A piping arrangement in which a plurality of sealing means (70 through 78) are arranged on a sheathing pipe (42) provided as an outer pipe of a robot wrist (18) of a laser robot to thereby define annular chambers (84 through 90); the annular chamber (86 and 90) being used as a gas-carrying annular chamber for transferring an assist gas from one line to another, and a liquid-carrying chamber for transferring a liquid coolant from one line to another; the assist gas and the liquid coolant being supplied and returned through the gas-carrying annular chamber and the liquid-carrying annular chamber (84 and 90). Pipes (22, 24, 26, and 28) are arranged close to and along the outer surfaces of a robot forearm (16) and the robot wrist (18), and predetermined annular chambers (84, 88) other than the gas-carrying annular chamber (86) and the liquid-carrying annular chamber (90) being used as pressure chambers provided with sealing means (70 through 78) arranged thereamong, to thereby prevent leakage of the assist gas from the gas-carrying annular chamber and leakage of the liquid coolant from the liquid-carrying annular chamber.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a laser robot in general using a high-energy laser beam requires flexible pipes 7a for conveying a liquid coolant so as to cool reflecting mirrors 6 which are arranged to deflect the laser beam and a flexible pipe 7b for conveying an inert gas serving as an assist gas in laser machining. The flexible pipes 7a and 7b are arranged around a robot wrist 4 holding a laser beam projecting device 5 thereon These flexible pipes 7a and 7b are sufficiently slack so that the flexible pipes 7a and 7b are able to absorb the twisting and pulling that act thereon when the movable components of the laser robot, including the robot body, the robot upper arm, which are not shown, the robot forearm 3 and the robot wrist 4, operate according to their respective degree of freedom of movement.
However, problems arise when the flexible pipes 7a and 7b are arranged slackly around the robot wrist 4, namely, it is possible that the flexible pipes 7a and 7b will interfere with peripheral equipment or other equipment when the laser robot performs an operation including laser machining, and the flexible pipes may be damaged or broken by debris and welding spatters from the workpiece during a laser welding operation or laser cutting operation.
If the pipes are extended in a sheathing pipe of the robot wrist so as to improve the piping arrangement, the robot wrist must be provided with a sheathing pipe of increased diameter, which conflicts with functional requirements suggesting that a robot working end must be formed in the smallest and the lightest possible construction. Furthermore, when the pipes extend in the sheathing pipe of the robot wrist, the liquid coolant will flow into the mechanism of the robot wrist if the liquid coolant leaks from the pipes. Thus, using a sheathing pipe for protecting the flexible pipes is not yet practical.

Piping arrangement for a laser robot wrist


A method for operating an electric motor which is used as an electric servo drive in an electronic power steering system of a motor vehicle for power assistance and which has a number of magnetic elements and phase windings and is actuated and/or controlled by an electronic control unit of the electronic power steering system, wherein a temperature of at least one magnetic element of the electric motor is continuously determined during the operation of the electric motor by way of a temperature model and wherein, based on the temperature of the at least one magnetic element of the electric motor determined by way of the temperature model, an electrical current flowing in at least one of the phase windings of the electric motor is limited, taking into account a predeterminable limit temperature of the at least one magnetic element of the electric motor.

The invention relates to a method for operating an electric motor and to a method for operating an electronic power steering system of a motor vehicle. The invention additionally relates to an electronic power steering system of a motor vehicle and to an electronic control unit of such an electronic power steering system.
A steering system is known from DE 100 13 711 A1, which includes a servo drive for torque assistance (power steering). The degree of torque assistance in the described steering system is dependent on the vehicle speed. While the torque assistance is greater at a low vehicle speed (for example, so as to be able to operate the steering wheel without great effort when maneuvering the vehicle), the torque assistance is lowered at higher speeds (for example so as to increase driving stability when driving on a highway). The servo drive can be operated electrically or hydraulically. In addition to the servo drive, the steering system described in DE 100 13 711 A1 also comprises superimposition means, which generate an additional angle and superimpose this additional angle on the steering wheel angle predetermined by the steering handle.
It is known to operate electric motors as electric servo drives in electronic power steering systems or power steering devices. This is generally carried out by way of output stage driver circuits and inverters. The electric motors used typically comprise high-performance magnets. However, the magnetic properties of such high-performance permanent magnets are highly temperature-dependent. The permanent magnets or magnetic elements notably can lose the magnetic properties thereof in a manner that is entirely or partially irreversible if they are exposed to corresponding temperatures and opposing magnetic fields generated by electrical current. The magnets in electric motors must therefore be designed for extreme or maximum ambient requirements in terms of temperatures or opposing fields. The temperatures of the magnetic elements can usually not be directly measured during the operation of the electronic power steering system. Rare earth magnets are demagnetized more quickly at high temperatures, while ferrite magnets are demagnetized more quickly at cold or low temperatures.
Proceeding from this, it is the object of the present invention to provide a method of the type mentioned above, in which magnetic elements of the electric motor are effectively protected from temperature-dependent demagnetization during operation.


A covering device, such as is used in particular for covering passenger car loading spaces, consists of a web of a blind and hoops guided on both sides of the web in a guide running in the longitudinal direction. In order to reduce the construction space required when the covering device is open, the web of the blind is rolled up on a take-up rod, from which it can be drawn off counter to the effect of springs. Using a mechanical coupling, the hoops bearing the web of the blind are drawn successively from the waiting or open position, together with the web of the blind. The web of the blind is firmly connected only to the first hoop when viewed from the pulling-out side of the web, and rests loosely upon the other hoops.

The invention relates to a covering device and in particular, to a covering device for passenger car loading spaces having a blind with a flexible web which is supported by a plurality of hoops and is attached by its free end to the first hoop viewed from the pulling-out side of the blind. The covering device further has guide rails which run in the longitudinal direction on both sides, on which stops are mounted at both end faces, and on which the hoops are mounted so as to be displaceable. The covering device still further has means for the successive drawing of the hoops from a waiting or open position together with the web of the blind.
Such a device is known, for example, from German Patent Document 3,906,196. Such covering devices are used, in particular, for covering the loading space of estate cars. However, they can also be used in other areas in which flexible covers are used, for example, when installed in an approximately horizontal position, as sun shade blinds in windows of vehicles and buildings, such as greenhouses and conservatories.
In this known loading space cover, the web of the blind is attached to the hoops by holding loops which are guided in guide rails mounted on both sides. When the covering device is pushed together, portions of the web of the blind hangs down in the manner of a garland between the hoops then located adjacently. As a result, when the hoops are pushed together, a large space is required below the plane for the garlands of the cover as well as in the direction of displacement of the hoops to accommodate them because the hoops cannot be pushed into a block due to the required inherent rigidity of the web of the blind. This problem becomes greater as the length of the covering device increases.
Furthermore, it is known from German Patent Document 4,018,860 to use hoops engaging in one another in the rest position in order to secure the position of the hoops and to prevent self-acting opening of the cover. In German Patent Document 4,018,860, different designs of such as engagement are presented. One specific embodiment proposes moulding insertion elements onto the hoops in the region of the guide strip, which insertion elements are shaped in a negative manner relative to one another, engage in one another when the hoops are pushed together, and thus form a closed chain of hoops.
The object of the present invention is to improve the covering device of the basic generic type described above to the extent that, when the covering device is open, the space required for it is reduced.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a covering device wherein the web of the blind is freely movable relative to the other hoops which are offset relative to the first hoop. The web only rests loosely on the other hoops, in that the web of the blind can be rolled up onto a take-up rod which is arranged on the other side of the waiting position of the hoops, is mounted rotatably and is prestressed by spring force in the rolling-up mechanism, and in that the means for the successive drawing of the hoops are formed by a mechanical coupling of the hoops which is separate from the web of the blind, is limited to the two end sides of the hoops and can be pushed together.
Due to the fact that the web of the blind is not firmly connected to the hoops, other than the first hoop, but only rests loosely on upon them, it is possible to roll up the web of the blind in a space saving manner onto a take-up unit, which is known per se, in the form of a spring-tensioned, rotatable take-up rod. In this case, the hoops can be pushed back up to a stop and can be pushed tightly onto one another. When the web of the blind is pulled out, the hoops are guided along successively from the waiting position synchronously with the region of the web of the blind which they are intended to support.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


An apparatus and method for an improved security system employing a video camera and video recorder is disclosed. Recordation of the video signals from the video camera by the video recorder is controlled by activation of a remotely mounted switch that monitors the status of a controlled access area. When an activation switch is placed adjacent an access door to a retail display cabinet, recordation of the video signals depicting that area will occur only when the access door is opened, generating a signal from the door switch as to the status of the access door ("open"). Upon closing the access door, a second signal is generated by the switch, terminating the recording of the video signals. In this manner video signals are only recorded during such time as access restrictions are compromised.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a security system, and more particularly, to such a system that utilizes a video camera and recording tape to monitor activities within a specified area(s) of interest.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As of 1995, losses from shoplifting cost retailers and their customers (through higher prices) more than $10 billion a year. The annual cost of combating the shoplifting problem in the United States--the retail loss prevention industry, is estimated at approximately $3 billion a year.
Such losses affect not only the retailers, but customers and the government as well. When their products are stolen, retailers suffer lost sales, reduced profits, inventory depletion, all of which, in many cases, results in stunted or destroyed businesses. Consumers are forced to not only pay the higher prices that reflect the increased cost in doing business, they are also deprived of products that would otherwise be available for purchase. Tax revenues for governments at all levels are lowered, both due to the loss of sales tax revenues, as well as resulting from lowered business earnings. As a result, taxes must be raised for all tax payers to replace this "lost revenue".
Loss prevention experts suggest using increasingly-sophisticated security systems having new technologies as the most effective strategy to fight this growing problem. However, effective deployment of this technology first requires an understanding of the problem: who is doing the stealing, what is being stolen, what theft techniques are being used, and where and when are businesses most vulnerable.
Studies done in an attempt to answer such questions have demonstrated that more than one-half of all thefts are perpetrated by employees. In one study of 400 retail chains, the breakdown of all reported shoplifting thefts revealed that approximately 42% of the thefts were committed by the businesses' own employees, with 32% by customers, a small fraction by vendors, and the rest a result of unintentional employee or system errors.
Two of the major technology-driven methodologies used to combat customer and employee theft are electronic article surveillance and asset security. The first method, electronic article surveillance ("EAS") essentially involves product tags and cameras. The tags, unless deactivated, set off alarms located at points of egress. Close circuit television cameras ("CCTV") are used to record anything that is happening, and is a critical companion technology to electronic tagging. Cameras enable retailers to observe shoplifting in "real time," record audio/visual evidence for later prosecution--including times and dates, monitor dead zones in stores, permit later observation and study of new shoplifting techniques, and enable the tracking of suspected repeat offenders.
The asset security methodology makes use of security personnel and material barriers to guard and screen access to the product. Such procedures are seen as being the least desirable for a retail business, as creating a less-than optimal sales environment. Coats attached to hangers with cable, products behind glass counters, etc., tend to discourage customers from trying out the product, which in turn lowers the likelihood of making a sale.
While seen as less than desirable from a retail perspective, systems such as card readers can be very effective in controlling shrinkage involving employees and vendors. Asset security technology directed towards employee theft also lends itself to integration with information received from camera systems, point of sale stations, and sales/inventory reports.
Such security efforts are in recognition that the problem posed by employee theft has proven to be most difficult to combat. Employees are likely aware of the defenses erected by their employer to prevent shoplifting, and are thereby able to circumvent such procedures. In addition, while the public may gain access to the merchandise areas for only limited hours of the day, cleaning crews and merchandise re-stockers are accorded access at times when very little supervisory personnel are on the premises.
Cameras can be particularly effective against dishonest employees who are aware of and have been trained regarding anti-shoplifting measures. Knowing the cameras are present tends to increase the perception that the risk of getting caught is increased. It is hoped that such knowledge will act as a deterrent, and thereby modify the behavior of any employee having thoughts of committing such a theft.
Cameras, however, can only be useful to a security program if there are persons watching the monitors. The 24-hour, cash-rich environment of gaming casinos almost requires the saturation of the premises with video cameras, and 24-hour monitoring of their output. However, the majority of business establishments cannot justify the personnel costs required to staff a bank of video monitors. To be effective, such staffing would have to include the times when the facility is open to the public, as well as during those periods of employee access only. The use of video recorders to record the camera output is not particularly helpful, since the recordings themselves must be watched at some point if thefts are to be discovered--also a 24-hour labor requirement.


A paper thickness detecting apparatus includes a first sensor and a second sensor in which the electrostatic capacitance changes when a piece of paper such as a bank note or a piece of copying paper is inserted, and a thickness detecting unit for detecting the thickness of the piece of paper from the signals obtained from the respective first sensor and the second sensor, in order to provide a paper thickness detecting apparatus that can reliably detect a foreign object adhered to the paper.

Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are provided with several types of sensors in order to perform various kinds of measurements against the inserted bank notes, thereby distinguishing the type of notes or checking for fake notes.
One of the measurements performed against the inserted bank notes by the ATM is to measure the thickness of the bank notes. By measuring the thickness, an overlapping of two or more bank notes due to an abnormal conveyance can be detected, or whether or not the bank notes are normal bank notes can be determined. Moreover, the existence of a foreign object on the paper can be checked by detecting the local distribution of the thickness.
Generally, methods of holding the paper by pressurizing it with two rollers and measuring the gap between the rollers are well-known as methods of measuring the thickness of pieces of paper. The thickness of pieces of paper can reliably be measured by using this method, but paper jamming is easily caused when the measurement is performed with pieces of paper being fed at a high speed, which is a problem.
In response to that problem, electrostatic capacitance thickness detecting methods that can measure the thickness without mechanically pressurizing the paper are becoming widespread. These electrostatic capacitance thickness detecting methods are for detecting the thickness of pieces of paper by using the change in electrostatic capacitance between the counter electrodes when the pieces of paper are inserted between the opposing electrodes. Although the change in the electrostatic capacitance depends on the thickness of the pieces of paper and the size of the relative permittivity in these methods, the thickness of the pieces of paper can be known from the change in the electrostatic capacitance as the size of the relative permittivity of the pieces of paper to be measured is constant.
A paper thickness detecting apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 is a general electrostatic capacitance paper thickness detecting apparatus. The paper thickness detecting apparatus 100 is provided with an electrostatic capacitance sensor (hereinafter, this sensor is referred to as "sensor array") 101 comprised of counter electrodes 101a-101e, and a thickness detector 102 for detecting the thickness of a piece of paper from response signals in response to signals input into the sensor array 101 (, the input signals are common for each of the counter electrodes 101a-101e).
Each of the counter electrodes 101a-101e constitutes a capacitor with a predetermined electrostatic capacitance. The thickness detector 102 receives response signals in response to common input signals (for example, sinusoidal signals) that are input to the counter electrodes 101a-101e. Then, the thickness of a piece of paper 103 is detected from those response signals. The common input signals to be provided to the sensor array 101 are input from a signal source (not illustrated) to the sensor array 101.
When the paper 103 is conveyed in a conveyance direction X and is inserted between the electrodes of the respective counter electrodes 101a-101e, the electrostatic capacitance of the counter electrodes 101a-101e changes, as described above. At this time, the response signals change as illustrated in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B.
FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are diagrams illustrating exemplary response signals when the paper 103 is inserted between the electrodes of the respective counter electrodes 101a-101e. The horizontal axis of FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B represents the counter electrodes 101a, 101b, . . . , and 101e (hereinafter, they are referred to as "detection channel" as a whole), and the vertical axis represents the signal (electric current) detected by the detection channel.
As illustrated in FIG. 2A, when the paper 103 is inserted between the electrodes of the counter electrodes 101a-101e, the signal of the counter electrode at which there is a fold on the paper increases sharply (for example, "a" illustrated in FIG. 2A).
However, the electrostatic capacitance of the counter electrodes 101a-101e also changes when a foreign object is adhered to the paper, and thereby similar response signals as in FIG. 2A are obtained, as illustrated in "b" of FIG. 2B.
As described in the above, there has been a problem in which it is difficult to detect only a foreign object adhered to the paper as it is not possible to determine whether the change in the response signals is caused by folds in the paper or by a foreign object such as a piece of tape adhered to the paper.
In relation to the above-mentioned technique, Patent Document 1 discloses a paper thickness abnormality detection apparatus capable of detecting a thickness abnormality even when pieces of paper are fed at a high speed by performing a thickness abnormality detection with a detector having two or more condensers, and of speedily and accurately performing a detecting operation.
Patent Document 2 discloses a paper discrimination apparatus capable of reforming the nonuniform electric field between electrodes by rounding or chamfering the end face of the electrodes on the sides where pieces of paper are conveyed and by covering the electrodes with dielectric material, and of reducing the change in electrostatic capacitance between the electrodes due to the up-down fluctuation of the paper when the paper is conveyed between the electrodes.
Patent Document 3 discloses a paper discrimination sensor for discriminating the state of pieces of paper conveyed through a conveyance path by using the change in electrostatic capacitance between the counter electrodes arranged in the conveyance path of the paper, where a piece of tape or a seal can accurately and reliably be discriminated by forming the sensor body with the electrodes embedded onto the dielectric material and by providing a layer of conductive material whose surface resistance value is 104-109Ω on the surface of the sensor body on the sides where the paper pass through.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application No. H 02-098605
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-240271
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-280367

Paper thickness detecting apparatus with applying electrodes


A water powered vibrating device has a self-propelled eccentric mass that rotates about a shaft in a casing. A pad is supported on the casing, making contact with the casing along a plane substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. A vibration is generated when the self-propelled eccentric mass rotates on the shaft, which vibration is transmitted to the casing providing a strong kneading and rubbing action on the pad with substantially no component of force parallel to the axis of rotation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water powered vibrating device that imparts a strong kneading and rubbing action to a pad.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
The beneficial effect of massage and warm water on stresses or minor aches and pains is well known and there are numerous massaging devices for personal use. The ones that provide a strong kneading action, i.e., "Swedish Massagers," are electrically powered and cannot be used in a shower or bathtub. The ones that are water powered, on the other hand, do not exert a downward kneading force, or not enough force. The term "downward" as used herein means the direction in which the massager is pressed to bring it into contact with the user's skin.
There are water powered massagers that make use of an unbalanced impeller. Most of these devices operate by spraying a stream of high velocity water on the impeller. Such devices are capable of giving a weak kneading action when the impeller is mounted for rotation about an axis that is parallel to the plane of contact with the user's skin. The transfer of kinetic energy from the water to the impeller is inefficient, however, because the spray diverges as it leaves the nozzle and loses some of its velocity before it impacts the impeller. These factors limit the amount of eccentric weight that can be carried by the impeller and/or reduce the speed at which the impeller is rotated, thereby limiting the amount of downward force.
There is a water powered massager described in U.S. Pat No. 4,640,462 to Stearns, III wherein water is sprayed from a nozzle, providing for more efficient transfer of kinetic energy. In this device, however, the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the plane of contact with the user's skin so that the device provides a rubbing, but no kneading action. The patentee recognized the desirability of having a downward component of force by selectively aiming the nozzle at the user's skin. This gave a simulated, pulsating spray effect, but reduced the speed at which the nozzle rotated, thereby reducing the rubbing force. In addition, the mass of water forming the eccentric weight is limited to the volume of water in the nozzle and the conduit leading to the nozzle, which also limits the rubbing force.


A floatable toy, including a toy body and a skeleton. The toy body is provided with a receiving cavity and a first opening. The skeleton passes through the first opening and is located in the receiving cavity. The skeleton is provided with a first engaging portion on which a clamping groove is provided. The clamping groove is adapted to the first opening, and the toy body engages with the clamping groove in a snap fit through the first opening to fixedly connect the toy body and the skeleton, thereby sealing the receiving cavity. In this way, the toy body and the skeleton are connected and fixed in a detachable manner, the receiving cavity is opened or closed by the skeleton. Therefore, the interior of the floatable toy can be cleaned.

Tradition floatable toys are popular for children and adults which give a company during bath time. In general, the existing floatable toys are consisting of hollow plastic body which seals air inside to create floating ability without water entering into the interior of the toy.
However, in some floatable toys, a small opening for whistle is built on the body for squeaking sound which therefore water and moisture can enter the interior of the shell but cannot be empty out completely. After a period of time, this wet and humid environment at the interior of the shell allows bacteria to grow but cannot be cleaned easily because it is mostly enclosed.


An improved rework nozzle includes an open housing which when lowered onto the surface of a board forms a closed cavity. The housing includes venting means which expend air that is input to the cavity, thereby using flow through concepts to maintain a uniform temperature in the cavity. The housing also positioning mechanisms for both aligning a the housing and a captive integrated circuit to a desired footprint on the circuit board, and for limiting movement of the integrated circuit during rework.

As it is known in the art, integrated circuit boards, or modules, generally comprise a number of integrated circuit packages, or dies, which are coupled via pads onto a printed circuit board (PCB) using solder. One type of integrated circuit package is a Ball Grid Array (BGA). The BGA package may be, for example, a memory chip with solder balls on the underside for mounting. The BGA package has its Input/Output (I/O) pins spread across the whole of the underside surface area in a checkerboard pattern, rather than just at the periphery. The use of BGAs allows die package size to be reduced because there is more surface area for attachment. Smaller packaging allows more components to be mounted on a module, making greater densities available.
BGAs are reflow soldered to PCBs using a mass reflow process. During the reflow process the PCBs are passed into a furnace on a conveyor system, and hot air is forced into the processing chamber through a high number of holes or nozzles and onto the PCBs passing on the conveyor system. The air then heats the PCBs to melt the solder paste alloy and form solder joints between the BGAs and the PCBs.
After the PCB is populated, it may undergo tests and be released to the field. At any time it may occur that one or more of the integrated circuits mounted on the PCB fails and needs to be replaced. When one or more of the integrated circuits fails, the module needs to be reworked. During the rework process the failing integrated circuits are removed from the module and replaced with operative integrated circuits. It is important that the integrity and reliability of the solder joints between the replacement IC and the PCB are maintained.
The standard approach for reworking a BGA is to place the replacement BGA into a placement nozzle and hold it into position with a vacuum cup, aligning the balls of the BGA with the solder footprint. The BGA is then dropped into position on the PCB. The placement nozzle is then partially lifted, although it may still shroud the component. As shown in FIG. 1, a flow of heated forced convention gas is applied through nozzle 14 onto the body of the component 16. The flow of air drives the heat through the component body to the solder ball array on the underside of the BGA 16, thereby melting the solder and forming a solder joint on the PCB 12.
There are several problems with the existing rework approach. One problem arises due to the density of placement of ICs on the PCB. In order to maximize the use of the PCB space the ICs are generally closely spaced. As a result, residual heat from the stream of hot air that is directed at the reworked IC may undesirably affect the solder joints of neighboring ICs, for example causing the solder connections to become liquidus, and dislodging the components from their appropriate positions on the PCB. In order to preclude this occurrence, it is often necessary to place ceramic covers, such as cover 15 over neighboring ICs.
Another disadvantage of this approach results from the natural temperature drop of the air flow on its path from the nozzle to the underside of the BGA. The initial temperature of the air should be high enough to ensure that, despite the temperature drop, the desired temperature to melt the solder between the BGA and the PCB is attained. In addition, the initial temperature may have to be adjusted even higher to accommodate the dissipation of the air flow as it is directed at the target component. For example, a starting temperature of 320 to 340 degrees or greater may be required to heat the solder interconnects to a desired 200 to 210 degrees. A problem exists in that the component 16 may not be warranted to operate effectively under these temperature conditions. For example, a typical integrated circuit may have an operating specification threshold of only 240 degrees. The additional heat can also physically distort the package. This problem is exacerbated when solder paste made from material having a higher melting temperature is used. As the trend away from lead based solder continues, this issue will rise in importance.
Another disadvantage of the current rework practice is that it makes it difficult to obtain the thermal profile of the solder set point. Very specific time and temperature values are required in order to properly establish a reliable solder interconnect. Measuring the temperatures and then adjusting the air flow, temperature and time to achieve the specific required time and temperatures facilitate thermal profiling. Because BGAs come in a great deal of sizes, the way that the air flow characteristics affect the solder set points of the BGAs are unique to each. Using an open nozzle design such as that shown in FIG. 1 forces the process of identifying the thermal profile of a given BGA to be trial and error, often taking many hours or days to establish, and can vary with different ambient conditions.
The current rework process also is also challenged by the increasing weight and densities of the BGAs and other integrated circuit components. Component weights are increasing as a result of increased power dissipation. As the weight increases it is important to increase the precision of the temperature application to the component during rework. If the temperature application is imprecise, solder shorting and collapse of the solder ball during rework may occur. Solder shorts are one of the primary defects in BGA rework. The defect is created when two connections are allowed to join during the soldering process. When a single shorting occurs, the component must be disposed. If shorting should occur multiple times, the entire board is disposed, often at significant expense.
A further problem of the existing rework process is the difficulty associated with proper alignment of the replacement BGA on the PCB. Usually a complicated vision alignment system including microscopes and mirrors is used to properly position the BGA on the PCB. The system is operator dependent, requires a high level of expertise and thus is often prone to error and misplacement. Misalignment of components is a significant defect and a common byproduct of the current rework process.

Controlled height and flow rework nozzle


Hot-plugging and power management capabilities are simultaneously provided for a connector. Circuitry is provided to control a power management terminal so that it is powered up gradually and only after a device has been connected to the connector. The power management terminal is powered down when the device is disconnected from the connector under control of the circuitry. The power management voltage domain is isolated from the voltage domain of the system having the connector by further circuitry which also provides connection status lines.

1. Field of The Invention
The invention relates to the field of circuit interfacing and compatibility, and in particular to concurrent maintenance and hot-plugging of peripheral component interconnect (PCI) circuit cards.
2. Background Information
There are a variety of standard bus types and associated slot connectors currently in use in computer systems for interfacing with peripheral devices, including the currently popular PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus/slot standard, for example. Recently, new PCI bus specifications have been proposed, and two specifications, of particular interest are the "PCI Bus Hot Plug Specification 1.0" and "PCI Engineering Change Request--Addition of 3.3 V-AUX to connector," which can be individually used on a PCI slot.
Hot-plugging, sometimes also called "hot-swapping," refers to inserting and/or extracting a device while a system is "hot," i.e., powered-on. In mid-range to high-end computer systems, such as the IBM AS/400 (IBM and AS/400 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, all rights reserved), because of the lost processing time and system overhead involved with shutting the system down, it is highly advantageous to be able to perform a number of maintenance operations on the computer system while the system is still running, and these operations are referred to as concurrent maintenance (CM) operations. In particular, failed or failing PCI circuit cards should be replaceable in a concurrent maintenance operation. The above-mentioned PCI Bus Hot Plug Specification provides a way of using standard PCI components in a system where the capability for hot-plugging of these components is to be made available.
The PCI BUS Hot-Plug Specification 1.0 Defines Hot Insertion as follows. A slot must be powered down and isolated from the bus before a PCI Adapter Card can be inserted. The process of making a slot ready, for insertion can vary from one platform and operating system to another. The following general sequence of steps is necessary to insert a PCI Adapter Card into a slot after it is powered down and ready for insertion. First, the user, e.g., computer system maintenance personnel, inserts the new Adapter Card. The user then notifies the Hot-Plug Service to turn on the slot containing the new Adapter Card. Next, the Hot-Plug Service issues a Hot-Plug Primitive to the Hot-Plug System Driver to turn on the appropriate slot. The Hot-Plug System Driver uses the Hot-Plug Controller to power up the slot; deassert RST# (reset) on the slot and connect the slot to the rest of the bus, in either order; and change the optional slot-state indicator to show that the slot is on.
The Hot-Plug Service notifies the operating system that the new Adapter Card is installed, so the operating system can initialize the Adapter Card and prepare to use it. Then, the Hot-Plug Service notifies the user that the card is ready.
The PCI Engineering Change Request, or "ECR," relating to power management mentioned above will now be explained. The PCI SIG Power Management Working Group has determined that in order to enable PCI bus power management to the full extent that the PCI Bus Power Management Interface Specification, Intel's Instantly Available PC and Microsoft's OnNow initiatives allow, PCI add-in devices need a dedicated and guaranteed source of power to keep the wake event card logic circuitry active while the rest of the PCI bus is without power. Power management includes shutting down a component that is not being used to place it in a standby condition in order to conserve energy, and then "waking up" the component by way of the wake event card logic circuitry when the component is needed. A previously reserved connector pin (14A) is proposed in this PCI ECR to be used as a 3.3 Vaux voltage supply to provide the standard source of power for the wake event card logic circuitry.
At least three assumptions have been made in this PCI ECR in determining the optimal solution for supplying auxiliary power to PCI add-in devices. The first was that add-in devices will need to function correctly in existing systems, which do not support Vaux, as well as in new Vaux capable systems. The second assumption was that the majority of add-in devices will not require Vaux. Because of this second assumption, the third assumption was that systems should not be required to provide Vaux capacity to handle worst case loading requirements.
The first and third assumptions have led to a need to provide mechanisms for budgeting the total available Vaux power, and for controlling the power consumption of Vaux capable devices. Power consumption of Vaux capable devices can be handled in one of two ways: either the motherboard could be designed to control Vaux current to individual slots, based on software control for example; or the add-in board could be made responsible for regulating its own current consumption based on software control, for example.
The PCI SIG Power Management working group selected the second option for this PCI ECR in view of the first two assumptions mentioned above. Therefore, add-in boards will need to be able to control their usage of Vaux to operate in legacy systems as well as in Vaux capable systems. The rationale is that, assuming the majority of cards will not need this capability, there is no need to burden an entire computer system with the cost for the capability. Cards which are designed to consume Vaux power will bear the costs for its incorporation.
The PCI SIG requirements for this 3.3 Vaux pin are that it meets the criteria set forth by the PCI SIG for defining a reserved pin. In particular, that it solves a long term need with broad application. The capabilities enabled by the PCI bus 3.3 Vaux pin address global energy utilization regulations that are becoming increasingly more important to buyers given the shortage of inexpensive, clean energy in many parts of the planet. The governmental energy regulations that will be supportable include but are not limited to Energy Star USA 30W standby.
The above-mentioned addition of a 3.3 V-AUX PCI pin as specified in the ECR, provides for PCI card power management support in a system, and the PCI Hot-Plug specification provides for a hot-plugging capability. However, a problem may arise if the two above-mentioned PCI bus features are used together on the same PCI slot.
From the Hot-Plug Specification, it can be seen that it specifies that the PCI slot in question is first powered down before the PCI card is inserted (or extracted). A PCI card should not, therefore, be hot-plugged directly into a PCI slot that has any pins "hot." This would include the 3.3 V-AUX pin of the PCI ECR, which pin is specified to be on even when the rest of the bus is powered down in order to keep wake event logic circuitry on a PCI card active.
Therefore, it is apparent that to use both the 3.3 Vaux pin capabilities, and hot-plug capabilities together, there needs to be a way that the 3.3 Vaux pin can be turned-on only after the PCI card is hot-plugged-in so as to comply with the PCI Hot Plug specification.
There is another PCI specification, the PCI Local Bus Specification 2.1, which provides for two PRSNTx# pins/signals which are used to indicate to the computer system that a PCI card is present in the PCI slot, and how much power the PCI card requires. Some defined signal combinations are set forth in the table below.
______________________________________ Expansion PRSNT1# PRSNT2# Configuration ______________________________________ Open Open No Expansion board present Ground Open Expansion board present, 25W max Open Ground Expansion board present, 15W max Ground Ground Expansion board present, 7.5W max ______________________________________
According to this PCI specification for the PRSNTx# pins, in providing the power indication, the expansion board (PCI card) must indicate the total maximum power consumption for the board. The system must assume that the expansion board could draw this power from either the standard 5 V or 3.3 V power rail. Further, if the expansion board is configurable, e.g., it provides sockets for memory expansion, etc., the pin strapping (as defined in the above table) must indicate the total power consumed by a fully configured (expanded) board, which may be more power than that consumed in its usual shipping configuration.
As can be seen, one or both PRSNTx# pins/signals are grounded by a PCI card when inserted in a PCI slot, so at least one of the PRSNTx# pins/signals will be low (ground) if a PCI card is present in the PCI slot.
From the above, it is apparent that a need exists for a way to use both the hot-plug capability and the power management capability in a single system while conforming with PCI bus industry standards.

Hot-plug voltage and power management control using detected connection status


A wireless link between a first transmitter and a first receiver in a multiple access communications system is evaluated by receiving, at the first transmitter, information that is intended for a second receiver and that is transmitted in a second transmission mode that is different from the current transmission mode and obtaining an error measure for the information that is received at the first receiver and intended for the second receiver. The obtained error measure is then used to determine if the second transmission mode is an acceptable transmission mode. In an embodiment, if the second transmission mode is determined to be acceptable, then the current transmission mode of the first receiver can be replaced by the second transmission mode. In an embodiment, the current transmission mode is replaced by the second transmission mode only if the second transmission mode is a “higher” transmission mode than the current transmission.

Wireless communications systems use multiple access protocols, such as time-division multiple access (TDMA), frequency-division multiple access (FDMA), code-division multiple access (CDMA), and space-division multiple access (SDMA) protocols, to enable wireless communications between base transceiver stations and multiple subscriber units. Typically, a wireless communications system includes multiple base transceiver stations that are spaced to create subscriber cells. Subscriber units within the subscriber cells, which may include mobile or fixed units, exchange information between a nearby base transceiver station over a dedicated radio frequency.
The use of wireless communications system is rapidly expanding beyond the exchange of voice communications to include the exchange of bandwidth intensive multimedia data transmissions. For example, a single wireless link between a base transceiver station and a subscriber unit may be utilized to simultaneously exchange voice, video, and data. In order to effectively deliver different media types over the same wireless link, wireless links must be able to reliably maintain certain minimum performance levels. Some common performance levels are defined in terms of data rate, capacity, delay, loss rate, and error rate.
The performance of a wireless link is primarily a function of the operating parameters of a transmitter-receiver pair and the channel characteristics that exist between the transmitter-receiver pair. The operating parameters of a transceiver-receiver pair include the transmit power, the coding scheme, the modulation rate, and the guard region. The operating parameters can typically be controlled to a relatively high degree of accuracy. The channel characteristics that exist between the transmitter-receiver pair include ambient noise, co-channel interference, adjacent channel interference, propagation path loss, and multi-path fading. In contrast to the operating parameters, the channel characteristics that exist between a transmitter-receiver pair are hard to control and tend to vary with time.
In order to maintain a given performance level of a wireless link between a transmitter-receiver pair when the channel characteristics vary with time, the operating parameters of the transceiver-receiver pair must adapt to account for the hard to predict variations of the channel characteristics. One technique for maintaining a wireless link involves measuring certain transmission parameters of the wireless link such as delay spread, signal-to-noise ratio, channel-to-interference (C/I) ratio, Doppler shift, and k-factor and then using the measured parameter(s) to predict how the current operating parameters should be changed to maintain the performance level of the wireless link. Predicting how a current operating parameter(s) should be changed often involves consulting look-up tables or analytical performance curves, which try to estimate a future performance level from a given set of operating parameters and/or measured transmission parameters. While this technique works well, the look-up tables and analytical performance curves do not always accurately reflect the performance of an actual wireless link that is effected by a unique set of link conditions and therefore the operating parameter adjustments may not be ideal for the actual link conditions.
Another technique for maintaining a wireless link involves decoding received information and measuring the error rate of the transmission that is being conducted under a given set of operating parameters and channel characteristics. The operating parameters of the transceiver-receiver pair are then adapted in response to the measured error rate. An example of a wireless link that is adapted in response to a measured error rate is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,990 issued to Agrawal et al. (hereinafter Agrawal). In Agrawal, information intended for the receiver is decoded and a word error rate (WER) over a given timeframe is observed (observed WER). The observed WER is compared to upper and lower WER thresholds and the operating parameters of the transceiver-receiver pair are modified if the observed WER fall outside of the WER window that is defined by the upper and lower WER thresholds. Determining how to modify the operating parameters to force the observed WER into the WER window is based on theoretical calculations. Although the techniques disclosed in Agrawal work well, modifications to the operating parameters of the transceiver-receiver pair are made in response to the measured error from a single set of operating parameters. That is, the operating parameters of the transceiver-receiver pair do not change while the error rate information is calculated. Because the performance of the wireless link is measured under a single set of operating parameters, the error rate that will result from modifying the current set of operating parameters is unknown. Therefore, maintaining the link may require multiple changes in the operating parameters before the desired set of operating parameters is found.
In addition to maintaining a wireless link at a minimum performance level, it may also be desirable to improve the performance level of a wireless link between a transmitter and a receiver by, for example, increasing the data rate of the link while still maintaining a minimum error rate. One technique for improving the performance level of a wireless link involves transmitting training frames intended for the receiver at a higher transmission rate than the data frames. The performance of the training frames can then be evaluated under actual conditions before the data frames are transmitted to the receiver at the higher transmission rate. Although this technique gives good performance feedback, the transmission of training frames consumes link bandwidth that may be in limited supply during heavy traffic conditions.
In view of the demand on wireless communications systems to deliver different media types over the same wireless link at reliable performance levels and the large number of variables that effect the quality of each wireless link, what is needed is a system and method for evaluating a wireless link that reflects actual operating conditions and does not waste limited link bandwidth.

Method and system for evaluating a wireless link


A stun gun that is disguised as a collapsed umbrella and includes an elongated tubular body sized in length and diameter to that of a conventional collapsed umbrella, a curved umbrella-like handle attached at one end, and electrodes disposed at the opposite end and a power supply and circuit voltage generator for providing a large voltage across the electrodes.

This invention relates generally to stun guns, and specifically to a stun gun disguised as a collapsed umbrella, the stun gun including an improved holding grip.
Stun guns are classified as self-defense weapons which can administer a large electrical shock to a person or animal partially paralyzing most persons for a short period of time allowing the stun gun operator to either escape, call for help, or further subdue a would-be attacker.
Most stun guns that are commercially available are cylindrical in shape, with a pair of electrodes at one end, and a gripping area that is formed around the circumference of the stun gun body. Their shape and weight and the grip location often make them awkward to hold or grasp especially when in use.
One of the problems in successfully using a stun gun is that the electrical probes, generally disposed at one end, must come into contact with the body of the person to be stunned for at least a few seconds. Hence the element of surprise by the user can be important. However, once a would-be attacker realizes that the user has a stun gun, evasive action can be taken to avoid contact of the electrodes. Knowledge of the presence of the stun gun could elicit even more aggressive behavior once it is realized the user is holding a stun gun.
The present invention overcomes these problems by providing a stun gun that looks like a collapsed umbrella because the stun gun is formed from a narrow, cylindrical body and includes a curved handle at one end that is used as a grip. Therefore the stun gun can be carried in full view, appearing as a collapsed umbrella.


An electronic device includes a chassis, a partition plate mounted in the chassis, a semiconductor refrigeration piece, a first heat sink, a second heat sink, a heat dissipation shell, and a fan. A space of the chassis is partitioned to a first space and a second space by the partition plate. The first heat sink is received in the first space, and engaged with a heating surface of the semiconductor refrigeration piece. The second heat sink is received in the second space, and engaged with a cooling surface of the semiconductor refrigeration piece. The heat dissipation shell is received in the second space, and the second heat sink is received in the heat dissipation shell. The first fan is mounted on a first end of the heat dissipation shell, and a second end of the heat dissipation pipe defines an air outlet.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, and particularly to an electronic device having heat dissipation equipment.
2. Description of Related Art
A number of vents is usually defined in a front panel of a computer chassis for dissipating heat. However, dust can go through the vents and accumulate in the chassis, which may lead to components in the chassis breaking down. Thus, people need to disassemble the chassis and clean out the dust from time to time. However, it is time-consuming and boring to do the cleaning job.

Electronic device with heat dissipation equipment

HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.


An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is provided. An OLED display in accordance with an exemplary embodiment may include a substrate including a first subpixel, a second subpixel, and a third subpixel, a first electrode disposed on each of the first subpixel, the second subpixel, and the third subpixel, a second electrode facing the first electrode, a first common layer disposed on the first subpixel and the second subpixel, a first emission layer and a second emission layer disposed on the first common layer, a second common layer disposed on the third subpixel, and a third emission layer disposed on the second common layer. The first common layer may include a first doping layer and a second doping layer disposed on the first doping layer. Each of the doping layers may including a p-type dopant, and the second common layer may be formed as a single layer.

1. Field
Embodiments relate to an organic light emitting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent trends toward lightweight and thin personal computers and televisions sets also require lightweight and thin display devices, and flat panel displays satisfying such requirements are being substituted for conventional cathode ray tubes (CRTs). However, since the LCD is a passive display device, an additional back-light as a light source is needed, and the LCD has various problems such as a slow response time and a narrow viewing angle. In this connection, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display has recently been spotlighted as a display device that has merits such as a wide viewing angle, outstanding contrast, and a fast response time. In the organic light emitting diode device, electrons injected from one electrode and holes injected from another electrode are combined with each other in an emission layer, thereby generating excitons, and energy is outputted from the excitons to thereby emit light. The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background and therefore it may include information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.


A system is presented in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the system includes a light source configured to emit light, an emitting lens positioned to obtain the emitted light and configured to produce a shaped beam, an optical element positioned to obtain the shaped beam and redirect the shaped beam toward a near field object to produce scattered light from the near field object, and to obtain and redirect at least a portion of the scattered light, and a collection lens configured to focus the at least the portion of the scattered light on a light detector.

Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is a technology that can be used to measure distances to remote targets. Typically, a LiDAR system includes a light source and a detector. The light source emits light towards a target which then scatters the light. Some of the scattered light is received back at the detector. The system determines the distance to the target based on one or more characteristics associated with the returned light. For example, the system may determine the distance to the target based on the time of flight of the returned light.
Light detectors, such as photodiodes, avalanche photo diodes (APDs), can be used to detect light that is imparted on their surfaces by, for example outputting an electrical signal, such as a voltage or a current, that corresponds to an intensity of light. Such devices are commonly fabricated out of semiconductor materials, such as silicon or GaN. In order to detect light over a substantial geometric area, multiple light detectors can be arranged into arrays connected in parallel.
In view of the characteristics of LiDAR technology, there is interest in developing applications for LiDAR systems and methods.


The present invention relates to a nondestructive method or inspecting defects of the cladding of a nuclear fuel rod, which is featured by a wave emitter obliquely discharging an inspection wave to an inspected tube and a receiver arranged at a side of the inspected tube with respect to the wave emitter. If liquid is accumulated inside the tube, the incident inspection wave will be refracted so that the receiver can receive the refracted inspection wave at a specific location. The method can determine whether liquid is accumulated inside the tube and further is able to detect the level of the liquid.

Since the fuel rod placed in the reactor core of a light water nuclear reactor is compromised of a Zircaloy cladding tube filled with uranium fuel pellets, once the cladding breaks, the nuclear fuel therein could be released into the reactor as to radioactively pollute the cooling water that, as a consequence, the safety of the whole nuclear power plant is affected and the radioactivity of the material discharged therefrom is increased. In a worse scenario, the operation of the nuclear power plant will have to be shut down for inspection so that causes a severe economic loss. In this regard, a method capable of detecting precisely the defects of a cladding tube can play an important role for preventing the above-mentioned economic loss by avoiding the foregoing radioactive pollution from happening. However, it is not an easy and convenient job for even a trained technician to identify a defect using the current ultrasonic inspection method that is usually the cause of detainment for a scheduled maintenance of nuclear power plant. Therefore, an improve inspection method, which is fast and precise, can save the maintenance cost in millions by the saving of working hours for the maintenance. It is one of the most important safety features for a nuclear power plant to be able to rapidly and precisely detect a fuel rod with defected cladding so as to proceed with the replacement of the defected fuel rod.
Refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, which are schematic illustrations showing a conventional ultrasonic inspection method used by most nuclear power plant for detecting defects of a fuel rod. As seen in FIG. 1A, an ultrasonic signal 111 emitted from an ultrasonic emitter 11 is vertically-incident to the cladding tube 12 of a fuel rod to be inspected that the ultrasonic signal 111 will travel through the internal 121 of the tube and finally to be received by the receiver 13. The magnitude of the ultrasonic signal 111 received by the receiver 13 will increase when there is cooling water accumulated in the internal 121 of the tube caused by a cracking of the cladding 12 enabling the cooling water to enter therefrom. By which, the situation of water accumulated inside a cladding tube can be detected.
FIG. 1B shows another method for detecting the situation of water accumulated inside a cladding tube. Similarly, an ultrasonic signal 111 emitted from an ultrasonic emitter 11 is vertically incident to the cladding tube 12 of a fuel rod and further into the internal 121 of the tube. If there exists the situation of water accumulated inside a cladding tube caused by the cracked cladding tube 12, the ultrasonic signal 111 traveling inside the tube will be attenuated and reflected and the reflected signal will be received by the receiver 11′. That is, if an attenuated ultrasonic signal is detected by the receiver 11′, there is surely water accumulated inside the cladding tube.
From the above description, the conventional inspection method has the following shortcomings:                (1) The reliability of the conventional inspection method is low, since a minute decrease of signal might not be caused by accumulated water resulting from defected cladding. Moreover, it is difficult to identify a variation in magnitude of the ultrasonic signal, since noise will have an effect while evaluating the magnitude of the signal.        (2) The convention inspection method can only determine whether there is water accumulated inside the cladding tube, but can not detect the exact position of cracking or defect.        (3) The inspection accuracy of the convention inspection method is easily affected by the shape of the object to be inspected. It is more suitable to be used for inspecting a flat object and not for a hollow tube or an object with curved surface.        (4) The convention inspection method is substantially a method of two-dimensional measuring, which is not as effective while it is used for inspecting defects of an upright cladding tube.Thus, it is indeed a pressing requirement for improving the conventional inspection method.

Nondestructive method for inspecting cladding tubes

Institute of Nuclear Energy Research Atomic Energy Council, Executive Yuan


Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for cleaning a wind turbine blade or a solar panel with a wind cinch device. The method includes applying a cleaning solution to a surface of a wind turbine blade or solar panel; affixing a wind cinch device around a high point of the wind turbine blade or solar panel; applying tension to one or more lines attached to the wind cinch device to control the pressure the wind cinch device applies to the surface of the wind turbine blade or solar panel; and applying tension to the one or more lines attached to the wind cinch device to pull the wind cinch device from the high point on the wind turbine blade or solar panel to a low point on the wind turbine blade or solar panel. Other embodiments of the present invention are directed to a Wind Cinch device. The Wind Cinch device includes a main body, the main body being an elongated member having a cleaning surface sufficient in length to form a loop around a wind turbine blade when wrapped around a wind turbine blade. The Wind Cinch device also includes a plurality of rigging points, each rigging point adapted to receive a line. Applying tension to one or more of the lines attached to the rigging points changes the circumference of the loop formed by wrapping the wind cinch device around the wind turbine blade.

Wind Energy is a fast-growing industry. Wind turbines are used to convert the kinetic energy of the wind into electrical energy. FIG. 1 is a diagram of a prior art wind turbine 100. Wind turbine 100 includes tower 102 and rotor 104. Rotor 104 includes a plurality of wind turbine blades 106a-c. While three wind turbine blades 106a-c are shown in FIG. 1 for purposes of demonstration, wind turbine 100 can include any number of wind turbine blades. The kinetic energy of the wind against blades 106a-c causes rotor 104 to rotate. Rotor 104 is connected to a generator that generates electricity by converting the kinetic energy of rotor 140 into electrical energy.
Wind turbines are expensive to build, so they need proper maintenance to prolong service life. Since blades are the most important component in the wind turbine, proper cleaning, maintenance and inspections of the blades is a necessary, but difficult, process.
After a wind turbine is built and in service, the concern now becomes how to optimize and get the most out of wind energy. Experts estimate the designed life of a wind turbine is about 20 years. This does not mean that all parts will fail at the tick mark of 20 years; many parts will still be functioning for years after. Maintenance can be scheduled well ahead of time and has a very predictable cost over the life of the turbine, especially the blades.
Studies indicate that on average a wind turbine blade should be cleaned every 5 to 7 years to achieve maximum performance. Insects, birds, bats, oil contamination, pollution, sand—everything that blows in the wind—reduces the maximum potential of the blades. Current blade cleaning methods can take 12 hours to 3 days to complete, requires a crew of 6 to 8 people, and requires complete shutdown of machinery.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) uses a cleaning technology called Zi-400, the same thing they used to clean the Space Shuttle. Another technology is called Windwash 6000, along with a 3500 pounds per square inch (psi) heated water pressure washer. Both products/technologies are colloidal cleaners that prevent corrosion. Both are biodegradable and highly ecological. Peat Plus is also a technology used in containment of the hydrocarbons. Peat Plus is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as the United States Coast Guard. It also saves time during the washing process.
Current methods of cleaning wind turbine blades include using helicopters and/or trained professionals climb up with ladders and ropes to gain safe access to exterior of tower, control room and the turbine blades. A tech with a high-powered water pressure washer, after being secured in a skylift or "cherry picker", sprays both sides of one blade at a time, and rappelers on ropes, rappel down the blades and wipe down the blades by hand with rags while swinging across, side-to-side of the blade, all the way down a 300 foot turbine blade.
Exhausting and a liability nightmare, these are currently the best options and choices the industry has.
Another renewable energy source that requires periodic cleaning to maintain its operating efficiency are solar panels. Solar panels convert solar radiation incident upon the surface of the solar cells within the solar panels into electrical energy. Contamination of the surface of a solar panel directed toward the sun attenuates the solar radiation received by the solar cells and reduces the electricity that is generated by the solar panel. Solar panels, especially large solar panel arrays for commercial power generation, are often location in arid locations to help maximize the solar irradiation of the solar panel array. Arid climates often lead to an increased amount of airborne dust and other contaminants that build up on the solar panels.
Solar panels are often installed in high places such as the roofs of homes, buildings, garages, or on towers that can rotate and track the sun. Installation in high places, among other things, helps to avoid shadows being cast across the panels and to avoid potential impacts that could break the panels. However, installation in high places makes periodic cleaning more difficult.

System and method for cleaning solar panels


A method includes determining whether a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensor is corroded using resistance, amplitude and signal to noise ratio (SNR) measurements of the sensor. A method to determine whether a TMR sensor is corroded includes determining an expected initial resistance value, RTMRoUse and measuring a resistance value, RTMR, of the sensor. The method includes calculating a ratio of the RTMR value and the expected initial resistance value, RTMRoUse and determining whether the ratio is in a predefined range for the TMR sensor. In response to determining that the ratio of the sensor is within the predefined range, the method includes outputting an indication that the TMR sensor is corroded. In response to determining that the ratio of the sensor is outside the predefined range, the method includes outputting an indication that the TMR sensor is not corroded.

The present invention relates to data storage systems, and more particularly, this invention relates to damaged tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors.
In magnetic storage systems, magnetic transducers read data from and write data onto magnetic recording media. Data is written on the magnetic recording media by moving a magnetic recording transducer to a position over the media where the data is to be stored. The magnetic recording transducer then generates a magnetic field, which encodes the data into the magnetic media. Data is read from the media by similarly positioning the magnetic read transducer and then sensing the magnetic field of the magnetic media. Read and write operations may be independently synchronized with the movement of the media to ensure that the data can be read from and written to the desired location on the media.
An important and continuing goal in the data storage industry is that of increasing the density of data stored on a medium. For tape storage systems, that goal has led to increasing the track and linear bit density on recording tape, and decreasing the thickness of the magnetic tape medium. However, the development of small footprint, higher performance tape drive systems has created various challenges ranging from the design of tape head assemblies for use in such systems to dealing with tape dimensional instability.
TMR sensors are used to read magnetic data written on storage media such as hard disks, high definition (HD) media, tape media, etc. TMR sensors comprise two ferromagnetic layers separated by a thin oxide tunnel barrier (e.g., MgO, AlO, etc.). The polarization direction of one of the ferromagnetic layers is "pinned" to a particular direction while the polarization direction of the other ferromagnetic layer (e.g., the free layer) is free to align with the polarization direction of magnetic storage media over which the TMR sensor is passed. When the polarization directions of the free layer and the pinned layer are parallel, the electrical resistance across the TMR sensor is low because the electrons tunnel through the tunnel barrier. When the polarization of the free layer and the pinned layer are anti-parallel, the electrical resistance across the TMR sensor is high because electrons may not tunnel through the tunnel barrier. TMR sensors read bits stored on magnetic storage media by measuring changes in resistance across the TMR sensor due to the magnetic fields generated by the bit transitions as the sensor passes over those bits.
TMR sensors may be damaged by scratches, dielectric breakdown from electrical overstress (EOS), dielectric breakdown from electrical discharge (ESD), pin-holes, lapping smears resulting in degraded and/or abnormal amplitude response in the TMR sensors, etc. Damage to a TMR sensor may be difficult to detect. Damage may be detected using magnetic tests which detect degraded and/or abnormal magnetoresistance (MR) response from a magnetic field. Subjecting TMR sensors to magnetic fields in the manufacturing line is not practical.
TMR sensors are sensitive to corrosion. Resistance increases when TMR sensors are corroded. The corrosion is deleterious to the function of the TMR sensor. Corrosion in the sensors may also add undesired noise. To avoid dielectric breakdown due to corrosion, TMRs are conventionally biased with a limit on the voltage across the tunnel junction.

Setting bias currents and limiting corrosion in TMR sensors

International Business Machines Corporation


A paper cutter is provided with a stationary blade and a movable blade unit. The movable blade unit is provided with a circular blade for cutting a rounded corner of a sheet of paper and a corner cutter blade for cutting the corner edge of the sheet of paper. The movable blade unit is inserted in a movable blade inserting hole provided in the stationary blade, the corner of the paper is inserted in a slit cut in the stationary blade which intersects with the movable blade inserting hole. During the cutting of the corner by the circular blade, the corner of the paper is tensioned between the circular blade and the corner cutter blade. As a result, the paper is cleanly and uniformly cut and the force required to cut the paper is decreased as compared to conventional paper cutters.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a corner cutter to cut a corner of sheet of paper in a rounded shape.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, in general, there is a case where the corners 2 of sheets of paper such as "Loose Leaf" (a trade name) to be bound in a binder are to be cut in a rounded shape. In this case, since there has not been an appropriate corner cutter, normal scissors have been used to cut the corner in a circular shape. And, the corners of such as loose leaf found in the market are mostly rounded and usually have been cut, as shown in FIG. 10, by pushing down a cutter 3 of a semi-circular shape and cutting the corner 4 of the stacked sheets of paper 1.
In the above conventional manner, when cutting the corners of sheets of paper using scissors, the rounded arches of the cut corners do not align for a good appearance. The process is also inefficient for making multiple corners rounded at one time. And, when using the semi-circular cutter 3 as shown in FIG. 10, the likelihood of injury to the user is high and, in addition, it becomes expensive when the cutter 3 is pushed down mechanically.


The present invention provides various compositions and methods useful for the treatment of BRAF-mutant tumors, such as BRAFV600E-mutant tumors. In some embodiments such methods involve administration of three active agents—a RAF inhibitor, a MEK inhibitor, and an ERK inhibitor. The present invention also provides novel intermittent dosing regimens for these three active agents that maintain maximal anti-tumor efficacy while also minimizing toxicity.

BRAF mutations occur in several tumor types, including approximately 10% of lung adenocarcinomas.12 Of such BRAF mutations, approximately 98% are BRAFV600E mutations. The current therapy for BRAFV600E mutant tumors includes treatment with a RAF or MEK inhibitor, or a combination of these two agents. However, resistance to treatment is a frequent occurrence and not all patients exhibit a response to treatment. As such, almost all patients with metastatic BRAFV600E mutant cancer die from their disease. Thus, there is need for new and improved therapies for these patients. The present invention addresses this need.

Methods and compositions for treatment of BRAF mutant cancers


The invention relates to a method for adjusting fully automatic vehicle guidance functions, which are realized by means of a vehicle system of a motor vehicle, during the operation of the motor vehicles in a predefined navigation environment. A stationary infrastructure device that communicates with the motor vehicles is associated with the navigation environment. Function limits of each vehicle guidance function are defined by means of limit operation parameters of the vehicle guidance function. Current traffic situation information describing dynamic objects in the navigation environment is determined by the infrastructure device by means of environment sensors of the navigation environment. The current traffic situation information is used, together with a digital map describing stationary objects and properties of the navigation environment, to determine at least one piece of risk information for each motor vehicle.

The autonomous operation of motor vehicles, in particular the implementation of fully automatic vehicle guidance functions, is a current, important research topic. The corresponding vehicle systems carry out journey planning to implement the vehicle guidance function, both in terms of the route and a trajectory that is currently to be implemented. For this purpose, there is a large amount of information in the motor vehicles, in particular sensor data from a motor vehicle-side sensor system, which describe the current operating state of the motor vehicle and the current traffic situation in the detection area around the motor vehicle, as well as digital map data which can be used for a supplementary description of the current traffic situation and for route planning. An important further aspect of fully automated vehicle guidance functions is safety, which is why the journey planning to avoid collisions with static or dynamic obstacles as well as additional safety systems that serve to prevent collisions can be provided within the motor vehicle.
In the context of fully automatic vehicle guidance, motor vehicles can also communicate with infrastructure devices, in particular those that are assigned to a currently used, predefined navigation environment, for example a parking environment such as a parking garage. A corresponding communication link is usually established via short-range communication, for example WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). So far, different concepts for fully automated vehicle guidance in such navigation environments, in particular parking environments, have been proposed, for example those in which the coordination of the fully automated operation is carried out to a greater extent by the infrastructure device or also those in which only specifications, for example destination points, are provided by the infrastructure device while the respective motor vehicle autonomously implements its fully automatic vehicle guidance based on these specifications.
The autonomous operation of motor vehicles outside of such predetermined navigation environments, for example parking environments, is more complex in design. For example, DE 10 2014 014 120 A1 describes a large number of conditions for the autonomous operation of a vehicle on a road ahead that must be met in order to activate a fully automatic vehicle guidance function. These conditions include, for example, that there is a structural separation on at least one side of a current lane of the vehicle, one lane of the vehicle has a minimum lane width, the range of crests and depressions that significantly restrict the range of environmental detection sensors is present, the number of lanes does not change, no tunnels exist and the like. Traffic reports can also be taken into account. It is therefore a matter of substantially static properties of a section of the road ahead, which are at most variable over long time scales, as a condition for permitting autonomous operation.
DE 10 2014 013 672 A1 relates to a method and a system for securing autonomous or semi-autonomous operation of vehicles on a traffic route network. Information on the suitability of a route for autonomous or partially autonomous operation of vehicles is determined, where an external server that collects the information on the suitability determines permission information based on the permissibility of the route for autonomous or partially autonomous operation of vehicles and provides it to the vehicles. The information on suitability can include a justification and/or an explanation of the suitability determined, in order not to result in temporary causes for non-issuance and the permission information. However, the permission information can take into account current traffic information on traffic jams, accidents, construction sites, or the like. Here, too, it is a matter of the basic admissibility of fully automatic vehicle guidance depending on extremely slowly changing or even static circumstances.
In order to ensure the greatest possible safety when using an automatic vehicle guidance function, the fully automatic vehicle guidance is usually set with function limits, for example maximum permissible speeds, maximum permissible changes in various operating parameters, permitted driving maneuvers, and the like. These function limits can be determined by limit operation parameters of the vehicle guidance function. The function limits are based on a risk assessment based on the detection of the traffic situation by the motor vehicle. For example, due to the spatially restricted detection areas of environment sensors of the motor vehicle, there is a restricted information horizon or information radius of a motor vehicle. This means that the function limits, for example the maximum speed, are designed according to the technical possibilities in the motor vehicle, with certain scenarios/traffic situations also being able to completely rule out autonomous operation of the motor vehicle by means of the fully automatic vehicle guidance function. However, such restrictions have an unfavorable effect on driver reception after the general suitability of the vehicle guidance function is reduced by low-risk behavior. For example, very slow speeds, long plausibility checks, possibly when the vehicle is at a standstill, and the like can occur due to the function limits. In other words, the function limits are chosen with regard to the "worst case."

Method for adjusting fully automatic vehicle guidance functions in a predefined navigation environment and motor vehicle


A pronunciation comparison method permits a user to directly and repeatedly compare the user's own sound with sound which is reproduced from a recording medium. The sound signal which is reproduced from a recording medium, as well as the user's own sound signal, in attempt to emulate the reproduced sound, are both recorded in a sound storage medium. Then the reproduced sound and user sound are output sequentially from the storage medium via a speaker so that the user may directly compare the two sounds. The sequential outputting of the reproduced sound and user sound may be repeated any number of times, the number of repetitions being selected by the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sound signal reproduction. More specifically, it relates to a pronunciation comparison by storing sound signals reproduced from a recording medium (called `reproduced sound`) and sounds made by a user (called `user sound`) into a storage medium, and outputting contemporaneously the reproduced sound and the user sound, thus making it possible for the user to directly compare the reproduced sound and the user sound.
2. Description of the Background Art When a conversation practice function is included in sound reproducing apparatus for language practice, it generally divides sentences one by one. That is to say, the reproduced sentences are separated by a time space. To accomplish this conversation practice function, a conventional apparatus has a recording medium and a motor which moves the recording medium at a predetermined speed to reproduce the sound from the recording medium for a certain time. The reproduced sound is stored into the recording medium and the reproduced sound is outputted repeatedly according to the user's choice. Then the motor is stopped temporarily so that the user can say the reproduced sound.
The conventional sound signal reproducing apparatus for language practice is intended to output reproduced sound for a certain time and stop the motor temporarily. This enables the user to analyze the pronunciation of the reproduced sound but does not make provision for him to check his own user sound. Accordingly, the conventional apparatus has the problem that effective language practice was impossible.

Sound pronunciation comparing method in sound signal reproducing apparatus


A system and method for detecting and tracking humans, such as pedestrians, in low visibility conditions or otherwise. A night vision camera periodically captures a an infrared image of a road from a single perspective. A pedestrian detection module determines a position of a pedestrian in the frame by processing the captured image. The pedestrian detection module includes a support vector machine to compare information derived from the night vision camera to a training database. A pedestrian tracking module estimates pedestrian movement of the detected pedestrian from in subsequent frames by applying filters. The tracking module uses Kalman filtering to estimate pedestrian movement at periodic times and mean-shifting to adjust the estimation. An output display module interleaves detection frames and tracking frames in generating output video for the display.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to object recognition by computers, and more specifically, to pedestrian tracking and detection.
2. Background Art
Computer vision through object recognition is a giant step in computer intelligence that provides a myriad of new capabilities. Recognition of humans has particularly valuable applications in vehicle safety, robot interaction, security surveillance and military operations. In one example, a pedestrian recognition system in a moving vehicle can provide early warnings of a pedestrian crossing the street or even riding a bicycle.
Unfortunately, current pedestrian recognition systems are too cost prohibitive for most widespread applications. The typical system requires two cameras to determine a pedestrian's distance from the vehicle. Additionally, significant processing power is needed to handle frame-by-frame computationally intensive operations in distinguishing pedestrians from background in a video.
Another problem with typical recognition systems is that they require the camera to be stationary. Moving objects can thus be distinguished from non-moving objects as a first cut in human recognition. However, a moving camera, e.g., on a vehicle or robot, a rotatable security camera or a camera in goggles worn by a soldier, do not provide stationary backgrounds.
Still another problem with typical recognition systems is that their pattern matching is based on color gradients, which may be limited in certain conditions such as low lighting.
Therefore, what is needed is a robust method and system of pedestrian detection and tracking for low visibility conditions with a non-stationary background that can be implemented using a single camera and manageable computer processing requirements.

Pedestrian detection and tracking with night vision

The Ohio State University Research Foundation


An electrical receptacle assembly having an outer body and a faceplate. The outer body can include at least one driven feature disposed on an outer surface of the outer body. The faceplate can include a number of terminal receivers and at least one driving feature, where the terminal receivers traverse the faceplate and are configured to receive a number of terminals of an electrical plug, and where the at least one driving feature is disposed on a bottom side of the faceplate. The faceplate can rotate between a first position and a second position. The driving feature of the faceplate can couple to the driven feature of the outer body when the faceplate is out of the first position. The faceplate can rotate from the first position to the second position using the electrical plug when the terminals are disposed in the terminal receivers.

Electrical receptacles are used to distribute electrical power to one or more devices. Electrical receptacles also are used to provide a relatively quick disconnect of a source of power feeding the one or more devices. The electrical receptacle is configured to receive an electrical plug. When the electrical plug is mechanically coupled to the electrical receptacle, power flows through the electrical receptacle.

Lockout features for electrical receptacle assemblies


Formulations of emulsified wax, surfactants, water, and chemotherapeutic agents coated onto dental floss for delivery to the oral cavity and released upon use by the consumer. Such emulsion coatings allow a single bath system and thereby improves the efficiency and effectiveness of manufacturing. In addition, the emulsified coatings reduce the level of fraying.

Tooth decay and dental disease can be caused by bacterial action resulting from the formation of plaque about the teeth and/or the entrapment of food particles in interstices between the teeth. Removal of plaque and entrapped food particles reduces the incidence of caries, gingivitis, and mouth odors as well as generally improving oral hygiene. Conventional brushing has been found to be inadequate for removing all entrapped food particles and plaque. To supplement brushing, dental flosses and tapes have been recommended. Dental flosses may include distinct regions, for example, a thickened "brush" portion, a thin "floss" portion, and/or a threader. The brush portion, when drawn between tooth surfaces, provides good cleaning action which removes materials left by a standard thin floss used alone. The threader portion allows the floss to be inserted in a tight space or into an artificial dental appliance.
Dental flosses, both in brush and thin floss form, have been developed that are coated with wax in order to improve durability, feel, and frictional qualities. Waxed dental flosses containing active agents are also known in the art, and in addition to providing for the mechanical removal of food deposits from the internal spaces between teeth, also provide for the release of active agents that will act within the oral environment. Such active agents may prevent tooth decay, or have anti-tartar, antibiotic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, or antiseptic actions.
Active agents added to wax have been found to be problematic due to inefficient release from the insoluble wax. Thus, soluble waxes such as polyethylene glycol-derivative waxes have been use. However, soluble waxes also present problems resulting from harsher sliding and decreased comfort to the user.
The use of emulsified wax has been found to improve waxed floss by allowing an improved efficiency of release of an associated chemotherapeutic product while preserving the comfortable effect obtained with insoluble wax. EP 0637 446 A1 describes a dental floss coated with emulsified wax impregnated with chemotherapeutic agents useful in oral hygiene.
A number of methods for coating wax onto dental floss are known to the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,838,702 describes a method of guiding a fiber through a liquid bath of the coating material in which the coating material is dissolved in a solvent, and then passing the coated fiber through a heated die or extruder to remove excess coating material and/or to cure the coating with evaporation of the solvent. PCT patent publication WO 92/10978 describes a method of coating a dental filament with wax by using a lick roller. The lick roller is immersed in a wax solution and coats the filament with a layer of wax upon contact with the filament.
Methods of incorporating additives in dental floss are known. For example, methods for impregnating dental floss with a flavoring agent are known in the art, and include direct application with flavor oil-solvent solutions and direct contact with flavor oil in a melted wax solution. Other common additives include mouth conditioning agents such as silicones, cleaners, and abrasives, and desensitizing agents such as strontium chloride. See, for example, PCT patent application publication WO 91/14412.
Existing methods for applying both a chemotherapeutic agent and flavor require a two-step process in which a chemotherapeutic agent, either suspended in an oil phase or dissolved in an aqueous phase, is first applied to the dental floss, followed by application of a flavoring agent dissolved in oil. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate typical two-step methods for applying a chemotherapeutic agent and flavor-coating to a dental floss.
There is a need for a more efficient method of applying a chemotherapeutic agent and flavor to dental floss.

Emulsion coated dental floss containing chemotherapeutic active agents


A process is proposed for the preparation of a crystalline L-MGDA trialkali metal salt by crystallization from an aqueous solution thereof which has been obtained by Strecker synthesis, starting from L-α-alanine, by reaction with formaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid to give L-α-alanine-N,N-diacetonitrile and subsequent alkaline saponification of the L-α-alanine-N,N-diacetonitrile to give the L-MGDA trialkali metal salt, wherein a temperature of 150° C. is not exceeded during the alkaline saponification.

Complexing agents for alkaline earth metal ions and heavy metal ions are used in wide sectors of the industry, for example in the detergents and cleaners industry or in the treatment of metal surfaces. Usually, they are synthesized in aqueous solution. For certain applications, they are required in solid form.
Customary processes for the preparation of solids from aqueous solutions are in particular crystallization and spray-drying processes. It is known that crystalline solid as is produced, for example, during evaporation crystallization or cooling crystallization can comprise water of crystallization and, under ambient conditions, is in most cases less hygroscopic or storage-stable than amorphous solid. As a result of spray-drying processes, e.g. in the spray tower or in the spray fluidized-bed, by contrast, the solid is obtained in amorphous form. In this form, the solid is often highly hygroscopic and, in the event of open storage loses, within a short time, the ability to be poured, which considerably hinders the further processability, e.g. in tabletting presses, etc.
Methylglycinediacetic acid, referred to hereinbelow in abbreviated form as MGDA, also known as α-alaninediacetic acid (α-ADA), is a strong, readily biodegradable complexing agent for various technical applications and is known, e.g. from WO-A 94/29421.
In the form of the racemic trisodium salt mixture, the crystallization is severely inhibited by the asymmetric molecular form, which leads to correspondingly lengthy and uneconomical mass crystallization processes (evaporation crystallization and cooling crystallization).
EP-A 0 8 45 456 describes a process for producing MGDA-Na3 powders with an increased degree of crystallinity, in which the starting materials are in particular starting masses with water fractions of 10-30%, and preferably crystallization seeds are added. This process leads to predominantly crystalline powders, but, on account of the viscous and pasty phases during production, requires the use of complex and expensive mixer-kneader apparatuses in order to ensure conversion to the crystalline modifications.
Accordingly, it was an object of the invention to provide a technically simple process for the preparation of crystalline MGDA trialkali metal salts.
The solution consists in a process for the preparation of a crystalline L-MGDA trialkali metal salt by crystallization from an aqueous solution thereof which has been obtained by Strecker synthesis, starting from L-α-alanine, by reaction with formaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid to give L-α-alanine-N,N-diacetonitrile and subsequent alkaline saponification of the L-α-alanine-N,N-diacetonitrile to give the L-MGDA trialkali metal salt, wherein a temperature of 150° C. is not exceeded during the alkaline saponification.
Surprisingly, it has been found that the crystallization of L-MGDA trialkali metal salts proceeds with considerable advantages compared to the corresponding racemate, with corresponding applications-related advantages of the crystallizate.

Process for the preparation of a crystalline L-MGDA trialkali metal salt