Planar casting with a regularly textured surface on at least one side. A self-supporting planar casting made of polymer material and a process to produce the same are described. The planar casting contains at least one inert additive in an amount in the range of 0.001 to 5% by weight. At least one of it surfaces made from polymer forming the casting is textured by regularly arranged elevations in predominantly longitudinal and transverse direction of largely uniform configuration having a ratio of minimum diameter (d.sub.min) to maximum diameter (d.sub.max) in the range of ##EQU1## an average diameter (d.sub.m) of ##EQU2## in the range of 10 to 800 .mu.m. The elevations having a height in the range of 0.01 to 15 .mu.m.

Planar substrates, such as films, plates, etc., that are made of polymeric materials often have insufficient slip and friction properties during production or processing. This frequently creates a number of undesirable problems which are attributed mainly to blocking when the substrates touch one another or when a substrate touches a guide member or deflecting element during processing.
Several methods have been proposed to overcome the foregoing problems. These include: mixing inert particles into the polymer material; coating the substrate's surfaces with preparations containing inert particles; or texturing the substrate's surfaces by mechanical, chemical or physical processes. The common goal of each of these methods is the formation of peaks on the substrate's surface. These peaks perform a spacing function and should, therefore, lessen and/or eliminate the blocking of the individual layers of the substrate within stacks. Also, gliding of the substrate over rolls and/or contact with guiding or deflecting elements is improved by the peaks on the substrate's surface.
The foregoing methods have resulted, in part, in clearly improved slippage properties for planar substrates. These improvements have caused a favorable effect on the practical value of those substrates. But, in practice, it became evident that these methods, particularly, when used to manufacture high-grade substrates such as oriented films, caused a number of disadvantages. Moreover, these methods are very costly and have limited applicability for procedural reasons. These procedural reasons are discussed hereinafter.
When inert particles are mixed into the polymeric material forming the planar substrate, the following disadvantages arise: random surface textures (or structures); inadequate abrasion resistance that can cause an increase of the substrate's friction coefficient; considerable cloudiness; poor cutability; interference with the electrical properties; etc. These disadvantages can be traced to: the inert particles; the process of preparing and mixing the polymer and inert particles; and the process by which the polymers are manufactured. Particularly, however, the particles cause the disadvantages because they have: an insufficient strength; an affinity for the polymer; or a strong tendency to agglomerate.
Exemplary of the above-discussed surface texturing by mixing inert particles into the polymer is U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,472. Therein the substrate has peaks surrounded by depressions, the peaks being produced by inert particles. This substrate has several disadvantages. They are: nonuniformity of peaks; peak size is largely dependent upon the size and the amount of inert particles; peak size is also influenced by the form and surface distribution of those particles; and it is not generally feasible to produce these substrates.
In European Application No. 153,853, polyethylene terephthalate substrates are improved by the use of a coating preparation that is applied during the manufacturing process. The problems discussed above, in relationship to inert particles mixed into the polymer, are also encountered in this method. In addition, these coating preparations cause a waste disposal problem because films cannot be recycled. The non-recyclability occurs because the components of the coating preparations are not chemically compatible with the polymer.
In WO-A-87/02173, surface textures are produced by a low temperature plasma treatment. By this method, the surface is given improved slippage, as well as, better adhesive properties for subsequently applied layers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,496 discloses substrate surface texturing by means of UV-radiation. Both procedures are costly. Moreover, they are integrated in stretching processes and/or connected with subsequent stretching processes.
DE-A-4,015,658 discloses a process for surface texturing oriented thermoplastic films by the use of rollers having a specific textured surface. However, the disclosed process is free of additives aside from the catalyst precipitates which are created during raw material production. The disclosure makes no reference to any specific catalyst precipitate or to the size of the precipitate or to the grain size distribution of the precipitate.

Planar substrate with a regularly textured surface on at least one side


A technique for mapping working images to adjacently and continuously tiled subapertures having CGHs on a plate is disclosed with the result that the entirety of a working area of a plate is completely covered with working subapertures, these subapertures usually being rectangular. The design technique thereafter determines a phase function which approximately maps desired regions on each subaperture from portions of the working image in the workpiece plane. Steps in the process include first a determination of the size and shape of subapertures representing each feature. Second, a determination of the geometric transformation for each feature is made. Thereafter, backpropagation or other refinement to create the desired intensity profile at the workpiece is made. Although the techniques for determining the size and shapes of the subapertures can be used separately, or the technique for mapping each working image to is corresponding subaperture can be used separately, combination of all steps is preferred to gain full advantages of simpler, more inexpensive masks and greater potential capability for the ultimately produced subaperture broadcast plate.

Computer generated holograms are known. Considerable developed has occurred related to such holograms. This development can be summarized.
In Use of Fresnel Zone Plates for Materials Processing, Ser. No. 07/612,212 filed Nov. 9, 1990, now Ser. No. 07/940,008 filed Sep. 3, 1992, the use of computer generated holograms to patterning is set forth. In the preferred embodiment, a plate containing a plurality of holograms is disclosed. Such holograms are confined to subapertures and scanned by coherent light to produce from the subapertures as they are scanned the desired working images for processing materials.
In a Continuation-In-Part Patent Application to be filed Jan. 3, 1994, improved techniques of dimensioning and fabricating the subaperture, creating amplitude modulation with the phase plate, and finally controlling amplitude with optical features beyond the limit of prior art producible optical elements are disclosed. The apparatus for the process, the process and the plate for utilization in the process are set forth.
This application is addressed to how subapertures on plates should be dimensioned and placed side-by-side for efficient scanning and broadcast of their respective images. In a first portion of this application, a technique for dimensioning and placing subapertures in contiguous side-by-side relation is set forth. In a second portion of the application, the problem of taking a subaperture and obtaining from the subaperture a desired real working image profile is set forth. The preferred embodiment incudes combining both of these techniques to secure a small, compact plate configuration which can be efficiently scanned to produce a desired array of working images.
A very broad class of applications of computer generated holograms (CGH) is to reshaping the intensity pattern of a coherent source in one plane (CGH plane usually contained in a transmissive plate) so that it takes on some specified form on another surface. Examples of this are materials patterning (disclosed in the above referenced patent applications) and optical interconnects (set forth in "Optical Interconnections for VLSI Computational Systems using Computer Generated Holography", M. Feldman, Ph.D. thesis, University of California at San Diego, 1989).
In general, we have found that the best techniques to creating arbitrarily complex patterns of working images utilizes subaperture broadcast CGH. Then the problem of generating the entire pattern efficiently subdivides itself into the more numerous but more tractable problem of placing the subapertures efficiently and thereafter producing each feature from its respective subaperture.
At this juncture, the substance of the referred to patent applications can be generalized.
In a patterning application, to produce an array of circular vias or working images of different sizes, the actual shape and configuration of the working images or vias is assumed at a working distance from a plate on to which the subaperture CGHs are to be formed. Once the shapes and their working distances are known, the phase and amplitude modulation required on the plate are determined by backpropagation, Gerchberg Saxton, or some other technique.
An example of this is shown in FIGS. 1-3. These figures illustrate backpropagation as applied to making a feature. Referring to FIG. 1, imaginary point source P1 is located behind the workpiece surface 3, on which feature (here along line 1, 2) is to be made. FIG. 2 shows the amplitude profile (A) defining the feature between points 1, 2. In addition to amplitude modulation, the feature can also subject the outgoing wave to phase modulation. Exemplary phase modulation is illustrated by FIG. 3.
It has previously been emphasized that there is generally a need to laterally displace a subaperture generating a working image. This need arises from design flexibility. If the point source, P1, can be shifted to position P1' this has the effect of changing the subaperture size and location from line 4-5 to line 6-7. The change in subaperture size results in a change in gain.
In the backpropagation technique, a spherical wave emanating from a point, line or plane source is incident from behind the feature and its wavefront is modulated by the features on the mask; especially the wave's amplitude is modulated in accordance with the feature shape. In addition to the amplitude, we can also modulate the outgoing phase. As will hereafter be set forth, it is the modulation of that outgoing phase to which a portion of the following disclosure is directed.

Generalized geometric transforms for computer generated holograms


A connecting block (20) which includes a plurality of protectors (30,30) to protect a plurality of incoming communications lines includes a rear panel (28) which is stationary with respect to a housing (25) of the connector block. Mounted in cavities (62, 62) of the rear panel is a mass of contact elements (40,40) arranged in rows and columns and each having a rearwardly extending portion which is connected to a conductor which extend from an associated protector and an opposite portion which extends toward a front panel (60). Mounted in cavities (62,62) of the front panel is a mass of trifurcated contact elements (70,70) each having a base portion (72) and a conductor receiving portion. In a disconnected position, the opposite portion of each contact element is aligned with and overlaps a base (72) of an associated trifurcated contact element with a hook-like portion (46) being spaced from the base of the associated trifurcated contact element by a web (96) of dielectric material in each cavity. The front panel may be moved slidably toward the rear panel to cause the hook-like portion of each contact element to become disposed past the associated web and allow the hook-like portion to engage electrically the aligned, associated trifurcated contact element. As a result, electrical engagement among associated contact elements of two masses of same is affected simultaneously. Disconnection is caused by moving the front panel away from the rear panel to cause a web in each cavity to become interposed between a contact element and its associated trifurcated contact element.

In a central office, a switch or other electronic equipment is connected to a main distributing frame. The function of the main distributing frame is to provide line protection, to facilitate cross-connecting and to facilitate testing. In one connector which is associated with the main distributing frame, the functions of protection and testing are provided.
Typically, an outside plant cable is routed to a connector. Each conductor pair is terminated in a manner to be connected to a plug-in type protector. The protector also is connected to contact elements mounted in a rear panel. A front panel includes a mass of contact elements aligned with those of the rear panel and in electrical engagement therewith. The contact elements of the front panel are connected through jumpers to equipment such as central office switches, for example.
Provisions also must be made in the central office for adding additional lines to a switch and/or for cutting in lines of a plurality of customers to a new switch. The prior art includes methods and devices for effecting cutover. For example, there is a connector system which is referred to as a 711 connector system. Such a system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,822 which issued on Jul. 11, 1978 in the names of A. W. Carlisle and D. R. Frey. The 711 connector includes a connector module and a bridging module.
One problem with the above-described system is that each such system may be used only on a limited number of pairs of insulated metallic conductors. As a result, cutover is accomplished in twenty-five pair line segments. This has been acceptable practice in the United States. However, in Europe, what is desired is that all the lines associated with a single switch be cut over at one time. Also, use of the aforementioned 711 system requries a presser type tool which is needed to cause one portion of the connector to be assembled to another portion.
In one method of arranging a cutover to a switch, for example, the plug-in protectors are pulled out to a detent position so that the switch is disconnected from outside plant cable as the conductors thereof are connected to ones of the protectors. After jumpers which are connected to equipment are connected to the contact elements in the front panel and the incoming cables connected to terminals into which the protectors are to be plugged, a craftsperson pushes each protector into a seated position. As should be apparent, this is a very time consuming process. Ideally, all the protectors are seated in a factory and other means used in the field to connect simultaneously all the protectors to equipment such as a switch, for example.
The prior art also includes a system for effecting cutover of a very large number of customer lines at one time. Such a system includes a mass of electrically conductive clips which are often referred to as split beam or bifurcated contact elements. In the prior art connecting arrangement, a plurality of split beam type connectors are mounted in a front face panel. Each of the split beam connectors may be a trifurcated contact element such as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,374 which issued on Dec. 20, 1983 in the names of L. M. Montilla, Jr. and A. Uchuck. Each trifurcated contact includes a body portion which includes two generally parallel conductor-receiving slots to form a center portion and two outer beams. Each of the outer beams may be displaced relative to the center portion to allow a portion of an insulated conductor to be moved into the slot. When a conductor is moved into a slot, edge portions which define the slot displace insulation of the conductor and engage the conductive portion of the insulated conductor. Electrical continuity is thereby established between the insulated conductor which had been moved into the slot and an opposite end of the trifurcated portion.
Aligned with an opposite end of each trifurcated contact element is a finger of a metallic contact element. The contact element is connected to a cable such that conductors of the cable are connectable through the contact element and the trifurcated contact element to jumpers which are connected to the trifurcated contact elements. Electircal contact between the two contact elements is prevented inasmuch as a leading portion of the finger is held spaced apart from the trifurcated contact element by a strip of insulation. The strip of insulation extends between a plurality of aligned sets of fingers and trifurcated contact elements. One end portion of the strip of insulation includes an opening. A plurality of the rows of the trifurcated contact elements extend from the front face panel with the openings in the end portions of the insulative strips being generally aligned. A strand material such as a cord extends through the aligned openings of the strips. When cutover is desired, a craftsperson pulls the strand outwardly thereby to remove the strips of insulation and cause the fingers to engage electrically associated ones of the trifurcated contact elements.
Although the just-described arrangement provides for effective cutover of a mass of customer lines, it does have at least one shortcoming. Once the strips of insulation material have been pulled and connections established, it would be a difficult if not economically prohibitive task to cause disconnection of the mass of lines.
What is desired is a connector system which is particularly suited for use in a central office to effect cutover simultaneously of a mass of customer lines in a manner more simply than those available in the prior art. The sought after arrangement should be one which after connection is capable of disconnection as desired. Of course, the connective arrangement should be such that the connection and disconnection of the mass of customer lines is easily carried out.

Central office connector for a distributing frame system


A system for dynamic battery loading for electric vehicles includes an electric motor to displace a vehicle. A first battery stores a first electric power charge and a second battery stores a second electric power charge. A controller dynamically loads or couples the first battery or the second battery to deliver the first electric power charge or the second electric power charge, respectively, to the electric motor based at least in part on the power signal, a location of the first battery, or a location of the second battery within the vehicle.

New vehicle designs may be powered, at least part of the time, with electrical energy. These new vehicle designs may include electric vehicles (EVs) that rely solely on electrical energy—typically from batteries—to power electric motors that supply torque to a set of drive wheels. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) may alternately use an electric motor or an internal combustion gasoline engine to propel the vehicle. HEVs may switch between the electric motor and the internal combustion gasoline engine depending on a variety of factors or conditions including desired fuel economy.
EVs and HEVs include one or more rechargeable high voltage batteries to store and deliver the substantial electrical energy necessary to drive the electric motor that, in turn, drives the vehicle's wheels to displace the vehicle.

Dynamic battery loading for electric vehicles


A burner for combusting particulate fuels comprises a combustion chamber fitted with a plurality of grates stacked in stairstep fashion, each having a downwardly sloping surface over which the fuel flows continuously as it burns. The grates may be horizontally adjustable to change the downward slope of the flowing fuel. Each grate rests upon supports projecting from opposite side walls of the burner. The supports extend beyond the downwardly sloping surfaces of the grates and beyond the forward edge of the fuel bed so that the flow of fuel is diverted by the supports away from the side walls of the firebox, creating air passages which allow air to flow directly to the flame. The burner is fitted with a hopper for receiving and containing the fuel with a baffle plate depending from it shaped to distribute the fuel across the width of the grate in a manner which promotes the flow of the fuel. Tubular channels are positioned below the lowermost grate so that air is supplied to any unburned fuel accumulating at the bottom of the incinerator.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to burners, and more particularly to burners designed to generate heat for a variety of uses by combusting particulate fuels such as sawdust, pelletized refuse, and the like or burners designed to dispose of excess materials simply by clean incineration.
2. Description of Prior Art.
There are many occasions in industry for the efficient combustion of particulate material. For example, in the lumber industry there is a need for a means to burn sawdust for steam generation and/or disposal. Where the fuels are readily available, home burners for space and water heating are commonly used. With increasingly strict air pollution laws, especially in those states with a heavy lumber industry, there is a need for a burner that combusts the sawdust efficiently with little or no smoke or fly ash. Such a burner must also be able to function safely in less than ideal conditions in which wet fuel or sawdust must be burned.
A commonly used burner for this purpose comprises a combustion chamber having a top-mounted hopper which feeds the fuel directly onto a series of grates within the combustion chamber stacked in stairstep fashion. As the fuel flows down the grates to the bottom of the combustion chamber, it mixes with combustion air drawn through the grates and burns. This air can be provided to the combustion chamber by the natural draft created when the fuel burns and the hot combustion gases exiting the combustion chamber draw air into the combustion chamber through perforations in or openings between the grates. Examples of this type of incinerator are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,641,545; 1,840,668; and 2,183,648. Another method of supplying combustion air is by forcing it through the fuel by the use of air blowers located within the grates or mounted in the walls of the combustion chamber. This also agitates the fuel and urges it down the grates. An example of this method is found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,794.
An inherent problem in burning particulate fuels in this manner is the tendency of the fuel to burn out locally generating holes and pillars--clumps of charred, sintered fuel--along the width of the grates. The pillars hold back the fuel preventing it from filling the holes. When the pillars weaken and collapse, a rush of fuel cascades down the grates burying the partially burned fuel. This generates smoke and gases which can accumulate in the combustion chamber and explode, resulting in damage to the burner and injury to bystanders. Attempts in prior art devices to prevent pillaring by spreading the fuel across the grate have resulted in the accumulation of unburned fuel in corners located where the edge of a grate meets a wall of the combustion chamber and is caused by the relative absence of air in these corners.
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a particulate fuel burner utilizing grates stacked in stairstep fashion in which the fuel flows continuously down the grates as it burns. This will greatly reduce pillaring of the fuel on the grates and will virtually eliminate intermittent cascading of the fuel and with it the attendant smothering of the fire, accumulation of explosive gases within the combustion chamber, and generation of excess smoke.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a burner in which the fuel is distributed across the grates so that it flows downward in a manner that promotes even mixing with the air, a reduction in pillaring, and has a fire-sustaining motion down the grates.
Another object of the invention is to provide a burner in which air for combustion can bypass the flow of fuel down the grates to be supplied directly to fuel located on a grate adjacent a wall of the combustion chamber so that burning is maintained on each grate at all times and so that air is available beyond the grates to assure complete combustion of all flammable gases and fumes.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a burner in which the rate of flow of fuel down the grates can be varied by adjusting the position of the grates relative to one another to vary the slope down which the fuel flows, thus compensating for slower burning fuel such as wet sawdust.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a burner which contains an easily adjustable means for bringing air to unburned particles that collect beyond the base of the lowermost grate.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a burner in which air for combustion may be supplied either by natural draft or by mechanically forced air, although natural draft is preferred.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a burner which operates efficiently without the use of outside power or sophisticated electronic controls and whose grates can be constructed of relatively inexpensive plate or sheet metal parts.
Another object of the invention is to provide a burner that easily can be retrofitted into presently existing boiler, heater, and incinerator systems to bring them into compliance with Federal emission regulations.


An independent screwed wellhead apparatus and method provide for connecting a high pressure casing nipple (34) to internal threads (36) disposed along the bore (38) of the wellhead body (12) to temporarily increase the working pressure capability of the wellhead body (12). The internal threads (36) are supported by a thick wall (44) of the wellhead body (12) disposed in a lower end (13) of the wellhead body (12). The lower end (13) of the wellhead body (12) has a higher working pressure capability than the upper end (19) of the wellhead body (12). The high pressure casing nipple (34) temporarily isolates the upper end (19) from the higher pressure.

A wellhead may be classified by the American Petroleum Institute (API) as an independent screwed wellhead according to features discussed in the published Specification 6A. Generally, an independent screwed wellhead has an "independently" secured wellhead body, such as a casing head or a tubing head, for each tubular string disposed within the wellbore. The pressure within the casing is temporarily controlled by a blowout preventer (BOP) conventionally provided above the wellhead. The tubing head may be "independently" secured to a respective tubular string, and is not directly flanged or similarly connected to the casing head. Each independent wellhead body is secured to a respective tubular string, and a smaller diameter production tubular string generally extends through the wellhead body.
More specifically, an independent screwed wellhead may utilize a lower casing head body that is threaded or socket welded onto the upper end of a surface casing. This lower casing head body may carry a slip assembly or other means to support a production string that is concentrically disposed within the surface casing. One or more ports in the casing head body provide communication to the interior of the surface casing string. The casing string may extend downwardly into the wellbore for only a portion of the depth of the wellbore, although the production tubing string will typically extend downwardly to the desired depth in the wellbore. The top end of the production casing string may extend upwardly from the slip assembly in the casing head body and may be threaded at its upper end to another "independent screwed" wellhead body. In a similar manner, a tubular string may extend through this second wellhead body, supported by a second set of slips within the second wellhead body. A third wellhead body or tubing head may be "independently screwed" on top of this tubular string. Thus, additional strings of concentric tubulars may be utilized, and each string may have an independent wellhead body attached thereto.
Since the wellhead bodies, such as the tubing head body and casing head body, are generally not in physical contact with each other, they are classified as "independent". As well, the independent screwed casing head is not dependent upon the tubing head to seal off the annulus between the surface casing and the production tubing. A packing member may be provided above each slip assembly in a wellhead to selectively seal the annulus surrounding the tubing and in fluid communication with one or more side ports in the wellhead. Devices other than slips and packing members may be used for supporting a string of tubular goods and for sealing with the independent screwed wellhead body.
"Working pressure rating" means the highest pressure that the device is designed to withstand on a regular basis. The working pressure rating or capability of the independent screwed wellhead is relatively low, and typically is the range of about 3000 psi or less. This lower working pressure rating is sufficient to provide pressure control for many wells over their entire lifetime. Most importantly, the cost of the independent screwed wellhead is typically much lower than the cost of wellheads with flanges. For safety purposes, the working pressure capability of a wellhead will be greater than the pressure it is expected to handle.
The ranged casing head generally meets the standards of API Specification 6A or may have dimensionally compatible flanges meeting the requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). In a ranged wellhead, flanges disposed on the surface casing wellhead body and production tubing wellhead body are secured together. Because the flanges are in contact, they are not "independent". As well, it is necessary to secure the flanges together to form an annular seal. The ranged tubing head may have a lower recess or socket with a rubber seal therein that slides over the protruding tubular string until both flanges mate. The flanged casing head is therefore dependent upon the lower flange of the tubing head, and more specifically on the seal between the two flanges, to achieve a complete seal between the surface casing and the production casing. The ranged casing head and tubing head employ massive flanges, and therefore are significantly more expensive than the independent screwed wellheads.
The terms "tubing" and "casing" do not intrinsically describe a specific tubular member but more accurately reflect the purpose to which the tubular good is applied. As a very general rule, casing typically is a tubular with a nominal outside diameter of about 41/2 inches or more. Tubing is typically a tubular with a nominal outside diameter of less than about 41/2 inches. It will be understood herein that strings of "tubulars", "tubular goods", "tubular members", and the like may refer to various types of surface casing strings, production casing strings, and/or tubing strings.
A blowout preventer (BOP) is typically mounted on the wellhead, regardless of whether an independent screwed or ranged wellhead is utilized. The BOP is used during drilling and completion operations to control any pressure buildup that may occur in the well. The BOP is typically required as a safety precaution even when drilling and completing shallow, low pressure wells.
Most BOPs in use today have a massive API bottom flange designed to mate with the ranged casing head. An adapter flange, also known as a drilling flange, may be used to temporarily mate an independent screwed casing head with the bottom flange of a BOP. The production casing string and/or tubing string is typically run through the BOP. The BOP is conveniently installed above the casing head so that the casing or tubing hanger mechanism can be set while pressure in the annulus is controlled by the BOP.
Flanged wellheads were initially developed for high pressure operations, and are frequently designed for pressures in excess of 10,000 psi. Flanged wellheads commonly have at least a 5000 psi working pressure rating. A 5000 psi working pressure rating ranged wellhead may cost two to four times as much as a 3000 psi rated independent screwed wellhead. The well operator will therefore normally prefer utilizing an independent screwed wellhead unless it is anticipated that higher pressures will be encountered.
In many situations, operators anticipate encountering pressures above 3000 psi only-for a very short period of time. For instance, a well that requires a formation fracturing operation to complete the well will require high pressures for about one or two hours to break down or fracture a downhole formation. During the remainder of the life of the well, only relatively low pressures below 2000 psi may be anticipated. A lower working pressure independent screwed wellhead with a rating of 3000 psi would accordingly be suitable except for the short duration high pressure fracturing operation. Nevertheless, a high pressure flanged wellhead is typically used because of the high pressure associated with the temporary fracturing operation that may last only one or two hours. The massive flanged wellhead represents a substantial and costly over-design of the wellhead structure for the remainder of the life of the well.
In an attempt to resolve this problem, a prior art tubing head has been designed and sold by J. M. Huber Corporation that includes an independent screwed wellhead body that is lengthened to accept lockdown screws. The lockdown screws retain a special mandrel that isolates the wellhead body from the high pressures that are encountered during formation fracturing operations. Since the mandrel is designed to seal with the inside surface of the tubular, different mandrels are required for the same nominal size tubular having different interior diameters. This special mandrel may not always be commonly available at rig sites, especially in remote locations and for short notice. While this device has achieved some marketplace acceptance, most well operations use the more expensive flanged wellhead even when high pressures are only briefly encountered during a fracturing operation.
Consequently, there remains a need for a wellhead assembly that offers the option for high pressure operation, at least on a temporary basis, but at the reduced capital investment compared to the costs normally associated with higher working pressure flanged wellheads. Those skilled in the art have long sought and will appreciate the present invention which provides solutions to these and other problems.

Independent screwed wellhead with high pressure capability and method


An apparatus 10 is provided for connecting a wheel to a bicycle frame 14. In particular, a hub 16 is rotatably connected to the fork portion 12 of the bicycle frame 14. A drawbar 18 acting as an axle passes through a central longitudinal bore in hub 16 and is captured at each end respectively by a cap nut 38 and housing 36. Intermediate the cap nut 38 and fork 12 is a lockdown washer 28. Lockdown washer 28 includes a raised portion extending within the fork portion 12 whereby rotation therebetween is prevented. A raised knurled portion extends longitudinally from the lockdown washer 28 and mates with a corresponding recessed knurled portion within the cap nut 38. Correspondingly, between the housing 36 and fork portion 12, a second lockdown washer 26 is disposed. The lockdown washer 26 also includes a raised portion 30 extending into the frame 12 whereby rotation is prevented therebetween. A raised knurled surface extends longitudinally from the lockdown washer 26 and mates with a corresponding recessed knurled surface in the housing 36. A cam 40 operates to displace the drawbar 18 between first and second preselected longitudinal locations whereby the cap nut 38 and lockdown washer 28, as well as the housing 36 and lockdown washer 26 are compressed against the forks 12 and capture the apparatus 10 against the forks 12.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a quick-release axle assembly for attaching a bicycle wheel to a bicycle frame, and more particularly, to a quick-release axle assembly that is simple and easy to use and provides a more positive connection between the bicycle wheel and frame.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, bicycles have employed various devices designed to allow the bicycle wheels to be quickly and easily removed. This quick-change capability facilitated changing flat tires and operated as a security measure to prevent theft of such wheels. However, a common problem associated with these quick-release devices is that they occasionally and quite unexpectedly tend to release the wheel from the bicycle frame at less then optimal times. This unexpected loss of the bicycle wheel leads to loss of control and, ultimately, an accident.
Accordingly, it is desirable that a quick release axle assembly be capable of quickly and simply releasing the wheel from the frame, but still provide a positive connection between the wheel and the frame to avoid gradual loosening of the connection, and sudden, unexpected separation of the wheel and frame.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.


Enables a large number of pluggable-array connectors to be used with a multi-chip module (MCM) by using a connector technique that does not require a significant amount of available surface area on a module. The array connectors provide a large increase in the input/output (I/O) capacity of a module. Each of the connectors has a receptacle supported by a frame around the module, and short flexible transmission lines connect the receptacle to the module. A plug connects a cluster (array) of external transmission lines, which may be optical and/or electrical transmission lines operating in parallel. Optical transmission lines may have optical/electrical transducers mounted on either the frame or module. Frame mounting of optical transducers with a connector receptacle enables a connector to transfer only electrical signals between the connector and the module, regardless of a mix of optical and electrical transmission lines to the same connector plug.

Technology requirements are continually increasing the numbers of I/O connections needed on MCMs. This is primarily due to increases in the number of VLSI (very large system integration) chips mounted on an MCM, and to increases in the number of circuits per chip, resulting in an increase in circuit packaging density for an MCM.
In this specification, the term "module" includes several levels of packaging, as follows: A "substrate" is the inner-most part of a module; in the preferred embodiment the substrate is primarily silicon or glass-ceramic. A "chip carrier" is a substrate having semiconductor chips placed thereon in a module, and the chip carrier is a higher level of packaging than the substrate. A "housing" is a frame around the chip carrier to seal or protect the chip carrier and is the outer-most part of a module. In the preferred embodiment described herein, the "module" encompasses a substrate, a chip carrier, and a housing, although at times the term module may be used to refer to one of these parts. A module may be refer to as either a single-chip module or multi-chip module (MCM) according to whether its contained chip carrier has single or multiple chips (i.e. a module may contain one or more chips). An example is the commercially-used thermal conduction module (TCM) constructed with alumina substrates, which is a form of MCM. An upper major surface of the TCM is covered with a thermal cooling structure, and the other major surface is covered with conductive I/O (input/output) pins which are used to plug the module into a computer framework. The substrate in a TCM is constructed with many internal layers of wiring to accommodate the interconnections among multiple chips on the upper substrate surface. The TCM has a thin, low profile shape to support internal cooling in the TCM. Direct contact heat sinks are used. The low profile chip carrier in the module having small edge surfaces compared to the top and bottom surfaces of the chip carrier. The module does not have sufficient area on any surface to provide a desired number of conventional pin-in-hole type connectors, and the narrow edges of the TCM do not contain any conductive I/O pins.
An example is the air-cooled thermal conduction module (TCM) constructed with alumina substrates, which is a form of MCM. An upper major surface of the TCM is covered with a thermal cooling structure, and the other major surface is covered with conductive I/O pins which are plugged into a computer framework. The TCM is constructed with many internal layers of wiring to accommodate the interconnections among the chips on the upper TCM surface. The TCM needs only a thin, low-profile shape to contain all needed layers of wiring,and the module shape is also needed to support internal cooling in the TCM. Direct contact heat sinks are used. The result is a low profile module having small edge surfaces compared to the top and bottom surfaces of the module. The TCM does not have sufficient area on any side to provide the desired number of conventional pin-in-hole type connectors, and the narrow edges of the TCM are not used to contain conductive I/O pins.
Prior art connectors, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,813 (McNaughton et al), do not disclose any multi-transmission-line array connector, nor any alignment means feasible for an array connector. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,813 does not provide any connector which can intermix different types of transmission lines, such as optical and electrical, or intermix different types of array connectors for the same module. Further, the connector type in U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,913 cannot connect to a module the large number of transmission lines connectable by the subject invention to an MCM.
This invention provides a means for effecting a pluggable matched impedance connection capability along the top surface of a multilayer ceramic substrate. It employs a unique silicon contact actuation structure coupled to a flexible printed circuit member with an integral elastomeric seal ring. The printed transmission lines thereon terminate to metallic balls soldered to pads on the printed flexible cable which in turn are soldered to pads on a coordinate grid of the MCM substrate.

Pluggable connectors for connecting large numbers of electrical and/or optical cables to a module through a seal

International Business Machines Corporation


An ink jet printing method, comprising the steps of:

This invention relates to an inkjet printing process for improving the smear, light stability and density of a printed image containing an ink jet ink containing a water-soluble anionic dye and a cationic receiver.
Ink jet printing is a non-impact method for producing images by the deposition of ink droplets in a pixel-by-pixel manner to an image-recording element in response to digital signals. There are various methods which may be utilized to control the deposition of ink droplets on the image-recording element to yield the desired image. In one process, known as continuous ink jet, a continuous stream of droplets is charged and deflected in an imagewise manner onto the surface of the image-recording element, while unimaged droplets are caught and returned to an ink sump. In another process, known as drop-on-demand inkjet, individual ink droplets are projected as needed onto the image-recording element to form the desired image. Common methods of controlling the projection of ink droplets in drop-on-demand printing include piezoelectric transducers and thermal bubble formation. Inkjet printers have found broad applications across markets ranging from industrial labeling to short run printing to desktop document and pictorial imaging.
The inks used in the various inkjet printers can be classified as either dye-based or pigment-based. A dye is a colorant which is molecularly dispersed or solvated by a carrier medium. The carrier medium can be a liquid or a solid at room temperature. A commonly used carrier medium is water or a mixture of water and organic co-solvents. Each individual dye molecule is surrounded by molecules of the carrier medium. In dye-based inks, no particles are observable under the microscope. Although there have been many recent advances in the art of dye-based ink jet inks, such inks still suffer from deficiencies such as low optical densities on plain paper and poor light-fastness. When water is used as the carrier medium, such inks also generally suffer from poor water-fastness.
An inkjet recording element typically comprises a support having on at least one surface thereof an ink-receiving or image-forming layer. The ink-receiving layer may be a polymer layer which swells to absorb the ink or a porous layer which imbibes the ink via capillary action.
Ink jet prints, prepared by printing onto ink jet recording elements, are subject to environmental degradation. They are especially vulnerable to water smearing, dye bleeding, coalescence and light fade. For example, since ink jet dyes are water-soluble, they can migrate from their location in the image layer when water comes in contact with the receiver after imaging. Highly swellable hydrophilic layers can take an undesirably long time to dry, slowing printing speed, and will dissolve when left in contact with water, destroying printed images. Porous layers speed the absorption of the ink vehicle, but often suffer from insufficient gloss and severe light fade. There is a need to provide an ink jet recording element which overcomes the above deficiencies.
EP A 1 022 383 A1 discloses a treating agent for a sheet surface to be used in ink jet printing. The treating agent is described as being a graft copolymer composed of a backbone polymer and a branch polymer, either of which is a polymer having vinyl alcohol units, and the other of which is a polymer having cationic groups. However, there is a problem with this graft copolymer in that images printed on an image-receiving layer containing this graft copolymer have undesirable smearing when subjected to high humidity conditions.
It is an object of this invention to provide an ink jet printing method using anionic dyes suitable for use in aqueous inks for ink jet printing that will provide images with better smear, light stability and density using certain receiver elements.
This and other objects are achieved in accordance with this invention which relates to an inkjet printing method, comprising the steps of:
A) providing an ink jet printer that is responsive to digital data signals;
B) loading the printer with ink-receptive elements comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer comprising a graft copolymer comprising a backbone copolymer and at least one branch copolymer, the backbone copolymer comprising structural units capable of being oxidized by a transition metal catalyst and the branch copolymer comprising cationic units and neutral hydrophilic units;
C) loading the printer with an ink jet ink composition comprising water, a humectant, and a water-soluble anionic dye; and
D) printing on the image-receiving layer using the ink jet ink in response to the digital data signals.
It has been found that use of the above dyes and image-receiving layer provides excellent smear, light stability and density.
Any anionic, water-soluble dye may be used in a composition employed in the method of the invention such as a dye having an anionic group, e.g., a sulfo group or a carboxylic group. The anionic, water-soluble dye may be any acid dye, direct dye or reactive dye listed in the COLOR INDEX but is not limited thereto. Metallized and non-metallized azo dyes may also be used as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,545, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Other dyes which may be used are found in EP 802246-A1 and JP 09/202043, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. In a preferred embodiment, the anionic, water-soluble dye which may be used in the composition employed in the method of the invention is a metallized azo dye, a non-metallized azo dye, a xanthene dye, a metallophthalocyanine dye or a sulfur dye. Mixtures of these dyes may also be used. An example of an anionic dye which may be used in the invention is as follows:
The dyes described above may be employed in any amount effective for the intended purpose. In general, good results have been obtained when the dye is present in an amount of from about 0.2 to about 5% by weight of the ink jet ink composition, preferably from about 0.3 to about 3% by weight. Dye mixtures may also be used.
As noted above, the graft copolymer useful in the invention comprises a graft copolymer comprising a backbone copolymer and at least one branch copolymer, the backbone polymer comprising structural units capable of being oxidized by a transition metal catalyst and the branch copolymer comprising cationic units and neutral hydrophilic units.
Examples of backbone polymers comprising structural units capable of being oxidized by a transition metal catalyst include substituted or unsubstituted vinyl polymers or cellulosics, preferably poly(vinyl alcohols), poly(N-vinylpyrrolidones), polyamides, or substituted celluloses such as alkyl celluloses, hydroxyalkyl celluloses, etc. The backbone polymer can be a homopolymer or a copolymer. On being oxidized, the backbone polymer presumably forms a free radical site on the backbone that can attack ethylenically unsaturated branching monomers, thus leading to the formation of a grafted copolymer. A preferred transition metal catalyst is a CeIV salt. Particularly preferred backbone polymers useful in the invention are poly(vinyl alcohols), such as those having from about 60 mol % to about 100 mol % hydrolyzed.
The branch copolymer that is grafted onto the backbone polymer comprises both cationic units as well as neutral, hydrophilic units. Monomers used to introduce cationic units into the branch copolymer include those with the following general structure:
where R is each independently H or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group of 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, M is a group containing cationic charge, and X is an anion or a mixture of anions.
Preferred examples of M are:
where A is either 0 or NH, each R1, independently represents an alkyl, cyclic alkyl, or aryl group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, and n is an integer from 2 to about 12.
Another preferred example of M is:
where R1 is defined as above. In addition to the substituents indicated, the ring can also contain an alkyl group of from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, a benzyl group, or a second, fused ring.
Still another preferred example of M is:
where R2 represents H or an alkyl, cyclic alkyl, or alkoxy group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms. In addition to the substituents indicated, the ring can also contain an alkyl group of from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, a benzyl group, a halide group or a second, fused ring.
Still another preferred example of M is:
where R2 represents H or an alkyl, cyclic alkyl, or alkoxy group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms. In addition to the substituents indicated, the ring can also contain an alkyl group of from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, a benzyl group, a halide group, or a second, fused ring.
X is an anion or a mixture of anions, such as halide (e.g., chloride or bromide), alkylsulfate (e.g. methylsulfate), alkylsulfonate (e.g. methylsulfonate), or arylsulfonate (e.g. benzenesulfonate or toluenesulfonate). Other anions can be used if desired. Preferred anions are chloride and methylsulfate.
Specific examples of monomers used to introduce cationic units into the branch copolymer include [(2-acryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium methylsulfate, [(2-methacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylammonium methylsulfate, [(2-methacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride, [(3-methacrylamido)-propyl ]trimethylammonium chloride, and [2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl](4-benzoylbenzyl) dimethylammonium bromide. Other examples include (vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride, (vinylbenzyl)dimethyldodecylammonium chloride, or (vinylbenzyl)dimethyloctadecylammonium chloride.
Monomers used to introduce the neutral, hydrophilic units into the branch copolymer include water-soluble or hydrophilic monomers such as acrylamides, methacrylamides, N-vinylpyrrolidone or suitably substituted vinylpyrrolidones, vinyl ethers, e.g., methyl vinyl ether, hydroxyalkyl esters of acrylates or methacrylates, e.g., 2-hydroxyelhyl methacrylate, and other monomers known to those familiar with the art. A preferred monomer is acrylamide.
Specific examples of the graft copolymers that are useful in the invention are listed below. In each case, the poly(vinyl alcohol) was 80% hydrolyzed and had a molecular weight in the range 8000-10,000. Each of the comonomers was grafted in the amount of 10 weight % compared to poly(vinyl alcohol), unless otherwise indicated.
P-1: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(acrylaniide-co-[(2-methacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylammonium methylsulfate)
P-2: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(acrylanlide-co-[(2-methacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylamrnonium methylsulfate) [20 wt %/20 wt %]
P-3: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(acrylamide-co-[ar-vomu;bemzyl]trimethylammonium chloride)
P-4: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(acrylarrLide-co-[ar-vinylbenzyl]trimethylammonium chloride) [20 wt %/20 wt %]
P-5: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(acrylanide-co-[(2-methacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylamrnonium chloride)
P-6: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(acrylamide-co-[(2-methacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylamrnonium methylsulfate)
P-7: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(acrylamide-co-[ar-vinylbenzyl]trimethylammonium chloride)
P-8: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(acrylamide-co-[(3-methacrylamido) propyl]trimethylammonium chloride)
P-9: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(acrylairlide-co-[2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl](4-benzoylbenxyl) dimethylammonium bromide)
P-10: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(acrylamide-co-[ar-vinylbenzyl]dimethyloctadecylammonium chloride)
P-11: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(poly[ethylene glycol]methacrylate-co-[(2-methacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylamrnonium methylsulfate)
P-12: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(2-[melhacryloyloxy]ethyl phthalate-co-[(2-methacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylamrnonium methylsulfate)
P-13: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly[(2-melhacryloyloxy)ethyl]diethylamine-co-[(2-methacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylammonium methylsulfate)
P-14: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(acrylanide-co-[(2-methacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylamrnonium chloride)
P-15: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(acrylanide-co-[(2-acryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylammonium methylsulfate)
P-16: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(acrylamnide-co-[(2-acryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylammonium methylsulfate)
P-17: Poly(vinyl alcohol)-graft-poly(poly[ethylene glycol]methacrylate-co-[(2-methacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethylamrnonium methylsulfate)
In a preferred embodiment, the weight ratio of cationic to neutral hydrophilic monomer is from about 5:1 to about 1:5, preferably from about 2:1 to about 1:2.
In another preferred embodiment, the weight ratio of the backbone copolymer to the grafted copolymer is from about 20:1 to about 1:5, preferably from about 10:1 to about 1:2.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the graft copolymer is present in the image-receiving layer can be used in an amount of from 0.2 to about 40 g/m2, preferably from about 0.5 to about 21.5 g/m2.
The graft copolymers used in this invention can be prepared using conventional polymerization techniques including solution polymerization, inverse emulsion polymerization, inverse suspension polymerization, or other techniques known to those familiar with the art. Particularly convenient is aqueous solution polymerization. A No. of compounds can be used to initiate the graft copolymerization, including azo initiators such as 4,4xe2x80x2-azobis(4-cyanovaleric acid) and its salts, 2,2xe2x80x2-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride, and so forth. Other initiators include oxidizing compounds such as persulfate salts, possibly in combination with sulfite salts, or transition metal ions. Particularly useful as initiator is ceric ammonium sulfate.
A binder may also be added to the image-receiving layer employed in the invention, such as poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(l-vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(ethyl oxazoline), non-deionized or deicnized Type IV bone gelatin, acid processed ossein gelatin, pig skin gelatin, acetylated gelatin, phthalated gelatin, oxidized gelatin, chitosan, poly(alkylene oxide), sulfonated polyester, partially hydrolyzed poly(vinyl acetate-co-vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylic acid), poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone), poly(sodium styrene sulfonate), poly(2-acrylamido-2-methane sulfonic acid), polyacrylamide or mixtures thereof In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the binder is gelatin or poly(vinyl alcohol). If a binder is used, then the amount can be up to about 50 wt. % of the image-receiving layer.
Latex polymer particles and/or inorganic oxide particles may also be used as the binder in the image-receiving layer to increase the porosity of the layer and improve the dry time. Preferably the latex polymer particles and/or inorganic oxide particles are cationic or neutral. Examples of inorganic oxide particles include barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, clay, silica or alumina, or mixtures thereof.
Particulates may also be used in the image-receiving layer. In that case, the weight % of particulates in the image-receiving layer is from about 80 to about 95%, preferably from about 85 to about 90%.
The pH of the aqueous ink compositions employed in the invention may be adjusted by the addition of organic or inorganic acids or bases. Useful inks may have a preferred pH of from about 2 to 10, depending upon the type of dye being used. Typical inorganic acids include hydrochloric, phosphoric and sulfuric acids. Typical organic acids include, methanesulfonic, acetic and lactic acids. Typical inorganic bases include alkali metal hydroxides and carbonates. Typical organic bases include ammonia, triethanolamine and tetramethylethlenediamine.
A humectant is employed in the ink jet composition employed in the invention to help prevent the ink from drying out or crusting in the orifices of the printhead. Examples of humectants which can be used include polyhydric alcohols, such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, glycerol, 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol and thioglycol; lower alkyl mono-or di-ethers derived from alkylene glycols, such as ethylene glycol mono-methyl or mono-ethyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-methyl or mono-ethyl ether, propylene glycol mono-methyl or mono-ethyl ether, triethylene glycol mono-methyl or mono-ethyl ether, diethylene glycol di-methyl or di-ethyl ether, and diethylene glycol monobutylether; nitrogen-containing cyclic compounds, such as pyrrolidone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and 1,3-dimethyl-2-irridazolidinone; and sulfur-containing compounds such as dimethyl sulfoxide and tetramethylene sulfone. A preferred humectant for the composition employed in the invention is diethylene glycol, glycerol, or diethylene glycol monobutylether.
Water-miscible organic solvents may also be added to the aqueous ink employed in the invention to help the ink penetrate the receiving substrate, especially when the substrate is a highly sized paper. Examples of such solvents include alcohols, such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, sec-butyl alcohol, t-butyl alcohol, iso-butyl alcohol, furfuryl alcohol, and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol; ketones or ketoalcohols such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and diacetone alcohol; ethers, such as tetrahydrofuran and dioxane; and esters, such as, ethyl lactate, ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate.
Surfactants may be added to adjust the surface tension of the ink to an appropriate level. The surfactants may be anionic, cationic, amphoteric or nonionic.
A biocide may be added to the composition employed in the invention to suppress the growth of microorganisms such as molds, fungi, etc. in aqueous inks. A preferred biocide for the ink composition employed in the present invention is Proxel(copyright) GXL (Zeneca Specialties Co.) at a final concentration of 0.0001-0.5 wt. %.
A typical ink composition employed in the invention may comprise, for example, the following substituents by weight: colorant (0.05-5%), water (20-95%), a humectant (5-70%), water miscible co-solvents (2-20%), surfactant (0.1-10%), biocide (0.05-5%) and pH control agents (0.1-10%).
Additional additives which may optionally be present in the inkjet ink composition employed in the invention include thickeners, conductivity enhancing agents, anti-kogation agents, drying agents, and defoamers.
The ink jet inks employed in this invention may be employed in ink jet printing wherein liquid ink drops are applied in a controlled fashion to an ink receptive layer substrate, by ejecting ink droplets from a plurality of nozzles or orifices of the print head of an ink jet printer.
The image-recording layer used in the process of the present invention can also contain various known additives, including matting agents such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, silica and polymeric beads such as crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate) or polystyrene beads for the purposes of contributing to the non-blocking characteristics and to control the smudge resistance thereof, surfactants such as non-ionic, hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon surfactants or cationic surfactants, such as quaternary ammonium salts; fluorescent dyes; anti controllers; anti-foaming agents; lubricants; preservatives; viscosity modifiers; dye-fixing agents; waterproofing agents; dispersing agents; UV absorbing agents; mildew-proofing agents; antistatic agents, anti-oxidants, optical brighteners, and the like. A hardener may also be added to the ink-receiving layer if desired.
The support for the ink jet recording element used in the invention can be any of those usually used for ink jet receivers, such as paper, resin-coated paper, polyesters, or microporo us materials such as polyethylene polymer-containing material sold by PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa. under the trade name of Teslin(copyright), Tyvek(copyright) synthetic paper (DuPont Corp.), and OPPalyte(copyright) films (Mobil Chemical Co.) and other composite films listed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,861. Opaque supports include plain paper, coated paper, synthetic paper, photographic paper support, melt-extrusion-coated paper, and laminated paper, such as biaxally oriented support laminates. Biaxally oriented support laminates are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,853,965; 5,866,282; 5,874,205; 5,888,643; 5,888,681; 5,888,683, and 5,888,714, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. These biaxally oriented supports include a paper base and a biaxially oriented polyolefin sheet, typically polypropylene, laminated to one or both sides of the paper base. Transparent supports include glass, cellulose derivatives, e.g., a cellulose ester, cellulose triacetate, cellulose diacetate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate; polyesters, such as poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene naphthalate), poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene terephthalate), poly(butylene terephthalate), and copolymers thereof; polyimides; polyamides; polycarbonates; polystyrene; polyolefins, such as polyethylene or polypropylene; polysulfones; polyacrylates; polyetherimides; and mixtures thereof. The papers listed above include a broad range of papers, from high end papers, such as photographic paper to low end papers, such as newsprint.
The support used in the invention may have a thickness of from about 50 to about 500 xcexcm, preferably from about 75 to 300 xcexcm. Antioxidants, antistatic agents, plasticizers and other known additives may be incorporated into the support, if desired. In a preferred embodiment, paper is employed.
In order to improve the adhesion of the image-recording layer to the support, the surface of the support may be subjected to a corona-discharge-treatment prior to applying the image-recording layer.
In addition, a subbing layer, such as a layer formed from a halogenated phenol or a partially hydrolyzed vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer can be applied to the surface of the support to increase adhesion of the image recording layer. If a subbing layer is used, it should have a thickness (i.e., a dry coat thickness) of less than about 2 xcexcm.
The image-recording layer may be present in any amount which is effective for the intended purpose. In general, good results are obtained when it is present in an amount of from about 2 to about 44 g/m2, preferably from about 6 to about 32 g/m2, which corresponds to a dry thickness of about 2 to about 40 xcexcm, preferably about 6 to about 30 xcexcm.
The following examples illustrate the utility of the present invention.

Abstract: B) loading the printer with ink-receptive elements comprising a support having thereon an image-receiving layer comprising a graft copolymer comprising a backbone copolymer and at least one branch copolymer, the backbone polymer comprising structural units capable of being oxidized by a transition metal catalyst and the branch copolymer comprising cationic units and neutral hydrophilic units;


A panel overlay system for embellishing an existing metal multi-panel articulating overhead garage door is disclosed. Plural lightweight panels are removably attached to the panels of the existing garage door with magnets. Each panel comprises an underlayment sheet that provides a relatively rigid structural backing, and thin wood veneer adhesively bonded to the outer-facing major surface of the backing sheet. The veneer includes plural vertical demarcations; when multiple panels are installed the demarcations on adjacent panels align to give the appearance of elongated vertical boards. Vertical and horizontal members are placed at desired positions on the veneer—typically the vertical members are aligned along the side edges of the panel and the horizontal member extends across the middle of the panel so that the entire installation provides the appearance of a garage door typical of the well-known rail and stile carriage house design.

Products that affordably re-create the appearance of today's luxury home exteriors have been embraced by the home improvement markets. To provide a few examples, manufactured veneer stone creates the look of stacked-stone foundations, stamped-and-stained concrete mimics flagstone pathways, and architectural shingles emulate slate roofs just to name a few. These products are generally used in the embellishment of moderately-priced homes to enhance their exterior appearance, or "curb-appeal," without incurring the increased costs associated with the high-end products that are being mimicked. It is clear that homeowners, realtors, builders and architects are seeking products which can affordably embellish the exterior of lower to medium value homes so that when these products are installed, they create the appearance that a more modest home has features that consumers typically associate with more expensive luxury homes.
With today's shrinking urban and suburban building lots and the desire of many cities and towns to increase urban density, builders have been forced to build structures in closer proximity to the street than was common in the past. As a result, the residential garage door has become a prominent feature of modern lower-to-medium value homes, encompassing as much as forty percent of the street-view elevation of these homes. Such homes have predominantly been built with garage doors comprising a plurality of horizontal panels stacked vertically and connected via hinges, and retracting into the structure on an overhead channel track with spring-loading assistance. To manage costs the panels of these garage doors have generally been manufactured with stamped-steel exterior coverings, which have little to no visual interest. With the prominent position of the garage door in today's homes it would be beneficial to have a product available that allows a user to affordably embellish the appearance of an existing metal articulating panel overhead garage door to simulate the appearance of vintage, solid-wood carriage-style garage doors of the type that are found on much more expensive luxury homes.
In contrast to garage doors built of metal panels, many high end luxury homes are constructed with an overhead articulating multi-panel garage door that raises and lowers via a track and spring method and is made of either solid wood or a combination of metal underlayment with wood overlaid onto the exterior. A carriage style house door of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,586,085 to Jellá, (2003.) The garage door described by Jellá is manufactured with a plurality of dimensional wood overlays bonded to one another and arranged in patterns that give the appearance that the overhead door is actually a set of vintage solid-wood rail and stile carriage-house doors which open transversely via side hinges. The manufacture of these high-end garage doors includes staining and sealing all wood portions to the elements such that once installed, the beauty of the wood is exposed to the exterior of the home, giving the home's garage door a vintage appearance.
Wooden carriage-style garage doors such as those disclosed by Jellá tend to be expensive to purchase and difficult to install. As such, they tend to not be an option if a homeowner wants to add a real wood appearance to an existing garage door. At the present time there is no option known to applicant that allows a homeowner to achieve the look of a wooden garage door other than the complete removal and replacement of an existing garage door. Not only is total replacement of an existing garage door expensive, but it often requires the additional expenses associated with upgrades to the structure's framing, track system, springs and electric opener to support the increased weight and thickness of the new garage door. Further, replacement of a metal garage door often requires the services of a contractor, with associated expenses. The bottom line is that garage door replacement may be too expensive for the average homeowner and outside the homeowner's normal skills, since most homeowners are not skilled in the art of garage door manufacture and installation.
The increasing popularity of carriage-house style garage doors is made apparent by the fact that garage door manufacturers such as Clopay Building Products R& D Company, Inc. (current website at www.clopaydoor.com) have recently begun producing overhead articulating-panel garage doors to include metal exterior panels into which patterns are permanently stamped that mimic the appearance and structure of rail and stile carriage-house doors. With these products, multiple decorative polystyrene overlay members are applied to the exterior portion of doors to give a three-dimensional appearance that closely simulates the structure of those vintage carriage-house doors. However for a user to upgrade to these doors they must purchase a completely new garage door and have their existing track system altered to accommodate the increased weight and thickness of that new garage door. Therefore this method is not an option for someone looking to embellish an already-existing garage door. Furthermore since these stamped panel garage doors are constructed of metal and polystyrene and primed to be painted once installed, there is no way to gain the appearance of a solid-wood carriage-house door through this method.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,896 to Pinto et al. provides a method to embellish a pre-manufactured multi-panel articulating overhead non-wood garage door so that the finished door has the appearance of a rail and stile door. In this patent, a plurality of extruded polystyrene members is overlaid onto to a garage door before initial installation in a design that is customizable by the end user. This method requires that the pre-manufactured garage door be placed in a jig which approximates the opening framed in the structure into which the door will be installed. The polystyrene members are permanently adhered to the exterior surface of the garage door then cut to allow the door's panels to articulate correctly. Modification of an existing garage door according to this patent is beyond the abilities of someone not skilled in garage door manufacture and installation. Moreover, modification of the door is performed prior to initial installation of the garage door, and therefore not intended to embellish a garage door which is already installed into a structure. Pinto's method creates a permanent bond between the overlay component and the underlying garage door, making the overlaid panels non-removable. And since the overlaid panels are polystyrene, the final finish would typically be paint and not solid wood. Pinto specifically calls out wood as an inadequate component of garage door overlays in general, which eliminates this method from use when one wishes to enhance their existing garage door to appear to be made from solid wood with a carriage-house style.
US Patent Application Publication No. US 2009/0107047 A1 filed by Magill et al. details a method wherein individual garage door panels are created using multiple metal skins. Pultruded fiber-reinforced thermoset material is adhered to the outer or inner skins (or both) of metal panels with a permanent adhesive that allows for the different thermal expansions of the disparate materials involved. While the adhesive method and design of the overlay panel are left undefined, this method is specific to the manufacture of garage doors prior to installation and does not provide for a method of overlaying a garage door that has already been installed in a structure. Furthermore, as before the use of a non-wood material for the overlay panel that is permanently bonded to the underlying panel excludes the product from use where the homeowner desires to embellish an already-installed garage door to appear as if it is a solid-wood, carriage-house styled door.
There is a need, therefore, for apparatus for upgrading and enhancing the appearance of existing metal garage doors, especially apparatus that may be installed by the typical homeowner without the complete removal and replacement of the existing garage door.

Removable overlay panel for existing garage door


An electronic musical instrument having a musical tone parameter display function includes a musical tone information designation device for designating a musical tone pitch or other parameter of a musical tone to be edit, a memory storing a basic formant display pattern shape for generating a musical tone wave, and a pattern shape change device for changing the basic formant display pattern shape according to the designated musical tone information. The changed formant pattern is displayed on a display graphically to allow a player to easily edit a tone color.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument having a function of electronically synthesizing a musical tone. Particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument which is capable of graphically displaying characteristics of the synthesized musical tone, such as a frequency distribution.
2. Prior Art
Generally, typical electronic musical instruments have been so arranged that musical tones are generated on the basis of any musical tone parameters. The amount of the tone parameters may be changed to change the tone color of the musical tone. In the arrangement, it may be convenient that an operator can edit the parameters as he recognizes how the tone color is changed by the changing of the parameters. For the purpose, electronic musical instruments, in which the musical tone signals can be outputted even in the edit mode by generating the musical tone signals according to the musical tone parameters in editing thereby to allow an operator to confirm the edit tone colors with the sense of hearing, have been in practical use.
It is able to edit the musical tone parameters with the operator's sense so as to be the operator's preference if it is able to confirm the musical tones with the sense of hearing. Further more, it is able to edit the musical tone parameters theoretically if it is able to confirm the characteristics, such as spectrums (a frequency distribution), of the musical tones visually or graphically. Particularly, it is very much effective to use such manner in musical tone synthesizing manners which depend on the spectrums, such as a formant synthesizing manner, a harmonics synthesizing manner and a reduction synthesizing manner.
To realize such manner, an FET analyzer for displaying the analyzed spectrums of the inputted musical tones can be used. However, the analyzer consumes much time and memory volume for analyzing and is more expensive. Therefore, it is not preferable to combine the analyzer with any electronic musical instrument.

Electronic musical instrument having a musical tone parameter display


An ionizer for the ionization of oxygen during any type of oxygen therapy. The ionizer contains an ionizing unit inside a housing. The housing has a grounded contact safety screen mounted thereon by means of a conducting metal ring and a high-ohmic resistor. A glass flask is mounted or screwed onto the housing to serve as a connection between the face mask and the ionizer. The housing has a projecting socket enclosed in a conducting metal cylinder connected to the high-ohmic resistor. The ionizing unit includes ionizing needles located directly adjacent the contact safety screen. Sufficient ionization of oxygen occurs without the production of ozone.

This invention is directed to an ionizer for ionizing oxygen used in all types of oxygen therapy.
Ionized oxygen inhalation therapy (IO.sub.2 IT) consists of a brief inhalation with a defined mixture of medical oxygen and selectively negative or positive oxygen ions for therapeutic or preventive purposes. IO.sub.2 IT refers to partial and polar ionization of medical oxygen with a suitable oxygen ionization device for inhalation therapies.
Almost without exception, oxygen ionizers available on the market produce many millions of ions per cm.sup.3 /sec. An insufficient amount of these ions reaches an inhalation mask, however, because over 90% of the ions are discharged in an inlet tube between the ionizer and a face mask. A higher compressive stress feed can be used to release more ions; ozone, however, which is classified as a respiratory poison, is produced as a by-product.
Ionizers which attempt to solve this problem, ionize directly in front of the inhalation mask and use plastic as a contact safety device. Plastic, regardless of the type, destroys ionization. Therefore, such solutions must be deemed unsatisfactory.

Ionizer for the ionization of oxygen in oxygen therapy


The present invention discloses a method for laser welding of plastics, comprising the steps of providing a first plastic material to be welded comprising a compound capable of absorbing near-infrared light, positioning a second plastic material in intimate contact with the first plastic material, and activating a laser source emitting a wave length in the near-infrared spectrum to obtain attachments of the first and the second plastic material. The compound capable of absorbing near-infrared light is a dye derived from croconic acid.

Laser welding of plastic is an important emerging industrial process that utilizes near-infrared (NIR) lasers to weld pieces of plastic together.
For use in industrial laser welding processes NIR pigments such as Carbon black, various metallated phthalocyanines and more recently differently substituted perylenes have been used. These classes of compounds are well-studied, chemically inert, heat resistant, and often relatively cheap to produce. However, they suffer from the disadvantage, that they are colored in the visible region, thus making them less ideal for the use in laser welding of colorless plastics. An issue with most of these dyes is their chemical stability; the stability leaves the plastic colored after the welding has been performed.
Specific examples of prior art publications include WO 2009/024497 disclosing a composition comprising titanium dioxide in the anatase form and a polymeric binder. The composition may also comprise tungsten suboxide, tungsten bronze, or mixtures of tungsten trioxide, tungsten bronze and metallic tungsten. The composition is used for forming a laser-sensitive coating layer on a substrate.
WO2009/059900 relates to the use of tungsten oxide or of tungstate to increase the heat-input amount of near infrared radiation in laser welding of plastics. Tungsten oxide to be using in the invention has the formula W03-x wherein W is tungsten, O is oxygen, and x is 0.1-1 and/or the use of tungstate of the formula MxWyOz wherein M is one or more element selected from NH4, H, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Ba, Sr, Fe, Sn, Mo, Nb, Ta, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Zn, Cd, Al, Ga, In, Tl, W is tungsten, O is oxygen, 0.001<x/y<1, and 2.0<z/y<3.0, to increase the heat-input amount of near infrared radiation in the process of NIR curing of coatings and NIR drying of coatings.
WO 2010/046285 also relates to welding of plastic using a tungsten derivative. WO 2011/005631 relates to potassium cesium tungsten bronze solid solution particles, which are indicated to be NIR absorbers. The particles may be included in plastics.
WO 2009/010405 also discloses a laser-sensitive system. Preferably, the laser-sensitive system is selected from the group consisting of a salt of an acid and an amine or mixtures of salts of acids and amines, titanium dioxide, an oxygen containing transition metal salt, a compound containing a free carbonyl group and a nucleophile or a compound containing a free carbonyl group, which compound is substituted with one or more nucleophilic groups, a compound having functional groups and a metal compound or an acid, and a color former and a color developer or a latent color developer which generates a color developer upon activation, preferably a color former and a latent color developer.
WO 2007/114829 discloses a coating composition comprising a mark formation layer, which contains an electron donor dye precursor micro-encapsulated within a polymer of a specific Tg range, and an electron acceptor compound which can react with the electron donor dye to turn it into a dye.
Dyes that are used as laser absorber dyes should fulfill certain requirements. The dye must have a strong absorption at the wavelength of the used laser, it should be sufficiently heat resistant to resist the treatment during compounding and neither the dye nor the decomposition products should be toxic if used together with foodstuff etc.
The present invention provides laser absorbing dyes, which in addition to the above requirements, also are almost colorless in the visible area. A colorless laser absorbing dye may provide for almost invisible sealing of transparent plastic elements to each other. In a preferred embodiment the laser absorbing dyes for plastic laser welding is colorless in the visible region and absorbs intensely in the NIR region, where the laser of choice emits. Furthermore, the present invention provides in a preferred embodiment that the NIR absorption of the dye is transmitted to the surroundings in the form of heat, thus causing the welding to occur. The NIR absorber of the present invention for laser welding of plastic does not, or only to a limited extent, releases its energy via other pathways than heat, such as fluorescence.


A display device comprises a backlight module, a display panel disposed on the backlight module, and an electrically controlled viewing angle switching device disposed on the backlight module and disposed in a stacking manner with the display panel. The display panel comprises a panel module and a first polarizer. There is an air layer or a bonding layer between the electrically controlled viewing angle switching device and the display panel. The panel module is disposed between the first polarizer and the electrically controlled viewing angle switching device. The electrically controlled viewing angle switching device comprises a liquid crystal cell, at least one phase compensation film and two second polarizers. The liquid crystal cell is disposed between the two second polarizers. The display device can switch between an anti-peeping mode and a sharing mode in an electrically controlled manner.

At present, when anti-peeping is required for a display device, usually a light control film is placed on the display panel or the backlight module to filter out the large-angle light; when anti-peeping is not required, the light control film must be manually removed. The general light-control films on the market are usually the optical films having a black fine louver structure such as the light control film (LCF) containing a screen privacy film or the advanced light control film (ALCF) of 3M.
However, the optical film described above is relatively expensive and increases product cost. The optical film must be manually placed on or removed from the display panel, which is inconvenient. In addition, the light control film has a periodic structure and is liable to generate a Moiré pattern with the display panel. Furthermore, the light control film causes a decreased brightness of the display device, for example, a decrease of about 30%.
The information disclosed in this "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" section is only for enhancement understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, the information disclosed in this "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION" section does not mean that one or more problems to be solved by one or more embodiments of the invention were acknowledged by a person of ordinary skill in the art.


An anti-displacement device and method are disclosed for implantation of a prosthetic bone joint in a bone. A biodegradable biocompatable anti-displacement device comprising a biodegradable biocompatible polymer is directed through an orifice, defined by a cup of a prosthetic bone joint, and into interfering contact with bone tissue of the bone. Displacement of the cup is thereby sufficiently limited to allow bone tissue growth at the cup to fix the prosthetic bone joint to the bone while body fluid at the bone tissue and contacting the elongate member biodegrades the elongate member.

Prosthetic bone joints have applications as replacements for mammalian joints afflicted by disease, such as arthritis, and by injury. Growth of bone tissue is often employed to permanently fix implanted prosthetic bone joints. However, displacement of prosthetic bone joints typically must be limited for an initial period following implantation to allow sufficient bone tissue growth to permanently fix the prosthetic bone joints.
Metallic screws and spikes have been used to limit displacement of prosthetic bone joints during the initial period of bone tissue growth required for permanent fixation. These metallic screws and spikes however, generally are not removed after fixation of prosthetic bone joints is complete. Compressive stress imparted by prosthetic bone joints to bones ultimately can deform the bones and cause metallic screws and spikes to fracture. Micromotion between the screws and prosthetic device can cause fretting with release of potentially toxic metal debris into the surrounding tissue. Rupture of blood vessels within bones and severe injury to bones can result from such fracture.
A need exists therefore, for a new device and method of implanting prosthetic bone joints which overcome or minimize the aforementioned problems.

Biodegradable biocompatible anti-displacement device for prosthetic bone joints


A synaptic circuit performing spike-timing dependent plasticity STDP interposed between a pre-synaptic neuron and a post-synapse neuron includes a memristor having a variable resistance value configured to receive a first signal from the pre-synaptic neuron. The circuit has an intermediate unit connected in series with the memristor for receiving a second signal from the pre-synaptic neuron and provides an output signal to the post-synaptic neuron. The intermediate unit receives a retroaction signal generated from the post-synaptic neuron and the memristor modifies the resistance value based on a delay between two at least partially overlapped input pulses, a spike event of the first signal and a pulse of the retroaction signal, in order to induct a potentiated state STP or a depressed state STD at the memristor. An electronic neuromorphic system having synaptic circuits and a method of performing spike timing dependent plasticity STDP by a synaptic circuit are also provided.

Nowadays, brain-inspired computing is among the most challenging information and communication technologies.
The electronic neuromorphic networks are implemented to reproduce brain-like processing applications wherein principles of computation based on pattern learning and recognition are performed by neural models. The neural models use synapses or synaptic circuits to connect neurons to each other for exchanging signals. A single neuron is connected with thousands of other neurons between synapses.
Therefore, the scaling down of the sizes and complexity of the artificial synaptic circuit is one of the important tasks in the design of the electronic neuromorphic network.
A known solution for pattern learning and recognition is via software.
As alternative with respect to the known solution, the neural models comprising neuroplasticity synaptic circuits are adapted for learning and for recognizing patterns allowing to develop small sizes and low-power circuits for portable applications, as cellular phone, smart-watches and automotive device, drones and similar devices.
Moreover, the electronic neuromorphic systems by comprising neuroplasticity synaptic circuits perform energy-autonomous devices that allow interactions with the real world. These systems can be used for real-time pattern recognition in order to develop applications in monitoring environments such as public places, security places and the like.
The neuroplasticity synaptic circuits comprise a nanoscale resistive switch or memristor having an electronically-tunable conductance.
By considering the synaptic circuits, the influence that a firing spike of a pre-synaptic neuron has on a post-synaptic neuron is indicated as the synaptic circuit weight. The weight of each synaptic circuit is plastic and timing variable and the mechanism of long-term weight adaptation is known as spike-timing dependent plasticity STDP and reflects the capacity of the synaptic circuit to communicate and to modify its state. In particular, a potentiated or a depressed state of the memristor is transferred as a Long-Time Potential LTP or a Long-Time Depression LTD by the synaptic circuit.
In order to achieve a multitask operation, a known solution proposes a time-division multiplexing TDM approach wherein neuron spikes follow a precise synchronous sequence for communication, long-term potentiation LTP and long-term depression LTD.
This known approach, although advantageous for many aspects, has some drawbacks. In actual fact, synchronous clocking may be practically difficult in case of large neuromorphic systems.
Another recent solution proposes a fully asynchronous approach for communication/learning of neuromorphic synapses by using leaky-integrate-and-fire neurons in order to obtain a biological brain, where synapses are potentiated/depressed through asynchronous spike timing dependent plasticity STDP. Also, this known approach is advantageous for many aspects, but has some drawbacks.
A known solution is disclosed in application No. WO2010133399A1 relating to an electronic learning synapse with spike-timing dependent plasticity using phase change memory. Another solution is disclosed in US application No. US20140358834 relating to a synapse circuit and neuromorphic system including the same. PCT application No. WO2012169726A1 discloses a synapse for function cell of spike timing dependent plasticity, function cell of STDP. US 2012/0084241A1 discloses producing spike-timing dependent plasticity in a neuromorphic network utilizing phase change synaptic device.
A satisfactory solution of memristor synapses circuits for communication and learning with reduced sizes and complexity and low power consumption has not been achieved.

Electronic neuromorphic system, synaptic circuit with resistive switching memory and method of performing spike-timing dependent plasticity


Entry of a pet into a barrier region is deterred by emitting beams of compressional wave pulses from plural above ground sites in the region. The pet wears a collar with at least one transducer for converting the compressional wave beams into electrical signals. In response to pulses of the compressional wave energy being transduced, (1) an aural sound in a frequency range which can be heard by the pet is derived by a second transducer on the collar and (2) an electric shock is selectively applied to the pet by electrodes on the collar.

It is often desirable to train an animal, particularly a pet, in various ways, particularly to inhibit movement of the animal through a barrier region. One currently marketed prior art system is disclosed by Peck, U.S. Pat. No. 3,753,421 wherein a signal emitting wire defines a barrier region; a similar system is disclosed by Yarnall et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,633. In both of these systems, the animal whose movement is to be inhibited relative to the barrier region is equipped with a collar including a receiver responsive to a field derived from the wire. In response to the animal coming into the barrier region, where the wire is located, the receiver picks up a magnetic induction field transmitted from the wire, to trigger a circuit in the receiver to administer an electric shock to the animal. In use, the Peck et al. and Yarnall et al. systems usually involve the considerable expense of installing a subterranean wire. An expensive buried wire installation is necessary for urban and suburban situations because of the possible danger to humans in contacting an above ground wire having a considerable current flowing through it. The buried wire is a practical necessity because an above ground wire tends to become short circuited to ground by contact with plants and grasses.
Another system for inhibiting movement of an animal, particularly a pet, into and/or through a barrier region is disclosed by Fury, U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,051 wherein a trainer is provided with a first ultrasonic pulse transceiver and a second ultrasonic transceiver is worn by the animal. An ultrasonic pulse from the first transceiver is transmitted to the second transceiver. In response to the second transceiver receiving a pulse from the first transceiver, the second transceiver transmits a corresponding pulse back to the first transceiver. Round-trip transit time of the ultrasonic pulses from the first transceiver to the second transceiver and back to the first transceiver is measured at the first transceiver. In response to the round-trip transit time exceeding a predetermined duration, associated with the animal entering the barrier region, the first transceiver transmits an animal whistle sound. The animal whistle sound is designed to inhibit movement of the animal through the barrier region. A problem with the Fury system is that it is not well suited to confining an animal to a designated area because the transit time to one portion of the barrier region is likely to differ from the transit time to another portion of the barrier region. In addition, the whistle sound may be ineffective because it is transmitted from the first transceiver over a substantial distance to the pet.
In the co-pending, commonly assigned and invented application entitled "Method of and Apparatus for Training an Animal," Ser. No. 08/002,486, filed Jan. 8, 1993, there is disclosed a device for deterring entry of an animal into a barrier region. The device disclosed in the co-pending application is particularly adapted for indoor situations wherein the animal is deterred from entering a barrier region in close proximity to a housing emitting an inductive magnetic field. The animal wears a collar having mounted thereon a housing with a coil responsive to the inductive magnetic field. In response to the inductive magnetic field being incident on the coil and being detected by electronic circuitry in the housing, an acoustic signal is coupled back to the housing which originally emitted the magnetic induction field. The housing which emitted the induction magnetic field responds to the compressional wave coupled to it to emit an acoustic click which is heard by the animal and deters entry of the animal into proximity with the housing. While this prior art system functions admirably for its desired purpose, it is not suitable for long-range situations, such as for deterring entry of an animal into a designated outside barrier region.
It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of and apparatus for training an animal, and particularly to training an animal so entry of the animal into a barrier region is deterred.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method of and apparatus for deterring entry of an animal into a designated outdoor barrier region, which apparatus is relatively inexpensive and uses above ground radiant energy wave beam sources.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved method of and apparatus for deterring entry of an animal into a designated region by utilizing plural compressional wave energy sources in housings on posts easily driven into the ground at plural relatively distantly spaced locations, to minimize costs associated with installation and maintenance of the apparatus.

Apparatus for and method of deterring entry of an animal into a barrier region