Two, redundant, electrical switches in electrical series between a flashlight's battery and its bulb are simultaneously activated by an angular rotation between two sections of the flashlight's case. To implement one of the switches the functions of (i) force biasing and (ii) electrical conduction between a battery's terminal and the flashlight case are separated. Force biasing between battery and case transpires by a spring and washer which are, in combination, electrically non-conducting. Electrical conduction between battery and case transpires by another, separate, spring that is shorter than the force-biasing spring. Further, and independently, a removable and replaceable combination shock-mounted light bulb and reflector assembly includes (i) a wire-lead miniature light bulb of low inertial mass encapsulated within (ii) a shock-absorbing plastic matrix which is further sleeved in (iii) a strong metal which also presents a reflector surface precision aligned to the bulb. The entire assembly is easy to handle and exhibits superior (i) mechanical alignment, strength, and damage resistance, and (ii) electrical connectivity, when placed and replaced within a flashlight of complimentary construction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally concerns apparatus for coercive intervention--particularly batons and rugged flashlights --that are usable by law enforcement and like personnel to manipulate the environment, including human actors within the environment.
The present invention particularly concerns a flashlight that is especially rugged in each of its (i) bulb mounting and its (ii) positive on/of f actuation (particularly by a twisting motion) so as to be mountable at the end of a police baton and thereafter usable by the police for all normal functions of both (i) the baton and (ii) the flashlight.
2. Background of the Invention
A police baton, having ancient antecedents in the simple club, is a classic weapon within the police arsenal. Police are trained in use of the baton. The baton is a useful device variously facilitating the inspection of items, the guidance or signalling of persons including suspects and other police, and the use of force against persons and objects. Modern batons are often made of metal, and may be telescoping such as is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,752,072 issued Jun. 21, 1988, and 5,110,375 issued May 5, 1992.
Meanwhile, criminals have always sought the obscuring cloak of darkness, and criminal activity generally peaks at night. Many forms of criminal activity that are currently, circa 1992, prevalent in the United States of America involve trade in illegal drugs, or criminals who have ingested illegal drugs. Because of the illegality of selling or consuming illegal drugs, both sales and consumption are commonly conducted during the hours of darkness, and in locations that are poorly illuminated.
Still other, more traditional, criminal activities such as theft are common at night, and are commonly conducted with no or minimal illumination. Indeed, the crime of burglary was defined in the common law as unauthorized entrance into a dwelling house at night with an intention of thievery. This definition of the crime of burglary, and the severe punishments for its perpetration, recognize the special severity, and the special difficulties, of preventing or interdicting crime during the hours of darkness.
Because of the responsibilities of the police to curb criminal activity during darkness, and in dark places, special, rugged, flashlights are commonly issued to police. The police flashlight has considerably improved during recent decades. Modern police flashlight cases are strong, and may be suitably used as clubs. The emitted light is considerably brighter, and is often longer-lasting, than was previously the case. The advent of quartz-halogen light sources has particularly benefitted the police flashlight, which is, in certain cases, desired to emit a very bright, nearly blinding, light beam.
Police flashlights can, under certain circumstances, be used for signaling and for striking similarly to the uses of a police baton.
Possibly because of the potentially similar uses of a police baton and a police flashlight, and because of the similar tubular shapes and elongate aspect ratios of both devices, it has been from time to time suggested that the functions of the two devices might combined. The combination of a police baton and a police flashlight is an interesting concept in that it could potentially increase the utility of both the baton and the flashlight.
One unavoidable problem with the existing police flashlight, even one emitting a very bright light, is that the policeman holding the flashlight must identify his location. There is usually a time delay between a policeman's energizing of his/her flashlight and his/her visual fixation of any person or persons that may be within the flashlight's illuminating beam. There is a further time delay while the policeman, who may be attempting to aim his/her flashlight with a one hand while protecting himself/herself with a loaded weapon in the other hand, interprets the illuminated scene. During these time delays, which may be only momentary, the policeman is in jeopardy of being shot without warning by the party(ies) illuminated, or even by other parties who are still concealed by darkness.
Because of these obvious risks, and tensions, the literal shining of light on criminal activity is, in America circa 1992, a hazardous activity. If a flashlight could be located at the end of baton then a policeman could use the flashlight beam to illuminate suspicious activities or objects while the source of the light beam was more substantially distanced from the policeman's body. If an illumination from the beam of a flashlight at the end of a police baton were to elicit a hostile response then the policeman would already, and conveniently, be armed with at least the baton.
Alternatively, attachment or other integration of a flashlight with a baton facilitates and improves use of the flashlight because the flashlight may be more conveniently brought proximate to objects which are desired to be illuminated, or the flashlight may be inserted through small spaces into dark areas.
Whether a police baton is hypothesized to incorporate the function of a flashlight, or a police flashlight is hypothesized to be reconfigured so as to more substantially incorporate the function of a baton, any quality consolidation of the functions of both devices presents certain challenges.
A combination police baton and flashlight would desirably be fully as functionally capable as either a (i) police baton, or a (ii) police flashlight individually. In order to realize the baton function both the mechanical and electrical sections, including the bulb, of a flashlight must be so rugged, or hardened, so as to permit that the flashlight may be stuck against objects with great force without appreciable risk of failure. This must be accomplished without, in particular, making the electrical sections of a flashlight so large or so massive so as to detract from the normal aspect ratio, and balance, of a baton. Nonetheless to its occasional use for striking, a combination police baton and flashlight would desirably turn on and of f easily and reliably during all conditions and histories of use and misuse.
Conversely, in order to realize a the function of a flashlight, a baton, especially a lightweight collapsible telescoping baton, must incorporate, or be integrated with, the function of a flashlight without a degrading its essential purpose. This likely requires, in particular, that neither the weight, strength, balance, rigidity, hardness nor grip (finish) of the baton should be appreciably altered.
The present invention will be seen to concern certain improvements in flashlights. The improvements, although of general applicability to rugged flashlights such as are used by police, are particularly directed to making flashlights that are fully capable of being integrated with police batons in order to constitute a combination baton-and-flashlight apparatus, and weapon, having excellent characteristics, and effectiveness, in both its baton and its flashlight functions.

Twist-on/twist-off flashlight with shock-mounted bulb assembly and redundant off-switching, particularly for use at the tip of police batons


A method of data management includes the steps of receiving a plurality of values, obtaining descriptions, each of the descriptions describing a corresponding one of the values, linking each of the values with a corresponding one of the descriptions, generating pointers, each of the pointers pointing to a corresponding one of the values, organizing the pointers in an arrangement representing a set having the values as elements, obtaining a description of the set, and linking the arrangement with the description of the set, wherein a data structure relating the values with each other is determined by the arrangement through accumulation of the values.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to data-management devices and data-management methods such as databases, and particularly relates to a data-management device and a data-management method which determine a data structure while storing data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data-management methods used in databases and the like include a relation-type data-management method expressing relations between objects by using tables and a network-type data-management method linking each object by representing relations between objects by using links. These two methods are those most commonly used in the field. In data-management devices using these data-management methods, a schema (information about a data structure of stored data) should be decided first, and, then, values of data are stored based on the determined data structure. Namely, a schema must be decided by estimating usage of stored data prior to the development of databases.
In data-management devices utilizing an object-oriented scheme, objects can inherit attributes from more general objects. Based on this inheritance relation, data can be organized by grouping objects of upper-level concepts and objects of lower-level concepts together. Thus, data management can be efficiently carried out. Even in such data-management devices employing the object-oriented scheme, values of each data can be stored only after a data structure of objects representing concepts is determined.
In these data-management devices, there is a problem in that it is difficult to modify the data structure once it is determined. For example, when usage of a database is changed in response to changes in an environment in which the database is used, it is desirable to continue to use the existing data structure for a new demand. But the existing data structure without modification cannot be applicable in the new environment. Namely, the data-management device cannot satisfy a need of users when the users want an expansion of the database beyond an existing framework. In order to expand and modify the database beyond the existing framework, modification of the data structure, reentry of all values, development of application programs, etc., must be accomplished, taking a long time.
Furthermore, in the data-management devices based on the object-oriented scheme, there is a case in which a gap develops between concepts represented by objects and values to be stored, as the values of data are accumulated in the databases. Namely, as the values are accumulated after deciding on a data structure representing concepts from upper levels to lower levels, a new data structure may become necessary to represent new concepts, or concepts based on the existing data structure may be required to be modified. In this case, the data-management devices of the related art need reentry of all the data after newly developing a data structure representing the upper-level concepts.
Accordingly, there is a need in the field of data-management devices and data-management methods for a data-management device and a data-management method which can determine a data structure during the accumulation of values when a determination of the data structure is difficult prior to the collection of actual values or when the usage of the values frequently varies, and, further, which can change the data structure according to the usage of the values.
Also, there is a need for a data-management device and a data-management method which can use values without any change for applications developed in consistency with the original data structure even when the data structure is changed, and, further, which can cope with the newly added data structure by allowing development of additional applications.
Also, there is a need for a data-management device and a data-management method which can create an appropriate data structure matching with the usage of values by uncovering relations between the values during the accumulation of the values.

Device and method for data management based on values


A surface coated member having improved stability and a longer service life is provided. The surface coated member includes a base member and a hard coating formed on a surface thereof. The hard coating is constituted of one or more layers. At least one layer among the layers is a layer including hard particles. The hard particles include a multilayer structure having a first unit layer and a second unit layer being layered alternately. The first unit layer includes a first compound. The second unit layer includes a second compound. The first compound and the second compound are respectively made of one or more kind of element selected from the group consisting of a group 4 element, a group 5 element, a group 6 element of a periodic table, and Al, and one or more kind of element selected from the group consisting of B, C, N, and O.

As a recent technical trend, producing a thinner and shorter surface coated member for a cutting tool or the like is on the main stream for the purpose of reducing a load on a global environment and efficiently utilizing a resource. Accordingly, providing a metal material having a higher strength and higher hardness used for a surface coated member is proceeding to secure a service life of a surface coated member and maintain its reliability. On the other hand, at metal working sites, it has been strongly requested to achieve improved accuracy of a worked part and reduced working cost to compete with newly emerging countries. Further, with the improvement in the performance of machining tools, the expectation for further high-speed working with a surface coated member is increasing. In the high-speed working, since a cutting edge of a surface coated member is exposed to a high-temperature and high-pressure environment, a surface coated member capable of having a longer service life even under a harsh environment will be requested in the future.
For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 7-205362 (PTD 1) discloses a hard coating which coats a surface of a base member of a surface coated member. In the hard coating, the composition thereof is changed continuously with nitride, carbide, carbonitride, or boride of two or more kinds of elements selected from group 4, 5, 6 elements, Al, and Si at a cycle of 0.4 nm to 50 nm. The above-described hard coating is formed by a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) method. Specifically, TiN layers and AlN layers are formed continuously on a base material surface with use of solid Ti, solid Al, and N2 gas by bringing Ti ion and Al ion, which are generated by a vacuum discharge, and N2 gas to be in contact with a base member heated to 500° C. Since the hard coating formed by this method has a large distortion in its structure, a surface coated member having this hard coating can have a superior wear resistance and toughness.
Moreover, for example, Japanese National Patent Publication No. 2008-545063 (PTD 2) discloses a member having a Ti1-xAlxN coating as a surface coated member. This Ti1-xAlxN coating has a single layer structure of a cubic crystal NaCl structure having a stoichiometric coefficient of 0.75<x≤0.93 and having a lattice constant afcc of 0.412 nm to 0.405 nm. The above-described Ti1-xAlxN coating is formed by a CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) method. Specifically, a first gas mixture constituted of AlCl3, TiCl4, H2, and argon and a second gas mixture constituted of NH3 and N2 as a nitrogen source are introduced into a CVD reactor vessel of a hot wall type accommodating a base member to perform a thermal CVD method. The above-described coating formed by this method has a higher Al content in the coating as compared to the Ti1-xAlxN coating produced by a generally known PVD method. Therefore, a surface coated member having this coating has a higher oxidation resistance and a higher hardness and can exhibit a superior wear resistance at a high temperature.

Surface coated member and method for manufacturing same


An empennage (1.1) of a helicopter comprising a ducted counter-torque device with a multi-blade rotor (4) of rotor blades (3) and optional vertical tail fins (1.2). Flow-straightening stators (5) of stationary vanes are disposed substantially in a star configuration parallel to the rotor plane downstream from the rotor (4). A shroud (2.1) of the ducted counter-torque device is sheathed with a composite structure of an outer erosion protecting surface layer (7.1, 8.1) made of a hard plastic or a plastic composite material, and at least one succeeding layer (7.2, 8.2) of an elastomeric damping material.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention is related to an empennage/fairing structure of a helicopter with a ducted counter-torque device with the features of the preamble of claim 1.
(2) Description of Related Art
Shrouded anti-torque systems for helicopters consist essentially of an empennage structure including a shroud and a ducted fan with an airflow duct and a fan assembly coaxially mounted within the airflow duct. It is a fact, that all anti-Torque Systems for helicopters produce noise additional to the noise of the main rotor. While conventional rear rotors for helicopters are often complex, fragile, and require large rotor diameters, the faired/shrouded anti-torque rotors are smaller because of better aerodynamic efficiency and they eliminate the risk of accidents due to the protection from impacts provided by the fairing.
The fan assembly includes a central hub structure, a number of support struts for mounting of the hub structure in the airflow duct. The support struts usually are elliptical shaped in order to enhance the aerodynamic performance and they may be configured as stators for flow-straightening and thus recovery of rotational energy from the airflow.
The acoustic energy which is emitted from these devices is essentially dependent on the flowing out processes, overflow phenomena of bodies and rotating pressure fields. For shrouded tail-rotors there might be additional sources of noise due to body resonances and cavity effects. While the fan noise is shielded by the nacelle of the helicopter in flight direction, non-optimized shrouded tail-rotors emit still significant amounts of noise to the back and to the sides of the helicopter.
A major source for acoustic energy emitted from shrouded/ducted tail-rotors can be the turbulences between the blade tips and the shroud. The larger the distance between the blade tips and the shroud, the more acoustic energy is produced by these turbulences. This so-called "Clearance Noise" is commonly known as a moderate, but broad-band increase of the noise level. Frank Kameier in "Experimentelle Untersuchung zur Entstehung and Minderung des Blattspitzen-Wirbellärms axialer Strömungsmaschinen. Diss. TU Berlin, Hermann-Föttinger-Institut für Thermo-und Fluiddynamik. Berlin 1994" has shown that there are significant increases of noise levels for specific narrow frequency ranges, if the clearance is more than 0.003 times the rotor diameter.
Various methods have been proposed in the past to reduce the level of the annoying and disturbing noise of the anti-torque devices:                1. The documents U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,618; EP680873 respectively disclose aerodynamic optimization of the support struts and stators in order to reduce the separation of vortices;        2. The documents EP 562527; EP680871 respectively disclose unequal angular spacing of the rotor blades in order to distribute the acoustic noise over a greater number of fundamental frequencies; and        3. The documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,634,611; 8,061,962 respectively disclose harmonization of the number and arrangement of rotor blades and stators in order to reduce the interferences between the blades and the stators.
Due to the increase of the number of fundamental frequencies and their harmonics, the noise of the tail structure of the helicopter is a kind of broad band noise which is able to excite a lot of body and cavity resonances. In fact, the tail structure of the helicopter, especially the empennage has turned into a kind of "musical instrument" like a guitar, which is amplifying a broad spectrum of the remaining audible sound.
The document WO 2010 118860 discloses composite components and heat-curing resins and elastomers and relates to a plastic composite component which is formed by a thin hard plastic outer layer, at least one elastomer layer adjoining the former on the inside, and at least one metal and/or plastic carrier layer adjoining said elastomer layer on the inside and made of a fibre reinforced plastic (carbon or glass fibre). This should act among other as an impact protection part, as a splinter protection part or as a protective part against vibrations and vibration damages, against resonance, for the purpose of damping oscillations or for the purpose of acoustic damping of amongst others rotor blades and aircrafts parts.
The document EP2071561 discloses an absorbent structure for rotor noise and a rotor duct. The structure has a separation unit for arranging a porous wall at fixed distance from a rigid baffle made of glass fiber by defining cavities with a height between the porous wall and the baffle, where the height is determined to obtain maximum absorption of acoustic waves emitted at basic frequency. An additional porous wall is arranged in the cavities at intermediate height to obtain maximum absorption for another basic frequency. The porous walls have an absorbent layer made of fine-mesh fence and another absorbent layer made of fiber felt. The application of Helmholtz-Resonators in order to absorb noise and to reduce the sound level of the shrouded tail rotor is suitable to reduce the amplitudes of specific frequencies, i.e. the frequencies for which the resonators are tuned as well as for their harmonics. However it is very difficult—if not impossible—to completely reduce the broad-band noise with stochastic frequencies as it results from the operation of the shrouded tail rotor.
The document US2009014581 A1 discloses a ducted fan for a helicopter with a transverse duct and a counter-torque device supported within the duct. The counter-torque device includes a rotor rotatably mounted within the duct and a stator fixedly mounted within the duct downstream from the rotor. The rotor includes a rotor hub having a rotor axis, and rotor blades extending from the hub. The Rotor blades have a modulated angular distribution about the rotor axis. The stator includes a stator hub, and a plurality of stator vanes distributed around the stator hub. The stator vanes are angularly modulated around the stator hub.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,136 B1 discloses an absorptive acoustic liner in which the perforated facesheet has a coating of an erosion-resistant material applied thereto. The coating can be applied using a simple spraying process. The acoustic liner can be easily tuned by regulating the thickness of the coating.


The present invention refers to labels for bottles of a rigid material. In particular, a rigid body of a ceramic material reproduces writing characters in high and/or low relief and is realized by overlapping at least a first layer of terracotta with a second layer. According to the present invention, the first layer reproduces the writing characters in high and/or low relief and the second layer is a layer of enamel disposed over the first layer such to cover at least the writing characters uniformly.

Ordinary bottle labels, on which names and/or features of the product are indicated, have long been known.
Bottle labelling has become an important means of identification which allows not only presenting the bottled product to the public in a distinctive manner, but also making the final consumer know important features of the content. This is the case not only of the labelling of prestigious bottles (for example, bottles of wine or sparkling wine of big brands) but also of bottles of more ordinary products.
It is also known how the usually used labels of paper, cardboard and similar materials are not free from problems of different nature. For example, wine bottles are many times stored for long periods of time in cellars in order to keep them at the right temperature. However, an ordinary glued paper label rarely retains its entirety with the passing of time due to the effects of humidity and condensation that appear on the surface of the bottle itself. The consequence is the progressive deterioration of the label by wear and tear and the impossibility of reading it.
Although the impossibility of reading the label can apparently seem a minor technical problem, its importance is quite relevant for those who market the bottles and work in this field. Suffice it to think of the prestigious restaurants richly furnished with excellent wine bottles in their cellars or, similarly, to the producers and suppliers of bottles of wine or other prestigious beverages in general who usually supply said restaurants. In case a client of a restaurant, for example, ordered a valuable bottle and this were "not presentable" from the point of view of the label, the restaurant would most probably be forced to take another one and put that bottle aside, not being able to sell it and suffering some kind of economic loss. In other cases, the client herself could reject the bottle when it is presented to her precisely because the label is illegible, and this could cause a loss of image of the restaurant in question and/or of the producer or supplier.
A problem also exists for the conservation of the bottle in a fridge. Also in this case, humidity drops and, above all, condensation drops can significantly damage the label, as already described.
It should also be highlighted that the ordinary and customarily used labels have a high degree of absorbency. This implies that, in case of accidental spilling of liquids on the label or of a need to wash the bottle, the label could be inevitably compromised, rendering the bottle not presentable and therefore not suitable for use.
Moreover, all the customarily used paper or cardboard labels allow simple writings in ink, which can be erased, deteriorate or disappear precisely due to the action of humidity and the passing of time.
Last but not least, it should be highlighted that all the usually used labels are of the single-use type, not allowing their removal and successive new application. The removal of a standard paper or cardboard label would cause its excessive deterioration and consequently, it would be impossible to use it again.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,805 there is described a particular label composed of two ceramic layers overlapped one over the other and reproducing bar codes that are legible either to optical readers or to the naked eye. Although such label structure could apparently result suitable for the overcoming of some of the technical inconveniences indicated above, it still presents additional different disadvantages. The characters obtained thereon are indeed realized through an incision, and therefore removal of material, directly off the superior covering layer with the aim of realizing a contrast between the covering layer and the one below at sight. Still, it is evident how such a technique of incision causes a loss of homogeneity of the covering of the writing, rendering the same not very appealing. Moreover, such an incisive or abrasive technique can be the cause of possible breakages of the covering layer itself, rendering the incision of complex and very deep characters impossible. In that sense, with such a technique only very simple and not very deep linear traits can be reproduced and, as a consequence, not conspicuous to the naked eye.


Disclosed is a vehicle data abnormality determination device including a storage unit for pre-storing a 2-byte remainder term which is a result of a CRC arithmetic operation on a target area for arithmetic operations in a predetermined memory area, and an arithmetic operation unit for performing a CRC arithmetic operation while including the 2-byte remainder term in this CRC arithmetic operation. Because when performing the CRC arithmetic operation, the vehicle data abnormality determination device performs the CRC arithmetic operation while including the 2-byte remainder term in this CRC arithmetic operation after performing an arithmetic operation on the target area, the vehicle data abnormality determination device always makes the computed result be zero when the data has not been falsified, and can detect whether or not the data has been falsified easily and properly.

Conventionally, in, for example, a brushless motor type turbo actuator, data provided as a control content is stored in a storage unit, such as a microcomputer ROM or EEPROM, and a brushless motor is controlled optimally in accordance with the data, thereby providing an improvement in the fuel efficiency, and a reduction in the amount of toxic substances in exhaust gases. Therefore, when there is a change or there occurs an abnormality in the data stored in the storage unit, the change or abnormality has an influence on the fuel efficiency, elements contained in exhaust gases, etc.
Further, there is a possibility that a change or abnormality in the data stored in the storage unit causes a control operation which is not originally intended to be carried out, and this results in a deterioration of the fuel efficiency and an increase in the amount of toxic substances in exhaust gases. As a result, there is a possibility that a bad influence is exerted upon the engine.
Therefore, there is a demand that vehicles support HD OBD (On-Board Diagnostic System Requirements for 2010 and Subsequent Model-Year Heavy-Duty Engines) of CARE (California Air Resources Board).
One of the HD OBD requirements is to support a CVN (Calibration Verification Number). The CVN is a number used for verifying that "all vehicles must use an arithmetic operation algorithm of computing an independent CVN to check the integrity of an on-board computer which is mounted in each self-diagnostics unit or a unit having an important influence upon emission in which an electrically-rewritable microcomputer or memory is mounted" (however, in accordance with the newest system requirements by CARE, there is a demand to support the CVN regardless of whether or not the microcomputer or memory is electrically rewritable).
More specifically, there is a demand to compute a specific value which is a CVN and read this value from outside each self-diagnostics unit or the like. Although each parts maker needs to examine this arithmetic operation algorithm and obtain approval from CARE, it is fundamentally supposed that what can be guessed easily, such as a checksum, is not approved.
There is a possibility that in a product having a device, such as a flash microcomputer or an EEPROM, in which data can be rewritten, data are changed due to illegal rewriting of the descriptions of the data or a failure occurring in the device after shipment.
Conventionally, in order to prevent such a change in the data, for example, there is a method of setting up a password at a time of rewriting a flash microcomputer, computing a checksum on a program, and checking the check sum value at a time of booting up the flash microcomputer. Further, data stored in an EEPROM is also checked by using a checksum when a microcomputer reads the data.
However, once the password is known, the conventional method is not useful as a measure against falsification of data. Further, a problem with the checksum is that partially rewriting of the data with an evil intention of causing the check sum value not to change can be carried out relatively easily.
As a measure against these problems, an algorithm of computing a specific value which is very difficult to keep constant with respect to a partial change in the data, and which also makes it difficult to guess the computed result from the data, and checking to see whether or not the data is normal by determining whether the specific value changes is effective.
For example, in accordance with "a method of ensuring the integrity of data in a program area of a microcomputer" which is a prior art disclosed by patent reference 1, as a concrete conventional example, a memory is divided into parts in accordance with data blocks and sum check data and an error correcting code are stored together for each of the data blocks in such a way that the detection of an abnormality and restoration can be carried out for each of the data blocks.

Vehicle data abnormality determination device


Providing a CDR circuit having a stable clock extracting function and a data regenerating function with a high-speed data input process by reducing the operation speed of the phase comparator circuit. With a phase comparator circuit capable of operating with a clock signal whose period is 2 times the unit time width of the inputted data signal, the pulse width of the phase error signal, representing the difference in phase between the transition point of the data signal and the transition point of the clock signal, is extended as much as the unit time width of the data signal.

Conventionally, there have been known a variety of signal regenerating circuit systems designed for regenerating the signal received by the receiving apparatus constituting the optical communication system. The CDR (Clock and Data Recovery Circuit) is a circuit system designed to extract the clock signal from the received data signal so that the phase comparator circuit carries out phase synchronization between the clock signal and the data signal, thereby regenerate the data signal. On the other hand, the PLL (Phase Locked Loop) circuit is a circuit system designed to synchronize the clock signal from the voltage-controlled oscillator with the external clock signal by using the phase-frequency comparator circuit. The PLL circuit and the CDR circuit differ from each other in that the former is designed to compare the frequencies of the clock signals, and the latter is designed to compare the phase of the random data signal with the phase of the clock signal.
The phase comparator circuit constituting the CDR circuit is designed to represent the phase difference between the inputted data signal Din and the extracted clock signal CK in terms of the pulse width difference between the phase error signal Error and the reference signal Ref. As an example of the conventional phase comparator circuit a half-rate type linear phase comparator circuit has been disclosed by Jafar Savoj and Behzad Razavi as "A 10-Gb/s CMOS Clock and Data Recovery Circuit with a Half-Rate Linear Phase Detector", IEEE Journal of Solid-state Circuits, vol. 36, No. 5, pp. 761-769, May 2001.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional phase comparator circuit. In this circuit, the data signal Din is latched with 2 latch circuits, L1 and L2. The latch circuit L1 latches the data signal Din at the rising edge of the clock signal CK, and the latch circuit L2 latches the data signal Din at the falling edge of the clock signal CK. The exclusive OR circuit El outputs the exclusive OR (XOR) of the outputs of the latch circuits L1 and L2 as the phase error signal Error. On the other hand, the outputs Q1 and Q2 are latched respectively with 2 latch circuits L3 and L4. The latch circuit L3 latches the clock signal CK at the falling edge thereof, and the latch circuit L4 latches the clock signal CK at the rising edge thereof. The exclusive OR circuit E2 outputs the XOR of the outputs, Q3 and Q4, of the latch circuits L3 and L4 as the reference signals Ref.
FIG. 2 shows the operation of the phase comparator circuit. When there is the transition of the data signal Din, the phase error signal Error has a pulse width corresponding to the time lag between the transition edge of the data signal (represented by X1 in FIG. 2) and the rising edge (represented by Y1 in FIG. 2) of the clock signal CK and the time lag between the transition edge (represented by X2 in FIG. 2) of the data signal and the falling edge of the clock signal CK (represented by Y2 in FIG. 2). When there is the transition of the data signal Din, the reference signal Ref always has the pulse width equivalent to the width ranging from the fall to the rise of the clock signal (equivalent to the data period T). When the rising edge (or the falling edge) of the clock signal CK coincides with the center of the data signal Din to create the desirable phase relationship, the pulse width of the phase error signal Error becomes ½ of the pulse width of the reference signal Ref.
When the rising edge of the clock signal CK coincides with the point preceding by Δt (indicated as ±0.5*T, the maximum range of Δt, in FIG. 2) from the center of the data signal Din, the pulse width of the phase error signal Error decreases by Δt to ½ of the pulse width of the reference signal. When the rising edge of the clock signal CK coincides with the point after the center of the data signal Din by Δt, the pulse width of the phase error signal Error increases by Δt to ½ of the pulse width of the reference signal Ref.
In the conventional phase comparator circuit, the phase error signal Error, as being the output of the exclusive OR circuit El, is a pulse having the time interval ranging from the transition edge of the data signal Din to the transition edge of the subsequent clock signal CK. Given that the period of the data signal Din is T sec, and the data speed is f/2 Hz (in terms of the clock signal), the pulse width of the phase error signal Error is 0.5* or less. Hence, the operation speed required for the circuit is f Hz or more in terms of the frequency. That is, in order to realize the conventional phase comparator circuit and the CDR circuit incorporating such conventional phase comparator circuit, it is necessary to use the element capable of operating at the speed as fast as 2 times the speed of the input of the data.

Phase comparison circuit and CDR circuit

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


The present invention comprises an optical module, passively aligned and used in high-speed optical communication systems, having a ferrule disposed in an aperture in an upper plate of the module. The ferrule protrudes a predetermined distance through the aperture in order to guarantee butt coupling of an optical fibre to an active optical component disposed at a predetermined height on a lower plate of the module.

As seen in FIG. 1, currently optical modules 1, including transmitters, receivers and transceivers, are packaged in metal or ceramic boxes 5. Alignment between the optical fibre 16 disposed in V groove of a silicon optical bench 18 and an active optical element 14 is achieved using an active optical alignment process implemented during the assembly of the receiver module. The V groove fibre 16 is then coupled to a further fibre 10 located in a ferrule 12 attached to an aperture 7 at one end on the module.
As use of the Internet and optical fibre based communication increases, there is a growing need for faster transmission rate. Transmission rates of 10 Gb/s are becoming common and this is set to increase in the near future to 40 Gb/s and beyond.
In addition, there is a constant effort among network and communication system providers to drive down the cost of the systems, which means both component and transceiver module manufacturers must reduce the cost of their product in order to remain competitive.
An active alignment process in which the fibre is moved into position with respect to the active optical element while the element is powered is both labour intensive and time consuming, and thus expensive and not in-line with current industry efforts to reduce the cost of optical module packages.
Furthermore, due to the small size of the active area of high-speed components, such as a 10 Gb/s photodiode, very precise alignment must to be achieved between the fibre and the photodiode in order to maximize coupling efficiency. For example, a fibre placed 50 um from a photodiode will need to be placed with a 5 um tolerance in the transversal plane and a 10 um tolerance on longitudinal axis.


The invention provides an electrophoresis apparatus comprising an electrophoretic chamber containing at least on two-plate housing for a sieving matrix, each said at least one two-plate housing consisting of a cover plate and a plate for housing said sieving matrix, wherein said plate includes an optical waveguide array which is characterized by being aligned with respect to a reference direction such as to enable one or more light beams incident on the sieving matrix along said reference direction to be maintained well-confined along said reference direction within any desired length of interaction along the width of said sieving matrix.

Electrophoresis, the process whereby charged molecules migrate in an electric field, is often used to separate mixtures of peptides, proteins or nucleic acids. Electrophoresis of proteins is generally carried out in gels made up of the cross-linked polymer polyacrylamide. Samples containing proteins are loaded in wells or depressions at the top of the polyacrylamide gel and the proteins contained in each sample move into the gel in separate lanes when an electric field is applied. The polyacrylamide gel acts as a molecular sieve, slowing the migration of the proteins approximately in proportion to their size, or molecular weight. Polyacrylamide is often used as the gel matrix for short DNAs (up to a few hundred molecules), and agarose is generally used as the gel matrix for separating longer DNA molecules up to the size of the entire chromosomes.
The most common technique for detection of molecules in a slab gel during electrophoresis comprises exciting them with a laser of a suitable wavelength, collecting the ensuing fluorescence and measuring its intensity (Regnier, F. E., He, B., Lin, S. and Busse, J. (1999), "Chromatography and electrophoresis on chips: critical elements of future integrated, microfluidic analytical systems for life sciences", Trends Biotech. 17:101-106). In order to use this technique, the electrophoresed molecules should be either capable of emitting fluorescence efficiently, or labeled by another molecule which can do so. While the laser provides a collimated beam of light, a great deal of dispersion or diffraction occurs once within the gel, and therefore the effective cross-section of the beam increases with penetration into the gel to a size considerably larger than at entry thereto, and the intensity is correspondingly reduced. Thus, in order to enable each successive species of molecule that migrates across the laser path to be detected by interaction therewith, it must be ensured that only one such species of molecule at any one time is within the expanded cross-section of the laser beam. Thus, the excitation of the molecules must be conducted at a certain distance from the origin such that the different molecules have already achieved sufficient separation from each other, so that only one type of molecule interacts with the laser beam at any one time. In consequence, the migration length, and therefore the length of the slab gel must be sufficiently long to provide the required separation, which may run, for example, to at least 30 to 50 cm, depending on the gel.
Thus, when the electrophoresis apparatus is adapted for a large slab gel, as in some current DNA sequencing machines, such as in the ALFexpress DNA Analyser® (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Uppsala, Sweden), a fixed laser beam is directed into the gel through its side, perpendicular to the direction of the band migration, which excites the fluorescently labeled DNA bands. The resulting fluorescence is then detected by a series of photodiodes (each for each lane) located behind the gel at a right angle to the exciting beam (Sequencing Handbook, (2000), Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Uppsala, Sweden).
Thus, in the prior art, in order to overcome the problem of laser diffraction within the gel, a rather large sample (having sufficient molecules that are to be detected) must be used, coupled with a sufficiently long gel length to enable the required resolution to be achieved.
However, when the electrophoresis apparatus is a very narrow microfabricated capillary with a cross section of a few tens of micrometers, and the number of electrophoresed molecules is extremely small (typically at the nM range), both the excitation and collection of the emitted photons need to be focused into a tiny volume to minimize background fluorescence and to achieve the required resolution (Mathies, R. A. and Huang, X. C. (1992), "Capillary array electrophoresis: an approach to high-speed, high throughput DNA sequencing", Nature 359:167-169). One approach to achieve this has been to employ an external confocal microscope setup, which is placed close to the electrophoresis apparatus (Regnier, F. E., et al, supra). In recent years, the components of capillary electrophoresis (i.e. buffer and sample reservoirs, capillaries, electrodes) have been constantly miniaturized well into the realm of microelectronics (Colyer, C. L., Tang, T., Chiem, N. and Harrison, D. J. (1997), "Clinical potential of microchip capillary electrophoresis systems", Electrophoresis 18:1733-1741). Capillary array electrophoresis chips (CAE) which measure 50 mm×75 mm can accommodate many independent microfabricated capillaries and their injection systems (Woolley. A. T. and Mathias, R. A. (1995) "Ultra-high-speed DNA sequencing using capillary electrophoresis chips", Anal. Chem. 67:3676-3680.). However, it has been so far impossible to integrate the optical detection system on to the CAE chip, and it has remained a bulky and expensive assembly of external lasers and optical systems (Mathias, R. A., Glazer, A. N., Lao, K. and Wooley, A. T., "Electrochemical detector integrated on microfabricated capillary electrophoresis chips", 1999, The Regents of the University of California, USA). Thus, while this system enables small sample volumes to be used and with relatively short gel lengths, the detection apparatus is large, bulky and relatively expensive and complex.
An alternative method to the above detection scheme is the electrochemical detection of molecules which can be readily oxidized or reduced by electrodes, said electrodes being integrated within an electrophoresis capillary or placed in a close proximity to its end. In comparison with fluorescence detection, electrochemical detection allows for the integration of capillaries and detectors. Electrochemical detection is also very sensitive and can measure quantities as low as 10−15 mole (Takenaka, S., Uto, Y., Kondo, H., Hiara, T. and Takagi, M. (1994) "Electrochemically active DNA probes: detection of target DNA sequences at femtomole level by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection", Anal Biochem. 218:436-443). However, this technique is still not widely used, probably because of difficulties in the detection of small currents or voltages in a capillary, which is subjected to many kV during electrophoresis, and also because of the need for very accurate placement and alignment of the electrodes.
Thus, in the prior art, either long gel lengths are required to provide the required resolution, or, alternatively, when short gel lengths are possible, these systems nevertheless require cumbersome and expensive confocal microscopy devices for detection.

Electrophoresis apparatus and a plate therefor


An integrated circuit (IC) with voltage regulation includes high power and low power domains, low and high voltage regulators and a low power regulator. The low voltage regulator powers the high and low power domains when the IC is in a HIGH power mode. The low power regulator receives a voltage from a high voltage regulator and powers the low power domain when the IC is in a LOW power mode. The IC includes a switching module that disconnects the low voltage regulator from the low power domain when the output voltage of the high voltage regulator is lower than a threshold voltage during power-up and connects the low voltage regulator to the low power domain when the voltage regulated by the high voltage regulator exceeds the threshold voltage.

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits, and, more particularly, to a voltage regulation system for an integrated circuit.
Many integrated circuits (ICs) today including system-on-chips (SoCs) integrate various digital and analog components on a single chip. Such ICs also include different power domains including high and low power domains. The high power domain includes components that operate when the IC is in a HIGH power mode and are powered down when the IC is in a LOW power mode. The low power domain includes components that operate when the IC is in the HIGH and LOW power modes. ICs with multiple power domains require multiple power supplies that are served by voltage regulators. The voltage regulators provide different voltages to the components in the high and low power domains based on the IC mode of operation.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional integrated circuit (IC) 100 that is operable in both HIGH and LOW power modes and includes a low voltage regulator 102 (hereinafter "LV regulator"), a high voltage regulator 104 (hereinafter "HV regulator"), a low power low voltage regulator 106 (hereinafter "LP_LV regulator"), a low power domain 108, a high power domain 110, and a switch 112. The LV and HV regulators 102 and 104 are connected to an external power supply (not shown). The switch 112 is connected between the LV regulator 102 and the low power domain 108. The LV regulator 102 provides a first regulated voltage VLV to both the low and high power domains 108 and 110 when the IC 100 is in the HIGH power mode and is switched off when the IC 100 is in the LOW power mode. The HV regulator 104 generates a second regulated voltage VHV when the IC 100 is in either of the HIGH or LOW power modes. The LP_LV regulator 106 receives the second regulated voltage VHV and provides a third regulated voltage VLP—LV to the low power domain 108 when the IC 100 is in the LOW power mode. The LP_LV regulator 106 is an internal low power regulator implemented using a p-type, metal-oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor 114 having its source and body terminals connected together. An intrinsic diode 116 is formed between the drain and source or body terminals of the PMOS transistor 114. In order to avoid undesirable circuit behavior, the intrinsic diode 116 is usually kept reverse biased (e.g., VLP—LV<VHV).
The low power domain 108 functions in both the HIGH and LOW power modes, while the high power domain 110 functions in the HIGH power mode and is powered down in the LOW power mode. The switch 112 is closed when the IC 100 is in the HIGH power mode, which allows the LV regulator 102 to provide the first regulated voltage VLV to the low power domain 108.
In both the HIGH and LOW power modes, the first regulated voltage VLV is lower than the second regulated voltage VHV. Therefore, the intrinsic diode 116 is reverse biased because its body terminal is at a higher potential than its drain terminal. However, conditions such as power-on-reset (POR), sudden failure, and accidental resets may cause the IC 100 to reset, causing the IC 100 to power-on and transition to the HIGH power mode (referred to as power-up). During power-up, the output voltage of the LV regulator 102 may reach a steady-state voltage level before the output voltage of the HV regulator 104. Therefore, the output voltage of the LV regulator 102 may be higher than the output voltage of the HV regulator 104 for a transient period. Since the switch 112 is closed during power-up, the intrinsic diode 116 in the LP_LV regulator 106 is forward biased, causing a short-circuit path between the LV and HV regulators 102 and 104, by way of the switch 112 and the LP_LV regulator 106. When such a condition occurs, a high supply current is drawn from the LV regulator 102, which can damage some internal components of the IC 100.
One technique to overcome the aforementioned problem is to employ a specific power sequence. Power sequencing controls the order in which the LV and HV regulators 102 and 104 are powered up or down. However, power sequencing is not always desirable because it requires complex applications to prevent the aforementioned problem. Another known technique entails applying a high voltage to a well region of the PMOS transistor 114, which renders the intrinsic diode 116 non-conductive and thus prevents the short-circuit path. However, applying this high voltage increases power consumption of the IC 100.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a voltage regulating system in an integrated circuit that avoids damaging internal components of the integrated circuit caused by the aforementioned problem.

Voltage regulation system for integrated circuit


A separation system including a horizontal separation vessel having a gas separation chamber defined by an upper wall of the separation vessel, a gas dome extending above the upper wall, a baffle plate disposed within the separation vessel, and a level of a lower surface of the baffle plate. The lower surface of the baffle plate is disposed below a level of an upper surface of a liquid weir disposed within the separation vessel. The upper surface of the liquid weir may set a liquid level within the separation vessel. The gas separation chamber may include a hydrostatic pressure seal zone between the level of the upper surface of the liquid weir and the level of the lower surface of the baffle plate. Liquid within the hydrostatic pressure seal zone may prevent a gas disposed within the gas separation chamber from escaping into a remainder of the separation vessel.

Liquid/gas separators operating at atmospheric pressure, sometimes referred to as gas busters, are standard equipment on virtually all oil and gas rigs. Because gas busters operate at atmospheric pressure, they offer operational simplicity by not requiring control valves for the gas discharge line or the liquid discharge line. Pressurized liquid/gas separators are traditionally designed to operate with moderate backpressure, e.g., less than 50 psi. Pressurized separators are utilized to overcome line pressure losses when an extensive length of vent line is required to safely flare or vent hazardous gas at a specific distance from other operations for safety reasons. Pressurized separators may be used with high H2S content.
Standard gas busters utilize a U-tube on the liquid outlet line that creates a liquid hydraulic seal to prevent gaseous components from exiting the separator through the liquid outlet. The hydrostatic pressure created by the U-tube may determine the maximum allowable pressure under which a gas buster can operate.

Closed gas buster separation system and method


A cement system for use in treating lost circulation includes a slurry of cement, water and a super-absorbent polymer which absorbs free water in the slurry to form a gel—ore preferably a solid-like structure—when placed in the well, and which releases the absorbed water to the cement hydration reaction as the cement sets. The absorption of water causes the slurry to develop a solid-like structure. In one embodiment, the superabsorbent is polyacrylamide or modified crosslinked poly(meth)acrylate. Also presented is a method of treating lost circulation by pumping the above-mentioned cement system.

During the construction of underground wells, it is common, during and after drilling, to place a liner or casing, secured by cement pumped into the annulus around the outside of the liner. The cement serves to support the liner and to provide isolation of the various fluid-producing zones through which the well passes. This later function is important since it prevents fluids from different layers contaminating each other. For example, the cement prevents formation fluids from entering the water table and polluting drinking water, or prevents water from passing into the well instead of oil or gas.
A problem which is encountered in the placement of cement in wells is the development of gel strength in situations in which materials are easily lost from the cement slurry before it is set in the correct position. One example of this is in the placement of cement for lost circulation problems. In normal cement systems, the cement is pumped into the well in a slurry that is very fluid and gel strength develops during the early part of the setting reaction. However, this can take a significant time during which some or all of the components of the cement slurry can be lost to the formation. It has been proposed to add fibers to cement slurries to help build a filter cake and retain the cement in position. However, the lack of a gel structure still makes loss of materials to the formation a problem.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide well cementing systems that can be placed by pumping in the normal manner, and which contain materials that favor the development of the gel strength for curing lost circulation.

Compositions and methods for treating lost circulation


An improved air-assisted spray nozzle assembly includes a section for receiving liquid and gas streams and a spray tip located downstream therefrom. The spray tip has a downstream chamber for receiving the liquid and gas with passages, each terminating with a cavity. The cavity cooperates with complementary notched portions for directing discharging flow streams in a predetermined direction for defining a well defined conical or flat spray pattern.

Spray nozzles for atomizing liquid with a pressurized gas such as air are known in the art. For example, the liquid is sometimes broken up mechanically and by pressurized air in an atomizing chamber located upstream of the spray nozzle. The atomized liquid is then ejected from the nozzle through one or more discharge openings formed at the distal end of the nozzle.
An often-sought goal in atomizing and spraying apparatus is to achieve high efficiency. High efficiency in the context of this invention refers to using as little air energy as possible to break liquid of a given volume into particles having a relatively large total surface area. Larger surface areas are created by breaking the liquid into very fine particles.
A further goal is to provide nozzles having the capability of discharging the liquid in different spray patterns. By way of example, some applications require a narrow angle round spray, other applications may require a wide angle spray such as a full cone spray. Still other applications may require a flat spray.
In prior atomizing/spraying apparatus, the desired spray pattern is usually generated by forcing the atomized liquid through a properly shaped discharge orifice construction disposed in the nozzle. A narrow angle round spray, for example, may be created by providing the nozzle with a single round orifice. A wide angle round spray pattern may be generated by a nozzle having a plurality of angularly spaced diverging orifices. An elongated slot or an elliptically shaped orifice in the discharge nozzle produces a substantially flat spray pattern.
Nozzles having discharge orifices of the above type are essentially passive with respect to effecting further atomization of the liquid as the liquid is discharged from the nozzle. Certain nozzles produce further atomization during flow of the liquid through the nozzle, however, for the most part, the atomization effected by the nozzle has limited impact on the overall efficiency of the atomizing and spraying apparatus. In addition, these nozzles fail to produce a relatively constant spray angle over a varying range of applied air pressures.


A passive thermal protection system that overcomes the disadvantages of the polyurethane "water wall" includes a fiberformed ceramic insulation, a plurality of electrodes embedded in the insulation to define a wick panel, and a gelled ceramic sol in the wick panel. The system can be prepared by introducing the sol into the wick panel with its subsequent gelling by applying a direct current across the electrodes. Cooling water is held in the gelled sol to provide passive cooling, yet the system easily achieves even distribution of the water (even when subject to accelerations) without the use of pre-gelled or viscous reagents.

Aerospace vehicles (spacecraft or high speed aircraft) encounter high skin temperatures because of resistance with the surrounding atmosphere and develop large temperature gradients across the skin. To protect these vehicles, several thermal protection systems have been used combining active and passive cooling techniques. Two problems are faced. First, the skin material must be able to withstand the high temperature. Second, the large gradient across the skin must be controllable to maintain the compartment within the vehicle at a habitable temperature.
For spacecraft, the high skin temperatures require ceramic skins and the gradient problem is resolved simply by the short duration of the exposure (during lift-off or re-entry). Low density ceramics are required to reduce the vehicle weight, yet the insulation must be sufficiently, strong and durable to withstand the rigors of space travel. In copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 698,496, Anna Bendig (Baker), now U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,321, describes a fiberformed ceramic insulation possessing desirable physical and chemical properties for this space vehicle application.
For high speed aircraft, the problem that is most difficult to solve is the thermal gradient Longer flights, even at lower maximum skin temperatures, can create internal temperatures that approach the skin temperature unless cooling is provided A passive thermal protection system for the X-20 aircraft used a water-saturated, open-cell polyurethane foam (sponge) between the metallic skin and the inner compartment wall. Cooling capitalized on the large latent heat of vaporization of the retained water.
This sponge "water wall" concept presented numerous problems. The foam could degrade or decompose after extended exposure to high temperatures, especially if it dried out. Minor decomposition posed outgassing problems; extensive decomposition posed risks of total system failure. The water in the foam had to remain dispersed throughout the foam, even during high accelerations, for the system to operate effectively. Accordingly, a gelling agent was used to thicken the water. To be compatible with the foam, cyanides were often used in the gelling agent, posing toxicological problems both during installation and use. Repair and inspection of the system (which was essential because of the risk of decomposition of the foam) required removal of the skin. Such inspection hindered reusability of the vehicles because it was time-consuming and required skilled labor The foam was difficult to saturate, and local discontinuities in the water concentration posed the threat of system failure Accordingly, exotic radiographic inspection techniques and water-filling techniques were developed to ensure even and complete dispersion of the water throughout the foam.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,482,111 and 4,592,950, LeTouche of Aerospatiale describes thermal protection or dissipation screens that include a hot wall and a cool wall separated by an insulating layer. The layer includes a stratified hydrating element, a stratified overheating element, and a porous stratified refractory element. The LeTouche system maintains the temperature of the cool wall at or below the vaporization temperature of the hydrating element through the evaporization of the element. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,482,111, LeTouche uses a supple or flexible plastic or ceramic material to hold a gelled liquid, and supplements the cooling achieved by evaporation by including carbon in the refractory element to react with the steam that is created to form water-gas in an endothermic (heat absorbing) reaction.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,592,950, LeTouche incorporates a reactive substance into the refractory element and a membrane that is impermeable until a predetermined temperature is reached or exceeded. The LeTouche systems are passive devices to protect flight recorders and other critical elements from catastrophic events, and are not designed for reuse or recharging.
Active cooling (refrigeration) requires complicated mechanical systems that are expensive to build and expensive to maintain. Such systems generally are not as reliable as passive systems. With active cooling, it is difficult to avoid localized hot spots without including sophisticated sensors and plumbing in the system.
These problems are substantially overcome with the passive thermal protection system of the present invention.


A process for bonding filament with aqueous based polyethylene terephthalate or polyurethane bonding agents via a foam delivery system is disclosed. The process includes the steps of: (a) providing a filament; (b) providing a foam prepared by foaming a solution comprising an agent selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate or polyurethane bonding agents; (c) applying a foam to said filament; and (d) drying and curing said filament.

The present invention relates to a process for bonding filament with aqueous based polyethylene terephthalate or polyurethane bonding agents via a foam delivery system.
Historically, approaches for treating filament such as sewing thread have focused on applying a compound on the surface of the filament. This has usually been achieved by applying an organic solvent solution of the compound to the filament followed by solvent evaporation. Recently, radiation has been used to activate the primed surface of the filament. However due to pressing environmental concerns and economic feasibility, it is desirable to replace those systems with an aqueous based system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,922 discloses a process for the bonding of lightweight fleeces. The process involves wetting a fleece with cold water, subjecting the fleece to suction extraction to remove excess water, impregnating the wetted fleece with a liquid bonding agent, heating the fleece impregnated with the bonding agent, and winding it up. U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,922 discloses that the amount of binder applied is highly dependent on the desired end product. It neither teaches a range for the amount of bonding agent to apply nor does it suggest the use of polyurethane or polyethylene terephthalate aqueous based bonding agents. Additionally, it is directed toward lightweight fleeces, not filaments.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,847,116 discloses a method of manufacturing a composite wet press felt fabric in which a homogeneous foam of polymeric resin particles, binder material, and a solvent is deposited on the surface of the fabric. The foam is distributed on the surface of the fabric in a uniformly thick layer. Heat treatment is applied to the base fabric to evaporate the solvent in the foam, to fuse the polymeric resin particles to each other and to the base fabric, and to cure the binder material. Representative polymeric resins are polyolefins such as polyethylenes and polyurethanes. The binders can be high temperature resistant resins which are applied as liquids and which cure to a solid film under heat.
German Patent DE 4327783A1 relates to a bonded sewing thread in which bonding is achieved by impregnating the outer surface of the thread with at least one precursor material which can be activated before the thread is used. After activation, the precursor is chemically changed into a product which increases the bonding of the thread.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,315 relates to an apparatus for applying a thin layer of liquid systems to fibers, threads, or sheets which are moved uniformly in a linear direction. Liquid systems may be lubricants, antistatic agents, emulsifiers, wetting agents, and bactericides. They may be applied uniformly, in controllable quantities, and in the form of a foam to fibers, threads, or sheets. The fibers, threads, or sheets to be coated may be of polyamides, polyesters, polyacrilonitriles, polyolefins, carbon, glass, asbestos, or aluminum oxide. However, the process is particularly suitable for threads and fibers of polyamide-6. No reference is made to the aqueous based bonding agents of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,533,167 relates to an apparatus and to a method of applying a liquid adhesive to a web of fibrous material. The method comprises supporting the web adjacent and above, but out of contact with, the exposed surface of a pool of liquid adhesive. Gas is forced under pressure upwardly from below the surface of the pool to form bubbles. The web is then passed through the bubbles causing them to burst and deposit their liquid adhesive on the web. The web of fibers is then heated and dried. Although U.S. Pat. No. 2,533,167 teaches the application of adhesives to fiber, it does not disclose the aqueous based bonding agents of the present invention.
xe2x80x9cCoating Carbon Fibers with Thermoplastic Polymers Using Aqueous Foamxe2x80x9d by R. R. Chary and D. E. Hirt discusses a process using aqueous foam as a carrier medium to deposit polymer on fiber tow such as carbon fibers. No reference is made to the aqueous based bonding agents of the present invention.
A process for bonding filament with aqueous based polyethylene terephthalate or polyurethane bonding agents via a foam delivery system is disclosed. The process includes the steps of: (a) providing the filament; (b) providing a foam prepared by foaming a solution comprising an agent selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate or polyurethane bonding agents; (c) applying the foam to said filament; and (d) drying and curing said filament.

Process for making a bonded sewing thread with aqueous based bonding agents via foam delivery system


A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes determining an action to be performed with respect to a packet corresponding to a new flow received at a network device and determining whether a new entry comprising an indication of the determined action can be added to a flow table of the network device. The determination of whether a new entry can be added to the flow table is made with reference to reservation information specified in a port profile associated with the new flow. Responsive to a determination that the new entry can be added, the new entry is added to the flow table. In one embodiment, determining whether the new entry can be added comprises determining whether an existing entry can be aged out based on the reservation information specified in the associated port profile.

Historically, packet-based processing has been implemented by applying one of two models, including a packet-based datapath model and a flow-based datapath model. In a flow-based datapath model, data that is searched, retrieved, or calculated during processing of the first packet of the flow is cached for reuse during processing of subsequent packets of the same flow. A flow table is built and maintained at each host and each flow table entry corresponds to and includes essential identifying and switching information concerning the flow. Entries are added to the flow table either during the processing of the first packet of the flow appearing at the flow-based datapath or in response to a control plane command issued prior to the first packet being encountered. When a packet is received at a node, if the packet is associated with a flow table entry, the entry is retrieved from memory and used to grant the packet the required services with minimal additional memory access.
In a flow-based datapath model, such as OpenFlow, for example, the flow table in the datapath, or fast path, is programmed as a result of the action taken for the same flow in the slow path. For example, in a digital virtual switch ("DVS"), such as Nexus 1000V, available from Cisco Systems, Inc., of San Jose, Calif., a packet is sent to the slow path for further processing if there is a "flow miss" (i.e., there is no flow table entry for the flow) in the fast path. Once the packet is processed by the slow path, a corresponding flow is programmed in the fast path with the switching decision by adding an entry to the flow table. Entries remain in the flow table until they are removed, or "aged out," for one of a variety of reasons. Understandably, using this model, flow table space, or "flow space," is a critical resource. If the space is not used efficiently, the result will be increased look-up times or packets being relegated to the slow path.

System and method for efficient use of flow table space in a network environment


A method and system for authorizing access to a product to limit suspected cross-region access is provided. The system receives from a customer device a product key that identifies a product and a product region. The system identifies a customer region indicating where the customer device is located. The system authorizes the customer's access to the product unless the product region does not match the customer region and the blocking of access is confirmed by applying a blocking rule so that access to the product is authorized even though a cross-region access is suspected.

The sale of new products has traditionally been through brick-and-mortar channels. To purchase a product, a customer typically travels from their home or work, to a store, selects the product, pays for the product, travels back to their home or work, and then uses the product at their home or work. Because customers physically need to travel to a store, the geographic region serviced by a store is typically constrained because customers will, with all other things being equal, travel to the closest store to purchase a product. The geographic region serviced by a store may also be constrained by governmental regions that are defined by governmental organizations, such as country, state, county, or city, as certain products may only be adapted to operate under the rules of such governmental organizations. For example, because different countries supply electricity at different voltages (e.g., 120v or 240v), a product sold in one country may not work in a different country. Even if a product could be used in a different region, the customer experience may be adversely impacted as the product may be adapted to the language, customs, and so on, of a particular region.
Product suppliers (e.g., retailers and manufacturers) may price a product differently for different regions (i.e., geographic regions and governmental regions) for various reasons. For example, a retailer who wants to attract new customers to a new store or keep existing customers in face of stiff competition may price a product at a low price in a certain region. As another example, a product supplier may want to price a product higher in regions with a high cost of doing business. Factors that may influence the cost of doing business include the cost of complying with government regulations, tax rates, currency exchange rates, the cost of living, the cost of product liability insurance, and so on.
Assuming that a product sold in one region can be used in another region, customers in a region in which a product is sold at a high price may travel to and purchase the product in a region where the product is sold at a low price. When pricing a product in a low-price region, a product supplier may factor into the price the revenue that may be lost from high-price regions because of sales in a low-price region.
Although cross-region purchasing has been somewhat of a problem for product suppliers, the problem has been traditionally limited to near-region boundaries because the cost of the time and travel may outweigh the cost savings of the lower price. The problem can even be limited when a product is sold via electronic commerce because the web pages serving in different regions can have prices that are appropriate to that region, and the product supplier can constrain shipment of a product to only the region where the product was purchased.
The problem is, however, not so limited for digital products such as computer programs, music, and video, which may be distributed on DVD or CD or electronically. For example, when a customer purchases a computer program from a brick-and-mortar retailer or through an electronic commerce retailer, the customer may be provided with a product key. A product key is typically a sequence of 16 (4-by-4) or 25 (5-by-5) alphanumeric characters. The product key is evidence that the customer purchased the product. To use the product, the customer may need to provide that product key electronically (e.g., via the Internet) to an authorization system so that the product key can be verified and access authorized. In the case of a DVD or CD, the authorization may result in a code being provided to the customer's computer so that the product can be used on that computer. In the case of electronic distribution, the authorization may allow the product to be downloaded to the customer's computer or allow the customer to set up and account to access the product as an on-line service (e.g., via a cloud).
One difficulty with the distribution of digital products is that it is relatively inexpensive to ship DVDs or CDs and essentially free to send product keys between regions. As a result, software products sold in one region may easily be accessed and used in a different region. Such cross-region use may result in loss of revenue for the product supplier, adverse user experiences, violation of governmental regulations, and so on.

Product authorization with cross-region access


An apparatus for maintaining an intravascular access device in position at an access point on a limb of a patient includes a needle immobilizing unit engaging the needle member and preventing it from dislodgement from the blood vessel, a tube locking member locking the connecting tube in place and preventing it from being separated from the needle member, and a strap which supports the needle immobilizing unit and the locking member immovably on the limb of a patient. For further support of the apparatus in place, a splint assembly is provided which includes two splint members, forearm splint member which is secured to the forearm part of the limb and arm/hand splint member which is securable to either the arm or hand of the limb. The splint members can be used separately or coupled to each other; joint between the splint members has a latching mechanism allowing to adjust the angle between the forearm and arm/hand splint members. The strap carrying the needle immobilizing unit and the tube locking member is secured to a splint member and facilitates in securing the splint.

The present invention relates to surgical equipment, and more particularly, to a device for maintaining intravascular access devices, such as needles, tubes, and catheters in fixed position while administering intravascular therapy, wherein the risk of accidental dislodgement of the intravascular access device during the therapy is minimized substantially.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a structure for immovably maintaining an intrasvascular access device in fixed position on a limb of a patient, with the structure including a needle immobilizing unit and a tube locking member securing a connecting tube of the intra-vascular access device in fixed position to the needle member. The needle immobilizing unit includes a substantially transparent shield covering the needle member that allows immediate visual recognition of any dislodgement of the intra-vascular access device whenever such may occur.
Further, the present invention relates to a hemodialysis and vascular splint which conveniently and comfortably supports intravascular access devices at a patient""s extremity for an extended period of time which is required by certain intravascular therapies including hemodialysis. More particularly, the present invention relates to a splint which comprises two independent members assemblable and easily separable each from the other so that each may be used independently or in combination dependent upon the specific procedure.
The present invention also relates to a splint for supporting intravascular device(s) in fixed position which includes one or two separable splint members where each is affixed to a respective body part by at least one strap which is slidable along the splint member and whose length is adjustable. The splint also maintains an intravascular access device (the needle member and the connecting tube) thereon in the locked position thereby preventing unwanted dislodgement of the intravascular access device during therapy.
In the field of surgery, intravascular access devices are widely used for many purposes. For example, the vascular access can be venous when fluids, such as medicine or supporting fluids, are desired to be given to a patient undergoing a surgical procedure. In medical emergencies, intravenous access may be needed to administer fluids, antibiotics, and other medication especially when the patient cannot ingest such through the mouth.
Another type of vascular access, arterial access, is needed to monitor the patient""s blood gases and may be used for monitoring his or her vital signs. Patients on hemodialysis may need intravascular access two to three times each week for a period of three hours or longer.
If a needle is dislodged in any of these procedures, and the dislodgement goes unnoticed, severe bleeding may occur. In such instances, the patient may lose a large amount of blood before the medical personnel recognizes the emergency situation. In some cases where the patient is heparinized, i.e., blood is prevented from clotting, the patient may bleed to death, unless the bleeding is recognized and stopped. In hemodialysis, the blood loss in such emergency situations could be as high as several hundred millimeters each minute.
In order to impede separation of the connecting tube from a needle of the intravascular access device, traditionally, strips of tape are applied to a patient""s limb which secures the connecting tube and the needle in the proper position on the patient""s body. Disadvantageously, this technique abrades hair and skin of the patient in the contact areas and in some instances, may cause serious unwanted skin reaction.
Several attempts have been made in the art to develop a technique which would prevent the vascular bleeding when intravascular access is desired. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,597 describes the combination radial artery occluder and wrist splint used to simultaneously immobilize the wrist joint and prevent blood flow through a puncture wound or incision in the radial artery following an invasive medical procedure, such as catheterization. The device generally includes three components: a wrist splint that extends along the distal end of the patient""s forearm and the back of the wrist and hand; an adjustable pressure strap attached to the splint that extends around the distal end of the forearm; and an adjustable securing strap attached to the splint that extends around the palm of the patient""s hand. The pressure strap includes a pressure pad that is selectively positioned to occlude blood flow through only the radial artery, while allowing blood flow through the ulnar artery. During use, the securing strap is tightened around the palm of the hand to help immobilize the wrist joint. The adjustable pressure strap is slowly tightened onto the forearm or wrist over the wound until radial artery blood flow has stopped at the wound. Although intended for stopping blood from punctured arteries, this device is not contemplated for use during the intravascular access procedure, and therefore, no means are envisioned for securing an intravascular access device to the patient""s limb.
A prior art splint for use with intravenous lines is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,425,913 and 4,502,477. The splint supports the hand, wrist, and at least a portion of the forearm of a patient during the time, when the patient is connected to a lifeline, e.g., intravenous tube. The splint incorporates a substantially rigid molded body defining several shapes. A dome is provided for mating engagement with the palm of the hand and a tranversely arcuate curved channel extends away from the dome to receive the wrist and a portion of the forearm. The molded body defines securing means for the lifeline, as in the form of rolled or beaded edges of the body which also add strength and rigidity. The molded body is to be physically attached to a patient by the straps, with a hand strap extending somewhat diagonally in relation to the dome, while a pair of forearm straps extend laterally from the opposed side of the molded body. The length of the straps is adjusted by a Velcro type contact fastening member. In use, after the splint is positioned onto the patient and the molded body is secured in place with the contact straps, the intravenous lifeline is connected with the tube anchored in a channel extending along the edges of the molded body. As is readily understandable for those skilled in the art, this splint is intended merely as a support to immobilize the forearm and hand of the patient during intravenous therapy and also as a support for a lifeline, i.e., connecting tube through which liquid is supplied to a needle or a catheter. Disadvantageously, no means are contemplated which would secure the connecting tube to the needle introduced into the blood vessel.
Therefore, in such prior art, a dangerous, undesirable disconnection of the lifeline from the needle may occur. It is a further drawback of the splint described in the previous paragraphs that it is not designed for use as a support for a needle or catheter inserted into the blood vessel of a limb. As a further disadvantage, it may be recognized that different sizes of the splint are generally desirable to accommodate the physical dimensions of different patients, as well as different dimensional needs for the right and the left limbs of the same patient which may require different splints.
A fluid administration splint is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,270. This splint is intended as a shield for a catheter taped to the leg of an animal. The splint includes an extendable splint member hinged to an extendable cover for accommodating different lengths of a leg, and a latch for securing the splint assembly to a door of a cage containing the animal receiving intravenous fluid. Similar to the splint described in previous paragraphs, the fluid administration splint shown in this prior art is merely a support to immobilize the limb during intravenous therapy.
As it is readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, none of the splints discussed in the previous paragraphs contemplates any means which would secure the needle or a catheter, immovably with respect to its connecting tube during the intravascular access therapy. Further, none of them are intended for use with the arm part, forearm part, and/or the hand of the patient, in combination or individually.
Therefore, despite numerous attempts in the field of surgery to provide means or technique which would reliably secure the intravascular access device in position, no satisfactory technique has been developed to date prior to the subject system.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for supporting an intravascular access device in position during a therapy while the needle of the intravascular access device is introduced into the blood vessel, whereby the needle is prevented from being dislodged from its position and from being separated from a connecting tube.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device for supporting the intravascular access device in position at any portion of the upper limb of a patient undergoing a therapy, i.e., hand, arm part, or forearm part of the upper limb.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a device for supporting the intravascular access device in position on the upper limb during an intravascular procedure, which is substantially universal for any size or gender of patient.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a splint for supporting an intravascular access device in fixed position which includes one or two separable independent splint members each of which is securable to a respective part of the upper limb of the patient and which further can be used independently or in combination with each other, thus providing a flexible and universal splint.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a splint for supporting the intravascular access device in position on the upper limb of the patient in which each splint member is secured to a respective part of the upper limb of the patient by at least one strap slidable along the longitudinal axis of the splint member to occupy the precise position proximal to the point of intravascular access. The length of each strap is adjustable and each strap carries a needle immobilizing unit with a tube locking member for securing the connecting tube to the needle. In this manner, the connecting tube cannot be dislodged from the needle inserted into the blood vessel.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a splint for supporting an intravascular access device in fixed position which includes a needle immobilizing unit displaceable along and around the respective part of the upper limb of the patient which is positioned in close proximity to the point of the needle access into the blood vessel. The access device secures the needle in place and locks the connecting tube to the needle for the period of time needed to perform a surgical procedure or therapy.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a splint for supporting the intravascular access device in position on the upper limb of the patient, wherein each splint member is secured to a respective part of the upper limb of the patient by individual straps, the length of each is individually adjustable.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a splint for supporting the intravascular access device in position, where the arm and forearm splint members (or the forearm and hand splint members) are pivotally connected to each other and where an elbow joint between the arm and forearm splint members (or a wrist joint between the forearm and hand splint members) can lock these members angled to each other at varying angles, i.e., 90xc2x0, 180xc2x0, 220xc2x0, etc., for further convenience and comfort of the patient.
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus for maintaining intravascular access device in position at an access point on a limb of a patient includes a needle immobilizing unit and a tube locking member carried on a supporting structure which supports the needle immobilizing unit in close proximity to the access point on the limb of the patient.
During the therapy, the needle immobilizing unit engages the needle member and locks the same in place, thereby preventing the needle member from dislodgement from the blood vessel. The tube locking member locks the connecting tube of the intravascular access device in place, thereby preventing the connecting tube from being separated from the needle member.
Preferably, the supporting structure constitutes a strap member encircling a respective part (arm, forearm, or hand) of the limb of the patient. The length of the strap member is adjustable for substantially matching a circumference of the respective portion of the limb of the patient.
The needle immobilizing unit includes a transparent shield secured to the strap member which has a semi-cylindrical central portion extending longitudinally along the substantially transparent shield and a pair of fans extending symmetrically from the center portion of the transparent shield. The fans engage the skin on the limb of the patient during the therapy while the central portion of the transparent shield receives the intravascular access device therewithin. It is important that locking wings extend at the proximal ends of the fans to engage the needle wings of the intravascular access device, thereby preventing the needle member from being dislodged from the blood vessel.
The substantially transparent shield allows the medical personnel to observe any bleedings which may occur at the access point on the limb of the patient during the therapy and thus to allow necessary measures to be taken.
Preferably, a plurality of holes are disposed across the surface of the transparent shield to permit ventilation.
The tube locking member is affixed on the strap member a predetermined length from the needle immobilizing unit. The tube locking unit has either a clip type structure or a tube housing unit which has a bottom portion and a top portion pivotally joined each to the other at one end thereof and having latching mechanism at another end thereof. When the top and bottom portions of the tube housing unit are latched, a tube receiving channel is formed therein extending laterally through the tube housing unit, so that the connecting tube is impeded from decoupling from the needle member of the intravascular access device. Preferably, fine teeth are provided within the tube receiving channel to fixedly hold the connecting tube.
Optionally, the tube housing unit may have two tube receiving channels of differing cross-sectional dimensions for receiving connecting tubes of different sizes.
From another aspect, the present invention is a splint assembly which comprises two independent splint members pivotally coupled to each other and easily separable from each other. The splint members can be used independently or in joint arrangement. One splint member may be secured to the forearm part of the limb of the patient while the second splint member may be secured either to the arm part of the limb of the patient or to the hand of the patient.
Each splint member has slots extending longitudinally along the length thereof, and one or more straps sliding along the longitudinal slots. Each strap has an adjusting mechanism so that the length of the strap can be adjusted to correspond exactly to the circumference of the limb of the patient.
There are two basic kinds of straps used with the splint assembly of the present invention. One type, which is a supporting strap, serves to support the splint member on the respective part of the limb of the patient. Another type of the strap carries a needle immobilizing unit and tube locking member thereon, and serves the two fold purpose of immobilizing the intravascular access device in position and simultaneously supporting the splint member at the respective part of the limb of the patient.
At the joint between two splint members a joint assembly is provided which releasably pivotally couples the splint members to each other. The joint assembly includes a latching mechanism locking the splint members in a desired angled relationship therebetween. For example, the splint members may be locked at 90xc2x0 at the elbow joint when used for the arm/forearm parts of the limb of the patient. When used for the forearm/hand parts of the limb of the patient, the splint members can be locked at 200xc2x0 with respect to each other.
Another aspect of the present invention directs itself to a method for maintaining an intravascular access device in position at an access point on a limb of a patient during therapy. According to this method, a strap member carrying a needle immobilizing unit and a tube locking member is positioned at a respective part of the limb of the patient to encircle this respective part adjacent to the access point of the blood vessel.
The length of the strap member is adjusted to match the circumference of the part of the limb of the patient. The needle member of the intravascular access device is then locked in position while being introduced into the blood vessel by means of the needle immobilizing unit which has locking wings engaged with the needle wings. After this, the connecting tube is locked within the tube locking unit carried on the strap member.
Optionally, one or more splint members can be secured to the limb of the patient by the strap member carrying the needle immobilizing unit and the tube locking member.
If two splint members are used, before being attached to the limb of the patient, the splint members are coupled each to the other at respective ends thereof.
Preferably, the method further includes the steps of latching the first and second splint members in a desired angular relationship which optimizes comfortability of the patient undergoing the therapy.

Intravascular access device positioning system