A rechargeable battery socket and the manufacturing method of making the same is disclosed. The rechargeable battery socket includes an insulating housing defining a number of terminal channels, a number of terminals received in the insulating housing, and a shell assembled to one side of the insulating housing. Each terminal includes a contacting portion received in corresponding terminal channel and a tail extending out of the insulating housing. Each terminal channel provides a pair of ribs on two opposite inside faces thereof. The contacting portion of the terminal cooperates with the rib to thereby secure the terminal in the insulating housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly, to a rechargeable battery socket and manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Electric vehicles, such as electric car, electric bicycle, are popular used nowadays for their quiet running and pollution-free. Generally, the rechargeable battery is employed for providing energy to the electric vehicles. Many rechargeable batteries are separately assembled to the electric vehicles, which should be electrically connecting with the power supply system when electricity thereof is not enough to drive the vehicle. In most environments, a rechargeable battery socket is used as an intermediate device to connect the battery and the power supply system.
Hence, a rechargeable battery socket with high performances, such as dust-proof, water-proof, is therefore desired.

Rechargeable battery socket and manufacturing method thereof


The present invention provides a staphylococcal accessory regulatory protein sar, and the gene encoding that protein(sar). This protein relates to the recognition and control of bacterial infections, particularly infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The sar protein and gene are thus useful in preventing or treating staph infections, and in diagnostic kits and assays for detecting the presence of the sar protein and sar gene.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the recognition and control of bacterial infections, particularly infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). More particularly, the present invention provides a staphylococcal accessory regulatory protein sarA, and the gene encoding that protein (sar).
2. Description of the Related Art
Septicemia due to Staphylococcus aureus is often the consequence of a local infection that has gained access to the bloodstream. Once the bacteria enter the bloodstream, patients are at a risk of developing a range of infections from endocarditis, pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis to severe toxemia (including toxic shock syndrome) and other life-threatening metastatic complications. Although the use of newer antimicrobial agents has initially controlled some of these infections, the recent emergence of multiple-drug resistance in S. aureus has made many currently available antimicrobial agents (including fluoroquinones) ineffective, thereby posing an important public health problem. Thus, there is an urgent need for alternative approaches in the treatment of S. aureus infections.
Infections caused by S. aureus are probably related to the organism's striking capability to react to changing environments during the infection process. In any stage of surface colonization, entry, and invasion, this highly coordinated response seems to be modulated by the expression of appropriate genes via signal transduction pathways.
One potentially effective mechanism for dealing with the emergence of antibiotic resistance among S. aureus strains is the development of safe and effective vaccines. However, experimental data justifying a direct vaccine strategy are presently lacking. An alternative approach is to consider targeting regulatory loci that are involved in the control and expression of potential virulence determinants (e.g., hemolysins and fibrinogen and fibronectin binding proteins).
Postexponential phase expression in bacteria is generally governed by global regulatory systems in which a common regulator controls the activities of several unlinked genes. Many exoproteins normally synthesized and secreted during the postexponential phase in S. aureus are virulence factors. In contrast, synthesis of a number of surface proteins (e.g., protein A, coagulase, and fibronectin binding proteins) that clearly play a role in staphylococcal infections is repressed postexponentially. The regulation of virulence determinants and other exoprotein genes in S. aureus involves at least three global regulatory systems, including agr, xpr, and sar.
The agr locus controls production of extracellular and cell wall proteins that appear to play a role in virulence (e.g., hemolysins, coagulase, and protein A). Most of the exoprotein regulated by agr are either not synthesized or synthesized at a reduced rate in agr mutants while the synthesis of surface proteins is upregulated (11). The agr locus has been cloned (id.) and consists of at least five genes, agrA, agrB, agrC, agrD and the hld (.beta.-hemolysin) gene. Sequence analysis indicated that it has features suggestive of a two component regulatory system as described in other procaryotes (11). In particular, the agrB is the signaling component while agrA corresponds to the transcription activation element (11, 14). The agr locus is composed of two divergent transcription units designated RNAII (agr A,B,C and D genes) and RNAIII (hld gene). Mutations in either agrA or agrB has led to decreased transcription of RNAIII (11, 16), which also encodes the 26 residue hemolysin polypeptide, is essential for the transcriptional control of exoprotein synthesis (e.g. .alpha.-hemolysin) (11).
The xpr locus, like that of agr, also positively regulates exoprotein synthesis. Smeltzer et al. reported that two sets of agr and xpr mutants with different genetic backgrounds were less lethal and their corresponding parents in a mouse peritonitis model (Smeltzer et al. 1993. Infect. Immun. 61:919-925); however, a very high challenging inoculum (10.sup.9 -10.sup.10 CFU) was required for lethality in this study. Furthermore, both xpr and agr mutants produced greatly reduced amount of hemolysin. This finding together with the observation that the RNAIII level is decreased in a xpr mutant suggest that the xpr and agr loci may behave as interactive regulatory genes (9,20).
An additional locus in S. aureus, designated sar, that is involved in the regulation of exoproteins has been reported (3). Inactivation of this locus by Tn917LTV1 insertion has resulted in decreased expression of several extracellular (e.g. .beta.-hemolysin) and cell wall proteins (3). Phenotypic, Southern blot and genetic mapping analyses indicated that this locus is distinct from agr and xpr (3,4). Using the DNA sequence flanking the Tn917LTV1 insertion as a probe, the sar gene that is involved in the regulation of exoprotein synthesis has been cloned and sequenced. Additional transcriptional and phenotypic studies revealed that this sar gene is necessary for the optimal expression of agr.
Inactivation of the sar locus has resulted in alterations of expression of exoproteins in three different S. aureus isolates (strains DB, RN6390 and RN450) (3,4). Using both .alpha. and .beta. hemolysin genes as probes, transcriptional studies of strains with well-defined genetic backgrounds (i.e. RN6390 and RN450) revealed that the sar locus probably regulates exoprotein genes positively at the MRNA level (4). The regulation of exoprotein genes (e.g..alpha. and .beta.-hemolysins) by the sar locus in vitro was found to begin at midlog phase and continued onto the postexponential phase (4). This mode of regulation is similar to that of agr on target exoprotein gene transcription.
To elucidate the interaction between the sar and agr loci, the level of the RNAIII transcript in sar mutants as well as mutants complemented was assayed with an intact sarA gene. The data suggested that the levels of RNAIII were related to a functional sarA gene (FIG. 2). It was also found possible to overcome the deficiency in .beta. and .alpha. hemolysin expression in a sar mutant by introducing a plasmid carrying RNAIII under the control of a promoter uninfluenced by sar. To rule out the possibility of some concerted interaction, Northern blot analysis was employed to determine that the level of sar mRNA did not appear to be altered appreciably in an agr background (RN6911) (11) as compared to the wild type parent RN6390. Taken together, these data suggest that the agr locus is under the control of sar.
Analysis of the sarA gene sequence leads to several interesting observations. First, there is no helix-turn-helix motif identifiable in a protein sequence that has a predicted cL helical conformation. Secondly, glycine residues which are frequently found in helix-turn-helix motif (1) as well as in two component signal transduction systems (14) are noticeably absent. Third, a small molecular size together with a high percentage of charged residues (33%) and a basic charge are molecular properties that are consistent with those found in other DNA binding proteins (21). Fourth, in contrast to the agr locus, direct sequence comparison of the sarA gene with prototypic sensor and activator genes in E. coli, S. typhimurium and B. subtilis did not reveal any significant similarity to two component regulatory systems (14). Finally, sequence similarity with virF, which is a positive regulator of invasive genes in a regulon carried on a large plasmid in Shigella flexneri (8,18), is of comparative interest. Like that of virF which regulates target genes via the control of another positive regulatory gene virB, the sarA gene may govern the expression of exoprotein genes (e.g. .alpha. and .beta. hemolysins) by positively controlling the level of RNAIII. However, the exact mechanism by which the sarA gene product interacts with the agr locus is not apparent from the sequence analysis.
The postexponential regulation of exoprotein genes in S. aureus involves at least three global regulatory systems (sar, agr and xpr). Although the evidence suggests that the sarA gene may control exoprotein synthesis via the control of agr, the relationship between sarA and xpr is not clear. Nevertheless, the observation that both agr and xpr mutants produce greatly reduced amounts of RNAIII transcript has led to the idea that agr and xpr loci may behave as interactive regulatory genes. It is therefore, conceivable that the sarA may interact with the xpr locus as well.
It should be noted, however, that the restoration of RNAIII transcript (FIG. 8) upon the introduction of the sarA gene into a sar mutant was never complete. This finding raised the possibility that additional signals may be required for a normal pattern of RNAIII transcription, thereby leading to optimal expression of exoproteins at postexponential phase. Based on the pattern of transcription of an exoprotein gene such as hemolysin in an agr.sup.+ parent, Vandenesch et al suggested that a separate postexponential signal independent of agr may be needed for augmented .alpha.-hemolysin transcription during the postexponential phase (22).

Regulation of exoprotein in staphylococcus aureus


An apparatus (30) and method for forming of a vehicle's driveshaft (32) is provided which makes use of a PMF process. The coil device used in the PMF apparatus is assembled around the shaft from two or more coil sections (40, 41, 43; 42, 44, 45) firmly attached to one another, and which may be disassembled from one another to allow to remove the formed driveshaft (32).

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for forming of a vehicle's driveshaft having an elongated shaft and two coupling end parts. This is achieved, in accordance with the invention, by a pulsed magnetic force (PMF) process.
A vehicle's driveshaft, having the general structure as outlined above, is commonly manufactured by welding ends of a cylindrical shaft to coupling end parts. Conventional welding is a time consuming and relatively expensive process.
Furthermore, the workpieces are typically heated in this process and therefore at times cooling installations need to be included.
A known way of rapid "cold" joining or welding of workpieces to one another is by the use of a PMF process. By this technology, a very short and intense electric pulse is discharged through a coil and this discharge induces eddy currents in a workpiece which yield magnetic repulsion between the electric coil and the workpiece. This repulsion then deforms the workpiece proximal to the forming coil causing its surface to rapidly move and impinge on another workpiece whereby it either pressure joins, and with higher energy surface welds to the other workpiece.
A particular application of this process is in joining or surface welding of a tubular workpiece onto a cylindrical one contained therein by inducing inward radial deformation of the tubular workpiece. PMF processes and some specific applications thereof are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. No.: 3,654,787 (Brower), U.S. Pat. No. 3,961,639 (Leftheris), U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,887 (Baranov), U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,393 (Weir), U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,351 (Berg et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,617 (Cherian et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,846 (Snaper) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,998 (Livshitz et al.).
A specific application of the PMF process for the purpose of joining components for a vehicle's driveshaft is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,981,921.
There are some specific problems in the realization of the PMF process for forming a driveshaft in that the end pieces radially protrude beyond the circumference of the shaft. In order to utilize the PMF process, the forming coil should be brought into close proximity to the deformed workpiece and in this case this means that the forming coil needs to be closely fitted around the shaft. After joining or surface welding of the shaft and the coupling end part, it is not possible, with the prior art methods, to release the coil turnover and the driveshaft. This is the reason, that the PMF process has not yet found a true application in practice in the field of forming of driveshafts.

Apparatus and method for manufacture of a driveshaft by a pulsed magnetic force process


A stepped braking system is used as a function of the required braking torque in this method for maintaining a desired braking torque in a vehicle equipped with stepped and infinitely-variable permanent braking systems whereby simultaneous activation of the stepped and infinitely-variable braking systems occurs in such manner that the sum of the participations of the different systems provides the required braking torque at any time.

In the state of the prior art, nowadays and especially in goods vehicles, permanent braking units (wear-free brake systems) are used to relieve the load on the operating brakes. Permanent braking units can also improve the economy of goods vehicles by allowing higher average speeds (especially on long downhill drives) and by considerably reducing the wear of the brake linings of the operating brakes.
Engine brake systems are used as permanent brakes which, during a thrust operation, produce a braking torque that depends on the gear engaged. In addition, retarder brakes are known to convert kinetic energy into heat energy, which differ in their manner of energy conversion in that with hydrodynamic retarders, the energy is converted by fluid friction and, with electrodynamic retarders, by means of a magnetic field. Retarders act as virtually wear-free permanent brakes, especially for goods vehicles and locomotives, since they have the advantage of converting the energy to be braked into heat without wear over long periods of time.
In hydrodynamic retarders, the energy flow of a fluid is utilized for braking, the physical action principle corresponding to that of a hydrodynamic clutch with fixed turbine. According to this, a hydrodynamic retarder comprises a rotor in the fluid flow path and a stator fixedly attached to the retarder housing. When the retarder is actuated, a quantity of oil corresponding to the desired braking performance is introduced into the turbine blade area, which the rotor impels against the stator so that a braking action is exerted on the rotor.
In electrodynamic retarders, on the other hand, the principle used for braking is that of the action of force in electromagnetic fields. Here, a stator is provided with several energizing coils and attached to the transmission housing. Air-cooled rotors are also provided on the transmission-gear side, which are usually connected to the drive shaft. For braking, the energizing coils are supplied with current. As the rotors pass through the magnetic field, eddy currents are induced which impede the rotary movement of the rotors.
Depending on their arrangement in the drive train, retarders are divided into primary and secondary retarders, primary retarders being arranged on the engine side and secondary retarders on the transmission side. In the present state of the art, electrodynamic retarders are mainly arranged as secondary retarders. This means that primary retarders operate as a function of the engine speed, while secondary retarders operate as a function of the speed of the vehicle.
In addition, permanent braking systems are divided into stepped and infinitely-variable systems; stepped systems are the engine brakes and the electrodynamic retarders. In contrast to the infinitely-variable systems, such as hydrodynamic retarders, the braking performance can only be varied in steps.
Permanent brakes are particularly important in the case when the speed must be kept constant downhill, but this often entails discomfort for the driver.
At lower drive shaft speeds, hydrodynamic secondary retarders have their system limits, i.e., the braking torque produce is no longer sufficient. In addition, with hydrodynamic secondary retarders and, as a rule at high drive shaft speeds, the power is limited or reduced in order to protect the engine cooling system.
Accordingly, the purpose of the present invention is to indicate a method for maintaining a desired braking torque with optimum utilization of the wear-free braking systems of a motor vehicle.
For this, it is proposed to combine the strengths of the available braking systems (e.g., hydrodynamic+electrical secondary retarder, hydrodynamic secondary retarder+engine braking). In this way the weaknesses of the available various respective braking systems can be compensated.

Method for maintaining a desired braking torque


A three-handled snow shovel is disclosed. The shovel includes a first shaft having upper and lower ends defining a longitudinal axis, a shovel blade having top and bottom edges, a concave front side and a convex rear side, a first handle at the upper end of the first shaft defining a first axis, the first handle having a first grip, the first grip capable of rotating about the first axis, a second handle assembly comprising a second shaft and a second grip, wherein the first and second shafts are selectively connected using a first hook and a first eye component and pivotally connected using a second eye component of the second shaft secured to a third eye component secured to the first shaft, and a third shaft connected to the second shaft at a substantially 90-degree angle.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
The concept of two-handled shovels is known in the art. Some two-handled shovel embodiments include accessory handles that attach to the shaft of a conventional shovel. Some embodiments of a two-handled shovel include a second handle or shaft or a flexible cord attached to the juncture of the shovel blade and the shaft allowing the shovel to be used with both hands. The second handle provides the ability to apply extra leverage and force to the shovel in lifting and/or moving the load carried by the shovel. The second handle also permits a person to lift or move a heavier load without having to stoop or bend over and grasp the shovel handle near the blade. In moving snow, for example, the snow may be laden with moisture and be very heavy to move. Moving snow under these conditions can be very strenuous and hard on a person's arms and back.
As two-handled shovels are supported by both hands, each handle of the shovel moves along separate paths or arcs as determined by the length of a person's arms. In some embodiments each hand must turn, at the wrist, in the direction in the shovel is being moved. In one embodiment, one hand will turn inward at the wrist whereas the other will turn outward at the wrist. Rigidity between the handles may cause pain and discomfort if the shovel in the hands and wrists over the course of moving heavy or multiple loads.
In some situations a user of a two-handled shovel would prefer to grip the shovel similar to a conventional one-handled shovel or use one handle of the two-handled shovel. Known two-handled shovels are additionally problematic in in these situations as the auxiliary handle is cumbersome, or otherwise inhibits use of the shovel without being gripped.
It is, therefore, desirable to have a three-handled shovel configured for three-dimensional movement and configured to engage a main shaft when desired by a user.


Mass storage is allocated to a logical server. The logical server is deployed to a real server.

Herein, related art is described to facilitate understanding of the invention. Related art labeled "prior art" is admitted prior art; related art not labeled "prior art" is not admitted prior art.
In most data centers and many other large-scale computing systems, servers communicate with each other over one or more Internet Protocol networks and with mass storage over a storage-array network (SAN). When a new physical or virtual-machine server is deployed, storage must be allocated to it. This can be a time-consuming process, especially where the IP network and the SAN are managed by different people or groups. Often server deployment is delayed until a SAN administrator can attend to a request by the IP network administrator for mass storage to be allocated to servers.

Allocating mass storage to a logical server

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


The present invention provides a spreadable nonfat protein composition comprising an edible nonfat solid, a sweetener in the range of about 40% to 80% percent of total weight of the composition and a sweetness inhibiting amount of the sweetness inhibiting agent (.+-.)2-(4-methoxyphenoxy)-propanoate or salts thereof. The spreadable nonfat protein composition can be used to create a variety of nonfat edible foodstuffs.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an edible foodstuff, more specifically a spreadable nonfat protein composition that is shelf stable.
2. Description of Related Art
Heart disease continues to be a leading health problem in modern societies. The typical modem diet contains large quantities of saturated fat and cholesterol derived from the high amount of fat found in typical processed foods. A diet with an increased intake of fat can raise total blood cholesterol above recommended levels and a high fat intake has also been demonstrated to raise the level of the deleterious form of cholesterol known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Total blood cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dl and those in which LDL is abnormally elevated significantly increase one's health risk contributing to coronary heart disease and decreased lifespan. By decreasing the intake of dietary fat, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels can be reduced thereby improving health and increasing longevity.
One means to maintain recommended levels of dietary cholesterol and fat is to eat fewer fatty foods. Eating less fat is also the best way to lose body fat. However, many consumers believe that following a healthy low-fat diet means a lifestyle of self-deprivation because nonfat or lowfat foods are perceived to be unappealing. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a food that combined the consumer appeal of high fat foods (i.e., qualities such as taste and texture) without the high fat content. Nonfat or low-fat foods which are not perceived as bland or boring would be beneficial as part of a healthy, reduced fat diet. It would be highly desirable to provide a non- or low-fat protein composition for use in a variety of foodstuffs having a total fat content about 1% to about less than 10%. Additionally, it would be preferably to have such a composition be spreadable given the large number of consumer foodstuffs having this characteristic.


A single-cable drum-type conveying installation with a cable drum driven by a winch drive, includes a cable-monitoring device, a conveying device, which hangs freely on a conveying cable, and an intermediate harness connecting the conveying cable to the conveying device. The cable-monitoring device includes a load-measuring pin, as a constituent part of the intermediate harness, and also a transmission path along which a measuring signal received from the load-measuring pin is transmitted to an evaluation device. The evaluation device is designed for evaluating the measuring signal such that, in the case of the measuring signal jumping by an extent which exceeds a certain amount, a malfunction is detected.

The invention relates to a single-cable drum-type conveying installation with a cable drum which is driven by a winch drive. The installation comprises a cable-monitoring device, a conveying means which hangs freely from a conveying cable, and an intermediate harness which is configured to connect the conveying cable to the conveying means. Furthermore, the invention relates to a cable-monitoring method for a single-cable drum-type conveying installation.
Single-cable drum-type conveying installations are used as inspection units, auxiliary conveying installations and emergency conveying installations in mining. Irrespective of whether the single-cable drum-type conveying installation is operated in a stationary fashion or as a mobile installation, it must satisfy the technical requirements which are made of shaft hoisting systems and inclined hoisting systems (TAS). Accordingly, drum-type conveying installations have to be equipped with a suitable hanging cable-monitoring device which detects sticking of the conveying means over the entire travel path. It must be possible to re-start the conveying installation after the monitoring device has responded.
Monitoring of the hanging cable during operation of the drum-type conveying installation is necessary since there is the risk of the conveying means becoming stuck in the shaft during the downward travel. If this sticking is not noticed, more and more conveying cable is unwound from the cable drum and the so-called hanging cable is formed. If the conveying means becomes detached, it falls away and the conveying cable would probably be torn off. If persons are located in the conveying means (conveying basket), a serious accident occurs.
DE 297 15 349 U1 discloses hanging cable monitoring devices in which a reel which is coupled to a switch is positioned on the obliquely running section of the cable between the cable drum and the cable pulley on the conveyor. If this cable section sags owing to a hanging cable formation, the switch is activated and a malfunction is detected. The drive of the cable drum is switched off and an emergency braking operation is initiated. Such monitoring of a hanging cable does not react until the conveying means has already become obliquely positioned. If the conveying means is located in the lower shaft region, the weight of the cable is so large that the monitoring device does not respond at all. For this reason, this monitoring of the hanging cable is usually supplemented by a second monitoring device in the region of the conveying means.
A further possibility of monitoring a hanging cable is for a contact strip to be attached to the underside of the conveying means, which strip detects setting down of the basket. However, the contact strip does not respond if the conveying means becomes stuck on the side walls.
Furthermore, it is known to carry out monitoring of a hanging cable by means of a load measurement on the winch drive. A disadvantage of this monitoring of the hanging cable is that in order to measure the hanging load the bent length of the hanging cable and the weight of the cable have to be taken into account.
EP 0 068 683 B1 discloses a single-cable drum-type conveying installation comprising a monitoring of a hanging cable during which, in one embodiment, travel sensors for monitoring the cable load are arranged in such a way that the loading is measured at a connection between the conveying cable end and the conveying basket. The load signals are transmitted to an evaluation device by means of signal means. If the load signals drop below a predetermined value, a conveying machine trigger signal is generated.

Drum-type conveying installation with cable-monitoring device


A method and a burner for combustion in a heating furnace of a fuel with an oxidant in the form of oxygen gas, wherein fuel and oxidant are supplied to a burner head. Fuel and oxidant, respectively, are injected via the burner head through at least two pairs of nozzles, wherein one nozzle pair is defined by a separate fuel nozzle and a separate oxidant nozzle. The nozzles of the nozzle pairs are uniformly distributed over the furnace-interior-facing surface of the burner and within the circumference of the burner head. An oxidant nozzle is provided on each side of a fuel nozzle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and to a burner for burning of oxygen, and more particularly for use with heating furnaces.
2. Description of the Related Art
Normally, when hydrocarbons are burned in combination with oxidants having a high oxygen content, flame temperatures within the furnace exceed 2000° C. and furnace atmospheres with very high partial pressures of carbon dioxide and water vapor are present. That condition also gives rise to drawbacks, such as high NOx content and problems of local overheating.
There is a strong desire to provide burners that have emission-lowering properties.
In Swedish patent application number 0402223-2, a method is disclosed for burning a fuel with an oxidant in a heating furnace, wherein the fuel and the oxidant are supplied to a burner head. According to that application, in a first step fuel and oxidant are discharged from the burner head close to each other, so that the combustion essentially takes place close to and up to a certain distance from the burner head. Combustion proceeds until a temperature exceeding the auto ignition temperature of the fuel is reached inside the furnace, after which the fuel and the oxidant, in a second step, are instead discharged from the burner head at a distance from each other. Consequently, the combustion essentially takes place at a distance from the burner head at least as large as the diameter of the burner head, and outwardly from the burner.
According to that application, the intent is to lower the oxygen content in the combustion zone through separation, high pressure, and optimized positioning of the nozzles, even though the oxidant has an oxygen content of more than 80%. That is accomplished by the use of a nozzle configuration that gives rise to a large underpressure over those surfaces of the nozzle that do not have nozzles for the medium. Because of the underpressure, flue gases are sucked in from the furnace atmosphere and are rapidly and turbulently mixed with the out-flowing media. The mixture medium, i.e., the furnace atmosphere, typically has an oxygen content of 0.5-10%. The remaining gas is CO2, H2O, and N2 in various amounts.
Since the CO2, H2O, and N2 do not actively take part in the combustion, those compounds act as a "combustion brake." The dilution of the oxygen and the fuel is very extensive, and oxygen rates during the combustion typically reach 7-15%, despite the use of pure oxygen gas.
The present invention is directed to overcoming those problems.

Method and burner for burning with oxygen


Bagging machines for bagging agricultural, compost, or other materials into an elongate bag for storage and/or composting are disclosed. The bagging machines include a mobile frame, a hopper, a rotary packing apparatus, and a material forming enclosure. The bagging machine is adapted to move forward as the loose material is packed into the bag against the closed end thereof. The bagging machines also may include a packing density measurement system including an anchor assembly and a force measurement assembly. The anchor assembly is adapted to be operatively coupled to the bagging machine and to engage packed material within the material forming enclosure. The anchor assembly engaging the packed material is adapted to apply an anchoring force to the bagging machine against the forward movement thereof. The force measurement assembly is operatively coupled to the anchor assembly and adapted to measure the anchoring force applied to the bagging machine.

Agricultural feed bagging machines have been employed for several years to fill, pack, or bag silage or the like into elongate plastic bags. In these conventional bagging machines, silage or the like is supplied to the forward or intake end of the bagging machine and is fed to a rotor that conveys the silage into a tunnel on which the bag is positioned so that the bag is filled. As silage is loaded into the bag, the bagging machine moves away from the filled end of the bag due to the back pressure applied by the packed material against the machine. These machines included a pair of drums rotatably mounted on the bagging machine with a brake associated therewith for braking, or resisting, the rotation of the drum with a selected brake force. A cable or chain was wrapped around the drum and was released with rotation of the drum. A backstop structure was disposed at the closed end of the agricultural bag and was coupled to the bagging machine via the chains or cables to resist the movement of the bagging machine away from the filled end of the agricultural bag as silage was forced into the bag.
In more recent bagging machines, a variety of density control assemblies, which included one or more cables, have been positioned in the flow of the silage material being bagged. In order to vary the density of the material in the machine, more or fewer cables would be employed based on the material being packed. For example, corn silage flows easy and would require more cables. Similarly, alfalfa packs hard and would require fewer cables. In other bagging machines, a single cable forming a loop has been employed with adjustment mechanisms allowing a user to lengthen or shorten the loop behind the bagging machine. In still other bagging machines, one or more ends of the loop have been coupled to movable trolleys to allow a user to adjust the configuration of the cable loop, such as by widening or narrowing the cable loop, during the bagging operation to adjustably control the packing density.
More recently, additional variations on the density control theme have included inflatable anchors or otherwise adjustable anchors suspended from one or more cables. Other variations include drag members disposed under the bagged material. Additionally, In U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,194, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, the inventor of the present disclosure described an adjustable density control means including a screw anchor.
Control of the packing density during the bagging operation is important because a single bag may include material having different properties that packs differently. For example, a single bag may be several hundred feet long and may be packed with agricultural material, such as alfalfa, from all parts of a farm or region. The alfalfa is brought to the bagging machine in a number of separate loads, some of which may be wetter than others or some of which may include alfalfa cut longer than the alfalfa in other loads. The wet alfalfa or long alfalfa will pack more densely in a given bagging machine configuration than will dry or short alfalfa. Accordingly, a user may prefer to adjust the configuration of the density control apparatus in accordance with the material properties of the material being packed. Unfortunately, the extent and impact of the differences between the materials is rarely known until the material is packed into the bag and the packing density difference only evidences itself as loose packing or a bagging machine that is stuck due to the unexpectedly dense packing.
Previous bagging machines with adjustable density control apparatus allowed the user to control the packing density during operation based on their visual perception of the exterior of the bag and their sense for how hard the machine was working to pack additional material into the bag. Moreover, in many of the previous configurations, once a need to adjust the density control apparatus configuration was identified, it often took several feet of packing distance before the desired change was completed. For example, if the forward end of a cable loop is narrowed, the rearward end will trend narrower as it moves forward but it will not be as narrow as the forward end for at least several inches, if not several feet, of bagging machine movement. Therefore, there are at least three areas where inaccuracy or delay can be introduced into the packing operation resulting in material packed at a density other than the desired packing density. For example, the operator may be slow or inaccurate in observing changes in the packing density, the operator may be slow or inaccurate in executing the necessary commands or steps necessary to effect the change in the density control apparatus configuration, and/or the density control apparatus may introduce inherent delays between initiation of the configuration change and completion of the configuration change. Depending on the circumstances, that inaccuracy or delay may lead to undesirable loose packing for several inches or feet of the bag length or may cause the machine to become stalled due to the resistance force being greater than the available forward driving force. The loosely packed material wastes available storage space and may decrease the storage quality. A stalled machine interrupts the bagging operation and wastes many resources trying to free the machine from the packed bag and restarting the bagging operation. A bagging machine that provides for greater control over the packing density is described herein.

Bagging machines and methods for adjustably controlling packing density


A coherent adaptive subcarrier modulation system applies subcarrier modulation to quadrature modulated signals with constant envelope modulation suitable for efficient sinewave and squarewave subcarrier modulations. The quadrature subcarrier enables the addition of new signals to the in-phase and quadrature phase signals with spectral isolation in the Global Position System while maintaining a constant envelop amplitude.

Due to the limited availability of spectrum allocations for communications systems, it has become desirable to reuse existing spectrum by employing bandwidth efficient modulation methods to existing satellite communications systems. In particular, it has become desirable to add new signals to existing quadrature multiplexed spread-spectrum communication signals, such as the signals employed in the Global Positioning System (GPS), within the existing spectral allocation. As the number of users of a given communication system increases, it is often desirable to augment the system with additional communication signals. One method that has been used to achieve this goal in timing, telemetry and command links is conventional subcarrier phase modulation. Furthermore, it is often necessary to modulate new signals onto existing quadrature multiplexed communication systems within the existing spectral allocation. It is desirable that any such approach satisfy various constraints, including causing minimal distortion of existing signals, transmitting new signals through the same high power amplifier used by existing signals, accommodating new data messages and new pseudo random noise (PRN) code families for spread-spectrum systems, providing flexibility to control the spectral separation of signals within the allocated band, and providing flexibility to control the distribution of energy in and outside of the allocated band. Unfortunately, for an existing quadrature-multiplexed communication systems having data modulations on both the I and Q channels, that is, the in-phase channel with zero degree phase offset from the carrier, and the quadrature channel with ninety degree phase offset from the carrier, adding another signal slightly offset in frequency gives rise to a non-constant envelope that causes distortion to the existing signals when the total waveform is passed through a non-linear amplifier. For non-quadrature-multiplexed communication systems, the subcarrier modulation method has been employed to permit the realization of a constant-envelope modulation. Unfortunately, a general approach for applying the subcarrier modulation method to quadrature-modulated communication systems has not been previously developed.
GPS is undergoing a transformation with the Block IIF satellite. This redefinition of GPS from a military service with the guarantee of civil use to a true dual service is one of the GPS modernization goals. The transformation started out as a modest upgrade that involved a new civil L5 frequency and a military acquisition signal at the L2 frequency but has evolved into a complement of new signals at L1 and L2 frequencies for enhanced military and civil use. It is desirable to design and choose optimum M-code military signals and signal modulation methods that achieve better than current performances without degrading the existing signals. Under consideration are two classes of signals, the Manchester code signals and the binary offset carrier signals. These signals result from modulation of a non-return to zero pseudo random noise spreading code by a square-wave subcarrier. The Manchester code signal is a special case where the bit rate of the spreading code and the frequency of the square-wave are the same. It is also equivalent to a Manchester encoded PRN code. The binary offset carrier signal has been defined as encompassing all the other cases where the rate of the spreading code is less than the subcarrier frequency. These signals share the characteristic of conventional subcarrier modulation that the waveform exhibits a null at the carrier frequency due to the square-wave subcarrier, and therefore, can allow for the transmission of the new GPS military M-codes along with the course acquisition C/A-codes, and precision P(Y) codes, where (Y) denotes the encrypted form of the P-code. One of the key challenges for a new signal scheme for the GPS transmitter is to transmit the C/A, P(Y), and M-code signals using a flexible efficient, constant envelope modulation method, compatible with goals of the GPS modernization.
To this end, it is desirable to develop a general high-efficiency constant-envelope subcarrier modulation approach to enable quadrature multiplexing of an M-code signal or signals onto the L1 and L2 GPS carriers that is applicable to both a combined-aperture for transmitting C/A, P(Y), and M-code signals through the same upconverter and amplifier chain and antenna, and a separate-aperture for transmitting M-code signals out of a separate upconverter, amplifier chain and antenna from C/A and P(Y) signals without resulting in significant signal loss due to inefficient signal modulation methods. The current Block II and Block IIR satellites employ constant-envelope quadrature multiplexing of two bi-phase modulated ranging code signals at the GPS L1 frequency, namely the C/A code and P(Y) code. The baseline Block IIF satellite will also transmit these signals on both the GPS L1 and L2 frequencies, along with the new military signals.
The new M-code signal consists of the product of a military data modulation multiplied by a spreading code modulation. Previously proposed approaches for augmenting the existing GPS waveform, with a new split-spectrum M-code signal, such as the tri-code hexaphase modulation method, involve the linear addition of a single new M-code signal on to the existing GPS waveform. These approaches multiplex the additional signal with an existing I/Q quadrature modulation by adding a third signal to one of the I and Q phases. Unfortunately, this gives rise to the undesirable non-constant envelope, that is, a variable amplitude. For this case, the envelope of the composite signal is no longer constant due to the presence of the time-varying amplitude component in addition to the constant component of the envelope. This result is undesirable because the amplitude variations will give rise to AM-to-AM and AM-to-PM distortions when the signal is passed through a nonlinear amplifier unless the operating point of the amplifier is backed off from its saturation point to the linear region of amplifier operation. Such a back off can result in appreciable power losses.
During the course of the GPS military signal development study, a number of M-code signal modulation methods have been proposed. Two of the leading approaches were hard-limiting the sum of the C/A, P and M-code signals, and majority voting. The hard-limiting approach involves forcing the non-constant envelope waveform resulting from the sum of C/A and M on one carrier phase and P on the other, to be constant by limiting the amplitude variation to a minimum value. This technique results in significant signal power loss and distortion for the case of equal C/A and M-code power levels as is the case for hard-limited tri-code hexaphase modulation method. Furthermore, the exact efficiency is critically related to the power balance between C/A, P(Y) and M-code signals and the desired balance between signals is not easy to achieve. An alternative approach to combining M-code with C/A and P(Y) code signals is through majority vote combining. In the majority vote approach, signals are time multiplexed, that is, time-shared, on either I or Q phases to allow multiple signals to be transmitted in a single constant envelope. The disadvantage of this approach results from the relatively large majority combining loss per code in combination, assuming equal power levels for all codes in the majority combination. Furthermore, it is difficult to control the relative power levels of the combined signals without incurring additional combining losses.
Conventional subcarrier modulation has been recognized as a means to modulate additional signals onto a modulated carrier signal while maintaining a constant envelope. The Space-Ground-Link Subsystem for example, employs three subcarriers that are phase-modulated onto a carrier signal to enable the modulation of four signals, including one carrier modulation and three subcarrier modulations. The classical subcarrier approach, applied to non-quadrature-multiplexed communication systems, involves the phase-modulation of a carrier signal by one or more periodic subcarriers that are typically sine-wave, square-wave or triangle-wave signals. In this classical subcarrier approach, the range of the phase modulation is determined by a so-called modulation index, usually controlled by the gain of the phase modulator. In conventional subcarrier systems, cross-product intermodulation components of the waveform are interpreted as signal losses. A variation of conventional subcarrier modulation applicable to augmenting the existing GPS signals with new M-code signals is desirable due to the inefficiency of the previously proposed M-code signal combining techniques, that is, signal modulation methods.
An alternative combining method has been proposed to add the new M-code signals by spatially combining the new M-code signal with the C/A and P(Y) code signals by transmitting the new M-code signals through a separate antenna and amplifier chain. While this approach would, in principal, allow for the transmission of C/A-codes and P(Y)-codes within the M-code, the simplification in modulator design is more than offset by the impact on the satellite when adding an independent antenna and amplifier chain. Due to potential implementation difficulties with the separate-aperture approach, and a requirement to efficiently transmit the new M-code signals with world-wide coverage, the more challenging problem of transmitting these signals is the development of a general modulation approach to enable the transmission of these signals through a single modulator, upconverter, power amplifier chain and antenna aperture.
The leading modulation methods, that have been proposed thus far to achieve this end, have a maximum efficiency limited to roughly seventy-one percent in the allocated GPS spectral band. Efficiency is defined as the sum of the effective transmitter power after reception plus any band limiting losses and other losses associated with this sum divided by the total transmitted power. At the same time, the leading approaches with the highest efficiency restrict options available to optimize the waveform by transmitting a single M-code signal used for both acquisition and tracking.
These single M-code approaches include tri-code hexaphase, hard-limited tri-code hexaphase, majority vote code multiplexing, and offset carrier and binary offset carrier modulations. The tri-code hexaphase, offset carrier and binary offset carrier modulation approaches have a non-constant envelope. As a result, these approaches cause distortion to existing signals when the total waveform is passed through a non-linear amplifier. The majority vote modulation approach employs a constant envelope but does not provide significant spectral separation and has limited inherent flexibility in adjusting the amplitude of generated harmonics. The majority vote modulation approach also suffers from majority combining losses that results in relatively poor overall power efficiency. The same is true for the hard-limited tri-code hexaphase modulation method.
The transmission of both data and spreading code modulations in a quadrature-multiplexed communication channel is well known. Conventional quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) direct-sequence spread spectrum modulation schemes generally employ spreading sequences on the in-phase and quadrature channels. The modulation of unspread data is a special case. For GPS L1 or L2 carriers modulated by codes and data, a carrier signal is modulated by codes and data in a conventional quadrature modulated communication signal as S0(t) in terms of the in-phase I0(t) and quadrature Q0(t) signals. The signal S0(t) can express GPS L1 and L2 carriers modulated by C/A and P codes and data in a conventional quadrature modulation communication method in terms of an S0(t)Q0/I0 equation with respect to an I0 equation and a Q0 equation.S0(t)=I0(t)Cos(ωCt)−Q0(t)Sin(ωCt)
            I      0                  (      t      )        =                              2                                P            I                                    P          T                                        D        I                          (        t        )                                C        I                          (        t        )
            Q      0                  (      t      )        =                              2                                P            Q                                    P          T                                        D        Q                          (        t        )                                C        Q                          (        t        )
The CI(t) and DI(t) terms are the in-phase pseudo random noise spreading code and data modulation, and CQ(t) and DQ(t) are the quadrature pseudo random noise spreading code and data modulations. PI and PQ are the average power of the I and Q signals in relation to total power PT.
The signal S0(t) may also be expressed in an S0(t)A0/φ equation. An A0(t) magnitude equation describes the envelope form where A0(t) is the magnitude envelope of S0(t). A φ(t) equation describes the phase of S0(t).S0(t)=A0(t)Cos(ωCt+φ(t))
            A      0                  (      t      )        =                                          I            0            2                                          (            t            )                          +                              Q            0            2                                          (            t            )                                =                                        2                                      (                                                P                  I                                +                                  P                  Q                                            )                                            P            T                              =      CONSTANT
      ϕ              (      t      )        =                    Tan                  -          1                                                        Q            0                                          (            t            )                                                I            0                                          (            t            )                                =                  Tan                  -          1                                                                      P              Q                                      P              I                                      ·                                                            D                Q                                                          (                t                )                                                                                C                Q                                                          (                t                )                                                                                D                I                                                          (                t                )                                                                                C                I                                                          (                t                )
The total average power may be described by a PTF equation for the signal S0(t) that can be expressed by the magnitude of the envelope squared divided by two, in reference to identity equations based on the square of the CI and CQ code signals and the DI and DQ data signals.
      P    TF    =                    A        0        2            2        =                                        I            0            2                    +                      Q            0            2                          2            =                                    P            I                    +                      P            Q                                    P          T                    CI(t)2=CQ(t)2=DI(t)2=DQ(t)2=1
Conventional approaches to multiplexing additional signals with an existing I/Q quadrature modulation involve adding a third signal to one of the two I or Q phases. Unfortunately, this gives rise to the undesirable non-constant envelope characteristic. A signal can be linearly added to the I phase of the baseband waveform modulated onto the same carrier as the existing I/Q signals. For this case, the magnitude envelope of the signal A0(t) is no longer constant due to presence of the time-varying component of A(t) in addition to the constant component of A0(t). This result is undesirable because the amplitude variations will give rise to amplitude modulation to amplitude modulation (AM-to-AM), and amplitude modulation to phase modulation (AM-to-PH) distortions when the signal is passed through a nonlinear amplifier. These and other disadvantages are solved or reduced using the invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Quadrature product subcarrier modulation system


A local computing device is connected to a remote computing device over a network. A user provides input to a local input component of the local computing device. The output of the local input component is converted into a form that is capable of being received as input by the remote computing device even if the local input component is not supported by the remote computing device. As one example, the local input component may be a bar code scanner which produces bar code output that is converted into text for input into a text field on the remote computing device, thereby enabling the remote computing device to receive input from a bar code scanner even if the remote computing device does not support the bar code scanner.

Various systems exist for using a mobile computing device to browse the World Wide Web using web browser software that executes on the mobile computing device. For example, a version of the Safari web browser that is designed for use on the Apple iPhone may be used to browse the web using an iPhone. One of the reasons that mobile computing devices, especially handheld computing devices, typically browse the web using web browsers that have been designed specifically for use on mobile computing devices is so that the browser may interact accurately and efficiently with the particular input and output devices (such as a touchscreen and/or limited keyboard) that are embedded within and/or locally attached to the mobile computing device.
One problem with using web browser software that executes on a mobile computing device is that such software typically does not include all of the features that are included in web browser software that executes on a desktop computer, laptop computer, or other more power, non-mobile, computer. For example, the version of the Safari web browser that executes on desktop computers is capable of displaying multimedia content (such as YouTube videos) using Adobe Flash technology, whereas the versions of the Safari web browser that execute on the iPad, iPhone, and other iOS devices are not capable of displaying multimedia content using Adobe Flash technology. As a result, users of mobile devices cannot use the Safari web browser to view and interact with multimedia content using Adobe Flash technology, despite the popularity of such content and the desirability of providing users with the ability to interact with such content.
One solution to this problem is to provide the mobile computing device with special-purpose applications (sometimes referred to as "apps"), such as a YouTube application, that is capable of rendering multimedia content using Adobe Flash technology or otherwise providing an equivalent experience to the user. Although such solutions may enable the user to interact with the desired multimedia content, one drawback of such solutions is that they impose additional burdens on end users by requiring them to install, maintain, and use multiple applications to interact with a variety of content, instead of using a single web browser to interact with all such content.
One solution to the problem described above is to provide the mobile computing device with remote desktop software, such as the GoToMyPC software available from Citrix Systems. In this scenario, the user of the mobile computing device installs GoToMyPC software on the user's personal desktop computer. The user also installs GoToMyPC software on the user's mobile computing device. The user then executes the GoToMyPC software on the user's mobile computing device to access the user's personal desktop computer over the Internet. The GoToMyPC software displays the contents of the user's personal desktop computer screen on the screen of the user's mobile computing device. Furthermore, the GoToMyPC software transmits any input (such as keyboard input) received by the mobile device from the user to the user's personal desktop computer. In this way, the GoToMyPC software enables the user to use the mobile device to remotely control the user's personal desktop computer.
Using such a system, the user can use the mobile device to cause the user's personal desktop computer to execute the desktop version of a web browser such as Safari and to display multimedia content, such as YouTube videos, using Adobe Flash technology. The GoToMyPC software transmits the results of rendering the multimedia content to the mobile computing device and produces output representing the multimedia content, such as in the form of video and/or audio, on the mobile computing device. Such a system, therefore, provides the user with the experience of interacting with multimedia content on the mobile computing device even though the mobile computing device itself is not capable of executing the Adobe Flash software and/or other software that is necessary to render such content directly on the mobile computing device.
Using remote desktop software, such as GoToMyPC, to enable a mobile computing device to render multimedia content remotely via a desktop computer presents a variety of disadvantages. For example, the mobile computing device may include or otherwise be connected to local input components and/or output components ("I/O components") that are not contained within or otherwise locally connected to the remote desktop computer. Such differences in the I/O components that are connected to the mobile computing device and the remote desktop computer may prevent the user from using certain I/O components of the mobile computing device or cause such I/O components to produce undesirable results when used in connection with the remote desktop computing via the remote desktop software.
What is needed, therefore, are improved techniques for enabling mobile computing devices to use resources of remote computers over a network.

Remote computing device use of unsupported local computing device components


Provided is a white organic light emitting device which can improve abnormal light emission and efficiency and reliability of the device.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting device, and more particularly, to a white organic light emitting device which can improve abnormal light emission.
Description of the Related Art
In recent years, as the world entered the information age, the field of display devices for visually displaying electrical information signals has developed rapidly. Thus, various flat panel display devices have developed in the areas of, such as thinning, weight lightening, and consuming low power.
Specific examples of the flat panel display devices include a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) device, a Plasma Display Panel (PDP) device, a Field Emission Display (FED) device, and an Organic Light Emitting Display (OLED) device.
In particular, the OLED device is a self-light emitting device that has a high response time, a high emission efficiency, a high luminance, and a wide viewing angle as compared with the other flat panel display devices.
An organic light emitting device includes an organic emitting layer between two electrodes. An electron and a hole are injected into the organic emitting layer from the two electrodes and an exciton is formed by combining the electron and hole. Further, the organic light emitting device uses a principle in which a light is emitted when the exciton makes transitions from an excited state to a ground state.
The OLED device does not need a separate light source unlike a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and, thus, the OLED device can be manufactured into a lightweight and thin form. Further, the OLED device is advantageous in terms of power consumption since it is driven with a low voltage. Also, the OLED device has excellent color expression ability, a high response time, a wide viewing angle, and a high contrast ratio (CR). Therefore, the OLED device is regarded as a next-generation display device.
As high-resolution display devices develop, the demand for higher number of pixels per unit area and a higher luminance has been increased. However, in a light emitting structure of the OLED device, there is a limitation in luminance per unit area. Also, an increase in driving voltage causes a decrease in the reliability of an organic light emitting device and an increase in power consumption.
Accordingly, it is necessary to overcome the limitations in emission efficiency and lifespan of an organic light emitting device that hinder a quality and productivity of the OLED device. Thus, various studies for developing an organic light emitting device capable of improving emission efficiency and a lifespan have been conducted.

Abstract: A white organic light emitting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a first light emitting unit including a first emitting layer between a first electrode and a second electrode; a second light emitting unit including a second emitting layer on the first light emitting unit; and a charge generation layer between the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit, and a volume of a metal in the charge generation layer is 1.0% or less of the total volume of the charge generation layer.


A light guide plate including a first substrate, a second substrate opposite to the first substrate, a plurality of first microstructures, a plurality of second microstructures, and a plurality of third microstructures is provided. The first substrate has a light emitting surface, a first bottom surface, and a light incidence surface. The second substrate has a top surface and a second bottom surface. The top surface is located between the first substrate and the second bottom surface. The first microstructures and the second microstructures are disposed on the light emitting surface and the second bottom surface respectively and extend along a first direction parallel to the light incidence surface respectively. The third microstructures are connected between the first bottom surface and the top surface and extend along a second direction perpendicular to the light incidence surface respectively. A light source module is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to an optical element and an optical module, and particularly relates to a light guide plate and a light source module.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally speaking, light source modules may be divided into direct-type light source modules and edge-type light source module according to different positions where the light source is disposed. Taking an edge-type light source module as an example, the light source is usually disposed at a side edge of the light guide plate, which makes light beams emitted from the light source enter the light guide plate from the side edge of the light guide plate.
In the edge-type light source module, two prism sheets and two diffusers are usually disposed on a light emitting surface of the light guide plate to increase luminance as well as uniformity of light emission. However, due to factors such as materials or surface properties of the optical sheets, the optical sheets tend to absorb or scatter a part of the light beams and consequently result in loss of light quantity to a certain extent. Therefore, the optical efficiency of the light source module is unable to be improved effectively. In particular, when the light beams are transmitted to the prism sheets, parts of the light beams are unable to be used effectively due to Fresnel reflection. Thus, how to effectively improve the optical efficiency is certainly an issue for the researchers in this field.

Light guide plate and light source module


A method and apparatus for installing a seal cap. The seal cap may be adhered to a fastener element using a material. A portion of the material may be squeezed out as excess material in response to adhering the seal cap to the fastener element. A number of projections associated with the seal cap may be moved along an interface formed between the seal cap and an object in which the fastener element has been installed. The excess material may be faired using the number of projections as the number of projections is moved along the interface between the seal cap and the object.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to seal caps and, in particular, to the installation of seal caps. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for fairing sealant that squeezes out of a seal cap during installation of the seal cap.
2. Background
Seal caps may be used to cover and seal fastener elements such as, for example, without limitation, screws and bolts. Typically, a seal cap may be installed over a fastener element by applying a sealant material within a cap and then placing the cap over the head of the fastener element. In some cases, the cap may be referred to as the seal cap. In other cases, the cap and the sealant material may together form a seal cap.
During installation, the cap and the sealant material may be pressed down over the fastener element to ensure that the sealant material adheres to and fully covers the fastener element. However, oftentimes, excess sealant material may squeeze out around the cap when the cap and the sealant material within the cap are placed over the fastener element and pressed downwards. The excess sealant material around the cap may be undesirable. For example, without limitation, seal caps may be used for an object in which multiple fastener elements have been installed.
Excess sealant material may reduce the aesthetic appeal of the object into which the fastener element has been installed. Further, the excess sealant material may increase the weight of the object more than desired. In some cases, excess sealant material may separate and become foreign object debris. For example, without limitation, when used inside a fuel tank, the flow of the fuel within the fuel tank may cause some of the excess sealant material to break apart and form undesired debris within the fuel tank.
Consequently, fairing the excess sealant material such that the excess sealant material has a desired shape and/or thickness around the seal cap may be desirable. As used herein, "fairing" may mean smoothing out, rounding out, and/or rubbing.
With some currently available methods for installing seal caps, excess sealant material that squeezes out of a seal cap may be faired by hand. However, this process may be more time-consuming than desired. When an object comprises multiple fastener elements over which seal caps are to be installed, the time needed to smooth out this excess sealant material may increase production times and/or costs for the object more than desired. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a method and apparatus that take into account at least some of the issues discussed above, as well as other possible issues.


A transcutaneous uterine contraction inhibiting device comprises a first plurality electrode positioned on an anterior side of an abdomen of a patient, a second plurality electrode positioned on the anterior side, and an electric current generator establishing electric current flow between the first plurality electrode and the second plurality electrode. The first plurality electrode is positioned above an upper portion of the uterus and extends laterally across the uterus. The second plurality electrode is positioned on a mid to lower portion of the uterus and also extends laterally across it. Further, a feedback unit can be provided for generating a signal indicative of any uterine contractions. The electric current generator then establishes an electric current in response to the signal from the feedback unit.

Electrical apparatuses for transcutaneous, i.e., through the skin, control of muscles and nerves in the human body are generally well known. Such apparatuses are commonly used on striated muscle to treat tissue injury or to control pain. For treatment, injured striated muscles are electrically stimulated to maintain tone, size, and strength. Electrical stimulation can also be used to promote the healing of injured tissue by facilitating the transport of nutrients and release toxins. Pain control is obtained by stimulating the nerve to block out pain.
For muscle injury healing, many types of apparatuses are available. Power muscle apparatuses to maintain striated muscle tone and strength are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,976,264, 4,996,987, and 5,048,522 to Petrofsky. U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,833 to Campos teaches further refinements of the technique by using variations of the pulse forms.
Similar techniques have been disclosed for pain relief: U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,605 to Rossen reverses electrical polarity for pain relief, U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,223 to Charters (1990) varies amplitude to make the treatment more tolerable.
Tissue healing is another application of this technology. U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,413 to McLeod (1991) induces an electrical voltage in tissue specifically bone, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,154 to Bartelt (1990) teaches voltage inducement in soft tissue.
The teachings of these prior art devices and methods can be generally summarized as follows. They are generally applied on striated, skeletal, muscle and not smooth muscle. Further, they are used essentially to stimulate or increase activity and tone and not to inhibit or decrease activity and tone since relatively short electrical pulses are used, regardless of the variations in pattern, which tend to stimulate muscle activity. The transcutaneous nerve stimulator, TENS, that stimulate nerves to increase the pain threshold also use relatively short electrical pulses. Again their main focus is not smooth muscle but nerves. Finally, the prior art devices and methods utilize a constant voltage devices even through any effect is dependant on the various tissue resistances encountered

Transcutaneous electric muscle/nerve controller/feedback unit


An oil filter for an internal combustion engine with a cup-shaped housing that is releasably connectable to a receiving head. The housing has a first interlocking element that extends across at least a portion of the outer circumference of the housing and is interrupted by at least one axially extending recess. The filter element has a liquid-tight canister provided on its outer surface with second interlocking elements, which fit into the recesses of corresponding first interlocking elements when the filter element is installed in the housing.

The present invention relates to a liquid filter system, preferably an oil filter for an internal combustion engine, comprising a cup-shaped housing that is releasably connectable to a receiving head and a filter element disposed inside the housing.
Two types of fluid filters, particularly oil filters for internal combustion engines, are known in the art. On the one hand, so-called spin-on filters are used. A spin-on filter has a cup-shaped housing, a filter element non-releasably disposed therein, and a threaded end plate. The cup-shaped housing is made of metal, so that it can withstand the pressure pulsation occurring in the interior of the filter during operation of the internal combustion engine. The spin-on filter is screwed onto a receiving flange, or directly onto the engine block of the internal combustion engine, and during servicing is completely replaced with a new spin-on filter. This filter system has drawbacks, however, resulting from the material mix of the filter, because a mixture of plastics, paper, and metal must be disposed of, and separation of the various materials for disposal is problematic.
On the other hand, so-called oil modules are known in the art, in which a filter element is releasably disposed in a preferably cup-shaped housing and can likewise be screwed onto a receiving head disposed in the circuit by means of this housing. For servicing, only the metal-free filter cartridge needs to be replaced, whereas the cup-shaped housing is a lifetime component.
German Utility Model No. 200 04 31 U1 discloses a liquid filter with a bypass valve. A hollow cylindrical filter element is releasably disposed within a cup-shaped housing, and the cup-shaped housing is screwed into a connection head. A support tube, which receives the bypass valve, is disposed concentrically within the interior of the filter element. The drawback here lies in the changing of the filter element. There is a risk that the immediate surroundings of the oil filter element may be contaminated because the oil-soaked filter medium still contains a residual amount of oil, which may drip as the filter element is replaced. A further drawback is that the hands of the service personnel may become soiled by the direct contact with the oil-soaked filter element.
Another drawback is that it is not clear without closer inspection during installation of the outer housing whether a filter element is installed at all. This can be determined only by looking at the open underside of the housing, but in most cases this side has to be mounted face down, is inaccessible in an engine compartment, hidden, etc.


A golf putter useful for training a golfer in improving putting skills includes a club head which is dimensioned in a lateral direction to the club shaft and balanced with the shaft so as to permit the head to lie flat upon a playing surface with the club shaft standing upright while unattended. Alignment marks or a detachable alignment guide permit the golfer to observe the alignment of the club face or a hole with respect to a golf ball, while the club is unattended with the shaft inclined at a substantial angle from the vertical.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to golf clubs, and in particular relates to a golfing putter and method for training and improving putting skills.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known that putting makes up a large percentage of a golfer's total score, which is highlighted by the fact that every golf course is designed with par values for each hole that allow for two putts per hole to meet par. Thus, a typical perfect round, played exactly as a course might be designed to be played, would include 36 approach shots to the 18 greens, and then 36 putts. Thus, fifty percent of a golfer's total score is attributable to shots made with a putter.
A variety of putters have been designed in an attempt to help golfers become more efficient in putting. Generally, however, most professional golf teachers place problems with putting in two categories, direction and distance. The problem associated with direction means the path a golf ball must follow to fall into the hole, and distance refers to the amount of energy that must be imparted to the ball to drive it to the hole.
A variety of putter designs have been proposed in the past for aiding in the training of a golfer, and improving putting skills. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 653,023 to Holden and U.S. Pat. No. 697,542 to Robertson disclose an appendage which extends rearwardly from the club head. U.S. Pat. No. 837,030 to Blanchard discloses a sighting element across the top of the club head; see also, U.S. Des. Pat. No. 308,238 to Francu. U.S. Pat. No. 1,046,343 to Smith discloses a putter with a rearwardly extending element as well, as does U.S. Pat. No. 1,291,967 to McDougal. U.S. Pat. No. 1,327,171 to Ruggles discloses a golf club having a flat bottom surface.
Other prior art of interest includes the following U.S. Pat. No. 792,631 to Taylor; U.S. Pat. No. 823,082 to Robertson; U.S. Pat. No. 1,331,499 to Hartford; U.S. Pat. No. 1,486,823 to Allen; U.S. Pat. No. 1,352,020 to Olson; U.S. Pat. No. 786,268 to Corey et al; U.S. Pat. No. 807,224 to Vaile; U.S. Pat. No. 1,116,417 to Hackbarth; U.S. Pat. No. 687,539 to Palmer; U.S. Pat. No. 656,099 to Dunn; U.S. Pat. No. 723,534 to Knight; U.S. Pat. No. 802,264 to Brown; and U.S. Pat. No. 1,250,296 to Fitzjohn et al.


A system and method for a LTE network device is provided. The system includes a first signal processing center configured to obtain a plurality of metrics from an LTE network device. The first signal processing center includes a plurality of processors configured to calculate interference based on the plurality of metrics. The signal processing system further includes a second signal processing center configured to receive the calculated interference from the first signal processing center.

LTE is a standard for wireless data communications technology and an evolution of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standards. LTE increases the capacity and speed of wireless data networks using new digital signal processing (DSP) techniques and modulations. The LTE network architecture is an Internet Protocol (IP)-based system with significantly reduced transfer latency than the third generation architecture. Compared to earlier wireless networks such as 2G and 3G networks, the LTE wireless network operates on a separate wireless spectrum and is thus incompatible with earlier networks. The LTE standard can be used with many different frequency bands. In North America, 700/800 and 1700/1900 MHz are used; 800, 900, 1800, 2600 MHz are used in Europe; 1800 and 2600 MHz are used in Asia; and 1800 MHz is used in Australia.
LTE may provide a downlink peak rates of 300 Mbit/s, uplink peak rates of 75 Mbit/s and QoS provisions permitting a transfer latency of less than 5 ms in the radio access network. LTE has the ability to manage fast-moving mobiles and supports multi-cast and broadcast streams. LTE supports scalable carrier bandwidths, from 1.4 MHz to 20 MHz and supports both frequency division duplexing (FDD) and time-division duplexing (TDD).
Release 8 of the 3GPP specifications defines the LTE towards 4th generation systems, includes new requirements for spatial multiplexing—also referred to as Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO)—wherein the base station and user equipment (UE) communicate using two or more spatial streams. The goal is to increase both the overall capacity of a cell and the data rate that a single user can expect from the system. As a result of the increasing data rates and flexibility, the design and test of LTE systems differs in many ways from previous generations of cellular technology. In particular, LTE network device design and test present new challenges for which test equipment and measurement methods must be adapted.
In a conventional LTE system, signal processing for the UEs is converged in a powerful signal processing center including a plurality of function blocks. However, as the number of cells increasing, the computing capacity of function block is increased geometrically. The bandwidth between two function blocks is increased geometrically and the buffer is increased geometrically. Thus, the signal processing center may reach to its bottleneck due to heat, power, memory, and bus limitations.

Systems and methods for a long-term evolution network


A device for adjusting the loading motion of the intake air in internal combustion engines comprises a housing, which can be connected between an intake module and a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, the surface of the housing facing the intake module having at least a first opening with a first inlet channel for a cylinder of the internal combustion engine and at least a second opening with a second inlet channel for the same cylinder of the internal combustion engine. Each second opening is provided with a helical valve that can be controlled by an actuator.

Helical valves are generally used to modify the loading motion of the intake air and these are incorporated in the intake module perpendicular to the inward flow direction. A cover is fitted to protect the helical mechanism. An actuator with electrical contacts is attached to the cover to activate the helical valves. The injection elements or injectors must be controlled and attached separately.
Such known devices have the disadvantage that they have a lot of individual parts. This involves a high level of assembly outlay and can also result in incorrect assembly. The separate contacting of the actuator and injectors is similarly disadvantageous, as two interfaces have to be connected.

Device for adjusting the loading motion of the intake air in internal combustion engines


This invention is directed to a DNA sequence comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a variant paraoxonase protein and to said variant paraoxonase protein as well as a method and a kit for detecting a risk of cancer, coronary or cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dementia, joint arthrosis, cataract, or sensitivity to organophosphorus compounds in a subject, the method comprising isolating genomic DNA from said subject, determining the allelic pattern for the codon 102 of the paraoxonase encoding PON1 gene in the genomic DNA, identification of Ile101Val mutation indicating said risk being increased and for targeting paraoxonase activity modulating therapies. Further this invention relates to transgenic animals comprising a human DNA molecule encoding said variant paraoxonase and to a method of phenotype-targeted gene sequencing.

The publications and other material used herein to illuminate the background of the invention are incorporated by reference.
Oxidative stress and free radicals have been implicated in the etiology of a number of diseases, including cancers, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dementia and cataract. The human body has a number of endogenous free radicals scavenging systems which have genetic variability. The human serum paraoxonase (PON) is an enzyme carried in the high-density lipoprotein that contributes to the detoxification of organophosphorus compounds but also of toxic products of lipid peroxidation.1-9 The paraoxonase hydrolyzes the toxic metabolites of several organophosphorus (OP) insecticides, pesticides and nerve agents.
The PON1 gene is polymorphic in human populations and different individuals also express widely different levels and activities of the paraoxonase enzyme, which is the protein product coded by the gene.3,5-7
Several polymorphisms are currently known in human PON1. The Gln191 Arg poly-morphism was the first mutation of PON1 reported.3,6 The second one is the Met54Leu.3 Both these polymorphisms have been shown to affect serum PON activity.6,10,11
Transgenic animals and with lowered paraoxonase activity can be used e.g. to test the effects of organophosphorus compounds, such as insecticides, pesticides and war agents, drugs that affect paraoxonase activity, other antioxidative compounds and drugs, and liver enzyme activity inducing agents.
A lot of methodological work has been done to locate disease-causing genes or candidate genes. However, there are no previous methodological studies concerning the methods of how to promote the search for mutations in a given or known candidate gene. To facilitate the finding of mutant DNA sequences, we developed a new method of phenotype-targeted gene sequencing.

DNA molecule encoding a variant paraoxonase and uses thereof


A method of re-manufacturing a composite riser section having a damaged original metal liner comprises inserting an expandable replacement liner into the bore of the composite riser section and positioning the replacement liner to cover the metal liner. An annular recess may be formed circumferentially into the damaged portion of the metal liner to accommodate the replacement liner. The replacement liner is radially expanded within the composite riser section and a seal is created to prevent fluid inside the composite riser from flowing around the replacement liner, through the damaged liner, and to the outside of the composite riser.

As exploration and production of oil and gas has moved into deeper water, it has become increasingly important to reduce weight, lower costs, and improve reliability of water-depth sensitive systems such as risers and the like. The term riser generally describes the different types of discrete pipes that extend from the seabed toward the surface of the water. These include components such as drilling risers, production risers, workover risers, catenary risers, production tubing, choke and kill lines and mud return lines. Conventional risers are typically constructed of various metal alloys such as titanium or steel. More recently, however, the oil and gas industry has considered a variety of alternative riser materials and manufacturing techniques including the use of composite materials.
Composite materials offer a unique set of physical properties including high specific strength and stiffness, resistance to corrosion, high thermal insulation, improved dampening of vibrations, and excellent fatigue performance. By utilizing these and other inherent physical characteristics of composite materials, it is believed that composite riser may be used to lower system costs and increase reliability of risers used in deepwater applications. Although there has been a significant effort in the last decade to facilitate and to increase the general use of composites in offshore applications, the acceptance of composite materials by offshore operators continues to be a relatively slow and gradual process. Reasonably good progress has been made to expand the usage of composites for topside components such as vessels, piping and grating. Some advanced components such as high-pressure riser accumulator bottles have already been used successfully in the field. However, in view of the reduced weight, extended life span, lower cost and other enabling capabilities, composite risers are particularly appealing for deep water drilling and production operations.
Composite risers are generally constructed of a number of riser sections each having an outer composite material and an inner liner assembly. Typically, a thin tubular metal or elastomeric liner is coaxially secured to the metal connections at opposite ends to form the liner assembly. For a liner assembly comprising a metal liner, an elastomeric shear ply (usually rubber) is provided along the outer surface of the liner assembly, followed with a composite overwrap reinforcement to form the composite riser section. The composite riser section is then heated to cure the elastomeric shear ply and the composite overwrap. Additionally, an external elastomeric jacket and a layer of composite overwrap may be provided over the composite riser section and thermally cured to reduce external damage by providing impact protection and abrasion resistance to the composite riser section.
The liner assembly is necessary to prevent leakage due to the inherent cracking characteristics of the composite material. Typically, the matrix of the composite overwrap will develop micro cracks at pressures lower than those at which the reinforcing fibers of the composite structure will fail. Matrix micro cracking is due to the thermal stresses induced by the curing cycle and the mechanical stresses induced during the shop acceptance pressure test of the composite riser section during the manufacturing process. Thus, the liner assembly is essential in ensuring fluid tightness of a composite riser to prevent leakage under the condition of matrix micro cracking which is expected.
While elastomeric liners are generally acceptable for production composite risers, they are ill suited for use in composite drilling or workover risers. The likely possibility of damaging, namely cutting or tearing, elastomeric liners with the mechanical tools required for drilling and workover operations makes elastomeric liners less desirable for these types of operations. Accordingly, metal liners for composite drilling and workover risers are being considered. Metal liners also have applications in composite production risers as the metal liners may offer better long term resistance the corrosive production fluids than most elastomeric liners. In a typical composite riser having a metal liner, the metal liner is welded directly to the metal connection assembly at or near the metal-to-composite interface (MCI). Alternatively, the metal liner may be coaxially secured to the MCI through the use of a transition ring. The transition ring is secured at one end to the MCI and is welded at the other end to the metal liner and serves as a transition between the material of the liner and that of the MCI. A transition ring is generally used because the MCI and the connection assembly are generally constructed of a heavier tube stock than the relatively thin metal liner which serves primarily to keep the composite riser from leaking internal fluid. The transition ring is secured to the MCI either by welding or mechanically attaching it to the MCI. A mechanical attachment is preferred over welding when the transition ring and the MCI are formed of different materials.

Replaceable liner for metal lined composite risers in offshore applications


A coating composition comprising a binder of                a. polyisocyanate crosslinking agent;        b. an isocyanate-reactive component having at least one compound having the following formula:

The finishing system of choice presently being used on the exterior of automobiles and trucks comprises a clear coating applied over pigmented base coating that is applied over a primer coating. The clear coating provides protection, in particular, protection from weathering, to the pigmented base coating and improves the appearance of the overall finish, in particular, provides improved gloss and distinctness of image. The primer coating provides adhesion to the substrate and, in particular, provides resistance to stone chipping. When used in refinishing of automobile and truck bodies, the clear coating is required to have an acceptable "pot life" and reasonably short cure time period to allow for further processing or handling of the vehicle without damaging the finish. The term "pot life" means the period of time after a coating is mixed with a catalyst or a crosslinking agent in which the composition remains at a sprayable viscosity.
The following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,873, U.S. Pat. No. 5,126,170, U.S. Pat. No. 5,243,012, U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,741, U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,056, U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,945, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,062, show a variety of coating composition that contain polyaspartic acid derivatives but these compositions do not have a property balance of acceptable pot life and rapid curing time to form a sufficiently hard finish to allow additional handling and processing of a coated vehicle or work piece after the coating composition has been applied.
To improve the rate curing, EP 0939091 uses novel amine compounds, for example, the reaction product of 4,4′-methylene-biscyclohexanamine with two moles of diethyl maleate. However, coating composition formulated with these reactive amines do not have the desired balance of acceptable pot-life and the desired cure rate after application to an object while maintaining or improving on the desired properties of the resulting finish. In an effort to improve pot life, solvents and catalysts have been used but solvents have a deleterious effect on VOC (volatile organic content) emissions, which is undesirable and catalyst can result in deterioration of film properties, such as durability. It is, therefore, desired to find a class of amine functional compounds for the reaction with isocyanates, which form coating compositions that overcome these problems and form acceptable finishes for automotive and truck substrates.
EP 0743333 describes the use of simple hydroxy aspartates in the preparation of hydroxy-functional polyhydantion prepolymers and their use as co-reactants for blocked polyisocyanates or aminoplast resins. The use of hydroxy-aspartates as the nucleophilic component in coating systems with polyisocyanates is not described. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,214, the use of hyperbranched polyaspartate ester polymers is described based on the selfcondensation of hydroxy-aspartates and these polymers are used as binder resins in coating systems.
The novel composition of this invention utilizes novel reactive amine compound having less reactive hydroxy functional groups as a nucleophilic component with a polyisocyanate crosslinking agent that form coating compositions having an optimum balance of pot life and curing time and form finishes, in particular, clear and primer finishes useful for automobiles and trucks. The clear coatings have excellent properties, such as, hardness, gloss, durability, weatherability, and in particular resistance to UV (ultraviolet light) degradation, particularly when reinforced with ultraviolet light absorbers and screeners and hindered amine light stabilizers. The primer coatings exhibit excellent adhesion to metal substrates, in particular, aluminum and steel substrates, and provide for excellent stone chip resistance.
These compounds may be used as part of the binder component or as the sole nucleophilic component in a two component coating mixture. When used as the sole nucleophile, especially environmentally friendly coating compositions may be formulated with low or even zero VOC (volatile organic content). The advancement achieved with the novel coating compositions of this invention over the prior art is based on effectively balancing the pot life of the coating mixture with the cure characteristics using the unique structural characteristics of new aspartic-hydroxyl compositions in combination with polyisocyanates. It is surprising that the use of a nucleophilic component based on compounds of this invention which contain both aspartate and hydroxyl functional groups in a curing reaction with polyisocyanates leads to a high productivity coating system with good general coating properties while meeting desired environmental goals of eliminating or reducing VOC of a coating composition while maintaining a good pot life.

Durable coating compositions containing novel aspartic amine compounds

Abstract: wherein    X, R1, R2, p, m and n are described in the specification, or isomer or mixture of isomers thereof, two component compositions, articles coated with the novel composition and novel hydroxy amines are also part of the invention.