A reservoir (402) for connection to a spray gun has a lid (410) provided with an outlet spout (415) that is rotatably received in a socket of an inlet adaptor (419) connectable to the spray gun. The lid (410) has a spring leg (425) spaced from the outlet spout (415) with a projection (426) at the distal end for self-latching engagement with a flange (423) of the adaptor (419) to secure releasably the reservoir (402) to the spray gun. The engagement of the projection (426) and flange (423) enables the reservoir (401) to be rotated through 360° to adjust the position of the reservoir (402) while attached to the spray gun.

Spray guns are widely used in vehicle body repair shops when re-spraying a vehicle that has been repaired following an accident. In the known spray guns, the liquid is contained in a reservoir attached to the gun from where it is fed to a spray nozzle. On emerging from the spray nozzle, the liquid is atomised and forms a spray with compressed air supplied to the nozzle. The liquid may be gravity fed or suction fed or, more recently, pressure fed by an air bleed line to the reservoir from the compressed air line to the spray gun.
Traditionally, the liquid is contained in a rigid pot mounted on the spray gun by engagement of complementary screw threads on the pot and gun. In this way, the pot can be removed for cleaning or replacement. Typically, the pot is secured to the gun empty and has a removable lid by means of which the liquid can be added to the pot while attached to the gun. On completion of spraying, the pot can be removed and the gun and pot cleaned for re-use.
Such screw threaded connection requires the reservoir to be rotated several times, typically at least four or five turns, to engage fully the threads and secure the reservoir in a fluid tight manner. This is time consuming and requires considerable care and dexterity on the part of the user.
Furthermore, the threads on the gun and pot may be damaged by mis-use, for example if an attempt is made to secure a pot having a non-matching thread. Also, on completion of spraying, careful cleaning is required to remove all traces of liquid from the threads to prevent the threads becoming blocked, for example with dried paint, and to prevent cross-contamination with the liquid next sprayed.
Damaged or blocked threads may render the gun unusable requiring the purchase of a new gun. This adds to costs and is inconvenient if time is lost because a spare gun is not to hand to continue spraying. Moreover, cleaning of the threads usually requires solvents that are also used to clean the gun and pot. The use of solvents is undesirable from health and safety considerations and causes problems for disposal of the solvent after use.
These problems can be reduced by employing a bayonet type connection to secure releasably the reservoir to the spray gun by engagement of bayonet type formations on the reservoir and spray gun with a push-twist action requiring less than one complete turn of the reservoir to connect/disconnect the reservoir. Examples of bayonet type formations that can be used to provide a releasable quick-fit connection of this type are disclosed in International Patent Applications No. WO 98/32539 and WO 01/12337 the disclosures of which are incorporated herein.
The mounted position of the reservoir is fixed by the use of screw threads or bayonet formations to secure the reservoir to the spray gun and adjustments to the mounted position cannot be made with the reservoir attached to the spray gun. Typically, the reservoir has an outlet located at one end on the central longitudinal axis of the reservoir and the spray gun has an inlet at the top (gravity feed) or bottom (suction feed) that is located on the central longitudinal axis of the gun.
A system has been developed that allows the reservoir to be re-filled while attached to the spray gun by means of an inlet located at the end of the reservoir adjacent to the outlet as described in International Patent Application No. WO 02/085533 the disclosure of which is also incorporated herein. With this system, access to the inlet when the reservoir is connected to the spray gun may be improved by arranging the outlet from the reservoir to be offset from the central longitudinal axis of the reservoir.
Such offset arrangement of the outlet can, however, result in the reservoir extending to one side of the spray gun when the outlet is connected to the inlet on the spray gun by engagement of screw threads or bayonet formations to secure releasably the reservoir.
Also, in a gravity feed arrangement, the reservoir is connected to an inlet on the top of the spray gun and the offset arrangement of the outlet may position the outlet above the level of liquid in the reservoir when the spray gun is used at different angles, especially when the liquid level reduces. This can have an adverse effect on flow of paint to the outlet especially when a small volume of paint remains in the reservoir. As a result, the spray gun may have to be maneuvered and held in a position that is uncomfortable for the user in order to dispense the final volume of paint.


A needle-equipped outer cylinder includes: a needle tube; a joining member comprising: a needle tube accommodation hole that accommodates a proximal end side portion of the needle tube and penetrates the joining member from a distal end of the joining member to a proximal end of the joining member, and a joining outer peripheral portion provided on an outer peripheral portion of the needle tube accommodation hole; and an outer cylinder member comprising: a distal end joint that comprises an inner cavity that receives the joining outer peripheral portion of the joining member from a distal end side, and a projection located at a proximal end portion of the inner cavity and projecting into the inner cavity. The joining member comprises, at a proximal end portion of the joining member, an abutment portion that abuts the projection of the outer cylinder member.

The present disclosure relates to a needle-equipped outer cylinder in which a needle tube of an injector is directly fixedly joined to a distal end of an injector outer cylinder in advance, a method for manufacturing the same, and a prefilled syringe using the needle-equipped outer cylinder.
In a case of an injector with a small volume used for insulin administration, vaccine administration and the like, a needle-equipped outer cylinder in which a needle tube of the injector is fixedly joined directly to a distal end of an injector outer cylinder in advance is sometimes used. As a method for manufacturing such needle-equipped outer cylinder, in addition to a method for joining the needle tube to the distal end of the outer cylinder with an adhesive or the like and a method for joining the needle tube to the distal end portion of the outer cylinder by insert molding, a method for heat-welding the needle tube to the outer cylinder is known (refer to JP 2005-342100 A). A method in which a cylindrical joining member is interposed between the needle tube and the outer cylinder, and the joining member is press-fitted to the outer cylinder, thereby assembling the three members is also known (refer to JP 2004-154210 A).

Needle-equipped outer cylinder and method for manufacturing the same


A wall mounted holder to support a standard toilet tissue roll, and within a pivoting hollow axle contain an auxiliary tissue roll. The attached axle pivots by mechanical means for manipulation of the standard toilet tissue roll and the auxiliary tissue roll. The axle outer diameter is slightly less than the inner diameter of a standard toilet tissue roll center tube allowing the hollow compartment of the axle to provide the maximum space for the auxiliary tissue roll. Auxiliary tissue is tightly rolled and contained in the hollow compartment of the axle.

Since the invention of indoor plumbing, people have occasionally been stranded on a toilet without toilet tissue because they did not realize there was very little, or none at all nearby when they took a seat. Using whatever alternative material was within reach, moving awkwardly around the restroom area searching for toilet tissue, or calling for help were a few of the available remedies. But ideally, someone discovering an inadequate or depleted supply of standard toilet tissue after beginning their use of a toilet, would have access to an auxiliary supply of tissue within an arm's length of that toilet which would be less prone to outages.
Devices to house additional standard toilet tissue rolls in the proximity of a toilet can be found in great number.
Small packages of all sorts of tissue types can be found in great number.
Small rolls of tissue, and dispensers for those rolls are produced for camping or other portable purposes.
The need to solve the problem of running out of toilet tissue while utilizing a toilet is long established. U.S. Pat. No. 2,801,809 filed May 6, 1954 and issued Aug. 6, 1957 to L. O. Glaner addressed the problem.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,861 issued Oct. 26, 1993 to Saul Lerner also addressed the problem.
Primary, wall mounted holders for the use of standard toilet tissue rolls, and devices for storage of additional standard toilet tissue rolls, when empty, require replenishment of their supply of standard toilet tissue roll or rolls. They have no provision for a smaller auxiliary amount of tissue when inevitably the need for replenishment is overlooked or ignored.
Camping and other portable-need toilet tissue products are designed for an outdoor application, are large as designed for several uses, and have no capability to be included conveniently in the indoor restroom environment.
The device in U.S. Pat. No. 2,801,909 to Glaner long ago recognized the best location for an auxiliary tissue supply as being the interior of the center tube of a standard toilet tissue roll, and more specifically inside the spindle of a holder. But the Glaner device claims cite the device as being a spindle for turning, for turning movement, and rotatably supporting the spindle. There is no provision to assemble the device without trunions, springs and other parts specific to a spindle. Glaner is a rotating, spring-held spindle for use in a specific type and specific size of holder.
The device in U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,861 to Lerner also recognizes the best location for an auxiliary tissue supply as inside the tube of a toilet tissue roll. Lerner is a tissue roll for use with a specific type spindle and a specific size of holder.

Pivoting toilet tissue roll holder with auxiliary toilet tissue


An absorption refrigerator of excellent thermal efficiency where water vapor contained in the exhaust gas does not condenses even at the starting or during the partial load operation where the temperature elevation is small. A refrigerant drain heat collector 11 allowing the refrigerant liquid condensing by heating the intermediate absorption liquid in the low temperature regenerator 3 and flowing into the condenser 4 to exchange heat with a part of dilute absorption liquid and first and second heat collectors 26, 27 where the exhaust gas discharged from the gas burner 2 and the dilute absorption liquid exchange heat are installed and, at the same time, a absorption liquid pipe (absorption liquid branch pipe) 14 is installed, and a flow control valve 28 is installed in the absorption liquid pipe 14 and, furthermore, a controller 30 is installed in order to control the aperture of the flow control valve 28 so that a temperature sensor 29 continues to detect a predetermined temperature (for instance 100xc2x0 C.) higher that the dew point temperature of the exhaust gas.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns an absorption refrigerator.
2. Detailed Description of the Prior Art
As shown in FIG. 2, an absorption refrigerator devised to reduce the fuel consumption by sending exhaust gas exhausted from a gas burner 2 for heating and boiling the dilute absorption liquid from a high temperature regenerator 1 to a first exhaust gas heat collector 26 installed between a high temperature heat exchanger 10 of an absorption liquid pipe 12 and the high temperature regenerator 1 and to a second exhaust gas heat collector 27 installed between a low temperature heat exchanger 9 and the high temperature heat exchanger 10, by elevating the temperature of a dilute absorption liquid transferred from an absorber 7 to the high temperature regenerator 1, and by reducing the heat quantity required by the gas burner 2, is well-known.
According to the aforementioned configuration, since the dilute absorption liquid of about 40xc2x0 C. discharged from the absorber 7 is heated respectively by the low temperature heat exchanger 9/ the second exhaust gas heat collector 27/ the high temperature heat exchanger 10/ the first exhaust gas heat exchanger 26, elevates to around 135xc2x0 C. and flows into the high temperature regenerator 1, fuel consumption of the gas burner 2 can be economized. Note that the temperature of the exhaust gas that has exchanged heat with the dilute absorption liquid in the first and second exhaust gas heat exchangers 26, 27 lowers to the order of 100xc2x0 C.
In the aforementioned absorption refrigerator of the prior art, as the temperature of the exhaust gas that has exchanged heat with the dilute absorption liquid in the first and second exhaust gas heat exchangers has lowered to around 100xc2x0 C., there are problems that, if it is intended to further increase heat collection from the exhaust gas in order to reduce furthermore the fuel consumption of the gas burner or others of the high temperature regenerator, water vapor in the exhaust gas condenses to accelerate corrosion of metal piping portions, and so on, requiring to plan a further reduction of the fuel consumption using another methods at the same time, and constituting a problem to be resolved.
In order to solve problems of the aforementioned prior art, the present invention provides an absorption refrigerator of a first configuration comprising a high temperature regenerator for evaporating and separating a refrigerant by heating and boiling by a burner, for obtaining a vapor and an intermediate absorption liquid form a dilute absorption liquid, a low temperature regenerator for further evaporating and separating the refrigerant by heating an intermediate absorption liquid generated and supplied by the high temperature regenerator with a refrigerant vapor generated by the high temperature regenerator, for obtaining the refrigerant vapor and a dense absorption liquid from the intermediate absorption liquid, a condenser supplied with a refrigerant liquid condensed by heating the intermediate absorption liquid by the low temperature regenerator and, at the same time, for obtaining the refrigerant liquid by cooling the refrigerant vapor generated and supplied by the low temperature regenerator, an evaporator wherein the refrigerant liquid supplied from the condenser is sprayed on a heat conductive pipe and the refrigerant evaporates by absorbing heat from a fluid flowing in the heat conductive pipe, an absorber for making a dilute absorption liquid by absorbing in the dense absorption liquid supplied by separating the refrigerant vapor, generated and supplied by the evaporator, from the low temperature regenerator, and for supplying the high temperature regenerator with the same, a low temperature heat exchanger where the dilute absorption liquid and the dense absorption liquid entering and exiting the absorber exchange heat each other, and a high temperature heat exchanger where the intermediate absorption liquid and the dilute absorption liquid entering and exiting the high temperature regenerator exchange heat each other, wherein a first exhaust gas heat collector where an exhaust gas exhausted from the burner and the dilute absorption liquid having passed through the high temperature heat exchanger exchange heat, a second exhaust gas heat collector where the exhaust gas having passed through the first exhaust gas heat collector and the dilute absorption liquid before entering the high temperature heat exchanger exchange heat, and a dilute absorption liquid branch pipe for bypassing a part of the dilute absorption liquid exiting the absorber from the low temperature heat exchanger for heat exchange with the refrigerant liquid exiting the low temperature regenerator and leading to the condenser, and letting flow into the second exhaust gas heat collector, are installed; and
an absorption refrigerator of a second configuration, wherein a second dilute absorption liquid branch pipe for making the dilute absorption liquid bypass the second exhaust gas heat collector and letting flow into the high temperature heat exchanger, and a control means for controlling the quantity of the dilute absorption liquid flowing into the second dilute absorption liquid branch pipe by the temperature of the exhaust gas passed through the second exhaust gas heat collector, are installed in the absorption refrigerator of the first configuration of claim 1.

Sanyo Electric Air Conditioning Co., Ltd


Various embodiments of an interposer for mounting a semiconductor die, as well as methods for forming the interposer, are disclosed. The interposer includes flexible solder pad elements that are formed from a core material of the interposer, such that the interposer may absorb thermally induced stresses and conform to warped or uneven surfaces. Embodiments of electronic device packages including a semiconductor die mounted to and electrically connected to the interposer, as well as methods for forming the electronic device packages, are also disclosed. In one electronic device package, the semiconductor die is electrically connected to the interposer with wire bonds attached to a routing layer of the interposer. In another electronic device package, the semiconductor die is electrically connected to the interposer by bonding the semiconductor die to the flexible solder pad elements of the interposer in a flip-chip configuration. A computer system incorporating an electronic device package with an interposer according to the present invention is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to packaging of electronic devices in the form of semiconductor dice. More particularly, the present invention relates to embodiments of an interposer for mounting a semiconductor die, wherein the interposer includes flexible solder pad elements configured for attachment to a carrier substrate or to the semiconductor die. The present invention further relates to materials and methods for forming the interposer.
2. State of the Art
An electronic device in the form of a semiconductor die or chip is conventionally manufactured of materials such as silicon, germanium, or gallium arsenide. Circuitry is formed on an active surface of the semiconductor die and may include further levels of circuitry within the die itself. Due to the materials used and the intricate nature of construction, semiconductor dice are highly susceptible to physical damage or contamination from environmental conditions including, for example, moisture. In order to protect a semiconductor die from environmental conditions, it is commonly enclosed within a package that provides hermetic sealing and prevents environmental elements from physically contacting the semiconductor die.
In recent years, the demand for more compact electronic devices has increased, and this trend has led to the development of so called "chip-scale packages" (CSPs). One exemplary CSP design is typified by mounting a semiconductor die to a substrate, termed an interposer, having substantially the same dimensions as the semiconductor die. Bond pads of the semiconductor die are electrically connected to bond pads on a first surface of the interposer, and the semiconductor die is encased within an encapsulant material. Conductive pathways, which may comprise a combination of traces and vias, extend from the interposer bond pads to a second, opposing side of the interposer where they terminate in external electrodes to which further electrical connections are made. Typically, a CSP is then mounted to a carrier substrate, such as a circuit board having a number of other electronic devices attached thereto.
Electrically connecting the bond pads of a semiconductor die to the bond pads of a CSP interposer generally involves using one of two types of interconnection methods, depending on the manner in which the semiconductor die is mounted. As shown by FIG. 1, a CSP 2 is configured with the first interconnection method by mounting a semiconductor die 4 to an interposer 6 with die bond pads 8 in a face-up orientation, and electrically connecting die bonds pads 8 to interposer bond pads 10 with bond wires 12. As shown by FIG. 2, CSP 2′ is configured with the second interconnection method by mounting semiconductor die 4 with die bond pads 8 in a face-down or flip-chip orientation, and electrically connecting die bond pads 8 directly to interposer bond pads 10 with conductive elements, such as bumps 14, formed of solder or a conductive adhesive material. Once the interconnection method used for CSP 2 or CSP 2′ is complete, semiconductor die 4 is encased within an encapsulant material 15 such as a polymer-based molding compound.
Further, FIGS. 1 and 2 show there are generally two types of external electrode structures used for mounting CSPs to a carrier substrate 16. CSP 2 of FIG. 1 is configured as a land grid array (LGA) type package, wherein the external electrodes comprise solder pads 18 that are intended to be directly attached to corresponding solder pads 20 on a carrier substrate 16. In FIG. 2, CSP 2′ is configured as a ball grid array (BGA) type package, wherein the external electrodes comprise solder ball pads 22 having solder balls 24 formed thereon, such that solder balls 24 will be attached to the solder pads 20 on carrier substrate 16.
Although CSPs of the type described above have provided a compact and economical approach to packaging of semiconductor dice, they still present certain disadvantages, especially in terms of the LGA or BGA electrode structures used for mounting CSPs to a carrier substrate.
During the operation of an electronic device configured as a CSP, for example, the functioning of the circuits within the semiconductor die and resistance in the circuit connections of the semiconductor die, interposer, and carrier substrate generate heat. This heating results in the expansion and contraction of all of these components as temperatures rise and fall. Because the semiconductor die, interposer, and carrier substrate are made of different materials exhibiting different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE), they expand and contract at different rates during thermal cycling. This mismatch in thermal expansion rates places stress on the electrode structures joining the CSP interposer to the carrier substrate, and may eventually cause cracks in the electrode structures leading to the failure of electrical connections.
This thermal stress may be especially problematic with a CSP configured as an LGA type package as in FIG. 1, because the stress is concentrated within the relatively small thickness H of the solder pads 18 between interposer 6 and carrier substrate 16. With a CSP configured as a BGA type package as in FIG. 2, the thermal stress may be more effectively absorbed by being spread across the increased thickness H′ provided by the solder balls 24. However, because modem circuitry layouts tend to require increasing numbers of I/Os, the external electrodes on a CSP must be very densely spaced, and there are physical limits to the minimum spacing that may be attained when forming solder balls 24. The conventional process of printing and reflowing solder paste on solder ball pads 22 to form solder balls 24, for example, requires that solder ball pads 22 must be spaced at a pitch of about 0.4 mm to ensure reliable formation without bridging. Furthermore, high I/O CSPs require the use of smaller diameter solder balls that may not provide a thickness H′ sufficient to overcome thermal induced stress failures. Forming a CSP as a BGA type package also includes the additional processing required to form solder balls 24, which is undesirable in terms of mass-scale production.
Another problem associated with prior art package interposers is that the LGA or BGA type external electrode structures are typically formed entirely of metal or metal alloys and are, therefore, rigid. In many cases, one or both of the interposer and the carrier substrate to which it is to be mounted may have uneven surfaces or may become warped by thermal stresses during attachment of a CSP by solder reflow. When this occurs, the space between the interposer and the carrier substrate may vary, and the rigid construction of LGA or BGA type external electrodes in contact with the carrier substrate at narrower spaces may prevent contact by external electrodes at wider spaces.
In view of the foregoing, what is needed is an interposer for a semiconductor die package such as a CSP that is simple and inexpensive to produce and overcomes the problems associated with the prior art external electrode structures used to mount the interposer to a carrier substrate.

Interposers with flexible solder pad elements


An automatic safety infusion catheter needle including: a trifurcate connector having a first and a second connecting sections coaxially aligned with each other, the end of the second connecting section being fitted with a rubber cap; an infusion soft needle inserted on the first connecting section of the trifurcate connector; a steel needle having a needle body slidably fitted in a sleeve and axially passed in the soft needle, the sleeve being connected with the second connecting section of the trifurcate connector; and an infusion catheter serially connected with a third connecting section of the trifurcate connector for infusion of liquid medicine through the soft needle into the body of a patient. After injection, the steel needle is withdrawn from the rear side of the sleeve to retract and locate and hide the needle body of the steel needle in the sleeve so as to avoid impalement and infection of the medical personnel and the liquid medicine flowing from the infusion catheter into the trifurcate connector will automatically flow from the first connecting section through the soft needle into the body of the patient. Therefore, the medical personnel can perform the injection procedure leisurely.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic safety infusion catheter needle.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The existing infusion catheter needle employs one single injection needle for intravenous injection. As shown in FIG. 1, such catheter needle includes an infusion soft needle 100 and a steel needle 200. The needle body 200a of the steel needle 200 is passed through the needle body 100a of the soft needle 100 for hardening the soft needle body 100a, whereby the soft needle body 100a can be smoothly thrusted into the vein of a patient. After the soft needle body 100a is thrusted into the vein, the medical personnel must press the soft needle body 100a with one hand F to avoid back flow of the blood of the patient and draw the steel needle 200 backward from the soft needle 100 with the other hand. Then an infusion catheter 300 is serially connected with the soft needle 100 to complete the injection procedure. In use, the above catheter needle has some shortcomings as follows:
1. When pressing the soft needle body 100a with one hand, the medical personnel must draw the steel needle 200 from the soft needle 100 with the other hand. Moreover, the medical personnel must then connect the infusion catheter 300 with the soft needle 100. It is quite inconvenient to perform all these procedures at the same time.
2. After the steel needle 200 is drawn from the soft needle 100, the steel needle 200 is exposed outside and tends to impale the medical personnel. Therefore, the medical personnel may be infected with AIDS, hepatitis, etc. This is extremely dangerous to the medical personnel.

Automatic safety infusion catheter needle


A continuously variable transmission (CVT) may include differential and range modules that include planetary gear arrangements, a plurality of selectively engageable clutch assemblies, and a drop box module with a final output member. First and second power source paths may provide power to a same end of the differential module. The clutch assemblies may be selectively engageable to provide variable rotational power from the differential module to the range module, and from the range module to the drop box module in a plurality of directional ranges. The drop box module may adapt the variable rotational power provided in the selected range for connection in a given application.

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) may refer to an automatic transmission that can change seamlessly through a continuous range of effective gear ratios, as opposed to other mechanical transmissions that offer a fixed number of gear ratios. By enabling an engine to operate at the engine's most efficient speed for a range of output speeds, engine loads, and/or the like, a CVT permits better performance and fuel efficiency. For example, when power is more important than economy, the gear ratio of the CVT can be changed to allow the engine to turn at a revolutions per minute (RPM) at which the engine produces greater power, which is typically higher than the RPM that achieves peak efficiency. Existing CVTs are typically designed as large and long structures in order to meet machine use and drop requirements, and are not typically able to be incorporated economically into smaller applications. Thus, such transmissions are generally utilized in only limited smaller applications.
One attempt to create a more compact CVT is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,488,263 that issued to Vasudeva on Nov. 8, 2016 ("the '263 patent"). In particular, the '263 patent discloses a CVT utilizing first and second power source paths to provide multiple outputs through a planetary gear arrangement and a final output member. Some implementations of a hydromechanical CVT design disclosed in the '263 patent have a first, differential module and a second, range module, each having planetary gear trains compactly mounted in series with the output transfer gear of a third, drop box module for selectively associating the output shaft of the drivetrain to the outputs of the planetary gear trains.
While the CVT of the '263 patent may have more compact packaging, and may allow the CVT to be packaged in smaller machines or locations with space limitations, the CVT of the '263 patent may not be compact enough for even smaller machines or more restrictive space limitations. The CVT of the present disclosure solves one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art.

Modular arrangement for hydromechanical transmission


Methods for testing turbine blades. One method for testing turbine blades includes measuring dimensions of each of a first set of turbine blades. The method also includes testing airflow through first openings in each of the first set of turbine blades to determine airflow properties of each of the first set of turbine blades. The method includes determining a relationship between the dimensions and the airflow properties of each of the first set of turbine blades. The method includes measuring dimensions of each of a second set of turbine blades. The method also includes determining airflow properties for each of the second set of turbine blades based at least partially on the dimensions of the second set of turbine blades and the relationship.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to turbine blades and, more particularly, to methods for testing turbine blades.
Gas turbine engines typically include turbine blades that are gas-cooled. To facilitate gas-cooling, the turbine blades may include internal passages that route cooling gas to openings formed in the exterior surfaces of the turbine blades. Accordingly, the passages and openings enable thin films of cooling gas to flow about the exterior of the turbine blades. The sizes and shapes of the passages and openings of the turbine blades may vary from one turbine blade to the next. Therefore, airflow properties of each turbine blade are typically tested multiple times during the manufacturing process to ensure proper airflow around the turbine blades. Between airflow property tests, the passages and openings in the turbine blades may be occluded or modified due to problems that occur in the production process. Unfortunately, testing the airflow properties of each turbine blade multiple times during the manufacturing process may be time consuming and costly.


A leakage path through a parasitic diode in a charge transfer MOS transistor is cut off to prevent increase in the power consumption and loss of control of a charge pump circuit. A first charge transfer MOS transistor and a second charge transfer MOS transistor are N-channel type and are connected in series with each other. A ground electric potential VSS is supplied to a source of the first charge transfer MOS transistor as an input electric potential, and an output electric potential is obtained from an output terminal connected with a drain of the second charge transfer MOS transistor. A back gate of the first charge transfer MOS transistor is set by a first switching circuit to either an electric potential at a connecting node between the first and the second charge transfer MOS transistors or the ground electric potential VSS.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a charge pump circuit used in a power supply circuit for an integrated circuit and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
The charge pump circuit is a circuit composed of charge transfer MOS transistors, a capacitor, a clock driver and other components. It converts an input electric potential into a positive high electric potential or a negative electric potential and outputs the converted electric potential. The charge pump circuit is widely used as a power supply circuit for an integrated circuit and the like.
Further information on the charge pump circuit is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-33006, for example.
However, in some application in which the output of the charge pump circuit varies, ranging from a positive electric potential to a negative electric potential, there has been a problem that an unwanted forward current flows through a parasitic diode accompanying the charge transfer MOS transistor to increase a power consumption or to get a circuit using the charge pump circuit out of control.


A method for manufacturing laminated parts in which spacing of individual laminas is maintained during the manufacturing process. As the laminas are stamped from strip stock material, a staking lug is formed in each lamina. The staking lug comprises an attaching lug, having a corresponding attaching cavity on an opposite surface, and a separation lug. The mating attaching lugs and cavities keep the spaced stack in a single unit configuration while the separation lug ensures adequate spacing between individual laminas for annealing and/or insulation of the individual laminas. The staking lug is preferably formed in one stamping step in a punch press machine, and eliminates the need for rotation of the laminas or alternate stamping methodologies, simplifying the laminated part manufacturing process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the manufacturing of laminated parts from a stack of laminations, and more particularly to a method for forming and stacking individual laminations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known that certain structures may be formed by the stacking of a series of laminations or laminas. For example, elements of electric motors, solenoids and transformers, such as rotors and stators, may be formed by this process. Typically, the laminas are blanked from continuous strip stock and then stacked and bound together to form the part being manufactured. Another step in the manufacturing process may involve annealing the lamination stack so as to both remove internal stresses within the individual laminas as well as provide an insulating layer on each of the laminations. The stacks are then pressed together into a solid unit so as to form the final machine element.
At least two important considerations in stacking the individual laminations are maintaining the laminas within the stack prior to the final pressing operation, and providing adequate spacing between the laminas while the stack is being annealed and/or insulated. One method for stacking laminations is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,538,345 issued to Diederichs on Sep. 3, 1985. The method disclosed therein involves the stamping of projections or depressions into the individual laminas and assembling the unit by means of the interlocking projections and depressions prior to the annealing and pressing steps. A minimum axial separation is provided between the individual laminations for the annealing process, and the final stack is assembled in a final pressing operation such that the tabs used to maintain the separation are bent back into their original shape. The separation distance between the individual laminations is achieved by placing tabs in alternate areas on the individual laminations as they are punched or stamped. The alternating displacement in the successive pairs of the laminas in the stack ensure that the tabs in an above lamination come in contact only with a flat part of the next lamina, which has not been bent out.
A second method of ensuring adequate separation between the individual laminations is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,741 to Neuenschwander which issued on Sep. 27, 1994. In this process for forming the plurality of blank laminas, a blanking machine forms dimples in the laminas prior to their stacking, the dimples being located in offset positions relative to adjacent laminations to cause the laminas of the stack to be spaced apart. After the annealing step, the lamina stack is then compressed to bring the laminas into abutting relation to be subsequently manufactured into the rotor or stator cores. The dimples are offset from each other in successive laminas so that the dimples of a succeeding lamina do not fall within a corresponding depression created in the preceding lamina. One method of offsetting the dimples is to arcuately displace every other lamina by rotation of each successive lamina 180.degree. after the dimples have been formed so as to provide the desired offset. An alternative method disclosed of offsetting the dimples is to provide two sets of dimple forming dies alternately actuated by a cam mechanism or the like, resulting in alternately displaced dimples. A separate step forms interlocking portions on the lamina to hold the stack together.
In either case, in order to provide the alternate stamping or rotation, typical prior art methods require relatively complicated machine controllers to ensure that the dimples are offset from each other during the stacking process. Moreover, two separate stamping operations forming two sets of projections may be required: one for providing the offset dimples or tabs, and a second stamping operation to provide interlocking means between individual laminas to ensure that the spaced stack remains assembled during the manufacturing process.
What is needed then is a simplified method for providing an offset between successive laminas in a lamination stack for a machine part so as to ensure adequate separation for a proper annealing process, as well as maintaining the spaced stack in a generally assembled manner during the manufacturing process.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method of stamping and forming individual laminas to be assembled into a lamination stack such that a minimum separation distance is maintained between the individual laminas.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a means and method for joining the individual laminas together during the manufacturing process so as to assemble a spaced pack arrangement.
It is a yet another object of the present invention to simplify the steps necessary in stamping the individual laminas during the stack formation process.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a separation offset between the individual laminas, which offset is recompressed and removed during the final pressing operation in providing the final stack formation of the desired height and having the desired mechanical and electrical properties.


A system and method are disclosed for gathering information relating to a loading time experienced by a user of information over a network. A browser agent is sent to a user machine in response to a user request to access a Web page. The browser agent initiates the sending of a user HTTP GET request and the browser agent is operable to log a first time corresponding to the sending of the user HTTP GET request. The browser agent measures a download time interval that is determined according to the difference between the first time and a second time corresponding to the loading of the web page. The browser agent is operative to cause the user machine to send a modified HTTP GET request, wherein the modified HTTP GET request contains a performance parameter indicative of the measured download time interval. Thus, the download time interval experienced by the user is measured and a parameter indicative of the measured download time interval is sent as part of the modified HTTP GET request.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatuses for evaluating service to a user over the Internet.
More specifically, the invention relates to methods and apparatuses for determining at a user site the amount of time that certain operations take over the Internet, providing information regarding the timing to a relay server and, in certain embodiments, combining the timing information with information that identifies the user's geographical location.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the explosive growth of the Internet, increased traffic has caused the performance experienced by users making connections over the Internet to vary widely. Many factors can influence the performance of a connection including the user's modem and other equipment, the type of server, the load on the server, and the Internet service provider used. The first step in evaluating connection performance is to obtain reliable information regarding performance characteristics such as the time required to download web pages or other information across a connection. It is also important to measure network performance relating to connectionless protocols such as UDP.
Currently available methods of measuring download speeds at different sites and collecting that information in a database that facilitates analyzing the information include attempting to measure performance on the server side (that is, on the server that is providing the web pages or other information requested by users) or providing a network of special machines that are programmed to connect to different web sites as clients and evaluate the performance of the connection. The special machines that make up the network can then store or report their connection results.
The main drawback of analyzing connection performance on the server side is that the performance experienced by users is not fully determinable from the measurements made at the server. The server can, of course, determine when packets are sent out and received, and such information measures the responsiveness of the server i.e., how quickly the server sends a response once a request is received. The responsiveness of the server, however, does not fully determine the downloading time that is experienced by the user.
Similarly, a special testing machine can provide accurate information about the downloading time experienced by that machine, but it is not possible to ascertain downloading times experienced by actual users whose hardware or software configuration may differ from the configuration of the testing machine or who request information at a different time. Furthermore, special testing machines do not provide information about actual historical user connections that can be analyzed after a problem has been reported.
What is needed is an apparatus and method for testing network performance that can unobtrusively acquire, collect and organize data relating to network performance from actual users. It would be useful if such a system could measure actual download times experienced by users and use that data to evaluate network performance. It would be useful if such a system were capable of receiving instructions to measure performance and transmit results without violating network security constraints. The system should be capable, for example, of transmitting data from behind a firewall.

Method and apparatus for evalutating service to a user over the internet


An activating device activates a cover for the opening face of a container. Pivot arms are fixed to a pivot unit equipped with an electric motor through a reduction gear at one ends, and fixed to plate springs at the other ends. One end portions of the plate springs are fixed to the respective front and rear portions of the cover, the other end portions thereof are fixed to the other ends of the pivot arms. The resiliency of the plate spring is set lower in the vertical direction of the container. The plate spring is bent from its other end portion toward its one end portion at substantially 90° or larger of bending angle. The plate spring is formed so that it bends toward the inside of the center of the cover between the pivot arm and the cover.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an activating device for opening and closing the opening faces of various kinds of containers by turning the covers of the containers such as vacuum chambers.
2. Related Art
As disclosed in JP-A-10-89482, the related art activating structure of a cover for a vacuum chamber is as shown in FIG. 8, for example. More specifically, the cover 2 of a vacuum chamber 1 is supported by cover arms 3 (long) and cover arms 4 (short) forming a link mechanism, and the open-and-close driving is transmitted from a motor 6 on a motor driving plate 5 via worm gears (not shown), worm wheels (not shown), drive wires 7 and bevel gears 8.
Further, the whole drive mechanism for opening and closing the cover 2 is located on the motor driving plate 5 and arm supporting bases 9 on the right and left and is made movable vertically by slide bearings 10 and a slide bearing 12 supported by a cylinder supporting metal fitting 11. A cylinder 13 for vertically sliding these component parts is mounted to the cylinder supporting metal fitting 11 fixed to the chamber 1.
The operation of closing of the cover in the activating structure of the cover for the vacuum chamber with the cover 2 opened as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 8 is performed as follows. When the motor 6 is driven, the rotary motion is reduced by the worm gears and the worm wheels and the reduced rotary motion is divided right and left. When the rotary motion is given to the cover arms (long) 3 on the right and left sides by the drive wires 7 and the bevel gears 8, respectively, the cover arms (short) 4 also rotate accordingly. The cover 2 is moved without parting from the chamber 1 by long and short arm mechanisms and gradually so closed as to form a gap where the contact surface of the cover 2 and the surface of the chamber are set parallel to each other. Subsequently, the whole cover driving mechanism on the motor driving plate 5 and the right and left arm supporting bases 9 as well as the cover 2 coupled to the cover driving mechanism are descended by the suction force of the cylinder 13, so that the cover 2 is closed by uniform pressurizing force.
The related art has posed the following problem because it is characterized by the aforementioned arrangement and operation.
The related art activating structure of a cover for a vacuum chamber as disclosed in JP-A-10-89482 is equipped with the arm link mechanism in which two kinds of cover arms including the long and short cover arms 3 and 4 are fixed to the vacuum chamber 1 simultaneously with the cylinder driving mechanism comprising the motor 6, the worm gears, the worm wheels and the cylinder 13 for use in turning and moving the cover when the cover 2 is opened and causing the arm link mechanism together with the cover 2 to descend immediately before the cover 2 is closed. Consequently, the problem is that the apparatus tends to become large in scale and complicated in structure, which results in an increase in the installation space and poor drive transmission efficiency in the operation of the apparatus. Moreover, since the open-and-close device for the cover is provided on both sides of the vacuum chamber 1, the position of a gateway used for receiving products such as a liquid crystal material and normally opened to the side of the vacuum chamber 1 is restricted.
In the related art without supporting the cover 2 in a flexible floating condition with respect to the arms, it is needed to make an actual thing positioning adjustment among the surface of the vacuum chamber 1, the cover 2 and the open-and-close device for the cover in order that a seal member and the cover located on the surface of the vacuum chamber are uniformly pressurized. Driving the cover to turn is difficult to control delicately and when the cover 2 is closed onto the vacuum chamber 1, for example, the opening face of the vacuum chamber 1 and the cover may induce a slip-off phenomenon and an overload as well as an impact may also be applied to the opening face of the vacuum chamber 1. Consequently, the problem in this case is that the seal member (O-ring) installed on the opening face of the vacuum chamber 1 may be damaged.


A receiving apparatus that is capable of effectively reducing power consumption in the receiving state. The receiving apparatus is provided with: an RF tuner, digital-demodulation unit, error-correction unit, demultiplexing unit and decoding unit. A control unit determines whether or not processing of the signal by the RF tuner, digital-demodulation unit, error-correction unit, demultiplexing unit or decoding unit is possible, and when it determines that signal processing is not possible, it controls switches such that operation in the corresponding part and after the corresponding part stops.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a receiving apparatus and receiving method for receiving a broadcast transmission.
2. Description of the Related Art
A digital-broadcast receiving apparatus that lowers power consumption when in the waiting state has been known as a receiving apparatus for receiving a broadcast transmission that is capable of reducing the power consumption.
However, in the case of a installing a receiving apparatus in a vehicle, it is desired that the power consumption be suppressed as much as possible, and in order to accomplish that, it is necessary to reduce the power consumption in the receiving state (including the sate of attempting to receive a specific broadcast transmission) not only intermittently but also when receiving a continuous broadcast.
This type of receiving a broadcast transmission is represented by the apparatus disclosed by Japanese Patent-laid Open (KOKAI) publication No. 2000-217087.

Receiving apparatus and receiving method of reduced power consumption for receiving a broadcast transmission


An organic light emitting display device includes a substrate comprising a major surface; a display region and a peripheral region surrounding the display region when viewed in a viewing direction perpendicular to the major surface; an array of a plurality of pixels disposed in the display region; and a first power line extending from the peripheral region into the display region, the first power line being electrically connected to the array of pixels at a contact point in the display region. When viewed in the viewing direction, the first power line includes: a first extension extending from the peripheral region to the display region; and a second extension connected to the first extension; and a third extension connected to the second extension and extending from a location in the display region toward the peripheral region.

1. Technical Field
Example embodiments relate generally to organic light emitting display devices. More particularly, embodiments of the present inventive concept relate to organic light emitting diode display devices including a power line.
2. Description of the Related Art
A flat panel display (FPD) device is widely used as a display device of an electronic device because the FPD device is lightweight and thin compared to a cathode-ray tube (CRT) display device. Typical examples of the FPD device are a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and an organic light emitting display (OLED) device. Compared to the LCD device, the OLED device has many advantages such as a higher luminance and a wider viewing angle. In addition, the OLED device can be made thinner because the OLED device does not require a backlight. In the OLED device, electrons and holes are injected into an organic thin layer through a cathode and an anode, and then recombined in the organic thin layer to generate excitons, thereby a light of a certain wavelength can be emitted. As the OLED device becomes larger, an IR drop or voltage drop of a power supply voltage has become intensified in a display region of the OLED device.

Power lines disposed in organic light emitting display device


Compounds, compositions, kits and methods for treating conditions related to neurodegeneration or ocular disease, are disclosed.

Neurodegenerative disorders afflict numerous patients throughout the world, and treatments are often unsatisfactory. For example, glaucoma (a disease or condition that results in damage to the optic nerve) is a major cause of vision loss and blindness, especially in the elderly. Although various treatments for glaucoma exist, many such treatments are of limited efficacy and/or have significant side effects. For example, while reduction of intraocular pressure, generally through pharmacologic or surgical intervention, is presently the mainstay of glaucoma therapy, such therapies are often only partially effective and generally cannot restore neuronal cell function once such function has been lost. Thus, new methods for treatment of ocular and/or neurodegenerative disorders or diseases, including glaucoma, are needed.

Compositions and methods for treatment of neurodegenerative disease


The inventive method comprises chemically-mechanically polishing a substrate comprising at least one layer of silicon carbide with a polishing composition comprising a liquid carrier, an abrasive, and an oxidizing agent.

Semiconductors with the ability to operate more efficiently in order to achieve a significant reduction in power consumption are highly desirable. Typically, silicon substrates are used in the manufacture of such devices, however, further development is limited due to the inherent characteristics of silicon. Development of the next generation of semiconductor devices has emphasized the use of materials having a greater hardness and other unique properties. For example, silicon carbide, when compared with silicon oxide, has a higher thermal conductivity, a greater tolerance for radiation, a higher dielectric strength, and is able to withstand greater temperatures, which makes it suitable for a variety of applications. The use of silicon carbide has been limited, however, by semiconductor fabrication technology.
In order to produce silicon carbide semiconductors, the surfaces of the silicon carbide substrates must be polished in order to provide smooth surfaces and to obtain precise dimensions for the surfaces. The properties which make silicon carbide such a useful substrate provide unique challenges in the polishing process. Due to the hardness of silicon carbide, diamond grit is typically used to mechanically polish silicon carbide substrates.
Chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) techniques are widely used throughout the semiconductor industry in order to polish the current generation of silicon devices. CMP involves the use of a polishing composition (also known as a polishing slurry) containing an abrasive and an aqueous material, which is applied to a surface by contacting the surface with a polishing pad saturated with the polishing composition. The polishing composition may also contain an oxidizing agent, which allows for less aggressive mechanical abrasion of the substrate, thus reducing mechanical damage to the substrate caused by the abrading process. The use of such techniques to polish silicon carbide substrates could greatly reduce the costs of manufacturing semiconductors by decreasing polish time and reducing damage to the substrate.
Adaptation of CMP techniques for silicon carbide polishing has been relatively unsuccessful. Polishing compositions containing colloidal silica resulted in low silicon carbide removal rates, thus requiring a lengthy polishing cycle lasting several hours at temperatures of around 50° C., which is likely to result in damage to the silicon carbide substrate. Zhou, et al., J. Electrochemical Soc., 144, p. L161-L163 (1997); Neslen, et al., J. Electronic Materials, 30, p. 1271-1275 (2001). The long polishing cycle adds considerable cost to the process and is a barrier preventing widespread use of silicon carbide within the semiconductor industry. Thus, there remains a need for alternative polishing systems and methods of polishing substrates comprising silicon carbide.

Silicon carbide polishing method utilizing water-soluble oxidizers


A video signal peak compressor circuit includes an emitter follower stage together with a feedback amplifier having a conduction threshold determined by a pair of voltage divider resistors. The feedback amplifier responds to increased conduction of the emitter follower stage to apply a compensating current to the emitter follower base and thereby impose a nonlinear compressing characteristic upon the emitter follower transfer function. In the embodiment shown, the emitter follower stage includes a PNP transistor having an input signal applied to its base and an output signal taken at its emitter which is coupled to operating supply by a pair of resistors. The feedback amplifier includes a PNP transistor having its emitter coupled to the junction point of a voltage divider, its base coupled to the junction of the emitter follower resistors and its collector coupled to the base of the PNP emitter follower stage.

Television receiver cathode ray tube displays have become commonplace in the television industry and indeed represent the normal television display system. While the designs of cathode ray tube displays are subject to great variation, all generally utilize a cathode ray tube having a plurality of electron beam guns supported in the ray tube neck which are directed toward a multicolor producing viewing screen on the interior of the cathode ray tube faceplate. Horizontal and vertical scan systems are operative upon the electron beams produced by the plural electron guns to deflect the electron beams horizontally and vertical in a raster scanning pattern to sequentially scan the phosphor screen. A shadow mask or similar masking device is interposed between the electron beam guns and the phosphor screen to cause each electron beam to fall exclusively upon a particular set of color phosphor screen areas. The electron beams are intensity modulated in synchronism with the scanning process to produce the displayed image. Color is achieved by varying the ratios or relative electron beam intensities while brightness variations are obtained by varying the plural electron beams as a group.
In many television receivers, the black and white or luminance information is separately processed and amplified prior to its combination with the color difference signals to produce color video signals which are used to intensity modulate the individual electron beams within the cathode ray tube display. Because black and dark grey image areas are produced by low currents and light greys and whites are produced by high beam currents, the display of very light grey or white image portions (so-called "peak white") necessitates correspondingly high cathode ray tube electron beam currents. As a result, high amplitude peak white image portions often cause the display system to produce cathode ray tube beam currents which exceed the focusing capability of the display. As a result, a phenomenon known as "blooming" occurs which is characterized by the production of bright areas which are undesirably enlarged and appear poorly defined or blurred.
To address this problem practitioners in the art have employed systems such as brightness limiters responsive to average beam current to control or limit average cathode ray tube beam current. Other approaches have included high voltage responsive gain controls as well as complex signal gain feedback systems operative within the luminance channel.
While the foregoing described prior art systems have to some extent been effective, they often tend to be overly complex and expensive and have, in some instances, been found to degrade display performance. There remains, therefore, a continuing need in the art for a simple, effective and low cost system for controlling and compensating peak white signal conditions within television receiver cathode ray tube displays.
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved video processing system for television receivers. It is a more particular object to provide an improved video signal processing system for television receivers which is inexpensive, simple, and effective in the control of peak white display system response.


A system for allowing media content to be used as an interactive media program comprises: (a) media content in the form of successive image display frames indexed in a time sequence; (b) object mapping data specifying the locations of objects appearing in the display of media content which are to be rendered interactive; (c) linkages provided through an associated interactive media program from the objects specified by the object mapping data to interactive functions to be performed upon selection of the objects in the display; and (d) a user system for operating the interactive media program in conjunction with the display of the media content by selecting an object appearing in an image display frame and performing the interactive function linked thereto. The invention includes an authoring system for generating the object mapping data for the media content. In a preferred interactive TV system, media content, in the form of movies, TV programs, advertising, and the like, can be presented as interactive media programs by transmitting the TV content with object mapping data (xe2x80x9chot spotsxe2x80x9d) to a set top box connected to a viewer""s TV. The TV set top box has a utility stored therein for performing the interactive functions linked to the defined hot spots in the TV content upon user selection. Interactive TV programs can also be presented using a conventional TV set top box and remote control in conjunction with the current analog video content. For example, the analog video content may be transmitted to the viewer on a channel provided by a cable TV company, with the object mapping data and program linkages for interactive functions transmitted in the video blanking intervals (VBI) interleaved with the video frames.

This invention relates to the field of interactive media systems, and particularly to a system for converting media content for interactive TV use.
Technological development is fostering an increasing convergence of television, multimedia programming, and computers. The creation of a world-wide information infrastructure will support the viewing of motion pictures, multimedia programs, and newscast events on demand. It will provide access to telecommunications networks, databases, and information services over long distances, as well as facilitate the instantaneous exchanging of governmental, business, research, institutional, medical, and personal data, and teleconferencing and sharing of documents and information among organizations, workgroups, and individuals spread out over wide areas. The entry point for users to this information infrastructure is principally the interactive use of a visual display interface to the system.
Content is essential to the value users derive from use of the system. While much of the content being offered is newly created to take advantage of the latest developments in technology, there is a vast base of existing content that is non-interactive which users may desire to have access to, particularly media content in the form of movies, videos, video advertising, television programming, etc. However, if existing media content is merely offered as a digitized equivalent of its existing form, then there is little or no value added over obtaining the same content through the current media in which it is offered. The conversion of existing media content to interactive digital media adds value by rendering it capable of interactivity and linking to other forms of digital media.
The conversion of media content to interactive digital media use has heretofore been a laborious process as conversion tools have required developers to perform conversion tasks essentially manually. Many types of hyperlinking tools have been developed for rendering text and graphics materials xe2x80x9clivexe2x80x9d for interactive use, e.g., as discussed in Multimedia and Hypertext, edited by Jakob Nielson, published by Academic Press, Inc., 1995. Typically, a link is created between a word, phrase, icon, image, or other object appearing in the display to another text file (hypertext) or to another program or media function (hypermedia) to deepen the user""s engagement in the system. Thus, when a user clicks with a pointing device such as a mouse on an object appearing in the screen display, an interactive media program will pull up another file or perform another function so as to provide the user with further information, response, or options. A series of hyperlinks may be followed to allow the user to pursue a subject to any desired depth or relational complexity. Such hyperlinking tools have found valuable use for online documentation, user assistance, interactive manuals, graphical operating systems, information retrieval, auditing and tracking systems, authoring systems, games, audiovisual programs, edutainment programs, etc.
However, conventional hyperlinking tools require the developer to embed linking codes or xe2x80x9canchorsxe2x80x9d manually in the content file which is to be rendered interactive. For example, if the content is a voluminous collection of xe2x80x9cpagesxe2x80x9d to be displayed to the user, such as for an electronic encyclopedia, then conversion would require a large amount of time for the developer to embed hyperlinking codes around each text object for each page of content. A current candidate for a universal language for marking documents and embedding hyperlinking codes is called Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). A multimedia extension to SGML known as HyTime has been accepted by the International Standards Organization (ISO) for marking of documents which may incorporate audio and video media. However, even when such hyperlinking tools are used for media content, such as a digitized video sequence, the marking of the sequence for xe2x80x9clivexe2x80x9d interactive use is currently accomplished by embedding hyperlinking codes around the object in each frame of the sequence (typically 30 frames per second for full motion sequence).
Digital video editing tools have also been developed for painting, coloring, sizing, altering, or otherwise editing still and motion images, compositing multiple images, text, and sound tracks together, animating and morphing images, compressing multimedia files for storage or transmission, etc. However, almost all such digital media editing tools require alteration of the underlying raw content file in order to create a new digital media content file. In most cases, conventional editing tools embed proprietary codes or use proprietary file formats to modify or re-specify an existing content file. As a result, the edited media file can only be run on compatible systems or platforms that have complementary display, playback, or decompression tools.
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a system for allowing media content, particularly a broad base of existing media content, to be used in interactive media programs. A specific object is to convert media content for interactive TV use without locking it in to any particular delivery system or display platform, i.e., without embedding proprietary codes in the original media content. It is a further object to provide an authoring system for developing interactive media programs from existing media content using automated tools which can reduce the development time.
In accordance with the main object of the present invention, a system for allowing media content to be used as an interactive media program comprises: (a) media content in the form of media data representing a series of successive image display frames indexed in a time sequence; (b) object mapping data specifying display locations of objects appearing in the image display frames of the media content which are to be rendered interactive: (c) linkages provided through an associated interactive media program from the objects specified by the object mapping data to respective interactive functions to be performed upon user selection of the objects in conjunction with a display of the media content; and (d) a user system for operating the interactive media program in conjunction with the display of the media content by selecting an object appearing in one or more image display frames using said object mapping data specifying its display location in the image display frames and performing the interactive function linked by the corresponding linkage of the interactive media program thereto.
In accordance with the specific object of this invention, the object mapping data representing the display locations of the interactive objects are maintained physically and logically separate from the media content data. The media content is thus kept intact and uncorrupted by any embedded special codes, so that it can be delivered and displayed on any media delivery system or display platform. The object mapping data are preferably in a standard display location definition format so that they can be used in a wide variety of interactive media programs.
In accordance with a further object of the invention, an authoring system comprises: (a) an editing subsystem for editing media content in the form of media data representing a series of successive image display frames indexed in a time sequence; (b) an object mapping subsystem for generating object mapping data specifying display locations of objects appearing in the image display frames of the media content which are to be rendered interactive; (c) interactive media program development tools including a hyperlinking tool for establishing linkages from the objects specified by the object mapping data to respective interactive functions to be performed upon user selection of the objects in conjunction with a display of the media content; and (d) said object mapping subsystem having an object mapping tool for defining the display location of an object to be rendered interactive by marking the position of the object as it appears in an image display frame. The object mapping subsystem may further include a motion tracking tool for defining the display locations for an object in motion across successive image display frames by marking the position of the object as it appears in a first image display frame and detecting the positions of the object over subsequent image display frames.
In a preferred interactive TV system, media content, in the form of movies, TV programs, advertising, and the like, can be presented as interactive media programs by transmitting media content data and object mapping data for interactive objects (xe2x80x9chot spotsxe2x80x9d) to a TV set top box connected to a viewer""s TV. The TV set top box may be of the advanced type having digital processing components for running a high-level interactive media program in conjunction with analog or digital (e.g., HDTV) video content through a two-way high-bandwidth cable connection and performing high-level interactive functions such as linking hot spots in the TV content to Internet addresses and displaying related pages on the World Wide Web simultaneously with the TV content.
Interactive TV programs of a lower level of interactivity can also be presented using a conventional TV set top box and remote control in conjunction with the current analog video content. For example, the analog video content may be transmitted to the viewer on a channel provided by a cable TV company, with the object mapping data and program linkages for interactive functions transmitted in the video blanking intervals (VBI) interleaved with the video frames. Alternatively, the object mapping data and interactive program linkages may be transmitted to the viewer""s set top box via a different channel, an available side band of the assigned cable TV spectrum, or through a telephone line, cable modem, or other transmission link connected to the set-top box. The set top box processor uses the object mapping data to highlight the display of interactive objects appearing in the TV content and to perform an interactive function when the viewer toggles through the highlighted objects and presses a control key to select a particular object. The hot spots may be not only image objects appearing in the original TV content, but also non-image objects such as pop-ups, and/or buttons overlaid on the TV content as enhanced media content. Thus, a broad base of existing TV content can be rendered as interactive entertainment even with the conventional cable TV system.
The present invention is described in greater detail below, together with its further objectives, features and advantages, in conjunction with the following drawings:

System for converting media content for interactive TV use


An integrated damper and windage cover 52 has a windage cover portion 56 cantilevered at the upstream end, free of contact with the blade platform 24, 32. The contact portion 54 is rigid and bears against the underside of the blade platform 24, spanning blade platform clearance 50.

In a gas turbine engine airfoil blades are secured to a turbine disk and driven by hot high pressure gas. The blades are airfoils with a neck connecting each airfoil to a root securing the blade to the disk. This root is often of the dove-tail type sliding into the disk axially or obliquely to the axis.
At the base of each airfoil and above the neck is a blade platform. In high temperature turbines this is frequently segmented with each blade being independent of the adjacent blade. The blades are therefore susceptible to vibration which can lead to a high level of repeated stress. Damping of the vibration of each blade is required to avoid these high levels of repeated stress.
The blades operate with high forces and at high temperatures, approaching the limits of the material. The blades accordingly are cooled with lower temperature air and the particular loading on the blade is a concern.
The turbines operate at high rotational&p such as 15,000 rpm which leads to a high centrifugal force in the order of 70,000 G. This produces a high load on the root and also high loading in the disk. Therefore the weight of the components secured to the disk is of concern, not only as to total engine weight but also as to the disk loading caused by the rotational forces. The high disk loading leads to larger disk and even more engine weight.
Windage losses occurring in the rotating components leads to decreased performance and heating of the cooling air. It is desirable to reduce these losses.


An automated process collects and organizes field data from an inspection of a building or other structure such as pipe supports, bridges, buildings, over head supports, and smoke stacks.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
An inspector in the field performing an inspection on a structure will utilize a plurality of devices to capture field data. During an inspection, an inspector may capture pertinent information regarding the structure, known as findings. Field data encompasses all of the information used in a report of the inspection. Generally each inspection of a structure will produce a plurality of findings, which an inspector would then collect into a report for a customer. For example, an inspector may inspect a structure. At the structure, the inspector may discover a plurality of issues which would each be captured in a finding. Traditionally, the inspector would return from the field and manually create a report using the gathered field data. This process is slow and cumbersome and makes inefficient use of an inspector's valuable time. It also makes it difficult for inspector to collaborate on a project since the reports would be created independently and often stored on separate machines.

System and method for organizing field data obtained through a plurality of devices


An optical device for examining a fluid including a measuring space including a compulsory passage for the fluid to be examined, at least one source delivering a selected light to an optical illuminator serving to collect at least part of the light having traversed the compulsory passage and to deliver the selected light to analyze the collected light so as to deliver signals representing data borne by the collected light. The optical illuminator includes a first light guide including one end, opposite the source, and configured to deliver the light, derived from the source, in accordance with a selected geometry to illuminate the compulsory passage in a substantially uniform manner and under a substantially constant intensity.

In certain fields, such as medical analysis (blood counts or flow cytometry), for example, fluid examining devices are used which are based on the interaction between the different components of a fluid and a light.
These devices generally comprise a measuring space having a compulsory passage for the fluid to be examined, a source supplying a selected light to optical illuminating means charged with illuminating the compulsory passage with this light, optical means serving to collect at least some of the light that has passed through the compulsory passage and deliver it to means serving to analyse the collected light in order to deliver the signals representative of data which it carries. A device of this kind is described in particular in French patent FR 2653885.
The data carried by the collected light relates for example to the forms and/or coefficients of reflection and/or coefficients of diffraction and/or coefficients of absorption of the various components of the fluid being examined. The data are obtained for example by transmission measurements well known in the art which need not be described here.
In the case of haematological analysis, for example, the examining device has to be able to distinguish blood cells automatically according to their category (chiefly leukocytes (or white corpuscles) and erythrocytes (or red corpuscles)), and the variety within their category (for example, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils among the leukocytes, or reticulocytes among the erythrocytes).
In order that the examining device can distinguish between the different components suspended in the fluid to be examined, the components have to receive substantially the same intensity of light over the same period of time when passing through the compulsory passage in the measuring space.
In order to obtain a substantially uniform distribution of light over the entire surface defined by the compulsory passage it has been proposed to use an incoherent source such as an incandescent source coupled with a diaphragm and a so called Köhler optical assembly. This assembly consists in using a first lens to form the image of the source in the plane of the pupil of a second lens tasked with forming the image of a diaphragm in the plane of the compulsory passage of the measuring space.
A first drawback of this Köhler assembly device resides in the fact that it has a poor photometric yield, i.e. very little light is concentrated on the measuring zone, thus making certain analyses difficult, especially the analysis of biological cells.
In order to increase the yield it is possible to use high power sources, typically of several dozen watts. However, such sources generate considerable amounts of heat which are liable to interfere with the analyses and incur considerable costs.
A second drawback of this Köhler assembly device resides in the fact that it requires a set of lenses which cannot be easily be placed in the vicinity of the measuring space. In fact, as is known in the art, the smaller the size of the fluid expulsion nozzle, the larger it is possible to make the numerical aperture of the light be and the better the photometric balance. Consequently, for a fluid expulsion nozzle of a given diameter, the closer the illuminating optics are to the compulsory passage, the better the photometric balance.

Device for examining a fluid by uniform illumination using a configured light guide


A titterboard type switch with security structure, wherein a relay unit is disposed between two terminal legs connected with power wires and an electrothermal conductor is connected between the relay unit and one of the terminal legs, whereby when powered on, the electrothermal conductor is slightly heated and in the case of overload, the electrothermal conductor creates high temperature. The relay unit is disposed with a resilient movable contact pushable by a sliding member for controlling whether the movable contact contacts with the other terminal leg or not. The sliding plate is pushed by a swinging plate which is shifted by a push button via a linking unit. A bimetallic plate is disposed between the electrothermal conductor and the swinging plate, whereby when the electrothermal conductor creates high temperature due to overload, the bimetallic plate is deformed to release the movable contact from pressing force of the swinging plate, whereby the movable contact is resiliently restored to a power cut state to ensure safety from overload.

The present invention relates to a titterboard type switch with overload protection function, and more particularly to a switch with security structure, wherein a bimetallic plate is disposed between an electrothermal conductor and a swinging member. In case of passing of excessively great current, the bimetallic plate is deformed to drive the swinging member to cut off the power so as to protect the electric appliance from being damaged and ensure the safety in using electricity.
Accidents due to improper use of electricity have taken place more and more frequently. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an effective protection measure for ensuring safety in using electricity. The most widely used protection measure is the current limiting device mounted on the main circuit, such as a fuse or interrupter which is able to cut off the power in the case of overload. However, it is necessary to replace the fuse each time after fused. This causes great inconvenience. On the other hand, the interrupter has complicated structure and high price so that it is uneconomic to use the interrupter on each line. Also, it is difficult to mount the interrupter. Therefore, generally the interrupter is made with relatively great current specification, so that several lines of smaller current can commonly use one interrupter so as to save cost and facilitate installation. As a result, the precision of the interrupter can hardly meet the requirements for security of various circuits with different current limitations.


Systems and methods of managing the performance of host products such as outdoor gear provide for detecting a connection between drive and performance modules. The performance module has an associated output type and is installed in a host product. A drive profile is selected from a plurality of drive profiles based on the output type and performance characteristic of the host product and is modified by controlling the performance module based on the selected drive profile. Other embodiments include systems and methods of managing trips provide for a performance unit that generates profile data for a performance module based on pre-trip data. The profile data instructs a drive module to modify a performance characteristic of a host product in which the performance module is installed. A trip management unit collects sensor data from a sensor based on the pre-trip data and generates post-trip data based on the sensor data.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to managing performance and trips of outdoor gear. More particularly, embodiments relate to outdoor gear performance and trip management systems having a high degree of adaptability and versatility.
2. Discussion
Outdoor gear such as backpacks, tents and jackets have been long in use by hikers and campers in a wide variety of circumstances and environmental extremes. For example, it is not uncommon for a mountain climber to experience extremely high body temperatures while climbing a surface (e.g., due to physical exertion), and extremely low ambient temperatures when the mountain peak or maximum elevation is reached. The clothing and/or equipment that the mountain climber is wearing, however, may prevent the climber from cooling down in the first instance, and may fail to adequately keep the climber warm in the second instance, or both.
While certain developments have been made to use electronics to adjust the performance characteristics of outdoor gear, a number of difficulties remain. For example, most heating solutions, such as heated jackets, involve a heating coil and control module that are permanently fixed to the jacket as well as to each other. As a result, the individual is typically required to purchase a highly customized heating solution for each type of host product for which greater warmth is desired. Similar challenges exist with regard to ventilation solutions (e.g., ventilated backpacks), illumination solutions (e.g., lighted tents), and so on.
It can also be difficult to conduct centralized trip planning tasks such as itinerary development and post-trip storytelling in a manner that is integral to the gear. Accordingly, the individual is often required to bring multiple logs, devices, etc. on the trip for navigation and documentation purposes.

Outdoor gear performance and trip management system


A method comprises electronically communicating with a game program executing on a broadcaster computer configured to stream a broadcast of the game program, the game program supporting a set of game program methods and not a set of viewer program methods. The method further comprises electronically communicating with a viewer program executing on an audience computer configured to remotely present the broadcast, the viewer program supporting the set of viewer program methods and not the set of game program methods. The method further comprises receiving, from the viewer program, an indication of an invoked viewer program method. The method further comprises translating the indication into a corresponding indication of a game program method, and electronically communicating the indication of the game program method to the game program to effectuate output of the game program corresponding to the indicated game program method.

Audiovisual streaming allows a user to broadcast audiovisual content to an audience of viewers via information networks, such as the Internet. Any sort of audiovisual content may be broadcast by a user to an audience of viewers. For example, a user may stream gameplay of a video game, user-generated programming (e.g., live shows, podcasts), electronic sports (e-sports), and other events (e.g., panels, press conferences, and show floor activities).


Technologies for monitoring network traffic include a computing device that monitors network traffic at a graphics processing unit (GPU) of the computing device. The computing device manages computing resources of the computing device based on results of the monitored network traffic. The computing resources may include one or more virtual machines to process network traffic that is to be monitored at the GPU the computing device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Typically, to ensure network traffic communications (i.e., network packets/flows) are being efficiently passed through their networks, network service providers (e.g., internet service providers (ISPs), telecommunications service providers (TSPs)) monitor network traffic (i.e., incoming and outgoing network packets/flows) through their networks continuously. For example, such continuous monitoring of the network traffic may include various health checks, resource allocation/usage, application usage, data leakage, intrusion detection, and the like. Traditionally, traffic monitoring has been performed by duplicating and/or filtering network traffic and redirecting the duplicated and/or filtered network traffic, via port mirroring on switches and routers, for example, to remotely located network devices (e.g., proprietary middle-boxes) dedicated to processing the aggregated network traffic.
As a result of advances in virtualization technologies, such as virtual machines (VMs), software defined networks (SDNs), network functions virtualization (NFV), and the like, network service providers can consolidate network functionality that was previously run on remotely located proprietary hardware into single commodity servers capable of running multiple VMs on general purpose hardware. Accordingly, more powerful compute and input/output resources may be necessary to manage the increased network resource workload. However, offloading the increased amount of network bandwidth and information on system resources, both physical and virtual, may introduce latency and increase bandwidth usage. Using existing methods, performing the network traffic monitoring and analysis locally may result in reduced application performance and tax the limited platform resources (e.g., central processing unit (CPU) cores, network interface card (NIC) interfaces, etc.) that can be allocated to perform the network traffic monitoring and analysis locally.

Technologies for GPU assisted network traffic monitoring and analysis


An agricultural planter includes systems, methods, and apparatuses for maintaining down force pressure at row units of the planter. The row units may include an electric linear actuator connected to linkages of the row units to maintain a down force pressure for the row unit. The linkage may also be removed and replaced with a strut or like mechanism to apply a direct down force pressure to components of the row unit. One or more sensors can be included to obtain information related to the ground to automatically adjust the amount of down force provided based upon a ground characteristic in order to maintain a substantially uniform furrow depth.

An agricultural row crop planter is a machine built for precisely distributing seed into the ground. The row crop planter generally includes a horizontal toolbar fixed to a hitch assembly for towing behind a tractor or other implement. Row units including seed meters are mounted to the toolbar. In different configurations, seed may be stored at individual hoppers on each row unit, or it may be maintained in a central hopper and delivered to the row units on an as needed basis. The row units include ground-working tools for opening and closing a seed furrow, and a seed metering system for distributing seed to the seed furrow.
In its most basic form, the seed meter includes a housing, a seed disc, and a seed chute. The housing is constructed such that it creates a reservoir to hold a seed pool. The seed disc resides within the housing and rotates about a generally horizontal central axis. As the seed disc rotates, it passes through the seed pool where it picks up individual seeds. The seeds are subsequently dispensed into the seed chute where they drop into the seed furrow.
As the agricultural planter row unit travels across fields with variable soil types, soil moisture, residue levels and topography, it can be difficult to maintain constant seed depth and other parameters due to changing conditions which would ideally require varying the row unit down force pressure. For example, farming with higher residue levels also requires higher row unit down force levels as row cleaners, coulters and other attachments require applied force to keep them in the ground and at consistent depths.
At the same time, in many locations there are immovable rocks or other obstructions at or below the soil surface which require the planter row unit to be able to quickly and freely (without undue increase in the row unit down force) rise up and over the obstruction freely and then quickly move back down, leaving a minimum amount of the row unplanted. All this must be accomplished at continually increasing ground speeds.
Traditionally, springs have been used to urge row units downward. Air bag systems have also been used to overcome some of the drawbacks to mechanical spring systems. Air systems provide a more uniform down force through the vertical range of travel, compared to springs, and are somewhat easier to adjust than springs. However due to the compressibility of air and the relatively large volumes required, changes in air pressure are very cumbersome and not adaptable to very fast change and response to in-cab controls on the go. Air bag systems typically have a very large cross-sectional area in relation to the hose feeding the air spring with pressure, which can provide a large multiplication of force and allow for relatively good isolation of one row unit relative to another. However, air bag systems typically do not allow for rapid change of the force being applied, because of the large volume of the air spring in relation to the cross section of the hose supplying the air. Furthermore, as computers and GPS systems have allowed crop production to be managed in a location-specific way as an implement moves through the field, it has become necessary to achieve more rapid changes in the setting or adjustment of the implement. In the case of a planter row unit, it is also necessary to generate a large amount of force. Each individual planter row unit must be able to react to the soil it encounters independently of the other row units.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved apparatuses, systems, and/or methods for providing down force at the row units in a way that provides for a sufficient amount of down force for varying types of row units, while also providing a near instantaneous response to variations in soil conditions, obstructions, and other changes in a field being planted.

Apparatuses, methods, and systems for providing down force for an agricultural implement