A polymer attenuation filter in a CT machine is mounted at its center and allowed to expand freely at its ends to prevent cracking of the filter as it expands with temperature and after it becomes brittle with x-ray exposure. Vertical expansion of the filter at its center is accommodated by a stress relief hole cut between the center fastening points. Relatively greater horizontal expansion is accommodated by means of spring clamping. Difference in expansion between a metallic strip filter and its support is accommodated by tightly affixing the ends of the filter to the support so that the metallic strip is always under tension and cannot buckle.

This invention relates to x-ray filters for controlling the energy of an x-ray beam and specifically to filters used in x-ray computed tomography systems for making dual energy measurements.
Computed tomography (CT) systems typically include an x-ray source collimated to form a fan beam directed through an object to be imaged and received by an x-ray detector array. The x-ray source, the fan beam and detector array are orientated to lie within the x-y plane of a Cartesian coordinate system, termed the "imaging plane". The x-ray source and detector array may be rotated together on a gantry within the imaging plane, around the imaged object, and hence around the z-axis of the Cartesian coordinate system.
The detector array is comprised of detector elements each of which measures the intensity of transmitted radiation along a ray path projected from the x-ray source to that particular detector element. At each gantry angle a projection is acquired comprised of intensity signals from each of the detector elements. The gantry is then rotated to a new gantry angle and the process is repeated to collect an number of projections along a number of gantry angles to form a tomographic projection set. Each acquired tomographic projection set may be stored in numerical form for later computer processing to reconstruct a cross sectional image according to algorithms known in the art. The reconstructed image may be displayed on a conventional CRT tube or may be converted to a film record by means of a computer controlled camera.
The x-ray source is typically comprised of an evacuated glass x-ray tube containing an anode and a cathode. X-rays are produced when electrons from the cathode are accelerated against a focal spot on the anode by means of a high voltage across the anode and cathode.
The spectrum of the x-rays produced encompasses a band of radiation of different frequencies and hence different energies. The short wavelength radiation of higher energy is referred to as "hard" x-ray radiation and the longer wavelength radiation of lower energy is referred to as "soft" x-ray radiation. The very lowest energy x-rays are almost entirely absorbed by the body and therefore provide little contribution to the x-ray image. Nevertheless, these soft x-rays contribute to the total exposure of the patient to harmful ionizing radiation. Accordingly, these rays are usually removed by a filter incorporated into the x-ray tube, as is known in the art.
The x-rays emitted by the x-ray tube may be subjected to two additional filters, a "spectral" filter and an "attenuation" filter.
The spectral filter may be a molybdenum strip which serves to harden the x-ray beam by further removing longer wavelength, lower energy x-rays. This spectral filter may be moved in and out of the beam of x-rays and hence provides the ability to image an object with x-ray beams of different spectral composition. The construction of x-ray images from two or more images taken with x-ray beams of different spectral composition is termed "dual energy scanning" and finds considerable use in the imaging of soft tissue where single energy scanning may only provide limited contrast. The spectral filter may be equipped with a track or hinge to permit its introduction and removal from the x-ray beam.
In addition to the spectral filter, the x-rays may be subjected to an attenuation filter. The attenuation filter is ordinarily a synthetic polymer such as Teflon having an x-ray absorption spectral characteristic near to that of water and hence the human body. This filter is not intended to adjust the spectral characteristics of the x-ray beam but rather to compensate for the variation in thickness of the imaged body The x-rays that pass through the center of the imaged body, ordinarily the thickest part, are least attenuated by this filter whereas the x-rays passing through the edges of the imaged body, ordinarily the thinnest part are more attenuated by this filter. The x-rays that are not intercepted by the body at all are maximally attenuated by this filter, ideally by an amount equal to that of the x-rays passing through the center of the body. The result of this selective attenuation is that the x-rays striking the Ct x-ray detectors are of similar energy and centered around the middle of the detector's sensitivity. The attenuation filter therefore may allow the use of more sensitive x-ray detectors reducing the range of x-ray energies.
For purposes of calibration it is ordinarily desirable that the attenuation filter may be removed from the path of the x-ray beam. This may be accomplished by positioning the attenuation filter on a movable track.
As mentioned, the attenuation filter may be constructed of a synthetic polymer such as Teflon so as to closely match the absorption characteristics of the imaged body. Although the absorption characteristics of such polymers may be relatively stable, under continued x-ray exposure the mechanical characteristics of the polymer change. The color of the material may darken and cracks may develop. The discontinuity of the x-ray beam introduced by the cracks may cause severe image artifacts and thus require the replacement of the filter. Such replacement may be both inconvenient and costly.

Bow-tie X-ray filter assembly for dual energy tomography


The disclosed invention provides a development environment for scripting a call flow across a variety of hardware devices. The development environment utilizes a single scripting language in conjunction with hardware specific compiler modules to generate code operable on the different hardware devices. Such use of a single scripting language to generate code for a complete call flow, regardless of the hardware devices it must ultimately utilize, provides for advantages in ease of development as well as ease and efficiency of use.

In today's society, it is quite common for a person to call a business, such as a bank, and reach an interactive voice response (IVR) system. Typically, such an IVR system prompts the caller to enter certain information, such as an account number and personal identification number (PIN). The IVR system may then check this information against a database and, depending on information stored within the database, may provide relevant information or may prompt the caller to select an available transaction.
For example, after entering valid account and PIN numbers, as verified through comparison with a database, a caller may indicate that he or she wishes to determine the balance of a savings account. Once the caller indicates this choice, the IVR will retrieve the information from the proper database and communicate it to the caller.
After completing a transaction, the caller is typically prompted for a follow up option. Such follow up options might include the choice of speaking to an account representative. Upon selection of this option, the caller will eventually be connected with an account representative, possibly through an automatic call distribution (ACD) system coupled to the IVR system.
Typically, service of the caller by the account representative requires some of the same information previously provided the IVR and/or its coupled devices by the caller. For example, the account representative might require the caller's name, PIN, and account number. Accordingly, the caller is forced to resupply the information that was previously input to the IVR system. This repetition causes unnecessary delay to the parties involved as well as increasing the possibility of an error in the communication of such information.
In typical prior art IVR systems there are technical reasons that the caller must resupply previously entered information at subsequent points in the call flow. Generally, the hardware that manages incoming calls is divided into a number of discrete components connected via communications links. Each component operates substantially independent of the others to perform a specific function. For example, a private branch exchange (PBX) may initially route the incoming call to the IVR system which in turn sends database queries to a database server in response to caller input. When the caller indicates that he or she wants to speak to an account representative, the PBX, possibly in conjunction with an ACD, routes the call to a telephone used by the account representative and to a computer-telephony integrated (CTI) server controlling the account representative's computer terminal.
Generally, each component is controlled by its own call flow script to result in essentially a state machine that transitions according to the caller's input. A call flow script must be written and compiled for each such component since each component possesses different capabilities and features to perform the various aspects of a call flow.
Accordingly, each component involved in handling a call acts as its own "island." Since each component requires its own call flow script, there are few, if any, provisions for passing data among the components. Since each component is independent, short of a single high level device controlling each component, there is no uniform way to pass variable data, such as an account number, among the various autonomous components. As a result, both the caller and callee are inconvenienced when the caller is forced to enter redundant information into IVR systems and the like.
The use of the above described autonomous components to achieve a desired call flow, although presenting a limitation to passing data among the components, has advantages associated with a distributed system. By distributed system it is meant that separate components are responsible for specific functions.
An advantage presented by a distributed system includes system fault tolerance, i.e., if a single component fails only its functionality is compromised and additional aspects of the call handling system remain available to service a caller. Where a single device is utilized to provide, or a single high level device is utilized to control, all aspects of a call flow, the failure of such a device renders the system totally inoperable. Additionally, unrelated or dissimilar components, i.e., produced by different manufacturers or from differing model lines, may be interconnected to provide the desired aspects of a call flow. For example, features not available on one manufacturer's equipment or model line may be realized through the use of another manufacturer's equipment including the feature.
Thus, there is a need in the art for the ability to pass data among various components used to control a telephone call.
There is a further need in the art for the ability to interconnect dissimilar components to comprise the various components used to control a telephone call while maintaining the ability to pass data among them.
There is also a need for a scripting language that can be used to script the call flows of the various components.
More specifically, there is a need in the art for a development environment that can be used in a device-independent manner to script a call flow from start to finish.
There is a still further need in the art for the development environment to consider attributes of the various components in order optimize their interaction in the call flow.


A portable device is arranged to include a secondary battery, a driving component driven by charged power of the secondary battery, a charging unit configured to charge the secondary battery by outside power, a transformation unit (processing unit) configured to output the charged power of the secondary battery at a driving voltage of the driving component, a detection unit configured to detect the input of the outside power to the charging unit, and a switching controller configured to switch the state of the transformation unit from an operation state to a stopped state only when the input of the outside power to the charging unit is detected by the detection unit.

In known arrangements, in order to prevent a driving component (which is driven by power of a secondary battery) from operating while the secondary battery is being charged (to prevent unnecessary discharge and malfunction), a manual on-off mechanism employing a pushbutton (e.g., PTL 1) or an automatic on-off mechanism employing a mechanical contact (e.g., PTL 2) has been used to stop the operation of the driving component during the charging.
When the mechanism above is employed, another action is required in addition to the charging operation, in order to stop the operation of the driving component during the charging. This is not disadvantageous when, for example, the driving component is a mobile phone, because the mobile phone is required to perform its function even during the charging.

Portable device, charging system, and power source circuit substrate


An electronic module is provided. The electronic module includes: a magnetic device having a magnetic body, electronic devices, and a substrate, wherein a first lead extends out from a first lateral surface and a second lead extends out from a second lateral surface opposite to the first lateral surface of the magnetic body and the substrate and the second lead of the magnetic device are located at a same lateral side of the magnetic body and the second lead is extended from the second lateral surface of the magnetic body to the substrate to electrically connect the magnetic device and the substrate.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electronic module with a magnetic device and methods for forming a package structure thereof.
Description of the Related Art
An electronic modules, such as power modules and buck converters, typically include electronic devices disposed on a substrate, wherein the electronic module has leads for connecting with an external circuit.
As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic module 100 comprises a magnetic device 110 disposed on a substrate 150. Leads 122 of the magnetic device 110 are soldered to the substrate 150. In the conventional electronic structure of FIG. 1, the substrate 150 needs to be staked over the external motherboard 160, and it will be difficult to meet different space requirements when connecting the electronic module 100 with the external motherboard 160 for some applications. Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 2, each lead of the magnetic device 210 needs to go through the substrate 150 for electrically connecting with the external motherboard 160, and thus it will increase the overall impedance of the system.
Accordingly, there is a demand for finding a better packaging structure to solve the aforementioned problems.

Electronic module with a magnetic device


A glass melting tank comprising at least one front part for introducing the charge material, and at least one charging device. To reduce atmospheric heat losses and reduce dust transport into the upper furnace of the tank, and nevertheless to intensify the heating of the charge material, the front part has a length “LV” of at least 2,250 mm in the direction of the melting tank, and a length “LG” of at least 1,200 mm is provided with an insulating roof. An end wall near the charging device, together with the roof, encloses a gas chamber open toward the melting tank. A characteristic value “K” of 3.50 tonnes (t) per hour and per square meter of surface is not exceeded. The characteristic value is calculated from P/F, where P is the throughput per hour in tonnes (t) and F is the inner surface of the front part in m.

It is known that the introduction of charge material in end-fired furnaces is significantly more difficult and less satisfactory than in cross-burner furnaces. In the end-fired furnaces, so-called doghouses are provided on one side or on both sides of the furnace longitudinal axis; the charge material is placed into the doghouses from above and is pushed in the direction of the melting tank. These doghouses act as pre-sintering zones. If the doghouses are made too small, the not yet pre-melted batch is exposed at the surface to the flame flowing above it at a high speed. This causes a high degree of dust to develop in the melting tank, and the dust deposits on the side walls and on the tank cover, and, together with the refractory material, enters into low-melting compounds. This is known in connection with the corrosion of refractory materials. In addition, parts of the dust are carried into the regenerative chambers. There as well, the dust reacts with the refractory material and results in corrosion. In addition, the dust can also collect on the grating in the regenerative chambers and can reduce the efficiency of the air pre-heating. This type of dust contamination is even more pronounced in particular with the use of pre-heated batch material, with the named consequences.
In his book, "Glasschmelzöfen, Konstruktion und Betriebsverhalten [Glass melting furnaces, construction and operating performance]", Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo, 1984, page 154, Dr. Wolfgang von Trier describes this problem and suggests, inter alia, to correspondingly enlarge the doghouse. The fact that up to today this has not been realized is clearly due to the fear that in a larger doghouse the glass would freeze in, i.e. would become too cold. The known front parts have therefore deliberately continued to be kept small.
The problem is thus that the introduced raw material mixture has a too-short dwell time in the pre-sintered zone, i.e. the doghouse. It is known that for a mixture of raw materials suitable for production of a glass melt a finite period of time is required in order to sinter the surface as a pile in an environment having a temperature of greater than 1000° C. This surface sintering of the supplied batch prevents the danger of the above-described dust contamination.
The dwell time of the material in the doghouse can be determined from the raw material bulk, the surface of the doghouse, the density of the pile, and the charging quantity per time unit. Here, the mass flow per hour conveyed through the doghouse into the melt installation is decisive. This defines the so-called K factor. This is generally known as a measure of the specific melting performance of a glass melting furnace. The use of the K factor in connection with the doghouse is not known.
Independently of the above-described damaging dust contamination, in short doghouses the charge material also loses thermal energy to the atmosphere, and this energy is lost to the melting process.

Glass melting tank having a doghouse, and method for heating the charge material in such glass melting tanks


A cooling element for electronic or electromechanical components includes a metal element defining a receiving space and a receiving groove associated with the receiving space. The receiving space has an inner wall and is configured to receive an electronic or electromechanical component by an insertion of the electronic or electromechanical component in an insertion direction. The receiving groove has a longitudinal axis lying transverse to the insertion direction. An elongated spring is disposed in the receiving groove so that a longitudinal axis of the spring lies parallel to the longitudinal axis of the receiving groove and so that the spring is deformed by the insertion of the electronic or electromechanical component. A return force of the spring urges the inserted electronic or electromechanical component against an inner wall of the receiving space in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the spring.

German utility model DE 296 12 437 U1 describes a cooling element for an electronic component, consisting of a metal element and of a passage opening to receive the electronic component. Through the insertion of a leaf spring, the electronic component is brought into thermal contact with a wall of the metal element. The drawback here is that, in an additional assembly step, the spring has to be subsequently inserted into the opening that receives the electronic component.
German patent application DE 197 29 851 A1 describes a cooling element consisting of a metal element in which the thermal contact with the electronic component is achieved by means of a leaf spring. This leaf spring, however, functions like a clamping spring and it pulls the electronic component towards the outer wall of the metal element. The assembly of such a cooling element is impractical when conventional electronics housings are used since the electronic component to be cooled has to project out of the electronics housing in order to be brought into thermal contact with the cooling element.

Cooling element for heat dissipation in electronic components


A control system for the surface treatment of metals in a bath open to the atmosphere, containing an organic solvent and reactive component, and being superimposed by a cold cushion of air forming a condensate of solvent and condensed humidity, comprising passing resultant condensate to a phase separator to separate an organic phase from an aqueous phase, said aqueous phase containing both solvent and reactive component, rcycling said organic phase to the treatment tank, passing the aqueous phase from the phase separator to an overflow tank; dosing a readjustment solution to said bath to make up for losses of components therein; adjusting the components, except for water, in the readjustment solution to obtain the same proportion of the same components in the overflow tank, the water in said readjustment solution being adjusted to have a lower concentration than the water concentration in said overflow tank and a sufficiently high concentration to avoid localized concentrations of the reactive components in the bath, and withdrawing from said overflow tank sufficient aqueous phase to maintain a constant volume of liquid in the treatment tank, a pumping arrangement of mechanically coupled or synchronous pumps being used for the dosing of the readjustment solution and the withdrawal of the aqueous phase.

This invention relates to the surface treatment of metals, defined as degreasing, pickling, phosphatizing or lacquering, in particular to maintaining steady state conditions during such treatment, and especially wherein the surface treatment is conducted in a substantially non-aqueous liquid bath in a tank not hermetically sealed from the ambient atmosphere.
Liquid baths to which this invention is directed are described, e.g., in German patent applications Nos. P 32 09 829.4, P 33 14 974.7 and P 33 24 823.0, incorporated by reference herein, these applications corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,301 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 603,273 filed Apr. 24, 1984.
The liquids on a nonaqueous basis suitable for surface treatment are organic solvents which include, for example, low-boiling halogenated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane, chloroform, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorometahne, trichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,3-trichloroethane and mixtures of these chlorinated hydrocarons.
Frequently used as solubilizers in pickling and phosphatizing baths are low-boiling alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, propanol, butanol, sec-butanol, tert-butanol, n-pentanol, sec-pentanol, hexanol, heptanol, octanol, 2-ethylhexanol, nonanol, decanol, undecanol, dodecanol and their mixtures.
In addition, such formulations often also contain stabilizers such as quinones, phenols, nitrophenols or nitromethane.
The following compounds are also frequently used as inhibitors: nitroureas, thioureas, methylthiourea, ethylthiourea, dimethylthiourea, diethylthiourea and alkylated thioureas.
Still further, pyridine and picric acid can optionally be used as accelerators.
The main solvent, i.e. the chlorinated hydrocarbon, in pickling and phosphatizing solutions is generally present at 60 to 85% by weight, and the aqueous phosphoric acid at 0.1 to 2% by weight, based on the total solution.
In degreasing baths, the chlorinated hydrocarbons are generally present in a concentration over 95% while in dipping lacquer baths, the solvent portion as a rule is between 30 and 70%, the remainder consisting essentially of bonding agents and pigments.
This invention relates especially to treatment tank facilities in which the baths are based on organic solvent systems containing individual reactive components and from which other components of the baths must be discharged continuously or periodically, as is the case, e.g., pickling or phosphatizing facilities on a solvent basis. For these baths, a virtually constant composition of the treatment bath should be maintained in every operating phase even though, operating continuously in a nonfixed ratio, on the one hand reactive components are consumed and on the other hand, other components are discharged.
Commercial treatment tank facilities for the surface treatment of materials and other materials are known which consist of a tank having a lower heatable zone to receive a treatment bath and an upper cooling zone to produce a cold gas cushion over the optionally boiling bath so as to mitigate solvent loss. Below the cooling zone and/or within the cooling zone there is a condensate channel or, according to a recent proposal, there are also several condensate channels in which the solvent vapors are condensed. Since the cooling zone is not heremetically sealed from the ambient atmosphere, in addition to the solvent vapors,water also condenses from the humidity in the air, so that an actual collected condensate is richer in water than a theoretical condensate corresponding to the state of equilibrium over the liquid phase. To maintain a bath condition as constant as possible, it is therefore conventional to separate the collected condensate optionally, by super cooling, into (1) a phase as predominantly aqueous as possible and (2) a predominantly organic phase. The aqueous phase contains, inter alia, 40 to 90% of water, the remainder consisting essentially of dissolved chlorinated hydrocarbons optionally with the above-mentioned solubilizers and other water-soluble or hydrophilic components from the bath. The organic phase contains 90 to 99% chlorinated hydrocarbons, the remainder consisting essentially of the above-mentioned solubilizers, optionally water and other chlorinated-hydrocarbon-philic components from the treatment bath.
Separation into two phases usually takes place in a phase separation vessel formed as a water separator. While the organic phase can be directly recycled to the bath, the aqueous phase must be discharged to eliminate the excess water. In this connection, the principal problem arises that with the aqueous phase, other components of the bath, are also discharged, such as, e.g., especially the solubilizer and chlorinated hydrocarbon dissolved by the solubilizer. As a result, undesired changes in the composition of the bath occur. If the bath contains water from the start, even more water can be undesirably discharged than is fed in by condensation, so that the bath loses water despite the fact that water is fed in from the ambient atmosphere.
A further change ion the composition of the bath results from the fact that the metal surface to be treated reacts while consuming reactive bath components. Thus, for example, phosphoric acid is consumed in the phosphatizing of metal surfaces; consequently, make-up phosphoric acid must be added to maintain a bath composition as constant as possible. In adding make-up reactive component, e.g., phosphoric acid, a disadvantage arises insofar as the reactive component, e.g., 85% phosphoric acid, cannot simply be proportionately dosed in commercial form into the treatment bath because non-uniform localized concentrations would occur in the bath which in turn would lead to trouble in the surface treatment and to unacceptable inhomogeneities in the resulting phosphate layer.
Dosing of the reactive component, e.g., phosphoric acid, into the treatment bath must therefore take place in a suitable mixture of dilution compatible with the bath. As a result, a principal problem again arises that as a result of the redosing, not only is the consumed phosphoric acid balanced, but also other components, such as, e.g., especially water and solubilizers, optionally also chlorinated hydrocarbons, depending upon choice, are fed into the above-mentioned mixture, which cause shifts in the composition of the bath.
Therefore, considering the aqueous phase, on the one hand various components in addition to water are discharged from the system, and on the other hand, aside from the reactive components, various other components are added in a mixture by dosing to replace the consumed reeactive components. The shifts of the concentration ratios in the composition of the bath connected therewith are not easy to avoid since the rate of flow of the discharged quantities of material is variable and is dependent on the heating and cooling capacity, the thermal convection in the tank, and the tank geometry. Likewise, the dosed quantities of material are variable because they have to conform with the metal surface throughput. Thus, in principle, there is no firm correlation between the resulting discharge quantity and the required dosing quantity because the former is independent of the metal surface throughput and the latter is correlated with the metal surface throughput. The problems connected with keeping the bath composition and the tank volume constant are fundamental in nature and thus far have not been solved.

Controlled process for the surface treatment of metals


A vacuum lifting plate 1 for board-shaped production pieces that provides a vacuum chamber 8 in connection with a vacuum pump, is sealed against the board-shaped production piece, and includes a suspension arrangement for a hoisting device, includes a base plate 2 with a suspension arrangement and interchangeable sealing ledges 20,22 fastened to the sides of the base plate for fitting to the contour of the production piece.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a vacuum lifting plate for board-shaped production pieces, the vacuum lifting plate providing a vacuum chamber connected to a vacuum pump for sealing against the board-shaped production piece, and a suspension arrangement for a hoisting device.
2. The Prior Art
A small, compact vacuum lifting device for planar materials that can be fixed to a crane is described in German Patent DE-S 40 13 065. The arrangement has a vertical support structure which clasps a rod attached by an eye bolt to the crane hook. The other end of the rod is connected with a suction cushion that works together with the planar material to form a vacuum cheer. An electro-motorized suction pump is attached to a base plate on top of the suction cushion, which is connected with the support structure and connected through a vacuum opening with the vacuum chamber across a one-way ventilation return. A manually operable ventilation for interrupting the vacuum pressure is provided between the suction opening and the one-way ventilation return and the environment. When in operation, the structure fits snugly against the planar materials, whereby the ventilation for interrupting the vacuum pressure is closed. By switching on the motor switch the motor and the suction pump begin to run, so that a suction pressure results through the vacuum chamber and holds the planar material in place on the suction cushion.
In German DE-OS 38 34 866, a vacuum lifting device for planar production pieces such as boards, plates, and planks made out of wood or processed wood is described. This vacuum plate device has at least one suction plate with one or more vacuum chambers with ventilation control for the formation and release of a vacuum in each vacuum chamber. In this way each vacuum chamber is connected to the vacuum plate over a vacuum conduit that has ventilation control placed separately from the vacuum plate on the lifting device, the suction pressure of which is adjustable and the suction pressure adjustment of which can be locked. Each suction conduit is made from a flexible hose assembly connected to a fitting of the vacuum plate chamber at one end and to a straight or angled connection socket of the ventilation control at the other end.
A rubber form for vacuum cross beams for hoisting pipes is known from German DE-OS 35 10 719, whereby the rubber form is pieced endlessly together from individual sections and a rail is mounted on the base piece between two steel legs. The ventilation is largely formed so that the base piece of the section, when seen as a cross-section, consists of an indentation and that the sealing lips, facing outward, are adjacent to a trapezoidal middle section.
The known devices described above are suited to lifting even board-shaped production pieces. Production pieces whose surfaces are not even, for example, production pieces made of corrugated steel, trapezoidal corrugated sheets or similar materials, are not easily lifted with the known lifting devices.
The object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum lifting plate which can lift not only even production pieces, but also production pieces with uneven surfaces which extend in more than one direction, for example, corrugated or trapezoidal corrugated surfaces.


Compactible wagons are provided having at least two operational configurations. The compactible wagon has a first unfolded configuration where the first and second set of wheels are spaced apart by a horizontal platform, and where the wagon has one or more sidewalls, and at least a second compacted configuration where the horizontal platform is folded into a vertical configuration and the first and second set of wheels are disposed next to each other. The compactible wagon can have one or more additional configurations, including at least an unfolded configuration without sidewalls and/or an extended configuration where one or more of the sidewall are disposed to extend the surface area of the horizontal platform of the wagon. Many different rigid and flexible sidewalls may be used with the wagon.

Compactible wagons, i.e., wagons that can be folded and unfolded between open and collapsed configurations are well-known. However, the frames of such folding wagons tend to be relatively complex to operate. Specifically, most such compactible wagons rely on many rigid elements that bridge the foldable sections, and which severely limit the possible configurations of the wagon, i.e., providing only one folded and one unfolded configuration. In addition, most compactible wagons do not have the option of incorporating solid side walls, either relying on frame elements to contain goods disposed within, or providing soft cloth sidewalls that are unsuitable for hauling many types of loads. Accordingly, compactible wagons that overcome these and other disadvantages would be desirable.


An apparatus and method to obtain electrophoretic mobility information from a dilute colloidal dispersion using electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) is disclosed. Both laser Doppler electrophoresis and phase analysis light scattering data analysis methods may be applied to a scattered light signal simultaneously. Unlike previous ELS apparatuses and methods, the disclosed apparatus and method can measure electrophoretic mobility distributions in high ionic strength media. It can detect the presence of electrochemical phenomena such as electrode polarization and electrolysis, and apply corrections to the measured electrophoretic mobility values thus providing electrophoretic mobility information about samples with greater accuracy, precision, and reliability than prior ELS implementations. Improvements to the optical configuration of the apparatus are also disclosed that increase the robustness of the apparatus. Many of the aspects of the disclosure may be applied to the measurement of electrophoretic mobilities of particles in low polarity media and also particles with low surface charge in polar or non-polar media with greater accuracy, precision, and reliability than prior ELS implementations.

Electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) is the most industrially important and widely used method to determine electrophoretic mobilities of colloidal dispersions that include, but are not limited to, pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, paints, and foodstuffs. However, prior implementations of ELS may not measure with necessary accuracy, precision, and reliability electrophoretic mobilities of some colloidal dispersions including, but not limited to, those with: high ionic strength; low polarity media; low surface charge; and contamination from unwanted particulate matter. The salient features of an apparatus for implementation of ELS are shown in FIG. 1. The salient features of another apparatus for implementation of ELS are shown in FIG. 2. Refer to the description of embodiments provided herein for a detailed explanation of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. A method is sought that can accurately, precisely, and reliably measure the electrophoretic mobilities of colloidal dispersions that prior implementations of ELS cannot.


In one embodiment, a semiconductor circuit for coupling a first node to a second node includes a first transistor having a first terminal coupled to the first node, a second terminal coupled to the second node, and a control terminal coupled to a control node. The circuit also includes a level shifting circuit having a series diode for coupling a bulk terminal of the first transistor to the control node, and a supply coupling circuit coupled between a first power supply node and the control node.

Semiconductor switches are widely used as basic circuit components and provide system level design flexibility. For example, in audio applications, semiconductor switches are used to select a single audio output from multiple audio source channels. Another example of a typical semiconductor switch application is illustrated in FIG. 1. In cellular phone 100 semiconductor switch circuit 108 is used to share signal jack 114 with USB port 102 and audio driver 104. By sharing single signal jack 114, the number of external signal interfaces on cellphone 100 can be reduced. Control circuit 106 asserts a control signal that activates internal logic 112 to change the state of single pole double throw (SPDT) switch 110. Signal jack 114 can then be coupled to a computer via a USB cable, or to a loudspeaker via an audio cable depending on the mode of operation of cellphone 100.
FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional semiconductor switch 116 using a CMOS transmission gate 120. Transmission gate 120 has NMOS transistor N1 and PMOS transistor P1 that couples signal IN with signal OUT depending on the state of signal CONTROL. Signal CONTROL is coupled to gate of NMOS transistor N1 directly and to the gate of PMOS transistor P1 via inverter I1. During operation, when signal CONTROL is high, both NMOS transistor N1 and PMOS transistor P1 are ON. When signal CONTROL is low, both NMOS transistor N1 and PMOS transistor P1 are OFF. The on-resistance of the CMOS transmission gate, however, depends on the bias point of transistors N1 and P1. Generally, the on-resistance of CMOS transmission gate 120 will vary according to the power supply voltage (not shown) and the voltages of signals IN and OUT. When the power supply voltage is low, the variation of the on-resistance of CMOS transmission gate 120 can vary considerably with respect to signals IN and OUT.
In some audio applications, such as headphone and speaker drivers, the variation in on-resistance of a CMOS switch can introduce undesirable distortion in an audio signal. The audio signal suffers even more distortion if signals IN and OUT coupled to CMOS switch 120 are operated outside of the power supply range of the switch 116. For example, if the signals IN and OUT are at 0V and have an appreciable peak-to-peak amplitude, the resulting audio signal may be significantly distorted. Some prior art solutions, such as the constant gate drive MOS analog switch described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,154,085, address the issue of resistance variation by providing a constant gate drive to a switch transistor. The prior art circuit, however, consumes power and does not provide a constant gate drive for signals outside of the power supply range, thereby resulting in the distortion of moderate to large audio signals biased at 0V.
In the field of power supplies, what are needed are power efficient semiconductor switches that provide low on-resistance variation.

System and method for a semiconductor switch

STMicroelectronics Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.


A power switch circuit includes a first switch transistor connected to a main power supply, which supplies a first voltage, a second switch transistor connected in series to the first switch transistor and to a backup power supply, which supplies a second voltage. A switch control unit controls activation and deactivation of the first and second switch transistors so that either one of a voltage corresponding to the first voltage and a voltage corresponding to the second voltage is selectively output to a connection node between the first and second transistors. The first switch transistor includes a first diode, which is formed so that a direction from the main power supply toward the connection node defines a forward direction, and a second diode, which is formed so that a direction from the connection node toward the backup power supply defines a forward direction.

The present invention relates to a power switch circuit that switches the power supply for a device between a main power supply and a backup power supply.
An electronic device generally includes a main power supply, which supplies power voltage to a load (internal circuit), and a backup power supply, which is for maintaining the operation of a memory or the like to backup data. The backup power supply functions not only when the main power supply is not used but also when the voltage of the main power supply becomes low to supply the load with operational voltage and maintain the function of the electronic device. Normally, the maximum supply capacity (maximum voltage value) of a backup power supply is set to be lower than the maximum supply capacity (maximum voltage value) of a main power supply.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-12876 describes a prior art example of a power switch circuit. The power switch circuit illustrated in FIG. 6 of the publication includes a first transistor, which is formed by a MOS transistor and connected between a main power supply and an output terminal, and a second transistor, which is also formed by a MOS transistor and connected between a backup power supply and the output terminal. The power switch circuit activates the first transistor and deactivates the second transistor to output the voltage of the main power supply to the output terminal. Further, the power switch circuit deactivates the first transistor and activates the second transistor to output the voltage of the backup power supply to the output terminal. This prior art structure, however, has a shortcoming in that current leaks out of the backup power supply if the voltage of the main power supply becomes lower than the voltage of the backup power supply when the main power supply is selected. Under such a situation, the potential at the output terminal becomes lower than the voltage of the backup power supply due to the active first transistor. The leakage occurs as current flows from the backup power supply to the output terminal via a body diode formed in the second transistor. When current leaks out of the backup power supply, the voltage required for operations using the backup power supply, such as data backup, becomes insufficient. This may result in the loss of data. Such a decrease in the supply capacity of the backup power supply may significantly affect the operation of a device.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2008-86100 discusses a solution to such a current leakage problem. In the publication, two MOS transistors are connected in series between a backup power supply and an output terminal. Further, the back gates of the MOS transistors are connected to each other so that the forward bias direction of each body diode is reversed from that of the other body diode (refer to FIG. 2 of the publication). To facilitate the description hereafter, the connection structure of the two MOS transistors is referred to as a back-to-back (BTB) connection structure. Employment of the BTB connection structure prevents leakage current from flowing from the backup power supply via a BTB connection element even if the main power supply voltage (i.e., potential at the output terminal) becomes lower than the backup power supply voltage. However, as would be understood by one skilled in the art, the BTB connection structure not only causes complications when mounted on an IC chip but also occupies a relatively large layout area in the limited chip region. Accordingly, the BTB connection structure is at least not preferable from the viewpoint of IC mounting.


The present invention obtains instant noodles which do not cause sticking and are easily loosened. Especially, the present invention provides an instant noodles producing method capable of preventing the sticking of the noodle strings even when the noodle strings are straight-type noodles. In a production process of the instant noodles, powdered oil is applied to the surface of a dough sheet or the surfaces of the noodle strings before steaming. Especially, after the powdered oil is applied to the dough sheet, the dough sheet is rolled out once or more. With this, the powdered oil is firmly fixed to the surfaces of the noodle strings. Thus, an extremely high sticking preventing effect can be obtained by an extremely small amount of the powdered oil.

Regarding noodles, the most well known method as a method of preventing the sticking of slit noodle strings and improving the loosening of the noodle strings is a method of applying dusting powder to the noodle strings immediately after the noodle strings are obtained by slitting. Typically, wheat flour or starch is used as the dusting powder. By causing wheat flour powder or starch powder to adhere to the surfaces of the noodle strings, moisture on the surfaces of the noodle strings is removed, and the slippage of the noodle strings is increased. Especially, in recent years, oxidized starch and acetylated starch are available as the dusting powder. In addition, also available is dusting powder which is obtained by mixing, for example, calcium carbonate with the oxidized starch or the acetylated starch, has a high sticking preventing effect, does not cause a cooking liquid to be too turbid at the time of cooking, and has excellent properties.
However, such dusting powder is basically used for raw noodles and half-dried noodles to prevent the sticking of the noodle strings in a production process and distribution process and at the time of preservation. Such dusting power cannot effectively prevent the sticking of the noodle strings of boiled noodles, steamed noodles, and instant noodles. This is because in the case of the boiled noodles, steamed noodles, and instant noodles having been subjected to gelatinization, the sticking of the noodle strings occurs since the starch on the surfaces of the noodle string turns into paste during the steaming or after the boiling, and the action mechanism of the occurrence of the sticking herein is different from that of the occurrence of the sticking of the raw noodles.
Especially, regarding, for example, chilled distribution noodles obtained by packing boiled noodles or steamed noodles, to prevent the sticking in a distribution stage and preservation stage and improve the loosening at the time of cooking, oil is applied to the surfaces of the noodle strings after boiled or steamed noodle strings are washed in water.
Meanwhile, as a conventional technology of preventing the sticking of the noodle strings of the instant noodles, a device, called a wave box or conduct tube, configured to control the positions of the noodle strings in a vertical direction is attached at a position immediately after a slitter configured to slit into the noodle strings and performs a treatment (waving treatment) of causing the noodle strings to be strongly wavy. By causing the noodle strings to be strongly wavy as above, a large number of spaces are formed among the noodle strings, the noodle strings do not overlap in a vertical direction, and contact portions among the noodle strings can be reduced. Therefore, the sticking of the noodle strings can be prevented significantly. Further, used in recent years is a method of applying, for example, a low-viscosity polysaccharide thickener solution as a loosening improving agent to steamed noodle strings.
However, in the case of hot-air dried noodles, even if the above-described technology is used for the instant noodles, the sticking of the noodle strings tends to occur, and this causes the problem of a loosening property at the time of cooking in some cases. In a case where the above-described waving treatment is not performed with respect to the noodle strings in order to realize less-wavy straight-type noodles (less-wavy noodles not subjected to the waving treatment are hereinafter referred to as "straight-type noodles"), the sticking of the noodle strings is still an important problem. If the sticking of the noodle strings of the instant noodles occurs, it is difficult to loosen the noodles at the time of cooking and eating, and the noodles are not uniformly rehydrated. In addition, sticking portions are not adequately dried in a drying step, and this adversely affects the preserving property of the noodles in some cases.
In addition to the above methods, PTLs 1 to 3 are the technologies of preventing the sticking of the noodle strings of the instant noodles. PTL 1 describes that by a non-fried noodles producing method of steaming the noodles after causing oil-in-water emulsion of edible fat and oil to adhere to the surfaces of the noodle strings, the non-fried noodles having an excellent rehydration property and an excellent texture can be obtained. PTL 2 describes that the sticking of the noodle strings is prevented by coating the surfaces of the noodle strings, which have not yet been steamed, with heat-coagulatable protein and coagulating the protein by the steaming.
Further, PTL 3 describes that the sticking of the noodle strings of the non-fried noodles which are not wavy is prevented, and smooth noodles having excellent viscoelasticity are obtained. PTL 3 discloses the following four methods: (1) kneading is performed under reduced pressure; (2) powdered oil and/or lecithin are added to noodle ingredients; (3) gluten is added to the noodle ingredients; and (4) water, an emulsified oil solution, or a lecithin solution is applied to the surfaces of the noodle strings before the steaming. However, the methods of these conventional technologies do not realize adequate effects or cause the problems of the noodle quality and the noodle making property, so that an excellent sticking preventing method has been required.

Instant noodles and method for producing the same


A misfire detector for an internal combustion engine obtains a baseline crankshaft acceleration value that degrades at a 50% misfire rate in a predetermined way that is capable of subsequent correction. The width of a median averaging function is selected that provides a cyclical deviant acceleration under all expected conditions of 50% misfire. The cyclical deviant acceleration is corrected by summing adjacent values. The corrected acceleration is compared to a specially adapted misfire threshold that is exceeded only if the deviant acceleration is cyclical.

The present invention relates in general to detecting misfires occurring during normal in-use vehicle operation of internal combustion engines, and more specifically to a method of examining crankshaft acceleration that identifies misfires occurring at a rate of 50% of total cylinder events.
Monitoring of crankshaft acceleration in an internal combustion engine is a preferred technique to detect misfires of individual cylinder firings during engine operation. An advantageous system for crankshaft based misfire detection is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,044,195; 5,056,360; and 5,109,695. This system utilizes the determination of a deviant acceleration, which is the difference between the instantaneous acceleration for an individual cylinder firing and an estimated baseline acceleration. In particular, the baseline acceleration is determined as a median average over a series of cylinder accelerations including the cylinder firing of interest.
The foregoing system achieves acceptable sensitivity at low misfire rates (i.e., provides reliable detection and a low false alarm rate) thereby making crankshaft-based misfire detection feasible. However, the typical method employed for determining a baseline acceleration lacks the ability to detect high misfire rates (specifically 50% of cylinder events being misfires). More specifically, prior averaging methods (including median averaging) are distorted unacceptably by the presence of data from misfires when those misfires comprise 50% of the data within the averaging window.
Although a 50% misfire rate may be a rare occurrence and although such a condition may be apparent from roughness in engine operation, it may nevertheless be desirable to electronically detect such a condition so that it can be recorded and/or corrective action can be taken. Furthermore, for some engines and some types of ignition systems, a 50% misfire rate can result from a single component failure (e.g., a coil failure in a four-cylinder distributorless wasted-spark ignition system using two coils).


Coherent, frequency multiplexed radar is a new generic type of continuous wave radar architecture wherein contiguous pulses of discrete frequency segmented signals are serially transmitted from an antenna, and after reflection from radar targets, signals from the same antenna are coherently processed in a parallel manner to provide correlated measurements of target's pulse compressed range and radial velocity. Simultaneously transmitted and received signals are separated by frequency multiplexing.

Radar, since its rapid development during World War II, has become a primary sensor for both military and nonmilitary operations. Continuing developments have greatly improved the operational capabilities of radar systems; however, parallel increases in operational requirements have increased technological deficiencies. A relatively large and specialized vocabulary has evolved that relates to radar problems and operational requirements: e.g., clutter, electronic counter measures (ECM), jamming, chaff, decoys, anti-radiation missiles (ARM), low probability of intercept (LPI), identification of friend or foe (IFF), electromagnetic interference or control (EMI/EMC), high density targets, etc. The solutions to all the above problems relate to improving resolution in the space, time and frequency domains, and increasing the RF to information bandwidth ratio. The problems and solutions are interrelated and are often at cross purposes; e.g., increased resolution often adversely affects data rates. The development of conventional radar has been directed towards higher average power, pulse repetition rates, duty cycles, pulse compression ratios and improved Doppler frequency resolution. Unfortunately, processing losses associated with signal eclipsing and functional time sharing along with system complexity have also increased. A new generic type of radar design architecture is required. CFMR (coherent frequency multiplexed radar) offers solutions to many of these categorical problems.
Radar operates in the time, space and frequency domains. Transmitter and receiver signal isolation can be achieved in any of these domains. In pulse radar the transmitting and receiving periods are separated in the time domain. Signal separation in CW radar systems, except for some special purpose low power application, is achieved in the space domain (separate antennas). In CFMR the transmitted wave is continuous, but is comprised of a series of contiguous pulses transmitted at different frequencies in such a manner that they can be separated, from each other and from the signal being transmitted, by frequency multiplex techniques. Furthermore, a coherent relationship between the voltage vector of each frequency segment transmitted provides for simultaneous measurement of target range and velocity with optimum processing gain maintained.
CFMR is a continuous wave system and must therefore be able to receive while transmit. It can, in part, utilize the same implementation as conventional continuous wave radar; primarily, separate transmitting and receiving antennas, duplexors (circulators with canceller and Doppler frequency shift. CFMR, by virtue of its coherent frequency segmented signal format, has the further advantage of separating the signals through frequency multiplexing techniques. Foregoing the option of dual antennas for transmit and receive functions, the duplexor in CFMR operation reduces the coupling between the transmitter's output and the receiver's input (radio frequency preamplifier and/or first mixer) such that the residual transmitted power, as observed at the input of the receiver, is insufficient to cause burnout, excessive overloading to introduce undesirable non-linearities or degrade the receiver's noise figure. In CFMR the frequency separation of individual segments making up the signal format is accomplished at IF and/or baseband frequencies through frequency multiplexing by means of analog filters and/or digital filtering techniques utilizing appropriate time sampling in the radio frequency detection process. Doppler extraction is accomplished in much the same manner as with conventional Doppler radar, i.e., further dividing coherent baseband frequencies into Doppler frequency bands. Signal processing is conveniently implemented through digital computer techniques.
A comparison of the pertinent operational features of the radar technologies are tabulated below:
__________________________________________________________________________ Resolution Ambiguities Radar Range Velocity Range Velocity Processing Type (Time) (Doppler Freq) (Time) (Doppler Freq) Gain __________________________________________________________________________ Pulse or Pulse Doppler ##STR1## ##STR2## ##STR3## ##STR4## ##STR5## Pulse Compression ##STR6## -- ##STR7## -- ##STR8## Doppler ##STR9## ##STR10## -- none .alpha. T.sub.i' CFMR ##STR11## ##STR12## ##STR13## ##STR14## .alpha. T.sub.i' __________________________________________________________________________ where c = speed of light f.sub.c = carrier frequency PRF = Pulse Reception frequency .alpha. = PROPORTIONAL TO T.sub.i = integration period .tau. = pulse or frequency segment width .tau..sub.e = 1/total bandwidth of transmitted signal
Note brackets 1 and 2. CFMR has the range resolution of pulse compressed radar and the Doppler resolution of CW radar. Its range ambiguity, for extended pseudo-random codes, is greater than pulse by the ratio T.sub.i .multidot.PRF. Its Doppler frequency ambiguity is 1/.tau., which in practical FFT filter processors is the same for conventional CW Doppler radars. Coherent processing is used for both CFMR and Doppler radars and the resulting gain is proportional to T.sub.i.
The range bin array of coherent signal time elements can be processed to improve range measurement accuracy and resolution. The time bandwidth characteristics of the transmitted wave are efficiently processed. For example, the total accumulated bandwidth can be utilized in deriving high range resolution. Thus, CFMR affords the same resolution capabilities as conventional pulse compressed radar. The period of the range frequency sequence is usually greater than the transit period to the most distant target of interest; but can be of any desired length consistent with scenario geometry and dynamics. This characteristic eliminates range ambiguities associated with high PRF pulse radars. Continuous operation provides a 100% duty cycle that minimizes peak power to an average value. It is the average value of power that determines radar performance. Non-ambiguous measurements of each target's range and velocity are simultaneously derived from the same waveform. These factors extend the capability of synthetic aperture applications in terms of operating range and ability to efficiently detect moving targets. This can eliminate the need for large aperture scanning antennas in radar systems operating from moving platforms. Furthermore, in fixed installations advantages can be accrued by utilizing small size, wide angle, transmitting antennas in combination with large aperture, multi-beam receiving arrays wherein parallel processing over the total period normally allotted to scanning a frame provides system gain in excess of the system loss introduced by the wider angular coverage of the transmitting antenna. Through parallel processing the data rate is no longer constrained by scanning requirements, but relates only to scenario dynamics. A large number of circuit elements are required to instrument parallel processes. In CFMR the circuits are identical and repetitive. Available signal processing resources can be used for wide area, coarse resolution surveillance; sector or restricted area, medium resolution search or zooming operations for high resolution target classification.
Conventional radar technology relative to such functions as sensitivity time control and moving target indications can be implemented. Advantages of frequency agility, spread spectrum and frequency related functions are inherent to the process. The instantaneous bandwidth of each frequency segment is less than that associated with conventional pulse radars. Peak powers are reduced to average values and processing losses associated with high duty cycle, staggered PRF radars are eliminated, thereby minimizing average power requirements. The segmented signal format allows maximum use of digital computer technology in terms of time, frequency, power management, adaptive control and signal processing. These factors are of prime importance when considering requirements for covert operation, jamming resistance and other problems that relate to maintaining operational capabilities in hostile environments. Improved resolution in the time, frequency and space domains is the solution to problems related to clutter, target classification, etc.


An apparatus for stabilizing a plurality of bone segments, such as vertebrae of a spinal column, comprises one or more fixation devices. Each fixation device comprises an elongated rod having a longitudinal slot through its upper and lower surfaces and having threaded lateral surfaces. Slotted or axially threaded block members are slideably or rotatably movable along each rod into predetermined positions corresponding to locations selected for securing the apparatus to the bone. Posts are provided having have threaded distal ends, such that the distal end of each such post is inserted into the bone. The proximal end of each post is passed through the longitudinal slot in the rod and also through a vertical bore in the block member. The locations at which corrective forces are applied by the posts may be changed relative to the rods in three planes. A transverse connector system, included when at least two implant sets are used permits the implant sets to be spaced different distances apart and at different angular orientations.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a system and method for stabilizing and immobilizing a plurality of adjacent bone segments. A typical, but non-limiting application of this system is in the field of posterior spinal fixation wherein a single system can be readily adapted for simple stabilization of adjacent vertebra or to effect the controlled angulation needed for reduction and distraction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Posterior spinal stabilization systems are typically used for the treatment of conditions involving vertebral displacement such as kyphosis, spondylolisthesis and rotation; segmental instability, such as disc degeneration and fracture caused by disease, trauma, and congenital defects; and tumor diseases. The preferred method of spinal stabilization is immobilization of the affected joint(s) by surgical fusion, or arthrodesis. In order to permit fusion of adjacent vertebrae, immediate immobilization of any affected joints is necessary, which is preferably performed by internal fixation.
Internal fixation refers to methods of stabilization which are wholly internal to the patient and which include commonly known appliances such as bone plates or rods, hooks, and screws. Internal fixation is now the favored means of immobilization since the lack of external components allows the patient greater freedom of movement and reduces the possibility of infections. Prior art devices for internal posterior spinal fixation generally incorporate one of two basic design developments, top loading transpedicular plate systems and side loading elongated rod distraction/compression fixation systems.
Transpedicular plate systems comprise one or more parallel elongated plates having spaced apertures or longitudinal slots through which pedicle screws may be received and secured by appropriate fastening devices. The pedicles are a favored area of attachment upon the vertebrae since they offer an area of sufficient size, depth, and strength to hold the fixation device. Transpedicular screw and plate systems rely on a screw threaded into a reamed canal generally positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spine and horizontal or parallel to the anterior/posterior plane of the vertebral body. Methyl methacrylate is sometimes used to secure the screw in the canal, particularly if the screw loosens or osteoporosis is a problem. The screws engage a plate which has been bent to conform to the normal curvature of the spine or to the points of desired reduction.
A transpedicular screw and plate system developed by Roy-Camille utilizes plates having spaced, predrilled holes. The pedicles are located, reamed, tapped, and two screws are inserted into each vertebral body. Corticocancellous bone graft is placed in the lateral gutter over the transverse processes. The upper portion of each screw is threaded and extends through a respective hole in the plate, being held there by a corresponding nut. This simple system was "top loading" in that it allows the surgeon to tighten all appliance connections through the center of the plate and from the top. However, although the Roy-Camille system immobilized or fixated the spinal segments, it provided minimal ability to apply any corrective forces thereto and forced the screw into a non-anatomic position to conform to the preformed holes.
A later top loading system, developed by Steffee, is known as the Variable Spinal Plate (VSP) system. Using the Steffee system, screws are inserted into the pedicles as described above. Slotted plates are contoured to a desired sagittal curvature and placed over the screws, following which tapered nuts are threaded onto the screws. The screws are then tightened bilaterally until the plate is locked between two nuts. The VSP system allows some limited application of corrective forces to the vertebrae along both axial and vertical directions but does not permit controlled angular positioning of the pedicle screws. Thus one drawback of the VSP system is that it is limited to fixation in two planes.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,049 to Asher et al. discloses a transpedicular plate system which permits fixation in three planes by using a transverse connector member to maintain the two slotted plates in a selected spaced relationship. Clamps at opposite ends of the transverse connector secure respective slotted plates at a desired angular orientation with respect to the horizontal plane. The Asher system, however, does not permit the surgeon to vary or control the angulation of the screws segment by segment, and it is not top loading in that the transverse connector requires tightening of set screws from the side.
A significant drawback of the above described slotted plate systems is that the risk of pedicle screw breakage is increased because of the need to conform the plates to sagittal curvature by bending. Specifically, to the extent that the angle of a screw varies from a perpendicular relationship to the portion of the plate to which it is affixed, the screw will be forced to either bend or seat in a position which generates constant torque. Variance from a perpendicular relationship may thus result in constant unidirectional torque of the screw against one wall of the pedicle, which may in turn cause weakening of the screw, erosion of the bone or undesirable shifting of the vertebrae-to-adjacent-vertebrae angular relationship.
Where treatment requires the introduction of corrective forces to the vertebrae at various transverse angles to the horizontal plane (i.e., reduction/distraction), present systems employ a system of elongated rods having circular cross sections. The circular cross section of the rods permits rotation of appliances which secure bone hooks or screws to the rod. Once the surgeon determines how much corrective force he wishes to apply to each vertebrae, the elongated rods of these systems are bent to achieve the desired spacing between the rod and each of the given vertebrae to be corrected. Combinations of hooks (laminar, pedicle, and transverse), sacral attachments (screws or rod extensions), or supporting wires are then connected to the rods at desired locations using the rotatable appliances. Examples of such systems include the Harrington distraction system sold by Zimmer USA, Inc., the Keene system shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,269,178, and the Lewis-Greenlaw system illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,085,744.
These systems are side loading in that the hooks and screws which are secured to the rod must be fastened along lines which are spaced from the longitudinal axis of the rod. Because of this spacing, the side-loading rod systems are more difficult to install than top-loading, slotted plate systems, especially where deep, angled incisions are involved (such as in fixation of the low lumbar spine).
Another drawback of the elongated rod systems is their susceptibility to rotational misalignment. Specifically, the aforementioned spacing between the longitudinal axis of the rod and the post attachment point creates a considerable risk of in situ rotational displacement because the reactive forces of the posts are directed about the center axis of the rods. The greater the spacing between the post connection point and the rod center axis, the greater the risk of rotational displacement of the rod.
The recently developed AMSET.TM. R-F system also utilizes threaded rods to effect segment by segment angular positioning of pedicle screws. Unlike the elongated rod systems discussed above, however, the R-F system also provides some of the benefits associated with the top loading slotted plate systems. To effect angular positioning relative to a vertical plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod, the R-F system employs screws which have a unique U-shaped head design, wherein the threaded portion of the screw is available at angles of 0.degree., 5.degree., 10.degree. and 15.degree. relative to the head. The head defines a channel dimensioned to receive the threaded rod. Rotation of the head relative to the rod effects angular positioning relative to a horizontal plane. A pair of traction nuts engage respective faces of the head to maintain the screw in the desired orientation. When only simple fixation is required, the R-F system utilizes a specially machined block having a smooth vertical bore for receiving the upper threaded portion of a pedicle screw and a horizontal bore for sliding movement along the rod. Blocks are slid into desired positions along the rod to line up with inserted pedicle screws and are locked in place by pairs of traction screws. When the rod is installed, the respective blocks receive corresponding screws and nuts are tightened thereon to lock the rod into position.
Although the R-F system does provide an elongated rod system capable of providing both top loading simple fixation and selected segment by segment angular correction, it does not provide all of the benefits of the slotted plate system. Specifically, when used to provide simple fixation, it still suffers from the risk of unbalanced reactive forces as a result of the spacing between the axis of the rod and the post attachment points.
Thus, it should be apparent that in exchange for their ability to allow graded, angular movement at each segment, the elongated rod systems sacrifice the simplicity and rotational stability of slotted rod systems. Accordingly, unless the treatment requires segment by segment angular positioning of the screws, it will generally be more appropriate to use a slotted plate system.
Heretofore, the distinct advantages of the slotted plate systems and the elongate rod systems have required the surgeon to learn how to use a form of each system and the hospital to buy or have access to a variety of different systems, depending upon the preference of the surgeons practicing therein. Using the available systems of the prior art, the surgeon must preoperatively decide on the type of fixation treatment required and then chose an appropriate system to use. There has thus been a long felt need by those in this art for a single-system offering all the advantages of the prior systems, which may be adapted to a variety of differing operative conditions and applications, which also provides variable types of control at each level as needed.

System and method for stabilizing bone segments


One embodiment is a ring-slot radiator having: at least one radiating element having a characteristic of dual resonance, double-tuned in which an open ended strip and a cavity are structured to resonate at at least two different frequencies. Another embodiment may have: a ring-slot structure having at least one ring-slot opening on an infinite ground plane that forms a radiating element; a probe-fed strip structure that excites the slot; another ground plane underneath the strip; and a plurality of suppression elements around the ring slot to suppress parallel plate and surface wave modes.

Phased array antenna systems provide a convenient technique for steering antenna beams electrically. Each phased array system consists of a relatively large number of antenna elements that are separately fed with a radio-frequency (RF) signal to be transmitted. By controlling the relative phase of the RF signal in the separate antenna elements of the array, one can effectively steer a beam emanating from the array. If the array is two-dimensional, the beam may be steered about two axes. It will be understood, of course, that although such antennas are often described in terms pertaining to a transmitting antenna, the same principles also apply to steering a receiving antenna.
Although such antenna systems are well known, in radar and communications systems they have typically employed conventional radiator elements, such as horn antennas, helical antennas, or open-ended waveguide elements. These conventional radiator elements are prohibitively large in size and weight, and are relatively costly to manufacture, especially for operation at millimeter wave frequencies (30-300 GHz). There is a requirement in some applications for phased array antenna systems that have very closely spaced radiator elements, to provide fast scanning of pencil beams over a large search or coverage volume without forming a grating lobe. A grating lobe is an unwanted lobe in the antenna radiation pattern, caused by steering the beam too far in relation to the element spacing.
Use of ring slot radiator elements in phased array systems has been proposed for low frequency applications. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,415, issued in the name of Phillip L. Metzen et al., discloses an antenna system with an array of ring slot radiators. The same system is disclosed in a paper by Phillip L. Metzen et al., entitled "The Globalstar cellular satellite system," IEEE Trans. Vol AP-46, no. 6, Jun. 1998, pp. 935 942. The antenna array and associated feed probe structure disclosed in these publications is designed for operation in the L-band (1.61 GHz to 1.6265 GHz) and provides a very narrow (1%) bandwidth. Unfortunately, antenna systems of the type disclosed by Metzen et al. do not work at millimeter-wave frequencies, such as 35 GHz or higher. Moreover, the narrow 1% bandwidth is so narrow as to render the design very sensitive to manufacture, resulting in high production costs.
Furthermore, some applications require bandwidths over 10%. However, typical bandwidth of a ring-slot radiating element is less than 5%. Therefore, there is a need for improved ring-slot radiators that have greater bandwidths than current ring-slot radiators.

Ring-slot radiator for broad-band operation


Systems, methods, and apparatuses for assisting with submucosal dissections include a retraction strip body. The retraction strip body is formed at least partially from a deformable material. The retraction strip body is capable of being selectively moved between a first condition and a second condition. In the first condition, the retraction strip body is capable of engaging a target patient tissue. In the second condition, the retraction strip body is capable of retracting the target patient tissue. At least one tissue engagement member is located on the retraction strip body.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection ("ESD") is an endoscopic technique in which a lesion, such as, but not limited to, an early gastrointestinal cancer, is endoscopically dissected. One of the challenges in performing an ESD is the lack of a second hand that can provide traction and counter-traction as in conventional surgery. Delivering a device that may act like the second hand of a surgeon could make ESDs more efficient to perform.

System, method, and apparatus for assisting with submucosal dissections


One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for testing a binding Application Programming Interface (API) on a device, wherein the binding API is bound to a native API for the device and provides different commands than the native API. During operation, the system executes a native-API test on the device through the native API to produce a native-API test-result. The system subsequently receives the native-API test-result from the device at a test-harness. Next, the system sends a binding-API test to a test-agent on the device which enables the test-agent to execute the binding-API test through the binding API to produce a binding-API test-result. The system then receives the binding-API test-result from the test-agent. Finally, the system compares the native-API test-result to the binding-API test-result to determine if the binding API is functionally equivalent to the native API.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to software-testing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for testing a binding Application Programming Interface (API).
2. Related Art
Computing systems usually provide programmers with a native Application Programming Interface (API), such as a set of system libraries, to facilitate creating software applications for the computing systems. However, using this native API to create complex software applications can be difficult because a native API typically provides only a basic set of commands to a programmer. Consequently, programmers will often create a "binding API", which is bound to the native API, but includes a greater selection of commands than the native API. However, for a given command flow, determining whether the binding API produces an equivalent result to the native API can be difficult because the binding API may not be mapped to the native API in a one-to-one relationship. Furthermore, many binding APIs are designed for use with a resource-constrained device, which exacerbates the problem of testing the binding API because of a lack of resources for executing test code on the resource-constrained device. Moreover, binding APIs are often created at a high level of abstraction, which enables the creation of hardware and operating system independent functionality, but which further adds to the difficulty of testing the binding API.
Hence, what is needed is a method and apparatus for testing a binding Application Programming Interface without the problems listed above.

Method and apparatus for testing a binding application programming interface


A method for writing data onto a medium on which data are stored in tracks includes encoding the data into at least one codeword, and writing a respective portion of each of the at least one codeword onto respective different tracks on the medium. The writing may include writing a respective portion of each of the at least one codeword onto respective different adjacent tracks on the medium. Another method for reading data includes positioning a plurality of read heads to read codewords that have been written across multiple tracks of a medium. Each read head in the plurality of read heads reads a different portion of the first group of the multiple tracks, and where each different portion of the multiple tracks overlaps at least one other different portion of the multiple tracks. Signals are detected from the plurality of read beads, and the detected signals are decoded.

In magnetic recording, as one example of a type of recording in which reading and writing are performed by a head that moves relative to the surface of the storage medium, data may be written in circular (or sometime spiral) tracks on a magnetic disk. In many magnetic recording systems, minimum track pitch is limited by the write head width, while the read head is designed to be narrower than the write head so that reading can occur without picking up signals from any adjacent track. In addition, guard bands ——empty bands on either side of each track ——are provided to help prevent data on one track from being overwritten during writing of an adjacent track because of write head positioning errors.
In other magnetic recording systems, in order to increase recording densities, it is desirable to shrink the track pitch and reduce or remove the guard bands between the tracks, which allows more tracks to fit on the recording medium. For example, in "Two-Dimensional Magnetic Recording," also known as "Shingled Magnetic Recording" or "Shingle Write Recording," the tracks are written so that one track partially overlaps the previous track. In such a system, track pitch theoretically may be arbitrarily small.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for writing and reading closely-spaced data tracks


A composite cylinder constructed from a cylindrical liner having an outer surface which is dome shaped adjacent each end. A plurality of layers of resin impregnated carbon filaments are wound on the outer surface of the liner and over the dome shaped portions. Preferably the filaments are helically wound and are wound at an angle with respect to the access of the cylindrical liner such that radial stress as applied during operation will not tend to displace the filaments wound over the dome shaped portions of the liner. The composite cylinder is useful as an integral part of a hydraulic actuator used to position flight control surfaces on aircraft.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to fluid actuators and more particularly to a composite cylinder for use in hydraulic actuators intended for aircraft flight controls.
2. Prior Art
Fluid actuators of the type used in flight controls for aircraft and other high pressure applications are required to withstand high impulse pressures without failing over extended periods of time. In the prior art, to insure that the actuator had the necessary strength, common practice has been to construct the actuator cylinder out of a monolithic metal piece. Such structure adds considerably to the weight of the actuator.
To provide actuator cylinders having lighter weight than those constructed with a monolithic metal piece but at the same time providing adequate strength, the use of a composite cylinder has been suggested. Typical of such composite cylinders are those disclosed in prior art U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,685,384, 4,697,499, 4,802,404, and 4,773,306. The composite cylinders disclosed in these patents include a metal liner which is wound with hoop windings made of a suitable composite fiber such as a graphite filament impregnated with a suitable resin. The filaments, in addition to being hoop wound, have also been helically wound, and in some instances, disposed in longitudinal winding form. The combination of the hoop, helical and longitudinal windings provide the ability for the composite cylinder to react to circumferential loads, axial loads and compressive loads generated in the cylinder during the operation of the hydraulic actuator.
Although such composite cylinders have functioned quite well for the purposes intended, difficulties have been experienced in that the windings are incapable of supporting the loads encountered in all instances. Such difficulties have been generated because of the manner of retaining the wound filaments on the liner and particularly on the metal end glands necessary for receiving end plates which in turn receive the piston rods or clevis attachment members necessary for proper operation of the hydraulic actuator.

Composite cylinder for use in aircraft hydraulic actuator


An arrangement for measuring the power or energy of optical radiation of radiation sources, especially laser radiation is disclosed. It comprises a module defining an open or at least partially closed hollow space, wherein the inner walls or outer walls of the module are entirely or partially occupied by detectors for generating measurement signals which are proportional to the measured parameters of the radiation sources. The detectors are connected together in such a way that their generated measurement signals are further processed to form at least one resultant sum signal or the detectors are connected to a downstream processing device to form at least one resultant sum signal. This at least one resultant sum signal is relatively independent from the position, arrangement and radiating characteristic of the examined radiation source in the module. At least one opening or guide-through is provided in the module for inserting the radiation source to be examined.

a) Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to an arrangement for the measurement of optical radiation of radiation sources, especially radiation power.
b) Description of the Related Art
Power measuring devices for measuring optical radiation of radiation sources, especially also of laser radiation sources, can vary, for example, between power measuring devices for directionally radiating sources, also called power meters, such as bolometers, photodiodes, and power measuring devices for diffusely radiating sources (high-divergence sources) such as Ulbricht spheres.
Both types, both diffusely and directionally radiating fiber applicators with lengths of up to 10 cm and diameters up to 20 mm, are used in photodynarric therapy (PDT). Knowledge of the radiation power delivered by the applicator being used is crucial for the successful course and conclusion of treatment. At the present time, the principle of Ulbricht spheres is applied for power measurement.
An Ulbricht sphere of the type mentioned above is described in "ABC der Optik [The ABC's of Optics]", VEB Brockhaus Verlag, Leipzig, 1961, 484-485, in connection with luminous flux meters. This Ulbricht sphere is constructed in such a way that the most uniform possible distribution of the emitted radiation takes place in the interior of the sphere. A part of the diffusely reflected radiation is converted by a suitable detector whose receiver surface is small in comparison to the inner surface of the sphere, e.g., by a photodiode, into an electric signal which is proportional to the radiation output. Further, this measuring device is disadvantageous in that the measurement values are also dependent on the size of the radiation sources to be measured and on their position in the sphere.
For this reason, in order to suppress possible radiation characteristics of expanded radiation sources, the Ulbricht sphere must be as large as possible, the inner surface must reflect as diffusely as possible, and the receiver must be small in comparison to the inner surface and must be protected from direct radiation. Taking into account the requirement for measurement of the above-mentioned applicators with a length of 10 cm and a diameter of 20 mm, an Ulbricht sphere necessary for this purpose is difficult to integrate in an existing device or device design already by virtue of its size and, moreover, increases the cost of manufacture.

Arrangement for the measurement of optical radiation of radiation sources