A capacitor includes an electrically insulating housing that encloses an interior volume, first and second conductive connection pads that are each configured as externally accessible points of electrical contact to internal electrodes of the capacitor that are disposed within the housing, and an active capacitor dielectric material disposed within the housing and being configured as a dielectric medium between the internal electrodes, the first conductive connection pad having a first planar contact surface that is substantially parallel to a first sidewall of the housing, the second conductive connection pad having a second planar contact surface that is substantially parallel to the first sidewall, the first and second planar contact surfaces being offset from one another in a direction that is orthogonal to the first sidewall.

Consumer and industrial power applications such as power conversion applications and automotive applications utilize power semiconductor switching devices to control large voltages and/or currents associated with these applications. For example, power semiconductor switching devices are commonly used to control voltages on the order of 50 V (volts), 100 V, 500 V or more and/or to control currents on the order of 1 A (amperes), 10 A, 100 A, 400 A or more. Exemplary semiconductor switching devices that are commonly employed in this context include Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors (IGBTs), Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors (MOSFETs), Junction Field Effect Transistors (JFETs), diodes, etc.
One power switching device circuit topology that is commonly employed in power converters, such as DC to DC converters, AC to AC converters and AC to DC power converters, is a half-bridge circuit. A half-bridge circuit includes two series-connected switching devices and a capacitor connected in parallel across the two series connected switching devices. Voltage conversion is performed by rapidly switching the switching devices. An inductive load at the output of the half-bridge is charged/discharged by the applied voltages. The capacitor maintains a stable operating voltage across the half bridge during the switching events of the individual switches

Capacitor and electronics module assembly with low-inductance connection features


A vehicle damper monitoring system of the present disclosure may include at least one height sensor and at least one controller configured to receive signals from the at least one height sensor and generate a notification if the signals indicate that one or more suspension dampers of a vehicle need to be serviced.

Vehicle suspension dampers, or shock absorbers, are used to limit the oscillatory behavior of a vehicle's wheels or body. Over time, however, dampers can lose their effectiveness, for example, as a result of wear on the internal seals and valves of the dampers. When the damping force of a damper is reduced, the motion of the vehicle changes toward an undamped, or oscillatory motion. This undamped motion can result in, for example, increased tire wear, increased suspension wear, and overall degraded vehicle handling.
It is, therefore, advantageous for vehicle control systems, which enhance vehicle handling and increase passenger safety, to have knowledge of the effectiveness of each the vehicle's suspension dampers, and be able to provide information, for example, to the vehicle's driver regarding when a damper has failed and needs to be serviced. It may be advantageous, therefore, to provide a vehicle damper monitoring system that may utilize the dynamic motion of the vehicle's wheels to continuously monitor and evaluate the quality and/or effectiveness of each damper as the vehicle is driven, and provide feedback, for example, to a service provider or the driver if a damper is determined to be defective. It may be further advantageous to provide vehicle damper monitoring systems and methods which utilize existing vehicle sensors to measure the dynamic motion of the wheels, and monitor the effectives of the suspension dampers.

System and method for vehicle damper monitoring


A shock absorbing grip for a ball-struck impact imparting device such as a tennis racquet having a resilient compressible body which overlies the handle. An inflatable tube carried by the body is inflated by an air pump to selectively pressurize the tube to cause the tube to define a raised profile along the body adjacent the tube.

The present invention relates to an improved shock absorbing grip to be applied to ball-struck impact imparting devices, as for example, tennis rackets, racquetball rackets, golf clubs, and baseball bats.
Accurate placement of a ball struck by a tennis racquet or the like is greatly dependant upon the ability of the racquet grip to permit the racquet user to maintain firm hand contact with the racquet grip. The problem of providing a firm hand-to-racquet grip contact is complicated when the racquet user's hand is moist from perspiration. Slippage between the racquet user's hand and the racquet grip is not only detrimental to accuracy of ball placement, but additionally, can cause the formation of blisters on the racquet user's hand.
It is well-known that shock generated by impact between a ball-struck device such as a tennis racquet and a tennis ball can adversely affect muscle tissue and arm joints, such as elbow joints. Such shock often results in "tennis elbow" which is a painful affliction commonly experienced by active tennis players. Medical theories attribute "tennis elbow" to continuous exposure of the playing arm of a tennis player to shock and vibration generated by striking a tennis ball with a tennis racquet. The energy generated is usually of high frequency and short duration with rapid decay and which is often known as "impact shock". Various types of grips have been proposed for inhibiting "tennis elbow", however, such grips have not completely solved such problem.


A turn bar apparatus is incorporated in a rotary press for reversing a web position during running thereof. The turn bar apparatus includes an upstream side turn bar, and a downstream side turn bar disposed along a web running direction. Pull rollers are disposed on an upstream side and a downstream side of the upstream side and downstream side turn bars, respectively. The puller rollers are controlled in such a manner that the peripheral speeds of the pull rollers are faster than a running speed of the web.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a turn bar (angle bar) apparatus of a rotary press used for back printing of a web or film and moving a continuous web paper for the rotary press.
2. Background Art
A conventional turn-bar apparatus A of this type is shown in FIG. 1, and the turn bar apparatus A is generally composed of an upstream side turn bar 1, a downstream side turn bar 2, an upstream side guide roller 3 disposed on an upstream side of the upstream side turn bar 1, a downstream side guide roller 4 disposed on a downstream side of the downstream side turn bar 2, and an intermediate roller 5 disposed between the turn-bars 1 and 2 at the side portion thereof. A web such as paper or film is engaged with and run through the upstream side guide roller 3, the upstream side turn bar 1, the intermediate roller 5, the downstream side turn bar 2 and the downstream side guide roller 4, in this order. During this running, the front and back surfaces of the web 6 is turned over and a tension is applied between the turn bars 1 and 2 is adjusted by the intermediate roller 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes an auxiliary guide roller.
Printing units, not shown, are disposed both upstream and downstream sides of the turn bar apparatus of the structure mentioned above.
In the turn bar apparatus A of the above structure, however, both the turn bars 1 and 2 are stationarily arranged, and the web 6 slidably runs along the surfaces of these turn bars 1 and 2. According to such structure, a running resistance at portions of these turn bars increases, which results in a large difference in tensions acting on the web 6 at inlet and outlet portions of the turn bar apparatus A. Moreover, the running resistance to the running web is not constant and the tension is hence changed. As a result, registerings of the printing units may be aberrant at the upstream and downstream sides.
In order to reduce such running resistance, in the conventional turn bar apparatus A, the turn-bars 1 and 2 are formed so as to have inner hollow structures having a plurality of fine holes formed to portions of the turn bars around which the web 6 is wound up, and air is blown out through these fine holes so that the web 6 floats above the surfaces of the turn bars 1 and 2 and runs in the floating state. In this structure, however, the positional accuracy of the web 6 is adversely affected by the air blowing strength and the registering accuracy at the printing operation is also adversely affected.
In another way for reducing the running resistance, in the conventional turn bar apparatus, a glass-bead bonded sheet, or high polymer plastic sheet having a good sliding performance, may be wound up around the surfaces of the turn bars 1 and 2. In this structure, the running resistance is not sufficiently reduced and such sheets have insufficient durability, thus also providing a problem.
In a further way of reducing the running resistance, the intermediate roller 5 may be formed so as to be freely or forcibly rotatable in the web running direction. In such a structure, however, when an intermediate roller 5 rotated with a constant speed by a driving device is used, the tension will be changed in a case where webs having different thicknesses run, resulting in a problem of degrading the registering performance at the printing operation.


Method and device to collect multiplex data simultaneously in analyte detection and analyze the data by experimentally trained software (machine-learning) is disclosed. Various ways (magnetic particles and microcoils) are disclosed to collect multiple reporter (tag) signals. Multiplex detection can increase the biomolecule analysis efficiency by using small sample size and saving assay reagents and time. Machine learning and data analysis schemes are also disclosed. Multiple affinity binding partners, each labeled by a unique reporter, are contacted with a sample and a single spectrum is taken to detect multiple reporter signals. The spectrum is deconvoluted by experimentally trained software to identify multiple analytes.

The molecular-level origins of disease are being elucidated at a rapid pace, potentially ushering in a new era of personalized medicine in which a specific course of therapy is developed for each patient. To fully exploit this expanding knowledge of disease phenotype, new methods for detecting multiple biomolecules (e.g., DNA and proteins) simultaneously are required. The multiplex biomolecule detection methods must be rapid, sensitive, highly parallel, and ideally capable of diagnosing cellular phenotype in vivo.
Some biomolecule detection methods have been developed based upon the unique electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties of metal particles. In one assay method, gold nanoparticles (10 nm diameter) are tagged with ssDNA probe strands and a photoactive dye molecule. A metal electrode of a microarray chip (also called gene chip) is also modified with ssDNA probe strands. If a target (the analyte or bioanalyte) mRNA or ssDNA is complementary to the probe on the particle and the substrate, hybridization will occur which brings the particle in contact with the electrode. A laser is then rastered across the surface. When the laser addresses a spot in which nanoparticles are bound, the dye molecule is electronically excited, and the excited electron is injected into the electrode. The electron is collected as a current, signifying the presence of a particular DNA analyte.
Synthesis of a functionalized electrode having polymer arrays on an electrode of a microarray chip is known. Examples of such polymer arrays include nucleic acid arrays, peptide arrays, and carbohydrate arrays.
One method of preparing functionalized electrodes of polymer arrays on microarray chips involves photolithographic techniques using photocleavable protecting groups. Briefly, the method includes attaching photoreactive groups to the surface of a substrate, exposing selected regions of the substrate to light to activate those regions, attaching a monomer with a photoremovable group to the activated regions, and repeating the steps of activation and attachment until macromolecules of a length and sequence are synthesized.
Additional methods and techniques applicable to prepare a functionalized electrode include electrochemical synthesis. One example includes providing a porous substrate with an electrode therein, placing a molecule having a protected chemical group in proximity of the porous substrate, placing a buffering solution in contact with the electrode and the porous substrate to prevent electrochemically generated reagents from leaving the locality of the electrode (the use of confinement electrodes to prevent reagents from diffusing away have also been described), applying a potential to the electrode to generate electrochemical reagents capable of deprotecting the protected chemical functional group of the molecule, attaching the deprotected chemical functional group to the porous substrate or a molecule on the substrate, and repeating the above steps until polymers of a length and sequence are synthesized.
The biomolecules on microarray chip typically are detected through optical readout of fluorescent labels attached to a target molecule that is specifically attached or hybridized to a probe molecule. These optical methods are difficult to implement and miniaturize because they rely on the use of optical labels and require large or expensive instrumentation.

Multiplex data collection and analysis in bioanalyte detection


A method for controlling a different component inserting system controls a component inserting operation by turning ON/OFF each selection switch necessary to select a component feeder of the different component inserting system needed for factory automation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a different component inserting system which can control a component inserting operation by turning ON/OFF each selection switch necessary to select a component feeder of the different component inserting system needed factory automation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, an electronic component feeder of a different component inserting system includes a feeder 2 for supplying electronic components 1 stored in a stack, a rodless cylinder 4 generally secured on the lower side of the feeder 2 for reciprocating a carrier member 3 in a right and left direction, and a feeding member 5 disposed on the carrier member 3 of the rodless cylinder 4 for feeding the electronic components 1 in cooperating relationship with the reciprocating movement of the carrier member 3. With the different component inserting system, the electronic components 1 supplied by the feeder 2 are inserted into predetermined positions on a printed circuit board (PCB substrate).
For example, the electronic component inserting system embodied with such a different component inserting system is disclosed in for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,619. According to this system, two positioning pins of each magazine operate a corresponding switch to indicate a central spacing of the components preserved in the magazine to a computer control system in order to appropriately match other components of the component inserting system.
With the construction proposed in the patent, when at least one kind of board component is continually inserted in the printed circuit board, bad components are likely to be inserted to the PCB substrate. In this case, means for removing the bad components is not provided in the system, so bad components must be manually removed by the user. As a result, not only a loss of human efforts but also great deterioration in yield result. Moreover, when any of the components is out of stock, the system cannot further effected a given function without a revised program. Accordingly, the yield of the product is affected considerably.

Method for controlling different component inserting system


A parent telephone set comprises a transformer, a sidetone level reducing circuit, and a first secret talk processing circuit for executing digital secret talk processing, a counterpart slave telephone set comprises a second secret talk processing circuit for executing digital secret talk processing, a delaying circuit for delaying an aural signal from the slave telephone set microphone by a specified delay time, and a level reducing circuit for reducing the level of output from the second secret talk processing circuit according to the output from the delaying circuit. The specified delay time in the delaying circuit is set according to the time required for digital secret talk processing in the first secret talk processing circuit as well as in the second secret talk processing circuit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional type of cordless telephone set (a first example of conventional technology). This example of conventional technology was disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 326647/1992. In this figure, the reference numeral 301 indicates a parent telephone set, while the reference numeral 302 indicates a slave telephone set. The parent telephone set 301 has basically the same configuration as that of the slave telephone set 302, and brief description is made below for the basic configuration of the parent telephone set 301. The parent telephone set 301 is provided with a speech network IC 314, and connected to the speech network IC 314 is a telephone line LINE, and also connected thereto is a receiver 316 having a parent telephone set microphone as well as a parent telephone set speaker.
Also in the speech network IC 314 is incorporated a sidetone generator to generate a so-called sidetone, and when setting a call using the receiver 316 in the parent telephone set 301, a caller can hear a portion of voice taken from a parent telephone set microphone as sidetone, so that harmonious call is possible.
Also connected to the speech network IC 314 is a secret talk processing circuit 313. Specifically, the secret talk processing circuit 313 is provided with a secret talk processing section and a secret talk reproducing section, both of which include an A/D convertor and a D/A convertor respectively and execute a digital secret talk processing such as, for instance, interleave.
In addition to the basic configuration as described above, in this example of conventional technology, the parent telephone set 301 has a sidetone canceling circuit 315, while the slave telephone set 302 has a sidetone generating circuit 324. This configuration is employed because sidetone in the slave telephone set is generated by a sidetone generator provided in the speech network IC 314 of the parent telephone set 301, and for this reason a large delay time is generated in a secret talk processing circuit existing in a path from the slave telephone set 302 to the parent telephone set 301 as well as in a path from the parent telephone set 301 to the slave telephone set 302. Hence, a person using the slave telephone set 302 monitors the person's own voice delayed by the delay time described above, causing a serious disturbance because of echo.
Namely the sidetone generating circuit 324 in the slave telephone set 302 outputs a portion of aural signal, obtained through a microphone of the slave telephone set as a sidetone, to a speaker of the slave telephone set, while a sidetone canceling circuit 315 in the parent telephone set 301 deletes the slave telephone set sidetone generated in the sidetone generating circuit 324. With this feature, delay because of digital secret talk is eliminated, and a talker using the slave telephone set 302 can monitor the talker's own voice without experiencing echo disturbance.
A telephone set employing therein a speech network IC in a speaker circuit is called "a telephone set based on a speech network IC system". In contrast to it, a telephone set using a transformer circuit such as a hybrid transformer in the speaker circuit is called "a telephone set based on a transformer system".
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a parent telephone set in a conventional type of digital cordless telephone using the transformer system (second example of conventional technology). The parent telephone set in this example of conventional technology is provided with a phase shifter 404 and a mixer 402, each as a sidetone level reducing means, in addition to a secret talk processing circuit 123 and a hybrid transformer 121. This sidetone level reducing means combines, by the mixer 402, an aural signal for calling subjected to phase inversion in the phase shifter 404 with that returning as a sidetone from the telephone line section to cancel the sidetone.
Next, description is made for problems in the transformer system (second example of conventional technology), taking into consideration the first and second examples of conventional technology described above. At first, FIG. 5A is a block diagram illustrating a case where a telephone set (a parent telephone set) based on the speech network IC system is connected to a telephone line. A speech network 502 in this figure is, for instance, TEA 1067, and has a resistance bridge type of sidetone canceling circuit, an AGC (Automatic Gain Control) circuit, and an amplifier to compensate degradation of the receiving characteristics.
In this case, the AGC circuit in the speech network IC 502 detects a current i flowing in the line and controls a gain in amplifiers 505, 506 of the telephone set. The line loss varies according to type of line and line length, but with this configuration, a telephone set which can respond to various types of line can be realized.
FIG. 5B is a block diagram illustrating a case where a telephone set (a parent telephone set) based on the transformer system is connected to a telephone line. Unlike the AGC circuit in the speech network IC 502, the hybrid transformer 512 does not have a means for controlling gains in the amplifiers 515 and 516 in the telephone set by detecting the current i flowing in the line. For instance, assuming that a standard sound is 94 dBSPL and a line loss is 10 dBSPL, a gain of 10 dB is required for the microphone amplifier 515 and the speaker amplifier 516 respectively.
Line loss varies according to line type and line length, but, for instance, in a case where a telephone set having the configuration as shown in FIG. 5B is applied to a local exchange having a low line loss or the like, a transmitting level and a receiving level in a telephone set (a parent telephone set) become high, and naturally the level of sidetone returning through the parent telephone set to be heard by a talker using the slave telephone set also becomes higher, which causes some problems in hearing through the slave telephone set. Also, even if the configuration in the first example of conventional technology (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid Open Publication No. 326647/1992) is applied, gains of the amplifiers 515 and 516 in the telephone set remain relatively large, so that it is impossible to lower the level of sidetone.
As described above, in the conventional type of radio transmitter/receiver, especially based on the transformer system, gain control for an amplifier according to a current flowing in a line is not executed, so that level of sidetone can not be reduced, and also a telephone set which can respond to various line types and different line lengths can not be realized.

Cordless parent/slave telephone set with improved sidetone handling


Dispersion compensator apparatus comprising 1XM, MXN and NXN couplers, where the coupling ratios of the MXN and NXN couplers are selected such that the dispersion compensator provides a desired amount of dispersion compensation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of optical communications and, more particularly, to apparatus for dispersion compensation.
2. Description of Related Art
Dispersion compensators (DCs) are widely used for compensating for chromatic dispersion in optical communication networks. Tunable dispersion compensators (TDCs) are used to provide an adjustable (i.e., tunable) amount of dispersion compensation. Previously proposed TDCs include, for example, ring resonators, virtually imaged phased arrays (VIPAs), cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs), temperature-tuned etalons, waveguide grating routers (WGRs) with thermal lenses, and bulk gratings with deformable mirrors.
The cascaded MZI approach has been found to be particularly promising since it exhibits low loss and can be made with standard silica waveguides in a compact planar lightwave circuit (PLC). However, prior art MZI-based TDCs typically require multiple stages and multiple control voltages, are difficult to fabricate, and have high power consumption, making them complex and expensive.
One prior art design for a TDC is shown in FIG. 1a. The TDC consists of two M-arm interferometers (i.e., waveguide grating routers, WGRs #1 and #2), each consisting of M waveguides (i.e., arms) with adjacent waveguide path-length difference ΔL, and two star couplers. The two WGRs are coupled together at one of their star coupler boundaries with an adjustable lens device. The combination of the two star couplers and the lens can be viewed as an adjustable coupler. The adjustable lens device is a dynamic 2-D element that can provide a quadratic phase distribution −k×2/(2f), where k is the free-space propagation constant, x is the distance along the lens axis, and f is the focal length. f may be controllable to allow tuning of the TDC. The strength, s, of the lens device is defined as s=1/f. When the lens focal length f is equal to the star coupler radius, the coupling is zero, (i.e., each waveguide connected to one of the star couplers couples to only one waveguide of the other star coupler (in a diagonal fashion).
The operation of the TDC in FIG. 1a can be explained as follows: for a given input signal (input from the left), the signal is spread out in wavelength at the lens device by WGR #1. Each spectral portion of the signal impinges on a different portion of the lens device. When the focal length of the lens device is equal to the length of the star coupler radius, all of the spectral portions of the signal are directed such that the field distribution of the spectral portions is centered in the waveguide array in WGR #2. Thus all the spectral portions have the same effective path length in the TDC, and thus, the dispersion of the TDC is zero.
If the focal length of the lens is adjusted to be longer than the radius of the star coupler, longer-wavelengths of the signal (as compared to wavelengths closer to the signal's center wavelength) are predominantly directed toward the shorter waveguides of WGR #2, and shorter-wavelengths are predominantly directed toward the longer waveguides of WGR #2. This results in longer-wavelengths traveling a shorter distance through the TDC than shorter-wavelengths, resulting in the TDC providing negative chromatic dispersion. If the lens focal length is adjusted to be shorter than the star coupler radius, the converse is true and the TDC provides positive chromatic dispersion.
One problem with the prior art TDC of FIG. 1a is that shorter- and longer-wavelengths experience increased loss (i.e., the TDC exhibits a rounded passband) with increased dispersion magnitude because the field distribution of the spectral portions of shorter- and longer-wavelengths are not centered in the waveguide array in WGR #2. Thus, these spectral portions do not couple efficiently into the output waveguide causing the rounded passband.
Another prior art TDC design shown in FIG. 1b solves the passband rounding problem of the TDC of FIG. 1a. The TDC of FIG. 1b has three MZIs each consisting of 2 waveguides, and two adjustable lenses coupling the MZI's. The two 'outer' MZIs have an adjacent waveguide path-length difference of ΔL, and the center MZI has a waveguide path-length difference of 2ΔL. The passband of this TDC is not rounded (to the first order) as the dispersion magnitude is increased. However, with such MZI based TDCs the maximum achievable dispersion is substantially limited.


A single unit, shell and tube fume incinerator utilizes a vacuum baffle (34) structure proximate a combustion zone (24) to control the flow of combustion exhaust gas. The vacuum baffle (34) is located slightly above the hot ends of a plurality of heat exchange tubes (20) to deflect the hot exhaust gases from the combustion zone (24) away from the ends of the tubes (20), and back to the outside of the tubes (20), thereby controlling the "time at temperature" for contaminants in the impure gas feed. A vacuum effect is created just below the baffle (34) to draw cleansed exhaust below the baffle (34) back up into the combustion zone (24) to prevent the escape of impure gas.

The present invention relates generally to incinerator systems for the abatement of process emissions containing carbonaceous impurities such as volatile organic combustibles (VOC).
Noxious fumes, waste gases or process emissions, which may be termed "feed gas", "waste gas" or "emissions" generally contain volatile organic combustible (VOC) contaminants (carbonaceous impurities). However, the amount of combustible material contained in such emissions is generally below several thousand ppm, and accordingly, will not ignite or propagate a flame at ambient temperature.
Incinerators increase the temperature of such emissions to a level above the ignition temperature of the combustible contaminants by the use of heat derived from a supplemental energy source thereby to oxidize the emission. Regenerative incinerators recover heat remaining in the cleansed exhaust gas to increase the temperature of emissions entering the incinerator thereby minimizing the amount of fuel used by the supplemental energy source to raise the emission to its ignition temperature.
In a typical single unit shell and tube heat exchanger the impure gases flow upwardly through the interior of a plurality of tubes to a combustion chamber. The plurality of tubes are generally affixed to the incinerator as by welding to a tube sheet proximate the combustion chamber. Fuel is burned in the combustion chamber which typically raises the temperature of the impure gases to about 1400.degree. F. (760.degree. C.) where the VOC's are oxidized to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O. The hot gases are then returned to the heat exchanger by downwardly flowing around the outside of the plurality of tubes. However, impure gas flow into the combustion chamber from the ends of the tubes is generally not controlled so as to create a "mixing" effect within the combustion chamber. Because there is no flow control, the amount of time the impure gas remains in the combustion chamber (i.e., "time at temperature") will vary throughout the abatement cycle. A varying "time at temperature" for the impure gas can create the problem of incomplete oxidations of the VOC's.


A golf club putter with a laser system for practising putting, comprising:. (a) a putter assembly which comprises a putter head member comprising two laser ports on an anterior putting face of the putter head member; and PA1 (b) a compact laser system comprising two or more laser units, laser holders, a laser module, an on-off program switch, and a power source;. wherein each laser unit is contained within a laser holder, and the laser holders are affixed to the laser module; the laser system is operable to produce parallel laser beams projected from the anterior putting face; the on-off program switch is connected to the power source; and the laser system is housed entirely in the putter head member; and whereby the laser beams are visible to assist a golfer during putting practice is provided. A space-saving circuit for the putter is also provided.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a golf club containing a laser system, and more particularly to a practice putter with a compact laser system, including a power source, wholly contained in the putter head.
2. Background Information
Avid golfers have employed various devices over the years for improving their golf swing. One such device is a golf club putter with a laser aiming system. Briefly, by observing the laser beam projected from the putter during the swing, the golfer can adjust and, with practice, improve his or her putting stroke.
Here, a compact, self-contained, removable laser system has been developed which will fit entirely in the head of a standard-sized putter or other golf club. Because the laser system, including the power source, is wholly contained in the putter head, the hosel, shaft and grip are not oddly shaped and the putter has a normal appearance, and a good feel and weight distribution. The present device can be used to diagnose errors in a golfer's address and putting stroke.
The putter with laser system of the present invention comprises a grip, shaft, hosel and putter head member, and a laser system within the putter head assembly. The laser system comprises one or more laser units which contain the lasers, one or more laser holders, a laser module, an on-off program switch, and a power supply assembly. The laser system preferably further comprises an electronics microchip with an LED system, a time delay function, and an automatic off function.
A second benefit of the present invention is that the laser system facilitates alignment of the two parallel lasers during manufacture of the golf clubs. Within the present laser system are two laser holders which fit into a laser module. This provides a system for aligning the laser beams and fixing them in place, even during later impacts of the putter head member with the golf ball.
Another benefit of the present invention is that the laser beams in the present invention project directly from the anterior face of the head, which is where the club strikes the ball. Having the parallel lasers project from the anterior face of the club head is advantageous in part because when the lasers are activated and the club is swung, the laser beams follow the path of the ball along the playing surface and optionally onto a reflective practice target.
Further, a laser system so compact that it fits within a standard size putter head is advantageous because the laser system is easy to remove for repair. The putter is easier to manufacture because the laser system can be assembled and then inserted in the putter head member.


A solid oxide fuel cell, and methods for modifying the temperature thereof, the fuel cell having a plurality of planar layered fuel cell units, an electrically conductive flow separator plate disposed between each of the fuel cell units, and a cathode contact material element disposed between each cathode electrode of the fuel cell units and each electrically conductive flow separator plate. The cathodes of the individual fuel cell units are modified such that the operating temperatures of the cathodes are matched with the temperatures they experience based upon their locations in the fuel cell stack. The modification involves adding to the cathode contact material and/or cathode at least one alloying agent which modifies the temperature of the cathode electrodes based upon the location of the cathode electrodes within the fuel cell stack. These alloying agents react with a component of the cathode electrode to form alloys.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks and materials to address thermal gradients in all planes (x, y and z) of the stack. This invention further relates to contact materials which provide electrical conductivity between the electrodes and the separator plates disposed between adjacent fuel cell units. This invention further relates to cathode modifications whereby the operating temperature of the cathode of each fuel cell unit, as well as within a fuel cell unit, is matched with the temperature that it experiences based upon its location in the fuel cell stack and anticipated temperature gradient.
2. Description of Related Art
A solid oxide fuel cell is a solid electrochemical cell comprising a solid gas-impervious electrolyte sandwiched between a porous anode and porous cathode. Oxygen is transported through the cathode to the cathode/electrolyte interface where it is reduced to oxygen ions, which migrate through the electrolyte to the anode. At the anode, the ionic oxygen reacts with fuels such as hydrogen or methane and releases electrons. The electrons travel back to the cathode through an external circuit to generate electric power.
The constructions of conventional solid oxide fuel cell electrodes are well known. Electrodes are often composites of electron- and ion-conducting materials. For example, an anode may comprise electronic conducting nickel (Ni) and ionic conducting yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and a cathode may comprise a perovskite such as La1-xSrxMnO3-δ (LSM) as the electron conducting material and YSZ as the ionic conducting material. Because of the high activation energy for oxygen reduction of perovskites, noble metals such as Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Ir, Ru, and other metals or alloys of the Pt group may be added or used to replace the perovskite phase to reduce the activation energy as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,420,064 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,750,169, both to Ghosh et al. Furthermore, the noble metal may be alloyed to modify the optimum operating temperature range as disclosed by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/542,102 to Wood et al., issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,313,875, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.
Each individual fuel cell, also referred to herein as a fuel cell "unit", generates a relatively small voltage. Thus, to achieve higher, more practically useful voltages, the individual fuel cell units are connected together in series to form a fuel cell stack. The fuel cell stack includes an electrical interconnect, or separator plate, typically constructed of ferritic stainless steel, disposed between the anode and cathode of adjacent fuel cell units, as well as ducts or manifolding, either internal or external, for conducting the fuel and oxidant into and out of the stack. In addition to separating adjacent fuel cell units, the separator plates distribute gases to the electrode surfaces and may act as current collectors. Electrically conductive contact pastes are used to bond the electrodes to the separator plates. U.S. Pat. No. 6,420,064 to Ghosh et al. discloses a cathode contact paste comprised of lanthanum cobaltate.
Conventional solid oxide fuel cells are operable at temperatures in the range of about 600° C. to about 1000° C., but generally exhibit high performance at operating temperatures only in the range of about 700° C. to about 1000° C. In a large scale, multi-layer solid oxide fuel cell stack, there can occur significant temperature variations in all planes, x, y and z. Stack temperature variations on the order of about 100° C. to about 200° C. have been measured. The ends of the fuel cell stacks are the coolest, resulting in low cell voltage and high degradation at the end cells when the cells in the center are operating in a reasonable temperature range that is not too hot for the ferritic stainless steel separator plates. On the other hand, when the stack is operated at sufficient temperatures such that the end cells are in a reasonable operating range, the center cells are too hot and excessive degradation occurs due to oxidation of the separator plates. For large area cells, it is easy to imagine similar effects in the x-y planes, leading to localized degradation or low performance.
Thus, there is a need for a solid oxide fuel cell stack having a materials system that can tolerate a large operating temperature range. In practice, this range may be too large for a single materials system and there may be a need for a simple, low cost method of modifying the materials system locally to accommodate temperature variations.

Cell materials variation in SOFC stacks to address thermal gradients in all planes


A method is provided for on-line monitoring of the wear of a refractory lining of a blast furnace and for extending the life of said lining. The method includes determining the wear line of the lining from signals of temperature probes embedded at spaced locations across the thickness of the refractory using a one dimensional heat transfer model to locate a first approximation of a solidification isotherm of hot metal in the furnace, using the one dimensional heat transfer approximation as an initial boundary in a moving boundary calculation of a two dimensional heat transfer model and iterating the two dimensional model to find a final location of the isotherm by minimizing the difference between the measured and predicted temperatures of the thermoprobes.

The iron blast furnace typically is constructed of a metal shell with a refractory brick lining. The life of the refractory brick lining determines the length of time that the furnace can be kept in operation before the furnace must be shut down for installation of new refractory. Longer refractory life decreases refractory cost and increases the productivity achieved from the furnace. More expensive refractory brick have been used to extend the length of a furnace "campaign". Grouting or gunning of refractory material between the refractory brick and the metal shell has also been used as a repair measure to close the gaps which sometimes form between the shell and the brick. Gaps between the brick and shell decrease heat transfer and cause increased wear of the refractory brick.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,510793 discloses the use of a ceramic bar in a furnace wall which wears with the lining. The wear of the bar and the lining is detected ultrasonically by generating ultrasonic pulses in the bar and detecting the reflection of the pulses from the worn inner end of the bar.
Japanese Published Application 1-290709 discloses thermocouples embedded in the refractory on the bottom and bottom side wall part of a blast furnace. From the temperatures measured by the thermocouples, calculations are made to determine the state of packing of coke in the core of the furnace. When the packing of coke is inadequate for preferential flow of molten iron in the central part of the furnace, changes are made in the amount, grain size or hot characteristics of the coke charged to the furnace.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,953, Horiuchi et al, discloses a method of monitoring the wear of refractory lining blast furnace walls by sensing temperatures at different points across the thickness of the refractory and analyzing the time delay between trigger signals representing internal phenomena of the furnace and the temperature probe output signals. This patent also describes a prior art method of determining the degree of wear from one dimensional heat transfer analysis. An apparatus for sensing temperature distribution in the refractory is also disclosed. A similar apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,090, Kawate et al, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,706, Kawate, et al.
It is also known to use one-dimensional and two-dimensional heat transfer calculations to refractory temperature distributions and then later compare with measured temperatures to estimate remaining refractory and skull thickness. A method of this type is disclosed in a literature paper entitled "Evaluation of Mathematical Model for Estimating Refractory Wear and Solidified Layer in the Blast Furnace Hearth", by Suh Young-Keun et al, ISIJ, 1994, Pages 223-228. However, no method previously existed for using measured temperatures to calculate the thickness of the brick and skull directly in a manner which considers interaction between measured temperatures at all locations in a vertical plane simultaneously. Also, no previous method existed that could be used on-line without human intervention to signal problems with gap formation, inefficient cooling on the shell, and to discern the irregular "elephant-shaped" erosion profiles and "bowl-shaped" erosion profiles, so as to enable corrective measures to be taken during furnace operation in order to extend the life of the refractory.
Other patents related to the measurement of wall thickness and/or temperature include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,264,968; 2,987,685; 2,994,219;3,018,663; 3,307,401; 3,512,413; 4,217,544; 4,248,809; and 4,539,846.

Method for monitoring the wear and extending the life of blast furnace refractory lining


An enhanced communication bridge includes a context interface that enables the audio bridge to learn information about the type of Voice encoder, device, network connection, location, type of call (business vs. personal), identity and position of the individual, and other information about the context of the communication session itself as well as the context of each person joining the communication session. This context information is used to determine how quality of experience targets for the communication as a whole, as well as how each individual contribution should be uniquely processed to attempt to meet the quality of experience targets. Business factors may influence the decision as to the type of processing to be implemented on each of the signals provided by the participants. Corrective action may also be implemented by the bridge on the client network devices as well in the embodiment. The bridge may be centralized or distributed. A video bridge may be implemented as well.

1. Field
This application relates to communication networks and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing an enhanced communication bridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data communication networks may include various computers, servers, nodes, routers, switches, hubs, proxies, and other devices coupled to and configured to pass data to one another. These devices will be referred to herein as "network elements," and may provide a variety of network resources on the network. Data is communicated through data communication networks by passing protocol data units (such as packets, cells, frames, or segments) between the network elements over communication links on the network. A particular protocol data unit may be handled by multiple network elements and cross multiple communication links as it travels between its source and its destination over the network. Hosts such as computers, telephones, cellular telephones, Personal Digital Assistants, and other types of consumer electronics connect to and transmit/receive data over the communication network and, hence, are users of the communication services offered by the communication network.
A telephone call may be established to connect two, three, or a small number of people and enable those individuals to talk with each other on a communication network. When a larger number of people want to participate in the telephone call, an audio bridge may be used. An audio bridge basically receives input from the participants, selects two, three, or another small number of signals to be mixed, and provides the mixed audio to each of the participants. This allows many people to simultaneously talk and listen to a given communication over the network. Audio bridges have been around for many years and are well known in the art.
Unfortunately, conventional audio bridges do not always provide high sound quality. For example, one person may naturally talk very loudly while another talks very quietly. This imbalance may make it difficult for participants to adjust the sound level so that they can hear everyone on the conference call. Similarly, different participants may connect to the audio bridge using different communication technologies which may have a deleterious effect on the overall sound quality provided by the audio bridge. For example, conference participants may connect using cellular, IP-based, wireless IP-based, or other types of handsets. Each of these connection technologies may have different sound characteristics which may cause the overall audio provided by the audio bridge to have reduced audio qualities.


A method performed in a scanning apparatus of scanning a document, including: determining whether an event required for scanning of the document has occurred; and driving the scanning apparatus and scanning the document when it is determined that the event has occurred.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to scanning performed in a scanner or a Multi-Function Peripheral (MFP), and more particularly, to an automatic scanning method and apparatus and a computer-readable storage which stores a computer program.
2. Description of Related Art
There are various complicated processes for scanning a document using a scanner or an MFP that performs scanning and a personal computer (PC) coupled to the scanner or the MFP. Hence, users not accustomed to these apparatuses cannot easily scan a document. A scanner and a scanning apparatus driver for scanning the drive are usually required to scan a document. A tool for calling a scanning apparatus driver is also required to scan a document. Examples of the tool include an image application provided by, for example, MICROSOFT® and an Independent Hardware Vendor (IHV) application provided by a scanner manufacturer. Examples of the image application include PHOTOSHOP®, which must be separately purchased, and MICROSOFT PAINT® and KODAK IMAGING®, which are basically provided by the operating system of a computer.
In a conventional scanning method, first, a user who wants to scan a document must search a PC connected to a scanner for an application for calling a scanning apparatus driver. Then, the scanning apparatus driver is called using the found application, and the document is scanned using the called scanning apparatus driver. When a document is scanned according to such a conventional scanning method, the scanning is not easy for users not accustomed to the scanner or the PC. In particular, when scanning is performed using an MFP, manipulation of a plurality of keys on a panel of the MFP for scanning the document is not easy for inexperienced users. Searching a PC for an application used for calling a scanning apparatus driver is also difficult for the inexperienced users. Accordingly, there is a need to enable users to conveniently manipulate a scanning apparatus, for example, automatic preview or scanning depending on a preset scanning mode in response to a particular event or automatic driving of an application for scanning in response to the particular event.

Automatic scanning method and apparatus and computer-readable storage medium


A device to be worn by wearers of ileostomy, urostomy or the like appliances in areas where high levels of moisture is present. The semi-pliable, moisture/water-proof, protective device is most appropriately used when showering or for similar water-present activities. The device is non-invasive and allows for the unadulterated use of the wearer's present appliance without transforming the existing pouch, but with the device's inclusion which encompasses a belt apparatus, sealing ring structure and fastening means.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to protective sealing apparatus and, more particularly, to a water resistant sealing apparatus for protection of ileostomy appliances, urostomy appliances, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is well-known in the art, ileostomy appliances, urostomy appliances, colostomy appliance, etc. are widely known and used as a prosthetic utilized following various surgical procedures. Examples of such appliances appear in the prior art, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,774, issued in the name of Hooper et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 2,675,002, issued in the name of Desare, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,656,838, issued in the name of McConnell, and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,713,445, issued in the name of Marsan.
Those faced with regular, extended usage of such appliances continually encounter a problem in keeping these appliances dry: if the appliance gets wet, its adhesive becomes ineffective, causing the bag to no longer adhere to the skin of the wearer. When this occurs, the appliance must be discarded and replaced.
Numerous attempts exist in the related arts for protection of such or similar appliances. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,614, issued in the name of McDowell et al., discloses a protective shield for a stoma pouch. However, the protective shield therein described requires the use of a face plate flange (35), and a shield having a rigid thin shell (50) such as to cause the device to be restrictive and bulky enough to be ineffective with urostomy and colostomy appliances.
Another example of a urostomy guard is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,206, issued in the name of Ederati et al. However, such a urostomy guard as disclosed in the Ederati et al. invention fails to provide a lightweight, watertight seal that is easily adaptable to fit a variety of people. Consequently, a need has been felt for providing such an apparatus.

Water resistant protection sealing apparatus for ileostomy or urostomy appliance


The present invention provides distributed communication services based on a presence technology platform. Presence messaging and communication techniques allow a variety of communication agents to cooperate with one another to provide distributed services. Essentially, the messaging between the agents is used to facilitate media sessions and update participating devices of state changes bearing on providing the services. In one embodiment, each of the participating devices is associated with a logic entity, referred to as a presentity, which subscribes to notification services for the other participating devices. When a state change occurs on any one of the participating devices, the corresponding presentity notifies the other devices of the state change. As such, each participating device knows the status of the other participating devices via the presentities and can systematically determine when and how to provide services based on its current state and the current state of the other participating devices.

A distributed services environment is one that provides services to end users via a number of discrete and collaborating processing points, often referred to as agents, that interact to provide the services. A common example of a distributed service is providing simultaneous ringing in response to an incoming call. When one telephone is answered, the others will stop ringing. In a more complex example, called a multiple appearance directory number (MADN) environment, a group of telephones act in concert to answer an incoming session, and may subsequently transfer possession of the session to one or more of the telephones in the group. Distributed services also allow the collaboration of media-specific devices where two or more devices having different media capabilities collaborate to control a single media session. A distributed services environment may provide group services, such as automatic call distribution (ACD), MADN services, hunt group behavior, trunk selection, multimedia conferencing, and the like. Call distribution services allow groups of agents to service calls from an incoming pool of queued calls in a fair or otherwise specified manner. Hunt group or trunk selection allows calls to be accepted when possible by a limited facility, if there are sufficient resources available. In general, distributed telecommunications services can be defined as either structured or amorphous, wherein structured services imply that all participants in a group are not equal, have different roles in the services, or have a hierarchical relationship in execution of the service. Amorphous services are those where the participants in the group are substantially equal and have substantially identical roles.
In a distributed services environment, the multiple agents involved in providing a particular service need to exchange information amongst each other as well as discover the identity and the ability of both users and agents to participate in a specific service. In general, agents need to be able to declare their existence on the network, discover other participants, such as users and agents, for a given service, and exchange state information between active and discovered agents. Unfortunately, there is no uniform, standards-based manner in which to achieve such interaction at an applications level. Accordingly, there is a need to provide distributed services using uniform, application-level protocols that permit diverse implementations of distributed service agents to create and provide distributed services.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Distributed services based on presence technology


A method and drying apparatus for drying a quantity of sludge. The drying apparatus is comprised essentially of a plurality of drying zones; a plurality of infrared emitters within each of the drying zones; a means for producing a flow of the sludge through the drying zones; a control means; means for determining and transmitting to the control means control input signals indicating the temperature of the infrared emitters within each of the drying zones; means for determining and transmitting to the control means control input signals indicating the temperature of the sludge within each of the drying zones; means for determining and transmitting to the control means control input signals indicating the wet bulb temperature of the air within each of the drying zones; means for determining and transmitting the temperature of the metal components of the dryer; means for determining and transmitting to the control means control input signals indicating an interruption and uninterruption of the sludge flow through the dryer; and processor means having a predetermined set of signal set points incorporated with the control means. The processor means is for receiving the control input signals from the drying apparatus, comparing the input signals to each other and to the predetermined set of signal set points and for transmitting control output signals based upon the control input signals and the predetermined set of signal set points to independently regulate the temperature of the heating elements within each of the drying zones to control the drying of the sludge.

In the field of municipal and industrial wastewater disposal it is necessary to treat the resulting wastewater sludge by heating to reduce the sludge volume by reducing its water content by evaporation and to reduce the sludge borne pathogens and its potential for vector attraction. Thermal drying of these sludges has emerged as one of the preferred treatment methods. Thermal drying typically constitutes passing sludge with a high water content through a dryer by means of a conveyor where heat may be applied to the sludge along the conveyor to increase the sludge temperature so as to reduce the water content to a desired level.
Thermal drying takes place by transferring heat energy to the sludge to elevate the sludge temperature and evaporate the water. The transfer of heat energy may be accomplished by either conduction, convection or radiation. Of the three, radiation produced by infrared heaters is the most energy efficient as it results in lower heat losses during the transfer and, when compared to forced air convection heating, a substantially smaller air emission control system.
One of the problems associated with thermal drying of organic sludges is that during drying, as the water content of the sludge decreases and the sludge solids content increases, and if energy is transferred to the sludge at the same rate, sludge combustion is likely to occur. This autogenous stage for sludge combustion typically takes place when the solids content of the sludge reaches 35 percent or above.
Sludge combustion during thermal drying is a widespread safety and operational problem which must be resolved. Generally, combustion is controlled by reducing the temperature applied to the sludge within the dryer. However, a reduction in dryer temperature results in a slower sludge drying time and a corresponding reduction in drying efficiency. A problem heretofore associated with sludge drying has been the need to balance the risk of sludge combustion during drying with the need to provide energy efficient and economical sludge drying.
Further, since sludge is typically dried in sludge dryers that are comprised of metal components, another problem associated with thermal drying is overheating the dryer's metal components. While dryers are typically designed to compensate for certain levels of heat expansion and for decreased metal strength due to elevated temperatures, if the design temperatures are exceeded by a substantial amount or for a prolonged period of time, excessive expansion and metal fatigue may cause permanent damage to the sludge dryer. Consequently, it is thought that it would be prudent to not only monitor and regulate the temperature of the sludge being dried to avoid sludge combustion but also to monitor and regulate the temperature of the metal components of the sludge dryer during the drying process.
Thermal drying systems sometimes utilize different drying zones where the temperature and humidity within each zone is controlled at predetermined levels to regulate the rate of moisture content reduction of the material being dried. This concept is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,827 to Manser et al for a pasta dryer which illustrates the concept of different "climate" zones at various stages of the drying process. Other materials dryers which incorporate different drying chambers or zones to control the drying process include those illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,887 to Avedian et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,224 to Vidmar et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,981,528 to Culp. Still another dryer for controlling the moisture content of crumb rubber by monitoring the rubber temperature and the dryer air temperature at different zones in the dryer as a means for regulating the zone air temperature was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,367,038 to Bishop. Sr.
None of these referenced dryers are directed toward a dryer and a dryer control apparatus that will monitor and regulate not only the temperature of the material being dried but also monitor and regulate the temperature of the dryer itself. Such a monitoring system would allow the material drying efficiency of the dryer to be maximized and at the same time reduce the risk of occurrence of combustion and damage to the dryer and its components due to temperature induced expansion and fatigue.

Apparatus for controlled drying of sludge


An apparatus for destroying a medical instrument includes a housing having a wall member with an aperture disposed therein. A first electrical connector member is mounted adjacent the wall member of the housing for engaging a portion of a medical instrument inserted through the aperture in the wall member. A second electrical connector member is disposed within the housing for engaging an end portion of a medical instrument inserted through the aperture in the wall member. The first and second electrical connector members are provided to be selectively connected to a supply of electric current for destroying the medical instrument by transmitting current from the first electrical connector member to the second electrical connector member and through a medical instrument for melting the same. The second electrical connector member may be spring biased toward the aperture and pivotally mounted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for destroying a medical instrument by means of transmitting electrical current through the instrument to melt the same.
2. Description of Background Art
Hithertofore, medical instruments, for example, needles, syringes, scalpels, sutures, etc., require disposal by means of inserting the medical instrument into an authorized container which is puncture-proof. Such a container is designed to ensure that the disposal of the medical instrument will not cause any accidental puncturing of an individual involved with the handling of the medical instrument.
Unfortunately, the disposal of medical instruments is a very serious task which requires a great deal of attention to detail to ensure that an individual does not accidentally prick himself/herself during the disposal of the medical instrument. No prior art device is known to the present inventors which enables an individual to actually destroy the medical instrument by means of transmitting electric current therethrough in order to melt the same.

Electrical apparatus for destroying a medical instrument


The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device having a body and a cover coupled to the body including a receptacle face structure which forms an interior region with at least one reflective surface. At least one light emitting device is disposed in the interior region which is configured to emit illumination into at least one neutral opening and a hot opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electrical wiring devices, and particularly to illuminated electrical wiring devices.
2. Technical Background
The typical electrical distribution system includes one or more branch electrical circuits connected to a panel breaker disposed at a convenient location in the structure. The breaker panel terminates the AC power service provided by the power utility and distributes AC power to the aforementioned branch electric circuits installed within the structure. The size of the breaker panel may vary depending on whether it is disposed within a residence, commercial building or some other such facility. Branch electric circuits typically include a series of "daisy-chained" electrical wiring devices, such as receptacle outlets, GFCIs, switches, etc.
The electrical wiring devices are provided in electrically non-conductive housings that include hot and neutral line terminals, configured to be connected to the electrical wiring coupled to the breaker panel, and hot and neutral load terminals. The non-conductive housing electrically insulates the line terminals from the load terminals. The load terminals are connected to downstream wiring that is configured to propagate AC power to one or more downstream electrical loads. The load terminals may also be referred to as "feed-through" terminals. The housing is configured for mounting in an outlet box disposed in the branch electric circuit, or, alternatively the housing itself is the final enclosure such as for self-contained wiring devices, multiple outlet strips (MOS), raceway, extension cords, or power adapters.
Certain types of faults are known to occur in branch electric circuits and electrical wiring systems. These faults represent serious safety issues that may result in fire, shock or electrocution if not addressed properly. Accordingly, each branch circuit typically employs one or more electric circuit protection devices. Protective devices employ a circuit interrupter disposed between the line terminals and the load terminals. The circuit interrupter provides power to the load terminals under normal conditions, but breaks electrical connectivity when the protective device detects a fault condition in the load circuit. There are several types of electric circuit protection devices including ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), ground-fault equipment protectors (GFEPs), arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs), transient voltage surge suppressors (TVSSs) and surge protective devices (SPDs). This list includes representative examples and is not meant to be exhaustive. Some devices include combinations of GFCIs, AFCIs and SPDs.
As is commonly known, receptacle outlet wiring devices include duplex receptacle outlets that accommodate electrical power plugs. This includes receptacle outlet wiring devices provided with a circuit protection device, a switch, a sensor or some other feature. The plugs, of course, are connected to a portable electrical load by an electrical cord and provide AC power thereto. Examples of such portable electrical loads include vacuum cleaners, hairdryers, lamps, televisions, electronic devices, appliances, etc.
One issue that is of great concern relates to the visibility of a GFCI or receptacle outlet. Electrical outlets are often disposed a little more than a foot from the floor in many installations making them difficult to locate when the face cover matches the wall surface. In other situations, items of furniture or other such things may partially obscure an outlet, again, making it difficult to locate. In another scenario, the amount of ambient lighting in a given area or room may be at a relatively low level.
Of course, one can think of any number of situations wherein it is desirable to locate and use an outlet when the level of illumination in a room is low. For example, a parent may wish to enter a children's bedroom to plug in a night light, a vaporizer or some other such device without having to turn the overhead light ON. In another example, one may wish to plug a portable electrical load into a wall socket in an area where the lighting is purposely kept at a low level, such as a photographic dark room, movie theatre, etc. In each of these instances a person must first find an available electrical outlet, that is, one that is not in use, in a suitable location. Once this is accomplished, the person must align the blades of the plug with the receptacle openings before inserting the blades into the openings. Of course, if the space is darkened, the process may not be performed without a good deal of fuss and bother.
In another scenario, an electrical fault condition may occur, tripping a circuit interrupter disposed in either a wall mounted GFCI device or in the breaker panel. Of course, the tripping action would result in the electrical outlets in the branch circuit being deenergized. As noted above, some fault conditions may result in fire. It may be beneficial to provide a visual indication that an outlet or a series of daisy-chained outlets were deenergized.
In one approach that has been considered, a neon light bulb has been disposed with the receptacle face to provide illumination. One drawback to this approach relates to the amount and quality of the illumination provided at the receptacle face. An intensely bright image of the energized neon light, that is, a so-called "hot spot," is visible on the exterior surface of the receptacle face. One unintended consequence of this arrangement is that it makes the receptacle openings difficult to find because they are masked by the hot spot. Of course, hot spots are not aesthetically pleasing and tend to annoy after awhile.
What is needed is an aesthetically pleasing illuminated receptacle outlet that may be easily located within a darkened room or area. What is also needed is a wiring device configured to direct illumination into a set of receptacle openings without generating a hot spot, allowing the user to align the plug blades with the receptacle openings without any additional ambient lighting. What is further needed is an illuminated wiring device that indicates, at a glance, whether or not the device is energized or deenergized.


Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media may be configured for transferring of state data of a network connection established by a first device. In an example, a front end device of a cache cluster may establish a network connection with a client device and generate state data associated with the network connection. The front end device may receive a content request from the client device via the network connection and select one of a plurality of back end devices to provide the content item.

A typical Content Distribution Network (CDN) attempts to properly route client requests for content to a caching node that can provide the requested content. Domain Name Systems (DNS) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) are two known mechanisms for routing client requests. A DNS routes requests to a closest cluster of cache nodes or a least loaded caching node for providing the requested content. DNS, however, does not determine the type of content being requested, and hence the CDN cannot guarantee a client request is routed to a caching node having the requested content. This results in delays as a request may have to be re-routed to another caching node that has the requested content.
HTTP is another mechanism for handling client requests. Using HTTP, a client sends an HTTP request identifying the requested content to a content router. The content router then determines which cache node is to service the HTTP request and returns an HTTP redirect which tells the client to re-send the content request to another HTTP server. HTTP therefore uses redirects to identify a more precise route as compared DNS. HTTP redirects, however, add delay. Additionally, for long lived services like fragmented video, once the client has been redirected, if a cache node providing the content subsequently fails or the route to the cache node is disrupted, there is no opportunity to redirect the client to another cache node for uninterrupted service.
Current solutions, therefore, are inefficient and can be improved.


In an infusion apparatus for supplying a medicine into the body of a patient which infusion apparatus comprises a first element including a cannula and a second element including an injection needle which is placed in sealing communication with the cannula when the first and second elements are joined, the second element includes a circular groove and the first element includes locking members which are slidably movable back and forth into, and out of, the groove for selectively engaging said second element to lock it when inserted into the first element.

The invention resides in an infusion apparatus for administering a medicine to the body of a human or an animal, comprising at least a first element provided with a cannula for insertion into, and installation in, the body, and a second element including a hollow injection needle which is connected to a hose for the supply of the medicine, wherein the first and the second element can be releasably joined by way of a locking element so that the medicine can be supplied from the hose through the needle into the cannula.
Such injection equipment is known for example from EP-B 0 688 232. Many attemptsxe2x80x94including the arrangement disclosed in the referencexe2x80x94have been made which aimed at facilitating the handling of such equipment not only for the medical personnel such as the physicians, the nurses and other caregivers but also for the patient that is the person who handles such infusion equipment during self-treatment. Persons suffering from diabetes for example have to administer their medicines regularly by themselves either by injection of the medication by conventional injection syringes or by way of injection apparatus of the type with which the present invention is concerned.
It is pointed out that, with the type of infusion apparatus with which the present invention is concerned, basically any medicine can be introduced into the body of a human or an animal that is, the infusion apparatus is not limited to the administration of insulin.
Infusion apparatus of the type with which the present invention is concerned have been found to be particularly suitable for persons who have to be treated with a particular medicine regularly in certain time intervals since continuous new puncturing of the skin and the veins or arteries can be avoided in this way. In this way, pain and often hematoma-causing punctures of injection needles are limited to a minimum. Furthermore, people who need to use injection apparatus of the type with which the present invention is concerned are generally already quite weak as a result of the condition requiring the administration of the medicine. If then, in addition to such physical weakness, the person develops a mental repugnance and as a result, a certain insecurity, the use of infusion apparatus known in the art may result in inappropriate handling or in faulty operation. For example, in prior art infusion apparatus a connection between the first and second elements can only be established when the two elements are oriented in a predetermined way with respect to each otherxe2x80x94depending on the particular design.
Relative angular displacement of the first and second elements for example by 180xc2x0 that is, relative angular positions other than that for which the apparatus is designed will not permit a jointure of the elements. And even if the angular orientations of the two elements is correct a connection can still not be established if the two elements are slightly displaced laterally since, in addition to the locking elements, there are provided guide elements which are disposed in the same plane and which must be properly oriented so as to fit into the guide openings of the other element in order to permit joining and interlocking of the two elements.
An ill person, particularly at an advanced age, is generally not in a position to orient the two elements properly angularly and, at the same time, laterally. Furthermore, the two elements must generally be interconnected with one hand, since the cannula of the infusion apparatus is inserted for example in the vein of the other arm so that the hand of this arm is not available for the connecting procedure.
It is finally to be note that the prior art infusion apparatus as disclosed in the cited EP patent includes two tongue-like locking elements and two pin-like guide elements, and further, locking element guide structures and two openings for receiving the guide pins which all have to be fitted to one another. Their manufacture requires high precision tools which themselves are complicated and expensive. Furthermore, as a result, also the manufacture of the known infusion apparatus requires highest precision so that proper fit of the guide and locking structures is ensured. This implies of course that also the needle in the second element is properly axially oriented and inserted into the opening of the cannula in the first element when the two elements are interconnected. Consequently, not only the manufacturing tools for making the known infusion apparatus are expensive but also the process of manufacturing the infusion apparatus is expensive and difficult since a continuous precise orientation of all the parts to be engaged with one another is to be ensured.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an infusion apparatus with which an inexperienced user as well is a weak user can insert, in a simple manner, the cannula into the body and can establish the connection with the infusion apparatus for the introduction of the medicine into the body by way of the two interconnected elements. It should not be necessary to accurately orient the two elements to be interconnected in an accurate rotational position with respect to each other and the two element should be easy to be inter-locked and to be disconnected. Furthermore, the needle of an element should be automatically oriented precisely with respect to the insert opening of the other element. Also, the infusion apparatus should be easy and inexpensive to manufacture so that they are affordable and can be used in large numbers.
In an infusion apparatus or supplying a medicine into the body of a patient which infusion apparatus comprises a first element including a cannula and a second element including an injection needle which is placed in sealing communication with the cannula when the first and second elements are joined, the second element includes a circular groove and the first element includes locking members which are slidably movable back and forth into and out of the groove for selectively engaging the second element to lock it when inserted into the first element.
The apparatus according to the invention has the advantage that the second element can easily be inserted into the first element without the need of maintaining proper rotational relative orientation of the two elements. Actually, the second element only needs to be inserted into a single opening in the first element in a way as it is known from coaxial plugs in the electric or electronic field. No proper rotational orientation must be observed. If the two elements are not axially properly oriented they can clearly not be joined so that a faulty interconnection is not even tried. Unlike the prior art arrangement, the apparatus according to the invention has no guide pins or locking elements, which have to be properly joined for interconnecting the two elements. No locking element needs to be actuated when the two elements are joined and interlocked. For the disconnection the locking element only needs to be disengaged using the thumb and forefinger of one hand. With the simple locking and unlocking mechanism and the precise automatic orientation of the needle relative to the opening of the cannula, the apparatus is still of simple design, whereby also the tooling expenses for the manufacture of such infusion apparatus are drastically reduced so that the apparatus can be manufactured in large number at low costs.
In order to further facilitate the insertion of the second element into the insertion opening formed in the first element, the second element is essentially circular in cross-section and the axis thereof, that is the center-point of the circle, coincides with the needle shaft.
Another feature which facilitates insertion of the second element into the insertion opening in the first element is the provision of an inclined circumferentially extending front end area of the section of the second element to be inserted into the first element. In this way, the insertion of the second element into the insertion opening of the first element is facilitated even when the two elements are not precisely aligned with respect to each other since the second element is automatically moved into proper alignment during the insertion procedure. The inclined circumferential front area of the first element furthermore opens the clamping structure upon insertion of the second element into the insertion opening of the first element. Also, the insertion opening of the first element may be inclined at its open end so that it has a funnel-like shape.
The clamping structure is preferably formed by two separate clamping arms, which are essentially parallel to each other but are resiliently movable away from, and toward, each other. When they are moved toward each other the insertion opening of the first element is unlocked so that the second element can be inserted into the insertion opening of the first element up to a predetermined end position. Upon movement of the clamping arms away from each other the second element is locked to the first element when it is in its predetermined end position.
Preferably, the locking arm include a circle segment area with a radius corresponding to the radius of annular groove formed in the second element by which the locking arms enter the groove for locking the first element to the second element. There are preferably two opposite locking arms and the circle segment spans preferably about a quarter of a circle. With the locking arms engaged in the grooves, the two elements are held firmly engaged with each other.
In order to ensure in a simple manner that the two locking arms forming the locking structure move out of the insert opening of the first element for the insertion of the second element or that they move to an unlocking position when the second element is inserted but is to be released, each locking arm includes an inclined area and the guide slot in the first element is oppositely inclined. For unlocking the two elements from each other the inclined areas of the locking arms slide along the inclined areas of the first element so that the locking arms are elastically moved apart until they are removed from the groove. The return force generated by the elastic deformation of the locking arms is sufficiently large so that the locking arms return to a locking position when the locking structure is released.
In another embodiment of the infusion apparatus, the guide structure for the locking arms extends essentially perpendicularly to the axis of the insertion opening for the second element which insertion opening is essentially circular in cross-section.
The infusion apparatus is equally suitable for use by right-handed and left-handed persons since the two locking arms forming the locking structure are essentially identical in design and are arranged symmetrically to the axis with respect to which they are movable. Also, the cannula is arranged in axial symmetry with this axis. Furthermore, movement of the locking arms for locking and unlocking of the second element occurs by movement along this axis no matter whether the two locking arms are actuated by the fingers of the right or the left hand.
In order to ensure in a simple manner that the path of movement of the locking arms with in the guide slot of the first element is limited the locking arms are preferably provided with engagement projections adapted to reach behind engagement edges, which are formed in the area of the guide structure that is the guide slot of the first element. Consequently, no other measures are needed to retain the locking arms in the guide slots once the locking arms have reached, during assembly, a position in which the engagement projections are disposed behind the engagement edges in the guide slots.
The end of the locking member may be provided with an actuating structure such as an enlarged area, which extends from the body of the first element. The actuating structure facili tates the use of the infusion apparatus for the user. It is advantageous if also the actuating structure is guided in the first element. In this way, the guided support of the whole locking member in the first element is improved.
In order to prevent a slipping of the fingers from the actuating structure the surface as area of the engagement structure, which his grasped by the user, is preferably provided with gripping means such as grooves, furrows or a rough coating.
For the same reason, it is advantageous if the side of the first element opposite the actuating structure is provided at least partially with grip-improving means so that the structure can be safely grasped with a thumb and a finger.
In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second element includes at its free end an essentially axial recess into which the needle projects such that its tip does not extend beyond the free end of the second element. In this way, it is ensured that, upon insertion of the second element into the insertion opening of the first element, the user will not contact the needle so that contamination of the needle is avoided and the free end of the needle is not damaged. As a result, a continuous precise axial alignment of the needle with the opening in the cannula in the first element is maintained.
In order to provide for a good mechanical stability between the two elements when they are interconnected, the infusion apparatus is so designed that the opening area of the cannula extends at least partially into the recess of the second element when the two elements are interconnected. In this way, it is ensured that any deformation of the two elements does not affect the axial alignment between the tip of the needle and the opening area of the cannula.
In order to seal the needle in the opening of the cannula when the two elements are interconnected, the inner diameter of the cannula opening in the first element may be adapted in size to the outer diameter of the needle so that the needle is tightly and sealingly received in the cannula. This however would require highest precision in the manufacture of the first and also of the second elements since such tightly fitting engagement could be achieved only if the axis of the tubular cannula would be precisely aligned with the needle. It is therefore considered to be advantage us for achieving a sealing connection between the cannula and the needle if the cannula opening is covered by a closure element which is pierced during insertion of the needle into the opening area of the cannula that is when the second element is inserted into the insertion opening of the first element, that is when the two elements are properly positioned relative to each other and interlocked.
In order to ensure that, upon disconnection of the two elements and removal of the second element from the first element from the insertion opening, the exposed opening of the cannula is not contaminated, the closure element consists preferably of an elastomer or plastomer material. Such a material can easily be pierced by the needle and, upon removal of the needle, the passage pierced into the closure element is automatically closed because of the elastic or plastic properties of the material of which the closure element consists.
The essential elements of the infusion apparatus may be made of plastic. Any plastic material may be used which is neutral that is which is compatible with human or animal tissue. Preferably, the plastic material can be injection molded so that the injection apparatus can be manufactured by injection molding machines. A suitable plastic material is for example polycarbonate.
Since the locking elements are elastically deformed in their unlocking positions, the must be made of an elastically deformable material, preferably of polyacetate, which is a strong material with good elastic deformation characteristics.
In principle the cannula can be mounted in, that is, firmly connected with, the first element during the injection molding of the first element. It has been found to be advantageous to surround the cannula at its end in the first element with a sleeve element by way of which the cannula is received in a recess formed in one end of the insertion opening for the second element. In this way, the first element can be manufactured independently of the cannula. The cannula can then be mounted together with the sleeve element into the recess of the first element for connections with the first element. This arrangement is also advantageous because it facilitates an exchange, and also cleaning, of the cannula.
In order to omit the need for further mounting means for the cannula in the first element, it is advantageous if the opening in the first element forms a suitable reception, preferably a compression mount for the sleeve element.
It is further advantageous to arrange the closure element, through which the needle extends when the second element is inserted into the first element and which forms a dust and micro-organism barrier, within the sleeve element. In this way, the closure element is replaced with each exchange of the cannula. Finally, a connecting element may be disposed in front of the sleeve element by way of which the cannula is connected to the sleeve element. The connecting element may be disposed in the sleeve element in addition to the closure element and the cannula is also supported in the sleeve element by way of a connecting element.
In order to facilitate the insertion of the cannula into the body, the second element is provided in a second embodiment of the invention with a needle of such length that its tip projects from the cannula. After the cannula has been inserted into the body with the needle disposed in the cannula, the second element with the long needle is removed and another second element with a hollow needle as first described is inserted and locked in position in the first element for the administration of a medicine.
The infusion apparatus can be sterilized in a disassembled state or in an assembled state. Sterilization can be achieved for example by ionizing irradiation, for example, by xcex2 irradiation. However, it is also possible to sterilize the apparatus by means of an oxidizing gas such as ethylene gas. In order to ensure that also the interior of the first element is contacted by the oxidizing gas when the two elements are joined, the long needle may be hollow like an infusion needle and provided with an opening leading to the area adjacent the cannula opening in the first element when the first and second elements are joined. In this way, gas can be conducted from the needle tip to the hollow space within the first element and sterilize that area and then again be discharge through the annular space between the needle and the cannula.
Below, the invention will be described in greater detail on the basis of the accompanying drawings.

Infusion apparatus for administering a medicine


Wireless networks that use orthogonal frequency division multiplexing require a receiving device to accurately acquire and maintain synchronization with a transmitting device with respect to carrier and sampling frequency for coherent demodulation. Described herein are techniques for enabling such synchronization using pilot signals with reduced transmission overhead.

Wireless networking based on the Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 standards is one of the most widely adopted wireless technologies. An 802.11 network is mostly deployed based on a star topology with two types of wireless devices: clients and access points (APs). Access points (APs) provide an infrastructure function by communicating directly with wireless client devices and linking them to other networks such as the internet. This application is applicable to point to point (P2P) topology as well. However, without loss of generality, it is explained for a star topology. WiFi systems typically employ OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) as the physical layer. OFDM requires a receiving device to accurately acquire and maintain synchronization with the transmitting device with respect to carrier and sampling frequency for coherent demodulation. Described herein are techniques for enabling such synchronization with reduced transmission overhead.

Method for improving spectral efficiency in Wi-Fi OFDM systems


Computer graphics may be detected in digital images by extracting a first set of features from an input digital image, extracting a second set of features from a prediction-error image derived from the input digital image, and applying a classification algorithm to the first set of features and the second set of features to determine if the combined sets of features indicate that the input digital image corresponds to computer graphics.

For the purposes of this application, "computer graphics" will be used to refer to creating pictures via computer technology, also sometimes referred to as "rendering." With the ongoing development of rendering technology, computer-generated graphic images not only have come to appear more realistic in basic features, but they have also come to be more realistic in terms of such features as color, lighting/shadowing, etc. As a result, it has become more difficult over the years to distinguish image forgery. Therefore, detecting computer graphics in images has become a significant issue in such areas as criminal investigation, journalism, and intelligence.

Identifying computer graphics from digital photographs


The disclosure herein describes the combination of a strap and of a strap spreader for use in combination with goggles wherein the spreader is defined by a surface that fits the contour of the back of a wearer's head. The body includes points of attachment vertically distanced from one another on opposite sides of the body to spread the strap portions from one another at the back of the head. One application of such combination is its use by swimmers.

Sport goggles, and in particular goggles used by swimmers, are provided with straps which are attached to opposite sides of the goggles and which define a pair of band portions that extend over the back of the wearer's head. One of the most annoying problems encountered by swimmers is that the straps tend to slide down the head, seriously destabilizing the goggles and causing discomfort. Further, with swimming goggles, a leak may result, causing swimmers to stop, rinse and reinstall the goggles.

Combination of a strap and of a strap spreader


A computer implemented method for detecting an attempt to spoof and facial recognitions apparatus determines for a plurality of spatially separated regions of a surface, a respective measure of at least one vital sign. A determination is made from the respective measures of at least one vital sign, homogeneity information associated with the respective measures, the homogeneity information is used to determine if said spatially separate regions of said surface are living tissue.

In an effort to increase security, facial recognition is being used more and more in various types of applications. The expected added value of facial recognition is the increased prevention of counterfeiting.
For example, cameras are frequently used in security systems such as surveillance equipment and more and more they are used to photograph or film people for identification and logging purposes as they pass through check-points such as passport controls or entries to secure areas.
Current face-recognition systems have difficulty in detecting where a subject is a photograph of another person or where a subject is wearing a mask. The act of a subject generating false positive from a face recognition system in this manner is known as "spoofing".
Spoofing is problem enough for situations where there is human intervention and the camera is just for logging purposes because the mask will often be detected by the security personnel and the only error will be in the log files. Showing a printed image will not work in this situation. That said, sometimes people wearing masks could slip through completely undetected. In a situation where access were to be granted automatically by a face recognition system, or where the security person is on the other side of the camera, this is a problem as no-one is there to see the person in the flesh and so artificial representations of a human face can work. For example, a wearable active display like a computer tablet may be used.
Therefore it is desirable to reduce the reliance on the presence of security personnel and provide a way of detecting the spoofing attempt using the camera system itself.
There may also be less critical situations where it remains desirable to reduce the opportunity for fooling a camera system by the use of a mask.

Method and apparatus for face detection/recognition systems