, the higher is the quality, i.e., stability in frequency, of the resonant circuit.
The oscillator circuit comprising the Wien-bridge and the amplifier as depicted in FIG. 1 can be simplified to a schematic circuit depicted in FIG. 3. The schematic illustrates a transfer function of the feedback loop and can be analyzed based on the frequency response of the feedback loop amplification T(s):T(s)=A(s)·└Fp(s)−Fn(s)┘=A(s)·F(s)wherein A(s) is the gain of the amplifying element in the circuit and
                    F        p                          (        s        )              -                  F        n                          (        s        )              =            F                    (        s        )              =                  V        br                    V        out            describes the transfer function of the feedback path.
The Barkhausen criterion is a (mathematical) condition to determine when a linear electronic circuit will oscillate and provides the necessary—but not sufficient—conditions for a stable oscillation. More precisely the Barkhausen criterion consists of two conditions, namely:
1. The absolute value of the loop gain in an amplifier with feedback path as depicted in FIG. 3 must be equal to unity in absolute magnitude, i.e.,|T(s=jω0)=1|
2. The phase shift at the oscillating frequency must have a positive feedback. This condition is satisfied when the phase shift is an integer multiple of 360°:∠T(s=jω0)=z·360° wherein z=0, 1, 2, . . .
In this embodiment a phase shift of z=0, i.e., 0° phase shift is considered.
It follows from the amplitude condition, i.e., the first of the above mentioned conditions, that the necessary gain A is higher when the detune is lower.
It can be shown that in a stable oscillating state it follows from the Barkhausen criteria that an amplification of A=(9/ε)+3 is required at the resonant frequency.
As a consequence in Wien-bridges the requirements for the amplifier stage are high, i.e., the amplifier stage must exhibit a high gain while at the same time exhibiting a low phase shift. In one embodiment the absolute value of the phase shift should be below 10° since in this range only a high quality and frequency stability can be achieved, i.e., the frequency response of the phase shift of the Wien-bridge is steep. Consequently the amplifier stage is a crucial component of the oscillator. Drift caused by temperature variation and process parameter variation may have significant influence on the accuracy of the oscillation frequency, as these typically cause significant variations in gain and phase shift in amplifier circuits.
With respect to the quality factor, i.e., stability in frequency, optimum solutions can be achieved by adjusting the detune ε of the Wien-bridge to a value high enough so that the oscillation amplitude exhibits a sufficient high value.
The achieved solution furthermore shall effectuate that the drift in frequency caused by temperature variations as far as possible depends on the temperature coefficients of the resistors in the Wien-bridge instead of depending on any semiconductor component as known from conventional circuits.

Wien-bridge oscillator and circuit arrangement for regulating a detuning


An improved can compacting mechanism includes a can collection catch bin comprising a main catch bin body having integrally formed front wall, back wall, and opposing walls. Downwardly from the front, back and side walls, is a floor. The walls and floor are integrally formed into a single structure. Upwardly from the floor, the side walls are tapered inwardly towards a body neck and opening. The upper most portion of the front and back walls also terminate at the body neck and opening. The body neck is, in cross-section, a generally rectangular-shaped structure and the body opening is a generally rectangular-shaped aperture through which compacted cans are intent to pass as they drop by gravity from the can compacting mechanism of prior invention.

In the experience of this inventor, the ability to recycle objects has become a necessity for the preservation of resources for our future generations. Recycling of virtually anything that can be recycled has become a way of life in our energy-conscious society. No less important in this regard is the lowly, but always present, aluminum can. The aluminum can is found virtually everywhere that beverages are sold or distributed. And, unfortunately, discarded aluminum cans are equally ready to find. Accordingly, a movement has been taking place to manufacture, distribute and sell aluminum can crushing and compacting mechanisms which can be readily purchased and used by the consuming public. One such mechanism is disclosed in this inventor's U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,455.
The inventor's prior aluminum can compacting mechanism, as disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,455, is a relatively compact, wall-mountable, easy to use, and commercially available device. That device utilizes a can retaining means into which the user or consumer manually places the aluminum can which is intended to be compacted. A lever is actuated and the aluminum can is compacted between two compacting plates. In the can compacting mechanisms of the prior art, the lever is then reversed and the compacted can is manually removed from the device. Because this last step of this process can be an unpleasant one due to the presence of beverage residue which often accompanies such cans, and because it is a completely unnecessary step in his eyes, this inventor sought to eliminate it by construction of a device where the compacted can is automatically dropped from the device. That device is disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,455.
Another result intended to be accomplished by the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,455, is that the handle be stopped in its downward rotation so as to prevent pinch points within the device, a particularly important feature where the device is used by small children.
Although this device works well, what is needed is a convenient way to collect compacted cans as they are discharged from the aluminum can compacting mechanism as previously described. In particular, there is a need to provide a collection means that is conveniently and attractively located immediately beneath the subject can compacting mechanism. In the view of this inventor, the collection means should be functionally adapted to be removably attachable to the can compacting device of prior disclosure. This would ensure the inadvertent detachment of the collection means from the can compacting mechanism except where detachment was desired or required by the user. The collection means should be functionally adapted so as not to interfere with the operation of the prior can compacting mechanism, and particularly with regard to the full motion of the handle through its use cycle. The collection means should also be attractive in the accumulation, but not display, of unsightly compacted cans as they are collected. In this way, a can compacting mechanism that might otherwise be relegated to use in the garage, the basement, or some other location where it is generally out-of-sight, can be located in a kitchen, a utility room, or other area of a home or dwelling where it is more likely to be used than not. The collection means should also be self-contained and cleanable to collect and allow the removal of any residue that may otherwise escape from the compacted cans. In this way, the collection means can be dishwasher cleaned as such is desired or required. Finally, the collection means should come in a variety of sizes, depending upon the intended rate of accumulation as desired by the user.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and useful compacted can collection catch bin that can be easily used by a consumer with an aluminum can compacting mechanism of prior invention, which catch bin has a minimal number of parts and requires only a minimal number of steps to use. It is another object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that is conveniently locatable immediately beneath the aluminum can compacting mechanism of prior invention. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that is functionally adapted to be removably attachable to the can compacting device of prior invention. It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that includes means for preventing the inadvertent detachment of the catch bin from the can compacting mechanism except where detachment was desired or required by the user. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that does not interfere with the operation of the prior can compacting mechanism, and particularly with regard to the full motion of the handle through its compression cycle. It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that is attractive in the accumulation, but not display, of unsightly compacted cans as they are collected so that the catch bin is more likely to be used in a kitchen or utility room setting rather than hidden away in a garage or basement. It is another object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that can be fabricated in a one-piece, unitary construction and be self-contained and cleanable to collect and allow the removal of any residue that may escape from the compacted cans. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a can collection catch bin that can be fabricated in a variety of sizes, depending upon the intended rate of accumulation as desired by the user, and be made to be dishwasher safe for occasional cleaning.

Can collection catch bin for use with aluminum can compacting mechanism


An apparatus for non-intrusively sensing fluid flow within a pipe is provided. The apparatus includes an array of sensors that include a plurality of optical fiber coils. The array of sensors senses the fluid flow inside the pipe. At least one optical reflective device is disposed between adjacent optical fiber coils. An isolation pad is disposed between each optical reflective device and the pipe.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to fluid flow sensing devices that use fiber optics, and more particularly to those sensing devices that are disposed on the exterior of a conduit.
2. Background Information
In the petroleum industry, there is considerable value in the ability to monitor the flow of petroleum products in the production pipe of a well in real time. Historically, flow parameters such as the bulk velocity of a fluid have been sensed with devices directly disposed within the fluid flow. These type devices have several drawbacks including the fact that they provide an undesirable flow impediment, are subject to the hostile environment within the pipe, and typically provide undesirable potential leak paths into or out of the pipe. Sensors disposed outside the fluid flow pipe avoid these problems, but can be subject to other difficulties stemming from the well environment, which is often characterized by extreme temperatures and pressures. Extreme temperatures can disable and limit the life of electronic components. Sensors disposed outside of the production pipe may also be subject to environmental materials such as water (fresh or salt), steam, mud, sand, etc.
What is needed, therefore, is an apparatus that can protect flow sensing devices that are disposed outside a pipe, and one that can protect sensing devices in a well environment characterized by extreme temperatures and pressures and the presence of debris.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for protecting flow sensing devices that are disposed on the exterior of a pipe, and one that can protect sensing devices in a hostile environment.
According to the present invention an apparatus for non-intrusively sensing fluid flow within a pipe is provided. The apparatus includes an array of sensors that include a plurality of optical fiber coils. The array of sensors senses the fluid flow inside the pipe. At least one optical reflective device is disposed between adjacent optical fiber coils. An isolation pad is disposed between each optical reflective device and the pipe.
An advantage of the present invention is that it enables the collection of data pertaining to fluid flow within a pipe in a non-intrusive manner. An externally mounted sensor for non-intrusively sensing fluid flow within the pipe can be subjected to pipe growth and/or vibrations. In those instances where an optical reflective device is utilized with a sensor, the isolation pad isolates the optical reflective device, and splices if used, from thermally or mechanically related pipe growth and/or vibrations. Error or damage that might otherwise be caused by the pipe growth and/or vibrations is thereby decreased to an acceptable level. In some applications, the isolation pad may be used directly under a sensor to protect the sensor.
The present apparatus is also protected from the environment by a compactly formed housing that encloses the array of sensors and the isolation pad. In a well environment, the housing protects the array from fluid and debris that may enter the annulus between the production pipe and the well casing.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof.

Isolation pad for protecting sensing devices on the outside of a conduit


A pulse width modulation system including a pulse width modulation stage for generating a pulse width modulated signal in response to an input signal and an other pulse width modulation stage for generating an other pulse width modulated signal in response to an other input signal. Additional circuitry ensures that transitions of the pulse width modulated signal and the other pulse width modulated signal are spaced in time by a selected amount for small levels of the input signal.

Delta-sigma modulators (noise shapers) are particularly useful in digital to analog and analog to digital converters (DACs and ADCs). Using oversampling, a delta-sigma modulator spreads quantization noise power across the oversampling frequency band, which is typically much greater than the input signal bandwidth. Additionally, a delta sigma modulator performs noise shaping by acting as a lowpass filter to the input signal and a highpass filter to the noise; most of the quantization noise power is thereby shifted out of the signal band.
In addition to data conversion applications, delta-sigma noise shapers are increasingly utilized in the design of digital amplifiers. In one particular technique, a digital delta-sigma noise shaper provides a noise shaped (quantized) digital data stream to a pulse width (duty cycle) modulated (PWM) stream, which in turn drives a linear amplifier output stage and associated load. This technique is generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,017, entitled "Analogue and Digital Convertors Using Pulse Edge Modulators with Non-linearity Error Correction", granted Jul. 21, 1998, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,286, entitled "Analogue and Digital Convertor Using Pulse Edge Modulators with Non-linearity Error Correction", granted Aug. 20, 1996, both to Craven, U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,102, entitled "Delta Sigma PWM DAC to Reduce Switching", granted Sep. 29, 1998, to the present inventor (incorporated herein by reference), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/163,235 to Melanson (incorporated herein by reference), and International Patent Application No. PCT/DK97/00133 by Risbo.
One problem, which occurs in multiple-channel PWM systems, such as those used in multiple-channel DACs, is cross-coupling of energy between the associated data paths when the outputs of two or more PWM stages switch simultaneously or nearly simultaneously. The result is noise and distortion in the PWM output signals, especially when the data input to the PWM stages have a low signal level, such as during quiet periods in a digital audio data stream being converted to PWM.
Hence, given the increased use of multiple-channel PWM systems, new techniques are required for minimizing distortion and noise in multiple PWM streams as the result of time-proximate output switching of the corresponding PWM stages.

Circuits and methods for reducing noise and distortion in pulse width modulation systems


The present invention relates to a bearing apparatus with a sensor and a rolling bearing with a sensor used to movers such as automobiles or railway carriers, facility machines of equipment, or machine tools. One of the embodiments comprises a sensor detecting conditions of the rolling bearing, a ring-shaped sensor cover housing the sensor therein and secured to a stationary-side bearing ring, and a ring shaped presser member secured to a bearing housing provided outside in a radius direction of the sensor cover, or secured to a shaft, and an opening portion is provided at a decided portion of the sensor cover, and projections standing toward a side of the presser member are furnished in the circumference of the opening portion, the presser member is defined with cutouts for inserting the projections, and the cutouts are arranged with the projections.

For example, nowadays in automobiles, control of anti-lock breaking system (ABS) or traction control system (TCS) have widely been practiced, and for the control, speed of rotation of wheels must be exactly detected. Therefore, speed of rotation (number of rotation) of a rolling bearing rotatably supporting the wheels with respect to a winding device has been detected.
For detecting speed of rotation (number of rotation) of the rolling bearing, there has much served the sensor-rolling bearing with a rotating sensor installed nearly to the bearing. Namely, the sensor-rolling bearing performs detection of speed of rotation of the wheels in that a cylindrical magnet having many magnetic poles alternately arranged to a rotating side, detects a magnetic flux of the magnet rotating together with the wheels through a sensor using the hole element or the hole IC provided to a stationary side.
The sensor-rolling bearing detects speed of the movers, not limiting to the above mentioned automobiles but including those having the rotating members of such as railway carriers, and the detection of the rotating direction has been also widely practiced. The sensor-rolling bearing has been employed, in many kinds of machines of equipment, for detection of rotation speed of a motor output shaft or that of pump.
In the industrial wide field, for detecting number of rotation of the rotating members, that is, speed of rotation, or for detecting the rotating direction or phases of rotation, the sensor-rolling bearing has widely been used as the bearing of the rotating members.
The conventional sensor-rolling bearing is attached by mounting an outer ring on a bearing housing. Therefore, owing to causes such as difference in thermal expansion, a space between the outer diameter of the outer ring and the inner diameter of the bearing housing exceeds a permissible value, and the outer ring follows rotation of the inner ring and sometimes rotates along the rotating direction of the inner ring.
When the outer ring rotates in response to the rotation of the inner ring, a sensor cover mounted on the outer ring and a sensor housing also rotate concurrently. Then, an input-output signal wire taken out outside from the sensor cover and the sensor housing is effected with shearing force, because it is taken out outside via a cutout groove defined in a presser cover fixed to the bearing housing. Therefore, when the outer ring largely rotates by the rotation of the inner ring, the input-output signal wire might be broken.
Therefore, a bearing 600 with a rotating sensor (called as "rotating sensor-bearing" or "sensor-bearing" hereafter) has been proposed as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24. In the rotating sensor-bearing 600, the sensor housing 606 is provided in an outer diametrical face with whirl-stop members 606a projecting toward a radius direction passing through the sensor cover 607 receiving a rotation sensor 605 therein. The rotating sensor-bearing 600 is arranged with the whirl-stop members 606a in a cutout groove 609a of a presser cover 609, thereby preventing the outer ring 602 from rotating with the rotation of the inner ring 601 (for example, Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 2002-213472).
However, the above mentioned conventional sensor-bearing apparatus 600 is complicated in a structure of securing the whirl-stop members 606a and the sensor cover 607, so that the productivity is low.
A sensor-bearing apparatus 630 has conventionally been known as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26. FIG. 25 is a whole cross sectional view showing the sensor-bearing apparatus, and FIG. 26 is a cross sectional view along C-C line of the sensor-bearing apparatus of FIG. 25. The sensor-bearing apparatus 630 causes one end 641 of the sensor 640 to directly contact a reference face 631a of a stationary-side bearing ring 631, while it causes cut-out faces 633 of a sensor holding element 632 to fix chamfered parts 642 of the sensor 640 in order to position the sensor 640 (for example, Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 311740/1998).
The above mentioned conventional sensor-bearing apparatus 630 has been involved with a problem that a connection output portion 634 or a conductor 635 are applied with external force or vibration, so that a position of the sensor 640 is circumferentially dislocated. Then, an error in output of the sensor 640 is probably caused by the circumferential dislocation.
Therefore, the sensor-bearing apparatus 630 depends on resin insertion between the sensor holding element 632 and the reference face 631a of the stationary-side bearing ring 631 for checking the circumferential dislocation.
However, depending on the resin insertion, since a complicated process is required, there is a room for making improvement with respect to production process and cost-up, accordingly.
FIG. 27 is a cross sectional view of the element parts showing the conventional sensor-rolling bearing. This sensor-rolling bearing 700 is formed by securing a magnetically sensitive sensor 721 and a member 720 to be detected such as a magnet to the outer ring 710 or the inner ring 711.
The magnetically sensitive sensor 721 buried in a sensor carrier 723 includes a beading fixture over a full length of a concave groove 716 formed in an inner diametrical face of the outer ring via a sensor holding device 725. In addition, the member to be detected 720 is disposed on a plane part in the radius direction of an L-shaped member 722 forced in an outer diametrical face, so that the member 720 to be detected faces to the sensor 721.
In the above mentioned conventional sensor-rolling bearing 700, if a size of the bearing is small in the diametrical direction, it is difficult to secure the magnetically sensitive sensor 721 to the inner diametrical face of the outer ring 710 via the sensor carrier 723. It is also difficult to secure the member to be detected 720 to the outer diametrical face 711 of the inner ring via the L-shaped member 722.
For solving this problem, as seeing FIGS. 28 and 29, it may be assumed to provide a step portion in the outer diameter of the outer ring or the inner ring in order to fix the sensor or the member to be detected. But since a face to be processed of the step portion can not be subjected to a centerless machining, sizes are largely dispersed, and it is difficult to force and fix respective members.
In general, the sensor-rolling bearing is very often disposed nearly members generating electric noises by a motor. Therefore, by disposing locations, an external magnetic field caused by an external noise disturbs a magnetic field formed by the member to be detected, so that such probability might be caused that the sensor cannot exactly detect the magnetic field formed by the member to be detected.
Further, the sensor-bearing apparatus 800 as shown in FIG. 30 is known. FIG. 30 is a cross sectional view of the element parts of the conventional sensor-bearing apparatus. As showing in the same, the sensor-bearing apparatus 800 is structured in that the magnetic sensor 802 of the rotating sensor 801 and a pulsar ring (encoder) 803 are shielded with a sensor case fixing ring 804 of a magnetic substance and a magnetic bypath 805 so as to bypass an external leakage flux (for example, Japanese Patent Laid Open No. 2002-174258).
As another embodiment of the conventional sensor-bearing apparatus 800, there are those shown in FIGS. 31 and 32. FIG. 31 is a whole cross sectional view of the element parts showing another example of the conventional sensor-bearing apparatus 800, and FIG. 32 is an upper (seeing from an upper side of FIG. 31) and partially plan view of FIG. 31.
Referring to FIGS. 31 and 32, in the conventional sensor-bearing 850, the inner ring 852 at the right side of FIG. 31 of the rolling element 853 is secured at the outer circumferential end with a core metal 856 which is arranged with a cylindrical pulsar ring 857 of a permanent magnet. The magnetic sensor 860 is placed within the sensor case 858 leaving a space in relation with the outer circumferential face of the pulsar ring 857, while the sensor case 858 is fixed to an inside of a sensor case fixing ring 861.
In regard to the sensor-bearing 850, the magnetic bypath 862 is furnished to a further inside of the sensor case fixing ring 861 fixed to the outer ring 851 for interrupting the leakage magnetic flux flowing from a coil of the external motor into the magnetic sensor 860. Further, the sensor-bearing 850 is furnished with a side plate 863 and at the same time with a cutout window 861a at the upper part of a magnetic sensor 860 in the sensor case fixing ring 861 for interrupting the loop of the leakage magnetic flux into the magnetic sensor 860.
However, the above mentioned conventional sensor-bearing 850 is disposed with the magnetic sensor 860 such as hole elements via the pulsar ring 857 and the space in the radius direction on the outer circumference of the cylindrical pulsar ring (magnet) 857 secured as projecting to the side of the inner ring 852. Therefore, for exactly detecting magnetic change of the rotating pulsar ring 857 by means of the magnetic sensor 860, a surface part of the pulsar ring 857 opposite to the magnetic sensor 860 necessitates a length larger than decided particularly in the axial direction of the sensor-bearing 850.
Accordingly, the surface part of the pulsar ring 857 opposite to the magnetic sensor 860 cannot but project by the length larger than decided in the axial direction of the sensor-bearing 850.
As a result, the above mentioned magnetic sensor 860 has a limitation in shortening the length in the axial direction of the sensor-bearing 850, and cannot satisfy a requirement for saving a space requested for using the sensor-bearing to many kinds of devices, including speed detection of automobiles.
In addition, since the space between the pulsar ring 857 and the magnetic sensor 860 extends in the axial direction, a grease filled in a vacancy of the bearing flows along the space in the axial direction, and is ready for running outside as it is, and therefore, an improvement has been demanded for.
Further, in case the leakage magnetic flux flows owing to an external intense magnetic flux into between the inner ring 852 and the outer ring 853 of the sensor-bearing 850, the magnetic flux leaks to a side of the pulsar ring 857 or the magnetic sensor 860 via the rolling element 853. It is therefore necessary to provide another member of a shielding plate such as a magnetic bypath 862 between the sensor-bearing 850 and the magnetic sensor 860, increasing the number of parts and heightening cost, and concurrently increasing a setting-up process. Besides, an installing space is required to restrain reduction in size.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide the sensor-bearing apparatus and the sensor-rolling bearing, which may bring about high productivity and cost saving effect, position the sensor easily and at high precision without requiring the complicated process as the formation of resin insertion, effectively bypass the leakage magnetic flux from the outside with the less number of parts in order to avoid erroneous action of the sensor caused by electric noises of the motor, secure the requisite and enough whirl-stopping efficiency of the stationary-side bearing ring, and reduce in size by shortening the length in the axial direction.

Bearing device with sensor and rolling bearing with sensor


A device and method of termite detection and control, where the device is a housing having an interior, and an upper and lower end, and the housing is adapted to capture the natural thermal radiation of the sun when implanted into the ground. The lower end of the housing has an opening to the interior for access by termites when the lower end of the housing is implanted within the ground. The upper end of the housing includes an opening and a transparent cover for placing a moisture-absorbing attractant and, selectively, a poisoned bait, within the interior, and the attractant is visible through the cover. During the day, the device uses the thermal radiation of the sun to heat the attractant which absorbs moisture from the soil. At night, the attractant releases the moisture into the soil, creating a temperature anomaly readily detectable by termites. The method for termite detection and control is placing the housings around an area designated to be protected from termite damage, visually inspecting the attractant within the interior of the housing to determine if termite activity is present without physically disturbing the termites, and placing poisoned bait within the interior through the opening at the upper end of the housing if termite activity is detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to systems for subterranean termite detection and control which use housings with transparent covers that contain termite attractants and selectively, poisoned bait.
2. Description of the Related Art
The prior art as is best known to the inventor is comprised of a variety of systems for detection and control of termites, including housings which are implanted into the ground, and contain either attractant or bait. U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,726 to Thorne et al., teaches a below ground housing for termite detection and control.
Thorne further teaches a housing which has a cartridge inserted into the housing, and the cartridge may contain either chemical attractant to determine if termites are present or poisoned bait to kill the termites. However, to inspect the housing of Thorne to see if termites are present, one has to remove the cartridge to visually inspect it. This physically disturbs termite activity such that the termites may abandon the area and later insertion of poison could be ineffective. Further, Thorne shows a two-step method wherein the housing initially contains a non-toxic bait. If termites inhabit the housing, it is removed, and as a second step, toxic bait is inserted into the housing as a second cartridge.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,879 to Myles teaches a method, apparatus, and composition for treating social insects, including termites, with a poison and releasing them. Myles discloses a trap for termites comprised of a PVC pipe and cardboard rolled within the pipe. The cardboard can also have a block of wood rolled within its center as a reserve food supply for termites. Myles also discloses and apparatus that uses heat as an attractant and then a repellent.
The ability of termites to recognize the temperature anomalies is known in the art. "Location of Food Sources by Subterranean Termites," Ettershank, Ettershank & Whitford, J. Env. Entomol. 9:645-648 (1980), surmises an ability of subterranean termites to recognize dung pats, a preferred food source, through a temperature anomaly created by the shadow cast by the dung pat. The article supports a finding that food sources above the ground are more likely to be targeted by foraging termites, rather than subterranean food sources. Further, the article does not teach what temperature anomaly attracts the termites, as it only speculates that the cooler shadow of the dung pat on the underlying soil is the anomaly detected by the termite.

Device and method for termite detection and control