A method for continuous casting of a slab comprises feeding molten steel into a mold through exit ports of an immersion nozzle and controlling a stream of the molten steel by means of an electromagnetic stirrer having a linearly shifting magnetic field. The direction of the linearly shifting magnetic field is toward the immersion nozzle, which is positioned at the center of the mold from a pair of narrow sides of the mold. A first frequency control step controls a frequency of a wave of the shifting magnetic field to be higher than a threshold frequency, wherein the wave has a period equal to the time during which the stream of the molten steel poured from the immersion nozzle passes through an area to which the linearly shifting magnetic field is introduced, said area having an upper limit and a lower limit. A second control step controls the frequency of the wave of the linearly shifting magnetic field to be low enough such that the magnetic fluxes of the linearly shifting magnetic field are of a density high enough to apply a braking force to the molten steel.

1. Field of the Industrial Application
The present invention relates to a method for continuous casting of a steel slab, and more particularly to a method for continuous casting of a slab wherein a wave of a molten steel surface is depressed by introducing an electro magnetic force to the molten steel in a mold.
2. Description of the Related Art
Molten steel is usually poured from a tundish into a mold through an immersion nozzle to prevent the molten steel from being oxidized. The immersion nozzle prevents the molten steel from being exposed to the air. The immersion nozzle for continuous casting of a slab has a pair of exit ports having openings at its lower end. Molten steel is poured into a mold through the exit ports of the immersion nozzle positioned at the center of the mold toward the circumference inside the mold.
It has been an object in recent years in the field of continuous casting of steel to increase casting speed, namely, the speed of pouring molten steel into a mold for increasing a productivity of a continuous casting machine. However, when the casting speed is increased to more than 1.5 m/min, molten steel in the mold is violently disturbed. Various waves of the molten steel of wavelengths from several meters down to several centimeters are generated on the surface of the molten steel, with a portion of the immersion nozzle being fulcrum, whereby the wave height of the molten steel becomes large. Mold powder is also entangled in the molten steel by such a wave of the molten steel surface. The mold powder entangled in the molten steel and non-metallic inclusions produced during a refining process are prevented from rising up to the surface or the molten steel by the violent disturbance of the molten steel in the mold. As a result, those inclusions are hard to remove from the molten steel in the mold. The inclusions entangled in a slab will appear as surface defects and inner defects of a product that has passed through a final processing. Those surface defects and inner defects of a product greatly the lower quality of the product.
As a prior art to prevent such inclusions from being entangled in a slab, a method for electromagnetically stirring molten steel in a mold, which is disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 10305/89, can be pointed out. In the prior art, an electromagnetic stirrer is placed near the meniscus on a wide side of a mold in a continuous casting apparatus. An electromagnetic inducing force is applied to the molten steel in such a direction so as to force back the molten steel along a direction of a width of the mold from a narrow side of the mold toward the immersion nozzle by means of the electromagnetic stirrer. A flow speed of the molten steel poured into the mold from the immersion nozzle is decreased. Owing to the decrease of the flow speed, the wave motion of the molten steel surface in the mold is decreased and a disturbance of the molten steel therein is depressed.
The magnetic field generator used in the prior art is of a linearly shifting magnetic field type. Therefore, an appropriate value and a frequency of electric current should be determined. The frequency has been determined as follows:
The Lorentz force acting on a poured stream of the molten steel should be enhanced to elevate the damping ratio of the flow speed of the poured molten steel. To enhance the Lorentz force, a relative speed of the poured stream of molten steel to a magnetic flux from the narrow side of the mold toward the immersion nozzle should be increased. Accordingly, a shifting speed of the magnetic flux, that is, a frequency of the magnetic flux should be increased. However, when the frequency of the magnetic flux is increased, the magnetic permeability of stainless steel and mold copper plate composing a frame of the mold is lowered, and the magnetic permability of the molten steel is also lowered. As a result, the density of the magnetic flux acting effectively on the poured stream of the molten steel from the immersion nozzle is decreased. A frequency of 0.5 Hz has customarily been used as the appropriate frequency satisfying a condition of both Lorentz force and the magnetic permeability.
FIG. 1 is a graphical representation showing the magnitude of a wave of a molten steel surface in a mold, when the value of electric current in a magnetic field generator is varied under the condition of electric current frequency of 0.5 Hz in the magnetic field generator. The direction of shift of a magnetic field is the direction from the narrow side of the mold toward the immersion nozzle. The magnitude of the wave is represented with an average value of the amplitude of wave of a the molten steel surface, which are obtained by measuring the amplitude of the wave of the molten steel for ten minutes, at positions 40 mm away from the narrow side of the mold and 40 mm away from the wide side of the mold. As shown in FIG. 2, the wave motions are substantially composed of a short period wave 30 having a period of about 1 to 2 seconds and a long period wave 31 having a period of about 10 to 15 seconds. The amplitude of the wave of the molten steel is a wave height difference 32 between two wave heights. One is a wave height showing the maximum height of the short period wave at a moment closest to a moment when the long period wave shows the maximum height, and the other is a height of wave showing the minimum height of the short period wave at a moment when the long period wave shows the minimum height. Lines A, B, C and D in FIG. 1 were carried out under the following conditions.
In line A, a mold had a width of 850 mm. An immersion nozzle had square openings each directed downwardly at 35.degree. relative to a horizontal line. A casting speed of molten steel was 1.6 m/min. In line B, a mold had a width of 1050 mm. An immersion nozzle had square openings each directed downwardly at 35.degree. relative to a horizontal line. A casting speed of molten steel was 1.8 m/min. In line C, a mold had a width of 1250 mm. An immersion nozzle had square openings each directed downwardly at 45.degree. relative to a horizontal line. A casting speed of molten steel was 2.3 m/min. In line D, a mold had a width of 1350 mm. An immersion nozzle had square openings each directed downwardly at 45.degree. relative to a horizontal line.
A casting speed of molten steel was 2.0 m/min. In any of the cases of the lines A, B, C and D, a frequency in a magnetic field generator was 0.5 Hz.
Under the conditions of A and B that the casting speed of molten steel is comparatively small and the width of the mold is small, as electric current in the magnetic field generator is increased, the effect of depressing the wave of the molten steel surface increases. But, under the conditions of C and D that the casting speed of molten steel is comparatively large and the width of the mold is large, when electric current in the magnetic field generator is excessively increased, the effect of depressing the wave of the molten steel decreases, which promotes the increase of the wave motions, contrary the goals of the technique.


An integrated circuit device such as a neural network accelerator can be programmed to select a numerical value based on a multinomial distribution. In various examples, the integrated circuit device can include an execution engine that includes multiple separate execution units. The multiple execution units can operate in parallel on different streams of data. For example, to make a selection based on a multinomial distribution, the execution units can be configured to perform cumulative sums on sets of numerical values, where the numerical values represent probabilities. In this example, to then obtain cumulative sums across the sets of numerical values, the largest values from the sets can be accumulated, and then added, in parallel to the sets. The resulting cumulative sum across all the numerical values can then be used to randomly select a specific index, which can provide a particular numerical value as the selected value.

A multinomial distribution is the probability distribution of the outcomes from a multinomial experiment. A multinomial experiment is a statistical experiment in which there are a number of independent trials and each trial has a discrete number of possible outcomes. On any given trial, the probability that a particular outcome will occur is constant. An example of such an experiment is the tossing of two dice three times: the number of trials is three, each trial can result in a discrete number of outcomes (a sum between two and twelve, inclusive), and the probability of any outcome is constant, in that the outcome does not change from one toss to the next.
Multinomial distributions occur in computing systems when a computation performed by a computing device outputs a set of probabilities. In these situations, the computing device may be configured to randomly select one of the probabilities, where the value of each probability determines how frequently the probability will be picked. An example of a computation that outputs a set of probabilities is the softmax function. The softmax function takes as input a vector of K real numbers and normalizes the vector into a probability distribution including K probabilities. Softmax is often used in neural networks, for example to map the non-normalized output of a neural network to a probability distribution over predicted output classes.
A multinomial distribution selection process may be used in a computation to make the computation more resilient to errors. For example, a neural network can generate a set of probabilities when determining a next choice to make. In this example, when the neural network always chooses the highest-ranked choice, and this choice is wrong, then the neural network is consistently wrong. If the neural network instead makes a random choice, with the randomness being biased according to the rankings provided by the probabilities, then neural network may be able to self-correct as the computation progresses.

Multinomial distribution on an integrated circuit


System for providing a secure file service includes an MLS file service module (300) comprised of a cryptographic processor (302). The MLS file service module also includes an MLS file system (301) hosted by the cryptographic processor. A secure user processor (402) includes programming and communications hardware for requesting at least one classified file from the MLS file service module. The cryptographic processor includes cryptographic hardware and software to decrypt the classified file. The cryptographic processor is also performs an integrity check on the classified file. Once the file is decrypted and its integrity checked by the cryptographic processor, the MLS file service module serves the classified file to the secure user processor in decrypted form. If the classified file is an executable file, the method also includes selectively enabling a write function for program memory of the secure user processor. This write function is disabled immediately after the classified executable file has been loaded into the program memory to guard against self modifying programs.

1. Statement of the Technical Field
The inventive arrangements relate to electronic devices for storing and accessing sensitive/classified data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electronic computers have the ability to store and process data. Computers typically include some kind of microprocessor with a commercially available operating system such as Linux, Unix, or Microsoft Windows. Many computers also have displays and keyboards for the human/machine interface. The foregoing capabilities make these devices highly useful for a various business and personal applications.
Currently, there exist a wide variety of computing devices with conventional operating systems and architectures. These commercially available computers with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) operating systems and COTS application programs generally satisfy the processing and data storage requirements of most users. For example, they include applications for word processing, data storage, spreadsheets, time management, and contact management. These applications generally function quite well and have interfaces that are familiar to many users.
Some commercially available computing devices and/or software applications incorporate various security measures in an effort to protect data which is stored or processed using the device. For example, encryption technology and password protection features are known in the art. Still, this level of security can be inadequate for managing information that is of a Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret nature, particularly when such information relates to matters of national security. For example, COTS operating systems and applications may not be sufficiently trustworthy for handling this type of information. Such programs can be susceptible to being compromised by various means including hacker attacks, viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and a wide variety of other means that are known to those skilled in the art.
Finally, notwithstanding the security limitations of COTS operating systems and applications, the basic architecture and interface systems of many commercial computing devices may leave these devices vulnerable to intrusion. For example, COTS devices do not employ trusted microprocessors, do not employ physical separation of classified and unclassified data processing, nor do they employ physical tamper detection and subsequent memory zeroization. Consequently, transport or processing of classified data using a commercial computer is not generally permitted.
Trusted operating systems and applications are generally designed to more rigorously address the problem of computer security. Trusted operating systems undergo evaluation of their overall design, verification of the integrity and reliability of their source code, and systematic, independent penetration evaluation. In contrast, non-trusted operating systems are generally not designed to an equally high level with regard to security precautions.
Single-level secure (SLS) is a class of systems that contain information with a single sensitivity (classification). SLS systems permit access by a user to data at a single sensitivity level without compromising data. Thus, SLS data file systems allow information at a single classification to be stored in an information system. The level of access can be limited by the current user security classification sign-on level and a security classification assigned to the secure user processor.
Multi-level secure (MLS) is a class of systems that contain information with different sensitivities (classifications). MLS systems permit simultaneous access by a user to data at multiple classification levels without compromising security. Thus, MLS data file systems allow information with different classifications to be stored in an information system. These systems are also designed to provide a user with the ability to process information in the same system. Significantly, however, these systems prevent a user from accessing information for which he is not cleared, does not have proper authorization, or does not have a need-to-know.
Users of non-trusted COTS operating systems, as may be found in commercial computers, are not generally allowed access to classified data found in secure file systems. Computers that utilize a trusted operating system (OS) which includes support for an SLS or MLS file system have been developed that are specifically designed to allow for storage of classified data. However, these devices are not generally designed to physically secure the data and zeroize the data upon tamper detection. Nor are they designed to be embedded as a secure component of a host computer system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Computer architecture for an electronic device providing SLS access to MLS file system with trusted loading and protection of program execution memory


A honeycomb body, in particular a catalyst carrier body, for catalytic conversion of exhaust gases in an exhaust gas system, especially an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine, preferably an Otto engine, includes a central channel and adjacent discs defining a multiplicity of curved outer channels bounded by the discs. The outer channels extend outwards from the central channel and have one end opening into the central channel. At least some of the disks have a macrostructure forming a lateral boundary of the outer channels. An apparatus for catalytic conversion of exhaust gases includes a housing having an exhaust inlet opening and an exhaust outlet opening, and the honeycomb body disposed in the housing. An additional microstructure in some or all of the disks can increase the effectiveness of the catalytic conversion.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a honeycomb body, in particular a catalyst carrier body, for catalytic conversion of exhaust gases in an exhaust system, especially an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, preferably an Otto engine, having a multiplicity of channels, each opening at one end into a central channel. The invention also relates to an apparatus for catalytic conversion of exhaust gases.
Such honeycomb bodies with catalytically active coatings are also known as radial catalytic converters. Such a device is described in an article in the journal "VDI-Nachrichten" News of the Association of German Engineers!, No. 38, Sep. 24, 1993, page 11, entitled "Kat auf dem Weg zu High-Tech" Catalytic Converters on the Way to High-Tech!.

Diskwise-constructed honeycomb body, in particular catalyst carrier body and apparatus for catalytic conversion of exhaust gases

Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH


A sleep sensing system comprising a sensor to obtain real-time information about a user, a sleep state logic to determine the user's current sleep state based on the real-time information. The system further comprising a sleep stage selector to select an optimal next sleep state for the user, and a sound output system to output sounds to guide the user from the current sleep state to the optimal next sleep state.

Numerous types of white noise, nature noise, or music devices are available which are sold to help users sleep better. In general, these devices provide music or other sounds on a timer, helping the user fall asleep with the sounds. The sound can be used to block out background sounds. In some systems, the selected sounds are calming, such as rain or waves.


This invention relates to novel processes comprising a protective polymer layer in the fabrication of electronic devices using thick film pastes. The protective polymer layer is fabricated from materials which are insoluble after irradiation in the ester-type solvents contained in the thick film paste. By appropriate selection of protective film polymers, the protective film can be compatible with the thick film paste.

The present invention relates to a process for constructing electronic devices wherein a substrate is coated with a conducting layer that is further coated with a thick film paste. The thick film paste may contain materials such as glass frit, various conductors, photo-imageable polymers and, usually a solvent. In the fabrication of these devices photo-definable protective layers may be used to isolate photoimageable thick film deposits from other elements of these electronic devices such as conductive layers. A problem arises in some of these devices in that the solvent used in the thick film pastes, usually an ester or ether type solvent, is frequently aggressive to the polymer protective layer and may lead to short circuits. This can lead to problems on the surface of the substrate such as pealing or dissolution of the of the protective layer from the substrate when that layer is exposed to the thick film paste.
Wang et al in the Proceedings of the SPIE—The International Society for Optical Engineering (1999) vol. 3906, p. 619-24 describe the electrical characterization of polymer thick film resistors.
Fukuda et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,638) describes a thick film paste for use in the formation of circuit components.
Ezaki (U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,927) reports a thick film hybrid circuit board device formed by lamination.
Kazunori et al (JP 2001155626 A) provide a method for producing a display substrate.
Takehiro and Shigeo (JP10340666 A) describe a field emission element.
Kazunori and Shinsuke ((JP 2001111217 A) provide a method of forming laminated wiring.
The present invention addresses the problem of incompatability of the thick film paste and the protective layers on the substrate by fabricating a protective layer from positive photo-imageable materials which do not degrade or dissolve upon contact with the high boiling ester-type or ether-type solvents found in the photo-imageable thick film pastes.

Protective layers compatible with thick film pastes


An implement for drying a surface and for simultaneously recovering a liquid from the surface includes a drying blade of flexible material secured to a hand-held support, the drying blade having a linear leading edge for scraping the surface and for drying the surface by establishing a bead of the liquid behind the leading edge on an inside face of the drying blade, and a substrate having a face fixed to a face of the drying blade adjacent the linear leading edge and which collects the bead of liquid established behind the linear leading edge. This substrate constitutes a drying and liquid recovery head.

The invention concerns an implement designed to dry and to recover a cleaning liquid present on a surface, such as a glazed surface, for example, or even a floor, said liquid is a cleaning product and/or condensed vapor containing dirt previously or simultaneously dissolved and dispersed. It comprises a flexible blade of a type known in itself for drying the liquid, as found on many cleaning implements, squeegees and bladed cleaning devices, on which is mounted a capillary substrate for recovering the liquid. The thin and flexible blade has a linear leading edge adapted to scrape the smooth surface and co-operates with the substrate for collecting the bead of liquid that forms under the inside face of the blade as it moves over the surface. Said recovery and drying system can be used on any type of squeegee and surface cleaning device.
In the case of cleaning vertical glazed surfaces, with a conventional single squeegee having a flexible blade, as the squeegee is moved said blade scrapes the liquid film and accumulates along its leading edge a bead of liquid including dirt previously taken up into suspension by mechanical and detergent action (for example with a sponge and a detergent). This bead of liquid remains under the blade for as long as the surface tension forces compensate the weight of the bead. If this equilibrium is broken, in particular on the arrival of the continuous flow produced by the forward movement of the blade, the bead grows and breaks up, and any runs that are not intercepted flow over the frame and then over the wall and floor.
The liquid capture device must simultaneously solve the problems of engorgement by the inflow of dirty liquid, preserving the equilibrium of the bead of liquid moving with the drying blade, preventing the bead from running, preventing runs on the surface to be cleaned, and preventing smearing by the edges of the blade. It is obvious that the dirt must previously have been entirely taken up in suspension and/or dispersed in the liquid to be dried, whether by manual mechanical action or by spraying vapor and detergent product, as the drying implement is not designed to fulfil this function.
Consumers, housewives and other non-professionals, use these squeegees after performing a mechanical action with a mop, a sponge, etc. impregnated with a detergent solution to dissolve and disperse the dirt present on the surface.
It is also impossible to dry without leaving smears because they do not have the skills of the professional window cleaner. Each time they put the drying lip back on the part of the window that it has already dried, for another pass, because the blade is already wet on the other side of its leading edge it leaves a smear. Moreover, on each new pass, the leading edge of the bead of liquid produces not only runs due to the breaking of the equilibrium of said bead, but also leaks of dirty liquid at the ends of the lip, leaving other large and continuous smears, above the squeegee, which must be removed with a cloth. Prior art electromechanical systems have solved some of these problems, but have given rise to others that are unacceptable and which are extremely costly, in particular for consumer use. Pump systems are necessarily provided with a suction unit level with the drying blade. Even if it is bevelled, this unit prevents complete drying of the window near the frame because the unit abuts thereagainst, which is unacceptable. The same applies to glass doors and other surfaces, because it is not possible to circumvent everything projecting from the vertical or horizontal surfaces, handles, hinges, etc. This phenomenon is accentuated when using a long rod to work high up because of the reduced angle of attack of the blade, which renders it unusable. The bottom of the window and the frame then have to be finished off manually with a cloth, which is also unacceptable. Electrical equipment of this kind imposes the additional handicap of using a battery or a long electrical power supply cable. Also, it is not possible to move a squeegee of this kind in the horizontal direction without leaving linear smears.
Other, low-cost techniques known in themselves use a sponge disposed under the drying blade of the squeegee. They do not solve the problem of correct drying of the surface: smears at the edges of the lip on each new pass and leaks from the lateral edges of the lip and the bottom edge of the glass because of the thickness of the sponge. Furthermore, because the sponge touches the glass, it produces very high friction forces that stop the physical-chemical action of sliding of the lip over the glass, which makes the squeegee impossible to handle.

Implement for simultaneously drying a surface and collecting a liquid


The present invention relates to a rotor for laboratory centrifuges, the rotor including a rotor housing that is open to the top and at least one recess for taking up centrifuge containers, with the recess being formed in the peripheral area of the rotor as a concentric, circumferential ring trough having an inner wall and an outer wall and with the ring trough being stiffened in a spoke-type manner in such a way using centrifuge containers that are distributed radially and over the circumference of the ring trough that the centrifuge containers support the inner wall and the outer wall rigidly against one another. Furthermore, an adapter for receiving a sample container and for use in such a rotor is suggested.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotor for laboratory centrifuges wherein said rotor comprises a rotor housing that is open to the top and has at least one recess for taking up centrifuge containers, wherein the recess is formed in the peripheral area of the rotor as a concentric circumferential ring trough with an inner wall and an outer wall and also an adapter for taking up a sample container and for use in such a laboratory centrifuge rotor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In this context, a centrifuge container can firstly be a sample container in which the samples to be centrifuged are arranged. Secondly, a centrifuge container can also be an adapter that can be inserted into a rotor and into which a sample container can in turn be inserted.
A rotor for a laboratory centrifuge is used in order to take up centrifuge containers in which material to be centrifuged is contained. A centrifuge container, such as, for example, a test tube, can be placed in a cylindrical recess, a plurality of which is provided in a rotor, as disclosed in the patent application U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,465.
An angular cap for centrifuges is described in the patent application DE 37 03 514 A1, wherein said angular cap has a recess for taking up sample material. The recess is designed in the peripheral area of the rotor as a concentric circumferential annular groove that is bordered on its edge seen in the direction of the rotor axis by an axially symmetrical, upwardly tapering truncated cone. The outer wall of the annular groove is designed in the form of an upwardly tapering hollow truncated cone. Centrifuge containers are arranged in a row in the recess of the rotor. The design of the recess as a annular groove reduces the weight of the rotor which in turn acts advantageously on the centrifugation properties of the rotor; thus for example in case of a constant rotational speed, the centripetal force acting on the rotor is reduced. On the other hand, the circumferential recess reduces the stability of the rotor since the smaller mass and the design as a hollow truncated cone reduces the resistance of the rotor peripheral area compared to the centrifugal force. Thus this can result in breakage on the rotor housing and damages, especially in the lower peripheral area of the annular groove wherein said peripheral area protrudes over the rotor hub. Also, due to the design as an annular groove, for example, an uneven filling of the centrifuge containers or an uneven loading of the centrifuge can amount to an ovalization of the rotor body during the centrifugation process. This causes unbalances and brings about an unsafe centrifugation.
Furthermore, the required high production accuracy in this construction involves the risk of the occurrences of inaccuracies in the fit of the centrifuge containers in the annular groove, which in turn can result in constantly changing unbalances and resonance vibrations in case of certain number of revolutions.


An adjusting device for a chip adapter. The adjusting device comprises a main body having a plurality of adjusting holes into which testing pins of the adapter are inserted and a slider disposed on the main body and sliding perpendicular to the top surface thereof for easy removal the chip adapter without mis-alignment of testing pins.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjusting device, and in particular to a device for re-aligning the adapter testing pins.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mother boards must be tested during manufacture to verify function thereof. CPU chips are frequently inserted into and removed from a socket on a mother board. This can bend or break CPU testing pins.
To reduce damage, the CPU chip can be inserted into an adapter as disclosed in R.O.C. patent 277773, before insertion into a socket on the mother board. However, in this condition, the testing pins of the adapter can, similarly, be easily bent or broken.
In certain conditions, some bent testing pins of adapter may be forced into socket holes, potentially damaging the internal structure thereof.
To prolong the lifetime of the adapter, the adapter testing pins therefore must be adjusted after a period of use.
Adapter testing pins are normally adjusted manually a procedure which can not ensure the quality of alignment. Thus, a device is needed for more precise alignment.

Adjusting device for chip adapter testing pin


A display-screen-data editing apparatus including: a storing unit that stores therein a variable table in which a device and a comment for the device are associated with each other; a table generating unit that generates a history table by analyzing screen data and furthermore generating a history-inclusive variable table by combining the variable table and the history table; and a search processing unit that performs a search process on a device and a comment in the history-inclusive variable table on a basis of a character string input to one of a device input field and a comment input field and displays extracted device or comment as a list, wherein a device or a comment that is selected from the displayed list is input to the device input field and the comment input field.

When screen data for a display is generated by a display-screen-data editing apparatus, it is required to set up memory addresses (hereinafter, devices) for a programmable display (hereinafter, a display) and apparatuses connected thereto, and there is a method of setting up annotation strings (hereinafter, comments) for the memory addresses.
In the case where screen data for a display is generated, when devices of the display and the apparatuses connected thereto are input, the comments set for the devices are referred to; therefore, the devices can be input correctly (for example, see, Patent Literature 1).
Moreover, there is a method of selecting a device or a comment from the narrowed-down number of candidates by searching for and displaying the devices or comments. With this method, it becomes possible to reduce input errors and increase the input speed by narrowing down the number of candidates to be selected from (for example, see, Patent Literature 2).
As described above, the drawing efficiency is improved by making it possible to recognize the roles of devices by referring to comments that are preassigned by drawing software or other tools when the devices are input.


Expansion-adapted mounting and electrical contacting of laser diode elements are connected with one another in terms of structural engineering such that the laser diode elements can be stacked or arranged laterally in one plane for producing vertical diode laser arrangements with low production complexity. The upper and the lower layers of a heat-distributing multilayer substrate for a diode laser subelement, between which a separating layer is disposed, contain metal strata regions arranged spaced from one another of which for forming strata region pairs each strata region of the upper layer is joined electrically conducting to a strata region of the lower layer. The separating layer contains at least one electrically insulating stratum made of non-metallic material and the sum of the thicknesses of metallic strata in the multilayer substrate exceeds the sum of the thicknesses of non-metallic strata at least in a partial region perpendicular to the mounting surface for at least one laser diode element.

The invention relates to a diode laser subelement with at least one laser diode element applied to a mounting surface of a heat-distributing multilayer substrate, whereby the multilayer substrate is joined materially with one another, made of an upper, a lower, and at least one separating layer interposed therebetween.
Laser diode elements include individual laser diodes and laser diode bars. Individual laser diodes have only a single laser diode emitter that is defined by an optically continuous active area. Laser diode bars are monolithic semiconductor laser arrangements of at least two operational laser diode emitters that are optically largely independent of one another. The lateral reach of laser diode bars is a factor of the width, spacing, and number of emitters. Typical widths are in the range of 1 to 15 mm.
For reliable operation as a diode laser, the laser diode elements are mounted on a heatsink that distributes, and, in the case of microchannel coolers, also carries off, heat loss. The upper side of the heatsink is defined in that it contains the surface for assembling the laser diode element.
It is known that two essential conditions must be observed for reliable solder mounting of laser diode bars on heatsinks: (a) the use of hard soldering or performing diffusion soldering with isothermal solidification and (b) the use of a heatsink, the thermal expansion coefficient of which corresponds to that of the laser diode material to approximately 1 ppm/K in order to attain minimum stress soldering of the laser diode bar, which is relatively wide in comparison to the individual laser diodes.
In particular for high-performance laser diodes with a GaAs basis (i.e., the epitaxy of which is performed on a GaAs substrate), special heatsink embodiments must be found because the highly heat-conductive materials that are suitable for cooling either have thermal expansion coefficients that are too low (aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, boron nitride, and diamond are at least 2 ppm/K below the value for GaAs of 6.5 ppm/K) or too high (aluminum, gold, copper, silver are at least 6 ppm/K above the value for GaAs).
The same is true for sapphire-based laser diode bars with GaN epitaxy and for zinc selenide-based laser diode bars.
Also known is designing heatsinks with high thermal conductivity with a thermal expansion coefficient that corresponds to that of the laser substrate material (GaAs, sapphire, GaP, GaSb, ZnSe) using a multilayer structure with layers made of materials with higher and lower thermal expansion coefficients. One example is the copper/aluminum nitride/copper system. Such heatsinks can also be embodied as microchannel coolers. In the interest of the lowest possible thermal resistance, recesses and cutouts can be added to the individual strata or layers for varying strata thicknesses.
The known technical solutions largely relate to the thermo-mechanical goal of adjusting the appropriate thermal expansion coefficient and to the thermal goal of optimized cooling. However, one important aspect for the operation and engineering of a diode laser is also power supply for the laser diode bar.
The heatsink is often also one (the first) of the two electrical contacts, because the laser diode must carry off the main heat via one of its poles (anode or cathode). A small secondary amount of heat can be carried off the via the second pole; it then becomes critical when the second electrical contact enters a thermally highly conductive connection, for instance with the heatsink, that already provides the first electrical contact.
In the prior art (DE 101 13 943 A1), a metal film is mounted to the secondary heat elimination side of the laser diode bar. The thermal and mechanical link to the generally larger heatsink (electrical contact of the main heat elimination side) occurs with electrical insulation from the same via a thin electrical insulating stratum that is approximately the thickness of the laser diode bar, for instance made of polyamide or ceramic. Thus there are two joint zones situated between the secondary heat elimination side-electrical feed line, above and below the electrical insulation stratum, which means disadvantageous mounting complexity.
Another disadvantage in known diode lasers relates to providing connection options for electrical contact elements for the electrical supply of the laser diode bar via power cable. As a rule, these electrical connection options are realized in the electrical contact elements as threaded bores that permit the power supply cable to be attached via pole pieces using screws. As has been stated, the main heat elimination side-electrical contact element is a component of the heatsink. In accordance with the prior art, the secondary heat elimination side-electrical contact element is brought into electrical contact with the line that is joined to the laser diode bar on the secondary heat elimination side in a material fit. This occurs either directly in a material fit in that the secondary heat elimination side-electrical contact element is attached only to the line that itself obtains its pull relief via the material-fit mounting to the electrical insulation stratum attached to the heatsink, or indirectly in a force-fit in that the secondary heat elimination side-electrical contact element is screwed to the heatsink or to a third element. In both cases a contact or joint zone occurs that involves disadvantageous mounting complexity. In addition, both the electrical contact of the contacts via pole pieces and screws and a force-fit contact of the contact element to the strip conductor contain an electrical contact resistance, the heat of which should be carried off efficiently during operation.
Another unsatisfactorily addressed object relates to the modular integration of diode laser elements or diode lasers in arrangements of a plurality of diode laser elements or diode lasers. There are numerous suggestions for vertical arrangements (stacks) and lateral arrangements (rows) of diode laser elements, both for conductively cooled substrates and for convectively cooled microchannel heatsinks. While series connection of the diode laser elements is realized in a simple manner in these vertical diode laser arrangements in that the strip conductor, attached to the laser diode bar on the secondary heat elimination side, of a first diode laser element is in direct or indirect electrical contact with the heatsink as a main heat elimination side-electrical contact of a second diode laser component located thereabove, for lateral diode laser arrangements there is the problem of converting the vertical electrical contact element arrangement into a series connection of the diode laser elements that can be arranged laterally. This goal of series connection of lateral diode laser arrangements can be generalized for every planar arrangement of diode laser elements and diode laser stacks.

Diode laser subelement and arrangements with such diode laser subelement


The invention is directed to a measuring objective having a large free operating space and having very small imaging errors with respect to coma, astigmatism and distortion. The main rays are, at least at one objective side, inclined to each other in one directional component and are parallel to each other in the directional component perpendicular thereto.

Measuring objectives of this kind are utilized to image the light of a light source on at least one measuring surface or to image the light coming from at least one measuring surface on an image plane and to there, with the aid of an appropriate sensor, effect a conversion into a signal to be further processed. It is here essential that an optical relationship as simple as possible exists between the distance to be measured and the received signal and that the optical imaging errors of the measuring objective do not falsify the measuring result in the wanted resolution range in order to avoid a computation-intensive correction of the measured values and in order to rapidly arrive at precise and reproducible results.
A further essential feature of such measuring objectives is that the free operating range between the measured surface and the objective is selected to be as large as possible. The measuring arrangement assembled with the measuring objective can remain built up even for manipulations in the region of the surface to be measured only when a large free operating range can be realized with the measuring objective; that is, measurements can be made over inaccessible regions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,545 discloses a telecentric image forming system having variable magnification. Although the system described there is for an illuminating apparatus, the system can also be used for a measuring arrangement. A parallel beam path of the main rays is obtained with the objective having a symmetrical configuration of the lenses. In this context, reference may be made to FIG. 9 and FIGS. 13a to 13e of this patent. A similar objective having a symmetrical configuration of the lenses is disclosed in European published patent application EP-OS 0,299,472 (see especially FIGS. 1, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 29).
It is disadvantageous that these objectives have no beam deflecting units suitable for measuring distance.


Systems, methods, and media for assessing the quality of a microscope slide image. In an embodiment, a plurality of focus point values are acquired for a sample on a microscope slide. Each focus point value comprises x-y coordinates indicating a location on the sample and a z coordinate indicating a focus height for the location on the sample. A best-fit surface is calculated based on the focus point values, and it is determined whether or not outlying focus point values exist based on the best-fit surface and the z coordinate for one or more of the focus point values. A scanned image of the microscope slide may be displayed which comprises, for each outlying focus point value, an overlay that identifies the location on the sample of the outlying focus point value based on the x-y coordinates for the outlying focus point value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of virtual microscopy and more particularly relates to the assessment of image quality based upon the focus map of a line scan camera prior to and during the capture of imagery data from a specimen on a microscope slide.
2. Related Art
In conventional virtual microscopy systems, image tiling techniques produce individual image tiles that can be significantly out of focus over much of the image. An image tiling system is restricted to a single focus height for each individual snapshot taken by its camera, thus, each of these "fields of view" have areas that are out of focus when the subject specimen being scanned does not have a uniform surface. At the high magnification levels employed in virtual microscopy, specimens with a uniform surface are extremely rare. Moreover, conventional image tiling systems suffer from circular optical distortion that is inherent in the use of an area scan camera with an objective lens. This circular distortion causes the perimeter area of an image tile to be out of focus.
Conventional image tiling solutions are severely handicapped by these limitations, with their only recourse for the inherent circular optical distortion being to discard a significant amount of out of focus image data on the perimeter of each image tile. This results in an increased number of image tiles that must be scanned and a corresponding increase in the time to scan a microscope slide. Furthermore, even when the out of focus perimeter image data is discarded, the remaining image data still suffers from out of focus areas on each image tile due to the lack of a uniform surface and also from circular optical distortion.
Recently, new line scan camera systems have been introduced to the virtual microscopy industry such as the ScanScope® scanner created by Aperio Technologies, Inc. The revolutionary ScanScope® scanner system does not suffer from circular optical distortion due to its use of a line scan camera. Additionally, the line scan camera can adjust its focus for each line of pixels that are captured when scanning a microscope slide and can therefore track a non-uniform surface. Thus, the quality of the resulting image from a line scan camera system is inherently superior due to the sharp focus of each line of pixels captured by the line scan camera.
Although the imagery data captured by a line scan camera is objectively better, there are still focus problems that may arise during image capture. For example, pre-scan focus procedures that identify focus points may focus on non-tissue material, such as dirt, scratches, pen marks, labels, or other debris. This foreign material often resides on the top of the cover slip or the bottom surface of the slide. In these cases the distance between the measured pre-scan focus point and the optimal focus height may be quite large. Accordingly, any tissue that is in the neighborhood of these pre-scan focus points can be dramatically out of focus.
Additionally, when a tissue specimen does not lay flat on the glass (often referred to as having "folded" tissue) the field of view ("FOV") of the objective lens cannot be brought into focus using a single focus height. In this case, it is important that the pre-scan focus points be focused on the non-folded parts of the tissue, which is increasingly unlikely as the amount of folded tissue increases.
Also, in some cases the tissue specimen does not have sufficient contrast to allow the pre-scan focus procedure to make an accurate measurement. In such a case, the pre-scan focus procedure may focus on other material as previously described. Fortunately, the likelihood of this happening can be greatly reduced by setting a contrast threshold that rejects focus points identified by the pre-scan focus procedure that have insufficient contrast. Finally, a microscope slide may not be held securely during the scanning process. If this occurs, the height of the slide will likely change during the scanning process, after which the focus points identified in the pre-scan focus procedure will no longer be valid.
If any of these conditions occurs, some part of the resulting virtual slide image will be out of focus. However, identifying virtual slide images with out of focus areas requires a manual inspection of each virtual slide image. This is a very costly and time consuming quality control problem. And when out of focus virtual slide images are detected, an operator must use a manual procedure to re-scan the virtual slide image, which is also time consuming. During the manual procedure, the operator will identify known good tissue locations on the slide that are used for focus point placement. After this, the operator will either manually focus the points prior to scanning, or allow the system to proceed automatically using the good focus point locations.
Accordingly, the advancements in the virtual microscopy industry have created a need for improved systems and methods for assessing and optimizing virtual slide image quality that overcome the costly and time consuming manual inspection process and capitalizes on the focusing capabilities and speed of the revolutionary line scan camera systems.


A solid state series motor control includes first and second FORWARD DRIVE elements, first and second REVERSE DRIVE elements, first and second diodes, a current sensor, and a capacitance. The series motor control is configured to be interconnected with controlling logic or a processor, the field and armature of a series wound motor, and an external DC power source. The FORWARD DRIVE elements and REVERSE DRIVE elements can be IGBTs or similar semiconductors. The current sensor is configured to measure current passing through the motor armature. The capacitance is a combination of a line filter and source impedance reduction for IGBT switching. The solid state series motor control can control the speed and direction of a series wound motor using solid state components while maintaining the series connection of the armature and the field winding.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally relates to series wound motor controls and, more particularly to a solid state series motor control.
2. Description of the Related Art
Series wound motors have the armature and field winding connected in series. The operating speed of these motors is inversely proportional to the imposed load. This characteristic makes them desirable in traction drive applications, where a high starting torque is required to overcome a large inertia.
Controls for series wound motors are often the constant potential type. These controls are referred to as constant potential because the line-to-line voltage remains unchanged during motor operation. The controls apply a potential (voltage) to the motor armature at each speed point by shunting out preset segments of resistance in series with the motor. However, the motor speed is also related to field strength which is dependent on the load due to voltage drop across the series resistance). A weaker field results in faster motor speed. When high values of series resistance are used to restrict motor speed in slower speed points, a heavily loaded motion may not begin to move until the control is placed into second or third speed point. Series wound motors have a unique application on traction drives that must negotiate curves. When individual motors in same positions (opposite each other) are connected in series, they develop the same torque but allow the speeds on the inner and outer wheels to conform to the severity of the curve.
Controlling the speed and direction of series wound motor with solid state devices instead of the original contactor resistor control systems has been satisfied by reversing one section of the motor with an H-bridge topology and controlling the other section with an independent sold state switch. The motor is then controlled as a separately excited machine and uses a microprocessor with current feedback from both the armature and the field section to reconstruct the series motor characteristic. Usually the armature section is within the H-bridge and the field winding is switched independently and the system attempts to maintain the armature and field currents at the same value.
This separately excited machine configuration exposes the motor to potential damage. If the software is not functioning correctly or the current feedback is not accurate, the field current could then be much less than the armature current. With moderate differences during drive the motor can over speed and with significant differences the armature is not subject to sufficient magnetic coupling. The armature then becomes a rotating short circuit that causes significant damage to the commutator and brush gear. Since the field winding is not connected in series with the armature, rapid changes in the applied voltage to the armature can cause very high di/dt changes resulting in high voltages across the commutator segments with risk of damage to the commutator.
The true series connection always has the very inductive field winding in series with the armature and the motor itself limits the di/dt even if rapid changes in applied voltage to the motor do occur. With the motor driving, should the field current suddenly increase, then the armature voltage can rise rapidly above the supply voltage causing significantly high voltage on the commutator and exposing other devices connected to the same supply to an over voltage condition. The same conditions that caused the motor to generate result in an unexpected braking effect which can damage the equipment being driven by the motor.
The separately excited design requires at least four insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), or similar semiconductors, to form the H-bridge and one IGBT and a diode to switch the field. To deal with the potential of the regenerated voltage a second IGBT and diode are required to operate an over voltage dump system. Since the field and armature are controlled independently, the losses in the system are high causing thermal issues that need to be dealt with adding more complexity and cost. In applications where the energy source is limited, i.e. a traction battery, this inefficient system limits the operational time between battery changes. Therefore, a need exists for a solid state series motor control to control the speed and direction of a series wound motor while maintaining the series connection of the armature and the field winding.


An industrial field bus communication cable breaking apparatus includes a housing, a first electrical connector coupled to the housing and configured to be connected to a first field bus communication cable, a first plurality of contacts disposed in the first electrical connector, a second electrical connector coupled to the housing and configured to be connected to a second field bus communication cable, a second plurality of contacts disposed in the second electrical connector, a control input configured to receive a control signal, and a plurality of switches. Each of the plurality of switches has a first end coupled to a respective one of the first plurality of contacts and a second end coupled to a respective one of the second plurality of contacts. Each of the plurality of switches is configured to simultaneously open and close based on the control signal.

1. Field of Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to techniques for testing the integrity of a communication network, and more particularly, to a cable breaking apparatus and methods of testing a network using the cable breaking apparatus.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Redundant topologies may be used in communication networks to reduce or eliminate interruptions in communications caused by one or more failures in the network. Redundancy may be achieved, for example, by configuring multiple interconnections or communication paths between two or more devices on the network. In this manner, if a failure occurs along one of the communication paths, and if the failure is detected and an appropriate response is taken, the devices will still be able to communicate with each other using one of the redundant paths. This is typically referred to as a network failure event. A redundant network may be tested to ensure that the network will perform reliably during, and subsequent to, a network failure event.
One conventional technique for testing a redundant network is to physically break a communication cable to generate an actual failure, and then observe the performance of the network, for example, to determine whether and how quickly the network recovers from the failure. The failure may be achieved, for example, by manually unplugging a cable from a network patch panel. However, manual cable disconnection is difficult to coordinate with other observations and test procedures. In another conventional technique, software can be used to simulate a broken cable by halting Ethernet packet traffic. However, the software technique cannot simulate a physical cable break, in which all signals (including power, such as Power Over Ethernet (POE), if any) are interrupted.

Communication cable breaker and method using same


A cooling apparatus includes a direct-bonded copper (“DBC”) substrate, the DBC substrate having a plurality of micro-structure tabs formed on a fluid impingement side of the DBC substrate, and a jet head in complementary opposition to the fluid impingement side. The jet head has a first plurality of micro-jets facing the fluid impingement side, each of the first plurality of micro-jets having a nozzle, and a second plurality of micro-jets facing the fluid impingement side so the jet head is configured to deliver a fluid to the plurality of micro-structure tabs through the first and second plurality of micro-jets.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to systems for cooling electronic devices, and particularly to systems for cooling high-power devices on a direct-bonded copper (DBC) substrate.
2. Description of the Related Art
Power dissipation in electronic circuits remains an important design consideration and is becoming more important as performance for such circuits is becoming thermally limited. For example, a power module having multiple high power devices sitting on a substrate needs to be cooled to prevent overheating and damage to the devices as well as to better-ensure long term reliability of the devices and their power connections. Many high power modules in commercial and military use are liquid cooled by forcing liquid flow through a pin fin base plate (cold plate), with the pin fins increasing the heat transfer surface area from an otherwise flat base plate. (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,594,149, 7,042,725, 7,417,857, 7,353,859). Unfortunately, such systems are limited by the cooling capability (h) of the forced convection and by thermal resistance over the base plate and solder layer. Other cooling solutions include evaporative spray cooling on custom-made base plates that have surface structures to enhance the heat transfer. (See U.S. Pat. No. 6,993,926 and US 2009/0014562). Such systems tend to be comparatively bulky and costly, however. Use of DBC substrates to mount high power devices in combination with direct impingement liquid cooling has been found to improve thermal resistance over the base plate and solder layer, but the no-fin DBC solutions suffer from substantial loss in back-side cooling surface area and so thermal dissipation is greatly limited by the liquid impingement flow rate. (See U.S. Pat. No. 7,190,581) Macro-scale fins may be attached DBC substrates, but such macro-scale fins block the liquid impingement path and are not made with commercially available DBC substrates thus adding cost to the total system solution.
A need still exists to provide for greater power dissipation for high power devices seated in power modules with more-uniformity of temperature among such devices while maintaining a compact and cost-effective system structure.


The invention relates to a tracked ATV which is fully supported, driven and steered by a pair of parallel endless tracks driven by means of an internal combustion engine. Steering means are arranged to control the differential speed between the tracks for steering the vehicle. A handlebar is pivotally mounted to a vehicle body in front of a driver seat and the steering means are arranged to be operated by rotation of the handlebar. According to another aspect of the invention the driver seat is a straddle-type seat and footrests are arranged on the body to the left and to the right of this seat, which footrests are situated vertically in between an upper run and a ground engaging lower run of the tracks.

The invention relates to a tracked ATV. The term All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) designates in the following text vehicles for off-road use which have a relatively small footprint and are intended for use by a driver alone or for a driver and one passenger.
A general distinction is to be made between wheeled and tracked ATVs: A wheeled ATV usually has four wheels, a straddle-type seat for a driver and a handlebar for the steering of the front wheels. Its driver can ride it actively, adapting his position on the seat and hence the balance of the vehicle to a particular driving situation. This allows high driving speeds in off-road conditions. However, wheel drives are not sufficient for universal off-road use, since they lack grip or tend to sink on soft grounds or in deep snow for example.
For use on soft grounds, a tracked ATV is perfect since its ground force is distributed over the ground engaging portion of the tracks and therefore greatly reduced. A track conversion kit for a wheeled ATV is described in the Canadian patent application CA-2,374,657, but the best ground engagement and ground force distribution is offered by full-track vehicles.
The Canadian patent application CA-2,141,777 describes such a full-track ATV. It has a pair of parallel, ground engaging tracks and a joystick allows the driver to control the differential speed between the two tracks for steering the vehicle. A driver seat of the type known from cars gives the driver a stable position with respect to the joystick which is arranged in front of him. However, with this type of steering control (the joystick) and the driving posture given due to the type and position of the seat, it is impossible for the driver to move spontaneously in order to improve the balance of the vehicle with respect to a particular driving situation.


A system for obtaining video data is provided, the system comprising a video camera positioned down a bore-hole to obtain a plurality of video frames wherein the plurality of video frames comprises sequential video frames, wherein each of the sequential video frames contains information, and wherein a portion of the information of each of the sequential video frames comprises new information not found on a previous sequential video frame. The system also comprises a data extractor to extract information only from the portion comprising the new information from each sequential video frame.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus useful in the exploration of subterranean regions and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus useful in the exploration for, and production of, hydrocarbons from subterranean regions. In various aspects, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for creating a bore-hole log, a bore-hole video log, a digital bore-hole video log that uses less memory than conventional digital video, and/or for associating digital audio information with a digital bore-hole video log.
2. Description of the Related Art
The visual analysis of well-bores can provide useful information regarding the stratification, fracturing, and layering of various geological formations. The more detailed the visual analysis, the better the ability to characterize a given formation.
Data-gathering, including video and audio data-gathering, of wells can be accomplished by utilizing wireline logs and/or logging-while-drilling (LWD) tools to obtain certain physical characteristics of a formation. Wireline logs require an umbilical (i.e., a wireline) from the surface to provide electrical power and are generally utilized after a well has been drilled. Logging-while-drilling (LWD) tools are used to provide real-time analysis of subsurface formations during the actual drilling operation. Logging-while-drilling (LWD) tools typically include their own power source as the LWD tool string is an integral part of the bottom home assembly and it would be impractical to connect an umbilical from the surface to provide electrical power and/or other requirements of the various LWD tools.
There have been attempts in the prior art to provide visual analysis of a bore-hole. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,378, issued Jul. 31, 1984, to Rambow, discloses a display system for use with a well logging tool of the type that scans a bore-hole wall by rotating an acoustic transducer while emitting and receiving acoustic energy. The received acoustic or information signals are received and recorded for later use.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,573, issued Sep. 27, 1988, to Mount et al., discloses an apparatus for creating a video display from information generated by acoustically scanning a reflecting boundary circumferential bore-hole.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,855,820, issued Aug. 8, 1989, to Barbour, discloses an apparatus and method of visually examining the sidewalls of a bore-hole. The apparatus includes a wide-angle video camera, power supply/triplexer, a telemetry board, an FM modulator video amplifier transmission board, gyroscope data interface board, and a gyroscope for showing the directional orientation of the camera. The orientation and video images are transmitted to a video display monitor on the surface and recorded by a video cassette recorder for a permanent record.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,134,471, issued Jul. 28, 1992, to Gendron et al., discloses a bore-hole camera monitoring system comprising a camera head assembly adapted to be lowered into a bore-hole with the control unit for operating the camera located above ground. The camera head assembly of the '471 device includes a fixed portion and a rotary portion. The fixed portion of the camera head assembly of the '471 device comprises a microcontroller for controlling the operation of the camera, a position encoder for detecting the angular rotation of the camera with respect to the fixed portion of the camera head assembly, and a communication interface including means for multiplexing the video signal generated by the camera. The control unit of the '471 device comprises a computer, a video monitor, and a communication interface. In addition, a depth counter is connected to the computer.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,319, issued Aug. 18, 1992, to Riordan, discloses an instrument probe containing a video camera and light source with the power source located at the surface. A support cable contains an optical fiber for conducting camera signals to the surface and conducting power to the instrument.
However, in spite of these advances in the prior art, there is still a need for a method and apparatus to create a visual well-bore log that does not suffer from one or more of the deficiencies of the prior art, deficiencies such as the large memory and/or storage requirements for conventional video logs and/or the inefficient incorporation of digital audio data with a digital video log. There is, thus, a need in the art for a method and apparatus to create a digital video log that utilizes less memory and/or storage capacity than conventional video logs, while providing more relevant information than that provided by conventional video logs. There is also an additional need in the art for an efficient way to incorporate digital audio data with a digital video log.
These and other needs in the art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon review of this specification, including the drawings and claims.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

Method and apparatus to create a down-hole video log to transmit down-hole video data


Disclosed herein are related to a system, a method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium for controlling a central plant. In one aspect, the system obtains a control envelope for a device controlled by the controller. The control envelope comprises boundaries of a plurality of control regions in a multidimensional operating space for the device. Each control region is enclosed by a corresponding boundary. The system counts a number of times that a ray of the device crosses the boundary of a control region. The system determines whether an operating point of the device is within the control region based on the counted number. The system operates the device according to a predetermined control technique corresponding to the control region, in response to determining that the operating point of the device is within the control region.

The present disclosure relates generally to the operation of equipment in a building, building management system (BMS), heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and/or a central plant. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a system and a method for controlling operation of equipment in a building, BMS, and/or HVAC system based on a control envelope ray-casting.
A HVAC system (also referred to as "a central plant" or "an energy plant" herein) may include various types of equipment configured to serve the thermal energy loads of a building or building campus. For example, a central plant may include HVAC devices such as heaters, chillers, heat recovery chillers, cooling towers, or other types of equipment configured to provide heating or cooling for the building. The central plant may further include a HVAC controller to control operation of the HVAC devices.
In some implementation, controlling HVAC devices includes determining whether different operating parameters of the HVAC devices satisfy corresponding thresholds, and operating the HVAC devices according to the determination. For example, a chiller operates according to operating parameters including an inlet temperature, an outlet temperature, an inlet pressure, an outlet pressure, etc. One implementation of operating the chiller includes comparing measurement values of the inlet temperature, the outlet temperature, the inlet pressure, and the outlet pressure against corresponding threshold values, and enabling or disabling the chiller according to the comparison. However, comparing the measurement values against all of the threshold values may be computationally exhaustive. Moreover, repeatedly enabling and disabling the HVAC devices may exhibit hysteretic behavior, thereby reducing operating efficiency of the HVAC devices.

Central plant control system with control region detection based on control envelope ray-casting


A method of resecting a portion of lung using an electrosurgical instrument is disclosed. The electrosurgical device clamps upon lung tissue and applies RF energy to create a cauterized zone within the clamped portion of the lung. At least one staple is placed within the cauterized tissue zone. The cauterized zone is cut adjacent to the at least one staple and the cut portion of the lung is removed.

Lung tissue is composed of two basic types of structures, i.e. vascular networks to carry blood, and bronchial structures that carry air to oxygenate the blood. Resection of this type of tissue poses two problems to a surgeon. The first problem is achieving hemostasis of the vascular networks. The second problem is achieving pneumostasis of the bronchial structures. Additionally, since these procedures usually involve lung tissue that is frequently diseased, the diseased lung tissue is often overdistended, or inflamed, thus resulting in thin, fragile, friable tissue.
Consequently, a variety of techniques are available to surgeons as a means of controlling hemostasis and pneumostasis in lung tissue. The techniques include suturing, the application of clips, stapling, the application of RF energy, and the use of other energy modalities. A common surgical procedure is the resection of a portion of the lung as a means to remove a tumor, or as a means to reduce the lung volume in emphysemic patients.
Lung volume reduction surgery is performed on patients with emphysema wherein some of the air sacs within the lungs become overdistended or inflamed, resulting in destruction of alveolar walls. The size of the thoracic cavity is fixed, and when the diseased tissue swells, it compresses the healthy lung tissue thereby reducing the volume of air that can be ingested into the healthy portions of the lungs. This results in shortness of breath, painful breathing, and eventually could lead to right ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure.
The primary cause of emphysema is smoking, and the damaged tissue is generally confined to the upper lobes of the lungs. As a means of increasing the volumetric efficiency of the lungs, lung volume reduction surgery was developed. In this surgery, damaged portions of the lungs are removed, reducing the constricting effects caused by overdistended diseased tissue. Although the volume of the lung tissue is reduced, the elimination of diseased tissue has a dramatic beneficial effect to the patient by enabling the remaining tissue to work with increased volumetric efficiency.
Electrocautery instruments are commonly used when accessing a patient for thoracic surgery. These instruments apply monopolar or bipolar Radio Frequency (RF) energy to cauterize the "bleeders" in the chest wall as the chest cavity is being opened. Monopolar instruments have one electrode that is associated with a cutting or cauterizing instrument and a return electrode is attached to a remote portion of the patient. Hemostasis is controlled by the application of the energized device to the site of the bleeder such that the current arcs between the tip of the device and the tissue application site, thus cauterizing the bleeder.
Bipolar instruments normally apply a cauterizing current to a pair of electrodes, located within or, formed by moveable opposed jaw members of the instrument. Tissue is cauterized by placing it within the open jaw members of the instrument, closing the jaw members of the instrument upon the tissue to bring the electrodes into close proximity, and then applying RF bipolar energy to the compressed tissue within the jaw members. The current arcs between the electrodes and cauterizes, coagulates, or tissue welds the tissue compressed therein. Bipolar electrocautery has been used to resect metastic lesions in lung tissue. The procedure, using cautery forceps, was found to have a low postoperative morbidity from air leaks, but was quite lengthy. This was described in a paper by Cooper, Joel D. et al. "Precision Cautery Excision of Pulmonary Lesions", Annals of Thoracic Surgery 4:51-53, 1986.
Additionally, mechanical devices such as surgical staplers and linear cutters, both open and endoscopic, have also been utilized as a means of resecting diseased lung tissue. Staples have long been used to provide hemostasis in vascular structures, and when applied to lung tissue, were found to provide a good degree of pneumostasis as well. Surgical cutters have a plurality of staples held in multiple staggered rows in a replaceable cartridge. The cutters compress the lung tissue, and the staples are fired into the compressed tissue in close proximity to the diseased portion of the lung that is to be excised. A cutting blade is passed longitudinally between the innermost rows of formed staples, transecting the tissue. The cutter is removed from the surgical site, reloaded with another unfired stapling cartridge, and the procedure is repeated until the desired section of the lung is resected and removed.
One known problem which can arise with using surgical staplers in this fashion has been the formation of air leaks in the stapled lung tissue. The leaks can occur in the cut line, and/or in the staple holes themselves. Frequently, the diseased lung tissue is thin and friable and can tear at the staples as the lungs reinflate. These air leaks can be persistent and require additional surgery to locate and control. As one would expect, persistent leaks can extend the hospital stay for a patient by weeks.
As a means to alleviate the leakage problems outlined above, surgeons have developed a technique of averting the incised wall of giant bullae to act as a reinforcement for the staple line. The averted tissue provides additional material for the staples to be formed into, thereby reducing the chances of tearing at the staple line. It also reduces staple pullout in friable tissue, and results in improved pneumostasis. J. D Cooper et al. describes this procedure in a paper entitled "Median Sternotomy for Bilateral Resection Of Emphysematous Bullae", Journal of Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol. 82 (1981), 892-897.
While the above technique was initially identified as a breakthrough procedure, large bullae are infrequently found within patients. This lack of available reinforcement material prompted a search by the medical community for a more easily obtainable reinforcement material. Accordingly, a variety of materials, both synthetic and natural, have been developed for use as a reinforcement material for lung resection. These materials include VICRYL.RTM. of Johnson and Johnson, New Brunswick, N.J., "DEXON.RTM., of Sherwood-Davis and Geck, St. Louis, Mo., TEFLON.RTM., of E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Wilmington, Del., and animal material such as tanned bovine pericardium. These reinforcement materials are normally mounted into the jaw members of a linear cutter such that upon firing, the reinforcement material is stapled to the lung tissue. Optimally the, lung tissue is "sandwiched" between two layers of this reinforcement material. Use of the reinforcement material reinforces the staple line, reduces tissue tearing, and acts as a sealing material. The use of these materials, along with improved methods of attachment are disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 5,397,324 by Carroll et al., and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,503,638; 5,549,628; and 5,575,803 by Cooper et al.
Although the use of an easily obtainable, easily applicable reinforcement material is a great improvement in lung surgery, there is still reluctance by the surgical community to embrace these techniques. One reason is increased surgical procedure time. Another reason is the substantial cost involved in using the reinforcement materials such as those described above. Accordingly, up until now, there is no known method of lung resection surgery that can reduce the operating time, provide improved hemostasis and pneumostasis and eliminate the need to utilize a separate reinforcement.

Method for using an electrosurgical device on lung tissue


A photoflash unit includes a housing with an internal chamber containing a charge material. The housing's base has an opening. A primer is placed over or proximate to this opening. An anvil is placed over the material and a burn-away sheet is placed over the anvil. The burn-away sheet is sealed to the base and holds the anvil in place. When the anvil is struck percussively through the burn-away sheet, the primer ignites combustible material through the opening in the back wall. The burn-away sheet burns away, allowing the photoflash unit to vent to the rear.

Generally, a percussive type photoflash lamp (see FIG. 1) comprises a hermetically sealed, light-transmitting envelope containing a source of actinic light and having a primer secured thereto. Such photoflash lamps are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,439,992; U.S. Pat. No. 3, 511,586; U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,820; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,706,521.
More particularly, the percussive type photoflash lamp comprises a length of glass tubing constricted to a tip at one end (domed end) thereof and having a primer cup secured to the other end thereof. The length of glass tubing which defines a lamp envelope contains a combustible material, such as shredded zirconium foil, and a combustion-supporting gas such as oxygen. The primer cup comprises a metal shell within which an anvil and a charge of ignitable material (primer) are disposed.
Operation of a percussive-type photoflash lamp is initiated by a firing pin (also referred to as a striker) which is caused to strike the bottom of the primer cup to promote ignition of the primer disposed therein. Deflagration of the primer ignites the shredded zirconium foil, the combustion of which is the source of the actinic light.
As discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,439,992, because of its very rapid burning characteristics, deflagration of the primer causes a very high velocity flow of flame and hot gases up the axis of the flashlamp. This gas flow, in turn, impinges on the shredded zirconium foil, and frequently compresses the shreds into a tightly compacted ball in the domed end of the lamp envelope. Confinement of combustion in the domed end of the lamp envelope imparts a large thermal shock to the lamp envelope. This thermal shock sometimes causes the breakage of the domed end portion of the glass envelope, causing, in turn, the hot gasses to escape outwards at a high velocity and, together with flying glass shreds, to create a potential safety hazard.