Storage and transport of a gondola-type shelving with safety achieved by providing a wheeled cart system having shelves limiting the height of any stack of the gondola-type shelves and both vertical and horizontal guard rails which may be readily affixed or removed from the cart as necessary to enable loading and unloading of the cart and safe storage and transport of items in the cart.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for storing and transporting shelving. More specifically, the invention relates to a wheeled cart upon which a large number of shelves may be stacked at a first location, safely transported to a second location, and safely unstacked at the second location.
II. Related Art
Gondola-type shelving is used in retail stores throughout the world. A significant advantage of gondola-type shelving is that the shelving is modular in design allowing the shelving to be assembled in units ranging in width from as short as two to three feet to as long as a hundred feet or more. Another significant advantage is that the number of shelves in a particular section of the unit may be altered and the spacing between the shelves in a particular section of the unit may also be altered.
Still another advantage of gondola-type shelving is that a shelving unit and sections of the shelving unit may be quickly assembled and disassembled. This is important because time is of the essence when rearranging the shelves of a retail store. This work must typically be accomplished between the time a store closes in the evening and the time the store opens in the morning. When a store is open 24 hours per day, like many big box retail department stores such as those operated by Walmart or drug stores such as those operated by Walgreens, the task of disassembling, moving and reassembling shelving units must be accomplished when customers are in the store. Whether the shelving units are moved or reconfigured when customers are present or not, safety is an issue.
Significant safety concerns arise when the shelves of a gondola-type shelving unit are stacked and transported. Gondola-type shelves are not perfectly flat and when stacked they tend to be relatively unstable. The degree of instability increases with each shelf added to the stack. Stacks have been known to collapse, causing damage to the shelves and even bodily injury to workers or others adjacent the stack. This problem is particularly acute when the stack rests on a flat bed cart used to transport the stack of shelves. This problem is exacerbated by laborers trying to speed the process by stacking a larger number of shelves than they should or being careless when adding or removing shelves from a stack.


In an acoustic wave resonator, an IDT electrode is provided on a piezoelectric substrate. The IDT electrode is apodization-weighted such that a plurality of maximum values of cross widths are provided in acoustic wave propagation directions. Alternatively, in apodization weighting, weighting is applied such that at least one of a pair of envelopes located at outer side portions of the IDT electrode in directions substantially perpendicular to acoustic wave propagation directions includes a plurality of angled envelope portions angled from a central portion of the IDT electrode toward an outer side portion of the IDT electrode in a direction substantially perpendicular to the acoustic wave propagation directions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to acoustic wave resonators utilizing surface acoustic waves or boundary acoustic waves. More particularly, the present invention relates to a one-port acoustic wave resonator in which apodization weighting is applied to IDT electrodes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various resonators utilizing surface acoustic waves and boundary acoustic waves have been disclosed in the past. For example, Japanese Patent No. 2645674 indicated below discloses a surface acoustic wave resonator illustrated in FIG. 16 and FIG. 17. A surface acoustic wave resonator 501 illustrated in FIG. 16 is a surface acoustic wave resonator utilizing Love waves described in Japanese Patent No. 2645674 as an example of the related art. In this surface acoustic wave resonator 501, an interdigital transducer (IDT) electrode 503 is provided on a piezoelectric substrate 502. The IDT electrode 503 is a normal IDT electrode. The surface acoustic wave resonator 501 utilizes resonance characteristics based on Love waves, and there is a problem in that spurious responses caused by transverse modes are generated.
To address this, Japanese Patent No. 2645674 discloses a one-port surface acoustic wave resonator 511 having an electrode structure illustrated in FIG. 17 which suppresses spurious responses caused by transverse modes. In the surface acoustic wave resonator 511, reflectors 513 and 514 are arranged at opposite sides of an IDT electrode 512 in surface acoustic wave propagation directions. As illustrated in the FIG. 17, apodization weighting is applied to the IDT electrode 512 such that the cross width is increased in a center portion in the surface acoustic wave propagation directions and is reduced toward the ends in the surface acoustic wave propagation directions.
In the surface acoustic wave resonator 511, apodization weighting is applied to the IDT electrode 512 as described above, and, accordingly, spurious responses caused by transverse modes are suppressed to achieve satisfactory resonance characteristics.
As described in Japanese Patent No. 2645674, in a one-port surface acoustic wave resonator utilizing Love waves, it is possible to suppress transverse-mode spurious responses by applying apodization weighting to an IDT electrode as described above. However, there is a problem with the apodization weighting described in Japanese Patent No. 2645674 in that the center portion of the IDT electrode 512 has a very large cross width. Specifically, since the apodization weighting is applied to the IDT electrode 512 illustrated in FIG. 17, the cross width of electrode fingers is very large at the center in the surface acoustic wave propagation directions, as compared to the IDT electrode 503 illustrated in FIG. 16, where the areas of the crossing portions of the IDT electrodes are substantially the same. That is, the IDT electrode 512 has a large maximum cross width, and thus, has long electrode fingers, which results in a concentration of power consumption at the center of the IDT electrode 513. This decrease the power resistance.
In addition, because of the large maximum cross width, the IDT electrode 513 must have a relatively large dimension in the direction perpendicular to the surface acoustic wave propagation directions.
Furthermore, the surface acoustic wave resonator 511 has another problem in that the Q factor at an anti-resonant frequency is not sufficiently high.
The surface acoustic wave resonator 511 described in above utilizes Love waves. Love waves and Rayleigh waves have relatively low acoustic velocities and are likely to be confined in an IDT, which may result in the generation of a transverse mode. When using acoustic waves, such as Love waves and Rayleigh waves, which have relatively low acoustic velocities and are not leaky waves, it is difficult to suppress a transverse mode causing spurious responses by adjusting the crystal orientation of a piezoelectric substrate.


A light-weight, high-strength compressor component is formed via additive manufacturing that has controlled stiffness and/or deflection levels. The component may have at least one interior region comprising a lattice structure that comprises a plurality of repeating cells. A solid surface is disposed over the lattice structure. The interior region comprises the lattice structure in the body portion of the light-weight, high-strength compressor component. The lattice structure may be used to globally or locally control stiffness and/or deflection levels of the compressor component. Additive manufacturing provides flexibility in forming compressor components with desirably improved strength-to-weight ratios while exhibiting high levels of control over stiffness and/or deflection. Methods of making such compressor components via additive manufacturing processes are also provided.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Compressors may be used in heating and cooling systems and/or other working fluid circulation systems to compress and circulate a working fluid (e.g., refrigerant) through a circuit having a heat exchanger and an expansion device. Efficient and reliable operations of the compressor are desirable to ensure that the system in which the compressor is installed is capable of effectively and efficiently providing a cooling and/or heating effect. Weight reduction for components to be incorporated into compressors (e.g., scroll compressors) is important for improving compressor and refrigeration system efficiency, especially in mobile applications. However, many lightweight materials that are potential candidates for forming compressor components fail to exhibit adequate strength along with desired material properties (stiffness or deflection), and/or long-term durability when exposed to the harsh temperature and pressure conditions during compressor operation. Further, certain high-strength materials also have a correspondingly high stiffness, which can cause excessive wear when forces or loading is applied during compressor operation. It would be desirable to have high-strength, light-weight compressor components that advantageously control stiffness and deflection within a compressor during compressor operation to improve compressor performance and efficiency, while reducing manufacturing process complexity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

High-strength light-weight lattice-cored additive manufactured compressor components


Equipment is supported within a rack system regardless of the design of the rack system using a base of a support that includes a surface capable of supporting the equipment and reducing unintended movement of the equipment. Brackets capable of being securely attached to the rack system, regardless of whether it is two-post or four-post in design, are associated with the base of the support. Equipment can be supported by selecting a design of the rack system, attaching the support of the present system, and placing the equipment to be supported.

The physical support of objects or devices (e.g., electronic equipment) on a horizontal plane presents a number of related issues. For purposes of this application, the term "equipment" shall be used to include, without limitation, computers (of all designs, including desktop and tower), computer components, tape backups, hubs, switches, power supplies, audio/visual components, and the like.
It is generally desirable to support equipment in a manner that facilitates their operation, if applicable. For example, such support should orient the equipment in proper or recommended spatial orientation. Other orientation may be dictated by the function (e.g., placement of cooling fan) or other consideration. Next, support should be accomplished in a manner that consumes the smallest amount of space, but still provides the user with a desired level of access. Such access may be necessary to monitor and/or maintain the equipment being supported. With modern office and storage space at a premium, the development of racks and other stacking devices for such equipment has occurred.
Existing shelf designs are typically made by rack manufacturers and are limited to coupling with the respective manufacturer's two- or four-post rack design, and few, if any, others. Many manufacturers provide two- or four-post racks designed to support equipment, such as servers and the like, for being supported on shelves that are respectively coupled to the two- or four-post rack systems. However, there is a need for a universal rack mountable shelf that is adapted to attach to substantially all two- or four-post rack systems, regardless of manufacturer. In addition, because space is a premium concern for users of two- or four-post rack systems, there is a need for multiple mounting orientations of shelves in the two- or four-post rack system.


A system and apparatus for separating/sorting and orienting/aligning tubes and/or vials or other sample containers.

Numerous industries use tubes, vials, and similar sample containing devices for collecting samples, storing samples, and later testing samples. For example, in the medical and forensic fields, test tubes with stoppers or caps and/or vials with stoppers or caps are regularly used for collecting samples such as urine samples, blood samples, tissue samples, etc., and storing such samples for later testing of the samples. In addition, tubes and vials with stoppers or caps are also often used as culture tubes in biology for handling and culturing all kinds of live organisms such as molds, bacteria, seedlings, plant cuttings, etc. Tubes and vials are also used in the chemical industry field for storing, handling, and/or testing all kinds of chemicals in a variety of forms such as solids, liquids, and gas.
In practice, a great deal of time and effort can be expended in sorting and orientating such tubes and/or vials for further use and processing. For example, if many tubes and/or vials of various sizes containing different samples are mixed together or stored together, these tubes and/or vials must be separated in order to ensure that further appropriate processing is performed on the samples contained in the various tubes and/or vials. In another example, if numerous samples are collected at the same time in various sizes of tubes and/or vials and are later required to be stored in different storage environments, the tubes and/or vials must be separated and may need to be properly oriented for appropriate storage. In still another example, a number of various sized empty tubes and/or vials may need to be separated and orientated in preparation for sample collection and/or storage.
Accordingly, there is a need for a system and apparatus for separating and orientating sample containers, such as tubes and vials, for example, that is capable of efficiently and effectively sorting and aligning the sample containers.

System and apparatus for separating and orienting sample containers


An M-4 firearm having a lower receiver assembly and an upper receiver assembly. The upper receiver assembly is connected to the lower receiver assembly. The lower receiver assembly has a fire control assembly. The upper receiver assembly has a barrel and a hand guard. The hand guard has a venting features for allowing cooling air to pass therethrough. The hand guard has a heat shield mounted therein. The hand guard has at least one peripheral device mounting rail. The hand guard has an upper portion and a removable lower portion. The removable lower portion has at least one peripheral device mounting rail. The removable lower portion may be removed and replaced with a different second removable lower portion without the removal of fasteners.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a firearm and, more particularly, to a firearm having modular subassemblies.
2. Brief Description of Earlier Developments
There are conventional firearms with an integral upper receiver and hand guard. The conventional firearms have a removable hand guard section connected to the hand guard on the upper receiver with screws. Removal of the conventional hand guard section hence involves removal tools, and once removed the mounting screws may be lost. This is not desirable in operational conditions.


A cable support device having a first portion at a back side thereof and a second portion at a front side opposite the back side of the cable support device, the first portion adapted to couple to a front side of a housing, and the second portion adapted to support a length of at least one cable extending along a direction of the front side of the cable support device, wherein the cable support device is transitionable between a first state and a second state, wherein, in the first state, the second portion extends at a first angle with respect to the front side of the housing, and in the second state, the second portion extends at a second angle with respect to the front side of the housing, the second angle being different from the first angle.

In communication networking applications, a cassette, which is a compact, unitary apparatus for routing one or more cables to one or more optical or electronic devices enclosed within the cassette, may be provided. The cassette serves to facilitate coupling of the device with one or more cables, as well as protect the device from potential damage such as mechanical shock or contaminants. As a plurality of devices is often required in a single networking application, a plurality of cassettes may be provided to enclose the devices, and a housing may typically be provided to store the cassettes in an organized manner, such as in rows and columns. However, because each individual cassette within the housing typically receives a plurality of cables, the cables extending from an organized configuration of cassettes may nevertheless be disorderly, even to the point of rendering it difficult to access cassettes stored within the housing or individual cables.
As such, there exists a need for an improved device and system for managing the cables extending from the plurality of cassettes typically required in a networking installation.

High density optics and electronics enclosure housing system with cable management


An article of footwear is described with a sole that has a forefoot plate, a heel plate, at least one alloy cleat, and at least one molded cleat. The alloy cleat may be made of a non-ferrous metal alloy or alternatively an alloy based on ceramics, titanium, and/or magnesium. According to the invention, the alloy cleat protrudes from the forefoot plate and the molded cleat protrudes from the heel plate. The sole can additionally have a stability element that controls the movement of the forefoot plate with respect to the heel plate. An alternative aspect of the invention is an alloy cleat having a body with a generally arcuate cross-section and an integrally formed stiffening rib.

The present invention relates to an article of cleated footwear. In particular, the present invention relates to a baseball shoe including a sole having structural plates and various types of cleats mounted thereon.
There are four basic movements in baseball: pitching/throwing, base running, hitting, and fielding. In all four movements, a player""s foot follows one basic motion pattern. Weight is placed on the player""s back foot, or more precisely, the forefoot portion of the back foot. The player then rolls his weight to the medial side. From the medial side, weight is shifted onto the toe portion, where the toe-off begins, starting at the first metatarsal and finishing at the big toe. The primary traction area is the forefoot. Therefore, it is essential to maximize traction in the forefoot while allowing a player to swivel and/or pivot on their forefoot with minimum resistance.
Conventional baseball shoes are constructed of bladed steel spikes formed on a single sole plate running from toe to heel. Steel spikes are known to penetrate the ground well, providing good grip and push-off; however, baseball shoes with steel spikes are also known to be uncomfortable to a wearer. Steel spikes are uncomfortable for two reasons: (1) the wearer can typically feel the spikes through the shoes; and (2) the placement of the spikes may induce unnecessary stresses in the wearer""s feet or ankles, as a result of the motion of the wearer""s feet. Non-optimal spike placement and unnecessary weight can also degrade the athletic performance of the wearer. The discomfort is especially apparent when the shoes are used on hard, heavy, or dry ground conditions. Hard ground can also quickly wear down a steel spike and diminish its performance.
Other types of cleats, for example molded nylon cleats, are typically more comfortable than steel spikes; however, molded cleats trade performance for comfort. Molded cleats are typically more comfortable than steel spikes, because they provide superior pressure distribution; however, molded nylon cleats are not generally used for baseball shoes due to their inferior ground penetration characteristics, particularly on hard ground. Therefore, molded nylon cleats provide inferior traction and/or toe-off as compared to steel spikes.
An object of the invention is, therefore, to maximize the comfort and performance of a cleated shoe by selecting appropriate cleat material, design, and placement and also by selecting appropriate plate design, placement, and materials. Although only conventional baseball shoes are described in the preceding description of the prior art, the invention is applicable to all types of shoes whose performance could benefit from the incorporation of cleats.
Generally, the invention addresses the problems outlined above by means of a combination of cleat materials, designs, and placement, and the use of multiple plates with varied designs and/or materials. The inventors have discovered that the unique plate and cleat combinations of the present invention can optimize an athlete""s performance. The shoe sole of the present invention provides an improved combination of traction and comfort, which enables the wearer to exercise more power and drive. In particular, a sole in accordance with the present invention increases stability, agility, balance, and acceleration, while reducing slip. The use of a heel plate, where a majority of an athlete""s weight is supported, with molded cleats made from a polymer material provides increased comfort to an athlete. The forefoot plate with alloy cleats affords an athlete fine performance, because the alloy cleats penetrate the ground readily providing better grip and push-off than the molded cleats. The cleat of the forefoot plate is preferably made from a non-ferrous metal alloy, such as an aluminum-based alloy. Alternatively, the forefoot plate could incorporate cleats made of an alloy based on ceramics, titanium, and/or magnesium. Alloy cleats may offer more comfort than steel cleats in conjunction with acceptable ground penetration properties. The two plates and distinctive cleat materials and designs result in a shoe with the comfort of molded cleats and the performance of bladed steel spikes.
In one aspect, the invention relates to an article of footwear including a sole having a forefoot plate, a heel plate, at least one alloy cleat, and at least one molded cleat. The alloy cleat or cleats protrude from the forefoot plate. The molded cleat or cleats protrude from the heel plate.
In another aspect, the invention relates to an article of footwear with a sole that includes a forefoot plate, a heel plate, a stability element, at least one alloy cleat, and at least one molded cleat. The stability element couples the forefoot plate and the heel plate. The alloy cleat or cleats protrude from the forefoot plate. The molded cleat or cleats protrude from the heel plate.
The stability element of one embodiment of the invention includes a generally longitudinal lateral element, a generally longitudinal medial element, and a transverse element. The transverse element connects the lateral and medial elements and may include a plurality of fingers or finger-like elements. In one embodiment, the transverse element may include three finger elements forming a generally E-shaped element.
The stability element may extend from the forefoot plate to the heel plate and is preferably constructed of a material and configured for controlling, in a preselected manner, the rotation of the forefoot of the shoe with respect to the heel of the shoe. The stability element may support the foot over its effective longitudinal length without affecting the flexibility of the footwear with respect to the twisting of the forefoot relative to the heel. In addition, the stability element may support the front part of the foot in the forefoot area. The above mentioned material properties can be obtained by manufacturing the stability element from a composite material of resin and carbon fibers, or a thermoplastic material, or equivalent materials. The stability element may be of the type described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/286,737, assigned to the same assignee as the instant application, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Various embodiments according to the foregoing aspects of the invention may include the following features. The alloy cleat may be made of a non-ferrous metal alloy, preferably an aluminum-based alloy. Alternatively, the alloy cleat may be made of a ceramic, titanium, and/or magnesium alloy. There may be four alloy cleats. There may be three or four molded cleats. The alloy or molded cleats or both may be arranged in a generally circular configuration. The generally circular configuration of the alloy cleats may be centered generally about an area of a third metatarsal. The alloy cleat or cleats may have a generally arcuate cross-section. The heel plate may have a generally circular shape. The forefoot plate may extend into the midfoot region. The forefoot plate extension into the midfoot region may be limited to the lateral side.
In still another aspect, the invention relates to an alloy cleat that includes a mounting base, a body, and a stiffening rib. The body extends from the mounting base to a distal end that may be ground-engaging. The body has a generally arcuate cross-section. The stiffening rib is formed integrally with the body and may be centrally located along the body. In one embodiment, the alloy cleats are made of a non-ferrous metal alloy, such as an aluminum-based alloy. Alternatively, the alloy cleat may be made of a ceramic, titanium, and/or magnesium based alloy. Various other embodiments of the cleat include multiple stiffening ribs formed integrally with the body, the stiffening ribs disposed at generally equal distances about the body. In addition, the body may have other cross-sectional shapes such as, linear, rectangular, or circular. Furthermore, an alloy cleat may offer improved abrasion resistance and be lighter in weight than standard steel cleats.
These and other objects, along with advantages and features of the present invention herein disclosed, will become apparent through reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.


The invention relates to a method and device for monitoring the confinement of an enclosure including walls delimiting an interior volume and an external environment, according to which a differential pressure (ΔP) is maintained between the interior volume and the external environment. According to the invention, the enclosure includes a port in one of the walls thereof establishing a fluid communication between the interior volume and the external environment, the port is traversed by a gas stream having a speed (V) at least equal to a reference speed Vréf, under the effect of the differential pressure (ΔP). Method according to which the following steps are performed, measuring the speed (V) of the gas stream at predetermined time intervals or continuously, and comparing the speed (V) measurement with reference speed Vréférence, and when the speed (V) measurement is less than reference speed Vréférence, transmitting at least one alarm signal.

1. Field
The presently disclosed embodiment relates to a method and a device for monitoring the dynamic confinement of a confinement enclosure that is at a raised or at a reduced pressure in relation to the exterior surroundings. The presently disclosed embodiment also relates to an enclosure equipped with such a confinement control device.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
It is known practice within the nuclear industry to use a confinement enclosure in order to clean up and/or to dismantle radioactive equipment of a nuclear installation, for example if this equipment has become obsolete or if the installation itself is being shut down.
FIG. 1 shows such a confinement enclosure 1 of the prior art. This confinement enclosure 1 comprises a set of vinyl air locks comprising a personnel entrance and exit air lock 2, a materials entrance and exit air lock 3 and an intervention air lock 4. It is inside this latter air lock 4 that one or more operators carry out the operations of cleaning up and/or of dismantling the contaminated equipment.
The first two air locks 2, 3 each have access to the exterior and direct access to the intervention air lock 4. These two air locks 2, 3 do not communicate with one another such that the first air lock 2 is reserved exclusively for personnel, the second air lock 3 being intended only for the removal of the materials resulting for example from the dismantling of the radioactive equipment.
Each air lock 2-4 is typically formed of a metal structure with flexible vinyl walls. Access to the air locks 2-4 is had via two vinyl sheets 5.
These vinyl walls prevent contaminated substances from being dispersed into the environment during cleanup operations.
Such a confinement enclosure 1 intended for dismantling and/or cleanup operations is kept at a reduced pressure in relation to the host space in which this enclosure is situated by means of a ventilation system which may be autonomous or may be connected to the network that exists within the host space.
The materials and personnel entrance/exit air locks 2, 3 are ventilated by air transfer. Only the intervention air lock 4 has forced air extraction (not depicted).
During cleanup and/or dismantling operations, the air flows through the intervention air lock 4 are extracted by a fan preceded by high efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA filters) capable of trapping the particles carried in the air thus extracted.
This creation of a reduced pressure therefore allows contaminated dust generated for example when cutting up radioactive equipment to be confined and sucked up.
The safety of operations relies on the combination of static confinement (airtightness of the walls) of the confinement enclosure and dynamic confinement (ventilation) that allows this enclosure to be kept at a reduced pressure.
The French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) recommends that such a confinement enclosure be kept at a reduced pressure by maintaining a pressure differential of the order of −40 Pa to −80 Pa with respect to the host space.
This reduced pressure is currently measured at the start of each working shift, but it is not possible from this to deduce with certainty that this level of reduced pressure is being maintained throughout the cleanup operations and/or the operations of dismantling contaminated material.
Specifically, this reduced pressure may, for example, vary suddenly as a result of a break in the static confinement or alternatively as a result of the filtration system becoming plugged, leading to a drop in the extraction flow rate.
When this happens, the amount of reduced pressure no longer falls within the range of recommended values, causing the cleanup work and/or dismantling work to have to stop until the target reduced pressure can be re-established.
Now, such work stoppages lead to additional costs and significant extensions of deadlines which are incompatible with the economic requirements of the companies involved.
Conversely, there are confinement enclosures which require a raised pressure in order to keep the dust outside such an enclosure. Maintaining a raised pressure makes it possible to maintain a healthy atmosphere inside the enclosure, namely an atmosphere that is devoid of the kind of dust that would hamper the operations performed in this enclosure.
The safety of operations relies on the combination of static confinement (airtightness of the walls) of the confinement enclosure and dynamic confinement (ventilation) that allows this enclosure to be kept at a raised pressure.
The presently disclosed embodiment seeks to alleviate these various disadvantages by proposing a method and a device for monitoring the confinement of an enclosure that is at a reduced pressure or at a raised pressure in relation to the exterior surroundings in which this enclosure is placed, being simple in their design and mode of operation and guaranteeing that these operations can be carried out safely.
Another object of the presently disclosed embodiment is such a method and such a device for monitoring the dynamic confinement of an enclosure that makes it possible to continuously monitor the quality of the dynamic confinement of this enclosure.
In the remainder of this document, the term "confinement" will refer to dynamic confinement or containment. The term "enclosure" will refer to a confinement space.

Method and device for controlling the dynamic confinement of an enclosure

COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES


A composition containing a photochromic material and a fluorescent pigment provides a duality of color in products where the composition is used as the coloring agent. Under ordinary lighting conditions, the composition will provide a brilliant, glowing color and under excitation illumination such a ultraviolet radiation, a different brilliant glowing color results.

It has long been recognized that certain chemical compounds will absorb light energy (electromagnetic radiation) at particular frequencies and remit this absorbed energy at lower frequencies. Natural materials such as quinine and various minerals will absorb ultraviolet (UV) light and remit that energy as visible spectrum light, i.e., they fluoresce. The theory of fluorescence is discussed in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, Second Edition, Volume 9, pages 485-491 (1966). Fluorescence is not limited to UV absorption and remission. So-called daylight fluorescent pigments will fluoresce when excited by radiation in both the UV and visible spectrum ranges. In those pigments the emitted fluorescence combines additively with the normal reflected color to the extent that these pigments appear to glow in normal daylight.
Chemical compounds which exhibit photochromism are also known. Photochromism is also a phenomenon which is well known and thoroughly documented. It is a reversible phenomenon in which exposure of certain compounds to electromagnetic radiation of a particular wavelength will cause a color change. When the radiation is removed, the original color will reappear. Although many photochromic compounds have been synthesized, most do not have a strong exhibition of color when in the non-excited state. This lack of color absent excitation energy has inhibited widespread use of photochromic compounds in commerce.


A photosensitive medium, normally a diazo printing plate or photopolymer-based proof, is exposed in a series of exposures each of a small rectangular area. Typically several linearly-arrayed Deformable Mirror Devices (DMD's) each spatially encode a light beam in order to expose corresponding pixels within corresponding regions of the medium. Between successive exposures, the several DMD's are moved to a new position relative to the medium along a first, x, axis so that new exposures of new regions can be made. Normally the arrayed DMD's are moved relative to the imager's frame by a screw drive. There is an additional, separate relative movement between the DMD's and the medium along another, perpendicular, y, axis. Normally the medium is moved relative to the imager's frame by nip rollers. In order to provide a required precision in registering successively imaged regions of the medium along either or both axis, reference marks are exposed directly on the medium. After each movement of the medium along either or both axis, these reference marks are sensed, typically by four-quadrant photodetectors, and errors in the repositioning of the medium are determined. To compensate for these errors, the nip rollers are adjusted by a servomechanism. The medium is held by a cyclic pressure pad while it is imaged. So proceeding, the entirety of a large photosensitive medium is imaged in successive regions along two perpendicular axis while errors in image alignment and registration are substantially reduced.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention generally relates to image recorders, i.e. devices which record images on photosensitive media, examples of which devices include laser printers, plotters, and platesetters.
The present invention particularly relates to improved registration between successive images produced in and by such an image recorder.
2. Background of the Invention
Typically image recorders are constructed wherein a laser beam sweeps across a photosensitive medium while the medium moves slowly in a direction perpendicular to the primary direction of laser beam scanning. Such imager recorders are limited when diazo or photopolymer media are to be imaged (e.g. printing plate material) with ultraviolet light inasmuch as lasers suitable for generating the large intensities of ultraviolet light required are not economically available.
In the above-mentioned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 811,807 for an IMAGING DEVICE; 811,806 for a HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGING DEVICE; and 811,797 for a FAULT TOLERANT IMAGING DEVICE it is taught that small rectangular images may be created by the use of Deformable Mirror Modules, such as are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,939 to Hornbeck, et al., to deflect a beam of intense ultraviolet light generated by an incandescent, non-laser, light source.
The co-pending related patent applications also disclose an adjustment of the optical path of the imaging in order to improve the spatial registration, one region to the next, of each of a number of successively exposed image regions. The optical path adjustment preferably transpires by use of a tiltable glass plate. The adjustment compensates for positional errors in the location of the successive, and successively exposed, image regions.
The optical path adjustment is performed responsively to sensed registration marks. These registration marks are normally emplaced on diazo printing plate media or photopolymer-based proofing materials--the recording of which immediately produces a visually sensible change--at the same time, and through the same optical path, as the successive image regions are successively exposed. The recording of the registration marks is with one optical system, and the later sensing of the recorded registration marks is with another optical system.
It would be useful if, in addition to the compensation of the optical path in the exposures of the successive images in order to accord for inaccuracies in the movement of the medium, any positional errors resultant from the movement of the medium could be minimized, and prevented from accumulating. Accordingly, some feedback control of the transport of the medium in order to minimize positional errors--as well as (presumptively optical path) compensation for uneliminatable positional errors--would be desirable.


Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided for managing information technology devices in an information technology environment in which at least some of the devices are connected to a network, and access of each user in the information technology environment is customized in a convenient manner.

In the current information age, information technology (IT) tools are extensively used in enterprises and other organizations in order to facilitate processing of documents and data. IT administrators typically have the responsibilities of monitoring and managing IT devices, such as computers, printers, scanners, multi-function devices (MFDs) and other network-connected or standalone devices.
Device management tools (such as application software, etc.) are available to IT administrators to assist the administrators to track, monitor and otherwise manage the devices, often from across a network. The number of IT devices connected to a network is generally increasing and, as a result, there is a trend that the number of IT administrators needed to administer and manage such devices within an organization is increasing as well.
The level of experience and assigned responsibilities can vary amongst such administrators. That is, it is often the case that an administrator will administer certain devices, but not other devices, within an organization. Further, while many organizations span multiple office locations, some administrators may be assigned the responsibility to administer to a single local office, while other administrators may have the responsibilities of supporting multiple offices.
Heretofore, the typical IT system provides standard categories (e.g., Users, Power Users, Administrators) of access.
There exists a need for an improved approach for customizing the access rights of administrators to manage devices in a network environment.

Customizing security role in device management system, apparatus and method


A gas turbine engine flow mixer includes at least one chute having first and second spaced apart sidewalls joined together at a leading edge, with the sidewalls having first and second trailing edges defining therebetween a chute outlet. The first trailing edge is spaced longitudinally downstream from the second trailing edge for defining a septum in the first sidewall extending downstream from the second trailing edge. The septum includes a plurality of noise attenuating apertures.

An aircraft gas turbine engine discharges exhaust gases in a jet at high velocity for propelling the aircraft in flight. The exhaust gases expand into the ambient air upon discharge from the engine and generate considerable jet noise. Various techniques are known for reducing jet noise including specially designed exhaust nozzles for reducing noise due to shock waves; convergent-divergent (CD) nozzles to reduce noise due to shock waves; suppressor nozzles to shift generated noise to frequencies that are more readily absorbed by the atmosphere or acoustic liners; ejectors for mixing the exhaust gases with ambient airflow to reduce the mean jet velocity and, thereby, noise; and porous plug nozzles to promote mutual cancellation between expansion and compression waves.
These various noise suppression techniques operate at varying effectiveness and with varying penalties in terms of propulsion system size, weight, efficiency, performance, and cost, for example. Accordingly, improved sound suppression devices are desirable for effectively suppressing noise in a simple structural arrangement, with minimal drag losses and performance penalties while being readily manufacturable.


A flow control valve (15) for a direct injection pump (10) has an inlet end (12), an inlet valve (26), a compression chamber (48), a pump piston (14), and an outlet (13). The valve (15) has a housing (16) and a non-electrically operated control plunger (22) movable within the housing. The control plunger engages with and disengages from the inlet valve to control opening and closing of the inlet valve. A spring (28) biases the control plunger away from the inlet valve. The pump and housing define port structure (38, 44) fluidly connecting the outlet with a volume (42) that communicates with the control plunger such that when fluid pressure at the outlet is greater than a certain value, the fluid pressure in the volume alone causes the control plunger to move against the spring and engage the inlet valve to hold the inlet valve in an open position.

In today's automotive engine systems, there is an increased demand for low cost, direct injection. In common rail injection systems, the fuel is delivered by means of a high pressure pump located in an engine compartment to a fuel rail which serves as a pressurized storage reservoir for the fuel. The fuel is under high pressure in the fuel rail and can be injected directly into the cylinders via injectors connected to the rail.
Typical direct injection, high pressure pumps of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20100242922 A1 have a solenoid valve at the inlet as a flow control valve to control flow rate through the pump. The solenoid valve is complicated, requires an electrical connection to a power source, as well as a complex control system, and adds cost to the high pressure pump.
There is a need for a pressure operated, mechanical flow control valve that is simple in construction, eliminates electronic control and delivers fuel under a single pressure to a fuel rail.

Pressure operated mechanical flow control valve for gasoline direct injection pump


A percussion drilling apparatus having an outer casing, a fluted inner sleeve affixed to the outer casing, a hammer piston having a longitudinal opening therethrough adapted to fit around extensions of a cyclic valve positioned at the top of the inner casing, and a foot valve mounted atop a drilling bit at the bottom of the apparatus. An air channel positioned between the inner sleeve and outer casing is adapted to cooperate with channels on a reciprocating hammer piston to alternately drive the hammer piston up and down.

This invention relates to an air operated impact hammer adopted to drill bore holes through solid rock. The hammer itself is adapted to be attached to a drill string which conveys air under pressure to the hammer, the air pressure normally coming from air compressors at the surface. The air-conveying drill string may rotate as the hammer positioned at its lower end does its job of cutting away through rock. The air inside the hammer ultimately exhausts through the bottom of the hammer where the drilling bit is positioned. The rising stream of air thus carrying to the surface dust, sands and rock fragments cut by the hammer as it drills through the rock.
The particular efficacy of this air hammer is its simplicity. Other than the hammer piston inside the outer casing of the hammer, there are no moving parts to channel the air appropriately both to lift and to drive down the hammer piston. Thus the reciprocating hammer piston, in addition to striking the bit with sufficient force to chip away rock, also serves to direct air through the appropriate ports inside the hammer as the hammer piston reciprocates. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to supply a simplified and efficient air supply to its hammer which makes it capable of use for extended periods of time without shutdowns caused by wear of internal parts, plugging of moving parts, or other operational hazards.


A folding trailer is described, including a wheeled frame portion having a tongue secured thereto which extends forwardly for connection to the hitch of the an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The tongue is enabled to pivot the folding trailer from a horizontal to a vertical position. The folding trailer includes an adjustable mud flap assembly, a tool holding assembly and accessory assemblies for enabling the driver of the ATV to disperse fertilizer, seed, chemicals and the like while seated in the ATV.

The present invention relates generally to a trailer apparatus and more particularly to an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) utility trailer apparatus with extended versatility having transformation capability for animal transport and lawn and garden supplies, tools and equipment transport.
Traditionally, there have been various types of utility trailers have been developed for use with ATVs depending on the task to be performed. ATV trailers must be capable of successfully traversing a wide range of terrain, especially un-cleared land. ATV trailers are generally no wider than the towing ATV and must be tough enough to take substantial abuse while carrying considerable loads of non-uniform size and weight over a variety of terrains.
ATVs are commonly used for hunting and specialty trailers have been designed for removing large game from the field and returning to the camp. These trailers may not be useful in transporting a wide variety of things that may be necessary around a farm when not being used for hunting purposes. Therefore, a more versatile trailer is needed that is capable of being used as both a diversified utility work trailer and a game transport trailer, thereby making the trailer more economical.
The disclosed trailer apparatus is an improved utility trailer for all terrain vehicles. The trailer includes features which allow the trailer to be used for a variety of tasks commonly associated with ATVs around homes, farms, camps, etc. such as hauling firewood, feed, hay, fertilizer, seed, and chemicals, while improvements to the trailer further include being low to the ground, mud deflectors to prevent mud from getting on the killed game during transport over muddy terrain, attachments for tool transport, spraying devices and spreader devices, an adjustable, telescoping tongue and the ability to rotate the trailer to a roughly vertical position behind the ATV.
Previous attempts to provide for deer transport behind an ATV include U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,292 , issued to McWilliams, which teaches a two wheeled trailer to be towed behind all terrain vehicle—has upright brace, includes upper and lower ends extending between each axle assembly end portion, and upper portion of corresponding trailer side. Previous attempts to provide for a more versatile ATV trailer include U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,882, issued to Harrington, which teaches an ATV) utility trailer used in hunting which has a tongue portion extended forwardly and axial and wheel assembly fixed to enclosed compartment located perpendicular to transverse walkway. Previous attempts to provide an ATV trailer that folds vertical behind the ATV include U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,117, issued to Cross which teaches a folding trailer that pivots and is secured to the ATV rack.
While these patents and other previous methods have attempted to solve the problem of loading and transporting animals and materials, none have employed tool holders, attachments for additional towing, adjustable mud flaps, or an adjustable hitching device.
Therefore, a need exists for an improved, versatile ATV trailer that has increased utility in the field, farm and at home.
The foregoing patent and other information reflect the state of the art of which the inventor is aware and are tendered with a view toward discharging the inventor's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be pertinent to the patentability of the present invention. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that the foregoing patent and other information do not teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, the inventor's claimed invention.


A system obtains a data set representing immersive video content for display at a display time, including first data representing the content according to a first level of detail, and second data representing the content according to a second higher level of detail. During one or more first times prior to the display time, the system causes at least a portion of the first data to be stored in a buffer. During one or more second times prior to the display time, the system generates a prediction of a viewport for displaying the content to a user at the display time, identifies a portion of the second data corresponding to the prediction of the viewport, and causes the identified portion of the second data to be stored in the video buffer. At the display time, the system causes the content to be displayed to the user using the video buffer.

Computer systems can be used to generate and present immersive video content (sometimes referred to as omnidirectional video content). As an example, a computer system can generate video content according to a range of viewing directions with respect to a reference point. Further, the computer system can present at least a portion of the video content to a user according to a particular viewpoint.

Immersive video streaming using view-adaptive prefetching and buffer control


A system, by which a user can select a necessary frame by simplified arrangement using time-division still picture broadcast system. A natural still picture frame including a reference frame is repeatedly transmitted in a given order using the reference frame as a reference. A user apparatus detects the reference frame, and by counting number of the received frames, relationship of the frame to be displayed is confirmed, and the desired frame is displayed. For the information to select a frame, there are a case where only the information on the displayed still picture is displayed and a case where number of all still pictures transmitted within a period defined by the reference frame is displayed together with the information on the displayed still picture. For the still picture frame information to be inserted in an audio band, there are the following three cases: a case where it is inserted only in an audio band corresponding to the reference still picture, a case where it is inserted in an audio band corresponding to some of the still pictures, and a case where an identification signal is inserted in an audio band corresponding to each of the still pictures. For the still picture frame information to be inserted in the audio band, there are the following three cases: a case where an audio signal is inserted in a main audio band, a case where it is inserted in a second audio band, and a case where other adequate control signal is inserted in a sub audio band

In the information-oriented society of today, various transmitting means are used to transmit electrical and electronic information such as sound, picture, text data, binary data, etc. Of such electrical and electronic information, low quality sound, monochrome still picture at low speed, character data at low speed, and binary data at low speed are transmitted by public telephone line as electric signals, and monochrome still picture at high speed, character data at high speed and binary data at high speed are transmitted by ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) line as an electric signal. High quality sound and moving picture are transmitted by terrestrial wave broadcasting, satellite broadcasting or CATV as a modulated radio wave or by optical fiber as modulated light.
In the present information-centered era, attention is now focused on interactive information systems as a promising major information system in future. The interactive information system is a system, in which information is selectively received and positively utilized by the general public, who, hitherto, have been merely receivers of the one-way information sent to them.
Interactive information systems currently used are answering systems using an automatic voice response system via public telephone line, videotex systems represented by CAPTAIN (Character And Pattern Telephone Access Information Network) using still picture, and VRS (Video Response System) using moving picture via dedicated line.
Of these interactive information systems, the answering system is disadvantageous in that sufficient information cannot be obtained because it depends upon audio information only and that input and output data cannot be visually confirmed.
The videotex system has drawbacks in that there is a limitation in the contents to be displayed because texts and pictures are displayed by using character codes, and the picture information using character codes provides a smaller amount of information than a natural picture.
The VRS system has no limitation in the contents of display because a natural moving picture can be used, while communication cost is expensive because a wide band dedicated line must be used.
On the other hand, various information services such as television shopping, application or subscription, weather forecast, traffic information, etc. are offered in the currently used television system, although these are not interactive. Most of the picture information needed in these information services is still picture information, and moving picture information is needed in very rare cases. Thus, in the current television system offering these information services, a still picture is broadcast as moving picture. Specifically, by transmitting several hundreds to several thousands of the same picture, a still picture is displayed on a television set.
Therefore, the transmitting cost of the still pictures is very expensive, and an interactive information service for transmitting still pictures to match the demand of the users is not currently available.
For example, television shopping is one of the information services using pictures. However, in the television shopping practiced to date, only the one-way product information, transmitted by the broadcasting station, is utilized, and interactive information service in which the desired picture from product information is displayed on the television set according to the intention of the users and the users carry out shopping based on the contents of the display is not practically available.
A television picture is composed of frame units. In the NTSC system adopted in Japan, the picture is sent at a rate of 30 frames per second. If one still picture is transmitted for each frame, 30 natural still pictures are transmitted within a second.
As a still picture broadcasting system based on this principle, there is a system called the "time-division still picture broadcast system".
FIG. 1 represents a drawing to explain the time-division still picture communication system.
In the time-division still picture broadcast system shown in FIG. 1, still pictures 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4 . . . are photographed at first by independent television cameras 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4 . . . at a still picture broadcasting station 1. Next, these still pictures are composed to television signals comprising frames 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4 . . . , and these are transmitted to still picture receiving devices 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 . . .
Upon receipt of the television signals, necessary frames are stored at frame memories 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, . . . at the still picture receiving devices. Next, the stored frames are repeatedly read out from the frame memories and are displayed on display units 7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4 . . . as still pictures.
Selection of the necessary frames and recording them to the frame memories are carried out by the procedure such as inserting a frame identification signal to the horizontal scanning line during the vertical retrace interval of each frame.
In one frame, two field pictures comprising different picture components are superimposed by interlace scanning.
Each of the frame pictures is a complete natural picture, while a field picture is not a complete natural picture because its amount of information is only one-half of that of the natural picture. However, when compared with the picture based on character codes, it may be referred as a natural picture, which provides satisfaction. In a broadcast of still pictures, twice as many field pictures are transmitted.
An interactive still picture information service system has been proposed, in which a still picture information service is requested by, for example, a public line and the still picture information service is offered by the "time-division still picture broadcast system" in response to such request. FIG. 2 shows a general outline of the system.
This system comprises a still picture broadcasting station apparatus 8 for broadcasting a still picture by the time-division still picture broadcast system, an information provider apparatus 9, a user apparatus 10, and a data communication device such as a telephone set 15. A terrestrial broadcasting wave 12 or satellite broadcasting wave or CATV radio wave is used to connect between the still picture broadcasting station apparatus 8 and the user apparatus 10, and a communication line 11 such as public line or CATV line is used to connect the telephone set 15 with the information provider apparatus 9. A communication line such as public line or dedicated line is used to connect the information provider apparatus 9 with the still picture broadcasting station apparatus 8.
The information provider apparatus 9 may not be used. In this case, the still picture broadcasting station apparatus 8 is directly connected with the user apparatus 10 via a communication line such as a public line or a dedicated line.
The user apparatus 10 comprises a set-top box 14 for receiving the still picture, a display unit 13 and a data communication device such as a telephone set 15. The set-top box 14 is connected to a television antenna for receiving the still picture broadcast, a television antenna for receiving a satellite broadcast, or a coaxial cable for CATV. The set-top box 14 is connected to the display unit 13 such as a television set. The telephone set 15 is connected to a communication line 11 such as a public line or CATV line.
In this system, when a user wishing to receive the information service, calls the information provider apparatus 9 using the telephone set 15 via the communication line 11 and requests transmission of the desired still picture, the request is transferred to the still picture broadcasting station apparatus 8. As a result, the desired still picture 16 is broadcast, and the desired still picture 17 is displayed on the display unit 13 by the user.
In the interactive still picture information service system as described above, selection of necessary frames and recording of them in frame memories are performed in such a manner that a frame identification signal is inserted into the horizontal scanning line in a vertical retrace interval of each frame by the still picture broadcasting station apparatus 8, and this frame identification signal is detected by the user apparatus 10.
For this purpose, it is necessary to provide means for inserting the frame identification signal to the horizontal scanning line in the vertical retrace interval of each frame at the still picture broadcasting station apparatus 8 and also to provide the user apparatus 10 with means for detecting the frame identification signal. This naturally means that the still picture broadcasting station apparatus 8 and the user apparatus 10 will be more complicated.


In a gaming machine provided with operating members actuated by human, a game processor proceeds a game in accordance with the actuation of the operating members. An inhibition requirement determinant determines whether a predetermined inhibition requirement is satisfied while the game processor proceeds the game. A game inhibiter performs game inhibition processing for diverting an attention of the player toward something other than the game, when the inhibition requirement determinant determines that the inhibition requirement is satisfied.

The present invention relates to a gaming machine having operating members to be actuated by a player and a game processor for proceeding a game in accordance with the nature of actuation of the operating members, and relates to a method for inhibiting a player from excessively and continuously playing a game on the gaming machine, and a computer program for executing the method.
Gaming machines of this type include a variety of types, such as home TV gaming machines, commercial gaming machines installed in amusement arcades, and slingshot machines and slot machines installed in parlors. Gaming machines which enable direct acceptance and payout of cash are installed in officially-recognized overseas gambling facilities. Since a player can indulge in playing games while being oblivious to passage of time, the gaming machines are utilized as entertainment for enjoying leisure.
However, when the player has excessively indulged in playing games, he/she loses a sense of reality. As a result, the player may continue playing games while forgetting scheduled activities or canceling the activities. Particularly, gaming machines aimed at acquiring money or prizes, so-called gambling gaming machines, often involve a player overly indulging in games, thereby resulting in the danger of the player becoming addicted to gambling. As a technique for preventing excessive indulgence in games, there have been known gaming machines which disconnect power to thereby forcibly terminate games after a player has played games for a given time period (see Japanese Utility Model Application No. 6-63089U and Japanese Patent Application No. 7-299248A).
These gaming machines forcibly terminate games merely after lapse of a given time period, regardless of the level of indulgence of a player. Mere forcible termination of games fails to cause a player to realize that he/she has overly indulged in games. Hence, the player cannot regain a sense of reality. For this reason, there is a high probability of a player resuming games on another gaming machine after forcible termination of the game, thus failing to effectively inhibit excessive gaming.

Electronic game that provides messages when limits are exceeded and inhibits the game


A magnetic recording medium exhibiting improved glide and CSS characteristics is produced by depositing a metallic layer on a non-magnetic substrate, as by sputtering, so that the deposited metallic layer has a textured surface. In one embodiment, a Ti-base alloy layer having a textured surface comprising a plurality of relatively uniform protrusions is sputter-deposited directly onto a non-magnetic substrate, such as Ni--P coated aluminum-magnesium alloy substrate, or an electrically conductive graphite substrate, and a magnetic layer deposited on the sputtered metallic layer with or without a Cr underlayer.

Magnetic disks and disk drives are conventionally employed for storing data in magnetizable form. Typically, one or more disks are rotated on a central axis in combination with data transducing heads positioned in close proximity to the recording surfaces of the disks and moved generally radially with respect thereto. Magnetic disks are usually housed in a magnetic disk unit in a stationary state with a magnetic head having a specific load elastically in contact with and pressed against the surface of the disk.
In operation, the magnetic disk is normally driven by the contact start stop (CSS) method, wherein the head begins to slide against the surface of the disk as the disk begins to rotate. Upon reaching a predetermined high rotational speed, the head floats in air at a predetermined distance from the surface of the disk due to dynamic pressure effects caused by the air flow generated between the sliding surface of the head and the disk. During reading and recording operations, the transducing head is maintained at a controlled distance from the recording surface, supported on a bearing of air as the disk rotates. The magnetic head unit is arranged such that the head can be freely moved in both the circumferential and radial directions of the disk in this floating state allowing data to be recorded on and retrieved from the surface of the disk at a desired position.
Upon terminating operation of the disk drive, the rotational speed of the disk decreases and the head begins to slide against the surface of the disk again and eventually stops in contact with and pressing against the disk. Thus, the transducing head contacts the recording surface whenever the disk is stationary, accelerated from a stop and during deceleration just prior to completely stopping. Each time the head and disk assembly is driven, the sliding surface of the head repeats the cyclic operation consisting of stopping, sliding against the surface of the disk, floating in the air, sliding against the surface of the disk and stopping.
It is considered desirable during reading and recording operations to maintain each transducing head as close to its associated recording surface as possible, i.e., to minimize the flying height of the head. This objective becomes particularly significant as the areal recording density increases. The areal density (Mbits/in.sup.2) is the recording density per unit area and is equal to the track density (TPI) in terms of tracks per inch times (x) the linear density (BPI) in terms of bits per inch. Thus, a smooth recording surface is preferred, as well as a smooth opposing surface of the associated transducing head, thereby permitting the head and the disk to be positioned in closer proximity with an attendant increase in predictability and consistent behavior of the air bearing supporting the head. However, another factor operates against that objective. If the head surface and recording surface are too flat, the precision match of these surfaces gives rise to excessive stiction and friction during the start up and stopping phases, thereby causing wear to the head and recording surfaces eventually leading to what is referred to as a "head crash." Thus, there are competing goals of reduced head/disk friction and minimum transducer flying height.
In order to satisfy these competing objectives, the recording surfaces of magnetic disks are conventionally provided with a roughened surface to reduce the head/disk friction by techniques referred to as "texturing." Conventional texturing techniques involve polishing the surface of a disk substrate to provide a texture thereon prior to subsequent deposition of coatings, such as an underlayer, magnetic layer, carbon overcoat and lubricant topcoat, wherein the textured surface on the substrate is reproduced on the surface of the magnetic disk.
A typical magnetic recording medium is depicted in FIG. 1 and comprises a substrate 10, typically an aluminum (Al)-base alloy, such as an aluminum-magnesium (Al--Mg) alloy, plated with a layer of amorphous nickel-phosphorous (NiP). Substrate 10 typically contains sequentially deposited thereon a chromium (Cr) underlayer 11, a cobalt (Co)-base alloy magnetic layer 12, a protective carbon overcoat 13 and a lubricant topcoat 14. Cr underlayer 11, Co-base alloy magnetic layer 12 and protective carbon overcoat 13 are typically deposited by sputtering techniques. A conventional Al-alloy substrate is provided with a NiP plating primarily to increase the hardness of the Al substrate, serving as a suitable surface for polishing to provide the requisite surface roughness or texture, which is substantially reproduced on the disk surface.
The escalating requirements for high areal recording density impose increasingly greater requirements on thin film magnetic media in terms of coercivity, stiction squareness, low medium noise and narrow track recording performance. In addition, increasingly high density and large-capacity magnetic disks require increasingly small flying heights, i.e., the distance by which the head floats above the surface of the disk in the CSS drive. The requirement to further reduce the flying height of the head imposed by increasingly higher recording density and capacity render it particularly difficult to satisfy the requirements for controlled texturing to avoid head crash.
Conventional techniques for providing a disk substrate with a textured surface comprise a mechanical operation, such as polishing. See, for example, Nakamura et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,202,810. Conventional mechanical texturing techniques are attendant with numerous disadvantages. For example, it is extremely difficult to provide a clean textured surface due to debris formed by mechanical abrasions. Moreover, the surface inevitably becomes scratched during mechanical operations, which contributes to poor glide characteristics and higher defects. In addition, various desirable substrates are difficult to process by mechanical texturing. This undesirably limiting facet of mechanical texturing, virtually excludes the use of many inexpensive substrates as well as conductive graphite substrates which facilitate achieving high coercivities.
Alternative texturing techniques to mechanical processing have been attempted. One such alternative to mechanical texturing involves the use of lasers. See, for example, Ranjan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,021. Another alternative to mechanical texturing is disclosed by Lal et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,006, and involves chemical etching. Such alternative techniques have proven less than successful, in that it is extremely difficult to provide repeatable and controllable textured patterns on non-metallic substrates, such as glass, glass-ceramic materials and electrically conductive graphites.
Accordingly, there exists a need for magnetic recording media with repeatable and controllable textured surface patterns exhibiting improved floating characteristics and improved sliding-wear-resistant characteristics, low noise and high coercivity. There also exists a need for a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording media without the above-discussed disadvantages and limitations of conventional texturing techniques, such as mechanical texturing, which method is applicable to a variety of substrates, including electrical conductive graphite substrates.

Sputter textured magnetic recording medium


An article handling apparatus including a frame adapted to receive the article on a support structure, a number of wheels attached to the frame for movement of the frame over a substrate surface, and retaining arms operatively coupled to the frame and adapted to releasably secure the article to the frame. The secured article is movable in a controlled manner with respect to the frame by movement of the support structure and the retaining arms.

The present invention relates to an article handling apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for transporting an article, such as, but not limited to a wheel or other spare part, and for handling the article in a replacement or installation process. The invention has particular application in the mining and earthmoving fields.


A method includes performing a plasma treatment on a first surface of a first material and a second surface of a second material simultaneously, wherein the first material is different from the second material. A third material is formed on treated first surface of the first material and on treated second surface of the second material. The first, the second, and the third materials may include a hard mask, a semiconductor material, and an oxide, respectively.

With the increasing down-scaling of integrated circuits and increasingly demanding requirements to the speed of integrated circuits, transistors need to have higher drive currents with increasingly smaller dimensions. Fin Field-Effect Transistors (FinFETs) were thus developed.
In the existing formation process of FinFETs, Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) regions are first formed in a semiconductor substrate. The STI regions are then recessed. As a result, a portion of the semiconductor substrate between two neighboring STI regions is over the top surfaces of the recessed STI regions. This portion of the semiconductor substrate thus forms a semiconductor fin, on which a FinFET is formed.
It was found that the STI regions may have a non-uniform property. For example, the upper portions of the STI regions often have a greater etching rate than the lower portions. This results in the difficulty in the control of the etching of the STI regions. Existing methods for reducing the etching rates of the upper portions of the STI regions include thermal anneal. However, the thermal anneal requires extra thermal budget, and may cause the wafer warpage.

Uniform shallow trench isolation regions and the method of forming the same

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A fluid application system includes a diluent reservoir, a chemical container, a sprayer housing, a manifold located in the sprayer housing, and a pump assembly in fluid communication with an outlet of the manifold. The manifold includes a diluent inlet in fluid communication with the diluent reservoir, a chemical inlet in fluid communication with the container, a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the diluent inlet and the chemical inlet and the outlet of the manifold. The pump assembly draws a mixture of the chemical and the diluent from the manifold and sprays the mixture of the chemical and the diluent from the nozzle.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fluid application system for mixing a chemical with a diluent and spraying a mixture of the chemical and the diluent.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various spraying devices are known in which a chemical is mixed into a carrier fluid and then a mixture of the chemical and carrier fluid is sprayed through a nozzle. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0282776 describes a handheld device where a manual pump assembly draws diluent (e.g., water) from a reservoir and the diluent is moved through a venturi which draws liquid concentrate from a container into the diluent forming a diluted concentrate. The diluted concentrate is then sprayed through a nozzle.
What is needed is an alternative fluid application system that can accept a container having a concentrated chemical, create a mixture of the chemical and a diluent, and spray the diluted concentrate through a nozzle.


A snapshot of data from a table associated with a particular user may be generated. Tree data structures that are distributed across multiple computer systems may be accessed. Each of the tree structures may include data associated with one or more users. At least one tree data structure of the tree data structures that includes data associated with the particular user of the one or more users may be identified. The at least one tree data structure may then be filtered. Filtering may comprise identifying only data that is associated with the particular user. A snapshot of the data associated with the particular user may be generated. Generating the snapshot of the data associated with the particular user comprises generating a data structure that is configured to map to each data page of the at least one tree data structure that includes data associated with the particular user.

Computer systems and related technology affect many aspects of society. Indeed, the computer system's ability to process information has transformed the way we live and work. Computer systems now commonly perform a host of tasks (e.g., word processing, scheduling, accounting, etc.) that prior to the advent of the computer system were performed manually. More recently, computer systems have been coupled to one another and to other electronic devices to form both wired and wireless computer networks over which the computer systems and other electronic devices can transfer electronic data. As such, the performance of many computing tasks has become distributed across a number of different computer systems and/or a number of different computer environments.
For instance, cloud computer services that include databases and tables implemented across various computer systems are becoming increasingly popular. Furthermore, cloud databases and tables often include hundreds of thousands, or even millions of databases/tables, each of which may comprise terabytes or more of data. Accordingly, storage efficiency, especially in relation to backups can be crucial in the management of such systems. For instance, many cloud computer services offer subscribers the ability to store particular data within provided tables. Again, such tables may often include terabytes or more of data, which subscribers may be interested in redundantly storing. However, generating backups for such tables can come at a large cost to the cloud computer services in the form of large, and oftentimes inefficient, uses of resources.
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.

Efficient snapshot generation of data tables


An Easy Release Backboard Strap Clip is a stab lock type of clip mounted to a swivel. The clip may be squeezed to open the pads of the clip. The clip is utilized in a backboard in conjunction with backboard straps to retain, secure and restrain a patient being transferred into and out of an emergency medical vehicle. The clip provides an easy means of opening and closing the clip.

A backboard is frequently used to transport emergency medical patients. Not only does it make lifting and moving the patient easier, but it helps to stabilize their muscular skeletal system to prevent possibly further injury. An integral part of these backboards is the straps that hold the patient in place. These straps are attached to the board by "swivel speed clips" latched to pins in the handholds. The straps then crisscross the patient and buckle together in front of the patient.
While the buckles and speed clips are easy for emergency personnel to attach, and the front buckles are no problem for medical personnel in the hospital, the "speed clips" are extremely difficult to remove under the best of situations. These clips must be removed in order to slide the backboard out from under the patient. To complicate matters further, such clips are not accessible and often covered with blood and other bodily fluids. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which speed clips on backboard straps can be more easily removed in order to address the issues as described above. The development of the easy release backboard strap clip fulfills this need.


A system for, and method of, generating a control drawing representing interconnections among elements of a real-time process control system and a plant controlled thereby. The system includes: (1) a memory that receives and stores textual input data representing explicit point connections among the elements, control language scripts containing implicit point connections among the elements and data regarding a starting element and (2) a processor, coupled to the memory, that analyzes the explicit and implicit point connections relative to the starting element and automatically constructs the control drawing as a function of the starting element, the system thereby generating the control drawing representing the interconnections.

Automated plant control systems (e.g., TDC 3000 Industrial Automation Systems manufactured by, and commercially available from, Honeywell Incorporated of Phoenix, Ariz.) include a comprehensive set of algorithms and auxiliaries to control and monitor various processes within, for instance, a manufacturing facility. The control systems can be tailored to satisfy a wide range of process requirements globally or within specified portions of the facility. Conventionally, the control systems include a plurality of modules, each having its own processor or firmware, linked together by a communication bus thereby resulting in a distributed process control system. The distributed nature of the system affords high performance with the capability to expand the system incrementally to satisfy growth or modifications in the facility.
A first objective of automated plant management is to provide a control scheme that synthesizes plant-wide control of all processes therein to improve an overall efficiency of the facility. A second objective is to couple the control scheme to the facility by providing a real time data acquisition and monitoring scheme that monitors the operation of the facility by collecting historical and real time data and responding to deviations from desired operation that may arise and displaying the data for the benefit of a user.
The process of designing these robust systems has been one of incremental evolution. At first, process control systems were designed and implemented for particular plants. As is easily imagined, such a system was very time and cost consuming. Later, companies, such as Honeywell, began developing configurable, or tailorable, process control systems. These systems were typically distributed, as set forth above, and included configurable logic that could be programmed to implement a particular plant's control strategy.
Engineers were typically tasked with the chore of analyzing a plant's design, or the actual plant, if it already existed. Analysis was often based on visual interpretation, typically using a "fill-in-the-form" type of approach to produce control drawings for the system and the plant. The control drawings typically included the various elements making up the plant and the process control system, including valves, vats, thermocouples, pressure gauges, pressure switches, etc., and delineated the point connections associating the elements.
Human errors inevitably occur, a valve is forgotten, the parameters of a vat are miscalculated, the threshold of a pressure gauge is transposed, etc. These errors, however, typically go unnoticed until implementation of the same, or, worse, the process control system goes on-line and is tested. The engineer is then tasked with back-checking the project to correct the plant's or the process control system's design, causing plant down-time, loss of revenues, waste of plant personnel resources or the like.
What is needed in the art therefore is a way of automatically generating control drawings from the point connections and control language scripts of a process control system.

System and method for automatically generating a control drawing for a real-time process control system


A power supply control circuit of an SRAM cuts off supply of power supply voltage to any component other than memory cells and a word line potential fix circuit in a sleep period in which only retention of data is carried out. The word line potential fix circuit fixes a word line at a non-selection level in the sleep period. The potential on the word line never becomes unstable in the sleep period so that data in the memory cell is never destroyed. Accordingly, a static semiconductor memory device consuming less power and having a high data retention ability can be provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a static semiconductor memory device, and particularly to a static semiconductor memory device having an active mode for reading/writing data as well as a sleep mode for only holding data.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram showing a structure of a static random access memory (hereinafter referred to as SRAM) disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,162. Referring to FIG. 7, the SRAM includes a memory cell array 70, a peripheral circuit 71 and a power supply control circuit 72.
Memory cell array 70 includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in rows and columns. Each memory cell stores data of 1 bit. Peripheral circuit 71 reads/writes data from/into memory cell array 70. Power supply control circuit 72 is controlled by retain signal RET and active signal ACT, and supplies power supply voltage Vcc to memory cell array 70 and peripheral circuit 71.
Power supply control circuit 72 includes P channel MOS transistors 73 and 74, an NOR gate 75, and an inverter 76. Power supply voltage Vcc is supplied to memory cell array 70 via P channel MOS transistor 73, and to peripheral circuit 71 via P channel MOS transistor 74. NOR gate 75 receives retain signal RET and active signal ACT, and an output from NOR gate 75 is input to the gate of P channel MOS transistor 73. Inverter 76 receives active signal ACT, and an output from inverter 76 is input to the gate of P channel MOS transistor 74.
An operation of the SRAM shown in FIG. 7 is next described. During an active period, active signal ACT is at "H" level which is an activation level, P channel MOS transistors 73 and 74 are conductive, and supply voltage Vcc is supplied to both of memory cell array 70 and peripheral circuit 71. Reading and writing of data is thus possible.
During a sleep period, retain signal RET is at "H" level of the activation level, and active signal ACT is at "L" level of an inactivation level. Accordingly, P channel MOS transistor 73 is conductive and power supply voltage Vcc is supplied to memory cell array 70 so that retention of data is possible. Although P channel MOS transistor 74 is not conductive and supply voltage Vcc is not supplied to peripheral circuit 71 to make reading/writing of data impossible, consumption power can be reduced.
In the SRAM shown in FIG. 7, during the sleep period, supply of power supply voltage Vcc to a row decoder in peripheral circuit 71 is also stopped and the potential on a word line included in memory cell array 70 becomes unstable. As a result, an access transistor of the memory cell could be rendered conductive and data in the memory cell could be rewritten.

Static semiconductor memory device having active mode and sleep mode


Devices and methods are provided for automatic vascular access. An automatic vessel cannulation device, mechanical or electronic, has a sensor configured to detect a physiologic parameter of a needle tip, and a blunting device advancing member released in response to the sensor. The sensor may measure pressure or any other physiological parameter. A processor is configured to analyze data sent by the sensor and is pre-set to identify parameters unique to arteries, veins, or other body cavities or organs. A method may include comparing a physiologic parameter with pre-determined parameters to deploy a blunting element if the physiologic parameter is within a range of the pre-determined parameters. An expandable sheath may be included. A device can be provided having a motor controlling the cannulation device orientation to scan tissue with the tip of the needle by moving the cannulation device through the ultrasound transducer.

Vascular access is a crucial element of medical therapy in a vast majority of clinical settings and procedures. This is true in both elective and in emergent situations. In a specific type of emergency, hemorrhagic shock, there may further be a need to perform aortic occlusion. Both these clinical needs, vascular access and aortic occlusion, are the subject of the current invention.
Vascular Access
A large part of medical interventions, both elective and emergent, are endovascular procedures. These procedures have become very common and continue to grow in numbers due to both the increase in cardiovascular patient absolute numbers and to the trend of shifting from open surgery to endovascular surgery.
Once vascular access is secured, delivery of treatment is quick and easy, be it the administration of fluids, analgesics, sedative medications, vasopressors, inotropics, percutaneous endovascular trans-catheter treatments or other interventions. Patient monitoring is also aided by central vascular access, as it enables direct arterial or venous pressure measurements and blood sampling.
Vascular Access in Elective Situations
Although extremely common, the ways to establish vascular access remain very basic and are often inadequate. This is especially unfortunate in elective settings, as it is the older and sicker individuals who usually have more "difficult blood vessels", and must frequently endure additional suffering caused by painful repeated attempts at blood vessel cannulation, even when performed by experienced personnel.
Vascular Access in Emergency Situations
In emergency situations, the importance of vascular access is increased, as stabilization of patients often requires administration of fluids or blood and medications. However, the emergency setting also increases the obstacles to successful blood vessel cannulation. Possible impediments include environmental factors such as darkness (night), cold and wet weather, unstable surroundings (wind, waves, bumpy vehicle or aircraft), patient factors such as shock which may cause collapse of veins and an impalpable arterial pulse, burns, or movements due to shivering or convulsions, care provider factors such as stress caused by the need to deliver therapy urgently in a dying patient, additional patients, imminent danger from warfare or natural hazards, or lack of expertise, and finally equipment factors such as the absence of expensive ultrasound guidance. A venous cut down may be performed using simple tools by an experienced physician, but this too takes time and requires certain expertise, making it impractical in many cases.
In performing an endovascular procedure, access into the vasculature must be established and maintained for the duration of the procedure. This is most commonly done by placing an introducer sheath in the blood vessel to enable passage of the interventional instruments in and out without losing the entry point or causing damage to the vessel.
Placement of an endovascular sheath is usually performed using the modified Seldinger technique. This entails puncture of the vessel with a needle, passage of a guidewire through the needle, removal of the needle, incision of the skin, placement of a sheath with a dilator in it over the guidewire, removal of the guidewire and dilator.
The Seldinger technique, although useful, suffers from several drawbacks. First, it requires significant experience in order to be successfully performed, especially when circumstances are suboptimal such as in emergency and trauma situations. As it is mainly used for placement of large bore catheters, which are less common than regular small-medium bore venous catheters, the exposure to it (and hence the procedure practice) is less than that of over the needle venous catheter placement. Second, there are several points during the procedure which may lead to its failure.
One such point is after entry of the needle into the blood vessel, which is evident by the flow of blood out of the needle. At this point, the physician must thread a guidewire into the needle. Holding the needle absolutely still, while bringing the guidewire and threading it with the other hand requires a certain level of coordination, which not all physicians possess. Even the slightest movement of the needle at this stage might cause it to move forward and exit the artery through its posterior wall, or withdraw out of the lumen through the anterior wall of the artery. This will prevent the guidewire from entering the lumen and will require an additional puncture attempt. Additionally, this might cause blood to leak around the vessel causing an internal hematoma, which might compress the vessel and make repeat cannulation more difficult. Worse yet, unintended movement of the needle might place it within one of the arterial walls, and attempted insertion of the guidewire can then damage the arterial wall, possibly leading to large hematomas or other complications.
Another sensitive point in the procedure is after the guidewire insertion and needle removal. The physician must now thread the guidewire edge into the dilator, which has a very small aperture the size of the guidewire, while at the same time compressing the puncture site to prevent hematoma and make sure the guidewire is not pulled out. Exit of the guidewire from the artery at this stage will cause the sheath to be placed into tissues instead of into the artery, which besides tissue damage usually causes the guidewire to bend, necessitating its replacement.
Additional drawbacks of the Seldinger technique are related to the use of a long guidewire, which carries with it an increased risk of contamination of its proximal end, as well as a danger of splashing blood on the physician. Also, during the time between needle entry into the vessel and until the guidewire is inserted into it, either profuse bleeding or entry of air into the circulation might occur, depending on whether pressure within the vessel is higher or lower than ambient pressure.
In contrast to the above, regular small to medium bore venous cannulas are usually placed using the "over-the-needle" technique. With this technique, the cannula, which has an inner diameter ("ID") matched to the outer diameter ("OD") of the needle, is inserted into the artery together with the needle. When blood is observed in a "flash" chamber connected to the needle lumen, the needle is held in place and the cannula is manually advanced and slid over the needle into the vessel. Not only is this technique technically simpler than the Seldinger technique, it is also more commonly used, and there is a greater possibility of exposure to it for training, so the learning curve is significantly shorter and competence in it is easier to maintain.
In the "over-the-needle" method, the cannula must have an ID matched to the OD of the needle, in order for it to enter the vessel with the needle. Therefore, the diameters of cannulas inserted using this technique are limited to the outer diameters of needles that can be used for these purposes, which are usually 21 G-18 G (0.8 mm-1.3 mm). Endovascular procedures often require insertion of instruments having ODs of 8 fr-14 fr (2 mm-4.6 mm) or more.
Since the "over-the-needle" technique is not adequate for placing large bore catheters or sheaths, the Seldinger technique is used in these cases, which as mentioned, include most endovascular interventions.
The WAND, manufactured by Access Scientific of San Diego, Calif., is a device intended to provide a solution for the above drawbacks of the Seldinger technique. This device includes a needle, guidewire, dilator, and sheath in an all-in-one assembly, which is intended for easier and safer over-the-wire sheath insertion. Use of the WAND requires manual advancement of both the guidewire and the sheath by the operator. The WAND mainly addresses safety issues such as needle-stick injury and air embolism, but the technique is still rather complicated and requires significant training.
Expandable sheaths were described in the art in various contexts, mainly for retrieval of large devices such as heart valve delivery systems, aortic balloon catheters etc. usually having self-expanding and balloon expandable components. Such solutions are cumbersome and expensive and are not appropriate for direct over-the-needle vascular access.
Another drawback of existing sheaths related to their having a fixed diameter, is that the arterial puncture site remains dilated to the maximum size for the whole duration of the procedure. The duration of puncture site dilation is one of the factors affecting the chances of its closure. With the current invention, the artery would only be exposed to maximal dilation when the largest instruments are used, while during the rest of the procedure, it will be only slightly dilated. This will increase the successful closure rates and reduce puncture site complication rates.
It is therefore an aspect of the current invention to provide a simple, safe, easy to use, and low cost solution for establishing vascular access.

Vessel cannulation device and method of use