A solenoid linear actuator comprises a unibody soft magnetic core with a central body and an upper disk and narrower end extrusions, and a pair of soft magnetic bodies on the two ends of the solenoid. When the solenoid is energized, unibody core is magnetized and attracted to the soft magnetic plates from below, pulling unibody core downward. The extrusions on the two ends of unibody core actuate external mechanisms (pushers and cantilevers, respectively) to accomplish various electrical switching operations. A permanent magnet can be added to the upper side to assist the actuation.

Relays are electromechanical switches operated by a flow of electricity in one circuit and controlling the flow of electricity in another circuit. A typical relay consists basically of an electromagnet with a soft iron bar, called an armature, held close to it. A movable contact is connected to the armature in such a way that the contact is held in its normal position by a spring. When the electromagnet is energized, it exerts a force on the armature that overcomes the pull of the spring and moves the contact so as to either complete or break a circuit. When the electromagnet is de-energized, the contact returns to its original position. Variations on this mechanism are possible: some relays have multiple contacts; some are encapsulated; some have built-in circuits that delay contact closure after actuation; some, as in early telephone circuits, advance through a series of positions step by step as they are energized and de-energized, and some relays are of latching type.
Coaxial RF switches are special types of electromechanical relays (or switches) wherein radio frequency (RF) signals are connected or disconnected between terminals in the switch. Typically a coaxial RF switch utilizes a pusher to push a conductor reed to make contact with a pair of coaxial conductor heads and connect the signal path between the two coaxial conductors. A common design uses a soft magnetic rocker under a pair of electromagnets to push the pusher for the switching action. The rocker-electromagnet assembly is typically symmetrical in construction in latching (bi-stable) type of switches. An additional restoring spring is added below one side of the rocker in a failsafe design to ensure the rocker returns to a predetermined state when the electromagnet is de-energized such that normally-on and normally-off arrangements can be achieved in the RF terminals. In such a failsafe design, strong magnetic attraction exists between the electromagnet and the rocker, therefore the strength of the restoring spring must be properly adjusted to achieve the desired normally-off contact configuration when the electromagnet is de-energized with reasonable power consumption during the "on" state when the electromagnet is energized. Such a balance is usually difficult and increased power consumption is necessary. The restoring spring also adds to the complexity in fabrication. Another failsafe-type of design uses a solenoid linear actuator to cause the conductor to connect and disconnect the RF terminals. Such a prior art solenoid linear actuator (FIG. 1) comprises a solenoid 20 which further comprises a coil 22 wound around a bobbin 21. Energizing solenoid 20 magnetizes soft magnetic core 10 and causes it to be attracted to soft magnetic bodies 18 and 19. The downward movement of soft magnetic core 10 pushes a push pin 15 and thus pusher 51 downward, causing conductor 51 to connect the RF terminals 60 and 61. A drawback in such a design is that soft magnetic body 14 is inserted inside of solenoid 20, and push pin 15 needs to be made of non-magnetic material and separated from soft magnetic core 10 which adds complexity in manufacturing and assembly. Another drawback is that the initial air gaps between the two ends of soft magnetic core 10 and soft magnetic bodies 18 and 19 are relatively large, causing unnecessarily large coil power consumption.
It is highly desirable to provide a solenoid linear actuator which is simple to manufacture and consumes low power during operations.
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved solenoid linear actuator which is simple to manufacture and consumes low power during operations.

Solenoid linear actuator and method of making same


A portable hydraulically driven posthole digger is provided. The present invention is mounted to an existing loader-type tractor or skid steer loader by the use of a ball and socket type attachment such as a trailer ball and trailer tongue apparatus. The tongue is mounted vertically above the post hole digger and the trailer ball is mounted on the loader such as the bucket on a front end loader. The posthole digger's hydraulic motor is powered off of the existing hydraulic system of the equipment being used. This configuration not only provides an inexpensive method of digging post holes, but further requires a minimal amount of mounting hardware and can be easily removed and stored when not in use.

The present invention relates to an improvement in the auger type posthole digger. More specifically, an improvement in the manner in which a portable posthole digger is employed in the digging of holes in the earth for the placement of such things as fence posts, mailbox poles, deck posts, playground equipment and sign posts.
In the past, people who frequently had the need to excavate relatively narrow and deep cylindrical holes in the earth for the anchoring of posts, such as ranchers and construction companies, mainly used one of three available means to do so. The first of these was a hand held gasoline powered auger type device. The major problem with this method is that it is dangerous, often wrenching out of the operator's control when encountering varying soil conditions, consistencies and rocks. The hand held digger generally requires at least two people to operate effectively. Additionally, the amount of force required to drive the posthole digger far enough into the earth to create a hole of sufficient depth is very difficult to apply to such a device.
The second option available was a post hole digger that is mounted on its own independently powered and transportable trailer-type device. These types of devices are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos., 5,396,967 (Stewart) and 3,976,147 (Cunningham). While these devices provide stability and are operable by a single user, the expense of such devices can be prohibitive to small companies and individuals to own and operate. They are also quite cumbersome and difficult to move from one drilling location to another. Additionally, they may still require the user to apply manual down force to drive the auger into the earth.
A third type of posthole digger has been the attachment-type digger as illustrated by U.S. Pat. No., 3,789,931 (Quinn). This type of device is typically attached to the front loader portion of a tractor or skid steer loader. Loader tractors and skid steers (hereinafter referred to as loader tractors or loader type tractors in general) are typically used by ranchers and construction companies and thus, make an ideal power source for operating a posthole digger. The problem has been that until this time posthole diggers for loaders have required a large amount of mounting hardware in order to allow the posthole digger to properly move side to side and fore and aft. Thus, these posthole diggers have required substantial time and effort to convert the loader between a posthole digger and useable loader tractor. Further, posthole diggers of this type may only work with specific loader type attachments due to certain mounting requirements.
From the foregoing discussion, it can be seen that it would be highly desirable to provide a method of digging postholes that is easily used by one person, that is stable and safe in its use, and is inexpensive. Further, it is desirable to provide such equipment that can be used in conjunction with existing loader type equipment capable of applying the down force necessary to drive the posthole digger to a sufficient depth into the earth. Finally, it can be seen that it would be desirable to provide such a method that could be easily engaged to and disengaged from equipment already existing in the user's inventory.

Ball and socket mounted hydraulic posthole digger and method for using the same


The present invention discloses a switching amplifier, comprising a modulator for converting a main input signal to a high frequency modulated switching signal and for providing voltage amplification of the main input signal. The present invention further includes a power output stage coupled with an output of the modulator for receiving the voltage amplified main input signal and for providing a current amplification of the main input signal for providing a main output signal for deriving a load. Further included is a feedback module for correction of the main output signal in relation to the main input signal.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to power amplifiers and, more particularly, to switching power amplifiers that can efficiently and linearly amplify a signal.
(2) Description of Related Art
Amplifiers are electronic devices that are used for increasing the power of a signal, and are generally categorized into various classes. Reference is made to the exemplary U.S. Patents that disclose various types of amplifiers: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,563,377; 6,498,531; 6,429737; 6,356,151; 6,297,692; 6,282,747; 6,246,283; 6,229,388; 6,097,249; 6,091,292; 6,078,214; 6,072,361; 6,016,075; 5,982,231; 5,973,368; 5,963,086; 5,838,193; 5,805,020; 5,617,058; 5,160,8969; 5,014,016; 4,531,096; and 3,629,616.
In general, class A amplifiers produce a linearly amplified replica of an input signal, but are inefficient in terms of power usage (generating a great amount of heat) because the amplifying elements are always biased and conducting, even if there is no input. With class A amplifiers, 100% of the input signal cycle is used to actually switch on the amplifying devices.
The prior art FIG. 1 A is an exemplary illustration of a conventional class A amplifier 100 that amplify a differential input signal over the whole of the input cycle, having a differential input 106 with input signal terminals 102 and 104. With class A amplifier 100, the amplifying elements 122 and 124 (also constituting a buffer output stage) are biased by voltage sources 126 (+VCC) and 128 (−VCC) and the current sources 112 and 120. The biasing of the amplifier 100 is such that the amplifying elements are always conducting to some extent, and are operated over the most linear portion of their characteristic curve (known as transfer function or transconductance curve). In general, class A amplifiers are inefficient in terms of power usage because the amplifying element(s) are always biased and conducting, even if there is no input signal to be amplified.
As illustrated in the prior art FIG. 1A, a typical class A linear amplifier 100 with differential input 106 is comprised of a negative or inverted input terminal 102 coupled with a base of a first transistor 108, and a positive or non-inverted input terminal 104 coupled with a base of a second transistor 110. A current source generator 130, through a current source 112, biases the differential input 106. The emitters of the first transistor 108 and the second transistor 110 are coupled with the current source 112 for providing a precise, constant current level to the differential input transistors 108 and 110 for maintaining the differential signal between the two inputs. The collectors of the transistors 108 and 110 are coupled with respective secondary current sources 114 and 116, with the secondary current sources 114 and 116 coupled with one another through a feedback 118. The secondary current sources 114 and 116 with the feedback 118 accurately impose and maintain the differential input current passing through the transistors 108 and 110. As further illustrated, the current passing through the transistor 110 is supplied to the base of the second output-amplifying transistor 124, with a base of the first output-amplifying transistor 122 being supplied via a current source 120. With class A linear amplifiers with a differential input, the output signal 132 is a linear, amplified replica of the difference between the input signals. Therefore, constant current sources 112 and 120 are used to maintain a constant output that accurately reflects the amplified differential input. Biasing of the output amplifying elements 122 and 124 by the voltage sources 126 (+VCC) and 128 (−VCC) and the current sources 112 and 120 prevents crossover distortions because the amplifying elements are always ON, generating the linearly amplified replica of the original signal (differential signal). However, this is also the cause for the inefficiency of this type of amplifier.
The push-pull class B amplifiers amplify a signal through the balance of non-saturated sink and source (push-pull) output stage sections. This arrangement provides excellent efficiency (compared to class A amplifiers) because there is no biasing of the output amplifying elements by current sources. That is, unlike the class A amplifiers, the amplifying elements of class B amplifiers are not constantly ON. However, this introduces crossover distortion caused by a small glitch 160 (FIG. 1B) at the "link" between the two halves of the signal generated by the sink and the source. Regrettably, most solutions to reduce the crossover distortion (the small glitch 160 at the link between the two halves of the signal) reduce the efficiency of the class B amplifiers.
The prior art FIG. 1B is an exemplary illustration of a class B linear power amplifier 140, which is comprised of an amplifying stage 142 and power stage 144. The amplifying stage 142 is comprised of an input terminal 146 that is coupled with a base of a first NPN Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) 148 and a base of a first PNP BJT 150. The emitters of the BJTs 148 and 150 are coupled together with ground GND. When a signal greater than the biasing signal of either transistor is applied to the transistors (assuming during a first half cycle of the input signal with a first polarity), the transistor 148 turns ON (+VBE), and the transistor 150 remain OFF. Activation of the transistor 148 places a first polarity voltage across the resistor 152 coupled in between the positive voltage source +VCC 154 and the collector of the NPN BJT transistor 148. The current generated due to the voltage across the resistor 152 passes through the collector-emitter junction of the NPN BJT transistor 148 and to ground GND. The PNP transistor 150 is OFF due to the first polarity of the input signal, and hence, is "seen" as high impedance "open circuit." The voltage across the resistor 152 also biases the second PNP transistor 156 in the power stage 144, placing a first polarity voltage (+VBE) across the base-emitter junction of transistor 156. The biasing of the second PNP transistor 156 allows current to pass through the emitter-collector junction, which current is an amplified replica of the first half of the input signal, and is fed to the load 158. During the first half cycle of the input signal, the first PNP transistor 150 and the second NPN transistor 162 are OFF. Both transistors 150 and 162 function as "open circuit" and are "seen" as high impedance elements during this first half cycle of the input signal.
It should be noted that there are no current sources with class B amplifiers, and hence, before the second half cycle of the input signal commences (during the zero-crossing of the input signal), all of the transistors are turned OFF due to the fact that the input signal strength is near zero, which is below the biasing threshold of the transistors. The small glitch 160 at the link between the two halves of the input signal is therefore due to the fact that all transistors are OFF during this crossover period. Upon crossover of the input signal to a second polarity, passing the biasing threshold of either of the transistors 148 and 150, in the second half of the cycle of the input signal, the transistor 150 is activated (−VBE functions as a sink) and transistor 148 remains OFF.
Activation of the transistor 150 places a second polarity voltage across the resistor 166 that is coupled in between the negative voltage source −VCC 164 and the collector of the PNP BJT transistor 150. The current generated due to the voltage across the resistor 166 passes through the emitter-collector junction of the PNP BJT transistor 150 and to ground GND. The NPN transistor 148 is OFF due to the second polarity of the input signal, and hence, is "seen" as high impedance "open circuit." The voltage across the resistor 166 also biases the second PNP transistor 162 in the power stage 144, placing a second polarity voltage (−VBE) across the base-emitter junction of transistor 162. The biasing of the second NPN transistor 162 allows current (sink current) to pass through the collector-emitter junction, which current is an amplified replica of the second half of the input signal, and is fed to the load 158. During the second half cycle of the input signal, the first NPN transistor 148 and the second PNP transistor 156 remain OFF. Both transistors 148 and 156 function as "open circuit" and are "seen" as high impedance elements during this second half cycle of the input signal. Accordingly, not constantly biasing ON all of transistors of a class B amplifiers during the full (or whole) cycle of the input signal produces the glitch 160 when the input signal falls below the biasing threshold of the transistors during its zero crossing.
Class D amplifiers are switching power amplifiers where all power devices are operated in ON/OFF mode. The switching elements of class D amplifier are either cut off or in saturation most of the time, allowing for high efficiencies. The high efficiency translates into reduced heat sinking, smaller size, and lighter weight. Further, in general, class D amplifiers do not suffer from crossover distortion within the audio bandwidth.
The prior art FIG. 1C is an exemplary illustration of a typical Half-Bridge class D switching power amplifier 170, with a triangle wave generator 172 creating a triangle waveform carrier frequency. In general, class D amplifiers convert the audio signal 176 into high-frequency pulses that switch the output in accordance with the audio input signal 176. Some class D amplifier use pulse width modulators to generate a series of conditioning pulses that vary in width with the audio signal's amplitude. The varying-width pulses switch the power-output transistors 182 and 184 at a fixed frequency. In general, the output of the class D amplifier is fed into a low-pass filter 190 that converts the pulses back into an amplified audio signal 192 that drives an audio system 194. This design approach produces an amplifier with better than 90% efficiency, but is much more complex than its linear counterpart (class A or class B amplifiers).
As illustrated, the basic circuit layout of the class D amplifier is substantially similar to that of linear amplifiers, such as classes A and B, with a major difference being in the signals provided to an output stage. Rather than feeding an audio waveform directly to the output stage, as is done in linear amplifiers, the class D amplifier first feeds the audio waveform into a Pulse Width Modulator (PWM) circuit that feeds modulated pulses to the output stage. By quickly switching the output stage completely ON and completely OFF with varying pulse widths, the class D amplifier is able to recreate waveforms of almost any shape, and, by filtering the switching output, sound is produced by a loudspeaker connected thereto.
FIG. 1D is a schematic illustration of a typical triangular wave generator used in prior art. It should be noted that the prior art triangular wave generators 172 illustrated in FIG. 1D require at least a two stage IC operational amplifiers to generate the triangular wave at the output OUT-1, with the output OUT-2 of the first stage producing a square wave. The triangle waveform at OUT-1 sets the resulting switching frequency of the switching power amplifier of FIG. 1C.
Referring back to FIG. 1C, conventional voltage comparator 174 compares the triangle waveform with the command input signal (audio input) at 176. The PWM signal 178 from the comparator 174 is then sent to a field effect transistor (FET) driver integrated circuit 180 that drives the output FET's 182, 184. The upper N-channel output FET 182 switches a bus voltage supplied from +VDD and the lower P-channel output FET 184 switches a bus voltage supplied from −VDD to produce a high-voltage PWM waveform 186 illustrated at test point 188. This means that the output will not be a linearly amplified replica of the input, and therefore, must be processed further. The further processing is comprised of an LC filter 190, which reproduces the audio signal (amplified) 192 at the load 194.
As indicated above, class D amplifiers yield higher efficiency than other class amplifiers through use of saturated mutually exclusive source and sink switching devices. Despite their efficiency, most class D amplifiers are comprised of complex proprietary Integrated Circuits (ICs) for control of the switches, cannot accurately reproduce the input waveform except for low fidelity applications, and are subject to power supply perturbations.
In summary, class A amplifiers produce a linearly amplified replica of an input signal, but are inefficient in terms of power usage. The push-pull class B amplifiers provide excellent efficiency (compared to class A amplifiers), but introduce crossover distortion. Class D amplifiers are efficient, and produce a fairly accurate linearly amplified replica of an input signal, but are comprised of complex proprietary Integrated Circuits (ICs) for control of the power output switches, and require power regulation for proper operation.
Accordingly, in light of the current state of the art and the drawbacks to current amplifier devices mentioned above, a need exists for an amplifier that would have simple, non-proprietary circuit topography that would allow for the use of off-the-shelf components, that would continue to be highly efficient, that would not require power supply regulations, and that would produce a linear amplified replica of an input signal.


A moisture amount detection device includes: a light source that projects light that flickers at a predetermined frequency toward an object; a light receiver that receives the light reflected by the object and outputs a detection signal; an amplifier that outputs an amplified signal obtained by amplifying the detection signal by a predetermined amplification factor; a lock-in amplifier that outputs an extracted signal obtained by extracting a signal of a predetermined frequency from the amplified signal; an A/D converter that performs A/D conversion on the extracted signal, and outputs a digital signal; a second low-pass filter whose passband is changeable, and that allows a signal of a frequency in the passband in the digital signal to pass therethrough; and a controller that performs first control to change the passband according to a signal intensity indicated by the digital signal.

A conventionally known clothes dryer for drying clothes (objects) that are hung out to dry in an interior space includes a moisture amount detection device that detects the amount of moisture in the objects. For example, as the moisture amount detection device, a device is known that calculates the amount of moisture based on the temperature and humidity in the atmosphere in which the objects are hung out, and the absorption of infrared rays by moisture. The clothes dryer may cause the moisture amount detection device to detect the amount of moisture in the objects to adjust the intensity of dehumidification based on the result of detection performed by the moisture amount detection device. Also, as the moisture amount detection device, for example, an infrared moisture analyzer is known that measures the amount of moisture by using the absorption of infrared rays by moisture (see, for example, Patent Literature 1 (PTL 1)).

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A method of controlling quality in a nuclear medicine imaging system includes providing an extendable radioactive source in a frame of the nuclear medicine imaging system, providing a detector having a field of view above the source, extending the radioactive source, moving the detector from a first position to a second position, acquiring a plurality of images of the radioactive source with the detector during the movement, summing the plurality of images to form a flood image of the source, and assessing a quality of the detector image using the flood image. An extendable shield having a plurality of windows disposed along a length of the shield may be disposed about a line source so that the windows form an array of point sources when the source and the shield are extended.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the field of nuclear medicine, and in particular to nuclear medicine imaging systems, and the control of their quality.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nuclear medicine is a unique medical specialty wherein radiation is used to acquire images that show the function and anatomy of organs, bones or tissues of the body. Radiopharmaceuticals are introduced into the body, either by injection or ingestion, and are attracted to specific organs, bones or tissues of interest. Such radiopharmaceuticals produce gamma photon emissions that emanate from the body. One or more detectors are used to detect the emitted gamma photons, and the information collected from the detector(s) is processed to calculate the position of origin of the emitted photon from the source (i.e., the body organ or tissue under study). The accumulation of a large number of emitted gamma positions allows an image of the organ or tissue under study to be displayed.
Proper imaging requires that the camera be calibrated to eliminate or minimize distortions. Such distortions can be caused, for example, by lack of a uniform response to incident radiation over the entire area of the scintillation detector surface, by non-linear responses to incident radiation by different photomultiplier tubes arrayed over the scintillation crystal, and by variations in the energy window defining the range of photon energy levels of a scintillation interaction or "event" that will be accepted as contributing to the image.
Routine quality control of a nuclear imaging system may require the provision of a variety of radioactive sources. The sources are used as baselines to calibrate the camera. The sources may be required to be provided in a variety of configurations, such as a 57Co sheet source and a variety of 99 μTc point and line sources. Furthermore, the point and line sources may need to be prepared on site.
A camera may need to be "peaked" daily before switching to a new radio nuclide to ensure that the energy window is correct. Uniformity may need to be checked daily as well, using a high count flood. In a high count flood, a collimator may be removed and a point source, such as a 57Co disc source or a water-filled phantom may be viewed from a distance of five times the diameter of the detector. A water filled phantom may need to be prepared on site. Camera uniformity may need to be checked weekly.

System and method for quality control in nuclear imaging systems


A bucket pourer comprises a base structure and an upright support structure extending upwardly from the base. Pivotally mounted within the upright support structure is a bucket holder. A handle extends from the bucket holder, and by manipulating the handle, the bucket can be moved from an upright holding position to a tilted pouring position.

Paint stores, body shops and the like are very familiar with the difficulties involved in pouring a liquid, such as paint, from a five-gallon bucket. First of all, these buckets filled with paint or the like are heavy and very difficult to handle. It is as especially hard to pour a small or precise amount of liquid from the bucket, and of course, spills are commonplace.
There are devices in the prior art for holding a paint bucket or the like which are capable of tilting the paint bucket to a pouring position. However, many of these devices in the prior art are heavy and difficult to handle, not to mention the fact that they are also often bulky and are not susceptible to being broken down and easily packed for convenient shipment. Also, the designs of typical prior art devices are complicated and make for manufacturing problems which, in the end, drive the cost of these devices up and make them non-affordable for the small businessman.
Therefore, there is a need for a bucket holding and pouring device that is simple in construction, easy to manufacture, assemble and ship, and which is of a light-weight construction and which can be easily used.


A match game is provided including a deck of rectangular cards each having a first face with a common design thereon and a second face. Each deck of rectangular cards includes a plurality of numeric cards with an English numeral positioned on the second face, an English alphabetic representation of the numeral positioned on the second face, and a Spanish alphabetic representation of the numeral positioned on the second face.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to educational games and more particularly pertains to a new match game for teaching a user arithmetic skills, foreign language, and memory skills.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of educational games is known in the prior art. More specifically, educational games heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art educational games include U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,240; U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,835; U.S. Pat. Des. No. 291,458; U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,658; U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,974; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,754.
In these respects, the match game according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of teaching a user arithmetic skills, foreign language, and memory skills.


A propellant immobilizing system and method in which propellant motion in the propellant storage tanks (22) is reduced or eliminated during velocity change maneuvers to reduce disturbance torques acting upon the spacecraft (10) and improving the spacecraft attitude pointing performance. The thrusters (14, 16, 18 or 20) are fired to produce a small impulse in the direction of the desired Velocity change to begin motion of the propellant within the fuel tank in the opposite direction. After the fuel has moved within the tank to a location in which the propellant center of mass is aligned with the propellant tank (22) center of curvature in the direction of the desired velocity change, thrusters (14, 16, 18 or 20) are again fired to produce a force in the direction of the current velocity of the propellant center of mass to stop the propellant center of mass relative to the propellant tank (22). With the center mass of the propellant now aligned with the propellant tank center of curvature in the direction of the desired velocity change, the thrusters (14, 16, 18 or 20) are again fired to produce the desired velocity change with the propellant center of mass now being trapped in the propellant tank such that additional motion of the propellant is inhibited. After completion of the maneuver, the propellant gradually migrates back to its original position due to the influence of a propellant management device within the propellant tank.

Orbit maintenance requirements for a spacecraft dictate the periodic need to fire the space craft thrusters to perform various maneuvers. One example is a stationkeeping maneuver requiring the firing of the thrusters on the East-West sides of the spacecraft (East-West maneuvers) or on the North-South sides of the spacecraft (North-South maneuvers). Propellant motion induced by the thruster activity necessary to perform these maneuvers produces disturbance torques on the spacecraft which degrade the spacecraft attitude pointing performance. These disturbances persist until natural dissipation effects in the propellant reduce its relative motion to quiescence. The disturbance torques affect the spacecraft attitude and, therefore, the spacecraft pointing performance.
To maintain the proper spacecraft attitude, during and after a stationkeeping maneuver, the attitude control of the spacecraft is changed to a special gyro-based attitude control scheme in order to meet the attitude pointing requirements of the spacecraft in the presence of the disturbance torques produced by the fuel motion. The special attitude control scheme requires the expenditure of a significant amount of propellant and may require the relaxation of the pointing performance specifications during and after the stationkeeping maneuver until the propellant has reached quiescence.
Another method used to reduce the disturbance torques during a stationkeeping maneuver is to use stationkeeping thrusters having very low thrust levels in order to minimize induced disturbances. Such thrusters, however, have limited utility during other mission phases such as the orbit acquisition phase or nutation damping phases. Larger redundant thrusters are needed to provide the same levels of thruster margin for the acquisition and nutation damping phases. The use of redundant thrusters increases the complexity and cost of the spacecraft.

Propellant immobilizing system and method


The purpose of the present invention is to provide a water-soluble finishing agent for a trivalent chromium chemical conversion coating film, which has low insulation, no problems with tightening properties, outstanding gloss and high corrosion resistance, and can obtain a trivalent chromium chemical conversion coating film, especially a black trivalent chromium chemical conversion coating film, having few scratches and flaws. The finishing agent for a trivalent chromium chemical conversion coating film is characterized by containing a trivalent chromium source, a phosphate ion source, a zinc ion source, a chelating agent which can form a complex with trivalent chromium, and a non-ionic water-soluble polymer compound selected from a group comprising poly(vinyl alcohol) and derivatives thereof, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and derivatives thereof, poly(alkylene glycol)s and derivatives thereof, and cellulose ethers and derivatives thereof.

In recent years, zinc or zinc alloy-plating has been relatively often used as a method for preventing corrosion of metal surfaces. Plating alone, however, does not provide sufficient corrosion resistance, and thus a treatment with chromic acid, a so-called chromate treatment after the plating has been widely used. The chromate treatment here forms a chromate film using hexavalent chromium as a main component. However, it has recently been pointed out that hexavalent chromium may adversely affect the human body and the environment and there has been a strong trend to restrict the use of hexavalent chromium. Particularly, in the industrial field, alternative techniques to hexavalent chromate have been strongly needed.
Under such circumstances, a method for forming a trivalent chromium chemical conversion coating film has been proposed, which is free from hexavalent chromium (for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,702, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2003-166074, JP-A No. 2003-166075). Although having excellent corrosion resistance, a trivalent chromium chemical conversion coating film formed by this method has relatively less glossy appearance than conventional black hexavalent chromate films. In order to obtain higher gloss, the surface of the trivalent chromium chemical conversion coating film had to be overcoated with a thick resin film, silicate film, or the like again. Such overcoating, however, may cause problems with insulation and fastening performance. A treatment with a finishing agent for a trivalent chromium chemical conversion coating film, including a trivalent chromium source, a phosphate ion source, a zinc ion source, and a chelating agent capable of forming a complex with trivalent chromium (for example, JP-A No. 2005-23372) does not cause problems with insulation and fastening performance, but may cause a film formed by this treatment to have problems of many scratches due to the contact of articles, and green stains and white stains due to liquid accumulation or the like in a drying step of the finishing treatment, for example. There sometimes arises a problem of mold being generated in the finishing agent.

Finishing agent for trivalent chromium chemical conversion coating film, and method for finishing black trivalent chromium chemical conversion coating film


According to the present invention, there are provided an input terminal, an output terminal, an a.c. generating circuit and a voltage-anomaly detecting circuit. Power supplied to the input terminal is outputted from the output terminal based on an output produced from the voltage-anomaly detecting circuit. When the voltage of the supplied power is abnormal, a.c. power produced from the a.c. generating circuit is outputted from the output terminal. Further, a boosting circuit, a rectifying circuit and a capacitor are provided. The a.c. generating circuit is constructed so as to produce a.c. power from a charged voltage of capacitor. Owing to this construction, a power supply apparatus having a function for compensating for changes in voltage can be provided which is small in size and is inexpensive.

The present invention relates to a power supply apparatus having a function of compensating for changes in voltage.
With advances of scientific technology, the degree of dependence on an a.c. power source has been increased. Correspondingly, the a.c. power source has been stably supplied. In particular, the setting of transmission lines to a plurality of lines or circuits and the cutting off of the a.c. power source at high speed can bring about advantageous effects. It is therefore very rare to stop the supply of power.
However, when a thunderbolt or the like falls even if such protection is made, the a.c. power source greatly varies although its variation happens in a moment. Occasionally, the a.c. power source is cut off. Commercially-available devices are not affected by an instantaneous variation in the a.c. supply. However, devices are also known which are affected by the instantaneous variation in the a.c. supply. As such devices, there are known complex electrical facilities such as a semiconductor manufacturing device, etc. Therefore, the instantaneous variation in the voltage causes the stop of operations of the electrical equipment and becomes a factor that impedes production. To avoid this, a so-called power supply apparatus having a function of compensating for changes in voltage is now used wherein a power source capable of supplying power at all times is separately provided and when the a.c. power source varies in voltage, a desired voltage is supplied so as to compensate for its variation.
A typical example of this type of power supply apparatus will now be described. One terminal supplied with an input from an a.c. power source is electrically connected to one of output terminals via the primary winding of a transformer. Incidentally, the connection of the secondary winding of the transformer will be described later. In conjunction with this, the voltage supplied from the a.c. power source is rectified by a rectifier and is then stored in a capacitor. When a malfunction of the a.c. power source is detected, the voltage stored in the capacitor is converted to an alternating current by an invertor. Further, the invertor is electrically connected to the secondary winding of the transformer which couples the input terminal and the output terminal to each other. Namely, when the anomaly of the a.c. power source is detected, the voltage stored in the capacitor is supplied to the output terminal through the secondary winding of the transformer and the primary winding thereof coupling the input terminal and the output terminal to one another (first prior art).
Further, another typical example of the power supply apparatus will be described below. A voltage supplied from an a.c. power source is transformed by a transformer and is rectified by a rectifier. The rectified current is normally converted into an alternating current by an invertor so as to be supplied to an output terminal. With this, the voltage rectified by the rectifier is stored in a capacitor. When the a.c. power source now malfunctions, the voltage stored in the capacitor is converted into the alternating current by the invertor and is supplied to the corresponding output terminal (second prior art).
These compensating circuits are normally accommodated in a rack. Further, legs are mounted to the rack so that the rack is held on the ground with the legs interposed therebetween. The legs have been conventionally fixed to the rack.
Further, a certain kind of rack is required to be able to move. In this case, casters are mounted to the rack, which is held by rolling friction between the ground and the casters. The casters have been conventionally fixed to the rack.
In the first prior art, the input terminal supplied with the input from the a.c. power source is electrically connected to the output terminal via the winding of the transformer. Since a current produced from the a.c. power source normally passes through the transformer, the transformer will result in an increase in size if it is designed so as to bear the current. Therefore, the compensating circuit becomes large in size as a whole and becomes expensive.
In the second prior art, the alternating current is converted into the direct current, which is then converted into the alternating current to thereby obtain a compensating supply. Therefore, the transformer produces much losses due to such conversion and is hence unable to bear the practical use. Further, the transformer becomes complex in structure and expensive.
A first object of the present invention is to provide a power supply apparatus having a function of compensating for changes in voltage, which makes it unnecessary to use a large transformer and is reduced in size and cost.
In the prior art, for example, a human being checks the state of an output of an a.c. power source and confirms that the a.c. power source has been returned to a normal or proper state. Thereafter, a compensating source is reset to the a.c. power source. Therefore, the time required to reset the compensating source to the a.c. power source becomes relatively long. If the voltage is supplied from the compensating source for such a long time, the compensating source will result in an increase in size and cost.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a power supply apparatus having a function of compensating for changes in voltage, which is capable of holding a compensating source in a small size and being reduced in whole size and cost.
In the prior art, when a voltage produced from an a.c. power source becomes lower than a predetermined value, the a.c. power source is changed over to a compensating source. On the other hand, when the voltage of the a.c. power source becomes higher than the predetermined value, the compensating source is reset to the a.c. power source.
When the voltage produced from the a.c. power source is repeatedly raised and lowered within a relatively short time due to some reasons, the a.c. power source is often changed over to the compensating source in the case of such a construction. As a result, a transient state is produced each time the a.c. power source is changed over to the compensating source, thereby causing a problem.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a power supply apparatus having a function of compensating for changes in voltage, which is capable of bearing a variation in an a.c. power source even if such a variation is repeated within a short time.
Further, in the prior art, the value of a voltage employed in the prior art is compared with a predetermined value. Based on the result of comparison, detection is made as to whether the a.c. power source malfunctions. When such a simple comparison is made, it is difficult to virtually avoid errors in detection. Even though the a.c. power source is not brought into an abnormal or improper state, the a.c. power source is changed over to the compensating source. Further, even though the a.c. power source is brought into the improper state, the a.c. power source is not changed over to the compensating source, thereby stopping the supply of power.
A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a power supply apparatus having a function of compensating for changes in voltage, which is capable of accurately detecting an improper state and accurately changing an a.c. power source to a compensating source when the a.c. power source is brought into an improper state.
A compensating circuit is generally accommodated in a rack and legs are mounted to the rack so as to hold the rack on the ground. Since, however, the legs are fixed to the rack in the prior art, these legs will cause inconvenience when the entire apparatus is to be accommodated within a slight space, for example. When it is necessary to devise the way of disposing the apparatus, these legs will cause inconvenience when the apparatus should be changed from a vertically-disposed state to a horizontally-disposed state, for example.
A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a power supply apparatus having a function of compensating for changes in voltage, which has flexibility to the provision of the entire apparatus.
Further, in some kind of compensating circuit, casters are mounted to a rack to move the rack in such a manner that the rack is held by rolling friction between the ground and the casters. Since, however, the casters are fixed to the rack in the prior art, it is needless to say that the rack must be shifted so as to avoid an object relatively large in height, for example, thus causing inconvenience upon movement of the rack.
A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a power supply apparatus having a function of compensating for changes in voltage, which is able to easily move.

Power supply apparatus having a function of compensating for changes in voltage


The invention relates to the discharging of a DC link capacitor in an inverter arrangement, thereby allowing, for example, a DC link capacitor to be discharged while an electric machine that is connected to the inverters can operate in an idling mode as a safe mode. The DC link capacitor is discharged by very briefly triggering a semiconductor switch within the inverter. According to the invention, the inverter bridge arm with the smallest phase voltage is selected for the very brief triggering process.

The present invention relates to an inverter arrangement and an electric drive system comprising such an inverter arrangement, and a method for discharging an intermediate-circuit capacitor in an inverter arrangement. In particular, the present invention relates to the discharging of an intermediate-circuit capacitor in an inverter arrangement in a freewheeling mode.
Electric drive systems as used, for example, in electric and hybrid vehicles, may comprise inverters which generate voltage signals from a DC voltage, said signals being suitable for activating an electric machine. Here, a DC voltage intermediate circuit comprising an intermediate-circuit capacitor is provided at the input of such an inverter.
The inverters may, for example, be designed as a full bridge circuit comprising a predetermined number of bridge arms comprising two semiconductor switches in each case. Here, a first semiconductor switch may be connected to a first terminal of the DC voltage intermediate circuit as a so-called high-side switch. A second semiconductor switch may be connected to a second terminal of the DC voltage intermediate circuit as a so-called low-side switch. Furthermore, the first and the second semiconductor switches are electrically interconnected at a node. Each of these nodes may be connected to a phase terminal of an electric machine. For example, bipolar transistors having an insulated gate electrode (IGBT module) with diodes or MOSFETs (metal-oxide field-effect transistors) connected anti-parallel may be used as semiconductor switches.
In the event of a fault, various requirements are placed on the control for reasons of safety. For example, in the event of a fault, it may be necessary to put a connected electric machine into a safe operating mode. Such a safe operating mode may, for example, comprise an active short circuit in which all high-side switches or all low-side switches are closed. Alternatively, a freewheeling mode may also be provided as a safe operating mode, in which all switches of the full bridge are open.
In addition, in the event of a fault, it may also be desirable to discharge the DC voltage intermediate circuit rapidly and reliably. This can, for example, be achieved via emergency discharging.
The publication WO 2013/050196 A1 discloses an opening device and a method for discharging a capacitor in an inverter. Here, the discharging of the capacitor in the inverter is carried out during an active short circuit by activating the semiconductor switching elements of the inverter.

Inverter arrangement, electric drive system, and method for discharging a DC link capacitor in an inverter arrangement


Stable lung surfactant compositions are provided, as well as methods for their preparation, modification, formulation, assay, and therapeutic use.

This invention relates to lung surfactants, stable surfactant protein compositions and formulations, and methods for the preparation and assay thereof.
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), also known as hyaline membrane disease, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality of the prematurely born infant. RDS is believed to be caused primarily by a deficiency of lung surfactant--a lipid-protein mixture which coats the airspaces of the lung--thereby reducing the surface tension and preventing airspace collapse. The principal component of lung surfactant--dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)--was identified several years ago (Klaus, et al ., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 47:1858, 1961; Avery, et al., Am. J. Dis. Child. 97:517, 1959). It is believed that administration of lung surfactant to an individual having or at risk of developing RDS is a desirable therapy, and the literature discloses various clinical studies of therapeutic administration of different lung surfactant preparations.
The literature contains various lung surfactant protein preparations, including those with DPPC. Generally, preparations can be classified into five types. These include 1) natural human surfactant (purified from human amniotic fluid), (Merritt, et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 315:787, 1986,), 2) semisynthetic surfactant (prepared by combining DPPC and high density lipoprotein), (Halliday, et al., Lancet 1:476, 1984), 3) animal lung surfactant (isolated by organic extraction of the whole lung or lavage fluid), (Fujiwara, supra; Enhorning, et al., Pediatrics 76:145, 1985; Kwong, et al., Pediatrics 76:585, 1985), and 4) purified human surfactant apoproteins (SP-A, SP-B, and/or SP-C purified from natural sources or derived by recombinant DNA technology; see Jobe et al., Am. Rev. Resp. Dis. 136:1032, 1987, and Glasser et al., J. Biol. Chem. 263:10326, 1988) which are reconstituted with surfactant lipids (Revak, et al., J. Clin. Invest. 81:826, 1987).
It has been observed that lung surfactant protein tends to aggregate over time. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide more stable lung surfactant protein compositions and formulations, and methods for making same. It is a further object of this invention to provide lung surfactant protein compositions and formulations with improved biological properties and therapeutic efficacy.
It is also believed desirable for certain therapeutic uses that the surfactant administered have substantially the same structure as natural mammalian surfactant. It is therefore an additional object of this invention to provide lung surfactant protein similar in structure to naturally occurring surfactants.

Byk Gulden Lomberg Chemische Fabrik GmbH


A system and method for detecting events based on input data from a plurality of sources. The system may receive input from a plurality of sources containing information about possible events. A method for event detection involves pre-processing and normalizing a data input from a plurality of sources, extracting and disambiguating events and entities, associate event and entities, correlate events and entities associated from a data input to results from a different data sources to determine if an event has occurred, and store the detected events in a data storage.

The internet provides several sources of information which may be exploited. Internet news feeds and websites that allow users to interact with one another have exploded in popularity in the last few years. News feed channels such as CNN®, social networking websites sites such as Facebook® or LinkedIn®, and microblogging websites such as Twitter® enjoy widespread use. Millions of users post messages, images and videos on such websites on a daily, even hourly basis. Often, information gathered from these sources may refer to events taking place in real time. Such publicly accessible media may serve as a rich mine of information that may be used in different applications. For example, consider a scenario where a wide area emergency such as an earthquake or a flood has occurred and conventional emergency service lines are stressed beyond capacity; in this case users may turn to social media in order to request assistance. Another example of an event taking place in real time may be news feed reporting on civilians trapped under a building.
The high proliferation of information generated by media sources makes proper identification of events troublesome. Media data may contain ambiguous features which may hinder the ability of associating events with specific names, places or organizations. For example, a news feed may refer to a "Paris kidnapping"; however, in general, Paris may refer to a city in France, a city in Texas, or it may even refer to a person.
Thus a need exists for a method of detecting, extracting and validating events from media sources and effectively associate them with independent entities.

Event detection through text analysis using trained event template models


A method and apparatus for facilitating downstream frequency override in a data-over-cable system is described. In one example, a data-over-cable system having a plurality of cable modem termination system (CMTS) elements is described. Each of the CMTS elements includes demodulation logic configured to detect one of a plurality of native preambles in upstream transmissions. Each of the native preambles may include a first section having a unique pattern and a second section having an equalizer training sequence. A concatenated preamble is formed from each of the native preambles. The concatenated preamble may include a first section having the unique pattern of each of the native preambles in a sequence and a second section having an equalizer training sequence. A burst profile is formed having the concatenated preamble for each of the CMTS elements. The burst profile is transmitted from each of the CMTS elements to a plurality of cable modems.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data-over-cable systems and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for facilitating downstream frequency override in data-over-cable system.
2. Description of the Background Art
With the explosive growth of the Internet, many customers have desired to use the larger bandwidth of a cable television network to connect to the Internet and other computer networks. Cable modems offer customers higher-speed connectivity to the Internet, an intranet, local area networks ("LANs"), and other computer networks via cable television networks.
The physical plant of the data-over-cable system may be divided into physically isolated branches that distribute digital signals from multiple cable modem termination system ("CMTS") elements to geographically distinct groups of cable modems. Typically, a cable modem has access to downstream frequencies from more than one of the CMTS elements. By contrast, in the reverse or upstream direction, the cable modem has access to only one of the CMTS elements. Cable modems transmit to CMTS elements using a set of upstream transmission parameters that may differ from one CMTS element to another. A CMTS instructs cable modems to use particular upstream transmission parameters using messages carried in downstream transmissions.
When a cable modem is connected to a data-over-cable system, it must first gain access to the system by undergoing an initialization procedure before it is permitted to transmit data. A part of the initialization procedure includes a ranging process for adjusting the timing of the cable modem transmissions to its associated CMTS. This process involves sending a ranging message at an appropriate time interval, referred to as the Initial Maintenance interval. In some cases, a cable modem will synchronize to a downstream frequency provided by a CMTS other than the CMTS receiving the cable modem's upstream transmissions. When the cable modem sends a ranging message, the CMTS receiving the message re-directs the cable modem to use one of its downstream frequencies. This process is referred to as Modem Downstream Frequency Override (MDFO) or simply "frequency override."
A cable modem sends the ranging message in accordance with upstream transmission parameters obtained from downstream transmissions of the CMTS with which it is synchronized. If the cable modem synchronizes to the wrong downstream frequency, however, these upstream transmission parameters may be different than those expected by the CMTS to which the cable modem sends upstream transmissions. As a result, the CMTS cannot process the ranging message and thus cannot perform the frequency override procedure. The CMTS will not be able to process any message from the cable modem, effectively preventing upstream transmission by the cable modem Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for facilitating downstream frequency override in a data-over-cable system.

Method and apparatus for facilitating downstream frequency override in a data-over-cable system


A method includes converting a user's utterance to text; encapsulating the converted text in a rheme object; searching, for each of a plurality of topics, for keywords in the converted text; determining a relevancy metric for each of the plurality of topics based on such searching; selecting one or more topics based on determined relevancy metrics; comparing some or all of the converted text to names in one or more patient lists or databases; identifying a unique patient whose name is contained in the converted; attaching an indication of the identified patient to the rheme object; effecting an action based on the selected one or more topics and the attached patient indication; and saving the topic in a conversation history with a reference to the identified patient.

The present invention generally relates to medical software and systems and methodologies for interfacing with medical software.
Interacting with medical software conventionally requires that a user utilize an input device such as a mouse, keyboard, or touchscreen. User input via such devices can be useful, but can at times be impractical, slow, or inefficient.
The use of voice as an input for software is known in other contexts. For example, Apple's "Siri" is an intelligent personal assistant which performs tasks or otherwise responds to natural language.
A need exists for improvement in medical software and systems and methodologies for interfacing with medical software. This and other needs are addressed by one or more aspects of the present invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In an embodiment, a correlated forecast is computer generated by a processor that receives input data for historic values of a first input variable, creates forecast data for future values of the first input variable using the historic values of the first input variable, generates diagnostic data based on a diagnostic analysis of the forecast data, creates a first diagnostic variable that includes a first diagnostic value from a first cognitive process, generates a feature vector based on a second cognitive process that determines the feature vector by identifying a correlation between the first diagnostic variable and a second diagnostic variable, and generates a final forecast using the feature vector as an input for a cognitive forecasting process, where the first cognitive process determines the first diagnostic value based on the diagnostic data.

The ability to forecast future events is desirable in today's business environment. Because reliable information concerning future trends is so valuable, many organizations spend a considerable amount of human and monetary resources attempting to forecast future trends and analyze the effects those trends may ultimately produce. Thus, forecasting is an important and desirable tool in many planning processes. Forecasting business events typically involves collecting historic data and applying a forecasting model to the data.
Two classes of models that are frequently used to create forecasting models include, exponential smoothing models and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARMA) models. Exponential smoothing models describe the behavior of a series of values over time without attempting to understand why the values behave as they do. There are several different exponential smoothing models known in the art. Conversely, ARIMA statistical models allow the modeler to specify the role that past values in a time series have in predicting future values of the time series. ARIMA models also allow the modeler to include predictors which may help to explain the behavior of the time series being forecasted.
In order to effectively forecast future values in a trend or time series, an appropriate model describing the time series must be created. Creating the model which most accurately reflects past values in a time series is the most difficult aspect of the forecasting process. Eliciting a better model from past data is the key to better forecasting. Previously, the models chosen to reflect values in a time series were relatively simple and straightforward or the result of long hours and tedious mathematical analysis performed substantially entirely by the person creating the model. Thus, either the model was relatively simplistic and very often a poor indicator of future values in the time series, or extremely labor intensive and expensive with perhaps no better chance of success over a more simplistic model. Recently, the availability of improved electronic computer hardware has allowed much of the modeling aspects of forecasting to be done rapidly by computer. However, prior computer software solutions for forecasting were restricted because the number of models against which historical data were evaluated was limited and typically low ordered, although potentially there is an infinite number of models against which a time series may be compared.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A pin for a cooling system includes an inner layer formed of a first metal. The inner layer is hollow, and is coupled to a header of the cooling system. An outer layer is formed of a second metal, and the outer layer is coupled to the inner layer via a coupling material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a radiator/condenser pin assembly for an automobile.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A radiator/condenser, in its assembled form, is held in place within an automobile's engine compartment by radiator/condenser pins. These pins are typically positioned in a vertical fashion near the (a) left-hand side of the top edge, (b) the left-hand side of the bottom edge, (c) the right-hand side of the top edge, and (d) the right-hand side of the bottom edge. The pins are usually manufactured from a plastic resin or a solid piece of metal.
Designs utilizing a plastic resin are problematic, however. Many jurisdictions have strict recycling laws regarding automobiles that are out of commission. In jurisdictions where an automobile's radiator/condenser must be recycled for raw materials, radiators/condensers having plastics resin pins must first have the plastic resin pins manually removed before the radiator/condenser can be recycled, resulting in an extra recycling expense.
Also, pins formed of a plastic resin are typically not as strong as pins formed of a metal. Recent trends within the automobile industry are toward enhancing ease of assembly. In the case of air conditioning units for automobiles, a condenser, a radiator, and receiver tanks are routinely combined together to form a single module. When multiple parts are combined together to form a module, the weight of the module often becomes quite heavy. However, in a given application, plastic resin pins can be insufficient to support the weight of the module.
Other applications in the art utilize radiator/condenser pins formed of a solid piece of metal. This solid piece of metal is typically formed via a cold forging process or via a machining process from a solid piece of metal. However, use of a solid piece of metal, such as aluminum, can add great expense to the cost of the pin. Also, the solid piece of metal adds a large amount of extra weight to the automobile, adversely affecting the automobile's fuel efficiency. In either case, if either a cold forging process or machining process is utilized, the pin cannot be formed from a cladded material. Accordingly, an additional process of applying brazing paste or a brazing sheet to the part prior to a brazing process is required.
For applications utilizing a pin formed of a single piece of metal, the shape of the pin is usually carved from a larger piece of material via a machining process, which can be a complicated and time-intensive process. Also, when solid pins are utilized, the material utilized to manufacture solid pins cannot be pre-coated with a cladding material to secure the solid pins to the radiator/condenser, because a cladding material typically cannot be used with a solid piece of metal material, and can only be used with sheet metal. Moreover, the solid pin typically affects the quality of the part when assembled onto a larger component. After the entire radiator/condenser assembly is assembled, the assembly is put through a brazing furnace to melt the clad material, thus brazing together individual components of the radiator/condenser assembly via the brazing process. In the brazing process, heat is applied to the entire radiator/condenser, with the objective of melting only the clad material and not the base material. If a certain area being brazed has a greater thickness than the rest of the radiator/condenser, that specific location takes longer time to heat up. Also, the extra mass requires extra heat to become hot enough to reach the material melt temperature. Conversely, if a certain area being brazed is thinner, then that particular location takes less time to reach the optimum temperature to melt the clad material. Since it takes less time to heat up lower mass areas, there is a potential to overheat the section, potentially melting not only the clad material but also the base material, resulting in destruction of the section during the brazing process.
Accordingly, when solid pins are utilized, extra energy must be expended during the brazing process. Since solid pins are typically thicker than the remainder of the radiator/condenser, more heat must be added to the entire assembly to ensure the radiator/condenser pins are properly brazed. As a result, more cost is expended to maintain higher furnace temperature. Also, the radiator/condenser assembly is typically on a conveyor belt during this brazing process and the furnace typically is heated to a set temperature. To ensure the solid pins are properly brazed, the speed of the conveyor must be slowed. As a consequence, the time required to properly braze the assembly is increased, resulting in a lower throughput than would be required if the solid pins had thicknesses similar to the rest of the radiator/condenser assemblies. Such solid pin assemblies are also deficient because, due to their solid designs, they cannot simultaneously serve as both a radiator/condenser pin and an end cap for a radiator/condenser manifold. End caps are caps that attach to both ends of a radiator/condenser manifold, since radiator/condenser manifolds are typically hollow pieces-similar to pipes.
Furthermore, designs in the current art provide only one brazing surface for brazing a radiator/condenser pin to a radiator/condenser header. FIG. 6 illustrates a pin 600 brazed to a radiator/condenser tube header 605 according to the prior art. As shown, the pin 600 is brazed onto the header 605 only on the outside edge of the header 605. The pin 600 is not brazed at the top of the header 605. Accordingly, the pin 600 is susceptible to becoming detached from the header 605 because only one surface of the header 605 is brazed to the pin 600.
Accordingly, plastic radiator/condenser pin assemblies are deficient because those made of a plastic resin make recycling more difficult and are insufficiently strong for heavy radiator/condenser assemblies and cannot also be used as an end cap. Solid metal pins are deficient because they are expensive, heavy, more difficult to machine and braze, cannot be used with a clad material, and cannot also be used as an end cap, without additional components or extensive part processing.

Two-piece radiator/condenser pin assembly


An interactive print media apparatus is disclosed. It includes a platform including a surface and an electronic position location system, and a print medium including a prescribed location. A user can write in the prescribed location. During writing, the writing instrument and the electronic position location system are operationally decoupled.

Writing helps a student remember and learn about subjects. When learning a subject such as math, it is necessary for a student to write in order to learn about the subject. For example, a calculator can be used to multiply two double-digit numbers together. However, when using a calculator to multiply two numbers together, the student does not learn the process by which the calculator arrives at the answer. In order to learn the computational process performed by the calculator, a user must write down each step in the computational process. Writing is, in a sense, a dialog that the user is having with him/herself, and helps reinforce concepts being learned.
To incorporate writing into the learning process, an electronic learning apparatus could be provided with an "intelligent" writing system, which can interpret the user's writing (e.g., like a device that uses optical character recognition). The intelligent writing system would know what the user had written, and could, in theory, provide some feedback to the user.
However, there are problems with intelligent writing systems. Assuming that an effective intelligent writing system could be made, it would be expensive. Also, since different people have different handwriting, an intelligent writing system would probably not work with complete accuracy. Moreover, to the extent that intelligent writing systems exist, they do not help the user learn about specific subjects such as math and geometry. Thus, there is a need for an electronic apparatus that uses writing to help users learn.
Embodiments of the invention address the above problems and other problems, individually and collectively.

Write on interactive apparatus and method


A coupling assembly entirely formed from plastics material is provided for selectively connecting and disconnecting first and second fluid lines. A male coupling member includes an external groove that receives a radially inward extending shoulder of the sleeve. An external groove on a female coupling member is selectively engaged by latching tabs extending radially inward from the sleeve. The latching tabs are selectively pivoted radially outward through depression of release buttons. The pivoting action of the latching members is defined along a central portion in which circumferential strips undergo a twisting action. A ring may also be provided as an accessory to the coupling assembly for selectively maintaining the male and female members in coupled relation. The ring is adapted for movement between first and second positions. In the first position, movement of the latching tabs is prohibited by the ring. In the second position, the ring does not interfere with the movement of the latching tabs.

This invention pertains to the art of couplings and more particularly to quick-connect/disconnect couplings for fluid lines.
The invention is particularly applicable to a plastic quick-connect coupling, and means for maintaining the first and second coupling members in selectively coupled relation. The coupling member finds application in the biotechnological and biomedical fields and will be described with particular reference thereto. However, it will be appreciated that the invention has broader applications and may be advantageously employed in other environments and applications.
Plastic quick-connect/disconnect couplings are known in the art in which a latching member is selectively pivoted to release and secure male and female coupling members that are connected to first and second fluid lines. Oftentimes, these known coupling assemblies incorporate metal stiffeners to provide rigidity and strength to the latching members that receive the stresses required to move between coupled and uncoupled positions. Otherwise, repeated and continued use of the latching members may result in permanent deformation so that the latch members do not effectively return to their unbiased state. This, in turn, can result in a reduced latching force that can be inadvertently overcome.
When handling biotechnological materials, it is necessary to maintain an ultra-clean environment that will not adversely react with the fluid material. Thus, use of any metal components is avoided. Unfortunately, many of the desired properties of known fluid coupling assemblies are not available in plastic coupling assemblies.
Another goal in designing coupling arrangements is that the latching arrangement be simple and easy to use. In an effort to overcome some of the problems associated with prior plastic quick-connect couplings, manufacturers have designed complex latching arrangements that are difficult to manufacture and use.
Still another concern in the fluid coupling environment is the need to maintain the coupling members in coupled relation and prevent inadvertent uncoupling. Again, complex arrangements are generally known for maintaining coupling members in coupled relation but they are deemed deficient because of complexity, reliability, difficulty in manufacturing, etc.
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a plastic quick-connect coupling that is easy to manufacture, assemble and use, made entirely of plastic, that provides consistent latching action, and can be selectively maintained in coupled relation.


An integrated manufacturing and a maintenance system include a metrology device and a CAD system which has access to parametric data from the metrology device, said “as-built” data being used by the CAD system to morph a CAD model reflecting the “as-built” data, which can be used in manufacturing and aftermarket support.

In many large-scale manufacturing contexts, assembly precision is a fundamental requirement to maintain the engineering design intent, and for certification, by a customer or a government agency, that the manufactured product is fit for its intended use. Currently, large-scale manufactured items, and subassemblies for such items, are designed using computer-aided design (CAD) and/or computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software. This software typically allows for product design modeling in three dimensions (3D). The 3D design is then converted to standard orthogonal two-dimensional drawings (2D), which is, from then on, considered the official "authority for manufacturing". From the 2D engineering drawings, monolithic Floor Assembly Jigs and applied tooling fixtures, e.g. drill & locating jigs, are designed and built. The detail parts and subassemblies configuration is maintained and the tool becomes the control media to insure engineering configuration is achieved. Because the jigs and tools are often fixed, and the parts must be assembled while attached to the tool, adherence to the engineering design standards, within a specific tolerance, is maintained.
However, this manufacturing process poses several disadvantages. Significant resources are often spent creating the 3D models, which are often not used after the 2D conversions are created. The historical reason for converting 3D models to a 2D drawing format is the inability to link tolerance attributes to the three dimensional models. Currently, the three dimensional model are projected into convention 2D orthogonal views and dimensioned.
Additionally, both the 3D models and 2D drawings are theoretical, and do not reflect the influences of the manufacturing process, which may change the dimensions of the part or subassembly so that they differ from the theoretical, while being within the acceptable manufacturing tolerance. A number of aspects of the manufacturing process can lead to differences between the theoretical model and the as-built configuration, including product component tolerance build-up, free state versus restrained part condition, manufacturing process assembly variation, fastener-induced distortion, high interference and cold working, environmental factors such as temperature and vibration, inconsistencies in the manufacturing process, and fabrication variables such as cutter deflection. None of these environmental factors can be evaluated when the part or subassembly is designed using the CAD software. For this reason, the 3D and 2D drawings become inaccurate representations of the parts, subassemblies, or installations, as it is actually built. If compliance with governmental or customer standards is measured against theoretical drawings, manufacturers will be unnecessarily non-compliant too often. Also, this system requires ongoing quality control, to make sure the tools, the parts, and the subassemblies comply with the specification, within the allowable engineering tolerance.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a system and method for manufacturing that uses as-built data in computer models and/or drawings.

System and method for manufacturing and after-market support using as-built data


A method of treating a gas stream containing silane or other silicon-containing gas is described, in which the gas stream is conveyed to a liquid ring pump or screw-mechanism pump, to which are also supplied an oxidant for oxidising the silicon-containing gas within the pump, and a liquid for forming a liquid ring or intermittent flushing within the pump. A liquid stream containing said liquid and a by-product of the oxidation of the silicon-containing gas is exhaust from the pump.

The use of pyrophoric gases to deposit process layers on to silicon wafers or flat panel displays is well known. Such gases include silane, disilane, dichlorosilane and trichlorosilane. Pyrophoric gases can pose a risk in that they may cause a spontaneous and uncontrolled pyrophoric reaction on contact with air. In order to minimize the risk of an uncontrolled pyrophoric reaction due to the presence of pyrophoric gases within the waste stream exhaust from the process tool, it is known to employ a "burn box" or "burn tube" to remove the pyrophoric gases to a concentration below flammable limits by causing the pyrophoric gas to react with air. Such burn tube devices generally include a reaction chamber having inlets for receiving the pyrophoric gas-containing stream and a stream of air for producing a controlled and contained pyrophoric reaction within the chamber, and an exhaust duct of conveying the waste stream from the chamber.
When silane, for example burns, large amounts of silica powder are formed, which can rapidly block the reaction chamber, inlets and downstream duct. As a result, regular cleaning of the device is required, which can increase costs and incur downtime of the process tool. In addition, if a fault occurs, the temperature in the device can rapidly rise, posing a potential fire hazard. Furthermore, it has become common practice to dilute the silane bearing gas stream with a diluent gas, typically nitrogen, to a level at which it is not flammable in or immediately behind a pumping mechanism for drawing the waste stream from a process chamber (a level of below 1% is often recommended). Such dilution renders the subsequent use of burn tubes ineffective.
It is an aim of at least the preferred embodiment of the present invention to seek to solve these and other problems.


A combination mop bucket and trolley with an independent and detachable mop bucket is provided wherein the trolley and mop bucket each have separate wheels for independent movement. The trolley has a front recess to receive the mop bucket with the bucket remaining supported on the floor surface and without having to lift the mop bucket onto the trolley. A connection mechanism extends between the trolley and the mop bucket to selectively attach the mop bucket to the trolley so that the combined trolley and bucket can be easily maneuvered by one person.

Maintenance workers often use mops and mop buckets for cleaning floors. The maintenance worker must also carry around with him or her an assortment of cleaning supplies including spray bottles, towel racks, trash receptacles or other cleaning items suited to the type of maintenance/cleaning to be performed. The prior art identified in the Information Disclosure Citation contains many references to cleaning trolleys or service carts which have a platform on the lower ledge of the cart onto which a mop bucket may be lifted and set down so that the mop bucket can be wheeled from room to room as in a hotel/motel setting or wheeled about a service area, as in a restaurant operation. The mop bucket can be heavy and particularly in the case of a person of small stature, may be beyond that person's capability to lift the mop bucket and set it on the cart.
Applicant has conceived that what is desired is a mop bucket and trolley combination in which each may be configured to roll about the floor independently yet combined when desired so that they may be wheeled about a service area as a unit. The connection must be easy, simple, and not require bending over or parts which must be disassembled in order to connect or disconnect the mop bucket from the cart or trolley.


Apparatuses including power electronics circuitry are provided. The power electronics circuitry includes at least one power converter that is coupled to a DC bus. Moreover, in some embodiments, the at least one power converter is configured to regulate a voltage of the DC bus. Related methods of operating an apparatus including power electronics circuitry are also provided.

High penetration of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), especially at low-voltage networks may introduce power quality problems such as voltage sags and swells, and may exacerbate voltage harmonics on a grid. Conventionally, these negative effects of DERs were mitigated by centralized bulk devices at the medium-voltage level, such as at a plant or a substation. For example, static compensators (STATCOMs) and static VAR compensators (SVCs) may be provided at a central level to regulate line voltage through reactive power control. These semiconductor-based devices may actively regulate the reactive current injected into the grid and may provide faster and finer regulation than mechanically-switched voltage regulators such as Line Tap Changers (LTCs). These systems, however, may fall short of resolving problems arising at the leaf end of a distribution network due to massive DER penetration, especially in residential and commercial markets. For example, due to their centralized existence at the medium-voltage level, the visibility of such systems to problems locally occurring at low voltages may be limited. Also, as low-voltage distribution networks have smaller ratios of reactance to resistance (X/R ratios), the effectiveness of reactive current injection may be muted.
SVCs on a low-voltage network (μ-SVCs) may overcome some of the problems of centralized bulk devices at the medium-voltage level, as the distributed deployment of μ-SVCs may mitigate negative effects of DERs at the source, thus blocking their propagation to the medium-voltage network. μ-SVCs, however, may be bulky, may offer limited power control, and may fail to adequately compensate for grid voltage harmonics.

Apparatuses including power electronics circuitry, and related methods of operation

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE


The present invention provides a culture medium designated COF 1769 useful for establishing, growing and maintaining mammalian cells in culture, in particular for the establishment and culture of human normal and malignant cells. Also provided by the invention is an improved method for obtaining growth of mammalian cells.

The growth and maintenance of cells derived from animal and human tissues and the establishment of cell lines are important for many different purposes. For example, tissue culture is used extensively for the production of enzymes, cell products such as the lymphokines, plasminogen activator, antibodies etc., and for the general testing of drugs, carcinogenic and chemotherapeutic agents and the like, and in studies of infectious diseases, cancerous diseases, and inherited or acquired disorders. With the development of cell fusion and the preparation of monoclonal antibodies, a directed emphasis has been placed on in vitro growth of animal and human cell lines for the development of diagnostic tests. Cultured human cells themselves are being used for the therapy of cancer patients by various kinds of adoptive immunity.
It is well-known that specific cell lines can be grown in vitro in optimally formulated culture or nutrient media (Hanss et al. (1964) Exp. Cell Res. 34:243-256; Fahey et al. (1966) Science 152:1259-1261; and Ham and McKeehan (1979) Methods in Enzymol. 58:44-93). Some examples of culture media developed for special purposes are: RPMI 1640 medium for optimal growth of human B-lymphoid cells (Moore et al. (1967) J. Am. Med. Assoc. 199:519-524) and diverse kinds of malignant cells, Changs medium for optimal growth of amniotic fluid cells, medium 199 for optimal growth of mouse fibroblast cells, MEM medium, a "minimal" medium for optimal growth of attached mammalian cells, Leibovitz medium for optimal growth in absence of CO.sub.2, F10 medium for optimal growth of liver cells, etc. Such media are distinguished from one another in that they contain critically different components in precise amounts. These components include amino acids, vitamins, inorganic salts, trace elements and other organic compounds which promote the maximum growth of the cultured cells. For most purposes media are supplemented with serum.
The growth of various mammalian cells in vitro has been achieved in several chemically defined media supplemented with various sera, preferably fetal calf or newborn calf serum and other incompletely defined growth factors. Unfortunately, the addition of serum, whose constituents may vary widely, introduces undefined biological components into the nutrient medium and, hence, contributes to the variability of biochemical and cellular events. Furthermore, serum is expensive and in some instances, has been shown to be inhibitory to the growth of certain cells and may result in critical immune reactions in patients if the cells are used for clinical purposes.
The possibility of growing certain types of cells in serum-free medium was undertaken by several laboratories, e.g., Sato (1975) in Biochemical Actions of Hormones, G. Litwack (ed.), Academic Press, New York, Vol. 3, pp. 391-396; Bottenstein et al. (1978) Methods in Enzymol. 58:94-108; Beebe et al. (1987) Cancer Res. 47:2380-2384; Cole et al. (1987) J. Immunol. Meth. 97:29-35; Ham et al. (August 1988) In Vitro 24:833-844). Replacement of serum with supplements of better defined composition was found to be not very successful for the growth of normal cells in conventional culture media, although in vitro growth of some kinds of malignant cells was supported under these conditions after a period of adaptation. Only relatively slow growth of a selected few kinds of cells was possible in the absence of supplemental proteins.
Gradually, the amount of undefined supplementation needed for good growth was reduced by a process of optimization in particular basal nutrient media for selected cell lines (Mizrahi et al. (1970) Appl. Microbiol. 19:906-10; Ham (1984) in Methods for Preparation of Media, Supplements and Substrata for Serum-Free Animal Cell Culture, Alan R. Liss, Inc., New York, pp. 3-21). Moore and Woods (1977) Tissue Culture Assoc. Manual 3:503-509 expressed the generally held tenet in the art that "Some media will be better for initiating cultures of fresh cells while others will be better suited for maintaining established cell lines. Media that provide vigorous cell reproduction may suppress cell differentiation." These authors, like others in the field believed that the elements of a successful culture medium for mammalian cells were determined by the kind of cells to be cultured, unknown nutritional supplements, osmolarity, buffers and pH levels, gaseous mixtures and other environmental aspects of the culture unit. Thus, emphasis was placed on development of optimized formulation of culture media for specific purposes and for selected cell lines as well as for the formulation of general purpose media.
In the 1960's the RPMI 1640 culture medium was formulated (Moore et al. (1967) supra). This medium is still the most widely used today for culturing human normal and neoplastic B-lymphoid cells, malignant human cells and many other kinds of mammalian cells. RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10 to 20% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS) is proficient for initiating many types of cell cultures, and maintaining established cell lines when supplemented with 10 or 5% FBS. These media were shown to be unusually good for culturing fresh human lymphocytes and for supporting cell cultures derived from mice, rats and hamsters (Moore and Woods (1977) supra). Subsequently, several other media, e.g., GEM 1717, COF 1755, COF 1759, COF 1767, etc. were formulated by Applicant. Each of these media differs from RPMI 1640 with respect to composition, concentration of components and final ratios among individual components. A number of these media are sold commercially and are widely used for experimental and long-term tissue cultures (see catalogs from commercial vendors of scientific and biological products, e.g., Sigma Chemical Company, St. Louis, Mo.; Gibco, Grand Island, N.Y.; Irvine Scientific, Santa Ana, Calif.; J.R. Scientific, Woodland, Calif.; Hazeton Biologics, Lenexa, Kans.; etc.).
Simms et al. (1980) Cancer Res. 40: 4356-4363 studied the supplemental growth factor requirements for replication of human small cell carcinomas of the lung in serum-free RPMI 1640 medium, and developed a formula containing selenium, hydrocortisone, insulin, transferrin and 17.beta.-estradiol (known as Hites). The Hites combination added to RPMI 1640 medium devoid of serum supplementation supported optimum replication of cultured lung carcinoma cells. The cells replicated with approximately the same doubling times as in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum but they exhibited a lower cell population density and a longer lag phase in Hites-supplemented medium.
RPMI 1640 was also the basis for other formulae of media to be used without serum supplementation. Darbre et al. (1984) Cancer Res. 44:2790-2793 utilized serum-free RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with penicillin, streptomycin, HEPES buffer, insulin, hydrocortisone, transferrin, 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine, epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and fibronectin to grow human mammary cancer cells in monolayer and suspension culture to test and compare the effects of estradiol and tamoxifen. The growth rate of the mammary cancer cells in this serum-free medium was adequate but slower than in medium supplemented with serum.
A serum-free medium was developed by Ohmori (1988) J. Immunol. Methods 112:227-233, which supported primary antibody responses by cultured murine lymphocytes. The medium used was RPMI 1640 supplemented with .beta.-cyclodextrin, insulin, transferrin, albumin, low density lipoprotein, putrescine and L-alanine as substitutes for fetal serum. This serum-free medium supported the antibody response to sheep erythrocytes, trinitrophenyl-Ficoll or trinitrophenyl-lipopolysaccharide as efficiently as 10% fetal calf serum containing medium.
O'Donnell-Tormey et al. (1987) J. Exp. Med. 165:500-514 studied the metabolism of pyruvate in normal and malignant mammalian cells grown and maintained in serum-free RPMI 1640 supplemented with nonessential amino acids, penicillin, streptomycin and additional glutamine. Their work suggested that pyruvate and related .alpha.-ketoacids protect mammalian cells in culture against peroxide-induced cytotoxicity.
In vitro lymphocyte proliferation, primarily of B-cells, was shown to be optimal when RPMI 1640 culture medium was supplemented with 5 to 20% serum. Soyano et al. (1985) Immunol. Lett. 9:57-62 were able to decrease the level of serum added to RPMI 1640 medium to as low as 1% and still obtain an adequate proliferation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. They further found that in serum-free cultures, wherein RPMI 1640 is supplemented with additional glutamine, penicillin, streptomycin, sodium bicarbonate, transferrin and albumin, the proliferation rate of lymphocytes was approximately 80% of that obtained in the presence of 1% human serum. These authors further observed that albumin and transferrin acted synergistically on the mitogen stimulation of human mononuclear leukocytes.


The invention described herein is a very thin flat panel LED luminaire, including a flat baseboard, a flat reflection panel, a flat acrylic panel, a flat diffusion panel, LED bar, and aluminum encasement frame which combines with the baseboard to form the chassis for the luminaire. The LED bar is placed along either or both sides of the stack. The acrylic panel is printed with a mesh-like mask pattern of dots in a pattern in which the density of the pattern is decreases the farther away from the LED bar the pattern is, differentially coupling the light from the point source LED bar from the reflection panel into the flat acrylic panel so that illumination across the luminaire is substantially uniform.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to the application of the Light Emitting Diode ("LED") light source to form a very thin LED flat luminaire for general indoor and outdoor lighting purposes. The luminaire, specifically, reflects and diffuses light from an LED light source which is installed along the edges of the very thin light structure. The light rays are diffused in a manner that provides uniform illumination and color temperature across the luminaire such that there is no irritation from directly looking at the light source.
2. Description of the Related Art
LED technology provides for the manufacture of light fixtures that offer high lumen illumination, low energy consumption, and extended life cycle compared to traditional lighting sources such as fluorescent or incandescent light bulbs. However, in current applications of LED technology for general lighting purposes, the LED light source is arranged so that the LED light provides illumination directly to the area/space requiring light. This results in glare which may be uncomfortable to the eyes when the LED light source is looked at directly. Another current application of LED lighting technology uses an LED light source to illuminate the backside of a display board to display graphics and/or textual information to a user. In this approach, the displaying material acts to diffuse the light from the LED light source.
Another approach which incorporates a reflection or diffusion panel including a plurality of tiny bumps distributed across the panel has also been used in an attempt to diffuse light from and LED source arranged along the side of the luminaire. This approach utilizes internal reflections within the bumps to spread the light over the surface of the luminaire. However, the usage of such a structure results in increased complexity of manufacture, and increased thickness of the luminaire.
What has been needed, and heretofore unavailable, is a thin, easily manufactured luminaire that provides uniform illumination across the surface of the luminaire. Such a luminaire would be side lit by one or more LED light sources, yet be thin, reliable, and easy to manufacture. The luminaire would be configured to (i) reflect the sharp light rays directly emitting from the LED light source and (ii) distribute the light rays uniformly to the space without compromising the amount of lumens provided by the luminaire. Furthermore, the resulting light rays from the luminaire should provide a comfortable lighting experience.