The invention provides a method of producing a synthetic retina, comprising: i) providing a three dimensional stem cell culture throughout the differentiation time course, ii) differentiating the three dimensional stem cell culture for a first time period in a first neural cell culture medium comprising: a) L-glutamine; b) B27 supplement; and c) an IGF-1 receptor agonist, iii) subsequently differentiating the three dimensional stem cell culture for a second time period in a second neural cell culture medium comprising: a) L-glutamine; b) B27 supplement; c) N2 supplement; and d) an IGF-1 receptor agonist, wherein said synthetic retina contains laminated retinal tissue comprising.

Blindness represents an increasing global problem with social and economic impacts both for the patients and society in general. In Europe, approximately 1 in 30 individuals experience sight loss and 75% of those are unemployed, a social burden which is very likely to increase as the population of Europe ages.
Diseases affecting the retina, the light sensitive extension of the central nervous system lining the back of the eye, account for approximately 26% of blindness. To date, there are no treatments to restore lost retinal cells and visual function and there is an urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. A pioneering breakthrough has highlighted the possibility of generating synthetic retinae from stem cells under laboratory conditions, a finding with immense relevance for basic research, in vitro disease modelling, drug discovery and cell replacement therapies. This research however is in its infancy and needs to be developed so human synthetic retinae can be produced at high efficiency and reproducibly from patient-specific pluripotent stem cells.
Diseases affecting the outer retina including age related macular degeneration (AMD) and inherited retinal dystrophies (HRDs) account for approximately 26% of blindness and the number affected is expected to double by the 2020 due to ageing of the world's population. Although in some cases, the initial trigger event is the degeneration of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE, a monolayer of pigmented cells forming part of the blood/retina barrier), the final impact in both AMD and HRDs is the loss of photoreceptors, a specialised type of photosensitive neurons that are capable of photo-transduction. Whilst there are a number of agents (including high dose antioxidants, neuronal survival agents, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors etc) that have been shown to slow disease progression, to date there are no treatments to restore lost photoreceptors and visual function, hence there is a pressing need for research into the replacement and/or reactivation of dysfunctional photoreceptors and RPE.
A key reason for using stem cell based therapies to treat retinal disorders is the prospect of generating unlimited quantities of desired cell types for transplantation. In this regard a variety of stem cell types have been investigated and pluripotent stem cells have emerged as the best source for several reasons. Firstly, the only cell type shown to integrate and show function within host retina to-date are murine postmitotic photoreceptor precursors isolated at a very specific time of embryonic development. However, if this was to be translated into a human scenario, then the equivalent human cells would need to be isolated from the second trimester of a human foetus, which raises many ethical concerns. Moreover, it has recently been shown that murine embryonic stem cells (ESC) are able to generate self-organising optic cups when cultured under three dimensional (3D) minimal culture conditions. Most importantly, these murine ESC derived optic cups undergo differentiation to give rise to a fully laminated neural retina containing all the main retinal cell types including the light sensitive photoreceptors, following the normal sequence of retinal development (FIG. 10). These findings highlight an important facet of ESC biology that is essential for the field of retinal regeneration: a latent intrinsic ability to give rise to self-organised neural retina which can be exploited to produce synthetic retinae in vitro.
Cell replacement therapy remains an important goal for patients suffering from blinding forms of outer retinal degeneration characterized by a substantial loss of light-sensitive photoreceptors and the underlying retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE). Progress towards the clinic is being made with regards to RPE production and replacement from human pluripotent cells, (Schwartz, S. D., Hubschman, J. P., Heilwell, G., Franco-Cardenas, V., Pan, C. K. et al. Embryonic stem cell trials for macular degeneration: a preliminary report. The Lancet 379 (9817), 713-20 (2012); 2. ACT Clinical Trial: Safety and Tolerability of Sub-retinal Transplantation of hESC Derived RPE (MA09-hRPE) Cells in Patients With Advanced Dry Age Related Macular Degeneration (Dry AMD). http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01344993 (2011a); 3. ACT Clinical Trial: Sub-retinal Transplantation of hESC Derived RPE (MA09-hRPE) Cells in Patients With Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01345006 (2011 b); 4. ACT Clinical Trial: Safety and Tolerability of Sub-retinal Transplantation of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Retinal Pigmented Epithelial (hESC-RPE) Cells in Patients With Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy (SMD). http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01469832 (2011c) yet, achieving the same momentum for photoreceptor replacement has been more difficult.
Recent studies have demonstrated that there are species specific differences in the ability to produce stratified retina in vitro (Nakano et al. (2012) Cell Stem Cell. 10:771-85). Optic cup formation in mice (using ESC's) takes approximately 28 days, whereas the same optic cup formation process takes approximately 126 days in humans. The human ESC (hESC) derived optic cups are slower to develop, rarely contain RPE, predominantly generate cones and the culture system requires inclusion of fetal bovine serum which can show batch to batch variability and hence is not suitable for clinical applications.
It has previously been shown that it is possible to drive the differentiation of hESC and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) towards a retinal photoreceptor lineage, generating cells which share a similar gene expression profile, antigen expression and can elicit a similar electrophysiological profile to native photoreceptors (Lamba, D. A., Karl, M. O., Ware, C. B., Reh, T. A. Efficient generation of retinal progenitor cells from human embryonic stem cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103(34), 12769-74 (2006); Osakada, F., Ikeda, H., Mandai, M., Wataya, T., Watanabe, K. et al. Toward the generation of rod and cone photoreceptors from mouse, monkey and human embryonic stem cells. Nat Biotechnol 26(2), 215-24 (2008); Osakada, F., Jin, Z. B., Hirami, Y., Ikeda, H., Danjyo, T. et al. In vitro differentiation of retinal cells from human pluripotent stem cells by small-molecule induction. J Cell Sci. 122(17), 3169-79 (2009); Hirami, Y., Osakada, F., Takahashi, K., Okita, K., Yamanaka, S. et al. Generation of retinal cells from mouse and human induced pluripotent stem cells. Neurosci Lett 458(3), 126-31 (2009); Meyer, J. S., Shearer, R. L., Capowski, E. E., Wright, L. S., Wallace, K. A., Modeling early retinal development with human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106(39), 16698-703 (2009); Meyer, J. S., Howden, S. E., Wallace, K. A., Verhoeven, A. D., Wright, L. S. et al. Optic vesicle-like structures derived from human pluripotent stem cells facilitate a customized approach to retinal disease treatment. Stem Cells. 29(8), 1206-18 (2011); Jin, Z. B., Okamoto, S., Osakada, F., Homma, K., Assawachananont, J. et al. Modeling retinal degeneration using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells. PLoS One 6(2), e17084 (2011); Amirpour, N., Karamali, F., Rabiee, F., Rezaei, L., Esfandiari, E. et al. Differentiation of human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal progenitors into retinal cells by Sonic hedgehog and/or retinal pigmented epithelium and transplantation into the subretinal space of sodium iodate-injected rabbits. Stem Cells Dev. 21(1), 42-53 (2012); Phillips, M. J., Wallace, K. A., Dickerson, S. J., Miller, M. J., Verhoeven, A. et al. Bloodderived Human iPS Cells Generate Optic Vesicle-like Structures with the Capacity to Form Retinal Laminae and Develop Synapses. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 53(4), 2007-19 (2012); Mellough, C. B., Sernagor, E., Moreno-Gimeno, I., Steel, D. H., Lako, M. Efficient stagespecific differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells toward retinal photoreceptor cells. Stem Cells. 30(4), 673-86 (2012); Nakano, T., Ando, S., Takata, N., Kawada, M., Muguruma, K. et al. Self-Formation of Optic Cups and Storable Stratified Neural Retina from Human ESCs. Cell Stem Cell. 10(6), 771-85 (2012)). To date no human studies have shown reproducible methods that produce outer segment formation, that is necessary for phototransduction (Banin, E., Obolensky, A., Idelson, M., Hemo, I., Reinhardtz, E. et al. Retinal incorporation and differentiation of neural precursors derived from human embryonic stem cells. Stem Cells. 24(2), 246-57 (2006); Lamba, D. A., Gust, J., Reh, T. A. Transplantation of human embryonic stem cell-derived photoreceptors restores some visual function in Crx-deficient mice. Cell Stem Cell. 4(1), 73-9 (2009); Lamba, D. A., McUsic, A., Hirata, R. K., Wang, P. R., Russell, D. et al. Generation, purification and transplantation of photoreceptors derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. PLoS ONE. 5(1), e8763 (2010)). While early postmitotic primary mouse photoreceptors can successfully integrate and develop outer segments following subretinal transplantation into the mouse eye, (MacLaren, R. E., Pearson, R. A., MacNeil, A., Douglas, R. H., Salt, T. E. et al. Retinal repair by transplantation of photoreceptor precursors. Nature. 444(7116), 203-7 (2006); Lakowski, J., Baron, M., Bainbridge, J., Barber, A. C., Pearson, R. A. et al. Cone and rod photoreceptor transplantation in models of the childhood retinopathy Leber congenital amaurosis using flow-sorted Crx-positive donor cells. Hum Mol Genet. 19(23), 4545-59 (2010)) in human studies the absence of the outer segment both in vitro and post-transplantation in vivo renders this approach ineffective for disease modelling and visual restoration.
Mellough, C. B., et al (2012) describes differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells toward retinal photoreceptor cells with the final stage of photoreceptor maturation occurring under two dimensional (2D) culture conditions. This published protocol uses supplements and growth factors shown to be important for eye field and retinal development and results in efficient generation of cone and rod photoreceptors (up to 85%) within 45 days. To test the functionality of the hESC derived photoreceptors, the inventors carried out sub-retinal transplantations in normal adult mice and mouse models of retinal degeneration (Pde6brd1 and Crx−/−); however the results show that although these cells engraft within the appropriate retinal layer (outer nuclear layer), the engraftment efficiency was low (less than 4%). Upon transplantation, hESC derived photoreceptors failed to develop photoreceptor outer segments (an essential component of a photoreceptor cell type for the phototransduction process) and only in very rare cases did the engrafted cells acquire the expression of photoreceptor markers. These findings suggest that differentiation of hESC/hiPSC under 2D culture conditions may not be the ideal route for generating fully mature and functional photoreceptors.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a method that is capable of producing sufficient numbers of photoreceptor precursors of the correct developmental stage to repair adult retina from hESC/hiPSC.


A tip brake unit for installation in tip portions of rotor blades of rotary wing aircraft having a plurality of load-carrying rotors has a frame of a size and shape for installation in a tip portion of a rotor blade. An elongate tip brake member of channel cross sectional shape with a closed outer end is supported and guided by rollers on the frame for movement longitudinally between an inner position in which a closed outer end of the tip brake member is flush with the tip of the rotor blade and an outer position in which the tip brake member projects beyond the tip of the blade. The open side of the channel shaped tip brake member faces forwardly with respect to the direction of movement of the tip portion of the rotor blade in which the tip brake unit is installed. The tip brake member is moved between inner and outer positions by a first pinion engaging a first rack on the tip brake member, an operating member having a second rack engaging a smaller second pinion coaxially rotatable with the first pinion, a first bell crank having a longer arm connecting with the operating member and a shorter arm connected with a longer arm of a second bell crank having a shorter arm connected through a lost motion device with a tip brake operating system of the aircraft.

As a load-carrying rotor of a helicopter turns in the air, the blades or wings of the rotor provide lift and also develop drag. The drag of the rotor reacts through the rotor shaft and driving mechanism to produce torque tending to turn the fuselage of the helicopter in a direction opposite to that in which the rotor is turning. In a helicopter having a single load-carrying rotor, the reaction torque is customarily counterbalanced by a small rotor having an approximately horizontal axis, for example a tail rotor. In a helicopter having contra-rotating load-carrying rotors, the reaction torque of one rotor is balanced by that of the other so that no tail rotor is necessary. Directional control of such helicopter can be obtained by causing the reaction torque of one rotor to be greater than that of another so that there is a resultant torque differential tending to turn the helicopter fuselage.
It has previously been proposed to provide directional control for a helicopter with contra-rotating load-carrying rotors by varying the pitch of the rotor blades. If the pitch of the blades of one rotor is increased and the pitch of the blades of the other rotor is decreased by the same amount, the drag of the first rotor becomes greater while that of the second rotor is diminished, but the total lift of the two rotors remains essentially the same. This produces a torque differential that reacts through the rotor transmission and appears as a torque tending to turn the fuselage of the aircraft about the approximately vertical axis of the rotor shaft. It is thus possible, by differential control of the rotor blade pitch, to control the directional heading of a helicopter.
The use of differential collective pitch to control the directional heading of a helicopter has been found satisfactory in "power on" flight, i.e. , when the rotors are driven by the engine. However, it has been found experimentally that in "power off" (autorotative) or "partial power" flight, differential collective pitch control is not satisfactory. In moderate to high speed autorotative forward flight, the differential collective pitch control has a tendency to reverse in effectiveness, i.e., application of right rudder by the pilot gives rise to left yaw, and vice versa. In zero speed or low speed autorotative flight with such a control system, the directional control becomes very "soft," and, in the case of coaxial rotors, the helicopter has a strong tendency to turn in the direction of rotation of the lower rotor. These effects present a serious problem in maneuvering the helicopter and give rise to an accident hazard.
Through Ryan et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,835,331, it is known to obtain directional control of a rotary wing aircraft having contrarotating load-carrying rotors by means of tip brakes on the rotor blades. The term "tip brake" is used to designate an aerodynamic brake device disposed at or near the tip of the rotor blade and operable to increase the drag of the blade, preferably without materially affecting its lift. The tip brakes are operated by a control system actuated by a pilot-controlled steering member which may, for example, be in the form of rudder pedals, a rudder bar, or a steering wheel. The operation of the tip brakes is coordinated by the control system so that the tip brakes of one or another of the rotors are actuated selectively.

Directional control system for rotary wing aircraft


Provided is an in-vehicle charger capable of reliably obtaining charging control parameters prior to charging and capable of safe charging. In this charger, a charging unit (105) charges a battery (111) in accordance with the charging control parameters. A storage unit (103) stores a table in which a plurality of areas on a map and the charging control parameters are made to correspond to each other. A position information receiving unit (101) obtains position indicating the current position of a vehicle (250). A control unit (104) refers to the table on the basis of the position information and sets the charging control parameters made to correspond to an area including the current position when a charging cable (107) is not connected.

Heretofore, known in-vehicle charging apparatuses are each installed in a vehicle such as an electric vehicle and configured to charge an in-vehicle storage battery when a power cable is connected to the apparatus from an external commercial power supply (e.g., Patent Literature 1). During this charging, the in-vehicle charging apparatus acquires a charge control parameter from the commercial power supply through communication using the power cable as the communication path. The in-vehicle charging apparatus sets the acquired charge control parameter and continues the charging operation. As described herein, the in-vehicle, charging apparatus performs charging according to the charge control parameter after setting the charge control parameter.

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A holding member, for an electronic component inserted into a through hole provided in an electronic circuit board which includes a plate-shaped base that is fixed to the electronic component, a first leg and a second leg. The first leg extends from the base, and is inserted into the through hole. The first leg has a catch that projects laterally and outwardly with respect to an inserting direction in which the first leg is inserted into the through hole and locked with an edge of the through hole after the first leg is inserted. The second leg extends from the base and is inserted into the through hole together with the first leg. The second leg elastically deforms when the second leg comes into contact with an inner surface of the through hole, presses the first leg to an opposite side inner surface of the through hole, and elastically holds the catch in a state in which the catch is locked with the edge of the through hole after the second leg is inserted.

Conventionally, a technique for mounting an electronic component, such as a connecter, on an electronic circuit board, is well known, in which a holding member attached to an electronic component is pressed into a through hole formed in an electronic circuit board, with the holding member securing the electronic component on the electronic circuit board. Furthermore, in order to firmly fix an electronic component to an electronic circuit board, the holding member may be soldered to the electronic circuit board.
Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. H6-62486 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,514 disclose such a holding member, where the holding member is elastically deformed in a plane direction and formed by stamping a metal plate, so as to press the holding member into a through hole of an electronic circuit board. The holding member has a shape in which a latch is provided on each of the outer sides respectively of a pair of legs extending in a bifurcated manner from a head part fixed to a connector. When the legs of the holding member are plunged into the through hole of the electronic circuit board, the latch thereof penetrate the through hole of the electronic circuit board and hook on the electronic circuit board. Accordingly, even in a state where the holding member fixed to the connecter is simply plunged into the through hole and is not yet soldered thereto, the connector can be held by the holding member so as not to be detached from the electronic circuit board. However, the holding member is planar, and the pair of legs are configured to be elastically deformed only in a plane direction. Accordingly, compared to a spring which is to be elastically deformable in a board thickness direction, a larger force to cause elastic deformation is required, and it is difficult to reduce a spring constant. In addition, an amount of elastic deformation is small, and a range up to plastic deformation is small. Accordingly, cut surfaces of the pair of legs obtained by stamping a metal plate are to forcibly come into contact with an inner surface of the through hole when the legs are plunged thereinto. Therefore, the inner surface of the through hole may be damaged.
As a holding member to deal with such a problem, for example, proposed is a holding member which has a pair of legs extending from a plate-like base fixed to a connector in a substantially same direction, respectively having broad spring pieces being elastically deformable in a board thickness direction, and facing with each other (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-128772). When the holding member is plunged into a through hole, the pair of legs are elastically deformed in a board thickness direction. Then, the holding member is held such that a pair of legs comes into plane contact with an inner surface of the through hole so that the holding member is not detached from an electronic circuit board, in a state where the holding member is simply plunged into the through hole and is not soldered. Furthermore, according to the holding member, each of the outer surfaces respectively of a pair of legs gently comes into plane contact with the inner surface of the through hole when the holding member is pressed into the through hole, so that damage on the inner surface of the through hole can be prevented. However, the holding member has a disadvantage in that it is difficult to increase elasticity (spring constant) of the legs. Accordingly, the holding force of the holding member, in the state of being simply plunged into the through hole and not yet soldered thereto, is small. Therefore when, for example, the holding member is handled and moved by a robot in this state, or, when the holding member is strongly pulled in this state, the legs of the holding member may be easily pulled out from the through hole.

Holding member, mounting structure in which holding member is mounted on electronic circuit board, and electronic component including holding member


The embodiments described herein provide a controller and method for performing a background commands or operations. In one embodiment, a controller is provided with interfaces through which to communicate with a host and a plurality of flash memory devices. The controller contains a processor operative to perform a foreground command received from the host, wherein the processor performs the foreground command to completion without interruption. The processor is also operative to perform a background commands or operations stored in the controller's memory, wherein the processor performs the background command until completed or preempted by a foreground command. If the background command is preempted, the processor can resume performing the background command at a later time until completed.

The Open NAND Flash Interface (ONFI) protocol provides support for parallel access to multiple NAND dies (or "logical units" (LUNs)) on a single "target" or NAND multi-chip stack on a single shared ONFI channel. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, for a target ONFI device containing 4 NAND dies (LUNs 0-3), an erase, program, or read operation can be issued by the host controller and executed on three of the LUNs while a command is still in progress on the fourth of the LUNs. This offers overlapping array access (optimal utilization) of all four dies while host controller commands are arriving. Note, however, that only one of these commands at a time may be transmitting or receiving its data on the shared channel.
In a typical mass storage application, such as a solid state drive (SSD), a central host controller will receive commands on its Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) interface and translate them to be distributed and issued to multiple ONFI target NAND multi-chip stacks. In addition to dispatching host commands to the intended memory dies, the host controller can also perform memory management/storage optimization functions, which typically include a non-trivial amount of data moves/copies among the pool of NAND dies. Whether the host controller is dispatching a host command or a memory management/storage optimization command to each LUN, the command runs to completion on that LUN without being interrupted.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Controller and method for performing background operations


A vehicle suspension component, such as a lower control arm, that includes first and second stamped metal shells and several connection nodes for operably connecting the suspension component to the rest of the vehicle suspension system. The first and second stamped metal shells may be stamped from next generation steel that is lightweight and strong, and are joined together in a clam shell or box-style type design. Each of the connection nodes includes a fixed attachment end and a movable attachment end, wherein the fixed attachment end may be sandwiched between the shell connection node portions of the first and second stamped metal shells and welded thereto, whereas the movable attachment end movably or pivotably attaches the vehicle suspension component to the vehicle suspension system.

There are substantial efforts being made in the automotive industry to reduce the weight of the vehicle, which typically results in a corresponding improvement in fuel efficiency, without compromising the component in terms of strength, stiffness, durability, etc. Furthermore, there is strong desire to utilize cost effective manufacturing methods, such as stampings, where possible. The vehicle suspension component and method of the present disclosure are designed to address and balance these and other objectives so that a light weight, sufficiently stiff and cost effective vehicle suspension component can be provided.

Vehicle suspension component with strengthening feature and connection node


Techniques for configuring unused memory into namespaces based on determined attributes of incoming input/output (IO). Incoming IO is analyzed to determine characteristics of the IO. Unused memory space is identified. Based on the characteristics of the IO, a portion of the unused memory space is configured into a particular namespace. This namespace is configured to handle IO having the identified characteristics. Subsequent to configuring the portion of the unused memory space into the particular namespace, a file system is created for the particular namespace. Subsequent IO, which shares the same characteristics as the IO, is routed to the namespace, which is managed using the file system.

Namespaces are commonly employed as an environment to hold identifiers that may each uniquely identify an object, such as a file for example. In some cases, a namespace may take the form of a data structure that holds a mapping of lookup keys to full keys, where the full keys may include, as one of their components, a file handle or filename. Namespaces can be used in a variety of scenarios in order to store and manage data.
One scenario where namespaces can be used is in the context of storage class memory (SCM). SCM can be used in a variety of different access modes and a variety of different applications. Namespaces can be configured to provide an optimal performance environment for various workloads that are received from client applications. Unfortunately, the process of reconfiguring namespaces to handle new types of IO is a costly operation. What is needed, therefore, is an improved mechanism for handling incoming IO that are to be managed by a namespace.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.

Configuring unused SCM memory space to support namespaces based on IO patterns


Embodiments related to storing and utilizing information of a sink device for establishing communication. A source device retrieves the information of a previously connected sink device stored in the source device to reduce data exchanged during a handshaking operation. Information of the sink device not stored in the source device may be stored in the source device for future usage. The source device receives identification information of the sink device via a medium. The source device also searches for capabilities information associated with the identification information in the source device. In addition, the source device encodes the content for transmission to the sink device via the medium in a format compliant with capabilities of the sink device according to the capabilities information.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure pertains in general to data communications, and more specifically to improved handshaking between two devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a source device (e.g., a graphics card, DVD player, handheld device, and gaming console) becomes portable, various sink devices (e.g., a monitor, projector, and TV) can be connected to the source device. To establish a connection between a sink device and a source device, both devices perform a handshaking operation to ensure proper communication. The handshaking operation involves receiving and confirming identification information of a sink device and supported display modes of the sink device. The display modes may indicate, for example, resolution of the display device or timing required for properly displaying images.

Caching of capabilities information of counterpart device for efficient handshaking operation


The present invention provides a UV antireflective coating stack for ophthalmic lenses. The antireflective coating stack is deposited by sputtering, which lowers the reflectivity of the antireflective stack in the UV range and maintains low reflectivity in the visible range. The antireflective coating stack offers improved thermo-mechanical performance as compared to evaporation-based UV antireflective stacks.

Ophthalmic lenses such as spectacles and sunglasses generally block potentially harmful ultraviolet (UV) light from passing through the lens and reaching the wearer's eyes. Reduction of UV light transmission is especially important in sunwear applications, where dimness-induced mydriasis results in increased transmission of UV light through dilated pupils.
Although such lenses aid in reducing UV light transmitted to the eye, potentially harmful UV light may reach a spectacle wearer's eyes through other paths. Peripheral light may reach the eye unobscured and unfiltered by lens coatings. Light may also be reflected off the rear of a lens and reach the eye. Reflected light is a source of potentially harmful UV light that has long been overlooked.
Recently, there has been developed and launched ophthalmic lenses bearing an antireflective (AR) coatings on their rear (concave) side with low reflectivity in both visible and UV wavelengths. This recent advancement in ophthalmic lens technology protects the eyes of a wearer against reflected UV light coming from the rear. Concave-coated lenses limit the reflection of UV light at specific angles of incidence, typically at 30° to 45° incidence. Examples of such lenses are described in WO2012076714.
One aim of aspects of the present invention is to improve the thermomechanical performance of concave-coated AR lenses efficient in the UV wavelengths. One thermomechanical property of AR-coated ophthalmic lenses is critical temperature; this is the temperature at which an AR-coated lens begins to develop cracks. Improved critical temperature is an important advantage in the day to day use of eyewear. It is exceedingly important in sunwear applications where AR-coated lenses are exposed to relatively high temperatures for extended periods of time. Another aim of aspects of the present invention is to concurrently achieve favorable AR properties in the visible and UV ranges while maintain a high critical temperature.
Several technical solutions are available for improving the critical temperature of AR coatings. Disadvantages associated with these techniques is that they restrict the choice of material and increase the thickness of layers in an AR coating stack. As a consequence, the pool of practical AR coating layer candidates is reduced.
The coating-deposition protocol might have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the deposited AR coating. It is an aim of aspects of the present invention to produce robust AR coating stacks with mean light reflection factor in the visible region (Rv), colorimetric properties, and mean reflection factor in the UV range (Ruv) that are less sensitive to slight modifications in deposition protocol. Robustness is the ability of a lens to resist variations induced by the coating process.
Another aim of the present invention is to improve abrasion resistance and or scratch resistance (either by a common steel wool test or by a scratching test using a nanoindentation apparatus).

Anti-reflective sputtering stack with low Rv and low Ruv


A transformer with a modified cover and terminal portion of the coil bobbin to increase the creepage path between a terminal and a core, thus enhancing insulation performance. The invention discloses a cover on a coil bobbin, and includes a groove for increasing a creepage path which is formed in the high voltage side of a coil bobbin terminal portion with an embedded terminal. A projecting insulation wall which is inserted into the groove is formed inside the cover. A bent portion of the terminal is positioned on a lower side of the insulation wall. The transformer core is positioned on the upper side of the projecting insulation wall so as to improve the insulation performance and to allow for reducing or miniaturizing the height between the core and the bent portion of the terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to transformers used in commercial electronic devices, for example, audio amplifiers and more specifically to a pin terminal type typically found in smaller transformers used in such commercial devices. The invention relates in particular to the enhancement of insulation performance between a core and a pin terminal by providing a modification which increases the creepage path between the core and the pin terminal.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional transformers with pin terminals used in commercial electronic devices are generally manufactured with a coil bobbin which has a terminal portion in which an L-shaped pin terminal is embedded. The transformer assembly further includes a cover which generally covers the coil bobbin and a core. The cover is made of an insulative resin material. When the cover is assembled to the terminal portion of the bobbin, a portion of the cover forms a partition wall-like ceiling plate above the L-shaped pin terminal. The ceiling plate forms an insulation wall between the core positioned above the ceiling plate and the bent portion of the L-shaped pin terminal located under the ceiling plate.
It is however difficult to miniaturize the transformers while ensuring that the insulation between the core and the pin terminal prevents creepage in such a manner as to ensure adequate insulation resistant performance.


A processing system for a capacitive sensing device, including: a sensor module coupled to multiple sensor electrodes and configured to receive multiple resulting signals from the multiple sensor electrodes, where the multiple electrodes includes a first sensor electrode, a second sensor electrode adjacent to the first second electrode, a third sensor electrode adjacent to the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode, and a fourth sensor electrode adjacent to the third sensor electrode; and a determination module configured to: determine, based on the multiple resulting signals, first differential capacitive sensing data between the first sensor electrode and the second sensor electrode; determine, based on the multiple resulting signals, second differential capacitive sensing data between the third sensor electrode and the fourth sensor electrode; and determine user contact information based on at least one of the first differential capacitive sensing data and the second differential capacitive sensing data.

Input devices including proximity sensor devices (also commonly called touchpads or touch sensor devices) are widely used in a variety of electronic systems. A proximity sensor device typically includes a sensing region, often demarked by a surface, in which the proximity sensor device determines the presence, location and/or motion of one or more input objects. Proximity sensor devices may be used to provide interfaces for the electronic system. For example, proximity sensor devices are often used as input devices for larger computing systems (such as notebooks or desktop computers). Proximity sensor devices are also often used in smaller computing systems (such as cellular/mobile phones).


This invention relates to the supporting of a patient in a proper position for a treatment, particularly for a dental and/or orosurgical and/or orthodontic treatment. A patient to be treated is supported in a certain position on a treating chair or a treating couch (1) and the treating chair or the treating couch (1) moves that region in which the patient is to be treated, particularly the tooth or jaw region, to a spatial position which is defined by the height of the treating physician and which has previously been stored for a given treating physician or is stored by the treating physician. In dependence on previously determined stored parameters that region in which the patient is to be treated is located at that spatial position for different treatments, particularly of the tooth and/or jaw regions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for supporting a patient in a proper position for a treatment, particularly for a dental and/or orosurgical and/or orthodontic treatment.
2. Description of Related Art
In the treatment of patients in the medical field, particularly in the field of dental medicine, the position of the physician, particularly of the dentist, and the position of the patient are of high importance. For an optimum result of the treatment it is important that those regions of the patient which are to be treated are optimally accessible to the physician and possibly to an assistant; for this reason it is usual for a dental or orosurgical treatment to support the patient in a certain position on a treating chair or treating couch. Owing to the different spatial positions of those tooth surfaces or jaw regions which are to be treated, the adjustment of the patient in the optimum position for the treatment may be time-consuming and complicated. Besides, the posture of the physician will be of essential significance for the ergonomy and, as a result, for his or her personal stress during the treatment.
German Patent Specification 21 19 837 describes a program-controlled chair for dental treatment, in which any manually adjustable position of the chair can be transferred by transfer means to a memory. In the use of that chair for dental treatment it is possible to a store positions which have been adjusted during a treatment on the storage medium and to retrieve said positions subsequently for the same treatment. For this reason it is possible to correctly reposition a patient for the same treatment very quickly in dependence on the stored data. But for a treatment of other regions it is necessary to adjust the chair to an entirely new position.
German Patent Specification 36 11 406 describes a station for dental treatment, in the use of which control data for a plurality of treating instruments and associated position control elements are stored in a portable data memory, which can be inserted into a memory receptacle, and control data can be written into said data memory and can be retrieved from it, inter alia, during a subsequent treatment, when said memory is in said receptacle. That data memory preferably contains data which are specific to a given patient and also permits a positioning of the patient only in previously adjusted positions.
Whereas particularly during a dental or orosurgical treatment those regions of the patient which are to be treated can systematically be determined as regards the orientation of different tooth surfaces, it is not possible in the use of the previously known treating chairs or treating couches to use data which are specific to a patient and to the physician for an adjustment of the treating chair or treating couch when new regions of the patient are to be treated. For any additional new treatment of the same patient it is necessary to re-determine and adjust the treating chair or treating couch to that position which is ergonomically most favorable for the treatment.

Process and device for placing a patient in the correct position for treatment


An actuating module includes an actuating member, a magnetic plunger engaging the actuating member due to magnetic power and capable of disengaging the actuating member upon receipt of an actuating signal, and a flexible flat cable. The flexible flat cable includes a plurality of laterally connected data wires. The data wires includes at least one branch wire connected electrically to the magnetic plunger for transmitting the actuating signal to the magnetic plunger so as to release the actuating member.

A flexible printed circuit (FPC) is generally used to interconnect two separately formed (or operably connected) electronic devices or components in order to transmit data signals therebetween.
FIG. 1 is a top planar view of a conventional slim-type disk drive 2 that includes an outer casing 4, and a disk tray 6 disposed movably within the casing 4. The casing 4 has a front side 402 formed with an opening to permit extension and withdrawal of the disk tray 6 outside and inside the casing 4. The disk tray 6 is movable relative to the casing 4 between an extended position, in which, the disk tray 6 is projected outwardly from the casing 4 via the opening, and a retracted position, in which, the disk tray 6 is withdrawn into the casing 4 via the opening.
The conventional slim-type disk drive 2 further includes a holding post 404 projecting from the casing 4 into a guiding groove 8 formed along the traveling path D1 of the disk tray 6, and a positioning member 602 pivoted on the disk tray 6. The positioning member 602 has a barbed end 602a. When the disk tray 6 is withdrawn to the retracted position, the holding post 404 is moved relative to the disk tray 6 so as to be hooked by the barbed end 602a of the positioning member 602, thereby retaining the disk tray 6 stationarily within the casing 4.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional slim-type disk drive 4 further includes an actuating module 10 and a transmission mechanism 20 disposed respectively on the disk tray 6. The actuating module 10 includes an actuating member 12, a magnetic plunger 1002 and a signal transmission cable 1004.
The actuating member 12 is engaged to the magnetic plunger 1002 by virtue of the magnetic power, and is further capable of disengaging from the magnetic plunger 1002 upon receipt of an actuating signal. Thus, the actuating member 12 drives the positioning member 602 via the transmission mechanism 20.
The signal transmission cable 1004 in traditional disk drive is a flexible printed circuit and includes an actuating connecting portion 1004a and a processor connecting portion 1004b. The actuating connecting portion 1004a is electrically coupled to the magnetic plunger 1002 for transmitting an actuating signal. The processor connecting portion 1004b is electrically coupled to a processor (not shown in figures) for transmitting the actuating signal to the magnetic plunger 1002 so as to activate the magnetic plunger 1002 for driving the positioning member 602 to release the holding post 404 and eject the disk tray 6 out of the casing 4.
The outer casing 4 has a front panel 18 at the front side 402 thereof. The front panel 18 is formed with a press button 1802 that is electrically connected to the magnetic plunger 1002 and the processor via the signal transmission cable 1004. The press button 1802 is capable of producing the actuating signal to the processor via the signal transmission cable 1004, and then the processor sends the actuating signal to the magnetic plunger 1002 via the signal transmission cable 1004. In addition, the press button 1802 is capable of controlling the activation of the positioning member 602 via the magnetic plunger 1002.
One drawback of the aforementioned conventional disk drive is that during the soldering a distal section of the actuating connecting portion 1004a on a lateral side of the magnetic plunger 1002, the distal section usually curls upward relative to the lateral side due to the elasticity of the signal transmission cable 1004 and the high temperature of a soldering gun. This annoys and inconveniences the assembler in the production line.


A storage box having a locking assembly with quick-access features and an optional passthrough charging port is shown and described.

Firearm-mountable lights and other accessories that are mountable to a firearm but that require occasional recharging are well known in the art. Examples include the TLR series of firearm-mountable lights manufactured and sold by Streamlight, Inc. of Eagleville, Pa., U.S.A., which is the applicant of the present application. Removal of these items from a firearm for recharging purposes is labor-intensive and time-consuming. At the same time, many firearm owners will desire to safely store their firearms while they are not in use. Typical safes, moreover, are slow to access, and may not be suitable for instances in which quick access to a firearm is desirable. Further, typical safes lack internal charging features.
Therefore, there is a need for a locking storage box with passthrough charging features that allows for secure storage of items requiring charging therein, while also allowing for quick access to the interior of the box.

Locking storage box with quick-access features


According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a plurality of memory cells, each of the memory cells including a tunneling insulating film provided on a substrate including silicon, a floating gate provided on the tunneling insulating film, an inter-gate insulating film provided on the floating gate, and a control gate provided on the inter-gate insulating film; and an element separation trench provided between the plurality of memory cells, the element separation trench having a gap in an interior of the element separation trench. The inter-gate insulating film is provided also above the element separation trench. An upper end of the gap is provided in an interior of the inter-gate insulating film provided above the element separation trench.

A memory cell provided in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device such as NAND flash memory, etc., has a stacked gate structure in which a floating gate and a control gate are stacked with an inter-gate insulating film interposed.
Here, the distance between adjacent floating gates is becoming shorter with downscaling. The electrical interference (e.g., the capacitive coupling, etc.) between the adjacent floating gates increases as the distance between the adjacent floating gates decreases.
Therefore, for example, the voltage of the floating gate during programming decreases; and there is a risk that programming defects, etc., may occur.
Therefore, technology has been proposed in which a gap is provided in the interior of the element separation trench between the adjacent memory cells.
By providing the gap, the programming characteristics can be improved because the electrical interference between the adjacent floating gates can be reduced.
However, as downscaling progresses, the electrical interference between the adjacent floating gates is predicted to increase further. Therefore, further improvement of the programming characteristics is desirable.


A system for determining a distance of travel of a brake cylinder piston includes a brake cylinder having the brake cylinder piston, a pressure transducer operationally coupled to the brake cylinder and configured to determine a pressure measurement within the brake cylinder, and a control module of an electrically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake control system. The control module is operationally coupled to the pressure transducer and configured to convert the pressure measurement within the brake cylinder determined by the pressure transducer into at least one of a displacement time of the brake cylinder piston, an equalization pressure within the brake cylinder, a pressure build-up time within the brake cylinder, a pressure leakage from the brake cylinder, or any combination thereof. The control module determines the distance of travel of the brake cylinder piston based on at least one of the displacement time of the brake cylinder piston, the equalization pressure within the brake cylinder, the pressure build-up time within the brake cylinder, the pressure leakage from the brake cylinder, or any combination thereof.

1. Field of the Invention
This disclosure relates, in general, to a brake cylinder piston travel calculating system and, more particularly, to the use of the electrically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake control system to determine the distance traveled by the brake cylinder piston.
2. Description of Related Art
49 C.F.R. §232.205(c) provides the tasks and requirements for a Class 1 terminal brake test for a train. Minimum brake cylinder piston travel of truck-mounted brake cylinders must be sufficient to provide proper brake shoe clearance when the brakes are released. In addition, piston travel must be inspected on each freight car while the brakes are applied. More specifically, 49 C.F.R. §232.205(c)(5) requires that "[f]or cars equipped with . . . 10-inch diameter brake cylinders, piston travel shall be within 7 to 9 inches. If piston travel is found to be less than 7 inches or more than 9 inches, it must be adjusted to nominally 7½ inches. For cars not equipped with . . . 10-inch brake cylinders, piston travel shall be within the piston travel stenciled or marked on the car or badge plate."
Freight trains typically undergo the pre-departure Class 1 terminal brake test prior to the train being cleared to proceed from the train make-up yard. Currently, such an inspection requires a trainman to "walk the train" visually checking each car's brake equipment. Prior art type truck mounted brake assemblies include a piston travel indicator attached to the brake cylinder assembly for monitoring piston travel to determine whether or not the brake equipment is functioning properly.
One type of currently used piston travel indicator comprises an indicating means, such as a flag, which moves along a measuring means. This measuring means has an acceptable operating range or zone marked thereon. The inspector views the location of the flag with respect to the acceptable operating range to determine whether or not the braking equipment is functioning properly. For example, if the flag is below the range, then this would indicate that the slack adjuster trigger needs to be adjusted. If, on the other hand, the flag is above the range, this could indicate that either the slack adjuster is out of capacity and the brake shoes are too worn or the slack adjuster is not functioning properly and requires maintenance. Due to the location of this piston travel indicator within the truck mounted brake assembly underneath the car, it is often difficult for the trainman to readily view the indicator and to make a proper determination as to the functioning of the braking equipment. Thus, it becomes burdensome to inspect the braking equipment of the train and consequently more time consuming to complete the terminal test.
An improvement to such prior art systems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,068 to Ring et al. This patent describes a brake cylinder piston travel indicator that monitors an amount of piston travel in a brake cylinder assembly in a railway braking system. The railway braking system includes a brake beam and a brake cylinder piston within the brake cylinder assembly which is in engagement with an end of a brake cylinder force transfer lever. The brake cylinder piston travel indicator includes a rod member that is rotatably secured to and extends substantially parallel with at least a portion of the brake beam. A member is provided which operationally interconnects the rod member with the cylinder force transfer lever and is capable of transferring a rotational force to the rod member. This rotational force is caused by activation of the piston in the brake cylinder assembly. An indicating device is provided which is engagable with a first end of the rod member and is capable of responding to the rotation of the rod member and indicating an amount of travel of the piston during activation thereof in the brake cylinder assembly. However, this system continues to require train inspection personnel to visually inspect the brake cylinder to determine the travel distance, thereby making the system susceptible to human error.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system that automatically determines the distance traveled by the brake cylinder piston without the need for visual inspection.

System and method for calculating electrically controlled pneumatic (ECP) brake cylinder piston travel


A case assembly for a gas turbine engine, includes a case with a case boss, said case boss including a peripheral wall that defines a first inner diameter in a first condition to receive a piston seal, and a second inner diameter in a second condition, the second condition including enlargement of the first inner diameter to form a second inner diameter and a bushing mounted within the second inner diameter, an inner diameter of the bushing defines a bushing inner diameter about equivalent to the first inner diameter to receive the piston seal.

The present disclosure relates to a gas turbine engine and, more particularly, to a case therefore.
A Mid-Turbine Frame (MTF) assembly of a gas turbine engine typically includes a plurality of hollow vanes arranged in a ring-vane-ring structure. The rings define inner and outer boundaries of a core gas path while the vanes are disposed across the gas path. The MTF assembly, sometimes referred to as an inter-turbine frame, is located generally between a high pressure turbine stage and a low pressure turbine stage of a gas turbine engine to support one or more bearings and to transfer bearing loads through to an outer MTF case. The MTF assembly is thus a load-bearing structure.
Tie rods extend through the hollow vanes to interconnect an engine mount ring on the outer MTF case and a bearing compartment adjacent to an inner MTF case. The MTF assembly is subject to thermal and pressure stresses from combustion gases along the core gas path, such that the tie rods and service line are subject to high diametric tension. Such forces and pressures may eventually require replacement of the MTF inner case.

Sealing interface for a case of a gas turbine engine


Uniformly embossed facial tissue having a continuous or closely-spaced discontinuous embossing pattern and having from about 1 to about 40 distinct individual unembossed areas per square inch of tissue is considered to be a consumer-preferred facial tissue. In addition, the embossing intensity (as determined by the Shadow Index defined herein) is preferably within the range of from about 3 to about 25.

In the manufacture of facial tissues, the trend over the years has been to make facial tissues softer and smoother. Unlike other creped tissue products such as bath tissue, paper towels and dinner napkins, which have traditionally been embossed to provide greater bulk and aesthetics, commercially available facial tissues have historically remained unaltered from their basesheets, with the exception of being crimped along their edges to hold multiple plies together. It has long been accepted that consumers desire a flat, smooth product. An exception to this trend has been a recently introduced commercially available embossed facial tissue manufactured by Scott Paper Company under the trademark Scotties.RTM.. However, the embossing in this product is a very lightly embossed discontinuous floral pattern, somewhat similar to patterns typically considered for bath tissue.


A network device includes an interface (105), a TCP/IP protocol fast processing path (115), and a TCP/IP protocol slow processing path (110). The interface (105) receives a packet and parses the packets to determine a characteristic of the packet. The TCP/IP protocol fast processing path (115) processes the packet if the characteristic of the packet includes a first characteristic. The TCP/IP protocol slow processing path (110) processes the packet if the characteristic of the packet includes a second characteristic.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to network devices, and more particularly, to systems and methods for improving the processing efficiency of data streams in such network devices.
2. Description of Related Art
The rise of the global Internetwork, commonly called the Internet, has led to a massive expansion in data networking applications, including academic, business and industrial applications. Accompanying the growth of the Internet has been the development and adoption of TCP/IP protocol as the Internet protocol standard. Transmission control protocol (TCP) is a connection-oriented transport protocol of the Internet architecture that provides a reliable byte-stream delivery service. Internet Protocol (IP) provides a connectionless best effort delivery service of datagrams across the Internet.
TCP/IP conventionally is used in many layer 5-7 switching applications, such as web caching, file caching and content switches. Such switching applications parse TCP/IP streams to obtain the information required for intelligent switching. Switching applications conventionally implement TCP/IP fully in software. Software TCP/IP implementations, however, are slow and cannot handle many TCP/IP streams in parallel. In client/server configurations, for example, the slow speed of the TCP/IP software implementations limits the number of clients (e.g., parallel TCP/IP streams) a server can serve. This often requires that many servers be used to achieve the desired processing speed.
Therefore, there exists a need for systems and methods that can accelerate TPC/IP stream processing in switching applications so as to increase the number of parallel TCP/IP streams that a given switching application can handle efficiently.

Systems and methods for accelerating TCP/IP data stream processing


A rotor disk for a turbomachine, which is connectable to at least one rotor blade and/or a shaft of the turbomachine, having at least one borehole, which has an elliptical inlet opening having a first passage cross-sectional area and an elliptical outlet opening having a second passage cross-sectional area, so that the second passage cross-sectional area is smaller than the first passage cross-sectional area.

Rotor disks for turbomachines, which are shrunk onto a shaft of the turbomachine, for example, and are coupled to rotor blades of the turbomachine, are known from the related art. Passage boreholes for fluids such as oil are formed in the rotor disks. Such boreholes are cavities having small passage cross-sectional areas, which offer advantages for a "secondary air system."
Rotor disks, in which the passage boreholes are formed as cylindrical boreholes and/or as elongated holes, are already known.


Data drift or dataset shift is detected between training dataset and test dataset by training a scoring function using a pooled dataset, the pooled dataset including a union of the training dataset and the test dataset; obtaining an outlier score for each instance in the training dataset and the test dataset based at least in part on the scoring function; assigning a weight to each outlier score based at least in part on training contamination rates; determining a test statistic based at least in part on the outlier scores and the weights; determining a null distribution of no dataset shift for the test statistic; determining a threshold in the null distribution; and when the test statistic is greater than or equal to the threshold, identifying dataset shift between the training dataset and the test dataset.

Data drift or dataset shift may be defined as unexpected changes to data structure and/or semantics. In the field of machine learning, data drift may occur when training data is very different from test data. Existing techniques to test for data drift as between training data and test data were conceived on a smaller data set than current machine learning and big data environments.

System and method for detecting data drift


Apparatus for bandpass photon detection containing a lens for collimating input light, a bandpass filter element, and a photomultiplier detector. Light passes from a source into the lens which collimates the light which then is incident upon the filter. The filter is tuned to a particular band of wavelengths, such that out of all of the wavelengths that are incident upon the front side of the filter, a wavelength band is propagated through the filter and passes from the filter to the photomultiplier detector, such that the output of the photomultiplier detector is a voltage level representing the energy content within that wavelength band. In various alternative embodiments, the bandpass photon detectors are arranged in a number of cascade arrangements such that multiple wavelength bands are simultaneously detected.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to apparatus for performing optical emission spectroscopy and, more particularly, to apparatus for performing optical emission spectroscopy to analyze plasma enhanced processes. Within a semiconductor wafer processing system
2. Description of the Background Art
Optical emission spectroscopy has been used in the prior art for monitoring and analyzing the characteristics of a plasma within a dry etch reaction chamber of a semiconductor wafer processing system. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is accomplished using a monochromator that is coupled to a transparent viewing window of the reaction chamber. Light generated by the plasma is carried by an optical fiber to the monochromator, and the monochromator selects a particular wavelength for analysis using a diffraction grating. The particular wavelength is disbursed from the grating at a specific angle to a photomultiplier detector or some other form of light detector. The photomultiplier detector (PMD) or other form of photo detector produces an electrical voltage representing the magnitude of energy at the particular wavelength selected by the monochromator. This voltage is typically analyzed by a computer system to detect and/or control the end point of a plasma enhanced etch process. Such OES systems have many uses in analyzing, characterizing and otherwise monitoring a plasma within a reaction chamber of a semiconductor processing system. Such OES systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,288,367 issued Feb. 22, 1994; 5,308,414 issued May 3, 1994; and 4,859,277 issued Aug. 22, 1989.
Typically, the monochromator selects a wavelength from the broad spectrum optical signal produced by the plasma using a diffraction grating. Such a defraction grating is inefficient in its selection process and significantly degrades the magnitude of the selected wavelength. Consequently, the monochromator of this sort is inefficient and the number of photons that arrive on the photo sensitive area of the detector is significantly less than the number actually available for detection, resulting in high shot noise content within the detected signal.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a more efficient optical signal detector that may efficiently select and analyze a band of wavelengths from the broadband optical signal generated by a plasma within a reaction chamber of a plasma enhanced semiconductor wafer processing system.


A windshield washer and wiper assembly for cleaning a windshield of an automobile. The assembly is generally comprised of an elongated housing, a source of windshield washer fluid under pressure, a perforated bladder within the housing, means for washing the windshield mounted through the housing in contact with the bladder, a wiper blade mounted on the housing and means for deflating the bladder. The bladder, upon actuation of the washer fluid source, inflates with washer fluid, urging the washing means against the windshield while simultaneously disengaging the wiper blade from the windshield and leaking washer fluid onto the windshield. The bladder returns to a contracted state by the deflating means upon deactivation of the washer fluid source to return the wiper blade to the windshield surface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an assembly for washing and wiping the windshield of an automobile, particularly an improved windshield washer and wiper assembly capable of removing solid matter such as dried insect debris from the windshield of an automobile.
2. General Background
All automobiles are equipped with windshields or wind screens which require periodic cleaning while the vehicle is in operation. All such vehicles are likewise equipped with windshield wipers which are adapted to move in a back-and-forth motion in order to sweep across a major portion of the windshield and remove water therefrom. Conventional windshield wipers are adapted to function in a "squeegee" manner--that is, the rubber windshield wiper blades scrape across the windshield surface and remove water therefrom. Most automobiles produced after the early 1970's are also provided with windshield washer fluid delivery systems, wherein cleaning fluid may be delivered under pressure to the windshield to aid the windshield wipers in removing dirt or dust therefrom. Windshield wipers have been designed so that they bear against the windshield with a moderate amount of force sufficient to sweep the surface of the windshield clean, but generally not enough to effect any scrubbing action by the wiper blade, since the purpose of the wiper blade is to remove water.
The problem that has existed for some time is that when solid matter such as flying or airborne insects impact against the windshield of a rapidly moving automobile, the body fluids of the insect, and to some degree the exterior body parts, adhere to the windshield and are quickly dried thereon. The resulting windshield smear is, for the most part, impossible to remove by the squeegee action of a conventional windshield wiper blade, even when assisted with windshield washing fluid.
Several devices have been patented which are aimed at removing solid matter from the windshield of an automobile.
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) International Publication No. WO 80/01155 discloses, as best seen in FIGS. 2-4, a combination scrubber/wiper system for a vehicle windshield that has a jacking means 14 which, in use, can urge brush 44 toward and against windscreen 48, then causing the wiper blade 10 to be lifted out of contact with windscreen 48, and can cause or permit withdrawal of brush 44, thereby permitting the wiper blade 10 to reengage windscreen 48. Jack 14 is pneumatically actuated with a spring return 37; in particular, cylinder 26 is connected by passage 36 to hose 38 through which air can be supplied and exhausted to actuate jack 14. Also, the operation of the device is associated with the operation of a windscreen washer, as water can be delivered through a perforated pipe extending along the length of brush 44.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,593 issued to J. C. Gilliam, III, et al., and entitled "Windshield Wiper And Cleaner" teaches, as best disclosed in FIGS. 1-3, a combined windshield wiping and cleaning device that has a scrubbing member 3 with a reticular surface 7 covered by mesh 6 for removing solid matter along with a wiper blade 2 for squeegee removal of water. Scrubber 3 and wiper blade 2 are formed together with a supporting base as a single monolithic extrusion 1 of an elastomeric material which fits into the windshield wiper arm in the conventional manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,567,621 issued to R. L. Alley, Jr., and entitled "Composite Windshield Wiper Assembly" discloses, as best seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, a windshield wiper assembly that also has a window wiper and scrubber in combination as an integral unit. The assembly A has a pair of spaced wiper blade elements 42 and 44 having thin resilient wiping edges 42a and 44a, respectively, and scrubbing block 50 in the space between blade elements 42 and 44. The scrubbing block 50 includes a protrusion 52 which extends past the wiping edges 42a and 44a to provide a light scrubbing action against windshield 12.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,457 issued to Dayco Corporation on the application of B. R. Lunsford and entitled "Windshield Wiper And Method Of Making Same" discloses, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 8, another window wiper and scrubber combination 30 which comprises a pair of wiping members 32 in spaced-apart relationship and a cleaning member 33 disposed therebetween, cleaning member 33 has a semi-cylindrical portion 35 which is adapted to engage the windshield surface 12 roughly midway between wiping members 32 during cleaning movements of the device.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,827 issued to The B.F. Goodrich Company on the application of J. P. Coropolis, et al., and entitled "Window Washer Seal Assembly" discloses, as best seen in FIGS. 1-3, a windshield wiper assembly 10 that inflates so that the wipers 12 and 13 engage the surface of the windscreen 25 yet at the same time sprays washer fluid 37 from reservoir 36. An inflatable resilient tube or bladder 11 carries the pair of blades 12 and 13 engagable with the windscreen 25. Washer fluid 37 is pumped (35) into the tube 11 between blades 12 and 13 and ejected through the holes 26 in the tube 11. One of the blades 12 or 13 may extend into engagement with windscreen 25 in the deflated condition of tube 11 for sealing the space between the tailgate and windscreen 25 and at least one of the blades 12 or 13 may be brought into wiping engagement with windscreen 25 upon inflation of tube 11 during the washing operations.
Other patents present in the art are U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,872 entitled "Windshield Wiper And Washer"; U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,049 entitled "Window Wiper Assembly"; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,517 entitled "Windshield Wiper Blade"; all of which are directed to cleaning a windshield of an automobile, but do not meet the needs of the assembly of the present invention.
The apparatus of PCT International Publication No. WO 80/01155 is overly complex, requiring a source of compressed air to actuate the device. Furthermore, the device is not easily installed on the wiper arm of an automobile; the device must be mounted with bolts.
The devices of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,649,593; 4,567,621; 4,327,457; 3,849,827; 4,060,872; 3,871,049; and 4,754,517 all do not use conventional wiper blades such as come equipped with an automobile. Furthermore, the devices of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,327,457; 3,849,827; and 3,871,049 are designed to work on non-oscillating wiper arms. Also, the devices of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,327,457; 3,849,827; 4,060,872 and 3,871,049 do not use a brush to clean solid matter from the windshield of an automobile.
Thus, a need exists for a windshield washer and wiper assembly for cleaning solids from the windshield of an automobile which combines the function of cleaning and scrubbing solid matter with the function of wiping and squeegee removal of fluid in a single element through the proper combination of scrubbing, fluid application and squeegee action.
A need also exists for an assembly with the above features which is easily installed and operated in the standard wiper arm assembly now commonly used to perform only the wiping or squeegee removal of water on the windshield of an automobile.
A need also exists for an assembly with the above features which can use a conventional wiper blade such as comes equipped with an automobile.
Also, a need exists for an assembly with the above features which operates on an oscillating wiper arm of an automobile.
A need also exists for an assembly with the above features which is simple in design and easy and economical to manufacture.


A system is provided to allow for automated planning and scheduling the work flow for reconfigurable production systems having a plurality of modules, with each module having alternative capabilities. The system includes a system controller, a planning function for planning the concurrent production of regular and diagnostic work units, and a scheduling function for scheduling the concurrent production of regular and diagnostic work units.

This invention relates generally to a system and method for planning and scheduling work flow and processes for reconfigurable production operations and equipment, which enables a service technician to select and use diagnostic jobs, for example feeding a sheet to the module being serviced in a printer system, while the system is otherwise operating in normal mode on fobs around the off-line module.
Reconfigurable production systems increasingly consist of multiple parallel, alternative modules that are connected through flexible paths and even loops. Consequently, such systems are expected to offer a multitude of alternative operations (or capabilities) to produce the same outputs. For example, a modular printing system may consist of several identical, parallel printers connected through flexible paper paths that feed to and collect from these printers. For previous, in-line systems, the entire system was usually stopped when one of its modules went off-line, typically because of a fault, and a service technician could assume that the entire system was at their disposal during diagnostic and repair operations. With the types of parallel systems described above, it is desirable to continue using all available system capabilities by planning and scheduling around the off-line module as necessary, and at the same time interleaving diagnostic jobs as requested by the technician.
A reconfigurable production system may be modeled as a graph of connected modules, with each module described by a model of its structure and its capabilities. The structure is primarily the interface through with work units enter and exit, such as entry and exit ports, plus any internally used resources. A capability is an operation that accepts work units at entry ports, processes them, and moves them to exit ports. (Entry and exit ports here refer to mechanical interfaces, such as slots or trays, as well as computer interfaces. A port may serve as both entry and exit port.) Operation of such a system has been modeled as a sequence of capability executions as work units move along valid paths in the graph from module to module.
An example for a reconfigurable production system is a modular printer, with modules such as feeders, mark engines, paper transports, inverters, etc. There, the work units are sheets and images. A simple paper transport module has an entry port, an exit port, and a single capability, to move a sheet of paper from its entry port to its exit port. An inverter module has one entry port, one exit port, and two capabilities, one to invert a sheet of paper and one to bypass the inversion mechanism. A mark engine transfer module has two entry ports (one for sheets and one for images), one exit port (for marked sheets), and one capability, to print the image onto the sheet. A sample resource in all of these modules is the space occupied by the sheet, which may only be occupied by one sheet at a time. Other examples of reconfigurable production systems are assembly lines, for example for the assembly or packing of computer parts, and automated analytic systems, such as blood sample analysis machines. In these various production systems, work units may be sheets of paper, electronic files, computer parts, semiconductor wafers, blood sample trays, any parts or composites of these, or other physical or electronic objects being processed by production systems. Transport mechanisms may be conveyor belts or robotic arms or any other devices or functions for moving work units.
Module capabilities may be composed to system capabilities by incrementally unifying work unit and time variables of output and input events at connected modules along valid paths in the system graph. For example, if a module's exit port is connected to another module's entry port, any capability producing work units for the first module's exit port potentially can be composed with any capability consuming work units from the second module's entry port. Unification of work unit and time variables ensures the consistency of attribute and time constraints.
A scheduler for such systems receives a stream of jobs, each consisting of a sequence of desired work units to be produced at some final exit port of the system. Each desired work unit is described by a work unit variable with attribute constraints. This is used to select a suitable system capability that can produce the desired work unit by unifying the desired work unit variable with the work unit variables of system capabilities producing work units for the desired exit port. As system capabilities for the desired work units in the jobs are found, their time and resource constraints are posted to the constraint store, and the constraints are solved in order to find time values for the various module capabilities producing the desired work units. The selected module capabilities plus the time values are then sent to the modules so that they can execute the corresponding operations at the designated times.
For the purposes herein, diagnostic job is defined as a job that requires nonstandard system capabilities. Non-standard system capabilities are, for example, capabilities that do not start or end in the usual entry or exit ports, such as feeders and finishers in a printing system, and capabilities that use unusual combinations of operations, such as moving a sheet through a transfer component without marking an image on it, which is usually not permitted.
The approach to system control described above has no generic way to plan and schedule diagnostic jobs in parallel with regular jobs. One reason for this is that even regular jobs are generally not interleaved and thus no simple provision for including diagnostic jobs in parallel is available. Another reason is that the existing approach requires capabilities to start and end at regular entry or exit ports of system capabilities. The approach also does not have any provisions to execute diagnostic jobs while the rest of the system is running normally. Instead, usually the entire system is taken down if a module is off-line and being serviced.
This approach proves unsatisfactory for systems with many alternative, parallel system capabilities. With these systems, it is desirable to continue using all available system capabilities by planning and scheduling around an off-line module as necessary, while concurrently running diagnostic jobs as requested.

Planning and scheduling reconfigurable systems with regular and diagnostic jobs


A variable oil field fluid treatment system and method of use which utilizes a pump, a desanding hydrocyclone, and/or a non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter, a membrane filtration unit, a pump, a granular carbon filter, and/or combinations therein.

The present invention generally relates to the treatment of well fluids, and oilfield wastewater. Relevant background information is discussed below.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) generally defines an injection well as a bored, drilled, or driven shaft, or a dug hole that is deeper than it is wide or an improved sinkhole, or a subsurface fluid distribution system. Some deep wells that are designed to inject hazardous wastes or carbon dioxide deep below the Earth's surface have multiple layers of protective casing and cement, whereas shallow wells injecting non-hazardous fluids into or above drinking water sources are more simply constructed.
In some wastewater disposals, treated wastewater is injected into the ground between impermeable layers of rocks to avoid polluting fresh water supplies or adversely affecting the quality of receiving waters. Injection wells are usually constructed of solid walled pipe to a deep elevation in order to prevent injectate from mixing with the surrounding environment.
Injection wells can be one method for disposal of treated wastewater. Unlike outfalls (which is discharging on the ground or local stream), or other direct disposal techniques, injection wells utilize the Earth as a filter to further clean the treated wastewater before it reaches the receiving water. This method of wastewater disposal also serves to spread the injectate over a wide area, further decreasing environmental impacts.
There are, in general, disposals for well injections on platforms at sea, and on land, when water does not meet customer specifications. Some of these waters are disposed to a boat which transports the materials to land for treatment and disposal. Some companies dispose to tanks on platforms, then transport, treat, and dispose of the water on land. In other variations, there are pumps used to pump well injections into pipelines for transport to salt caverns on land.
Salt caverns are cavities, or chambers, formed in underground salt deposits. Although cavities may naturally form in salt deposits, some caverns are intentionally created by humans for specific purposes, such as for storage of petroleum products or disposal of wastes.
Some removal solutions involve treatment with absorption technologies for discharge overboard from the platform. Some utilize hydrocyclones as well or utilize both technologies in treatment procedures. Some systems treat with coalescing technologies for discharge overboard. Some systems treat with diatomaceous earth technologies. Some systems utilize centrifuge and/or absorption or coalescing technologies. Some removal solutions use conventional solids filtration. Some removal solutions utilize dissolved gas flotation or induced gas flotation technologies.
Within some water-treatment equipment, the process of coalescence takes place; that is, small oil droplets collide and form bigger droplets. Coalescing can also occur in the pipe downstream of pumps and control valves; if enough residence time is given. However, in such instances, the process of dispersion will govern the maximum size of stable oil droplets that can exist. For normal pipe diameters and flow velocities, particles of 500 to 5000 μm are possible.
A centrifugal water-oil separator, centrifugal oil-water separator or centrifugal liquid-liquid separator is a device designed to separate oil and water by centrifugation. It generally contains a cylindrical container that rotates inside a larger stationary container. The denser liquid, usually water, accumulates at the periphery of the rotating container and is collected from the side of the device, whereas the less dense liquid, usually oil, accumulates at the rotation axis and is collected from the center.
Conventional technologies involved with water treatment and removal often contain oil and grease which utilize expensive chemicals or consumable media that requires disposal on land. These consumable media technologies become cost prohibitive as they consume the oil to be removed and still require further disposal. Traditional oil absorbing media needs to be disposed once it is utilized, as it becomes a waste product.
A Floating Production, Storage and Offloading ("FPSO") unit is a floating vessel used by the offshore oil and gas industry for the production and processing of hydrocarbons, and for the storage of oil. Produced water that does not meet discharge or injection criteria diverted into oil storage tanks on FPSO is typically called "slop water". A FPSO vessel is designed to receive hydrocarbons produced by itself, or from nearby platforms, or subsea template, process them, and store oil until it can be offloaded onto a tanker or, less frequently, transported through a pipeline. FPSOs are preferred in frontier offshore regions as they are easy to install, and do not require a local pipeline infrastructure to export oil. FPSOs can be a converted oil tanker or can be a vessel built specially for the application.
Slop waters are generated from off specification produced water not suitable for overboard discharge and oily water skimmings from flotation technologies and hydrocyclone rejects. Skimmings, or rejects, are a percentage of the fluid that is not sent out of the discharge of the equipment, but is recycled back into the front of the total process. The rejects are mostly water, so they will be recycled back into the total system further upstream.
Slop water can be stored in the compartments within the hull of the ship for days, weeks, months or even years. During this timeframe, chemicals are added to control corrosion, bacteria and H2S content of the slop water; this causes emulsions to be formed due to the fine solids generated in this treatment. Due to these emulsions, hydrocarbons will not typically be separated from the slop water by gravity separation.
Increased volumes of slop water in tanks reduces the oil storage capacity of these facilities significantly, affecting the economics of an operation. Since the same storage tanks that are designed to hold bulk oil will also hold slop water, the more slop water that is in the tanks, the less amount of oil can be stored. Once the storage tanks are full, whether it is with slop water or oil, the oil will need to be off-loaded.
Deck drainage water, in oil and/or gas drilling and production, comes from collected rainwater and miscellaneous fluids such as oils and greases on a deck of a platform. Typically, several drains are spread throughout one or more decks of the offshore platform, especially on portions of the decks which are open and therefore exposed to the weather. Since the rainwater washes any spilled oil or grease off the deck and into the drains, the rainwater cannot be passed directly into the body of water beneath the platform. Instead, the collected rainwater must be treated to separate the oil from the water until the percentage of oil in the water reaches an acceptable level.
Presently, laws, such as the Clean Water Act, prohibit discharging "pollutants" through a "point source" into a "water of the United States" unless they have an NPDES permit. The permit will contain limits on what an entity can discharge, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other provisions to ensure that the discharge does not hurt water quality or people's health. In essence, the permit translates general requirements of the Clean Water Act into specific provisions tailored to the operations of each person discharging pollutants. Typically (as the governing country's ordinances permit), as little as twenty-nine parts per million "ppm" of oil in water is permitted in the water to be returned to the body of water beneath the platform (in some areas of the world it is 15 ppm).
After primary and secondary recovery, chemical enhanced oil recovery technology can extract almost 20% of additional oil from a reservoir. Polymer flooding is an established chemical enhanced oil recovery process, where an aqueous polymeric solution with a viscosity closely matched to the oil is injected to enhance the mobility of fluid in the reservoir. The fluid injection profile is improved through the addition of polymers, making it more consistent and stable, enhancing the displacement efficiency.
During the primary recovery stage, reservoir drive comes from several natural mechanisms. These include: natural water displacing oil downward into the well, expansion of the natural gas at the top of the reservoir, expansion of gas initially dissolved in the crude oil, and gravity drainage resulting from the movement of oil within the reservoir from the upper to the lower parts where the wells are located.
When underground pressure in the oil reservoir is sufficient to force the oil to the surface, all that is necessary is to place a complex arrangement of valves on the well head to connect the well to a pipeline network for storage and processing. Sometimes pumps, such as beam pumps and electrical submersible pumps (ESPs), are used to bring the oil to the surface; these are known as artificial lifting mechanisms.
Over the lifetime of the well the pressure falls, and at some point, there is insufficient underground pressure to force the oil to the surface. After natural reservoir drive diminishes, secondary recovery methods are applied. Secondary recovery methods can rely on the supply of external energy into the reservoir in the form of injecting fluids to increase reservoir pressure, hence replacing or increasing the natural reservoir drive with an artificial drive. Secondary recovery techniques increase the reservoir's pressure by water injection, natural gas reinjection and gas lift, which injects air, carbon dioxide or some other gas into the bottom of an active well, reducing the overall density of fluid in the wellbore.
The performance of the polymeric solutions used largely relies on their rheological properties, and therefore, detailed rheological characterization under relevant conditions supports performance optimization. In addition to the polymers, surfactants can also be added to add additional extraction capabilities. Polymer flooding will increase the viscosity of the water and surfactants will create a tighter oil water emulsion, while the water returning to the surface will be difficult for standard water treatment equipment to maintain efficiencies in recapture.
Oil and gas operators may use acid treatment (acidizing) to improve well productivity. The assortment of drilling fluids pumped down the well during drilling and completion can often cause damage to the surrounding formation by entering the reservoir rock and blocking the pore throats. Similarly, the act of perforating can have a similar effect by jetting debris into the perforation channels. Both these situations reduce the permeability in the near well bore area and so reduce the flow of fluids into the well bore.
One solution is to pump diluted acid mixtures from surface into the well to dissolve the offending material. Once dissolved, permeability should be restored and the reservoir fluids will flow into the well bore, cleaning up what is left of the damaging material. After initial completion, it is common to use minimal amounts of formic acid to clean up any mud and skin damage. In this situation, the process is loosely referred to as "well stimulation."
In some instances, pumping from the surface is insufficient, as it does not target any particular location downhole and reduces the chances of the chemical retaining its effectiveness when it gets to its intended location. In these cases, it is necessary to spot the chemical directly at its target through the use of coiled tubing. Coiled tubing is run in hole with a jetting tool on the end. When the tool is at its target, the chemical is pumped through the pipe and is jetted directly onto the damaged area.
The development of effective corrosion inhibitors and the use and further development of acid treatment (acidizing) of oil and gas wells proliferated and led to the establishment of the well stimulation services industry.
Acid washing is most commonly performed with hydrochloric acid (HCl) mixtures, but other acids can be used to clean out scale (such as calcium carbonate), rust, and other debris restricting flow in the well. Matrix and fracture acidizing are both formation treatments. The acid treatment is injected below the formation fracturing pressure. In fracture acidizing, acid is pumped above the formation fracturing pressure. The purpose of fracture acidizing is to restore or improve an oil or gas well's productivity by dissolving material in the productive formation that is restricting oil and water flow, or to dissolve the formation rock itself to enhance existing flow paths, or to create new oil and water flow paths to the wellbore.
There are applications in which a solids-free liquid is used to "complete" an oil or gas well. In these applications, the fluid is placed in the well to facilitate final operations prior to initiation of production. The fluid is meant to control a wellbore pressure should downhole hardware fail, without damaging the producing formation or completion components.
Completion fluids are typically brines (chlorides, bromides and formates), but in theory could be any fluid of proper density and flow characteristics. The fluid should be chemically compatible with the reservoir formation and fluids and is typically filtered to a high degree to avoid introducing solids to the near-wellbore area. Seldom is a regular drilling fluid suitable for completion operations due to its solids content, pH and ionic composition.
Sometimes brine will be lost to the formation if the hydrostatic pressure of the brine is higher than the well bore pressure. If the weight of the brine has a higher hydrostatic pressure compared to the wellbore pressure, the brine will go into the formation. If the wellbore pressure is higher than the hydrostatic pressure of the brine, the well fluids will move upward towards the surface. Additives can be added to the brine to reduce or stop the fluid losses. The brine and additives return to the surface facility, where separation equipment is needed to remove the hydrocarbons from the brine prior to discharging the water into the sea or injecting it into the well.
Fine solid particles present in crude oil are capable of effectively stabilizing emulsions. The effectiveness of these solids in stabilizing emulsions depends on factors such as: solid particle size, interparticle interaction, and wettability of the solids.
Solid particles stabilize emulsions by diffusing to the oil/water interface, where they form rigid films that can sterically inhibit the coalescence of emulsion droplets. Furthermore, solid particles at the interface may be electrically charged, which may also enhance the stability of the emulsion. Particles must be much smaller than the size of the emulsion droplets to act as emulsion stabilizers. Typically, these solid particles are submicron to a few microns in diameter.
The wettability of the particles plays an important role in emulsion stabilization. Wettability is the degree to which a solid is wetted by oil or water when both are present. If the solid remains entirely in the oil or water phase, it will not be an emulsion stabilizer. For the solid to act as an emulsion stabilizer, it must be present at the interface and must be wetted by both the oil and water phases. In general, oil-wet solids stabilize a water-in-oil emulsion. Oil-wet particles preferentially partition into the oil phase and prevent the coalescence of water droplets by steric hindrance. Similarly, water-wet solids stabilize a water-continuous or an oil-in-water emulsion.
When solids are wetted by the oil and water (intermediate wettability), they agglomerate at the interface and retard coalescence. These particles must be repositioned into either the oil or water for coalescence to take place. This process requires energy and provides a barrier to coalescence.
The effectiveness of colloidal particles in stabilizing emulsions depends largely on the formation of a densely packed layer of solid particles (film) at the oil/water interface. This film provides steric hindrance to the coalescence of water droplets. The presence of solids at the interface also changes the rheological properties of the interface that exhibits viscoelastic behavior. This affects the rate of film drainage between droplets and affects the displacement of particles at the interface. It has also been demonstrated that for asphaltenes and waxes to be effective emulsifiers, they must be present in the form of finely divided submicron particles.
The present invention is distinguished from the prior art for the following reasons:
The present invention is distinguished from Ohsol (U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,876) as Ohsol does not disclose the use of a multicompartment separator tank. Furthermore, Ohsol does not utilize fluids at an ambient air temperature, unlike the present invention.
The present invention is distinguished from Moene (US Pat. App. 20140008271) as Moene does not disclose the use of a multicompartment separator tank. Furthermore, Ohsol does not utilize fluids at an ambient air temperature, unlike the present invention.
The present invention is distinguished from Wu (CN203284265) as Wu does not disclose the use of a multicompartment separator tank.
The present invention is distinguished from Govindan (U.S. Pat. No. 9,266,748) as 1) Govindan requires a heat exchange with a fluid, whereas the present invention utilizes ambient air temperature with no heat exchange, and 2) Govindan is also very complicated and requires many expensive steps for fluid treatment, whereas the present invention provides a reduced and more cost effective fluid treatment process that does not require a fluid heat exchange. Furthermore, 3) Govindan does not teach the use of a multicompartment separator as is claimed in the present invention.
The present invention is distinguished from Blazejczak (U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,246) as Blazejczak requires 1) a gas covering, 2) stators and rotors, and 3) a skimmer. The present invention is a multicompartment separator that specifically avoids the need for those aspects of Blazejczak, and is therefore an improvement regarding efficiency and cost over Blazejczak.

Fluid treatment system and method of use utilizing a membrane