An interlocking tab of a zipper includes engaging teeth and a cloth tape. The cloth tape includes a sewing part joined with the engaging teeth at the lateral side of the engaging teeth, and a stretch yarn woven part located away the sewing part enabling the cloth tape to be stretched to form a curve.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a revised interlocking tab of a zipper, and particularly to an improvement on an interlocking tab of a zipper, with which a curve shaped zipper is possible to be formed easily and smoothly by way of a stretchy cloth tape and engaging teeth possible to be elongated.
2. Description of Related Art
The zipper is an interlocking device popularly used in out daily so that it can be seen easily in the ready-made clothes, hand bags, sleep bags, tents, . . . , and so on. The zipper provides advantages such as being conveniently operated and being durable, and these are the reason why it is so popularly used and replaces many of traditional interlocking device.
Mostly, there are three types of zippers available based on the material thereof and they are zippers respectively made of metal, nylon, and fiber-reinforced plastics. Usually, a zipper is composed of an interlocking tab and a slier and the interlocking tab provides two opposite lines of teeth for engaging with each other and a cloth tape extending laterally from the engaging teeth for being attached to an article by way of sewing. The engaging teeth on a metal zipper and on a zipper of fiber-reinforced plastics are independently disposed and neighboring teeth are equally spaced apart from each other such that two opposite lines of teeth can engage with each other. As for the nylon zipper, the teeth thereof are made from nylon or polyester filament being heat up and curled so as to form continuous spirals or coils for being able to engage with each other oppositely. Hence, the fabrication of the interlock tab on the nylon zipper is after the spirals or coils are formed before the cloth tape can be sewed onto an article.
Although the conventional zipper can interlock two part of an article, there is a slight imperfection that the zipper is limited to be formed as a shape of straight line. That is, it is hard to form a shape of curve for the zipper while -the sewing work is conducted, especially for the metal zipper and the zipper of fiber-reinforced plastics. The engaging teeth, on the metal zipper and the zipper of fiber-reinforced plastics have been fixed in shape such that it is very limited for the fixed teeth to be bent. As for the engaging teeth on the nylon zipper, although the shape of continuous coils and the flexure of the material make the engaging teeth possible to be bent appropriately, a fixed length of cloth tape makes the sewing work unable to be done easily.
The preceding bottleneck with regard to the zipper being used or being worked has restricted the product design to avoid the joining of curve and work with straight line only. However, the curve shape is inevitable for the product design or the fabrication of ready-made clothes so that how to obtain an interlocking tab being formed with curve shape is a subject worth us to develop so as to solve the problem of conventional zipper.
An object of the present invention is to provide a revised interlocking tab of a zipper, with which a curve shape for the zipper can be performed during being worked in addition to the shape of straight line due to a cloth tape thereof providing a feature of stretchy and engaging teeth thereof possible to be elongated.


A method of securely duplicating in a copying machine a document which includes a readable security device. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: reading the readable security device to determine contents of the readable security device; copying the document; generating a copy of the readable security device that includes data which is determined from the contents of the readable security device; and attaching the copy of the readable security device to the copy of the document before the copy of the document exits the copying machine to generate a secure duplicate of the document.

There are many environments where it is necessary to duplicate confidential documents. For example, patient files may need to be duplicated from one doctor to another doctor. In addition, in an office environment there are often documents relating to new projects, new products, etc., which may well be confidential to the company.
Without adequate security measures it is very easy for a confidential document of this type to be sent to people who should not be receiving the information contained therein. This is often done by people copying the confidential document and then putting it in an envelope and sending it as mail. The mail is not always opened by the person for whom it was intended, sometimes being opened by a secretary or other member of staff. This means that very often confidential documents are read or fall into the hands of people who should not see them or should not have them.
In addition, the document may be copied many times and the person who owns the document may not know how many copies are in circulation. It would obviously be better for the owner of the document to have an indication of how many documents are in circulation in order to control and retrieve the document should the need arise.
A certain number of proposals exist on the subject of copying and securing confidential documents. In several of these proposals, the suggestions of including a tag with the document are described. In one the tag serves to enable or disable a copier from authorizing or not the printing of a copy. This can be overcome by removing the tag or just using a different copier. This system is not generally sufficient to overcome the known problems in this field.
In another example the tags allow the identification of a relevant tray in a copier to be used. The tray includes a pre-tagged sheets of paper which enable a tagged and confidential document to be copied onto another tagged and confidential document.
A disadvantage of the second example is that the pre-tagged pages do not have any indication of the type of document that is being copied and do not include any information relating particularly to that document. All tagged documents are therefore the same, merely indicating that the document is confidential and nothing more. There is no way of knowing (without looking at the copied documents) which documents have been copied and how many times.

Method and apparatus for duplicating secure documents

International Business Machines Corporation


An endoscope apparatus is provided. An endoscope apparatus includes a slave device including a plurality of drive motors configured to adjust insertion and insertion direction of an insertion tube of an endoscope, and a plurality of load sensors provided on the plurality of drive motors; and a master device including displacement sensors configured to generate signals for driving the drive motors according to an operator manipulation, and resistive motors configured to operate based on loads detected by the load sensors. The drive motors produce drive forces according to the signals generated by the displacement sensors and the resistive motors produce resistive forces corresponding to the operator manipulation based on the loads detected by the load sensors.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to medical equipment, and more particularly, to a medical endoscope apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A medical endoscope directly captures images of organs of patients, enabling early diagnosis of lesions and even surgical operations, such as removal of lesions.
For cultivating endoscopy operators, training using simulation devices is preceded, and in use of a real endoscope apparatus, a simulation device is also used. For example, an endoscope apparatus has been commonly used, which includes a master device manipulated by an operator and a slave device that directly drives an insertion tube of the endoscope apparatus according to the operator's manipulation. When using endoscope apparatuses, an insertion time varies with the skill of each operator; and a technique for making an insertion time or an insertion speed uniform is needed for operating on a patient who receives an endoscopic operation. Moreover, an operator directly moves an endoscope by both hands and uses the master device for clear visibility. At this time, to manipulate the master device, a technique for reducing the fatigue of the operator is required.
Such endoscope apparatuses are disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012/0197082 A1, which published on Aug. 2, 2012 (hereinafter, referred to as a "first document") and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0242929 A1, which published on Oct. 2, 2008 (hereinafter, referred to as a "second document"). An endoscope apparatus disclosed in the first document discloses an insertion structure of a vibration type in which the operator applies an insertion drive signal using a foot switch, and an insertion tube having a spiral casing advances (or moves forward) while rotating. An endoscope apparatus disclosed in the second document discloses a structure in which application of a drive signal for movement of an endoscope, such as insertion or bending, and control of an auxiliary device, such as cleaning/suction, are performed by one controller.
However, in the endoscope apparatus disclosed in the first document, the insertion tube simultaneously advances and rotates inside an organ, and thus when contacting an inner wall of the organ, the insertion tube may cause twisting of the organ. Moreover, the endoscope apparatus disclosed in the first document uses a knob structure in a general endoscope, resulting in some limitations in solving the operator fatigue issue. The endoscope apparatus disclosed in the second document may control operations of the endoscope and the auxiliary device by one controller, but during advancing of the insertion tube, damage such as twisting of an organ may be caused. In addition, there is no way for the operator to know a reaction force corresponding to the twisting of the organ or a resistance of the inner wall of the organ during insertion of the insertion tube, further increasing a risk of damage to the organ.

Endoscope apparatus with slave device and master device

Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang University Erica Campus


A method for use with automatic test equipment (ATE) having a site that holds a device under test (DUT) includes receiving data from the DUT at a first rate, storing the data in a buffer, moving the data out of the buffer at a second rate, where the second rate is greater than or equal to the first rate, and where the data is moved toward a processing device, and performing a test on the data at the processing device.

Automatic test equipment (ATE) is typically an automated, usually computer-driven, system for testing devices, such as semiconductors, electronic circuits, and printed circuit board assemblies. A device being tested is referred to as a device under test (DUT).
Modern ATEs support multi-site testing. ATEs that support multi-site testing include a testing device having slots, or "sites". A device to be tested—a DUT—is inserted into each site, and the ATE performs whatever tests are necessary on the device in the site. As part of its testing, the ATE sends signals to the DUT and receives data back from the DUT. Some types of tests require that data from the DUT be available in what is essentially a continuous stream. For example, one type of bit error test requires a data capture size of 231 bits. Heretofore, data capture sizes of this magnitude have been difficult to achieve.

Data capture in automatic test equipment


The animation preparing device includes at least one processor. The processor acquires exercise data concerning an exercise done by a user or the exercise that the user is doing. In a case where there exists a plurality of causes for a characteristic point of the user that has been detected based on the acquired exercise data, the processor prepares, from the exercise data, a first user animation represented in a first direction of line of sight as an animation of the exercise done by the user or the exercise that the user is doing in order to indicate a first cause for the characteristic point, and prepares a second user animation represented in a second direction of line of sight that is separate from the first line of sight in order to indicate a second cause for the characteristic point that is separate from the first cause.

As a system for representing a state of exercising by way of animation, there is disclosed, for example in the Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-146980, an exercise support system that compares an animation reproducing the form of a user and a model animation and presents the comparison result while emphasizing a body part that is dissimilar to the model.
The exercise support system disclosed in the literature supports an exercise by emphasizing a body part that is dissimilar to a model. This approach has a problem that a user actually has no idea about an improvement method when just recognizing the body part in question. For example, just knowing the fact that "the strides in running are smaller than those of a model" does not provide the user with a corresponding practical correction method (how to increase strides). A body part that a user has to keep in mind when wishing to increase strides may be not only a body part that is dissimilar to a model but also a body part to which the user must pay attention in order to correct the dissimilarity.

Animation preparing device, animation preparing method and recording medium


Asymmetric distributed replicated data storage systems and methods are described herein. The storage system includes zones that are independent, and autonomous. The zones include nodes that are independent and autonomous. The nodes include storage devices. When a data item is stored, it is partitioned into a plurality of data objects and a plurality of parity objects using erasure coding. The data objects and parity objects are spread across all nodes and zones in the storage system asymmetrically such that a first zone includes all of the data objects and no parity objects while the remaining zones include subsets of the data objects and all of the parity objects. The systems and methods provide for data resiliency while keeping the amount of storage space required relatively low.

Field
This disclosure relates to data stored in a distributed replicated data storage system and an improved method for storing and accessing data in a distributed replicated data storage system.
Description of the Related Art
A file system is used to store and organize computer data stored as electronic files. File systems allow files to be found, read, deleted, and otherwise accessed. File systems store files on one or more storage devices. File systems store files on storage media such as hard disk drives and silicon storage devices. In contrast, the system described herein involves data items stored as a plurality of objects in an object storage system. Object storage systems may provide a simpler instruction set and improved storage and access efficiencies compared to a traditional file system. Applications may store large numbers data items, for example documents, images, audio, videos, scientific data and other data items as a plurality of objects using an object storage system. Various applications may store large numbers of data items as objects using a distributed data storage system in which data is stored in at least two locations.

Asymmetric distributed data storage system


The invention relates to a cutter knife adapted to be mounted on a rotatably drivable knife shaft of a meat cutter machine. The blade of the knife is provided with at least one convexly configured margin with a cutting edge therein and a plurality of openings disposed in predetermined relationship relative to the cutting edge, the openings being in longitudinal section of substantially concave configuration and reduce the mass and surface area of the blade from about 15% to about 30% and from about 20% to 50%, respectively, thereby reducing heat accumulation and retention in the blade.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention, in general, relates to a bowl cutter knife for use with the knife head of a bowl cutter machine and, more particularly, to a bowl cutter knife of the kind having a substantially convexly curved cutting edge.
2. The Prior Art
Curved bowl cutter knives are well-known for cutting or chopping sausage meat and the like. At one end, the blade of such knives with their convexly curved cutting edge is provided with a tang or other suitable means for mounting it on a rotary knife shaft of a bowl cutter machine.
So-called bowl cutter machines are used for the production of sausage meat and the like. They consist of a rotary bowl of suitable capacity for receiving the meat and of a knife head attached to a rotary knife shaft. The knives of the rotary knife head are aligned relative to the internal wall or walls of the bowl such that they may chop and mix the meat within the bowl. Conventionally, the knives are driven at speeds up to 5,000 r.p.m. While the position of the knife is substantially stationary, the bowl and the contents therein rotate relative to the knives whereby the contents are continuously moved against the knives as the bowl is rotating.
The essential aspects of the cutting operation are the cutting action itself and the emulsifying action of the knife blades, whereby the raw material is usually emulsified with water. To this end, a predetermined quantity of ice and/or water is added to the sausage dough within the bowl which is then worked into the dough by the rotating knives in order to yield a sausage dough of as uniform a granular consistency and homogeneity or appearance as possible. In addition to providing as great a cutting efficiency as possible, it is important to produce a stable emulsion. In the event, the cutting blades exert a certain amount of friction upon the meat particles which leads to the generation of considerable heat. The heat developed during the cutting operation may rise significantly and lead to knife surface temperatures as high as 100.degree. C. However, the denaturation temperature of protein is about 40.degree. C. Consequently, thin films of the sausage dough may denature at or on the cutting blades and diffuse or penetrate into the sausage dough.
In order to limit the development of heat as much as possible during the cutting process, knives of various structures have been used. Thus, German patent 4,214,730 C2 discloses a cutter knife provided at its lateral surfaces with grooves and undulations extending arcuately with a radius substantially the same as the radius of the cutting blade. The grooves and undulations on the lateral surfaces of the knife are intended not to affect the emulsifying action in the emulsification zone. Frictional heat is intended to be reduced by the arrangement and disposition of the grooves and undulations, and the purpose of the concentric disposition of the undulations and grooves is to prevent a jagged cutting edge as a result of regrinding the cutting edge.
Another cutter knife is known from German patent 4,339,496. The knife is structured to provide a longitudinally extending channel at the rear edge of the blade, the channel being connected to a fluid conduit provided in the knife mounting chuck and provided with a fluid outlet at the rear margin of the blade. Water flowing in the channel is intended to cool the knife surface for reducing the temperature in the vicinity of the operation. This cutter knife is also convexly curved and is provided with a forwardly disposed cutting edge, i.e. in the direction of rotation, the rear edge of the knife being of concave configuration. The mentioned channel is provided in the concave edge.
The hitherto known cutter knives suffer from the drawback of the meat to be cut engaging, or adhering to, the entire lateral surfaces of the cutter knife, thus forming a certain sausage dough film thereon which detrimentally affects the cutting process and results in denaturization of the meat.
Prior publications, such as German patents 421,512; 629,843 and 676,550 disclose cutter knives provided with openings in their lateral surfaces. The openings are structured to provide additional cutting edges and to influence the kneading of the meat to be chopped.
The innovation disclosed by German utility model 1,802,811 relates to a cutter knife for a meat cutter. In the vicinity of its cutting portion the knife is provided with a slot-like notch extending substantially parallel to the cutting edge which is intended to function as an additional cutting edge.
These solutions aim at increasing the number of cutting edges of the disclosed cutter knives and at bringing about partially improved kneading of the masses to be chopped. They do, however, affect the diminution process and the quality of the material to be chopped in an extremely detrimental manner which in the final analysis also has a negative influence on the thermal load of the sausage dough.


A method and system for executing a context-altering instruction within a processor are disclosed. The processor has a superscalar architecture that includes multiple pipelines, buffers, registers, and execution units. The processor also includes a machine state register for identifying a context of the processor, and a shadow machine state register in conjunction with the machine state register. During operation, a first state of the machine state register is copied to the shadow machine state register. Instructions are executed in accordance with a context identified by the first state of the machine state register. The first state of the shadow machine state register is subsequently altered to a second state in response to decoding a context-altering instruction. The context-altering instruction and subsequent instructions are then executed in accordance with the second state of the shadow machine state register. Finally, the first state of the machine state register is altered to the second state in response to a completion of the context-altering instruction. As a result context synchronization operations are avoided.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method and system for improving data processing in general, and in particular, to an improved method and system for executing instructions within a processor. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved method and system for executing context-altering instructions within a processor without context synchronization.
2. Description of the Related Art
A "context" is the environment (e.g. privilege or relocation) in which a program executes and it is generally controlled by the content of certain system register (e.g. machine state register) within a processor. Context-altering instructions are a class of instructions that change the context of the processor in which data addresses or instruction addresses are interpreted, or in which instructions are executed. They include system calls, traps, return-from-interrupt, etc. Such instructions can be very useful because they allow an application program to request services from the operating system by means of system call or conditional trap; and after completion of these services or after time-sliced out, the control is returned back to the application program via return-from-interrupt.
However, the processor time overhead for executing context-altering instructions is also very high because a context synchronization must be preformed after each execution of context-altering instructions. The context synchronization operation allows any instruction that follows to be fetched and executed in the context established by the operation. This requirement dictates that any pre-fetched instruction be discarded, which in turn requires that any result of speculative execution also be discarded. Further, the serialized fashion of instruction execution does not take advantage of the pipelined architecture of the processor and incidentally poses a huge time penalty for executing context-altering instructions. A superscalar pipelined processor achieves its high instruction throughput by fetching and dispatching multiple instructions in a single machine cycle, and typically fetches instructions ahead of the instructions currently being executed in order to avoid delay. However, as a result of a context synchronization operation after the execution of a context-altering instruction, all the pre-fetched instructions subsequent to the context-altering instruction must be discarded and need to be re-fetched. This problem can be better illustrated with a diagram. FIG. 3a is an illustration of a three level pipeline. Instr.sub.-- 1 is a context-altering instruction and the context of the processor is changed from "1" to "0" at the completion cycle of Instr.sub.-- 1 in cycle 3. If the instructions subsequent to Instr.sub.-- 1, such as Instr.sub.-- 2, Instr.sub.-- 3, etc., cannot be run in context "0", they will all have to be discarded during the context synchronization and need to be re-fetched for decoding under context "0". This problem is even more prominent in processors that utilize parallel pipelines because many more pre-fetched instructions will be discarded.
Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a method for executing these context-altering instructions efficiently by avoiding subsequent delays in machine cycle time due to unnecessary discarding of pre-fetched instructions.

Method and system for executing a context-altering instruction without performing a context-synchronization operation within high-performance processors

International Business Machines Corporation


A method and system for providing emojis, or interactive icons, that have embedded functionality and can be used in text messages or other web based communication. The method and system of interactive icons with embedded functionality can convert a word into an exact logo. The converted logo can have embedded functionality, such as hyperlinks, phone number, using GPS to find locations closest to a user, or opening of a company's app. The interactive icons with embedded functionality may be selected from a keyboard, or from a predictive texting function. They can then be shared or viewed, or selected to provide the embedded information without leaving the messaging application.

Emoji, from the Japanese word that literally means "picture" (e)+"character" (moji), are ideograms or smileys that are used widely in text messaging, and are seen or appear in a text message similar to a picture or image. A large number of emoji exist in various genres, including facial expressions, common objects, places and types of weather, animals, etc. Emoji are included in many smart phones. However, they differ, for example, in fonts, among different systems (e.g., Apple's iOS vs. Google's Android). There are also current custom emoji. Custom emoji are shared via a copy and paste format.
Sometimes, users also want to include a link, image, or picture, for places they frequent and brands they use in their messages. The users currently either have to write-out the name or cut and paste the link, image, or picture, for places they frequent and brands they use. In addition, the users of text messaging have to toggle between websites, applications (also referred to herein as apps) and messaging. For example, friends texting one another regarding dinner plan, will have to switch back and forth between text messaging, search engine (e.g., Google, Yahoo!), maps application (e.g., Google maps), restaurant websites, rating app (e.g., Yelp), reservation app (e.g., OpenTable), and so on. This process is time consuming and very inconvenient.
For advertisement, brands are currently reaching mobile customers through traditional online advertising like banner ads, email or website promotions, their own apps and loyalty programs, and social media campaigns. This type of advertising is brand-driven and is not user-driven. A brand or company logo could be sent as a static copy and paste image, with link sent separately.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a method and system of providing interactive icons with embedded functionality used in text messages, wherein the interactive icons may be previewed, selected, sent, received and viewed like emojis in a text, including people emojis and social media functions, without leaving the text messaging application. The present invention meets these and other needs.

Interactive icons with embedded functionality used in text messages


A beverage extraction machine in which powdered material such as coffee is mixed with hot water in an extraction chamber which is mounted over a beverage receiver with a filter mounted between them. High pressure air is supplied into the beverage receiver and passes up through the filter to agitate the hot water and powdered material in the extraction chamber. Then air is sucked from the beverage receiver and drums the brewed coffee from the extraction chamber through the filter into the beverage receiver where it is discharged to a cup. A pressure sensor can be used to control the application of the high and low pressure air.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a beverage extraction device which can be provided in the main body portion of a vending machine or the like.
2. Description of Related Art
In this type of the beverage extraction device, powder material such as coffee is mixed with hot water and decocted. Then, the decoction liquid is passed through a filter, and extracted. The specific structure is disclosed in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 61-31110 and Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 61-31108. Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 61-31110 discloses a structure in which an extraction chamber is provided on the upper surface of an extraction receiver so as to sandwich a filter, and powdered material of coffee and hot water are supplied to the extraction chamber. In this state, high pressure air is supplied through the filter from the under side of the filter into the extraction chamber, so that the powdered material and hot water are mixed in the extraction chamber by the high pressure air and thus decoction liquid is generated. Thereafter a piston is moved down to the lower portion of the extraction chamber from the upper portion thereof so as to extract decoction liquid, so that decoction liquid is passed by pressure through the filter and is extracted at the under side of the filter.
Moreover, Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 61-31108 discloses a structure in which a material inlet is formed in the upper portion of an extraction chamber, and a valve mechanism for opening and closing the material inlet is provided. Powdered material and hot water are supplied into the extraction chamber through the material inlet and high pressure air is supplied through a filter from the underside of the filter into the extraction chamber, so that the powdered material and hot water are mixed in the extraction chamber by the high pressure air and a decoction liquid is generated. Thereafter the material inlet is closed by the valve mechanism, so that the inside of the extraction chamber is airtight, and high pressure air is sent into the upper portion of the extraction chamber, so that decoction liquid is pressurized by the high pressure air and decoction liquid passes through the filter by the air pressure, and is extracted to the lower portion beneath the filter.


A system and method for setting up a telephone call over a communication path having at least one wireless communication link comprises a universal radio converter (URC) connected to a standard non-wireless device by way of a standard analog interface over which DTMF tone signals are transmitted. Upon receiving the first tone signal, the URC establishes a wireless communication link with a base station. After the communication link is established, the URC transmits to the base station the dialed numbers as they are received from the standard non-wireless device. The base station performs digit analysis as the dialed numbers are received according to a local call numbering format, and sends a call setup request message to the network. A preferred URC is equipped with means to detect an emergency call request, such as a "911" call, upon which the URC establishes a wireless communication link over an emergency call channel. The invention is illustrated in one embodiment with respect to a preferred TDMA over-the-air protocol.

1) Field of the Invention
The field of the invention pertains to communications including more particularly, to a system and method for connecting a user device to a network over a communication path including at least one wireless communication link.
2) Background
A proliferation of wireless communication systems in recent years has led to an increase in available communication resources and alternative access routes to public networks. A significant advantage provided by wireless communication systems over landline based systems is ease in deployment, allowing a wireless unit to be placed at remote locations without having to undertake the expense and inconvenience of physically connecting the remote locations with telephone lines, cable, fiber optic lines, or other communication lines.
While the proliferation of wireless communication systems has generally led to an increase in total available communication resources, it has also become apparent that many end users do not have access to the wireless communication resources. For example, most standard telephones, fax machines, set top boxes and computers are generally not equipped for wireless communication. The primary alternative to wireless access is landline access, which can be costly to install. Also, an end user may be given only one choice of provider when using landline service. A need therefore exists for connecting end users with standard non-wireless telecommunications devices with wireless communication resources, to provide alternative communication paths to public networks, at a relatively economical cost and to increase flexibility of provider selection.
Known wireless local loop systems typically include a wireless communication path for connecting an end user to a network by way of a wireless base station (e.g., a cellular base station). In one known type of wireless local loop system, end users using standard non-wireless communication devices connect through an interface unit. The interface unit processes outgoing and incoming calls between the base station and the standard non-wireless communication devices so that the end user can communicate over the wireless channel.
A particular problem faced in establishing a communication path between an end user using a standard non-wireless communication device and a wireless base station is the call initiation process. A known method for call initiation over a particular interface between telephone handsets and a cellular system is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,096. The interface described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,096 includes a cellular radio transceiver connected to the end user device, and means for converting touch tone or pulse dialed numerals or digits to digital data for transmission by a transceiver connected to the interface. As each digit is dialed at the end user device, the signals are converted to digital data and stored in the interface unit. The interface unit performs digit analysis to determine the number of digits being dialed. Based upon its digit analysis, it determines when the last digit in the number being dialed has been dialed and after determining that the last digit has been dialed, causes a "send" signal to be sent to the transceiver to transmit the stored digits to the base station. The transceiver transmits the dialed number over a wireless channel to a base station for use by the local telephone central control office in completing the call.
The above described technique has a particular disadvantage in that it does not provide flexibility in the digit analysis which can easily accommodate changes in numbering schemes. Further, this interface unit requires that the telephone numbering algorithms of the ultimate locale where the interface unit will be used be programmed into the interface unit. As an example, different countries have different numbering formats for the initiation of phone calls. Thus, an interface unit that operates in one country according to the numbering scheme of that country will not necessarily operate properly in another country with a different numbering scheme. While the interface unit can be modified for each different locality so as to be compatible with the different numbering scheme, doing so could entail reprogramming or other revisions when the interface unit is switched between localities, and also could prevent the manufacture of a uniform interface unit that is operable in all different localities, regardless of the numbering scheme employed in the locality where the interface unit is deployed.
More importantly, however, is the difficulty that is expected to be caused due to growth in the number of users of existing numbering schemes. As the existing numbering schemes reach their limits of capacity, new numbering schemes will be devised. If the numbering schemes are programmed into the individual interface units, it will be inconvenient and possibly costly to upgrade the interface units already deployed.
It would be advantageous to provide a system for linking an end user using a standard non-wireless device with a wireless system, thereby providing the mobility and flexibility advantages of wireless service, while at the same time providing compatibility with respect to numbering scheme and digit analysis regardless of which geographic locality the end user operates in, and allowing relatively easy changes to these numbering schemes.


A hose coupling includes a collar for crimping about a reinforced hose, which collar includes an inner surface having a plurality of inwardly extending annular barbs formed thereon. Each of the barbs has leading and trailing side surfaces which are oriented at equal angles on opposite sides of a normal plane extending therethrough in a direction normal to the axis of the collar. Each annular barb has an edge surface which is flat and extends perpendicular to the normal plane and each of the side surfaces smoothly joined with the inner surface of the cylindrical body with a selected radius of curvature. The radius of curvature of the leading surface is smaller than the radius of curvature of the trailing surface. By providing equal angles of convergence for the leading and trailing surfaces and unequal radii of curvature of the curves which the leading and trailing surfaces join the inner surface of the collar, a consistent and reliable joint with the reinforced hose is provided.

In the past, permanent hose fittings have been mounted in a number of ways such as skiving the outer cover of a reinforced hose. In another approach, hose fittings are provided with sockets which thread over the cover of the hose with the threads cutting through the outer layer of the hose and directly engaging wire in reinforcement. An insert is later added to mate with an adjoining socket.
Both skiving and threadable engagement have disadvantages in that they remove or unnecessarily disturb the outer covering of the hose and are not necessarily easily adapted to simple, inexpensive and rapid manufacturing techniques or, for that matter, field attachment of permanent hose fittings.
In view of these considerations, hose fittings have been used for a number of years, wherein barbs are employed on the inner surface of hose gripping collars. These arrangements are not without difficulty. Sharply pointed barbs having a sturdy base have been used, but these barbs tend to move radially into the reinforcement upon crimping without deflecting either the reinforcement or barbs. Other barbs are configured for engaging the reinforcement but the barbs tend to deform in an uncontrolled manner upon crimping and thus result in hose fittings of varying quality.
In order to avoid the aforementioned drawbacks, the prior art includes fittings in which annular projections are provided with various geometries in order to accomplish adequate couplings. For example, the prior art includes fittings which have annular projections which bend in a controlled fashion; projections which are angled with respect to the inner surface of the sleeve from which they depend, and projections of various sizes and shapes.

Crimped hose coupling for reinforced hoses


A polarization-selectively blazed, diffractive optical element including multiple contiguous blaze structures extending along a given geometrical path. Each structure has a width perpendicular to direction of extension greater than the Wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation for which the element is designed. Each blaze structure multiple individual substructures arranged next to each other in the direction of extension according to a predetermined period. The substructures providing the blaze effect have the shape, when viewed from above, of a closed geometrical surface whose dimension parallel to the direction of extension varies perpendicular to the direction of extension, but is always smaller than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation, and whose maximum dimension perpendicular to the direction of extension is greater than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation. The filling ratio of the individual substructures in the direction of extension relative to the period is selected such that, as a function of the position perpendicular to the direction of extension, the blaze effect is optimized for one polarization condition.

Focused light beams are employed in many optical fields, such as lithography, confocal microscopy, optical data storage, for example, or in optical particle traps. It is important in all of these applications to obtain the smallest possible focusing radius, which can be achieved only by the use of high-aperture optical systems. In this connection, it is increasingly important, however, to consider the polarization properties of the electromagnetic field. Thus, for example, in the case of a linearly polarized, high-aperture light beam, the energy distribution in the focus no longer has rotation symmetry to the optical axis, but is elliptically deformed. A particular shape of the intensity and polarization distribution in the focus can be achieved by specifically setting the polarization distribution within the cross-section of the light beam. In this case, radially or azimuthally polarized beams are of particular interest, because the former have a strong longitudinal electrical component near the focus, whereas in the case of the latter, the electrical field in the focal center disappears completely. It has been shown that the use of radially polarized light beams allows to generate the smallest possible spot diameters so far. Therefore, it is important to have optical elements which transform an unpolarized light beam into one having a well-defined polarization distribution.
Further important fields of application requiring a spot diameter which is as small as possible are microscopic wafer inspection as well as high-resolution material microscopy.
However, so far, it has been very complex to generate radially or azimuthally polarized light. It may be generated, for example, in the laser resonator by superimposing TEM01 and TEM10 Hermite Gauss modes being polarized orthogonally to each other, or in the beam path by the use of a Mach Zehnder-type interferometer. It is also possible to use mode-forming, holographic and birefringent elements.
In view thereof, it is an object of the invention to provide an optical element, which is suitable for selectively deflecting only one desired polarization, and, if required, to adjust the orientation of this polarization in the deflected beam according to a given path line in the beam cross-section.
The object is achieved by a polarization-selectively blazed, diffractive optical element comprising a plurality of contiguous blaze structures, which extend along a given geometrical path and each have a width perpendicular to their direction of extension, said width being greater than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation for which the diffractive optical element is designed, and each of said structures comprising a plurality of individual substructures, which are arranged next to each other according to a predetermined period in the direction of extension, said substructures providing the blaze effect and each having the shape, when viewed from above, of a closed geometrical surface whose dimension parallel to the direction of extension varies perpendicular to the direction of extension, but is always smaller than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation, and whose maximum dimension perpendicular to the direction of extension is greater than the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the filling ratio of the dimension of the individual structures in the direction of extension relative to the predetermined period is selected such, as a function of the position perpendicular to the direction of extension, that the blaze effect is optimized for one of two mutually orthogonal polarization conditions of the electromagnetic radiation.
The desired polarization selectivity of the diffractive optical element is achieved by the sub-wavelength pattern of the individual blaze structures along the direction of extension by means of the individual substructures. The electromagnetic radiation of only one polarization condition is predominantly directed into the predetermined blaze order, so that the blaze efficiency of one polarization condition is considerably greater than that of the other. In particular, the blaze efficiency is improved by more than 50% for one polarization condition as compared to the other. However, if the filling ratio is appropriately selected, the blaze efficiency for one polarization condition may even be more than twice as high and may even be one to several orders of magnitude better than for the other polarization condition.
Any statements made herein with regard to the direction of extension always refer to the respective local direction of extension. If the geometrical shape of the blaze structures is a circular ring shape, for example, then the radial direction is always perpendicular to the direction of extension, and the tangential direction is parallel to the direction of extension.
The blaze effect of the individual substructures is obtained because, due to the sub-wavelength pattern in the direction of extension, said pattern cannot be resolved directly by the electromagnetic radiation, so that it only sees a refractive index averaged via at least one (preferably more) individual substructures, said refractive index varying locally due to the geometrical shape of the individual substructures in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension. This effective profile of the refractive index perpendicular to the direction of extension for the electromagnetic radiation is now adapted so as to achieve the desired blaze effect. In particular, the desired blaze effect can be achieved by a linear increase in the refractive index in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension. However, this linear increase can usually be achieved only for one of two orthogonal polarization conditions, because averaging of the refractive index is effected differently for the different polarization conditions. Therefore, if the filling ratio is selected such that the blaze effect is optimized for one of two polarization conditions, which are orthogonal to each other, the blaze effect for the other of said two polarization conditions deteriorates at the same time (as compared to the case where the blaze effect is best for unpolarized light and, thus, for both polarization conditions at the same time).
Since the individual substructures, when viewed from above, have the shape of a closed geometrical surface, they and, thus, also the optical element can be easily manufactured, e.g. by means of known methods of semiconductor manufacture.
The individual substructures are usually arranged such that always just one individual substructure is provided in each blaze period perpendicular to the direction of extension. The individual substructures are thus arranged next to each other in the direction of extension.
The two orthogonal polarization conditions are preferably linear polarization conditions. If the blaze structures have a circular ring shape, for example, beams can thus be generated which are radially or azimuthally polarized.
In particular, the width of the individual blaze structures may be varied such that the diffractive optical element still has an imaging effect, i.e. acts as a lens. The width of adjacent blaze structures may decrease, increase, or decrease and then increase again, or increase and then decrease again. The width of the individual blaze structures along the direction of extension is preferably constant or varies randomly or with a statistic distribution around a mean value.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the diffractive optical element according to the invention, the individual substructures comprise a first layer having a first refractive index and a second layer having a second refractive index that is different from the first refractive index, said second layer being arranged on the first layer. In particular, a third layer having the second refractive index is arranged between the individual substructures in the region of the first layer. This stacked configuration of the individual substructures allows the achievement of an extraordinarily high degree of polarization of the blaze order (ratio of the transmission of one optimized polarization condition of the desired blaze order to the sum of both polarization conditions of the desired blaze order). The degree of polarization may be 80% to 99.9%.
In particular, the second and third layers are equal in height. This considerably simplifies the production of the diffractive optical element, because only one further coating step needs to be carried out after forming the first layer of the individual substructures, if they are provided in an elevated form on the surface of a carrier, which further step then causes the layer thus applied to be located either as a second layer on the individual substructures or as a third layer between the individual substructures. Of course, if desired, a fourth layer may be applied on the third layer, said fourth layer having a refractive index which differs at least from that of the second layer.
It is further possible that the individual substructures may comprise a first layer having a first refractive index and a second layer having a second refractive index, which second layer is arranged on the first layer, and that further individual structures are arranged between the individual substructures, which further structures comprise a third layer having a third refractive index and a fourth layer arranged on the third layer, said fourth layer having a fourth refractive index. All of the refractive indices may be different. Further, all of the individual layers may have different heights. In particular, the individual structures are provided so as to fill the entire space between the individual substructures.
The filling ratio of the individual substructures which comprise the first and second layers is preferably selected such that it does not cover the entire range of from 0 to 1. The size of the range covered by the filling ratio is preferably not greater than 0.7, in particular not greater than 0.5. For the individual substructures comprising only one layer, the filling ratio may also be selected in the same manner.
The diffractive optical element may preferably be provided such that the individual substructures are contiguous perpendicular to the direction of extension of the blaze structures. Of course, they may also be spaced apart perpendicular to the direction of extension, which may depend, for example, on manufacture. The individual substructures may be contiguous or may be spaced apart in the direction of extension.
When viewed from above, the individual substructures may have the shape of a trapeze, or of any other quadrangle or polygon, in particular of a triangle, with at least one side thereof preferably having a curved shape. It is further possible to provide the individual substructures so as to respectively have symmetry to an axis perpendicular to the direction of extension.
At least one side of the individual substructures may be approximated by a stepped curve.
A preferred embodiment of the diffractive optical element according to the invention consists in that, in addition to a region comprising the individual substructures, the element comprises a further region including conventional blaze structures having an at least approximately ramp-shaped profile. If the blaze structures form an annular geometrical shape together with the individual substructures, the region comprising the conventional blaze structures is preferably arranged in the center of the element, i.e. where the blaze period (perpendicular to the direction of extension) is the greatest in blazed, diffractive optical elements for imaging.
The predetermined geometrical shape may be either a closed path (annular path) or an open path. The closed path may be a circular ring shape, an elliptic shape, a polygon shape or any other type of curved shape. The open path may comprise part of a self-contained path line, any other curved or polygon-type shape, or may even be linear. The width of the blaze structures (dimension perpendicular to the direction of extension) may be varied as a function of the position in the direction of extension in order to achieve a desired imaging property. If the blaze structures extend along closed path lines, the blaze structures may be arranged concentrically to each other.
The predetermined shape is selected, in particular, as a function of a desired imaging property of the element and/or a structured illumination which emits the electromagnetic radiation for which the element is optimized. The structured illumination may be, for example, a ring, dipole or quadrupole illumination.
The diffractive optical element is preferably a transmissive element.
The individual substructures may be provided with an elevated shape on the top surface of a carrier. However, it is also possible for the individual substructures to be embedded in a carrier (e.g. having a planar top surface) and to have a refractive index which differs from the refractive index of the laterally surrounding carrier material.
The individual substructures may be provided as doping zones or as depletion zones in the carrier material.
In particular, the diffractive optical element may be designed for electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength in the visible spectral region, in the infrared region or in the UV region.
Preceding or following the diffractive element, there may be arranged a phase element which causes a locally varying phase displacement in the electromagnetic beam incident on or coming from the diffractive element. The phase element is preferably a transmissive element which may be provided as a separate element or integrally with the diffractive element. If it is provided integrally with the diffractive element, it is preferably not provided on that side on which the blaze structures are formed.
For example, if the diffractive element comprises blaze structures having point symmetry, there may be out-of-phase or in-phase oscillations of the light fields of two points having point symmetry to the center of the beam cross-section of the beam transmitted by the diffractive element. The locally varying phase displacement is then selected such, for example, that these light fields, if desired, oscillate in-phase or out-of-phase, respectively. For this purpose, the phase element, for example, may be provided such that its thickness increases (in a spiral-shaped manner) as a function of the angular position, said thickness being selected such, in particular, that a phase delay of 2π is achieved after 360°. Of course, the phase element may also be provided such that it imposes other locally varying phase displacements on the beam.
Further, a polarization element may be arranged preceding the diffractive element, said polarization element pre-polarizing the electromagnetic beam for the diffractive element at least partially into said one orthogonal polarization condition. Thus, an already pre-polarized beam which predominantly has said one desired orthogonal polarization condition, is incident on the diffractive element. The polarization element is preferably not of the imaging type, so that it contributes, together with the diffractive element, if the latter is an imaging element, to a further improvement of the polarizing effect, whereas the imaging effect is caused exclusively or mainly by the diffractive element.
Further, an objective is also provided which contains at least one diffractive optical element according to the invention or a described further embodiment thereof. The objective may be, for example, a microscope objective or an objective used in semiconductor lithography and may comprise further lenses or optically effective elements, respectively.

Polarization-selectively blazed, diffractive optical element


A Toothbrush and Denture Holding Device for holding dentures and a plurality of toothbrushes in a sanitary and disposable tray is disclosed. The device includes a bracket mountable on a wall and a disposable tray member having a recessed portion forming a basin for holding the dentures and a plurality of holes formed in opposing side portions of the tray member for holding the plurality of toothbrushes, the tray member being removably attachable to the bracket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to toothbrush and denture holders and more particularly pertains to a new toothbrush and denture holding device for holding dentures and a plurality of toothbrushes in a sanitary and disposable tray.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of toothbrush and denture holders is known in the prior art. More specifically, toothbrush and denture holders heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art toothbrush and denture holders include U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,718; U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,828; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 315,954; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 314,109; U.S. Pat. No. 4,140,222 and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 273,565.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new toothbrush and denture holding device. The inventive device includes a bracket mountable on a wall and a disposable tray member having a recessed portion for holding the dentures and a means for holding the plurality of toothbrushes, the tray member being removably attachable to the bracket.
In these respects, the toothbrush and denture holding device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of holding dentures and a plurality of toothbrushes in a sanitary and disposable tray.


The invention relates to a system for controlling an internal combustion engine (100), in particular a self-igniting internal combustion engine. A signal (U) for triggering a performance-determining final controlling element (105) is stored in a characteristics map (110) for each of a corresponding fuel quantity (QK) to be injected into the engine. The signal values stored in the characteristics map (110) are then corrected in dependence upon a predetermined relationship of a signal corresponding to the value for the fuel quantity (QK) to be injected and a signal corresponding to the value for the actually injected fuel quantity (QKI).

The invention relates to a system for controlling an internal combustion engine, in particular, self-igniting internal combustion engine pursuant to the introductory part of the independent claim.
Such a system is disclosed by the German Published Patent Application 33 43 481. It describes a method and device for controlling a self-igniting internal combustion engine comprising a correcting means, which compensates for the correlation that changes over time between the quantity of fuel which is actually injected and the positional signal from the final quantity-determining controlling element.
This method provides for a signal-detecting sensor, which indicates the quantity of fuel actually injected. In the method described, this corresponds to a sensor for detecting the position of the control rod. Such a sensor supplies only a very inaccurate signal with respect to the injected fuel quantity For this reason, it is also tested in an overrun operation, to determine the point (triggering signal) at which no more fuel injection takes place. A needle-motion sensor is used to test for such injections.
The German Published Patent Application 30 11 595 discloses another method and another device for correcting manifestations of drift. With this method, the setpoint value for the quantity of fuel to be injected is corrected so as to allow the correlation between the positional signal of the final quantity-determining controlling element and the fuel quantity actually injected to conform. This document does not reveal how these correction values are determined.
These systems require the sensors to operate for a very long period of time and the sensors only supply very inaccurate values.
The object of the invention is to make it possible to use a simple and precise open-loop control for an internal combustion engine in a system for controlling that engine. More particularly, it is the aim of the invention to make available a very precise load signal for controlling additional variables, such as the exhaust-gas recirculation rate and/or the start of injection.
The system according to the invention results in a significantly more precise open-loop control for internal combustion engines. In particular, the exhaustgas emissions are able to be considerably reduced.
Advantageous and useful refinements and further developments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims.

System for controlling an internal combustion engine


An aromatic polyester that contains one or more aromatic ester repeating units and one or more biphenyl repeating units is provided. While a wide variety of aromatic ester repeating units may be employed, the polymer is nevertheless “low naphthenic” to the extent that it contains a minimal content of repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic acids and naphthenic dicarboxylic acids. Despite the absence of a high level of conventional naphthenic acid repeating units, the present inventors have discovered that selective control over the type and relative concentration of the biphenyl repeating units can lead to “low naphthenic” polymers that are not only soluble in certain solvents, but also capable of exhibiting good mechanical properties. Thus, the ability of the resulting polymer to be dissolved or dispersed in various solvents can be enhanced without sacrificing performance.

Flexible printed circuit boards are increasingly being used in high density, small electronic components. Such circuit boards are typically produced from a "copper clad laminate" that contains a copper foil and an insulating film. However, the laminate often curls during heat treatment due to the relatively poor heat resistance of the polymers used to form the film. In this regard, liquid crystalline polyesters have been suggested for use in forming the insulating film due to their relatively high degree of heat resistance. Nevertheless, one of the problems in successfully incorporating these types of polymers into flexible printed circuit boards is that they are not soluble in most solvents, and thus cannot be readily cast into a film. Various attempts have been made to solve this problem. For example, one liquid crystalline polyester that has been proposed for producing films is formed from 2-hydroxy-6-naphthoic acid ("HNA"), 2,6-naphthanlenedicarboxylic acid ("NDA"), and 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl ether. While allegedly having improved solubility, the polyester requires a very high amount of naphthenic monomers to achieve sufficient liquid crystallinity and mechanical strength. Unfortunately, the high cost of naphthenic acid monomers dictates that the need for others solutions to the problems noted.
As such, a need exists for a polymer that contains a low naphthenic content, but yet is still capable of possessing a sufficient degree of solubility in various solvents to that it can be readily formed into a film.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Aromatic polyester containing a biphenyl chain disruptor


The Building Material Installation Support Hand Tool of the present invention comprises a strut assembly having a horizontal support bracket disposed in a transverse, T-shaped arrangement with a vertical strut device. The strut device incorporates an elongated tube open at its top and bottom ends. The tube telescopically receives an upper extremity of a lower leg of the strut device for coarse adjustment of the height of the strut device to accommodate standard, predetermined heights of ceiling and wall structures. An adjustment means of the strut device interconnects the tube and the leg and is actuateable by the worker to releasably lock the tube in a position relative to the leg. The strut device includes at a lower extremity of the leg a cleat adapted to grip a floor. The cleat is attached to the leg by a screw jack which is threaded into the lower extremity of the leg which allows for a fine height adjustment of the strut device to accommodate small variations in the height of otherwise standard or non-standard predetermined heights of the ceiling or wall structures. Once the worker adjusts the strut assembly to the predetermined, standard height of the ceiling or the wall structure upon which building materials are to be installed, the strut assembly is purposely designed to be adjusted to an overall length which is greater than the predetermined height whereby the strut device is positioned at a small, oblique angle relative to the vertical plane when deployed to support the building materials.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a manual building material installation support and more particularly to a temporary support tool for supporting dry wall panels or the like unaided by a worker while the worker secures such permanently in position on a ceiling or wall of a building structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Efforts have been made in the past to render the installation of building panels such as sheetrock or other wall or ceiling building panels more efficient. Typically, at least two workers are needed to lift a four foot by twelve foot panel of sheetrock into place and hold in position while driving fasteners such as nails and cleats into the frame of a wall or ceiling structure. The weight and the unwieldy size of typical panels render it impractical for workmen of normal size and strength to repeatedly lift panels into position and hold them while actuating a pneumatic screw gun throughout the length of a typical work day. Usually, at least two workers will cooperate to manually lift a panel of ceiling panel building material overhead and position the panel in place against a ceiling structure. Then, while they hold the panel in place they drive several fasteners through the panel and into the frame structure, to support the panel in position.
Since sheet rock panels might each weigh on the order of 70 or 80 pounds, it will be appreciated that a certain minimum number of fasteners will be necessary to hold the panel in position without assistance of the workman. This can give rise to several serious problems, particularly with relatively inexperienced workmen involved in drywalling various structures with differently spaced studs and joists and with drywall panels of different weights and thicknesses. For example, failure of the workmen to install a sufficient number of fasteners into the building material, oftentimes results in the fasteners, intended to temporarily hold the panel in place during the permanent installation process, pulling free thus allowing the panel to fall upon release thereof by the workmen, thus endangering the drywallers themselves as well as nearby craftsman. Typically, once the panel is lifted into place and temporarily supported with an adequate number of fasteners, the workers release their hand support or supporting tools and continue driving additional fasteners through the panel and into the ceiling structure until the panel is permanently installed. This task typically requires two workers because of the temporary nature of the installation. Until an adequate number of fasteners are installed, there is a risk of injury to workers or damage to the panel or nearby structures should the panel come loose and fall from the ceiling. These risks are lessened if two workers remain available to support the panel should it unexpectedly fall while temporarily supported. This is often accomplished by the worker prepositioning and holding several fasteners, usually drywall screws, in his mouth or teeth, then lifting the panel in place with the assistance of his co-worker, and holding the panel with one hand while using his free hand to handle a power drill adapted for screw installation of the screws. He may use his mouth or teeth to insert one screw into the power drill and then drive the screw into the overhead panel, repeating this procedure until a sufficient number of fasteners have been placed into the panel to permanently secure the panel in place. This method leads to several problems. Most notably, the worker will quickly experience considerable fatigue when installing heavy building materials and will require frequent rest periods. Also, the failure to install a sufficient number of fasteners into the panel to ensure adequate, temporary support before discontinuing manual hand support may cause to the panel to fall from the ceiling structure as mentioned. A failure to install a sufficient number of fasteners may be the result of many factors, including: an inaccurate estimation of the weight of the building material, worker fatigue requiring removal of the worker's supporting hand so that he may rest, an inadequate number of fasteners being pre-positioned in the mouth which requires him to remove a supporting hand to get more fasteners, or the loss of power to or the fastener from the power drill. Workers installing building materials onto wall structures have employed the same methods and experienced the same type of problems associated with the installation of building materials onto ceiling structures.
Some efforts have been made to develop devices designed to assist workers with the installation of building materials on ceilings and walls. For example, workers have been known to utilize work-site building materials such as two by fours fastened together in a T-shaped arrangement with a horizontal cross-member fastened to the top of a vertical member which is cut to a length sufficient to temporarily support building materials against the ceiling or the wall structure while permanent installation is accomplished. Using this method, the workers, first, lift and place the building material against the ceiling or wall structure. Next, while the first two workers continue holding the material in place, a third worker erects and places and the T-shaped support underneath either a downward facing surface or a bottom edge of the building material against either the respective ceiling or wall structure. Once the temporary support is in place, the workers may then release the building material which is temporarily supported by the T-shaped support. However, this approach has many pit-falls. First, the height of the vertical member may be inaccurately cut too short so that the overhead or wall panel is balanced on the support and inadequately supported. Second, the fasteners connecting the cross-member protrude from the top of the member such that they may cause gouging or abrasion damage to the building materials when the T-shaped support is erected. Third, the cross and vertical members may tend to separate from one another during repeated use causing the brace to become unstable and unsatisfactory for continued use. The device is also unsatisfactory for installation of panels on ceiling and wall structures of differing heights as the vertical member must be recut to size or replaced for each installation situation. Also, aside from the above-mentioned disadvantages of using miscellaneous building site materials to construct temporary supports, such as two by fours and similar materials, use of such materials results in increased waste of building materials slated for other construction site purposes.
Attempts to eliminate the disadvantages such as, unnecessary construction site waste, and the need for multiple workers associated with the above described methods and devices, have led to the development of more sophisticated temporary support devices for aiding in the installation of building materials. Certain of these support devices have been designed to assist the workers in lifting building materials to the desired height and supporting the materials in a desired position until fasteners have been installed to permanently secure the materials in place against a ceiling or wall structure. Other support devices have been employed which do not assist in lifting the materials into position, but instead merely temporarily support the materials in place after they have been lifted into place and positioned by the workers. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,910,421 to Panneton and 4,560,031 to Dixon et al. appear to disclose devices which aid in the lifting and support of ceiling panels. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,375,934 to Elliott, 4,576,354 to Blessing, Sr., 4,695,028 to Hunter, 4,733,844 to Molloy, 4,928,916 to Molloy, 5,129,774 to Balseiro et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,744 to Sumter seem to disclose devices which aid in the support of ceiling panels once the panels have been lifted into position.
Devices such as those disclosed in the above-listed patents are undesirable to the worker because their use increases the difficulty encountered during installation of building materials onto ceiling and wall structures in addition to creating many inefficiencies and disadvantages for the worker. For example, some of these devices are incapable of use in smaller, confined work areas due to their considerable size. Other devices appear to be comprised of a large number of mechanisms and moving parts which add significant weight, complexity and failure points to the support device. It is preferable to employ light-weight devices which do not add to the burden of installing building materials which materials can themselves be extremely heavy as, for example, four foot by twelve foot, double sheet-rock panels. Many of the devices discussed in the prior art comprise devices which appear to be heavier than the heaviest building materials used in constructing ceilings and walls. Those devices which incorporate multiple vertical support members are particularly cumbersome to use for the common practice of installing multiple panels of ceiling or wall building materials onto respective ceiling or wall structures because the vertical support members must each be positioned, removed and replaced for each panel. Other devices in the prior art have many moving parts including gears and springs. Use of gears and springs creates many potential problems for workers. The gears may seize up and jam when exposed to common but troublesome worksite elements including sawdust, metal shavings, nails, staples and other debris. Springs experience, fatigue wear and deterioration after continued use and may even break in certain shock loading situations rendering the support device useless. Additionally, springs must be designed for a specific weight of building materials to be effective in temporarily restraining the building materials in position during installation. The prior art devices do not teach a means of accommodating the various loads corresponding to the various types of building materials. Additionally, the springs are designed to be compressed during installation of the support devices such that the worker can never be certain whether the building materials are positively supported with a force sufficient to prevent unwanted release of the building materials from the temporarily supported position. Further, the use of the compression springs in the devices does not provide the worker with positive feedback indicating that the support device is in the intended supporting orientation. The worker is forced to rely on an often times unreliable visual indication of whether the support device is properly oriented.
The gears and springs described above are often employed in conjunction with various types of jacking mechanisms which serve either to assist the worker in lifting the panel into the desired position for installation or to extend the overall length of the support device to support the panel or both. The use of the jacking mechanisms is also undesirable to the worker because it requires an additional hand to actuate a handle of the jacking mechanism. Typically, the worker employs one hand to lift and hold the building materials into position and the other hand to position and hold the support device in a vertical position leaving no means by which the jacking handle may be actuated without the aid of an additional worker. Even if the worker uses one hand to support the panel overhead, and the other hand to position the support device and then to actuate the jacking handle, such actions create difficulties in the event that actuation of the jacking handle dislodges the support device from the vertical position. Dislodgement may still occur even if the third worker was employed to erect the support device and actuate the jacking mechanism. Dislodgment of the support device is especially likely in the event the jacking mechanism jams or seizes during actuation due to the inevitable efforts of the workers to unseize or unjam the mechanism. These support devices which employ jacking mechanisms are also cumbersome and unwieldy to use for the installation of various types of building materials where the support device must be positioned, its length extended with a jacking mechanism, removed and then replaced again for installation of the next panel.
Previous devices have failed to adequately assist workers with a hand tool capable of properly supporting building materials during construction of ceilings and walls and other similar structures. Thus, what is needed by the art and has been heretofore unavailable, is a device which aids the worker in the installation of building materials and which particularly is: lightweight; durable; comprised by a minimal number of moving parts subject to wear or damage; capable of quick and easy transport, assembly, disassembly; capable of storage in small spaces; quickly and easily adjustable to multiple, predetermined heights; secured easily into a supporting position with a single-hand of a single worker; and which is easily removed and reinstalled for the repeated installation of building materials such as, for example, multiple ceiling or wall panels.

Strut apparatus for holding drywall panels and building materials in position


A method and apparatus for ensuring consistency of color and cosmetic appearance of injection molded parts used in the fabrication of enclosures for information handling systems. A sample of polymer material having a texture and color in accordance with a predetermined specification is inspected by a spectrophotometer and the results of the measurements are stored in a cosmetic feature database of a manufacturing system. A plurality of enclosures for the information handling systems are then manufactured using information stored in the cosmetic feature database. Each of the enclosures has a molded feature that can be used to verify surface finish quality and color consistency of the injection molded parts used to fabricate the enclosure. In a production run for fabricating a plurality of enclosures, one of the enclosures can be removed from the production line and a molded feature can be inspected to determine whether the molded parts comply with predetermined standards for color and surface finish.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to information handling systems and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for ensuring consistency in the cosmetic appearance of enclosures for information handling systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes, thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
An information handling system, such as a desktop personal computer, typically includes a metal chassis for mounting the circuit boards and other functional components. To provide for an aesthetically pleasing appearance and for various functional purposes, an enclosure comprising a variety of panels is used to cover portions of the chassis. Typically, the front of the chassis is covered with a bezel panel, and the top and sides of the chassis are covered by plastic panels. The various plastic panels of the information handling system enclosure are generally formed by molding a polymer material that is colored to provide a desirable cosmetic appearance. Various types of resins are used to fabricate the plastic panels and to provide the desired colors.
Examples of enclosures for information handling systems are disclosed in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,297,548, entitled "Panel Mounting System," issued to Buican et al on Oct. 2, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,436, entitled "Panel Mounting System," issued to Buican et al on Mar. 12, 2002; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,178, entitled "Desktop Computer Chassis with Folding Cover," issued to Curlee on Dec. 16, 2003. Each of the aforementioned patents is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.
In large-scale manufacturing systems, it is important to maintain consistency of color and of the surface texture or surface finish of molded parts over a long production run. Current techniques for measuring the color of molded parts are not consistent with procedures for color measurement of resins. Resins are typically measured by both a visual method and a numeric method, with the visual method being the controlling factor. Molded parts fabricated using resins are generally measured using visual methods, which can lead to inconsistencies that become more exaggerated as the colors become darker, and visual inspection methods are generally less effective.
Many manufacturers produce injected molded parts for information handling system enclosures using a product part approval process wherein the parts are dimensionally qualified through statistical metrics. The specific cosmetic features relating to the molded parts are contained in a chassis cosmetic specification. Adherence to the cosmetic specifications are currently performed utilizing a visual process similar to that used in prior art chip visual qualification processes. Over time, however, variables in tooling, environmental factors and machine parts cause variations in the cosmetics of the molded parts. Throughout the life of a manufacturing process, product cosmetics and colors can vary significantly, leading to undesirable inconsistencies in the manufactured products.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for ensuring consistency in the cosmetic appearance and the color of injection molded parts used in computer enclosures.

Color measurement feature for information handling system enclosure


A rubber composition comprised of elastomer, silica, optionally carbon black and a silica coupler comprised of dithiodipropionic acid.

For various applications utilizing rubber which requires high strength and abrasion resistance, particularly applications such as tires and various industrial products, sulfur cured rubber is utilized which contains substantial amounts of reinforcing fillers. Carbon black is commonly used for such purpose and normally provides or enhances good physical properties for the sulfur cured rubber. Particulate silica is also often used for such purpose, particularly when the silica is used in conjunction with a coupling agent. In some cases, a combination of silica and carbon black is utilized for reinforcing fillers for various rubber products, including treads for tires.
It is important to appreciate that, conventionally, carbon black is a considerably more effective reinforcing filler for rubber products, and particularly for rubber tire treads than silica if the silica is used without a coupling agent, or silica coupler as it may be sometimes referred to herein.
Indeed, at least as compared to carbon black, there tends to be a lack of, or at least an insufficient degree of, physical and/or chemical bonding between the silica particles and the rubber elastomers to enable the silica to become a sufficient reinforcing filler for the rubber for most purposes, including tire treads, if the silica is used without a coupler. While various treatments and procedures have been devised to overcome such deficiencies compounds capable of reacting with both the silica surface and the rubber elastomer molecule, generally known to those skilled in such art as coupling agents, are often used. Such coupling agents may, for example, be premixed, or pre-reacted, with the silica particles or 10 added to the rubber mix during the rubber/silica processing, or mixing, stage. If the coupling agent and silica are added separately to the rubber mix during the rubber/silica mixing, or processing stage, it is considered that the coupling agent then combines in situ with the silica.
In particular, such coupling agents are generally composed of a silane which has a constituent component, or moiety, (the silane portion) capable of reacting with the silica surface and, also, a constituent component, or moiety, capable of reacting with the rubber, particularly a sulfur vulcanizable rubber which contains carbon-to-carbon double bonds, or unsaturation. In this manner, then the coupler acts as a connecting bridge between the silica and the rubber and thereby enhances the rubber reinforcement aspect of the silica.
In one aspect, the silane of the coupling agent apparently forms a bond to the silica surface, possibly through hydrolysis, and the rubber reactive component of the coupling agent combines with the rubber itself. Usually the rubber reactive component of the coupler is temperature sensitive and tends to combine with the rubber during the final and higher temperature sulfur vulcanization stage and, thus, subsequent to the rubber/silica/coupler mixing stage and, therefore, after the silane group of the coupler has combined with the silica. However, partly because of typical temperature sensitivity of the coupler, some degree of combination, or bonding, may occur between the rubber-reactive component of the coupler and the rubber during an initial rubber/silica/coupler mixing stages and, thus, prior to a subsequent vulcanization stage.
The rubber-reactive group component of the coupler may be, for example, one or more of groups such as mercapto, amino, vinyl, epoxy, and sulfur groups, preferably a sulfur or mercapto moiety and more preferably sulfur.
Numerous coupling agents are taught for use in combining silica and rubber, such as, for example, silane coupling agents containing a polysulfide component, or structure, such as bis-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide and/or polyisoprene rubber together with a mixture of silica and carbon black, with silica being required to be a major component of the silica/carbon black reinforcing filler.
Other U.S. patents relating to silicas and silica reinforced tire treads include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,451,458; 3,664,403; 3,768,537; 3,884,285; 3,938,574; 4,482,663; 4,590,052; 5,089,554 and British 1,424,503.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,123 discloses a rubber composition dithiodipropionic acid with natural rubber, or blends of natural and synthetic rubbers, 30-80 parts carbon black, sulfur and organo-cobalt compound for use as skim stock for brass-plated steel. It relates that the rubber composition can contain other additives such as fillers such as clays, silicas or calcium carbonate, process and extender oils, antioxidants, cure accelerators, cure activators, cure stabilizers and the like.

Silica reinforced rubber composition field


A specified gas concentration sensor includes a thin film thermally separated from a substrate, which is provided by a heater, a temperature sensor and an absorbing substance of a specified gas, and temperature change accompanied by heat generation while absorbing the specified gas in an ambient gas being capable of measuring by the temperature sensor. The absorbed specified gas is released from the absorbing substance by heating with the heater, and after stopping heating with the heater, the specified gas concentration in the ambient gas is obtained by utilizing an output of the temperature sensor at a time passing a predetermined time which is a thermal time constant of the thin film or longer at which the specified gas is absent from the heater. An optional heat conductive type sensor having no absorbing substance of the specified gas can broaden the measurable range of the specified gas concentration.

It has been known that there is a risk of explosion in an extremely broad range when a hydrogen gas exists in the air in an amount of 4.0 to 75.0% (% by volume). Accordingly, it is important to measure the hydrogen gas concentration in a low concentration at the lower explosion limit of 4.0% or less. Heretofore, as a gas sensor, there has been known a catalytic combustion type hydrogen gas-detection sensor (see Patent Document 1) in which the temperature of a catalyst such as tin oxide and Pt is raised by a heater and the catalytic action thereof is combined.
Also, as a semiconductor gas sensor, there has been known a sensor in which change in electric resistance is used by utilizing change in carrier density at the surface of the semiconductor due to adsorption of a reducing gas.
In addition, there was a sensor which has been heightened gas selectivity by utilizing absorption or permeation of a specified gas such as hydrogen. For example, as a device to detecting hydrogen by utilizing a hydrogen storage alloy, there has been known a hydrogen-detecting device (see Patent Document 2) which detects a hydrogen-absorption amount based on the size of the detected strain in which the hydrogen storage alloy is adhered to one surface of a substrate, and a strain gage is attached to the other surface, and the strain of the substrate caused by volume expansion of the hydrogen storage alloy when it absorbs the hydrogen is detected by the strain gage.
It has also been proposed a hydrogen detecting device (see Patent Document 3) for detecting a concentration of a hydrogen gas contained in a gas by utilizing a hydrogen storage alloy having high selectivity of hydrogen and detecting change in the state (weight change) when the hydrogen is absorbed while maintaining the hydrogen storage alloy to a constant temperature.
It has heretofore been known as an oxygen gas sensor that an oxygen concentration can be measured by making an oxygen (O) being absorbed (stored) (intercalation) to the interlaminar of titanium disulfide (TiS2) which is a layered crystal and from the change in resistance at that time. In general, it has also been known that by spontaneously absorbing an atom (an oxygen atom in case of an oxygen gas) which constitutes a gas molecule, a temperature of the substance which absorbs the atom increases.
Heretofore, as a temperature sensor, there are an absolute temperature sensor which can measure the absolute temperature and a temperature difference sensor which can measure the temperature difference alone. As the absolute temperature sensor which can measure the absolute temperature, there are a thermistor, a transistor thermistor (Patent Document 4, JP Patent No. 3366590) which uses a transistor as a thermistor and a diode thermistor (Patent Document 5, JP Patent No. 3583704) which uses a diode as a thermistor, which are invented by the present applicant, and further an IC temperature sensor in which the temperature is in a linear relationship with a forward voltage of a diode or a voltage between emitter bases of a transistor. Moreover, as the temperature difference sensor which can measure the temperature difference alone, there have been a thermocouple and a thermopile in which the thermocouples are connected in series to increase output voltage.
It has heretofore been proposed a hydrogen sensor (Patent Document 6) which is constituted by a microcapsule means to encapsulate powder particles of a hydrogen storage alloy with a metal film, a temperature detecting means by a thermocouple, an integrating means in which the powder of the hydrogen storage alloy encapsulated by the microcapsule means and the thermocouple as the temperature detecting means are contained in a cap and an electronic controlling means by an electronic controlling portion including a power source as main characteristics.
The present inventor has also invented previously "a gas sensor element and a gas concentration measurement device using the same" (see Patent Document 7) and proposed a gas sensor element and a gas concentration measurement device which are intended to measure the concentration of a hydrogen gas in which one or a plural number of temperature sensors and a gas-absorbing substance which absorbs a gas to be detected are provided to a thin film thermally separated from a substrate, and the temperature sensors are so provided that temperature change accompanied by heat absorption or heat generation at the time of absorption or release of the gas to be detected. After that, he has conducted experiments and improvement thereof, and as a result, the best embodiments which conform to the various objects can be obtained as the present invention.