A symbolic disjunctive image computation method for software models which exploits a number of characteristics unique to software models. More particularly, and according to our inventive method, the entire software model is decomposed into a disjunctive set of submodules and a separate set of transition relations are constructed. An image/reachability analysis is performed wherein an original image computation is divided into a set of image computation steps that may be performed on individual submodules, independently from any others. Advantageously, our inventive method exploits variable locality during the decomposition of the original model into the submodules. By formulating this decomposition as a multi-way hypergraph partition problem, we advantageously produce a small set of submodules while simultaneously minimizing the number of live variable in each individual submodule. Our inventive method produces a set of disjunctive transition relations directly from the software model, without producing a conjunctive transition relation—as is necessary in the prior art. In addition, our inventive method exploits the exclusive use of live variables in addition to novel search strategies which provide still further benefit to our method.

Model checking is a formal method for proving that a finite-state model satisfies a user-specified property. As a result of the development of symbolic state space traversal algorithms based on Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs) and Boolean Satisfiability Solvers (SAT), model checking has become widely recognized as an effective technique for hardware verification. Its utility is not limited to hardware however therefore model checking is being used for software verification as well—especially for transaction-level system designs (in SystemC, for example) and in embedded software (e.g., C/C++).
As is known by those skilled in the art, complexities associated with model checking methods depend upon the size of the state space being modeled which is generally exponential in terms of the number of state variables (or memory elements) of the particular model employed. This exponential dependence may easily cause what is known in the art as memory "blow up"—a major hurdle to be overcome in applying model checking to relatively large systems.
One methodology which partially addressed the exponential dependence and resulting memory explosion is through the use of BDDs. BDD based symbolic model checking was first described by K. McMillan in a book entitled "Symbolic Model Checking", published by Kluwer in 1993. As described by F. Ivancic, I. Shlyakhter, A. Gupta, M. K. Ganai, V. Kahlon, C. Wang and Z. Yang in a paper entitled "Model Checking C Program Using F-Soft", which appeared in Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Computer Design, 2005, BDD based symbolic model checking traverses the state space symbolically by employing symbolic graph algorithms that represent sets of states in Boolean functions. Consequently, their complexity depends upon the size of the BDD representations instead of the number of states. And while symbolic model checking can effectively manage much larger models, it too is subject to the blow-up problem described previously.
As a result, formal verification researchers have searched for heuristics that avoid this BDD blow up. One such approach involves efficient algorithms for conducting image computation—a fundamental computation in symbolic model checking—which has been extensively studied and characterized for hardware models, in particular. (See, e.g., O. Coudert, et al., "Verification of Sequential Machines Based on Symbolic Execution"; in Automatic Verification Methods for Finite State Systems, J. Sifakis, ed., pp. 365-373, Springer-Verlag, 1989).
Software models however, exhibit certain unique characteristics that make them significantly more difficult for the application of existing model checkers. First, the number of state variables (or memory elements) in a software model is typically much larger than that found in a hardware model. Additionally, and as compared with hardware models, software models usually have much deeper sequential depths. As such, without wide counters, an arbitrary state of a hardware model can often be reached within only a few clock cycles. For most software models however, the number of steps required to reach a particular state may be orders of magnitude larger. Consequently, conventional BDD based model checking algorithms do not work particularly well on software models. (See, e.g., S. Edwards et al., "Using A Hardware Model Checker To Verify Software", Proceedings of the 4th International Converence on ASIC (ASICON '01), IEEE, October 2001.)
As a result, new approaches of model checking more directly applicable to software models would represent a significant advance in the art. Such an approach is the subject of the instant invention.

Disjunctive image computation for sequential systems


A foil-fluid bearing assembly adapted for supporting a shaft within an outer bearing housing and is adapted for accommodating angular misalignment of the rotating shaft relative to the housing.

Foil-air bearings are advantageous as they operate efficiently over a large temperature range, have increasing load capacity as rotational speeds increase, can handle severe environmental conditions, and are more reliable than rolling element bearings because they require fewer parts to support the rotating assemblies and do not need lubrication. However, they also require inherently tight tolerance controls on the bearings themselves and their housings in order to maintain a very close alignment between each radial bearing in a rotor system in order to operate effectively. Bearing misalignment can be caused by excessive manufacturing tolerances, operational loads or thermal distortion of the bearing housing, and can result in shaft angular misalignment causing unacceptable whirl instability. Existing foil-air bearings also require a good control of both radial stiffness and damping characteristics of the inner foil support structure.
The use of hydrodynamic fluid journal bearings having compliant foils is known. The inner foils of the bearing are arranged such that the end sections of the foils themselves are more compliant than the central section of the foils, and can deflect independently in order to provide improved conformity to a misaligned rotor supported by the bearing. Strong misalignment forces can thereby be tolerated. U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,683 teaches such a compliant foil bearing. However, these hydrodynamic journal bearings require metallic corrugated foil assemblies that are comprised of several separate sections of foils, which must each be independently flexible and able to deflect different controlled amounts. Introducing independent flexibility to the metallic foils themselves considerably adds to the complexity, and consequently cost, of the bearing. Additionally, as each bearing requires several discrete metallic foil sections having different flexibility, the complexity and manufacturing costs are further increased.
There remains a need to provide a foil-fluid bearing capable of tolerating angular misalignment, without significantly adding complexity to the internal construction of the bearing, and consequently without significantly adding to material and manufacturing costs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compliant foil-fluid bearing support arrangement


The present invention provides a method of identifying a compound that modulates a mammalian vestibular system. The method consists of administering a test compound to an invertebrate, and measuring a geotactic behavior of the invertebrate, where a compound that modulates the geotactic behavior of the invertebrate is characterized as a compound that modulates a mammalian vestibular system. The invention also provides a method of identifying a gene that modulates a mammalian vestibular system consisting of obtaining a first and a second strain of an invertebrate; subjecting the first and second invertebrate strains to conditions in which the first strain exhibits a geotactic behavior different than a geotactic behavior exhibited by the second strain; measuring gene expression levels in the first and second strains, and identifying one or more genes that are differentially expressed in the first strain relative to the second strain, whereby a mammalian gene having substantially the same nucleic acid sequence as the one or more differentially expressed genes modulates the mammalian vestibular system.

Motion sickness is a condition produced by road, sea, air, or space travel, or by interacting with virtual environments. It is caused by the effect of any pronounced movement on the organ of balance in the inner ear or by sensory conflict about body motion as perceived by different receptors (visual, vestibular, and body proprioceptors). Symptoms may include headache, excessive sweating and salivation, loss of appetite, malaise, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal disturbances and fatigue. Vertigo is the illusion that one's surroundings or self are spinning, either horizontally or vertically, resulting from a disturbance of the semicircular canals in the inner ear or nerve tracts leading from them. It can be induced by motion, zero gravity or disease, and may be accompanied by vomiting, ringing in the ears and unsteadiness.
Travel related motion sickness is experienced by approximately 1% of air travelers and can be as high as 100% of ocean travelers on heavy seas. Children between the ages of 3 and 12 are the most susceptible. 50% of astronauts experience "space motion sickness" during space travel. While a source of discomfort, motion sickness and vertigo can also result in impaired performance by crew members on ships, planes or spacecraft, by drivers suffering from circulatory ailments, or by users of computer-based virtual environments.
Currently available drugs to treat motion sickness and vertigo produce a variety of undesirable side effects, some producing drowsiness, blurred vision, impaired reaction time and pattern recognition, others negatively affecting mood and sleep.
The genes that play important roles in the proper functioning of the vestibular system remain largely uncharacterized. Identification of such genes can provide methods for screening individuals with genetic susceptibility to motion sickness or vertigo and can also provide targets for developing new therapeutic agents that specifically modulate the expression or activity of genes associated with motion sickness or vertigo. Unfortunately, identification of such genes in mammals can be difficult and time consuming.
Therefore, there is a need to identify drugs that alleviate motion sickness and vertigo without undesirable side effects. There also exists a need to identify genes whose expression or activity is associated with conditions such as motion sickness or vertigo. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides related advantages as well.

Methods for identifying compounds for motion sickness, vertigo and other disorders related to balance and the perception of gravity


A communication system is provided that alerts a public safety officer to missed Push-to-Talk (PTT) group calls. The communication system allows a public safety officer's radio to record a last stop working time. A public safety network then can search a missed call list associated with the public safety officer and automatically push a notification of missed PTT group calls to the public safety officer's radio when the radio re-joins the public safety network. Based on the notification, the public safety officer can choose to review or replay any missed calls to avoid missing important information.

Compared to wireline telephone and public cellular communciation systems, a group call in a Land Mobile Radio (LMR) communciation system is unreliable. That is, a call originator can establish and complete an LMR group call without knowing of the state or participation of other team members, which may have fatal consequences in mission critical communications. For example, a team member's LMR may be temporarily powered down or in shut down state due to a low battery, or the team member may be out of radio frequency range, with the result that the team member may miss the call. Meanwhile, the call originator may not aware that one or more team members have missed some or all information conveyed in the call.
For example, an emerging trend in policing is 'One-Man Patrolling' carried out by community public safety officer. Suppose a public safety officer is one-man patrolling a street in a district and enters a building where the officer's LMR is out of service. A command center may not be aware that the officer's LMR is out of service and may originate a group call requesting that all patrolling public safety officers in this district move to a particular site for an emergency event. But the command center may be unaware that the public safety officer has missed this (voice) notification since it is a group call and no voice acknowledgements from individuals are required. Five minutes later, the public safety officer may return to RF coverage and the LMR may automatically return to the LMR commuication network, but the public safety officer is unaware of the missed call.
One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common and well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required.

Method and apparatus for handling a missed group call in a public safety communication session


Digital pre-distortion (DPD) systems are often used to improve the linearity of a power amplifier in transmitters. These DPD systems are typically implemented in baseband (prior to modulation). However, ever increasing signal bandwidth requirements limits the practicality of DPD systems implemented in baseband. A DPD system in the radio frequency (RF) domain (as opposed to in baseband) can solve this problem and further improve a DPD system's ability to correct for distortions. The RF domain DPD system is upstream from a digital-to-analog converter, and performs DPD after a baseband signal is up-sampled into the RF domain (after the modulation process). When compared against a baseband DPD system, the RF domain DPD system can handle significantly wider bandwidth, and has an improved ability to linearize a wide variety of distortions present in the spectrum.

Transmitters are often used in communications, and one important component is the power amplifier (PA). The PA is configured to amplify weak signals without adding distortion. The PA is usually power hungry, typically consuming 30% (or more) of total power. Furthermore, the PA is expensive, usually making up 30% (or more) of the total cost of a transmitter. One characteristic of a power amplifier is that when the input power is relatively small, the output power is also relatively small. In this operating zone, the PA behaves linearly, but the PA is not very efficient. When the input power is relatively high, the output power is also high. In this operating zone, the PA is very efficient, but the PA loses its linearity. Such non-linearity generates undesirable effects in the signal itself as well as in adjacent channels. To correct for these non-linearities, digital pre-distortion (DPD) systems are often used in the signal chain of a transmitter to improve the quality the output signal of the power amplifier in the transmitter.

Radio frequency domain digital pre-distortion


A fluid dispensing system includes a container, a pump assembly and a bleed valve. The pump assembly is connected to the container selectively pressurizing the container and includes an outlet port. The outlet port has a check valve precluding flow from the container through the outlet port. The bleed valve is in communication with an aperture formed through the container. The bleed valve relieves excess pressure in the container.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems for selectively dispensing liquid from a container, and more particularly, to a system having a pump assembly selectively pressuring the liquid to be dispensed and a retractable-extendible wand-shut off assembly, wherein differences in manufacturing tolerances of the components do not limit functionality of the system.
2. Description of Related Art
Dispensing systems for the spray application of pesticides, insecticides, plant and grass nutrients, for lawn and garden applications have been available for many years.
These systems can include telescoping conduits to allow the operator to be spaced from discharge of the liquid. However, such telescoping conduits require an extensive series of seals and sealing surfaces. The number of sealing surfaces in conjunction with manufacturing tolerances of components and the desired price point typically result in leakage. In addition, a change in length of the telescoping conduit changes the available volume and thus can result in increased liquid pressure acting on the components of the system, which can lead to failure or unintended discharge.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,750 discloses a system including a trigger sprayer having cylindrical handle connected to a container closure, and a flexible tubing stored within the container during periods of non-use wherein the tubing is drawn from the container during the spraying operation. In a further configuration in U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,750, the tubing is coiled and stored within a receptacle located within the container during periods of non-use.
However, storage and uncoiling of the tubing is cumbersome and awkward, as the coil may stick or snag as the coils pulled out of the container. In addition, the trigger sprayer and handle are at a fixed size that remain connected to the container during periods of non-use, such as shipping and storage. This requires additional storage space and shelf space, thereby creating inefficiencies.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,993 provides a trigger sprayer with a handle that is stored within a recess provided in a sidewall of the container, wherein the recess is sized and shaped for releasably engaging the sprayer handle. The tubing connecting the container to the trigger sprayer is coiled and stored within a hollow trigger sprayer handle. In use, the handle is removed from the container recess, and the connector plugged into a spout on the container.
However, the container and trigger handle must be specially molded to provide the removable mounting. The available molding process for obtaining the required tolerances is costly and uneconomical. In addition, as the operator employs the trigger sprayer, the material is discharged proximal to the hand of the operator.
Further, such trigger operated sprayers require the pump mechanism be disposed within the handheld trigger, thereby substantially limiting the capacity of the pump mechanism. Therefore, a significant number of trigger cycles are required to dispense a given volume of liquid. This relatively high number of trigger cycles can lead to operator fatigue, or if in a professional setting, carpal tunnel syndrome.
Thus, the need exists for a fluid dispensing system which can reduce exposure of the operator to the material being applied, while providing a flexible conduit between a grip and a container. The need also exists for a dispensing system that can be readily reconfigured between a storage (or shelf) configuration and an operable configuration, without further pressurizing the system. The need further exists for a dispensing system that can incorporate components of different manufacturing tolerances (associated with different manufacturing processes), without sacrificing performance, or increasing costs.


This invention relates to an improved method of preparing the active telogen CF.sub.3 CFClI. The process comprises reacting chlorotrifluoroethylene, iodine, and iodine pentafluoride in the presence of an aluminum bromide catalyst at a temperature above about 25.degree. C.

The present invention relates to an improved method of preparing a telogen of the structure CF.sub.3 CFClI The method involves reacting a mixture comprising iodine, iodine pentafluoride, and chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) in the presence of an aluminum bromide catalyst for a time sufficient to form the telogen. The resultant telogen is advantageous for telomerizing fluorinated olefins.
Chambers et al. in J. Chem. Soc., 3779 (1961), teach the reaction of iodine with iodine pentafluoride to form iodine monofluoride. This reference also teaches that the iodine monofluoride can react with fluorinated olefins such as CTFE at room temperature without catalysts to form moderate yields (37%) of CF.sub.3 CFClI.
Hauptschein et al. in J. Amer. Chem Soc. 83 (1961) 2383, teach a catalyzed reaction of iodine and iodine pentafluoride with CTFE to form CF.sub.3 CFClI. The method described in this reference comprises a two step process in which iodine and iodine pentafluoride in a molar ratio of at least 2:1 were reacted in the presence of an aluminum metal/aluminum iodide catalyst at a temperature of 100.degree.-175.degree. C. to form iodine monofluoride. The iodine monofluoride was then reacted with CTFE in a second step at room temperature to form less than a 50% yield of the desired telogen.
The inventors herein have now discovered that by using the simple process and reactants of the present invention they can obtain good yields of CF.sub.3 CFClI.


A method of assessing a patient's susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmia obtaining data by applying electrodes to detect electrocardiographic signal. A plurality of synchronized subthreshold electrical stimuli are delivered into the patient's body to present stimulated cardiac cycles to the electrodes and unstimulated reference cardiac cycles to the electrodes the signals are analyzed by creating a matrix of vectorized time-phase data representing a plurality cardiac cycles contained in the electrocardiographic signals that are recorded the method includes processing the matrix to generate spectral analytic representation of the matrix, analyzing at least the spectral analytic representation to determine at least one alternans index for the patient; and displaying the at least one alternans index as an indicator of the patient's susceptibility to arrhythmia.

There are various devices known in the art for monitoring heart function. Many of these devices typically function by analyzing signals such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, which can be representative of heart function. Many methods have been developed to analyze a patient's ECG signal to diagnose whether the patient may be susceptible for sudden and life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Two general techniques developed to diagnose a patient for this susceptibility are the signal-averaged ECG method and the T-wave alternans method.
The Kroll and Kroll patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,117,834 and 5,351,687) disclosed that a transthoracic application of subthreshold current across a patient's heart changed myocardial depolarization, that these changes were measurable in the patient's surface ECG, and that this method and apparatus would discern these changes by computing differences between vector magnitudes constructed from signal-averaged ECG signals comprising a plurality of current-injected cardiac cycles and undisturbed cardiac cycles. These methods and apparatus have been further developed in the Brewer-Taghizadeh patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,555,888 and 5,694,943) and in the Hoium-Ryan-Malik patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,951,484, 6,129,678, 6,445,947, 6,512,947, 6,625,483, and 6,850,795). These methods and apparatus have been shown to significantly improve patient diagnosis compared to conventional signal-averaged ECG methods.
The Cohen and Smith patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,491) disclosed a passive method to detect subtle alternations in the morphologic features of the ECG, known as microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA), to determine a patient's increased risk for life-threatening arrhythmias. Their method and apparatus was determined to provide a capability equivalent to general signal-averaged ECG methods. To generate a significant level of diagnostic alternans information, an important element to using the MTWA technology requires the measurements for MTWA to be drawn from a patient's recorded ECG signals derived during the course of an exercise stress procedure for the patient, and as such the MTWA technology may be limited in its application and utility because of the inability of many cardiac patients to participate in exercise induced stress or the risk that they will be harmed by it.
A recently published review (Haghjoo M, et al, Microvolt T-wave alternans: A review of techniques, interpretation, utility, clinical studies, and future perspectives, Internat Jour Cardiol 2006; 109; 293-306) carefully delineates the technical limitations to MTWA testing: (1) MTWA cannot be measured in patients with a trial fibrillation, a common arrhythmia in patients with structural heart disease, (2) the presence of frequent atrial and ventricular ectopy, excessive motion artifacts, and inability to reach a target heart rate render the results indeterminate, (3) the accuracy of MTWA testing is reduced in patients with prolonged QRS complex, (4) the spectral methods for MTWA do not perform well soon after an acute myocardial infarction, and (5) exercise MTWA testing may be impossible in subgroups of patients who are not able to perform bicycle or treadmill testing.
Further, as a clinical example regarding this appraisal, recent research has been published showing that there were a significant higher number of patients with sustained MTWA and a significantly lower number of patients with an indeterminate test when using simultaneous ventricular and atrial pacing in patients following myocardial infarction when compared to the same patients when using bicycle based exercise stress testing (Raatikainen M J P, et al, Microvolt T-wave alternans during exercise and pacing in patients with acute myocardial infarction, Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2005; 28: S193-S197). Such clinical results continue to illustrate the truly demanding procedures required to support the application and accuracy of the MTWA as it is presently practiced.
Despite the need in the art for an ECG apparatus or methods which overcome the shortcomings and limitations of the prior art, none insofar as is known has been developed or proposed.

Method and apparatus for determining susceptibility for arrhythmias using wedensky modulated electrocardiography and alternans analysis


A dual hysteresis signal detection circuit is proposed for detecting a duration of a signal with two hysteresis comparators. There is a first band pass filter for inputting the signal and outputting the signal having a first frequency. A first hysteresis comparator electrically couples to the first band pass filter for comparing with the first frequency of the signal to output a first square wave signal according a first high voltage and a first low voltage. A second hysteresis comparator electrically couples to the first band pass filter for comparing with the first frequency of the signal to output a second square wave signal according to a second high voltage and a second low voltage. A first detection circuit electrically couples to the first hysteresis comparator for detecting a part of the signal having the first frequency that is higher than the first high voltage and lower than the first low voltage to output a first detection signal according to the first square wave signal. A second detection circuit electrically couples to the second hysteresis comparator for detecting a part of the signal having the first frequency that is higher than the second high voltage and lower than the second low voltage to output a second detection signal according to the second square wave signal. The duration of the signal being detected according to the first detection signal and the second detection signal.

In general, when a telephone with a spot dial function is used while a third party is calling the telephone, the telephone company will send a multi-frequency signal to tell the user the spot dial coming. This is the so-called CAS (CPE (Customer Premise Equipment) Alerting Signal) tone. When the telephone circuit detects this signal, an acknowledged signal will be sent to the telephone company. The telephone company may send the telephone number of the third party and relative messages to the user telephone. The CAS tone comprises the multi-frequency signal of 2130 HZ and 2750 HZ. When the caller-ID circuit receives the CAS tone, both the signal frequency and the signal length will be detected. If the frequency and length of the signal meet the specification, the signal may be acknowledged as the signal sent from the telephone company. The Bellcore specification is listed in table 1.
The conventional detection circuit has a damping effect when a CAS tone having large power is received. The effect causes the CAS tone received to be longer than the real CAS tone transmitted, so the CAS tone detection may be incorrect.
For the example of the CAS tone with high frequency 2750 HZ, when the 2750 HZ signal of the input signal is filtered through a band pass filter, the level of "1" or "0" will be decided by a comparator, and such a procedure is the so-called analog to digital conversion. The comparator output is dependent on the hysteresis. The principle is similar to the schmitt trigger. FIG. 1 shows the characteristic curve, wherein Vref is the reference voltage in the analog circuit and the voltage potential from Vth− to Vth+ is the hysteresis value. When the Vi is increased, if Vi>Vth+, Vo="1", and when the Vi is decreased, if Vi<Vth−, Vo="0". The hysteresis value is based on the minimum value acceptable in the telecommunication specification. The signal will be sent to the detection circuit through the hysteresis comparator. The detection circuit consists of counters used to detect the valid input signal according to the signal frequency. If the input signal is valid, the detection circuit outputs CAS_ALGO="1", if not, the CAS_ALGO="0".
FIG. 2 shows the conventional circuit. A short damping effect will appear in case of a large input signal through the band pass filter 21 or 22 after the input signal is ended, but this wrong input signal through the detection of hysteresis comparator 23 or 24 may appear as a valid signal. The larger the signal strength is, the longer the time taken. In speaking of the filter, the calculation time of the digital filter is longer than the analog filter, so the damping effect will be more serious with the digital filter.

Dual hysteresis signal detection circuit


A current collector for use in an electrochemical cell comprising a conductive substrate including a frame comprising at least one frame conductor providing a closed perimeter; a mesh grid within the frame; and a first solid area bounded by a perimeter, the perimeter of the first solid area being disposed at least partially within the mesh grid; and a coating disposed on the conductive substrate and having a thickness, the thickness of the coating being measurable by an instrument comprising a mask including an aperture bounded by a perimeter; wherein the mask of the instrument may be placed in contact or nearly in contact with the coating such that the perimeter of the aperture of the mask is located entirely within the perimeter of the first solid area of the conductive substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to current collectors used in electrochemical cells. More particularly, the present invention relates in one embodiment to a current collector that is integrally provided with a solid area that enables the direct measurement of the thickness of a coating on the current collector.
2. Description of Related Art
Present electrochemical cell designs utilize two primary construction methods. Either the internal electrodes are spirally wound, or they are assembled in a multiple plate configuration. In either case, each of the positive and negative electrodes is comprised of a current collector and active chemical constituents contacted thereto. The current collector can be a conductive foil or screen.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,458 to Muffoletto et al., which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference, describes the construction of one electrochemical cell having a current collector comprising wing-like portions which are folded into electrical association with a central electrode of an opposite polarity.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,777 to Probst, which is also assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference, describes the construction of another electrochemical cell comprised of a current collector having non-symmetric grid pattern converging at a common focal point.
The current collectors of these electrochemical cells are typically formed from thin screens of a conductive material such as nickel, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, tantalum, cobalt, and titanium, and alloys thereof. Prior to incorporating such a current collector screen into an electrochemical cell, it is known and preferable to coat the screen before contacting the active material thereto. Carbonaceous materials are suitable for this purpose. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,451,483 to Probst et al., which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference, describes a prior art Li/CFx cell including a titanium cathode current collector screen coated with a thin layer of graphite/carbon paint. In addition to increasing the electrical conductivity between the Li/CFx active material and the current collector, the graphite/carbon paint serves to prevent direct contact at the interface between the current collector and the active material.
One preferred formulation of such a graphite/carbon paint is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,767,670 to Paulot et al., which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference. In this United States patent, at column 3, line 52, it is disclosed that, "The preferred current collector material is titanium, and most preferably the titanium cathode current collector has a thin layer of a carbonaceous material applied thereto. The coating is provided in a range of about of about 0.0001 inches to about 0.0010 inches, and more preferably in a range of about 0.0004 to 0.0005 inches (10 microns to about 12.7 microns)."
It is further disclosed at column 3, line 66 through column 4, line 16, "According to the present invention, a finely divided graphite pigment in an alcohol-based epoxy resin solution is used as the coating material. One of dipping, painting, doctor-blading, pressurized air atomization spraying, aerosolized spraying, or sol-gel deposition is used to contact the carbonaceous material to the current collector substrate. Spraying is a preferred method."
"A particularly preferred material is commercially available from Acheson Industries, Inc., Port Huron, Mich. under the designation ELECTRODAG 213. This material is a colloidal suspension of graphite, propylene glycol, methyl ether acetate, toluene, formaldehyde, xylene, 2-butoxyethanol and proprietary epoxy and thermoset resins. The thusly-coated substrate is then sintered at a temperature of about 230° C. to about 350° C. for about 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. More preferably, the carbonaceous coating is applied to a thickness of about 0.0004 inches and sintered at about 300° C. for at least about one hour."
For this exemplary carbonaceous coating and for other suitable carbonaceous coatings applied to the surface of a current collector, one must ensure that the coating is applied in a sufficient thickness to protect the current collector from corrosion and other deleterious effects, yet not be so thick as to occupy significant internal volume in the cell. Such internal volume is better used for active electrochemical materials, in order to maximize the total capacity and discharge rates of the cell.
There is, therefore, a need in the manufacturing of such current collectors to control the thickness of the carbonaceous coating applied thereto. A prerequisite to such coating thickness control is an accurate measurement of the coating thickness deposited on the surface of the current collector. Such a measurement may be made on a sample of current collectors taken during the manufacturing process, but it is preferable that measurements may be made on each individual current collector screen that is produced. In the latter case, it is obviously required that the measurement method be non-destructive with respect to the coating and the collector screen. It is also preferable that the capability be provided to make coating thickness measurements at multiple locations on a collector screen surface.
One preferred known non-destructive measurement method for measuring the thickness of coatings on substrates is the "Beta Backscatter" method. Beta rays are electrons emitted from unstable radioisotopes. In this method, a highly collimated beta ray source is directed at a coated sample such as a carbonaceous-coated titanium substrate as provided in the present invention. The electrons penetrate the coating material and are reflected back (back scattered) toward the beta ray source. The back-reflected electrons are collected and counted with a Geiger-Mueller tube; the resulting electron count is related to the thickness of the coating, and such thickness is calculated according to known algorithms. For further information on Beta Backscatter techniques for coating thickness measurement, reference may be had to the publication, "Standard Test Method for Measurement of Coating Thickness By the Beta Backscatter Method," Designation: B 567-98 (Reapproved 2003), of ASTM International Inc. of West Conshohocken, Pa. (ASTM International Inc. was formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials).
As is disclosed at page 3, paragraph 7.2 of this publication, one requirement for obtaining accurate measurements of coating thickness using the beta backscatter method is that the atomic number of the coating material must be sufficiently different (by at least five atomic numbers) from the atomic number of the substrate material upon which it is coated. Such is clearly the case for the carbonaceous coatings applied to the metallic conductive collector screens of the present invention, used in the aforementioned electrochemical cells.
As is disclosed at page 3, paragraph 7.2.2 of this publication, a second requirement is that, "it is essential that the aperture be smaller than the coated area of the surface on which the measurement is made." In this context, the "aperture" is the aperture of the beta backscatter instrument defined on page 1, paragraph 3.1.2 as "the opening of the mask abutting the test specimen." In other words, within the perimeter of the mask opening is the coated area for which the thickness is measured. This area within the mask opening must be a continuous solid area of coating and substrate, free of any through holes or other gross surface irregularities.
This requirement for aperture size presents a problem in making measurements of prior art current collector screens by the beta backscatter technique. Due to the geometry and size of the mesh patterns of prior art collector screens, there is not provided in these collector screens a large enough section of solid area that is larger than the size of the apertures of typical beta backscatter thickness measurement instruments.

Electrochemical cell current collector comprising solid area for coated film measurements


The video data of an image sequence are encoded and decoded section by section, with each nth key frame data field being transmitted as completely as possible. From two adjacent key frame data fields, n-1 phantom image data fields are calculated at the transmitting and receiving ends taking into account n-1 motion fields. Further, n-1 difference image data fields are determined at the transmitting end and transmitted together with the key frame data fields. At the receiving end, the original sequence of data fields is reconstructed from the transmitted data fields by recalculation of the motion fields.

The present invention relates to a method of encoding and decoding the video data of an image sequence. Such methods commonly involve raster-scanning all images and subsequently digitizing the video signals thus obtained. In the simplest case, the image sequence is transmitted by transmitting the digitized video signals successively. This method of encoding requires a data channel of very high capacity, the needed capacity depending on resolution and frame rate. The same applies if the data of such image sequences have to be stored, in which case suitable memory capacity has to be made available for storing the data stream.
Encoding techniques are known which exploit redundancy which naturally occurs in the video data to reduce the volume of the data stream. In the case of single frames and image sequences, advantage is taken of the fact that the frame or image usually contains large-area structures besides find details, and that within these large-area structures, high resolution is not necessary. In large-area structures, adjacent picture elements in a horizontal, vertical or arbitrary direction differ only in the marginal areas of these structures. The similarity is even greater if two successive single frames of an image sequence are compared. Some conventional methods of encoding exploit these similarities, e.g., in differential pulse code modulation (DPCM).
Data reduction during encoding is also possible if, in addition to the pure video data of an image sequence, any motion within the image sequence is taken into account. This permits an estimation of the direction in which the respective picture elements are likely to move. From this transmitted motion information, better estimates can be determined at the receiving end for the single frames to be reconstructed. Conventional coding techniques for this purpose provide more or less accurately reconstructed image sequences depending on the method and amount of circuitry used. Such methods, including movement detection, are described, for example, in the Jae S. Lim, "Two-Dimensional Signal and Image Processing", Prentice-Hall International, Inc., 1990, particularly Chapter 9.6.2, "Motion-Compensated Image Restoration", pages 570-575.
European Patent Specifications EP-B 0 154 125 discloses a method for the motion-adaptive interpolation of television-picture sequences, an arrangement for carrying out the method, and a use of the method. There, individual parts of a picture sequence are omitted during transmission. By means of motion estimators it is determined which parts of the picture are stationary or moving and which stationary parts of the background are covered or made visible by the moving parts of the picture.
Since motion estimation for video signals is accomplished by means of complicated algorithms, which must be performed in real time, motion estimation for high-resolution television signals has so far been considered only at the transmitting end. The motion information is transmitted by the transmitter as a coded motion vector. At the receiver, the complete picture sequence for the high-resolution television picture is reconstructed from this motion information by means of simple adaptive filter circuits.
Advances in circuit integration as a result of digitization make it possible to use complex signal-processing techniques, which were hitherto employed only at the studio or transmitter end, in consumer equipment. For example, a further reduction of the video data to be transmitted can be obtained if the relatively large amount of motion information required to form the motion estimates at the receiving end need not be transmitted.
It is the object of the invention as claimed to provide a method of encoding and decoding video data of an image sequence which manages without the transmission of independent motion information and, nevertheless, ensures high-quality rendition.

Method of encoding and decoding the video data of an image sequence


A leak detector sleeve allows performing leak detection at a flanged joint. The leak detector sleeve is made of elastomeric material that allows achieving a gas-tight seal when the leak detector sleeve encircles a flanged joint. The leak detector sleeve includes a hole that communicates with a gap in the flanged joint, thereby allowing the tip of a sniffer probe to be placed in or near the hole to detect whether the flanged joint is leaking. The leak detector sleeve is made of material that will withstand the operating temperature of the flanged joint without becoming hardened or brittle. A method for detecting a leak using the leak detector sleeve allows for efficiently and conveniently detecting leaks. In addition, the sleeve may be easily used and reused without the adverse effects or intensive manual labor required in the prior art.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure pertains generally to flanged joints, and more specifically relates to leak detection at flanged joints.
2. Background Art
Flanged connectors have been used in a variety of different applications to produce gas-tight flanged joints. One known type of flanged joint 100 is shown in FIG. 1. The flanged joint 100 has two flanged connectors 110 and 120. First connector 110 includes a pipe 112 and a flange 114. Second connector 120 includes a pipe 122 and a flange 124 that mates with flange 114. The two flanges 114 and 124 are typically joined using a plurality of bolts, two of which are shown in FIG. 1 as 132 and 134. Bolts 132 and 134 pass through aligned holes in flanges 114 and 124, and corresponding nuts 142 and 144 are used to tighten the bolts and thus mate flanges 114 and 124 in a gas-tight manner to form a flanged joint. The coupling between flanges 114 and 124 is not shown because the manner in which the flanges are coupled to form a flanged joint is well-known in the art.
Flanged connectors are often used to distribute various liquids and gasses in pipelines and equipment that use the liquids and gasses. One example of an apparatus that uses flanged connectors is gas turbines that generate electricity from natural gas. In a typical gas turbine, there are a large number of burners that must each be supplied with natural gas. As a result, a gas turbine may have a large number of flanged connectors that form flanged joints.
Gas turbines require periodic maintenance. Maintaining a gas turbine often requires disassembling the turbine at the flanged connectors in order to clean or replace fuel screens, repair of breakdowns, periodic scheduled inspections, periodic scheduled maintenance, etc. When the flanged connectors are reassembled into a flanged joint, a check is typically made to make sure the flanged joint does not leak gas. Referring to FIG. 2, a method 200 represents a known way to perform gas leak detection after reassembling a flanged joint. Masking tape is wrapped around the flanges of a flange joint to enclosed the gap between flanges (step 210). A hole is then made in the masking tape (step 220), typically by pressing the point of a pen or pencil through the masking tape. The tip of a sniffer probe of a gas detector is then placed in or near the hole (step 230). If the flanged joint is leaking gas, the masking tape will contain the gas in the gap between the flanges so the sniffer probe can detect the gas.
The prior art method 200 for detecting gas leaks at a flanged joint is effective, but leads to problems later on when the flanged joint needs to be disassembled again, as shown in method 300 in FIG. 3. Before the flanged joint is disassembled, the masking tape must manually be removed from the flanges (step 310). The process of removing the masking tape is very time-consuming and tedious. Because the flanges are very hot when the turbine is operating, the masking tape becomes very brittle and the adhesive on the tape becomes baked-on. As a result, a service person for the gas turbine may spend 30 minutes or more removing the masking tape on each flanged joint. While removing the masking tape, small brittle pieces of the tape may fall between the flanges. Because the gas turbine is typically exhausted through large stacks, airflow to the stacks creates a slight vacuum that sucks any pieces of masking tape into the turbine. The service person disassembles the flanged joint (step 320). In the processing of disassembling the flange joint, any small piece of masking tape between the flanges may get sucked into the gas turbine. If the service person notices a piece of masking tape getting sucked into the turbine, further disassembly typically is required to locate and retrieve the piece of masking tape. If the service person does not notice a piece of masking tape getting sucked into the turbine, the service person may completely reassemble the turbine, then test it only to find that a burner is not operating correctly due to a blockage caused by the piece of masking tape. As a result, the service person will have to disassemble the gas turbine again to locate the blockage and remove it, greatly increasing the time to service the gas turbine. Without a way to perform gas leak detection of flanged joints in a way that does not cause the problems associated with the masking tape used in the prior art, service technicians of flanged joints will continue to spend excessive time dealing with the problems that arise from using the masking tape.


An optical mouse system with a high-angle optical path features small size and low power consumption. The illumination source and optical sensor are mounted in the same plane, directly on the PCB. The higher angle of the optical path causes more light to be reflected to the optical sensor, increasing optical efficiency and allowing a smaller, lower powered LED to be used. This also results in increased sensitivity of the optical sensor, allowing use of the mouse on surfaces on which conventional optical mice cannot function adequately. Sensitivity can be further increased by optional isolation of the optical sensor and illumination source. Lower power usage increases battery life for mobile or wireless-mouse use, while reducing thermal waste considerations. This allows the creation of a significantly smaller form factor for the overall package, thereby reducing materials costs and giving designers more flexibility for external design considerations.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optics. More specifically, the present invention discloses an optical system for sensing motion of a surface relative to the optical system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Traditionally, the optical computer mouse uses a light-emitting diode (LED) to graze a surface with illuminating light, and detects patterns in reflected light from the surface to compute motion. Please refer to FIG. 1a, a diagram of a prior-art optical computer mouse 100. Externally, the mouse has a housing 101 and a base plate 102. Internal to the housing, a printed-circuit board (PCB) 110 has a light-emitting diode 140 (LED) and optical sensor 150 mounted to it. The LED 140 emits light, a light beam 170 of which is focused and guided through an illumination guide 130. The illumination guide 130 typically extends through a hole in the PCB 110. The light beam 170 enters the illumination guide 130 through a first flat surface 1311, is reflected off a first reflector 1301, is reflected off a second reflector 1302, and exits the illumination guide 130 through a second flat surface 1312. The light beam 170 exits the mouse body through an aperture 107 in the base plate 102, reflects off a reference surface 10, and reenters the illumination guide 130 through a third flat surface 1313. The light beam 170 shines onto an optical sensor 150, which detects patterns in the reference surface 10 revealed by the light. These patterns may be caused by roughness in the reference surface 10, or may be caused by colorations of the surface 10. Referring to FIG. 1b, the angle 20 between the light beam 170 and the reference surface 10 is acute and is typically less than about twenty degrees and greater than about five degrees from the plane of the reference surface. The angle 70 between the light beam 170 and a normal 90 to the reference surface 10 is thus typically about seventy degrees or greater.
However, this low angle causes most of the light emitted by the LED to be scattered to the sides, thereby being lost to the sensor. The LED 140 must therefore be of high intensity, consuming a large amount of power, which is then wasted on generating the lost light, and which also creates heat dissipation issues. Furthermore, this requires the LED 140 and other components to be correspondingly large, increasing the size of the mouse. In addition to increasing materials costs, this creates a lower limit on the attainable size of the mouse. Moreover, the structure of this design places the LED 140 and the optical sensor 150 in different planes, and requires cuts in the PCB 110, thereby further increasing the design complexity of the mouse, and also increasing the required size.
In addition, the structure of the prior art mouse is typically open internally, and in many cases transparent materials are used for the housing 101 and base plate 102 for aesthetic considerations, thereby allowing external light not generated by the mouse 100 to reach the optical sensor 150, and internally, allowing randomly scattered light from the LED 140 to reach the optical sensor 150. This undesirable light can only serve to interfere with the imaging performed by the optical sensor 150.
Therefore there is need for an improved optical system for the mouse which will allow smaller overall size and lower power consumption while also reducing design complexity.


In one embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) fabrication material is dispensed from a print head by dividing its nozzles into several groups, and sequentially allowing each group to fire. The nozzles may be grouped based on the amounts of material they dispense. For example, the nozzles may be grouped by drop volume or drop mass. In one embodiment, an IC fabrication material is dispensed on a substrate by controlling a firing sequence of a nozzle to promote merging of material on the substrate. The firing sequence may also be altered to take into account the firing sequence of adjacent nozzles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to integrated circuit (IC) fabrication, and more particularly but not exclusively to deposition of IC fabrication materials using a print head.
2. Description of the Background Art
The use of ink jet technology to print on paper is well known. A typical ink jet print head has several nozzles that are coupled to an ink reservoir. Ink from the reservoir are dispensed through the nozzles to form a pattern on paper. The ink jet print head may be scanned relative to the paper, or vice versa, to cover a large area.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the operation of an exemplary ink jet print head 20. Print head 20 may be of the type available from Ink Jet Technology Inc. of San Jose, Calif., for example. Print head 20 may have any number of nozzles 22 (i.e., 22-1, 22-2, . . . ) but only four are shown for clarity of illustration. A digital firing pattern may be serially loaded into a firing register 23 of print head 20 to enable or disable a nozzle 22. Each nozzle 22 may have a corresponding bit position in firing register 23. A logical "1" enables a nozzle 22 to fire (i.e., dispense ink), while a logical "0" disables a nozzle 22 from firing. For example, assuming a 4-bit firing register 23, a firing pattern of "1000" may be loaded into firing register 23 to enable firing of nozzle 22-1 but not nozzles 22-2, 22-3, and 22-4; a firing pattern of "1001" may be loaded into firing register 23 to enable firing of nozzles 22-1 and 22-4 but not nozzles 22-2 and 22-3; and so on.
Each nozzle 22 may be coupled to an ink reservoir via a chamber (not shown). Ink flows from the reservoir into the chambers prior to being dispensed out of nozzles 22. The amount of ink drawn into the chambers, and thus the amount of ink dispensed by nozzles 22, may be controlled by loading an appropriate timing pattern into a timing circuit 24. Timing circuit 24 converts the timing pattern into timing pulses that are applied to all nozzles 22.
The use of ink jet technology in the fabrication of integrated circuits (IC's) is disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,843, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Unlike paper printing applications where the emphasis is on printing sharply delineated marks, film deposition in an IC fabrication process is concerned with dispensing a uniform amount of material on a substrate. This uniform amount may be in terms of unit volume per unit area. Because of manufacturing tolerances, the nozzles of a print head may dispense varying amounts of material for the same timing pulses. The amount of material dispensed from nozzles, which may be in terms of drop volume, may vary by 10% or more from nozzle to nozzle for a given print head.
One way of compensating for variations in drop volume is to provide a separate timing circuit for each nozzle. This approach, however, requires relatively expensive electronics and bulky cabling as each nozzle may have to be connected to its own drive circuit with independent timing. Using a relatively low-cost, off-the-shelf print head poses its share of problems because such a print head typically employs a serially loaded firing register and a common timing circuit for all nozzles. Conventionally, a common timing circuit does not allow for the use of a tuned timing pattern for each individual nozzle without adversely affecting print frequency.

Deposition of integrated circuit fabrication materials using a print head


A search system and method are disclosed. In one general aspect the method features fingerprinting digitally stored documents and queries based on one or more topic models. Similarities between document and query fingerprints can be detected to search for documents. Topic summaries can also be derived from the documents and queries based on the topic models.

Document search technologies determine which documents in a large collection best match an input search expression. This search expression is typically a few words that the user expects to find in the document, though it may utilize more specialized facilities such as Boolean logic. When many documents have been written on a particular subject, a keyword search will match a large fraction of the document collection. The problem then becomes how to prioritize the documents in this 'hit list' by determining their relevance to the original query. In the absence of additional information, it is difficult for Boolean-based document search technologies to do a good job of prioritizing the hit list. If the user puts too many terms in the search, then many relevant documents are excluded. If the search contains too few terms, then the hit list is too long. Furthermore, Boolean search clauses are difficult to enter into a computer and hard for many users to understand.


An implantable medical device having a case with therapeutic componentry contained with the case. A module has a rail around at least a portion of a perimeter of the module and is adapted to be mechanically secured to the case. The case has a rigid fastening channel adapted to receive the rail of the module. The rigid fastening channel has an opening allowing the rail of the module to drop into the rigid fastening channel through the opening and then slide along the rigid fastening channel to be mechanically secured to the case.

Implantable medical devices for producing a therapeutic result in a patient are well known. Examples of such implantable medical devices include implantable drug infusion pumps, implantable neurostimulators, implantable cardioverters, implantable cardiac pacemakers, implantable defibrillators and cochlear implants. Some of these devices, if not all, and other devices either provide an electrical output or otherwise contain electrical circuitry to perform their intended function.
Such implantable medical devices, when implanted, are subjected to a harsh environment in contact with bodily fluids. Such bodily fluids can be corrosive to the implantable medical device. Typically, implantable medical devices are hermetically sealed, often in a titanium case, in order to protect the implantable medical device from the harmful effects of the bodily fluids with which the implantable medical device comes into contact.
Implantable medical devices often have components that may be assembled in separate, or at least separable, housings. An example is an implantable medical device containing a rechargeable power source, such as a chemical battery, which needs to be inductively charged transcutaneously from an external charging device. The external charging device typically has a primary charging coil which inductively stimulates a secondary coil associated with an implantable medical device. It may be desirable to locate the secondary coil away from, typically outside of, the housing containing the remaining components of the implantable medical device primarily in order to segregate the heat generating component of the secondary coil from the remainder of the implantable medical device. Thus, the secondary coil is sometimes contained in a separate assembly than the rechargeable power source and/or therapeutic componentry of the implantable medical device. It is still necessary to electrically connect the secondary coil to at least some of the remaining components. Further, it may be desirable to physically secure the internal antenna housing the secondary coil with the housing of the remainder of the implantable medical device.
It is difficult, however, to achieve a secure and reliable mechanical and electrical connection which is secure from the deleterious effects of body fluids into which the implantable medical device will come into contact following implantation.

Drop and slide engagement for implantable medical device


Disclosed is clay material, the particles of which are intercalated with a compound comprising a saturated isoprene oligomer bonded to a polar group. In a preferred embodiment the polar group is a quaternary ammonium radical. Further disclosed is a nanocomposite comprising C2-C3 xcex1-olefin polymer material, and, dispersed in the matrix of the olefin polymer material, exfoliated clay material, the particles of which before exfoliation were intercalated with said compound.

The invention is in the chemical arts. It relates to clays, the particles of which are water swellable, the intercalation and exfoliation of such particles, and synthetic resin compositions comprising the exfoliated particles.
Clays are silicate minerals, the particles of which have equivalent spherical diameters of less than 2 xcexcm. For many years clay has been used in synthetic resin compositions (in more common terminology, polymer compositions) to enhance or impart toughness, heat deflection temperature, oxygen barrier and optical properties of or to the compositions. Such use has led to the development of nanocomposites. These are compositions that comprise normally solid, polymer material and, highly dispersed in the matrices of the polymer material, diminuted clay particles. These particles are in the form of platelets, the thicknesses of which are measured in nanometers. Diminuted clay particles of such fineness are obtained from water swellable clays which include crystalline clays that belong to the class of layer silicates, also referred to as phyllosilicates. The phyllosilicates include the smectite (or montmorillonite), mica and vermiculite groups of clays. The particles of these minerals are formed by layers or laminates of crystalline silicate platelets. The layers are strongly held together by electrochemical attraction. When these minerals are exposed to water, it diffuses into the particles between the layers, and causes the layers to move apart, (as evidenced by expansion or swelling of the particles), whereby the layers are not as strongly held together. When these minerals are subjected to drying conditions, water between the layers escapes and evaporates, and the particles shrink.
One method of obtaining the diminuted clay particles is based on this water swelling effect. In the method, an aqueous solution or dispersion of an organoelectrolyte, and water swellable clay such as a phyllosilicate are admixed. The solution or dispersion migrates into the phyllosilicate particles between the layers, and forces the layers apart. Water is evaporated from the particles. However, because of the electrolytic portion of the organoelectrolyte, it remains between the layers of silicate platelets, and because of the bulk of the organo portion, the layers remain spaced apart. The resulting swollen particles are described as intercalated, and the organoelectrolyte is referred as the intercalant. In such condition substantially less shear is needed to separate the platelet layers from each other. Sufficient shear is applied to the intercalated particles to overcome the forces holding the layers together, and delaminate them, whereby diminuted clay particles are obtained. Such particles are referred to as exfoliated clay particles. In most instances, the shear involved in the melt blending of the polymer material and the intercalated, phyllosilicate particles is sufficient to exfoliate the particles.
There are numerous patent and other publications relating to nanocomposites, how to make them, and the preparation of intercalated clays for use in making nanocomposites. Representative of such publications is the U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,469 to Beall et al. This patent discloses nanocomposites in which examples of the matrix polymers (from which the normally solid polymer material of the patent is selected) comprise such homopolymers as polyethylene and polypropylene, and such copolymers as propylene copolymers and ethylene copolymers with ethylene-propylene copolymers and ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers being mentioned. The clay disclosed in the patent is a phyllosilicate such as a smectite clay and the intercalant disclosed in the patent includes an oligomer with carbonyl, hydroxyl, carboxyl, amine and/or ether functionalities.
The invention comprises a clay material intercalated with intercalant material comprising an organic compound having a nonpolar portion bonded to a polar portion. The nonpolar portion for the most part is a saturated oligomer of isoprene. It resembles or mimics the basic structure or parts of the basic structure of the hydrocarbon backbone of homopolymers and copolymers of propylene and of ethylene. This portion, therefore, tends to be compatible with such polymers, especially copolymers of both propylene and ethylene. The polar portion tends to have an affinity for the silicate platelets of the clay material. Consequently, the organic compound enhances the compatibility with such polymers of the exfoliated, clay material that results when melt blending, with sufficient shear to exfoliate the intercalated clay material, the polymers and the clay material intercalated with the intercalant material.
The invention further comprises a nanocomposite containing a C2-C3 xcex1-olefin polymer material and dispersed in the matrix thereof an exfoliated, clay material that before exfoliation had been intercalated with intercalant material comprising the foregoing organic compound. The C2-C3 xcex1-olefin polymer material is material selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of propylene and ethylene, xcex1-olefin copolymers in which polymerized propylene units predominate, xcex1-olefin copolymers in which polymerized ethylene units predominate, copolymers of propylene and ethylene or propylene and butene-1 in which the polymerized propylene and ethylene units or propylene and butene-1 are substantially equal in number and together predominate, the latter copolymers of propylene and ethylene or propylene and butene-1 being with or without other different polymerized C4-C10 xcex1-olefin units, and mixtures thereof
In the more specific aspects of the invention, the essential component of the intercalant material, that is, the above mentioned organic compound, has the general formula:
in which R is H or a normal or branched C1-C4 alkyl, n is 2-17, and Rxe2x80x2 is a radical with at least one polar group or moiety. In most embodiments of the compound, Rxe2x80x2 is X, COORxe2x80x3, CN, NRxe2x80x3xe2x80x22 or NRxe2x80x3xe2x80x22xc2x7HX with Rxe2x80x3 being Rxe2x80x3xe2x80x2, NRxe2x80x3xe2x80x22, NRxe2x80x3xe2x80x22xc2x7HX or a monovalent metal cation, Rxe2x80x3xe2x80x2 being H or a normal or branched C1-C4 alkyl and X being I, Br, Cl or F. In each of NRxe2x80x3xe2x80x22 or NRxe2x80x3xe2x80x22xc2x7HX, each Rxe2x80x3xe2x80x2 can be the same or different. However, in preferred embodiments, Rxe2x80x3 is NHRxe2x80x3xe2x80x2xc2x7HX. Examples of a normal or branched C1-C4 alkyl are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl and tert-butyl. Examples of a monovalent metal cation include cations of an alkali metal in Group 1A of the Periodic Table of the Elements (e.g., Li, Na, and K).
One way to make the generic compound comprises condensing isoprene anionically with a C1-C4 alkyllithium to form an oligomer of 3-18 isoprenoid units with C1-C4 alkyl being a substituent of a methyl carbon of the end isopropyl group of the unsaturated hydrocarbon backbone, and with lithium being an ionically attached to the methylene carbon at the other end of the backbone. The oligomer is reacted with either ethylene oxide or carbon dioxide, and then with water, to replace the lithium ion with a hydroxyethyl group or a carboxyl group. In either case the resulting compound is hydrogenated over a Pt or Rh catalyst to saturate the backbone. The hydrogenation reaction is typically done at 35 to 40xc2x0 C. in hexane for 8-12 hours.
The saturated, hydroxyethyl substituted compound is halogenated with a hydrogen halide (hydrogen bromide or iodide being preferred because of the ease of reaction) to form a compound of the formula in which Rxe2x80x2 is X. This halide compound is reacted with (1) an alkali metal cyanide to obtain a compound in which Rxe2x80x2 is CN, and (2) ammonia (or ammonium hydroxide), or a mono- or di(C1-C4alkyl)amine to obtain a compound in which Rxe2x80x2 is NRxe2x80x3xe2x80x22. The latter compound is reacted with a hydrogen halide to obtain a compound in which Rxe2x80x2 is NRxe2x80x3xe2x80x22xc2x7HX. The saturated, carboxy substituted compound is reacted with (1) a C1-C4 alcohol to form the compound, an ester, in which Rxe2x80x3 is C1-C4 alkyl, (2) ammonia (or ammonium hydroxide), or a mono- or di(C1-C4alkyl)amine to obtain a compound in which Rxe2x80x3 is NRxe2x80x3xe2x80x22, and (3) an alkali metal base to give a compound in which Rxe2x80x3 is a monovalent metal (alkali metal) cation. Similar to the above, the aminocarboxymethyl compound (in which Rxe2x80x3 is NRxe2x80x3xe2x80x22) is reacted with a hydrogen halide to obtain a compound in which Rxe2x80x3 is NRxe2x80x3xe2x80x22xc2x7HX. All of the reactions described in this paragraph are conventional type reactions, and the general conditions thereof are well known to organic chemists of ordinary skill in the art.
A highly preferred embodiment of the compound, and a precursor of other embodiments of the compound is 3,7,11-trimethyldodecyl halide. A process for making the embodiment starts with 3,7,11-trimethyldodecatriene-1-ol, a naturally occurring isoprenoid known as farnesol. In the process this chemical is catalytically hydrogenated to 3,7,11-trimethyldodecan-1-ol which in turn is halogenated. The resulting halide is reacted as above indicated with respect to the generic halide compound to obtain the various other Rxe2x80x2 radicals. Thus, the resulting halide is reacted with a C1-C4 alkyl amine to form C1-C4 alkyl (3,7,11-trimethydodecyl) amine. This amine compound then is reacted with a hydrogen halide to form the quaternary compound 3,7,11-trimethyldodecylamine hydrohalide. This quaternary ammonium compound is a preferred compound because of its higher affinity, compared to the other, non-quaternary ammonium embodiments of the generic compound, with phyllosilicates, especially semectites.
As above stated, the generic compound has a general affinity for silicate platelets such as those in phyllosilicates, and general compatibility with C2-C3 xcex1-olefin polymer material. However, the degree of affinity for the silicate platelets varies from one specific embodiment of the compound to another, depending to a large extent on the composition of the platelets and the degree of polarity of Rxe2x80x2. Similarly, the degree of compatibility with the polymer material varies from one specific embodiment of the compound to another, depending to a large extent on the value of n in the formula. Nevertheless, in each case there is significant enhancement of the compatibility of the silicate platelets with the polymer material when the generic compound is combined with the platelets. In addition, the generic compound tends to be in melted condition at the same temperatures at which such polymer material is molten, and this has a favorable effect on compatibility when the intercalated clay particles are admixed with the polymer material in the melted condition, and under sufficient shear to exfoliate the particles.
In some embodiments of the invention the intercalant material comprises only one compound within the scope of the above general formula. In other embodiments it comprises more than one such compound. These other embodiments are typical when intercalant material is made from isoprene.
In all embodiments of the invention substantially all of the clay material is water swellable. In some of these embodiments the clay material comprises only one variety of water swellable clay. In other embodiments it comprises more than one such variety. These embodiments include those having clay in one group of the phyllosilicate class (for example, the smectite group), and another clay in another group of the class (for example, the vermiculite group), and embodiments in which all the clays are in one phyllosilicate group. In the more preferred embodiments the clay or clays is or are in the smectite group.
The intercalated, clay material of this invention is made by preparing an aqueous solution or suspension of the intercalant material, admixing water swellable clay material and the solution or suspension, and, when enough of the solution or suspension has infiltrated and been sorbed by the clay material to substantially swell the particles thereof, the thus intercalated clay material is separated from the aqueous solution or suspension and dried.
In the preparation of an aqueous solution or suspension of intercalant material, the amount of intercalant material admixed with the liquid generally is such that the concentration of the material in the solution or suspension is about 10-50 parts by weight of the solution or suspension. Solubility of the intercalant material in water is dependent for the most part on the carbon chain length or lengths (i.e., the absolute or average value of n in the general formula) and to a lesser extent on the degree of polarity or polarities of the polar portion or portions of the compound or compounds The shorter the chain lengths (the smaller the value of n, e.g., from 2 to 10), the greater is the solubility. The more polar the polar portion, the greater is the solubility. The optimum chain length for compatibility of the compound or compounds of the intercalant material with C2-C3 xcex1-olefin polymer material appears to exist when the absolute or average value of n is 12. At the absolute or average chain length corresponding to this number, the solubility of the intercalant material in water might only be partial. In such case a water-miscible solvent for the compound, for example, a C1-C4 alcohol (methanol, ethanol, and the like) can be part of the liquid medium. The concentration of the water-miscible solvent should be sufficient so that at least an easily stirrable suspension of the intercalant material is formed when the material is admixed with the water-solvent solution. This preparation of the aqueous solution or suspension normally is carried out at 20-25xc2x0 C. and atmospheric pressure. However, operable higher and lower temperatures and pressures are within the broader concepts of the invention.
The relative amounts of the solution or suspension admixed with the water swellable clay material can vary. However, satisfactory results are obtained when the amounts are such that the weight ratio of intercalant material to the clay material is generally about 20:100-40:100, and preferably about 27:100-32:100.
The period of time the water swellable clay material is in contact with the aqueous solution or suspension is dependent on the rate of infiltration or migration of the solution or suspension into and its sorption by the clay material. This in turn is dependent on the clay or clays that make up the clay material. Preferably, the period should be sufficient to achieve maximum or substantially maximum swelling of the clay particles. To determine the period, test runs, which can be readily done, are recommended. However, a period of time of generally about 1-12 hours and preferably about 6-8 hours gives satisfactory results.
These steps of the preparation of the intercalated, clay material are performed in conventional equipment.
As to the nanocomposite of this invention, the concentration of the exfoliated, intercalated clay material component thereof is dependent on the desired physical properties of the articles made therefrom. However, in general the concentration is about 2-25 parts by weight of the nanocomposite, and preferably about 5-15 parts by weight of the nanocomposite.
While the essential components of the nanocomposite are C2-C3 xcex1-polymer material and the exfoliated, intercalated clay material of this invention, specific embodiments of the nanocomposite include at least one other additional component. That additional component is antidegradant material (material selected from antioxidants, heat stabilizers, and the like). Other additional components include material selected from the group comprising antacids, colorants, compatibilizers other than the intercalant material of this invention, and the like, including other substances not here listed, but conventionally in nanocomposites.
The nanocomposite of this invention is made by melt blending C2-C3 xcex1-olefin polymer material, the intercalated clay material of this invention, preferably antidegradant material, and such other components as might be involved in the embodiment being made. In this regard, one of the general embodiments of the nanocomposite is a concentrate or masterbatch, and in specific embodiments thereof one or more of such other components are not included until the concentrate and such other components are melt blended with additional C2-C3 xcex1-olefin polymer material to make the ultimate polymer composition for forming useful articles.
The melt blending of at least the C2-C3 xcex1-olefin polymer material and the intercalated clay material of this invention is done by conventional ways and means. In doing so, the shear applied to achieve a uniform blend usually is sufficient to exfoliate the intercalated clay material and, with the aid of the intercalant material, distribute the resulting exfoliated platelets uniformly throughout the melted C2-C3 xcex1-olefin polymer material.
After the nanocomposite of this invention is made and still is in the molten condition, it can be used as is to manufacture by conventional ways and means useful solid articles or solid pellets for later manufacture of useful articles.

Intercalated clay useful for making an xcex1-olefin polymer material nanocomposite


An air pump has a cylinder, a shaft to be manipulative for inflation, a hose connected to the cylinder, a nozzle connected to an end of the hose and a handle pivoted on an end of the shaft. The handle is manipulative to be moved between an expanded position and a collapsed position. The handle is provided with a receiving portion to receive a portion of the shaft therein while the handle is moved to the collapsed position and an engaging portion to be engaged with the nozzle. The cylinder has a channel to receive the hose therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air pump, and more particularly to an air pump, which the nozzle and the hose are held on the cylinder firmly.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional air pump has a cylinder, a shaft with a handle to reciprocate a piston in the cylinder, a hose connected to the cylinder and having a nozzle and a C-shaped clip mounted on the cylinder to hold the nozzle.
In practice, the clip cannot hold the nozzle firmly that the nozzle is easy to be released by unexpected force. The clip is exposed out of the cylinder that increases the size of the air pump and that is inconvenient for storage. The hose is suspended while the nozzle is held by the clip that the hose is easy to be wrested unexpectedly.


An electric junction box, comprises a plurality of bus-bars spaced apart from each other, and a case made of a resin, covering the plurality of bus-bars and including a window for exposing a portion of the plurality of bus-bars, wherein the window has a first edge located at respective exposed portions of the plurality of bus-bars and a second edge located between the respective exposed portions of the plurality of bus-bars; and the first edge is formed along a virtual line that is at an angle with respect to an extending direction of the bus-bars, and the second edge is formed with a depressed area having a shape of a rectangular triangle whose slope is the virtual line.

For instance, an electric junction box for connecting electrical components of a vehicle, such as an automobile, has been proposed in PTL 1. In the electric junction box, a plurality of bus-bars making up an electrical circuit, are insert-molded in a base member of a resin case. In order to facilitate positioning of the bus-bars during insert molding operation, the bus-bars are formed such that adjacent bus-bars are connected together at appropriate locations. After insert molding, a connection is cut so as to separate the bus-bars from each other. Desired electrical circuits are thereupon made in the base member of the case. According to PTL 1, a window for exposing the connections of the bus-bars to be separated is formed in the base member.
Moreover, in PTL 1, terminals for use in connection with another electrical component are provided in the electric junction box by standing upright the plurality of arranged bus-bars. And, a window for exposing the plurality of bus-bars is formed in a connection portion. The plurality of arranged bus-bars in the connection portion, are supported in a cantilever fashion along edge of the window.

Electric junction box, molding and processing dies therefor


A light assembly can have an array of light sources forming rows and columns, where the array comprises a plurality of chips, and each chip comprises a subarray of light sources forming the rows and columns. A boundary between chips in the array can be configured to extend diagonally across rows and columns of the array such that, for each column across which the boundary extends, the first row of the plurality rows may not have a light source disposed in the respective column, but a second row of the plurality of rows has a light source disposed in the respective column.

The disclosure relates generally to near-eye-display systems, and more specifically to waveguide displays with a small form factor, a large field of view, and/or a large eye box. Near-eye, light-field displays project images directly into a user's eye, encompassing both near-eye displays and electronic viewfinders. Conventional near-eye displays generally have a display element that generates image light that passes through one or more lenses before reaching a user's eyes. Additionally, near-eye displays in virtual-reality (VR) systems and/or augmented-reality (AR) systems have design criteria to be compact, be light weight, and provide two-dimensional expansion with a large eye box and a wide field-of-view (FOV).

Scanning display with increased uniformity


A composite light adjustable intraocular lens, can include an intraocular lens (IOL), a light adjustable lens, attached to the intraocular lens, and haptics. In some cases, a composite light adjustable intraocular lens can include an intraocular lens, and haptics, attached to the IOL with light-adjustable hinges. A method of adjusting an implanted composite light adjustable intraocular lens can include planning a targeted optical outcome of an implantation of the composite light adjustable intraocular lens into an eye; implanting, the composite light adjustable intraocular lens into the eye; performing a diagnostic measurement to evaluate an implanted optical outcome of the implantation; determining a correction based on a comparison of the planned optical outcome and the implanted optical outcome; and applying a stimulus to adjust an optical characteristic of the composite light adjustable intraocular lens to induce the determined correction.

The techniques of cataract surgery have been experiencing continuous, impressive progress of late. Subsequent generations of phacoemulsification platforms and newly invented surgical lasers keep increasing the precision of the placement of intraocular lenses (IOLs) and keep reducing the unwanted medical outcomes. Also, present generations of IOLs, based on soft acrylate materials, deliver very good optical outcomes, and numerous additional medical benefits, including ease and control of the implantation process, and an advantageous haptic design.
Nevertheless, some types of challenges remain even with the latest generation of devices and IOLs. One of them is that, in spite of surgeons carrying out the most careful pre-surgical diagnostics to determine the optimal IOL to be implanted, in a notable percentage of cases the post-surgical medical outcomes, are less than optimal. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including an uneven healing process of the incisions tilting or moving the implanted IOL, or an imperfect modeling of the eye, among others.
A noteworthy breakthrough has been achieved recently by the development of lenses that can be adjusted non-invasively after the cataract surgery. These lenses involve light sensitive materials that photopolymerize upon activation by an irradiation. Irradiation with a carefully designed radial profile initiates the photopolymerization with a corresponding radial profile, which, in turn, leads to the IOL changing its physical shape and therefore, its optical power. These light adjustable lenses hold great promise to adjust and eliminate the residual post-surgical misalignments and to fine tune "the last diopter" of the IOLs post-surgically and non-invasively.
However, the present generation of these light adjustable lenses can be further improved still. Areas of possible improvements include optimized material properties that could ease the challenges of the implantation, as well as better haptic designs.
Therefore, there is an unmet medical need for intraocular lenses that deliver the advantages of both today's regular acrylate IOLs, and that of the light adjustable IOLs, while minimizing the less desirable aspects of their performance.

Composite light adjustable intraocular lens


Dual mode headphones, and methods for constructing the same are provided. Headphones can be connected to an electronic device to provide an audio output. The headphones can include a transducer or other component for providing sound waves at appropriate levels near a user's ear. To provide audio as a speaker, however, circuitry in the headphones can include a powered amplifier that may be selectively used. The headphones can be moved between a first, in-ear position and a second, speaker position. A sensor in the headphones can detect the current position of the headphones, and can change the mode of the circuit to correspond to the detected current position. For example, the sensor can change between an in-ear mode in which the amplifier is bypassed and a speaker mode in which the amplifier is powered and used. In some cases, the headphones can include a sensor for preventing the speaker mode when the headphones are positioned near a user's ears.

Portable electronic devices have become common place in our society. Users typically listen to content on their portable devices using headphones, although there are speakers available that can be connected to the portable devices to enable multiple users to listen in at the same time. This approach, however, may require a user to carry both a headphone and speakers, or may require the user to rely on speakers built into the device, which may not be as powerful or have as high a sound quality as external speakers.

Dual mode headphones and methods for constructing the same


A method and apparatus for proactively communicating information between processes through a message repository is provided. To communicate with other processes, a process may post a message to a message repository. Other processes may, at regular or irregular intervals, search the message repository for new messages that have been posted to the repository since the last search, and retrieve those new messages. Processes may post and retrieve messages relative to the message repository by invoking methods provided by an application programming interface (API). By posting a message to the message repository, a particular process can inform other interested processes proactively of actions that the particular process has taken, is taking, or will take. By retrieving messages from the message repository, a process can determine what actions other processes have taken, are taking, or will take, and adjust accordingly.

Sometimes, actions performed by one process may impact one or more other concurrently executing processes. For example, a first process may generate data and write the data into a buffer. A second process might concurrently read data from the buffer, removing data from the buffer as the data is read. As long as the second process reads and removes data from the buffer at least as rapidly as the first process writes data to the buffer, the buffer will not overflow. However, the second process might shut down. If the first process is not aware that the second process has shut down, then the first process might continue to write data to the buffer, eventually causing the buffer to overflow.
Because actions performed by one process may impact one or more other processes, it is beneficial for such processes to be able to communicate automatically with each other. If processes execute in connection with the same operating system, then the processes may invoke interprocess communication methods provided by the operating system in order to exchange messages with each other.
However, each process will often execute in connection with a different operating system. Even if each such operating system provides interprocess communication methods, an interprocess communication method provided by one operating system might not be compatible with an interprocess communication method provided by another operating system.
Under some approaches, in order for a first process to receive each message that is sent from a second process, the first process is configured to listen continuously for messages from the second process. When a first process is configured to continuously listen for messages from a second process, the first process can be said to be "tightly coupled" to the second process. Tight coupling between processes increases the processing overhead involved in interprocess communication.
Under some approaches, in order for a particular process to send a message to multiple other processes, the particular process sends the message to each of the other processes separately. Under such approaches, the particular process needs to know the identity of each message recipient. If there are many message recipients, then many messages will be sent. Too many messages can overwhelm limited communication resources.
Additionally, under current approaches, messages relating to an action performed by a process are generated only after the process has performed the action. In systems that use monitoring agents, a significant amount of time may pass before a monitoring agent detects that a process has performed an action. A significant amount of time may pass before the monitoring agent generates a corresponding message to alert other processes about the action. By the time the action has been performed, there may be little or no time remaining for such other processes to prepare for or respond to the action appropriately and effectively. At any given moment, computing resources may be allocated to the performance of one or more tasks. Without receiving sufficient advanced notice of some actions, processes might not have enough time to re-allocate enough resources to handle the action efficiently. When processes can only attempt to judge the impact of other processes' performed actions based on limited information gathered reactively by a monitoring agent, which may be able to determine only superficial information about the actions, the processes may be hindered by the need to evaluate the meaning of the actions. Sometimes, only the process that performed the actions possesses sufficient information concerning the full meaning and scope of the actions.
These are some of the problems that attend past approaches to interprocess communication. Because of these problems, past approaches to interprocess communication leave much to be desired. Because interprocess communication can significantly benefit systems in which the actions of one process impact one or more other processes, a technique for interprocess communication that overcomes these problems is needed.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.

Proactively communicating information between processes through a message repository


Methods for AC fault (ACF) detection are provided. In addition, methods for AC fault (ACF) detection and verification are provided. In addition, methods for identification of a module which is the cause of an AC fault (ACF) are provided. In one implementation, one or more of these methods can be combined to provide a fast, simple, low cost and reliable ACF detection, verification and/or identification.

Electric and hybrid vehicles typically include an alternating current (AC) electric motor which is driven by a direct current (DC) power source, such as a storage battery. Motor windings of the AC electric motor can be coupled to inverter module(s) which perform a rapid switching function to convert the DC power to AC power which drives the AC electric motor.
Many electric and hybrid vehicles implement an isolated high voltage DC bus which couples the inverter module(s) to the DC power source. Other modules, such as devices, components or circuits, can also be coupled to the high voltage DC bus. In some situations one of more of these modules can operate improperly and cause an electrical AC fault (ACF) to occur along the high voltage DC bus which causes high voltage spikes that can potentially damage other modules coupled to the high voltage DC bus.
One way to address ACFs is to implement a Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) (sometimes also referred to as a residual current device (RCD), residual current circuit breaker (RCCB), ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)), that observes the respective currents at a ground terminal and a supply terminal, and disconnects a circuit coupled between these terminals when the differential current flow between these terminals is not balanced (i.e., zero (0)) since this signifies current leakage. Such ground fault detection circuits typically implement current transformers to detect ACF currents in the ground path. However, transformer-based ground fault detectors are expensive and bulky.
Another way to address ACFs is to implement ground fault detection using software algorithms. However, such software algorithms have long detection times.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a fast, simple, low cost and reliable ACF detection and/or verification circuit. It would also be desirable to provide a fast, simple, low cost and reliable ACF identification circuit which can aid in diagnosing the source of an ACF so that the source of the ACF can be turned off or disconnected from the high voltage DC bus when an ACF occurs. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Methods for common mode voltage-based AC fault detection, verification and/or identification