An active optical adapter plate comprises a main body, the main body comprises at least a through hole and at least a photoelectric detection area, the through hole is disposed on an end face of the main body and configured to insert an optical fiber to provide an optical path for an emission light of a laser; the photoelectric detection area is disposed on the end face of the main body having the through hole, and comprises a photoelectric detector used for detecting a reflected light of the emission light of the laser and converting the detected reflected light into an electrical signal.

Data centers and server rooms require a large number of optical interconnection transmission products used for a short or medium distance (less than 300 m), for instance pluggable optical modules such as Active Optical Cables (AOCs) and Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) Modules. The core components of these products include lasers, laser drivers, detectors and detector post-amplifier chips. However, during usage of these products, once a fault occurs, it will not be able to determine where the problem appears. In particular, failure of the lasers at transmitting ends and their drive circuits will result in the distortion of the transmission signals.

Active optical adapter plate and optical interconnection module

National Center for Advanced Packaging Co., Ltd.


A portable, self-contained scanner device for metallurgical, nondestructive testing is provided. The portable, self-contained scanner device includes a chassis having wheels extending beneath a lower surface thereof, a nondestructive testing probe detachably fixed to the chassis, and a computer processor device coupled to the chassis. The computer processor device includes applications executable by the computer processor device for performing the metallurgical, nondestructive testing on a test subject. The scanner device also includes a display device that displays images in response to the metallurgical, nondestructive testing. The chassis, computer processor device, and display device move along the test subject as a single unit.

Testing of pressure parts and large diameter tubes or piping (e.g., where the diameter is greater than 300 mm) using nondestructive testing techniques is an arduous task, particularly when testing girth and seam welds. For example, the parts to be measured are oftentimes installed in areas that require compact handheld equipment that the testing personnel operate by hand. Fully automated or semi-automated testing equipment can be bulky and too cumbersome for installation in these inaccessible areas. Further, using advanced handheld equipment (e.g., hand-guided scanners), the sensors (e.g., time of flight diffraction sensors, phased array, electromagnetic acoustic transducers, etc.) are mounted on the scanner and the data acquisition units, as well as the display unit, are both physically separate from the scanner and linked together via cabling. As a result, oftentimes two operators are needed to conduct the testing: one tester that guides the scanner, and another tester that observes the data acquisition process. If using only one operator, the data acquisition component and data display unit would need to be in the same location for simultaneous scanning and observation of the data. However, when testing in a confined space, e.g., boiler equipment, this may not be possible.
What is needed, therefore, is a compact, self-contained scanning device that enables a single operator to conduct both the testing and the data acquisition and observation activities with respect to a metallurgical, nondestructive test.

Portable scanner device for metallurgical, nondestructive testing


According to one embodiment, an active material is provided. The active material includes active material particles. The active material particle includes a core particle and a shell layer which covers at least a part of a surface of the core particle. The core particle contains a monoclinic or orthorhombic niobium-titanium composite oxide. The shell layer contains a compound which is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a lithium-titanium composite oxide, an Nb-containing lithium-titanium composite oxide, a lithium-niobium composite oxide, a lithium phosphate, and an Nb-containing lithium phosphate. The compound has a composition different from that of the monoclinic or orthorhombic niobium-titanium composite oxide.

Recently, nonaqueous electrolyte batteries such as a lithium ion secondary battery have been developed as a battery having a high energy density. The nonaqueous electrolyte battery is expected to be a power source of vehicles such as a hybrid automobile or an electric automobile, or a power source for a large-sized storage battery. In particular, with respect to the application for vehicles, it is required for the nonaqueous electrolyte battery to have other properties such as a rapid charge-and-discharge performance and a long term reliability. A nonaqueous electrolyte battery capable of rapid charge-and-discharge has an advantage of remarkably short discharge time. The nonaqueous electrolyte battery capable of rapid charge-and-discharge can improve a power performance of a hybrid automobile and can efficiently recover a regenerative energy of the power.
The rapid charge-and-discharge can be performed in a manner in which electrons and lithium ions rapidly move between a positive electrode and a negative electrode. In a battery using a carbon negative electrode, a dendrite of metal lithium may sometimes be deposited on an electrode by repeating the rapid charge-and-discharge. The dendrite causes an internal short-circuit, thus resulting in a risk of generation of heat or ignition.
Therefore, a battery in which a metal composite oxide is used as the negative electrode active material instead of a carbonaceous material has been developed. In particular, a battery using a titanium oxide as the negative electrode active material can stably perform the rapid charge-and-discharge, and has a characteristic of a longer life time compared to that of the carbon negative electrode.
The titanium oxide, however, has a potential higher (nobler) than that of the carbonaceous substance to metal lithium. In addition, the titanium oxide has a low capacity per weight. A battery using titanium oxide, accordingly, has a defect of a low energy density.
For example, the electrode potential of the titanium oxide is about 1.5 V vs. metal lithium, which is higher (nobler) than that of the carbon negative electrode. The potential of the titanium oxide is caused by an oxidation-reduction reaction between Ti3+ and Ti4+ when lithium is electrochemically inserted and extracted, and thus it is electrochemically limited. There is also the fact that the rapid charge-and-discharge of the lithium ions can be stably performed at a high electrode potential of about 1.5 V. In order to improve the energy density, accordingly, it is substantially difficult to decrease the electrode potential.
On the other hand, with respect to a capacity per unit weight, a lithium-titanium composite oxide such as Li4Ti5O12 has a theoretical capacity of about 175 mAh/g; whereas a generally used graphite electrode material has a theoretical capacity of 372 mAh/g. The capacity density of the titanium oxide, accordingly, is remarkably lower than that of the carbon negative electrode material. This can be caused due to the small number of sites for inserting lithium in the crystal structure of the titanium oxide, or a decrease in the substantial capacity because lithium is easily stabilized in the structure.
In view of the above, a novel electrode material containing Ti and Nb is studied, in particular, a monoclinic Nb—Ti composite oxide, represented by TiNb2O7, is receiving attention because charge compensation, in which tetravalent Ti is turned into trivalent Ti, and pentavalent Nb is turned into trivalent Nb, is caused upon the Li insertion, and thus a high theoretical capacity such as 387 mAh/g can be obtained.

Active material, nonaqueous electrolyte battery, battery pack, and vehicle


A bicomposite material based on collagen is prepared which has two closely bound layers and is biocompatible, non-toxic, hemostatic and biodegradable in less than a month, and can be used in surgery to achieve hemostasis and prevent post-surgical adhesion. To prepare the material, a solution of collagen or gelatin, which may contain glycerine and a hydrophilic additive such as polyethylene glycol or a polysaccharide, is poured onto an inert support to form a layer 30 xcexcm to less than 100 xcexcm thick. Then a polymeric porous fibrous layer is applied during gelling of the collagen or gelatin, and the resultant material is dried. The polymeric porous fibrous layer may be made of collagen or a polysaccharide, and have a density of not more than 75 mg/cm2, a pore size from 30 xcexcm to 300 xcexcm and a thickness of 0.2 cm to 1.5 cm.

The present invention concerns a bicomposite material based on collagen, which is biocompatible, non-toxic and biodegradable, comprising uniquely or mainly a layer forming a collagenic film and a layer forming a fibrous polymer compress or sponge with a high level of porosity.
The material according to the invention can be used in surgery, notably in visceral surgery, and is specifically applied for the simultaneous achievement of hemostasis and prevention of post-surgical adhesion, while promoting the healing of the injured tissue.
Patents FR-A-2 628 634 and U.S. Pat. No. A-5,201,745 (IMEDEX) describe patches for use in visceral surgery made of a biomaterial consisting of two layers of collagen superposed and closely associated, these being a porous adhesive layer of fibrous collagen and a collagen film or collagenic material such as gelatine.
In this type of material, the film seals the membrane or patch and increases mechanical cohesion, also helping to prevent the formation of post-operative adhesions. The porous layer of fibrous collagen notably plays the part of a hemostatic compress.
A double-layered collagenic membrane has been proposed in patent applications EP-A-O 686 402 and WO 96/08277 (COLETICA) with the aim of obtaining anti-adhesive properties.
The collagens and collagenic materials used in such patches or membranes may be obtained from native collagen or from different types of atelocollagens or pepsin-treated collagens, notably type I bovine collagens, and type I, III, III+I and IV human collagens. These collagens can be partly oxidized, for example to increase their adhesive power, and the layer forming the film may include other materials, mixed with the collagenic material, used, for example to strengthen its mechanical resistance and improve its anti-adhesion properties. It is not easy to produce these patches or membranes, however. Indeed, on the one hand it is essential to guarantee an excellent bond between the layer forming the film and the layer forming the fibrous compress, while retaining each layer""s individuality on the other. Also, when the layer of fibrous material is brought into contact with the liquid collagenic material destined to form the film, on contact with the liquid, the collagenic fibres tend to become impregnated so that an excellent bond is indeed obtained between the two layers but it is very difficult to control formation of the film and respect the porosity of the supporting layer.
For this purpose, it has been proposed (FR-A-2 628 634), to pour the collagenic material which is to form the film, onto a layer of fibrous collagen which has first been slightly compressed to limit interpenetration between the two layers.
It has also already been proposed (EP-A-O 686 402) to freeze the porous fibrous layer so that it is hydrated and impermeable and pour the liquid collagenic material destined to form the film onto this layer so as to eliminate interpenetration between the two layers, but this level of prevention of interpenetration gives rise to cohesion defects. The process described also gives rise to a two-layer collagengelatine membrane which has been dried or freeze-dried in one piece, which prevents an impermeable film and a highly porous layer from being formed simultaneously. It is also recommended to compress this membrane.
Hemostatic sponges composed of native bovine collagen are commercially available, as for example Colgen(copyright) (Immuno AG), Pangen(copyright) (Fournier) and Surgicoll(copyright) (Biodynamics); but these are not covered on one side with an impermeable film, acting as a barrier and they have several disadvantages:
i) left in the body, they can generate adhesions;
ii) the blood diffuses through preferential routes in the compress, reducing the area of contact of the collagen with the platelets and consequently the hemostatic effect of the compress;
iii) they no longer have a hemostatic effect on strongly bleeding wounds (ruptured arterioles for example), because the blood passes through the compress;
iv) generally produced from acid collagen, they are difficult to handle because they strongly stick to surgical instruments or latex gloves.
Other more complex products such as TachoComb(copyright) (Nycomed) combining collagen, fibrinogen, thrombin and aprotinin provide better hemostasis than collagen sponges, but these products are likely to facilitate the development of post-operative adhesions. They contain thermolabile enzymes and must be stored between 2 and 8xc2x0 C. The multiplication of components of human or animal origin is also a handicap, because of problems of traceability and registration linked to these products, leading to prohibitive excess cost.
From the point of view of preventing post-operative adhesions, this is particularly difficult with haemorrhagic wounds, especially where bleeding is widespread (Buckman et al., J. Surg. Res., 1976, 20 1-5; Wiseman et al., J. Reprod. Med., 1992, 37, 766-770). Bleeding from wounds strongly affects the efficacy of the products marketed and used to prevent adhesion, such as INTERCEED(copyright) TC7 (Johnson and Johnson) (Wiseman et al., J. Reprod. Med., 1992, 37, 766-770). Indeed it can lead to the deposit of fibrin on the anti-adhesive film and then facilitate the development of post-operative adhesions. This results in the necessity to perform the most complete hemostasis possible, using thrombin or any other technique, before applying products such as INTERCEED(copyright) TC7 to haemorrhagic wounds. Therefore to prevent adhesions it is advantageous to develop materials which also have hemostatic properties.
The present invention therefore aims to considerably perfect the previously described bicomposite collagenic materials, and to improve their hemostatic properties considerably, while retaining and, if necessary, even improving their properties which aim to prevent post-operative adhesions.
The invention also aims to provide a hemostatic bicomposite collagenic material which can, in addition, prevent post-operative adhesions and facilitate healing.
Another of the invention""s aims is to produce such a material which particularly promotes colonization by the body""s specific cells and is likely to be completely biodegradable within a short time and easy to control by making simple changes to the manufacturing process.
The invention also aims to provide a biocompatible bicomposite material which is non-toxic and not sticky to the touch when dry, to facilitate handling, but which can develop adhesive properties in a physiological environment, in particular in contact with blood.
Another of the invention""s aims is to provide a particularly economic process to obtain such a bicomposite material.
Therefore the invention aims to produce a bicomposite collagenic material which is biocompatible, non-toxic and biodegradable in less than a month, characterized in that it comprises solely or principally two closely linked layers, these being a layer forming a film based on a collagenic constituent, notably collagen which has at least partially lost its helical structure, or gelatine, and a layer forming a porous compress, substantially uncompacted, based on a polymer constituent.
As well as the collagenic constituent, the film preferably comprises at least one macromolecular hydrophilic additive which does not react chemically with collagen.
The second layer can be made of a porous compress, substantially uncompacted, of non-denatured collagen.
The invention also aims to provide a preferred process for producing these materials.
This process is based on the discovery that, when a liquid solution based on a collagenic constituent destined to form a film is left to gel, there is an instant, during gelling, when the porous layer of polymer constituent forming the compress can be laid on the surface of the gelling material, and the under part of the said porous layer partly penetrates the gel, while at least partly retaining a structure which guarantees almost perfect adhesion between the film to be constituted and the porous layer, while preserving almost all the individual properties of the porous layer and the film.
The inventors noted most surprisingly that:
the collagen film can be formed by dehydration of the liquid layer of collagen in spite of the presence of a freeze-dried porous layer on top of it;
the upper porous layer is not degraded or changed by association with the film in the process of formation.
The invention therefore aims to provide a process for obtaining a bicomposite material according to the invention, characterized in that a solution of collagenic constituent is poured onto a suitable inert support, to a thickness destined to form a film, and in that a substantially uncompacted compress made of a polymer constituent is applied onto the said solution during gelification, and then in that the material obtained is dried or left to dry.

Method for preparing two-layer bicomposite collagen material for preventing post-operative adhesions


A swing bed canister assembly for a regenerative carbon dioxide removal system includes a housing that includes an integrally formed central wall that divides an adsorbing amine bed from a desorbing amine bed. The central wall defines spaces for each of the amine beds so that each portion of the desorbing amine bed is disposed in thermal communication with an adsorbing amine bed to facilitate desorption.

This invention generally relates to a system for removing carbon dioxide gas. More particularly, this invention relates to a regenerative carbon dioxide removal system for removing carbon dioxide from an enclosed space.
Life support systems that are utilized in enclosed spaces such as submarines, spacecraft or space suits require the continuous removal of carbon dioxide. A regenerative carbon dioxide removal system is utilized for this purpose and commonly includes amine beds that are placed in contact with a flow of carbon dioxide laden air. The amine beds adsorb carbon dioxide from the air stream through commonly understood chemical processes and reactions.
An amine bed is utilized until it is saturated and can no longer efficiently remove carbon dioxide from an air stream. Another amine bed is then switched into contact with the carbon dioxide laden air stream. The saturated amine bed is then desorbed to expel carbon dioxide in preparation for the next cycle.
The adsorption process generates heat, and the desorption process utilizes heat along with a pressure differential to expel the carbon dioxide. An adsorbing bed can be placed in thermal contact with a desorbing bed to utilize the generated heat to drive off the carbon dioxide.
A housing for the amine beds is typically constructed utilizing a complex arrangement of brazed amine support features and screens. The brazing process is a well known process that requires the entire housing to be exposed to a temperature sufficient to form the desired brazed joints. Disadvantageously, many brazed joints are not accessible once the brazing process is complete. In such instances, leaks or less then desirable joints require rework of the entire housing. Further, the structure of the amine beds can provide undesired pressure drops and poorly transfer heat between adsorbing and desorbing amine beds.

Swing bed canister with heat transfer features


The improved latch needle (1) is provided with a latch (5) having a latch shaft (11) with side surfaces (21, 22), which are divided into surface areas (23, 24) that are offset against each other and/or are arranged at an angle to each other. As a result, the thickness of latch (5) measured in the direction of its rotational axis (27) is slightly larger than the thickness in the shaft region (43), particularly at a location (45) in the area of transition from the latch shaft (11) to the latch spoon (16). On the other hand, the location (43) is close to the hook-side opening of the latch slot (6). By reducing the width, particularly in this region, the easy movement of latch (5) is ensured even if dust or dirt enter the latch slot (6) or are deposited on the side surfaces (21, 22).

The invention relates to a latch needle, in, particular for knitting machines.
Latch needles are used for different types of knitting machines. A latch needle is known, for example, from German Printed Patent Specification 1113537. This latch needle has a needle body with a hook formed onto the end. A latch is positioned pivoting inside a latch slot formed near the hook. With its free end, the so-called latch spoon, the latch can rest on the hook tip and thus close off the trapping clearance. From this closed position, the latch can pivot back to the upright position, in which the trapping clearance is freed. The pivoting movement should be as easy as possible. Modern knitting machines frequently require needles that move easily. Hard to move needles knit unevenly and thus produce a poor loop picture.
The latches of some machines must fall back into the upright position as a result of their own weight. If this does not happen reliably, the danger exists that the latches come in contact with parts of the machine, e.g. the yarn-feed apron, and are bent as a result.
The easy movement of the latch can be achieved by increasing the latch play. However, increasing the latch play worsens the latch guidance even if the needle is still new. With a further increase in wear, the latch guidance becomes less and less precise, thus reducing the operational reliability.
Another problem resulting from increased latch play occurs if the latch is positioned with rivets pressed out of the slot cheeks, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,991,140. For the positioning, the latch provided with a bearing opening is inserted into the latch slot. Following this, sections of the slot cheeks are pressed or punched toward the inside with the aid of two plunging tools (engravers), such that these cheek portions enter the bearing opening in the latch and form a bearing rivet for the latch. This operation requires relatively little latch play. The latch forms a counter stop for the pressing or punching operation, particularly with the region surrounding the bearing opening. If the latch is noticeably smaller than the latch slot, the slot cheeks are bent toward the inside during the punching operation, thus preventing the latch needle from being produced with the desired quality.
Starting with this premise, it is the object of the invention to provide a latch needle with a latch that is designed to move easily and is precisely guided.
This object is solved with a latch needle having features in accordance with the present invention.
The latch needle according to the invention has a latch comprising a latch spoon and a latch shaft, the side surface or surfaces of which are divided. A first surface area surrounds the bearing opening where it ensures a slight latch play on the side. The following second surface area permits a greater latch play, meaning the distance to the neighboring slot cheek is increased, thus reducing contact with the wall to small surface areas or omitting it completely. As a result, it is possible to produce latch needles with latches that move extremely easily. For this, the surface area surrounding the bearing opening can be designed such that the latch is guided with little play and thus very precisely. On the other hand, the following second surface area can be set back, thus reducing the thickness of the latch shaft by a few 1000th millimeters (for example 0.03 mm). During the opening and closing of the latch, meaning the pivoting movement between closed position and upright position, the second surface area that extends along the latch shaft is thus prevented from being wedged into the slot or from experiencing strong friction inside the slot. The set back surface area contributes only slightly or not at all to the side guidance of the latch. A functional separation between the surface areas exists. The first surface area surrounding the latch opening primarily is responsible for the side guidance of the latch. This can possibly be recognized by the fact that the side play of the latch is respectively the same in the closed position or the upright position and an in an intermediate position. Having little latch play in the area of the rivet ensures a good guidance of the latch inside the slot.
The insignificant latch play inside the slot in the region of the guide surface of the first surface area considerably facilitates the process of pressing out the rivet, meaning the pressing or punching operation during which sections of the cheek wall are pressed into the bearing opening of the latch. The insignificant play prevents the cheek walls from being squeezed together when punching out the rivets and thus deforming the needle. Especially precise needles can be produced as a result.
On the other hand, the increased play between latch shaft and cheek wall reduces the danger of threads being wedged in, damaged or cut between latch and cheek (slot sidewall). In addition, it also reduces the danger that fibers or dirt will enter the slot and result in a jamming of the latch.
Owing to the fact that the latch guidance is essentially assumed by the surface areas surrounding the latch, a noticeably larger spacing can exist between the remaining latch flanks of the latch shaft and the slot cheeks. The difference between the thickness of the latch shaft in the region of the latch hole and in the region of the latch head or latch spoon can amount to several one-hundredth millimeters, without this worsening the latch guidance.
Despite the improvement in the easy movement of the latch, the latch is guided with such precision that the latch makes even better contact with the hook. As a result of the increased precision during the operation of the needle, the wear between latch and hook can be reduced. In addition, the latch shaft does not make frictional contact over its complete length that is submerged in the slot, but only in the bearing region on the slot cheek.
Both side surfaces of the latch shaft for the latch needle are preferably designed identical, so that both side surfaces are divided into separate surface areas. The latch in that case is designed to be symmetrical to a center plane.
A line-shaped or strip-shaped separation or transition area is formed between the two separate surface areas. In other words, the separation area, for example, takes the shape of a line, an edge or a step or forms a slightly curved transition area. The separation area of one preferred embodiment is a step, which results in a large distance between cheek and surface area along the area recessed by the step. The surface area can be planar or can be curved in one or several directions or can be structured. The same is true for the other surface area surrounding the bearing opening, which can also be planar or otherwise formed.

Latch needle comprising a relieved latch shank


Systems and methods for subterranean distribution of optical signals on integrated circuits are disclosed. A semiconductor device comprising a multi-layer substrate includes a surface layer and a subterranean layer. Electrical devices are formed in the surface layer. Optoelectronic devices may be formed in the subterranean layer or the surface layer and configured for converting electrical signals to optical signals or converting optical signals to electrical signals. At least one optical waveguide is formed in the subterranean layer and configured for transmitting optical signals through the subterranean layer. Electrical vias may be included for coupling electrical signals between the subterranean layer and the surface layer. In addition, optical vias may be for coupling optical signals between the subterranean layer and the surface layer.

Integrated circuit fabrication advances have created a continual improvement in the density and speed of integrated circuits. Recently, metallic interconnection of electrical signals on integrated circuits has become problematic for propagating high speed signals over the relatively long distances of a semiconductor device.
Long signal runs and large fan-outs on some signals create propagation delays that approach, or even exceed the frequency of the signals. As an example, clock signals must be distributed across long distances and drive a large number of devices and buffers. To manage the loading and propagation delays of these clock signals elaborate clock trees with carefully balanced loads are often required to ensure that the clock signal edges have minimal skew at the clocked devices. Similar problems develop for data and control busses that must traverse long distances, have high fan-out requirements, or combinations thereof.
In other technological areas, optical signal routing and signal manipulation has become more prevalent with the advent of high bandwidth communication technologies. Naturally, to accommodate the optical signals, while still allowing processing of electrical signals, a large number of electrical-to-optical converters and optical-to-electrical converters have been developed.
Recently, semiconductor devices have been proposed that combine optical devices with conventional large scale bipolar and Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) devices. In addition, some proposals have been made to route optical signals over the top of conventional bipolar and CMOS electrical devices, thereby distributing optical signals to various regions of a semiconductor device.
However, fabricating optical devices or optical waveguides in layers above the semiconductor devices may have undesired effects. For example, the fabrication steps required to develop the optical layers may affect the device characteristics of already fabricated electrical devices below the optical layers. In addition, fabrication process limitation may require relatively thin optical layers, such that optical signals may interfere with electrical signal and electrical device operation on lower layers. Similarly, the electrical signals may interfere with propagation and generation of optical signals in the optical layers above the electrical signals and electrical devices.
Accordingly, there is a need for new signal routing technologies to distribute signals with minimal skew across long expanses of a semiconductor die and also increased separation and isolation between electrical signals and optical signals. There is also a need to develop these new signal routing technologies with a process that will have a reduced effect on the operation parameters of conventional bipolar and CMOS devices.

Apparatus and method for subterranean distribution of optical signals

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The present invention relates to a control apparatus for managing communications between a plurality of electric appliances connected to a household power line network. The apparatus transmits a plurality of types of modulation method control signals to each of the plurality of electric appliances, each type of control signal utilizing a different modulation method. When receiving a response from each electric appliance, the apparatus detects to which type of modulation method control signal the response was made and judges the type of the modulation method that is utilized in each electric appliance based on the detection.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling communications between electrical appliances through household power lines.
2. Description of the Related Art
A control system is currently available that controls the operation of household electrical appliances by communicating with those appliances through the electric wires that supply electrical power to the lights and appliances in the home. This control system is called a household power line communication system. That is a control system in which the wires supplying power to the lights and electrical appliances in the home are also used as a communications medium. In this system, each electrical appliance in the home is equipped with a power line communications modem. A centralized control unit is also provided to control communications with and between electrical appliances. For example, the control unit may be able to monitor a condition in which a refrigerator door has been open longer than a specified time duration, and direct a television receiver to display an on-screen warning. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Publication No.2002-84658 shows the system that may be able to control the consumption of electricity by the household electrical appliances in order to keep consumption below an amount contracted with the electric power utility.
However, the household power line communication system has the following problems.
There are no international standards in regard to the use of household power lines for communication purposes. Different countries and even different regions within a country may often use different standards. The reasons for that are because they have their own the frequency bandwidth that can be allocated for power line communications, their own voltage used by electrical appliances, and their own frequency bandwidths already being used for other purposes, such as radio broadcasts. Therefore, establishing an international standard has proven difficult.
In Japan, a domestic operating standard for power line communications has been established through the work of the Echo-net Consortium. However in Europe, while a frequency bandwidth has been established for household power line communications (European Norm 50065-1), a modem modulation method has not been decided for such communication. Moreover, an access protocol (the Carrier Sense Multiple-Access (CSMA)) that is established for avoiding the cross interference of various methods of modulation, such as the cross interference with radio broadcasts, specifies that the frequency bandwidth called the "C" band of 125 to 140 kHz in European Norm 50065-1 should be utilized for power line communications. If one adheres to CSMA, it becomes possible to build a system compatible with various methods of modulation.
Examples of these modulation methods are Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK), Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), and Phase Shift Keying (PSK), each having its own advantages and disadvantages.
These modulation methods generally exhibit the following characteristics. The ASK method, while offering the advantage of simple circuit structure, is susceptible to noise interference. The PSK method offers desirable noise resistance characteristics, but requires a complex circuit structure. The FSK method offers characteristics lying between those of the ASK and PSK methods.
As a result of these factors, no standardized method of modulation has been established for power line communications in Europe. Even if one purchases a European electrical appliance with power line communications capability, there is still the problem of a lack of compatibility between electrical appliances because of their use of different modulation methods.
This present invention is provided to solve above problem. The purpose of the invention is to provide a control apparatus and method that can manage all electric appliances in the home through household power line communications, that can be used in Europe where there is no modulation method standard for power line communications systems, and that can manage multiple electrical appliances equipped with modems that may not operate with a common modulation method.

Control apparatus and control method for managing communications between multiple electrical appliances through a household power line network


A vibration isolation fifth wheel suspension system comprises a fifth wheel support plate mounted between the spaced parallel frame members of a truck tractor on a pivotal axis located near the forward end of the tractor. The plate is located to rest on the upper surface of the frame members and its free end is mounted on a pressurized air suspension supported by a cross member extending between the tractor frame members. Two pairs of first and second cooperating wear plates are used to minimize lateral shift and roll of the support plate. The first plate of each pair is attached to and depends downwardly from the under surface of the support plate in sliding relationship with the second plates of each pair which are fixed to the cross frame member. In use, the air suspension system is provided with air under pressure to elevate the fifth wheel support plate above the frame, and controls are provided to permit expulsion of the air from the suspension system to lower the support plate to directly overly and be supported by the truck frame members.

Fifth wheels of the type used to detachably couple the forward end of a semi-trailer to a tractor generally are attached to rail members rigidly secured to the tractor frame. This results in a rigid interconnection between the tractor frame and the forward end of the trailer. This results in the transmission of substantial shock between the trailer and tractor through the fifth wheel assembly. As a consequence, loads within the trailer, particularly at its forward end, often are subjected to damage when the wheels of the tractor and trailer pass over bumps or pot holes in the road. Also, the tractor itself is subjected to incessant pounding from the trailer through the rigid fifth wheel coupling. Thirdly, the tractor driver is subjected to this pounding or shock throughout the time he is operating the vehicle creating fatigue and often serious physical problems.
To alleviate the problems resulting from the incessant pounding of the tractor by the trailer and vice-versa through the fifth wheel assembly, various proposals have been made in the past. For the protection of the driver, the driver's seat is mounted with resilient suspension between it and the tractor cab. An attempt illustrated in Gouirand U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,496 to isolate the tractor frame from the trailer has been made by mounting the fifth wheel assembly on the tractor through a special suspension system directly supported by the rear axle of the tractor instead of the frame. Such departure from a standard fifth wheel mounting however requires expensive and complex rebuilding or customized construction of the tractor rear axle and has not resulted in any significant acceptance in the industry.
Other proposals have been made for providing a resilient mounting for the fifth wheel mounting plate in the form of a support attached across the top of the tractor frame. Various types of resilient steel springs and pneumatic air bag springs have been proposed for this purpose, but the resultant structure raises the forward end of the trailer to generally unacceptable heights. Even if the suspension system is capable of being lowered to a non-support position (particularly in the case of airbag suspensions), the relatively bulky structure which must be mounted on top of the tractor frame still prevents the lowering of the forward end of the trailer sufficiently for many uses. As a result, the operator of a tractor equipped with such a prior art fifth wheel assembly is given two choices. Either he must restrict his trailer height to a height which is less than he could use with a conventional fifth wheel assembly, or the tractor trailer must be routed, often over relatively long detours, around any overhead obstructions which do not provide sufficient clearance for the elevated trailer. In most cases both of these alternatives are unacceptable. Examples of fifth wheel mounting assemblies of this type are shown in the patents to Masser, U.S. Pat. No. 3,137,515 issued June 16, 1964; Granning, U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,758 issued Apr. 30, 1968; Chalmers, U.S. Pat. No. 2,821,409 issued Jan. 28, 1958; and Granning, U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,840 issued May 31, 1966. For the most part the disadvantages of these systems created because of their relatively complex nature and the additional height which is added to the trailer under all conditions of use, have resulted in minimal acceptance of such assemblies.
It is desirable to provide a fifth wheel mounting assembly which effectively cushions and isolates the tractor and trailer from communicating shock during operation of the tractor trailer and which is of simple construction so that it can be incorporated as original equipment onto a tractor or readily mounted onto an existing tractor with minimum effort. In addition it is desirable to include a resilient mounting for fifth wheel of a tractor trailer combination which does not significantly increase the height of the trailer when the mounting assembly is placed in its lowermost position.


A double-forked arthroscopic tool is provided for inserting a looped, double strand of semitendinosus tendon into the femoral tunnel during ACL reconstruction. The double strand of tendon is fixed in the tunnel by a transverse implant, which passes just under the apex of the looped tendon, such that the tendon is securely looped over the implant in the femoral tunnel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arthroscopic instrument for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and to a method of ACL reconstruction using the instrument.
2. Description of the Related Art:
When a ligament or tendon becomes detached from the bone, surgery is usually required to re-secure the ligament or tendon. Often, a substitute ligament or graft is attached to the bone to facilitate re-growth and permanent attachment. Various methods of graft attachment are known, such as staples, suture over buttons, and interference screw fixation.
Staples and suture buttons are disadvantageous because they often do not provide a sufficiently strong attachment to withstand the normal tensile loads to which they are subjected. For example, with suture button fixation, the strand of suture coupling the button and the substitute ligament is the "weakest link in the chain" and if the suture breaks, the ligament will detach.
A stronger graft attachment is obtained by interference screw fixation, in which an interference screw is used to wedge a graft bone block to the wall of a graft tunnel. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,647, herein incorporated by reference. Although interference screw attachment is more secure than using staples or suture buttons, it is sometimes not possible or desirable to provide such fixation, particularly in the femoral tunnel. For example, in situations where a previous reconstruction has been performed, a new femoral tunnel placed close to the previous tunnel may not allow for interference screw fixation. In other cases, a semitendinosus graft must be used since the previous reconstruction used the mid third patellar tendon. Although a bone-semitendinosus graft-bone construct may be prepared using a workstation as disclosed in allowed U.S. Ser. No. 08/186,604, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,357, such a procedure is time consuming, and often undesirable.
Accordingly, a need exists for a fixation technique which provides strong attachment of a semitendinosus graft in the femoral tunnel, without interference screw fixation.

Forked insertion tool and metnod of arthroscopic surgery using the same


A group of upper side male terminal fittings 2A and lower side male terminal fittings 2B are secured to the upper and lower surfaces of a mount plate 8 formed as a separate piece by pressing projections 12 into mount holes 16, thereby forming a core member 7. A housing 1 is formed by insert molding using this core member 7 as a core material. Since insert molding can be performed with the outer surfaces of the male terminal fittings 2A, 2B opposite from those secured to the mount plate 8 exposed, only the thickness of the housing 1 is added at the outer surfaces of the male terminal fittings 2A, 2B. Thus, there can be obtained a connector having a small thickness T around the male terminal fittings 2A, 2B.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector producing method and to a connector produced by insert molding.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A prior art connector produced by insert molding is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 7-11771 and is illustrated in FIG. 7 herein. As shown in FIG. 7, this connector is constructed such that a group of terminal fittings a, b are assembled into a housing c by insert molding, and male connector portions d, e are provided at the opposite ends. This connector is used as an intermediate connector or the like.
In producing such a connector by insert molding, the housing c may be molded according to the following method. A group of terminal fittings a, b are accommodated in a cavity of a mold and the ends thereof are inserted into mount grooves formed in the wall surface of the cavity. The housing c then is molded by injecting the cavity with synthetic resin. However, if the above method is adopted, particularly when the terminal fittings a, b have a long length, the terminal fittings a, b are elastically deformed upon being subjected to an injection pressure of the resin, with the result that the lengths of the terminal fittings a, b projecting in the male connector portions d, e may vary and, in an extreme case, the terminal fittings a, b may be brought into contact with each other.
As a countermeasure, the respective terminal fittings a, b are formed with intermediate members f, g for preventing a deformation by insert molding as shown in FIG. 8. The housing c is produced by insert molding using an assembly of the intermediate members f, g and the terminal fittings a, b as a core material. This prevents the terminal fittings a, b from being elastically deformed during the insert molding of the housing c.
On the other hand, the connector is required to have a smaller thickness for a space-saving purpose. However, if the connector is produced according to the prior art method, there is a limit in suppressing the thickness of the connector as a whole since there is the thickness of the intermediate members f, g surrounding the respective terminal fittings a, b in addition to that of the housing c.
The present invention was developed in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to enable the production of a connector having a smaller thickness.

Connector producing method and a connector produced by insert molding


A method for refrigeration system control according to the invention includes identifying a lead circuit having a lowest temperature set point from a plurality of circuits, wherein each circuit includes at least one refrigeration case. The suction pressure set point for a compressor rack is initialized based upon the identified lead circuit, and a change in suction pressure set point is determined based on measured parameters from the lead circuit. The suction pressure set point is updated based upon the change in suction pressure set point. A first valve position for a first electronic evaporator pressure regulator associated with a first refrigeration circuit is determined based on the determined change in suction pressure set point, which is based upon the measured parameters from the lead circuit. A second valve position for a second electronic evaporation pressure regulator associated with a second refrigeration circuit is based upon a second measured parameter.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for refrigeration system control and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for refrigeration system control utilizing electronic evaporator pressure regulators and a floating suction pressure set point at a compressor rack.
A conventional refrigeration system includes a compressor that compresses refrigerant vapor. The refrigerant vapor from the compressor is directed into a condenser coil where the vapor is liquefied at high pressure. The high pressure liquid refrigerant is then generally delivered to a receiver tank. The high pressure liquid refrigerant from the receiver tank flows from the receiver tank to an evaporator coil after it is expanded by an expansion valve to a low pressure two-phase refrigerant. As the low pressure two-phase refrigerant flows through the evaporator coil, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the refrigeration case and boils off to a single phase low pressure vapor that finally returns to the compressor where the closed loop refrigeration process repeats itself.
In some systems, the refrigeration system will include multiple compressors connected to multiple circuits where a circuit is defined as a physically plumbed series of cases operating at the same pressure/temperature. For example, in a grocery store, one set of cases within a circuit may be used for frozen food, another set used for meats, while another set is used for dairy. Each circuit having a group of cases will thus operate at different temperatures. These differences in temperature are generally achieved by using mechanical evaporator pressure regulators (EPR) or valves located in series with each circuit. Each mechanical evaporator pressure regulator regulates the pressure for all the cases connected within a given circuit. The pressure at which the evaporator pressure regulator controls the circuit is adjusted once during the system start-up using a mechanical pilot screw adjustment present in the valve. The pressure regulation point is selected based on case temperature requirements and pressure drop between the cases and the rack suction pressure.
The multiple compressors are also piped together using suction and discharge gas headers to form a compressor rack consisting of the multiple compressors in parallel. The suction pressure for the compressor rack is controlled by modulating each of the compressors on and off in a controlled fashion. The suction pressure set point for the rack is generally set to a value that can meet the lowest evaporator circuit requirement. In other words, the circuit that operates at the lowest temperature generally controls the suction pressure set point which is fixed to support this circuit.
There are, however, various disadvantages of running and controlling a system in this manner. For example, one disadvantage is that the requirement for the case temperature generally changes throughout the year. This requires a refrigeration mechanic to perform an in-situ change of evaporator pressure settings, via the pilot screw adjustment of each evaporator pressure regulator, thereby further requiring re-adjustment of the fixed suction pressure set point at the rack of compressors. Another disadvantage of this type of control system is that case loads change from winter to summer. Thus, in the winter, there is a lower case load which requires a higher suction pressure set point and in the summer there is a higher load requiring a lower suction pressure set point. However, in the real world, such adjustments are seldom done since they also require manual adjustment by way of a refrigeration mechanic.
What is needed then is a method and apparatus for refrigeration system control which utilizes electronic evaporator pressure regulators and a floating suction pressure set point for the rack of compressors which does not suffer from the above mentioned disadvantages. This, in turn, will provide adaptive adjustment of the evaporator pressure for each circuit, adaptive adjustment of the rack suction pressure, enable changing evaporator pressure requirements remotely, enable adaptive changes in pressure settings for each circuit throughout its operation so that the rack suction pressure is operated at its highest possible value, enable floating circuit temperature based on a product simulator probe, and enable the use of case temperature information to control the evaporator pressure for the whole circuit and the suction pressure at the compressor rack. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide such a method and apparatus for refrigeration system control using electronic evaporator pressure regulators and a floating suction pressure set point.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method and apparatus for refrigeration system control utilizing electronic evaporator pressure regulators and a floating suction pressure set point is disclosed. To achieve the above objects of the present invention, the present method and apparatus employs electronic stepper regulators (ESR) instead of mechanical evaporator pressure regulators. The method and apparatus may also utilize temperature display modules at each case that can be configured to collect case temperature, product temperature and other temperatures. The display modules are daisy-chained together to form a communication network with a master controller that controls the electric stepper regulators and the suction pressure set point. The communication network utilized can either be a RS-485 or other protocol, such as LonWorks from Echelon.
In this regard, the data is transferred to the master controller where the data is logged, analyzed and control decisions for the ESR valve position and suction pressure set points are made. The master controller collects the case temperature for all the cases in a given circuit, takes average/min/max (based on user configuration) and applies PI/PID/Fuzzy Logic algorithms to decide the ESR valve position for each circuit. Alternatively, the master controller may collect liquid sub-cooling or relative humidity information to control the ESR valve position for each circuit. The master controller also controls the suction pressure set point for the rack which is adaptively changed, such that the set point is adjusted in such a way that at least one ESR valve is always kept substantially 100% open.
In one preferred embodiment, an apparatus for refrigeration system control includes a plurality of circuits with each of the circuits having at least one refrigeration case. An electronic evaporator pressure regulator is in communication with each circuit with each electronic evaporator pressure regulator operable to control the temperature of each circuit. A sensor is in communication with each circuit and is operable to measure a parameter from each circuit. A plurality of compressors is also provided with each compressor forming a part of a compressor rack. A controller controls each evaporator pressure regulator and a suction pressure of the compressor rack based upon the measured parameters from each of the circuits.
In another preferred embodiment, a method for refrigeration system control is set forth. This method includes measuring a first parameter from a first circuit where the first circuit includes at least one refrigeration case, measuring a second parameter from a second circuit where the second circuit includes at least one refrigeration case, determining a first valve position for a first electronic evaporator pressure regulator associated with the first circuit based upon the first parameter, determining a second valve position for a second electronic evaporator pressure regulator associated with the second circuit based upon the second parameter, electronically controlling the first and the second evaporator pressure regulators to control the temperature in the first circuit and the second circuit.
In another preferred embodiment, a method for refrigeration system control is set forth. This method includes a lead circuit having a lowest temperature set point from a plurality of circuits where each circuit has at least one refrigeration case, initializing a suction pressure set point for a compressor rack having at least one compressor based upon the identified lead circuit, determining a change in suction pressure set point based upon measured parameters from the lead circuit and updating the suction pressure based upon the change in suction pressure set point.
In yet another preferred embodiment, a method for refrigeration system control is also set forth. This method includes setting a maximum allowable product temperature for a circuit having at least one refrigeration case, determining a product simulated temperature for the circuit, calculating the difference between the product simulated temperature and the maximum allowable product temperature, and adjusting the temperature set point of the circuit based upon the calculated difference.
Use of the present invention provides a method and apparatus for refrigeration system control. As a result, the aforementioned disadvantages associated with the currently available refrigeration control systems have been substantially reduced or eliminated.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Method and apparatus for refrigeration system control having electronic evaporator pressure regulators


Imaging data or other data captured using a camera may be classified based on data captured using another sensor that is calibrated with the camera and operates in a different modality. Where a digital camera configured to capture visual images is calibrated with another sensor such as a thermal camera, a radiographic camera or an ultraviolet camera, and such sensors capture data simultaneously from a scene, the respectively captured data may be processed to detect one or more objects therein. A probability that data depicts one or more objects of interest may be enhanced based on data captured from calibrated sensors operating in different modalities. Where an object of interest is detected to a sufficient degree of confidence, annotated data from which the object was detected may be used to train one or more classifiers to recognize the object, or similar objects, or for any other purpose.

In computer vision applications, annotation (or labeling) is commonly known as the marking or designation of images or video files captured from a scene, such as to denote the presence and location of one or more objects or other features within the scene in the images or video files. Annotating an image or a video file typically involves placing a virtual marking such as a box or other shape on an image or one or more frames of a video file, thereby denoting that the image or the frame depicts an item, or includes pixels of significance, within the box or shape. Other methods for annotating an image or a video file may involve applying markings or layers including alphanumeric characters, hyperlinks or other markings on specific images or frames of a video file, thereby enhancing the functionality or interactivity of the image or the video file in general, or of the images or video frames in particular. Locations of the pixels of interest may be stored in association with an image or a video file, e.g., in a record maintained separately from the image or the video file, or in metadata of the image or the video file.
Two common reasons for annotating images or video files are to train computer vision algorithms, e.g., to feed an actual location of an item within an image or a video file to a computer vision algorithm in order to train the computer vision algorithm to recognize that the item is in that location within the image or video file, and also to validate computer vision algorithms, e.g., to compare an actual location of an item appearing in an image or a video file to a location of the item as determined by one or more of such algorithms.
Traditional manual and automatic methods for annotating images or video files have a number of limitations, however. First, annotating an image or a video file is very time-consuming for a human, who must visibly recognize the location of an item in an image or video file and also annotate an appropriately sized box or other shape around the item within the image or a frame of the video file. Next, most automatic methods for annotating an image or a video file are computationally expensive, and may require an intense amount of data and processing power in order to optimize their chances of success. For example, a ten-minute video file that was captured at a rate of thirty frames per second includes 18,000 image frames, each of which must be specifically marked with locations of objects of interest depicted therein, or designated as not depicting any such objects.

Annotating images based on multi-modal sensor data


A multilayer-type sheet processing apparatus includes processing units. Each of the processing units includes first guide members extending in an X-direction, first moving bodies arranged on the first guide members, second guide members supported to the first moving bodies and extending in a Y-direction, second moving bodies arranged on the second guide members, Y-drive mechanisms configured to drive the second moving bodies along the second guide members, work areas each arranged in a plane including the X- and Y-directions, and tools, which are arranged in the second moving bodies to be able to move close to and separate away from the work areas, and are each configured to form a processing line on a sheet arranged on a work area. The first moving body that is moved by the X-drive mechanism and the first moving bodies of the other units are coupled to each other.

There has hitherto been performed work of creasing and cutting sheets of paper such as cardboard, a corrugated board, and a paper board, sheets of leather, or sheets of plastic and assembling the processed sheets to obtain a packing box or a display for use. The creasing and cutting on a sheet are generally performed through use of a punching die or a cutting plotter.
For example, in Patent Literature 1, there is described a cutting plotter configured to cut a sheet into a desired shape through drive of a sheet in a first direction and drive of a blade in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Further, in Patent Literature 2, there is described a method of cutting a sheet by moving a cutter in an X-direction and a Y-direction.

Multilayer-type sheet processing apparatus


A write-once information recording medium having a high recording sensitivity and reliability with respect to long-term storage is provided. The information recording medium has a recording layer on a substrate, to which information can be recorded and from which information can be reproduced by irradiating the recording layer with laser light or applying electrical energy to the recording layer. The recording layer contains, as its primary components, TeO2 and a material A, where the material A is a material that exhibits a eutectic reaction with TeO2.

Optical information recording media are known as media with which large amounts of information can be recorded and reproduced at high speeds. Optical information recording techniques record by utilizing changes in a recording material into differing optically-distinct states caused by the heat generated when the recording material is irradiated by a laser light. Such recording media have the significant advantages of making it possible for random access when necessary while also being highly transportable, and thus are becoming more and more important in recent times. Rewriteable media, which can be rewritten multiple times, and write-once media, which can only be written once, can be given as types of optical information recording media that have been conventionally proposed.
In general, write-once media often have fewer layers than rewriteable media, making it possible to manufacture the media easily and at low cost. Furthermore, because write-once media cannot be rewritten, they are favorable when writing data that a user does not wish to be destroyed. For these reasons, write-once media, a highly-reliable media whose storage lifespan is long, are in significant demand for archival applications. Demand for write-once media is increasing in various areas, such as, for example, the recording and storage of personal data and video information through computers, use in medical and academic fields, and the replacement of household video tape recorders. Meanwhile, due to the higher performance of applications, an increase in the quality of image information, and so on, even larger capacities and higher speeds are being called for in such recording media.
There is currently a particular increase in demand for writing information at high speeds in order to increase the convenience for consumers who use optical information recording media. Accordingly, it is necessary for the laser used in the recording of the information to be more powerful than before. However, if a laser is to be used in a stable manner over a long period of time, there is a limit to the power that can be introduced to that laser.
Furthermore, when information is recorded onto an optical information recording medium at high power, a greater thermal load is applied to the dielectric layer or the like that makes contact with the recording layer, resulting in a problem that the reliability of the recording medium decreases. In other words, increased sensitivity is desirable from the standpoint of recording medium reliability as well.
Multilayer media, in which information is recorded onto multiple layers, are becoming necessary for the purpose of improving recording density. With multilayer optical information recording media, which have two or more information layers, it is necessary to record data onto the information layers farther from the light entrance surface through the information layers closer to the light entrance surface, and thus a higher recording sensitivity is required. Conversely, it is necessary to reduce the thickness of the recording layers in order to realize a higher transmissibility in the information layers closer to the light entrance surface, and thus recording layers with higher sensitivity are required. Due to such factors, higher sensitivities are being demanded in multilayer recording media that attempt to realize higher capacities.
Based on the above-described background, recording media that have higher sensitivities (that is, that can be recorded to at lower laser powers) are necessary for optical information recording media.
Several oxide materials have been conventionally proposed as write-once recording materials. For example, a recording material that uses TeOx, a Te low oxide, as its primary component is known. Among these, a Te—O—Pd recording material that uses a material in which Pd (Au and Pt can also be used) is dispersed among the TeOx as its primary component achieves a large signal amplitude and is thus known for its extremely high reliability (see Patent Citation 1). However, Te—O—Pd recording materials are problematic in that they cannot achieve a recording sensitivity of the degree required to meet the needs of the higher speeds and larger capacities of the future.
The following can be given as examples in which other materials are added to materials that use TeOx as their primary component in order to improve recording characteristics.
Patent Citation 2 proposes adding at least one compound selected from La—F, Mg—F, Ca—F, a rare-earth element fluoride, Si—O, Cr—O, Ge—O, Hf—O, Mo—O, Ti—O, W—O, Zn—O, and Zr—O to TeOx in order to obtain a higher signal quality by preventing thermal diffusion within the recording film surface in the case where a violet wavelength laser and an objective lens with an NA of 0.80 or more are used. While an improvement in the signal quality is obtained in such a case, there is no discussion of an improvement in the recording sensitivity.
Furthermore, although Patent Citation 3 discusses improving recording sensitivity by adding TlOx, a low-melting point material, this conventional technique provides insufficient effects with regards to increasing the sensitivity when recording information onto an optical information recording medium. In addition, although this patent citation also proposes increasing the change in the refractive index by adding BiOx, InOx, or the like, thereby increasing the optical change, the effect thereof on the recording sensitivity is not discussed.
Patent Citation 1: International Publication WO 98/09823
Patent Citation 2: JP 2005-22409A
Patent Citation 3: JP S55-38616A

Information recording medium, its manufacturing method, and sputtering target for forming information recording medium


A spacer assembly for a rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine includes an endwall segment having a non-axisymmetric flowpath surface, a first depression and a second depression. A perimeter of the flowpath surface includes a forward edge, an aft edge, a suction side edge and a pressure side edge. The first depression is formed along the flowpath surface adjoining the suction side edge, and the second depression is formed along the flowpath surface adjoining the pressure side edge.

The present invention relates generally to endwall flowpath surface contours for gas turbine engines, and more particularly to non-axisymmetric endwall flowpath surface contours.
Gas turbine engines are well-known, and generally include various rotating and non-rotating airfoils arranged in cascades. These airfoils include fluid working surfaces that can interact with working fluids along an engine flowpath during engine operation. Endwalls are structures that bound portions of the engine flowpath, typically at radially inner and outer locations along the flowpath. These endwalls can adjoin the airfoils. In some instances, endwalls are defined by platforms or shrouds integral to the airfoil. In other instances, endwalls are defined by structures separate from the airfoils, such as ducts, shrouds, spacers and the like.
In the past, endwalls in gas turbine engines generally had axisymmetric contours, meaning the endwall was symmetric in rotation about a central axis (i.e, cylindrical, frustoconical or toroidal). Such axisymmetric endwall contours do not always provide optimal adiabatic efficiency and flow capacity, particularly due to secondary flow effects where some of the working fluid inefficiently moves in a spanwise (i.e., generally radial) direction along the working surfaces of the airfoils (with or without swirl or vortex effects).


This invention pertains to a mechanism for securing a container. The container includes at least one wall, which is comprised of at least a first door. The mechanism includes a first rod, which is attached with the outer surface of the first door. The first rod is capable of being rotated from an openable position, when the first door is capable of being opened, to a closed position, when the first door is engaged with the container to be closed. The mechanism further includes a channel member, which is attached with the inner surface of the first door, and a sliding member, which is slidably received within the channel member. The sliding member is engageable with the first rod. As the first rod is rotated from the openable position to the closed position, engagement of the first rod with the sliding member causes the sliding member to slide to secure the first door. In one embodiment, a second door is provided, which is secured by inserting a pin attached with a bottom portion of the inner surface of the second door into a pin engaging hole defined in the floor of the container. In one embodiment, after the doors are secured, and a lock is inserted into padlock tabs of a locking device, the doors are prevented from being opened unless the lock is removed.

This invention relates to a locking system for securing one or more doors of a container and, more particularly, to such a locking system including a sliding member securing mechanism.
There are various types of containers that may be used to transport and/or store materials. One type of container is a cargo style shipping container. Cargo style shipping containers typically are rectangular in shape, and have four side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall. While the size of cargo style containers may vary, there are two sizes of this type of container in general use: one size is about 8 feet in height, about 8 feet in width, and about 20 feet in length, and the other size is about 8 feet in height, about 8 feet in width, and about 40 feet in length.
Cargo style shipping containers may be used to transport large volumes of materials from location to location around the world. These large containers can store large quantities of materials and may be effectively transported on boats, trains, trucks, and the like in order to expeditiously arrive at their eventual destination. The detachability and adaptability of these containers is important because the containers will often changes hands from one carrier to another carrier, such as from a train to a trucking company or from a trucking company to a steamship line, during the transport.
Because of the great volume and often valuable nature of the materials transported within the container, security is an important consideration during the transport of the materials. Thus, these containers are usually sealed and/or locked in some manner to prevent an unauthorized person from gaining access into the container.
Another use of a cargo style shipping container is as a storage mechanism for additional storage space. For example, such a container could be used by a school, a hospital, a contractor, or the like to store materials on-site. Often, these containers are used only temporarily by such entities. As with the use of containers for transport, while in use for storage, the containers typically need to be securely locked to protect the materials within the container.
Generally, at least one wall of the container comprises a pair of doors, similar to doors on a barn, which may be opened or closed to gain or prevent access to the interior of the container, respectively. To close the container, a first door is swung closed, the second door is then swung closed, and the doors are locked. Each door is typically closed using an external latch rod having a handle. Movement of the handle in turn moves the external latch rod so that latches at the top and bottom of the latch rod engage with protrusions that protrude from the door frame at the top and bottom of the container. Then, after the doors are closed, at least one of the handles is locked in place, such as by using a padlock or other locking device, to lock the containers and prevent access to the interior of the container.
It is generally known in the art to protect the locking mechanism, such as a padlock, by the use of a protective cover. However, a person may sever the external latch rod, which would then allow access to the interior of the container and, thus, the materials within the container. More particularly, if the external latch rod is severed, an intruder may bypass the padlock and open the door by rotating the latch rod (which is then free of the handle) while the handle remains locked by the padlock. While protecting the locking mechanism prevents an intruder from gaining access to the container by tampering with the padlock, those types of improvements do not protect the securing mechanism (i.e., the external latch rod).
Thus, to better prevent unauthorized access to storage containers like those described above, a mechanism which protects the securing mechanism from tampering, as well as preventing tampering with the actual locking mechanism, is desired.
The present invention provides a mechanism for securing a container. The container includes at least one wall. The at least one wall includes at least a first door and a second door which has an inner surface and an outer surface.
The mechanism includes a first rod, which is attached with the outer surface of the first door. The first rod is capable of being rotated from an openable position, when the first door is capable of being opened, to a closed position, when the first door is engaged with the container to be closed. The mechanism includes a channel member, which is attached with the inner surface of the first door. The mechanism includes a sliding member slidably received within the channel member. The sliding member is also engageable with the first rod. As the first rod is rotated from the openable position to the closed position, engagement of the first rod with the sliding member causes the sliding member to slide to secure the first door.
In one embodiment, the at least one wall further comprises a second portion, and a portion of the sliding member slides behind an inner surface of the second portion to secure the first door. In one embodiment, the second portion is a second door.
In one embodiment, the container includes a first handle attached to the first rod. Movement of the first handle in turn rotates the first rod from the openable position to the closed position.
In one embodiment, the mechanism includes an engaging member for engaging the sliding member with the first rod. The engaging member is attached with the first rod when the first rod is in the closed position. In an exemplary embodiment, the engaging member is welded to the first rod.
In one embodiment, the mechanism includes a plate attached to the inner surface of the first door so that the channel member is attached to the plate to be attached with the inner surface of the first door. In an exemplary embodiment, the plate is attached to the inner surface of the first door using screws and the channel member is attached to the plate by welding.
In one embodiment, the mechanism includes a pair of tabs. One tab is attached with the outer surface of the first door and the other tab is attached with the first rod. Each tab defines an opening therein, and the openings defined in the tabs align with each other when the first rod is rotated to be in the closed position. A locking device may be inserted into the openings defined in the tabs to lock the first door in the closed position. In addition, a cover may be attached with the outer surface of the first door so as to cover the pair of tabs and the locking device.
In one embodiment, when the at least one wall comprises two doors, the mechanism includes a pin attached with a bottom portion of the inner surface of the second door and a pin engaging hole defined in a floor of the container. The pin is inserted into the pin engaging hole to lock the second door to the container.
The present invention also provides a method of securing a container. The container includes at least one wall that includes at least a first door. The first door includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The container includes a first rod. The first rod is attached with the outer surface of the first door. The first rod is capable of being rotated from an openable position, when the first door is capable of being opened, to a closed position, when the first door is engaged with the container to be closed. The container includes a channel member attached with the inner surface of the first door. The container also includes a sliding member slidably received within the channel member. The sliding member is engageable with the first rod.
The method comprises the step of rotating the first rod from the openable position to the closed position to slide the sliding member within the channel member to secure the first door.
In one embodiment, the at least one wall further comprises a second portion, and a portion of the sliding member slides behind an inner surface of the second portion to secure the first door. In one embodiment, the second portion is a second door.
In one embodiment, the container further includes an engaging member for engaging the sliding member with the first rod. The engaging member is attached with the first rod when the first rod is in the closed position. The step of rotating the first rod includes moving the engaging member to slide the sliding member within the channel member.
In one embodiment, when the at least one wall comprises two doors, the step of rotating the first rod is preceded by the step of locking the second door by inserting a pin attached with a bottom portion of the inner surface of the second door into a pin engaging hole defined in a floor of the container.
In one embodiment, the container further includes a pair of tabs. One tab is attached with the outer surface of the first door and the other tab is attached with the first rod. Each tab defines an opening therein, and the openings defined in the tabs align with each other when the first rod is rotated to be in the closed position. In this embodiment, the step of rotating the first rod is followed by the steps of inserting a locking device into openings defined in the pair of tabs; and locking the locking device. In one embodiment, the method then includes the step of placing a cover over the pair of tabs and the locking device.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Sliding member securing mechanism for a container


A book holder having a backrest portion which connects a base plate for supporting the lower edge of an open book and a top plate which is adjustable to contact the upper edge of the open book, and inwardly facing frictional pad members secured to the base and top plate for preventing the accidental page turning of the book.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to book holders and more particularly, but not by way of limitation to a holder for music books having soft covers, the holder being supportable by a music stand, piano music rest or the like.
2. History of the Prior Art
Much of the music produced today is bound in soft cover books whereby at the spine of the book, the pages are glued together along the back edges. When these books are new and often after the books are fairly well used, it is practically impossible to get the book to set on a music stand or the music rest plate of the piano without having pages accidentally turn. Musicians have a constant problem of not only keeping the music book in an open position but also turning pages during the playing of a particular musical composition.
Piano players historically have used extra books on the piano music rest plate that are placed in contact with the open pages to keep the book open to a certain position. When it comes time to change the page, the musician then must use both hands to turn the page and resecure the music to the desired open position.
Another technique that is used is to actually have an assistant sitting on the piano bench or nearby which must keep track of the music and do the page turning for the musician.
Various music book holders have been developed in the past but most use some variation of a pair of spring-loaded pivotal arm members which may be placed across the open pages of the book to hold it in an open position. While this solves the problem of keeping the book open to the desired page location, it is still extremely difficult to turn the pages without an assistant or without removing both hands from the musical instrument in order to effect the page turning.
The same general problem exists in cases where a person is hospitalized or attempting to read a book from a bed, it is next to impossible to keep the book open to the desired page location without grapsing the book with both hands.


An FMCW radar is used to detect live objects by processing the matched, filtered radar return on a frame by frame basis. An FFT cross correlation coefficient is computed, followed by computing a modified geometric mean of the absolute value of the cross correlation coefficients. The modified geometric mean is then compared to a preset threshold to determine whether the object is moving or is stationary.

Recent years have witnessed widespread use of millimeter wave (mm-Wave) radars for advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) applications. Compared with other sensing modalities such as a camera, radar has the ability to perform equally well during different times of the day and can be deployed out of sight behind the car bumper or the doors. In many ADAS applications such as parking, cruise control, and braking, the radar is primarily used to find the three-dimensional location of objects around the vehicle. This includes range, azimuth angle, and elevation angle. The range is computed from the round trip delay of the transmitted signal and the two-dimensional (2D) angle is estimated by using the data collected by an antenna array employing a beamforming-based or an eigen-decomposition based high-resolution frequency estimation method.
The use of radar sensors in automotive pedestrian recognition systems is of special interest since radar sensors are less influenced by environmental conditions (e.g. fog, rain, etc.) as other systems like video cameras. Moreover, high resolution radar sensors are available in many modern vehicles as a part of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) systems.

Method and apparatus for live-object detection


A form assembly is disclosed for forming vertical concrete walls for prefabricated apartment and office modules. The form assembly has a wall form having a plurality of internal wall forms and corresponding external wall forms. The wall form is connected to a support structure, and a plurality of hydraulic lifting cylinders connect to the support structure to raise and lower the wall form. The form assembly may also have hydraulic open and close mechanisms, hydraulic form ties and a control console for the hydraulic system. External corner mechanisms may be provided for locking the external form corners in place prior to concrete pouring. An efficient method of manufacturing the modules includes several steps. Slab reinforcement bars and conduits are layed on a slab deck. Concrete is poured over the slab reinforcement bars and conduits to form a slab. Wall reinforcement bars and conduits are erected on the slab for vertical walls. Form pairs are hydraulically lowered and are hydraulically closed about the pattern of wall reinforcement bars and conduits. Concrete is poured into the closed form pairs, and the concrete is steam cured. The form pairs are hydraulically opened and raised.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of forming three dimensional, prefabricated concrete modules, and to a form assembly for forming the vertical walls thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
At one time, many months and a large labor force were necessary in order to construct an office or apartment building. Workers would typically first erect a large steel frame, and then pour concrete slabs and walls directly on the structure. This traditional approach was labor intensive, time consuming and expensive.
Several approaches were subsequently developed to construct office and apartment buildings at a lower cost and in a shorter period of time than the traditional method. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,637 (Yang et al.) teaches a method for erecting a reinforced concrete building in which concrete floor slabs, wall panels and box units are prefabricated at a factory and transported to the building site. The various components are arranged at the building site by crane, and laborers connect the components together to form a building. Unfortunately, a building constructed with this method has a large number of joints, which serve to weaken the building in an earthquake or under severe wind loading. Furthermore, extensive labor time is required to interconnect the many prefabricated components.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,525,975 (McWethy) discloses a method for erecting a building in which modules having a concrete base and lightweight side walls are stacked aside and upon one another to form a building. Concrete is poured between the spaced walls of the modules to form supporting concrete walls. One advantage of this approach is that the modules may be constructed at the building site. However, the need to pour a large number of concrete walls within the building causes delays, as the concrete walls must dry at each floor before the next floor can be added. Additionally, substantial labor is required to pour the concrete walls.
Other methods have been developed in which modules are fabricated on the ground and then lifted into place on the building. However, these methods require substantial manual labor for such tasks as opening and closing the concrete forms, locking and unlocking the forms, and/or installing blockouts for doors and windows before the concrete is poured. Consequently, the module fabrication process is time consuming and labor intensive.
Existing methods generally also do not provide convenient access to the vertical rebar structure, which is typically constructed within vertical wall forms. As a result, it is very difficult to readjust the location of electrical conduits, connector boxes and other vertical wall components that move out of position before the concrete is poured.


An electromagnetic contactor has an arc extinguishing chamber housing a contact mechanism having a pair of fixed contacts and a movable contact that contacts with the pair of fixed contacts. The arc extinguishing chamber has a plate-shaped fixed contact support insulating substrate including through holes to fix at least the pair of fixed contacts and formed with a metal foil on an outer peripheral circumferential edge of one surface by a metalizing process. The pair of fixed contacts and a metal cylindrical body are brazed and joined to the metal foils of the fixed contact support insulating substrate, and an insulating cylindrical body is disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the metal cylindrical body.

As an electromagnetic contactor wherein a contact mechanism is housed in an arc extinguishing chamber, there is provided a sealed contact device having a sealed receptacle formed in a box-form with one surface opened from a heat resistant material such as a ceramic (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). The sealed contact device described in PTL 1 is such that fixed terminals are hermetically joined by brazing in through holes formed in two places in the bottom portion of the sealed receptacle. A movable contact provided with movable contact points contacting with and separating from the fixed contact points formed on the fixed terminals is disposed in the sealed receptacle. The sealed contact device has a configuration wherein an opened end portion of the sealed receptacle is connected to a first joint member formed in a rectangular form from a magnetic metal material, to which a bottomed cylindrical portion is hermetically joined, via a cylindrical second joint member formed from a metal material.

Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co., Ltd.