A distributed optical structure comprises a set of diffractive elements. Individual diffractive element transfer functions collectively yield an overall transfer function between entrance and exit ports. Diffractive elements are defined relative to virtual contours and include diffracting region(s) altered to diffract, reflect, and/or scatter incident optical fields (altered index, surface, etc). Element and/or overall set transfer functions (amplitude and/or phase) are determined by: longitudinal and/or angular displacement of diffracting region(s) relative to a virtual contour (facet-displacement grayscale); longitudinal displacement of diffractive elements relative to a virtual contour (element-displacement grayscale); and/or virtual contour(s) lacking a diffractive element (proportional-line-density gray scale). Optical elements may be configured: as planar or channel waveguides, with curvilinear diffracting segments; to support three-dimensional propagation with surface areal diffracting segments; as a diffraction grating, with grating groove or line segments.

The field of the present invention relates to optical devices incorporating distributed optical structures. In particular, apparatus and methods are described herein for implementing amplitude and phase control in distributed diffractive optical structures.
Distributed optical structures in one-, two-, or three-dimensional geometries offer powerful optical functionality and enable entirely new families of devices for use in a variety of areas including optical communications, spectral sensing, optical waveform coding, optical waveform processing, and optical waveform recognition. It is important in the design of distributed optical structures to have means to control the amplitude and phase of the electromagnetic field diffracted by individual diffractive elements within the overall distributed structure. This invention relates to approaches for fabricating diffractive elements that provide flexible control over diffractive amplitude and phase.
A distributed optical structure typically includes a large number of individual diffractive elements. Each individual diffractive element may scatter (and/or reflect and/or diffract) only a small portion of the total light incident on the distributed structure. This may be because the individual diffractive elements subtend only a small fraction of available solid angle of the incident optical field in the interaction region, and/or because individual diffractive elements have a small reflection, diffraction, or scattering coefficient. Distributed optical structures in two or three dimensions can also be described as volume holograms since they have the capability to transform the spatial and spectral properties of input beams to desired forms.
There are many reasons why it is important to have control over the amplitude and/or phase of the portions of the field scattered by individual diffractive elements. For example, a distributed optical structure can act as a general spectral filter supporting a broad range of transfer functions. In the weak-reflection approximation, the spectral transfer function of a structure is approximately proportional to the spatial Fourier transform of the structure's complex-valued scattering coefficient—as determined by the amplitude and phase of the field scattered by individual diffractive elements (See: T. W. Mossberg, Optics Letters Vol. 26, p. 414 (2001); T. W. Mossberg, SPIE International Technology Group Newsletter, Vol. 12, No. 2 (November 2001); and the applications cited hereinabove). In order to produce a general spectral transfer function, it is useful to control the amplitude and phase of each constituent diffractive element. Application of the present invention provides for such control. Also, when multiple distributed structures are overlaid in the same spatial region, system linearity can only be maintained by ensuring that the diffractive strength of overlaid diffractive elements is the sum of the individual diffractive element strengths. When diffractive elements are lithographically scribed, overlaid structures will not typically produce a summed response. The approaches of the present invention provide means for modifying overlaid diffractive elements (formed by lithographic and/or other suitable means) so that each element negligibly affects another's transfer function.

Amplitude and phase control in distributed optical structures


A structure for an underwater hull or tank which is required to withstand a high external pressure due to use at great immersion depths. The hull or tank is composed of one or more toric components formed of metal, which may be filled with a pressure-resistant material for added strength. The toric components are interconnected by connecting rings welded between adjacent toric components, and longitudinal connecting beams which are welded to the toric components and connecting rings.

The invention relates to underwater hulls or tanks and more particularly to pressure-resistant underwater hulls or tanks suitable for use at great immersion depths.
Hulls and tanks subjected to external compression have typically been constructed of, for example, cylindrical structures with domed ends, spherical structures, and multiple-shaped spherical-cylindrical-elliptical structures connected together in a suitable manner to form a desired configuration.
The dimensioning of a structure which is subjected to external compression is governed by the pressure value, the nature of the material used (as a function of the modulus of elasticity and mechanical properties), and particularly by specific factors relating to the configuration of the structure (diameters, length-diameter ratios, distances between the reinforcing elements), and also by specific structural features such as welded joints, flanged joints, etc. It is particularly important to avoid local deformation of the structure due to elastic instability caused by the compressive stress originating from external pressure.
The dimensioning of an underwater hull or tank therefore requires a material distribution adapted to particular requirements, with corresponding influence upon the structural costs, both due to the weight of the structure (owing to great sheet metal thicknesses and size of reinforcing elements) and due to the technology employed (such as use of high grade special steel).
In prior art structures these requirements are of critical importance and at times are impossible to satisfy, since if a specific immersion depth and a specific displacement and/or storage capacity are exceeded, on one hand the additional weight of the structure can no longer be balanced by increased buoyancy due to the disproportionately great sheet metal thicknesses, and on the other hand the structure cannot be constructed due to the technological difficulties created by the great sheet metal thicknesses required.
The storage of liquids (water, fuels, combustion supports, hydraulic fluids, etc.) and gases (combustion supports, air, breathing gas mixtures, etc.) on board underwater hulls or tanks is presently accomplished by use of suitable tanks which are arranged partly within the hull and which therefore intrude within usable internal space. This often is disadvantageous in structures of limited internal volume, such as a submarine.
These and other disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention which comprises a structure for underwater hulls or tanks, which hulls or tanks are required to withstand a high external pressure, such as service at great immersion depths. The structure is composed of these basic elements, one or more toric components, a ring connecting adjacent toric components and one or more longitudinal connecting beams. Advantages of such construction include lightness in weight, increased strength, ability to withstand considerably greater immersion depths compared to the prior art, simple construction and versatile assembly, and reduction of the space required for the storage of liquids and gases inside or outside the hull due to the possibility of utilizing the interiors of the toric components as tanks.
A hull or tank consisting of toric components according to the invention is considerably stronger than a conventional structure of equal weight. Likewise, from a certain immersion depth downward, the invention allows a substantial reduction in weight of the structure as compared to conventional structures. These advantages of the invention are principally due to the following features:
The wall thickness of the toric components can be reduced due to the double curvature and the overall weight of the structure is reduced in spite of the larger surface area of the metal sheets required to produce the toric components and in spite of the weight of the connecting elements used to connect the toric components. The economy in weight which can be achieved as compared to conventional structures depends upon the dimensions, the configuration and the immersion depth.
Because the internal volumes of the toric components can serve as storage space for gases or liquids, the use by the prior art of particular tanks mounted within the hull is unnecessary, resulting in a corresponding reduction in weight.
The toric components can be pressurized with the aid of compressed substances introduced in a liquid state and which later solidify, allowing smaller wall thicknesses and hence achieving more favorable weight ratios. The structure is pretensioned when constructed in this manner, resulting in increased elastic stability when it is submerged and exposed to external pressure.
The toric components also present versatile assembly possibilities because standardized prefabricated components can be joined together by means of simple welded or flanged joints.
Furthermore, toric finished components are more economical to assemble, with simultaneous reduction of production time, due to the capability of such components to be readily joined together even if components are of varying shapes or sizes.
In many cases, the invention allows development of structures which would not be feasible with conventional structures, such as:
Hulls for submarines which are intended for operation at greater immersion depths than are hitherto attainable due to the buoyancy to weight ratio for cylindrical and spherical structures. Hulls constructed with toric components produce, for equal effective buoyancy, a lower weight of the structure and thus permit a greater working immersion depth. In order to attain even greater immersion depths, the toric components may additionally be internally compressively stressed, pretensioning the structure and increasing its load limit.
Hulls for submarines with engines which require the storage of propellants. In such cases, the toric components not only constitute the load bearing structure of the submarine, but also provide the storage chambers necessary to accommodate the propellants. In general the volumes available in the toric components are useful for various purposes, such as trim cells, on board gas and liquid supplies and storage of water ballast.
Tanks for the storage of petroleum products on the seabed. Because the tanks can be maintained at atmospheric pressure due to their strength, the problem of petroleum degassing is thus avoided.
The structure is composed of three basic elements:
1. A toric component.
2. A connecting ring which contributes transverse resistance and watertightness.
3. A longitudinal connecting beam.
Structures assembled with these three basic elements may also, depending upon the hull or tank to be produced, include further components, such as hemispherical caps applied to the ends of the structure and serving as closure elements, as will be more evident from the following detailed description of the invention.


An aquatic vehicle particularly suited for underwater transport of swimmers and divers comprises the assembly of a cylindrical body having a detachable nosecone and a shrouded propeller. The nosecone supports an externally open ballast receptacle. The propeller shroud is secured to the aft edge extremities of aft end stabilizing and directional alignment fins. Propeller supply water is drawn through aft end apertures through the cylindrical body wall located between the fins and over the electric drive motor housing for motor cooling. Front and canard fins further contribute to the directionality and ease of steering. Electric power is provided by sealed cell lead/acid batteries having a gelatinous electrolyte. Additional battery design features preclude sea water leakage damage and gaseous combustion. Battery charge state is continuously reported to the user by a light emitting diode display and a supporting liquid presence sensor interrupts the power circuit operation when the vehicle is not in buoyant operation as a safety precaution against propeller inflicted injuries when the vehicle is out of the water.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrically powered aquatic vehicles of the type particularly suited for pulling swimmers and divers to underwater depths.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As an electromechanical propulsion system, vehicles or vessels of the present type are conceptively simple as comprising only a small body shell for housing a d.c. motor, a direct drive propeller, a battery for energizing the motor, a motor control switch and a user's grasp handle. However, due to the hostile underwater operating environment, conditions for safety and reliability quickly complicate the design choices.
Wet cell lead/acid batteries provide the least expansive and conveniently rechargeable energy source but are simultaneously the source of combustible hydrogen gas. If generated, the gas must be purged from the system to avoid the risk of explosion.
Brush/commutator d.c. motors provide the most economical torque and operational efficiency for the service but also offer an exposed arc ignition source for any combustible gas mixture present.
Buoyancy demands for such a vehicle quickly change by the user's needs, concerns, safety and whim. Preferably, the user would choose to rapidly select between reversible options of positive, negative or neutral buoyancy. There are times when the user would prefer that his personal vehicle simply remain suspended when released.
Other times, he would have the vehicle rise to the surface when released. A negatively buoyant vehicle will descend by gravity to the first support surface.
Most such vehicles are steered by physical pointing which requires some form of twisting or torque couple, consequently, placement of the manual handgrip position relative to buoyancy and weight distribution is critical. Instability and excessive coupling lead to user fatigue.
Finally, when a prior art vehicle is out of the water with charge remaining in the battery, the propeller becomes a hazardous source of personal injury.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to teach the construction of a personal underwater tow vehicle that is substantially free of gas explosion hazards.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a personal underwater tow vehicle that will not leak battery acid.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a personal underwater tow vehicle having a continuously reported state of battery charge.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a personal underwater tow vehicle that is easily and comfortably steered.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a personal underwater tow vehicle in which the propeller power circuit is rendered inoperative when the vehicle is out of water.
A still further object of the present invention is to facilitate immediate and in-use buoyancy adjustments.


A light non-transmitive layer and resist are coated on a surface of a mask. By carrying out exposing, developing, and etching, a positive/negative reversed pattern is formed on the surface of the mask. A light non-transmitive layer and a resist are coated on a portion of the workpiece where the pattern is to be formed. Exposure is carried out by using the mask that can be changed by a connector. The pattern of the mask is transferred to the resist, and the resist is developed. After the resist is developed, a mask pattern is formed on a surface of the workpiece by etching.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for forming a photomask.
2) Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, when forming a pattern (e.g., herringbone grooves or the like) on a surface of a workpiece (e.g., a shaft, a bearing, or the like), one approach is to form an electrode having a shape corresponding to the pattern and transfer the electrode by electrolytic processing or electric discharge machining or the like.
This approach requires provision of a gap, for flow of the working fluid, between the electrode and the workpiece, moreover, the workpiece is not masked, so that setting optimal electrolysis conditions or electric discharge conditions becomes a difficult task. In addition, the electrode gets worn.
As a countermeasure, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H5-191015 discloses a technique of forming a coat of a light non-transmitive layer and photo sensitive resin on a surface of the workpiece, exposing the coat with the mask, and developing and removing portions that are not exposed.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. S63-144888 discloses a technique of efficiently raising over a broad range the temperature of a photo sensitive resin or the like Laser light or plural prisms or the like are used to achieve this effect.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. S56-41639 discloses a technique of using an elastic material to have tight and close bonding between a mask and a photo sensitive resin or the like. With this arrangement, exposure can be carried out easily.
However, efficiency in forming the mask pattern is poor in the conventional techniques.
Specifically, the mask cannot be replaced easily because it is fixed to a supporting portion. If the workpiece has plural surfaces, and if the surfaces have various shapes, then a lot of time is wasted in replacing the mask, it puts a great burden on the person who performs the replacement.

Photomask apparatus, photomask manufacturing method, and mask pattern forming method


An image creation device which combines a plurality of part images into a target image. An attribute setting unit sets data on a sex, age, etc., of the target image. A selection unit selects the respective part images which constitute the target image. When a controller synthesizes the selected part images, it disposes the respective part images at positions depending on the set attributes in an image storage. When the controller synthesizes the selected part images, it disposes the respective selected part images at positions depending on the set positional relationship in the image storage.

The present invention relates to image creation devices which create a target image by selecting and combining any ones of part images of a complete image prepared beforehand.
Conventionally, image creation devices are known which sequentially select any part images one for each of parts (a contour, a hair style, eyes, etc.) of a face from among a storage which contains data on a plurality of part images for each of the parts of the face, dispose the selected part images at corresponding predetermined coordinate positions, and combine such part images into a target image.
Therefore, in such devices, the process for creation of the target image is complicated and takes much time, undesirably.
Even when the user desires to create a target image or an image close to the former, the part images selected by the user are required to be disposed at the corresponding coordinate positions predetermined in an image synthesis storage. Thus, even though the respective part images are optimal ones, the coordinate positions where they are disposed are fixed at all times. Thus, when the synthetic image composed of combined part images is viewed as a whole, it can be different from the target which the user desires to create.
In addition, when one target image is to be created by combining the respective part images in the conventional image creation device, a discrepancy such as an overlap or a separation can be produced at the boundary between adjacent part images in dependence on a combination of those part images.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image creation device which is capable of creating a target image or an image close to the former rapidly and easily.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image creation device which, when a target image is synthesized from a plurality of part images, is capable of synthesizing the plurality of part images in an appropriate positional relationship, irrespective of the kinds of part images to be synthesized.


A motorcycle anchoring device capable of being driven through asphalt, tarmac, or pavement, and to which a motorcycle can be tethered, thereby providing an anti-theft security when no other mechanism for securing is available. The device is in the form of a solid metal stake designed to be driven through the asphalt or tarmacadam commonly used in a paved parking lot or roadway. The stake includes collapsible barbs or flukes which retract while the stake is being driven into the ground, then deploy after the spike is in the ground, particularly as someone attempts to extract the stake from the ground. The barbs thus provide some in-ground stability, but mainly serve to prevent the spike from being raised. The exposed upper end of the spike is designed to permit secure tethering of the motorcycle to the stake, thereby securing against unintended removal and usage. Once the stake is no longer required, the stake is simply and easily driven completely into the ground.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a method and device for securing a motorcycle parked on an asphalt or tarmacadam surface, thereby preventing misappropriation of the motorcycle.
2. Description of the Related Art
The average price of motorcycles has risen dramatically. Many popular motorcycles have a retail value in excess of $10,000.00, which does not include subsequent customizing costs and emotional investment. The cost of mechanical and cosmetic repair parts has also risen dramatically, prompting a surge of motorcycle thefts.
Owners of motorcycles are keenly aware of the ease in which a motorcycle can be stolen. A skilled and well equipped thief requires less than sixty seconds to "hot-wire" and drive off with an unsecured motorcycle. Two strong and able-bodied thieves can lift up a motorcycle off the ground and place it in a truck or van, even when both wheels of the motorcycle are locked.
Accordingly, the manufacturing and installing of anti-theft systems for motorcycles has become a significant industry. Most popular among currently known anti-theft systems for motorcycles include mechanical locks of various kinds, such as those employing wrap-around chains and steering locking mechanisms. The chain devices are heavy and difficult to haul on the motorcycle and can be cut in seconds with a variety of bolt cutters. Steering column locking mechanisms can easily be bent, broken or neutralized when an extraordinary force is applied to turn the steering column, thereby disabling the locking mechanism. Neither the chain type device nor the steering column lock can prevent a motorcycle from being carried away if the motorcycle is not securely attached to a permanent structure such as a lamp post. Such structures are not always available.
Electronic alarms are also popular devices for protecting motorcycles. However, such devices are expensive, are liable to tampering, and do not prevent removal of motorcycles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,301,817 (Merritt) teaches a motorcycle security stand for securing the front wheel of a motorcycle, the stand being embedded in the ground. By securing the front wheel, the security device may deter theft of the motorcycle by "joy-riders". However, front wheels being easily replaced, a thief desiring to misappropriate the motorcycle would simply remove the front axle, leave the front wheel, an haul the motorcycle away in a van. Further, this security device presumes the presence of the permanent, pre-installed elaborate motorcycle parking stand. There is no suggestion for how to secure a motorcycle in a parking lot or on a street not provided with such a motorcycle parking stand.
There is thus a need for a system and device for securing a motorcycle on a street or parking lot where there is no permanent structure to which the motorcycle can be chained.
There is a need for a device which can securely protect a motorcycle against theft, yet is simple and inexpensive.


A central power supply member (S) for supplying power to windings of a stator of a motor has ring-shaped busbars (10) each including a power supply terminal (20) and connecting terminals (30) laminated and accommodated in a synthetic resin holder (50) while being insulated from each other. Power-supply side terminals (91) drawn out from a power supply are placed on the power supply terminals (20) of the busbars (10) and connected by tightening bolts (95). The holder (50) has terminal blocks (55) on which the power supply terminals (20) are placed and in which nuts (65) to be engaged with the bolts 95 are mounted with the rotation thereof prevented. Insertion grooves (88) as rotation preventing portions are formed in the rear surfaces of the terminal blocks (55) and receive bulges (27) formed on the lateral edges of vertical plates (22) of the power supply terminals (20).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a central power supply member for supplying power to windings of a stator of a motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A vehicle brushless motor has a rotor surrounded by a ring-shaped stator. The stator includes magnetic poles formed by windings and an annular central power supply member for supplying power to the magnetic poles. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-261094 discloses such a central power supply member.
The central power supply of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-261094 has three bus rings formed by bending magnetic wires into polygonal rings. Each bus ring has circumferentially spaced connecting portions that are to be connected to windings. A power supply terminal is crimped and fixed to butted ends of each magnet wire. The three bus rings are laminated concentrically one over another with the power supply terminals thereof circumferentially displaced and integrally assembled by being sandwiched from radially inner and outer sides by synthetic resin clips at positions along a circumferential direction.
Power supply terminals drawn out from a power supply are laminated over the power supply terminals of the respective bus rings and fastened by a bolt and a nut. Specifically, the bolt is inserted through insertion holes in the terminals and a nut is engaged threadedly with the projecting end of the bolt, one of the nut and the bolt is screwed using a tool while the rotation of the other is prevented.
However, fastening the bolt and the nut in this way drags and rotates the power supply terminal and applies a load to the bus ring. Thus, the coating of the magnet wire forming the bus ring may be broken or the clip may be damaged. As a result, a countermeasure has been desired.
Furthermore, connecting the power supply terminal and the power-supply side terminal takes time. Therefore further improvement has been desired.
The invention was completed in view of the above situation and an object thereof is to improve overall assembling operability of a central power supply member.


A method and system for managing subscriber payments is disclosed. When a subscriber account reaches a threshold state, the subscriber may be directed to a payment platform that requests the subscriber to make a payment in order to continue using telecom service. As described, a billing system determines the subscriber's rate of usage of telecom service so far in a current billing period and then applies the determined rate of usage to predict a quantity of telecom service that the subscriber will use in the remainder of the billing period. The billing system then computes an overage charge for at least a portion of the predicted quantity of telecom service and conveys at least that overage charge to the payment platform. The payment platform then requests the subscriber to pay at least the computed overage charge, preferably as a condition to the subscriber using further telecom service.

In the existing art, when a user signs up for telephone service with a telephone carrier, the user typically enters into a pre-pay/post-pay service contract. According to such a contract, the user agrees to pay the carrier a recurring amount of money in advance of each billing period in exchange for using a designated quantity of telephone service during the billing period. After the billing period, the carrier then bills the user an overage charge for any use of service that exceeded the designated quantity in the billing period. In addition, if the user incurs other charges during the billing period, such as for acquiring media (e.g., ringtones, screensavers, games, etc.) or hardware (e.g., telephones, accessories, etc.) from the carrier, the carrier may include those additional charges on the user's bill as well.
By way of example, a subscriber may sign up for a monthly service plan that gives the subscriber 1,000 base minutes of service per month for a cost of $40.00, with an overage charge of $0.10 per minute. Thus, in advance of each month, the subscriber would pay the carrier $40.00. If, during a given month, the subscriber then used 1,235 minutes of service and incurred $75.00 of purchase charges (e.g., for media or hardware), the carrier would thereafter bill the subscriber for an overage charge of $23.50 plus the purchase charge of $75.00.
Recognizing that certain subscribers are credit challenged, in that they tend to not pay their bills on time if at all, a carrier may further impose spending caps on certain subscribers. For instance, a carrier may limit certain subscribers to incur no more than a specified maximum in excess charges (including, for example, overage charges and purchase charges) beyond the subscriber's base service plan per billing period. Once the subscriber hits the specified maximum limit in excess charges, the carrier may then take an action such as cutting off the subscriber's service until the subscriber pre-pays an additional amount to the carrier.
By way of example, a carrier may impose a $100.00/month excess spending cap on certain subscribers. In a given month, if such a subscriber then incurs excess charges (such as overage charges and/or purchase charges) totaling or exceeding $100.00, the carrier may then block the subscriber from placing or receiving further calls until the subscriber pre-pays an additional amount to the carrier. To enforce this policy in practice, the carrier may automatically re-direct subsequent call attempts by the subscriber to a voice-response platform that will explain the situation to the subscriber and ask the subscriber to pay an additional amount in order to maintain service. Once the subscriber pays an additional amount, the carrier may then allow the subscriber to place the call or may automatically connect the subscriber's attempted call.
At issue in this or similar arrangements, however, is what amount of money the subscriber should pay to the carrier in order to maintain telecom service. Unfortunately, as a general matter, credit-challenged subscribers faced with this question will tend to pay the carrier just a small amount of additional money, so that the carrier will allow them to place their currently attempted call. Yet such subscribers will then likely face the same situation again the next time they seek to place a call. Therefore, a better solution is desired.

Predictive payment suggestion in a telecommunication system


A sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet includes a support unit, an open-close member rotatably supported between open and closed positions, a slide member supported in a slidably movable manner and including a rotation shaft portion, and a regulation member supported by the slide member. The open-close member supports the sheet in the open position with the support unit. The regulation member regulates a position of the sheet supported by the support unit or the sheet supported by the support unit and the open-close member. The support unit includes a guide portion that movably guides the rotation shaft portion. If the open-close member is rotated from the open position toward the closed position in a state in which the open-close member is in contact with the slide member, the slide member rotates by following movement of the open-close member with respect to the guide member.

Field of the Invention
The disclosed information relates to a sheet feeding device that feeds a sheet, and an image forming apparatus including the sheet feeding device.
Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, examples of image forming apparatuses include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer such as a light emitting diode (LED) printer and a laser beam printer, an electrophotographic facsimile machine, and an electrophotographic word processor. Such an image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeding device, and the image forming apparatus for forming an image on a sheet fed from the sheet feeding device to an image forming unit has become widespread.
Generally, the image forming apparatus includes a sheet supplying cassette serving as a sheet storage unit. The sheet supplying cassette is attached to an image forming apparatus main body in a pullable manner, and a sheet stored in the sheet supplying cassette is automatically fed to the image forming unit by a sheet feeding roller.
The sheet supplying cassette in which sheets are stored includes a rear-end regulating member that regulates a position of a sheet feeding direction rear end (hereinafter referred to as a rear end) of a sheet to be stored when a sheet smaller than a maximum storable size sheet is stored. Moreover, the sheet supplying cassette includes side-end regulating members that regulate positions of side ends of a sheet in a direction (hereinafter referred to as a width direction) perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction.
In such a sheet supplying cassette, the side-end regulating member and the rear-end regulating member respectively regulate the side ends and the rear end of the sheet such that a leading-end position of the sheet is constantly regulated in a predetermined position. Accordingly, when the sheet supplying cassette is stored in the image forming apparatus main body, a sheet can be stably fed regardless of sheet size.
Meanwhile, there is a related-art image forming apparatus including a sheet storage space arranged in an image forming apparatus main body to reduce size thereof instead of using a sheet supplying cassette, and sheets are stored in the sheet storage space. Such an image forming apparatus can include a cover (an open-close member) that is opened and closed with respect to the sheet storage space according to sheet size. In such a case, the cover is opened such that a sheet is placed across the opened cover and a sheet stacking surface of the sheet storage space.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-219189 discusses a slide member. When a cover supports a sheet, the slide member supports a rear-end regulating member such that the rear-end regulating member can be moved to a position on the cover.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-219189, the slide member, which supports the rear-end regulating member, includes two components that are an arm for supporting the rear-end regulating member and a movement member for rotatably supporting the arm. Moreover, the slide member moves the movement member in a sliding manner with respect to a feeding tray serving as a support unit. In addition, according to the configuration discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-219189, the arm needs to be rotated with respect to the movement member when the slide member is rotated.
Consequently, the arm cannot be directly moved in a sliding manner with respect to the support unit in the configuration discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-219189. This increases the number of components. Moreover, a large space is necessary on a sheet supplying tray for rotation of the slide member including the movement member and the arm.

Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus


Described is a membrane comprising a microlayer polymeric composite having at least about 10 microlayers. The microlayers are each individually up to about 100 microns thick and alternate between at least one fluid barrier material and at least one elastomeric material. The membrane can be formed into a pressurized bladder or cushioning device for many applications, including footwear and hydropneumatic accumulators.

The present invention concerns membranes suitable for applications that require both barrier properties and flexibility. The membranes of the invention are particularly useful in construction of pressurized bladders, including cushioning devices. The membranes of the invention are elastic and have very low gas transmissions rates for nitrogen and other gasses that can be used to inflate the bladders and cushioning devices. The present invention further relates to footwear that includes one or more bladders or cushioning devices of the invention.
Thermoplastic and thermoset polymeric materials have been widely used in membranes for their fluid (gas or liquid) barrier properties. Such fluid barrier films are used, for example, for plastic wrap materials and for other packaging materials. Another common application for polymeric materials with good fluid barrier properties is in the construction of inflatable bladders.
Inflatable bladders have been used in a variety of products such as vehicle tires, balls, accumulators used on heavy machinery, and in footwear, especially shoes, as cushioning devices. It is often desirable to use polymeric materials that are thermoplastic because thermoplastic materials may be reclaimed and reformed into new articles, thus reducing waste during manufacturing operations and promoting recycling after the life of an article. While thermoplastic barrier films may be flexed to a certain extent due to their thinness, thermoplastic barrier films do not generally have sufficient elasticity for many applications. Elastic materials, or elastomers, are able to substantially recover their original shape and size after removal of a deforming force, even when the part has undergone significant deformation. Elastomeric properties are important in many applications, including inflatable bladders for footwear and hydraulic accumulators.
Footwear, and in particular shoes, usually include two major components, a shoe upper and a sole. The general purpose of the shoe upper is to snuggly and comfortably enclose the foot. Ideally, the shoe upper should be made from an attractive, highly durable, comfortable materials or combination of materials. The sole, constructed from a durable material, is designed to provide traction and to protect the foot during use. The sole also typically serves the important function of providing enhanced cushioning and shock absorption during athletic activities to protect the feet, ankles, and legs of the wearer from the considerable forces generated. The force of impact generated during running activities can amount to two or three times the body weight of the wearer, while other athletic activities such as playing basketball may generate forces of between six and ten times the body weight of the wearer. Many shoes, particularly athletic shoes, now include some type of resilient, shock-absorbent material or components to cushion the foot and body during strenuous athletic activity. These resilient, shock-absorbent materials or components are commonly referred to in the shoe manufacturing industry as the midsole. Such resilient, shock-absorbent materials or components can also be applied to the insole portion of the shoe, which is generally defined as that portion of the shoe upper directly underlying the plantar surface of the foot.
Gas-filled bladders may be used for midsoles or inserts within the soles of shoes. The gas-filled bladders are generally inflated to significant pressures in order to cushion against the forces generated on the foot during strenuous athletic activities. Such bladders typically fall into two broad categories, those that are xe2x80x9cpermanentlyxe2x80x9d inflated, such as disclosed in Rudy, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,183,156 and 4,219,945, and those using a pump and valve system, such as those disclosed in Huang, U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,131.
Athletic shoes of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,156 having xe2x80x9cpermanentlyxe2x80x9d inflated bladders have been sold under the trademark xe2x80x9cAir-Solexe2x80x9d and other trademarks by Nike, Inc. of Beaverton, Oreg. Permanently inflated bladders of such shoes are constructed using an elastomeric thermoplastic material that is inflated with a large molecule gas that has a low solubility coefficient, referred to in the industry as a xe2x80x9csuper gas.xe2x80x9d Gases such as SF6, CF4, C2F6, C3F8, and so on have been used in this way as super gases. Super gases are costly, however, and so it is desirable to provide permanent inflation with less expensive gasses like air or nitrogen. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,340,626 entitled xe2x80x9cDiffusion Pumping Apparatus Self-Inflating Devicexe2x80x9d which issued Jul. 20, 1982, to Rudy, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, discloses selectively permeable sheets of film that are formed into a bladder and inflated with a gas or mixture of gases to a prescribed pressure. The gas or gases utilized ideally have a relatively low diffusion rate through the selectively permeable bladder to the exterior environment while gases contained in the atmosphere, such as nitrogen, oxygen, and argon, have a relatively high diffusion rate are able to penetrate the bladder. This produces an increase in the total pressure within the bladder, by the addition of the partial pressures of the nitrogen, oxygen and argon from the atmosphere to the partial pressures of the gas or gases with which the bladder is initially inflated. This concept of a relative one-way addition of gases to enhance the total pressure of the bladder is now known as xe2x80x9cdiffusion pumping.xe2x80x9d
Many of the earlier midsole bladders used in the footwear manufacturing industry prior to and shortly after the introduction of the Air-Sole(trademark) athletic shoes consisted of a single layer gas barrier type film made from polyvinylidene chloride-based materials such as Saran(copyright) (which is a registered trademark of the Dow Chemical Co.) and which by their nature are rigid plastics, having relatively poor flex fatigue, heat sealability and elasticity. Composite films of two gas barrier materials have also been used. Momose, U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,322, incorporated hereinby reference, describes a film of a first thermoplastic resin having a plurality of continuous tapes of a second thermoplastic resin that lie parallel to the plane of the film. The first thermoplastic resin is selected from polyolefin, polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, polyester, polycarbonate, or polyvinyl chloride resins and modified resins. The second resin may be a polyamide, saponified ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyvinylidene chloride, or polyacrylonitrile copolymer. The film is formed by extruding the first resin from a first extruder and the second resin from a second extruder, introducing both extrudate streams simultaneously into a static mixer in which the layers (tapes) are formed. The film may have one or two outer films laminated to it. While these films are disclosed to have an oxygen permeation rate of 0.12 to 900 cc/m2-day-atm at 20xc2x0 C., making them generally suitable for forming cushioning material for packaging and shipping material, the films are not resilient or flexible enough for cushioning bladders for footwear.
Additional laminates of two different kinds of barrier materials, in which the laminate has a large number of relatively thin layers of the different materials, have been disclosed. Schrenk et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,565,985, 4,937,134, 5,202,074, 5,094,788, and 5,094,793, 5,380,479, 5,540,878, 5,626,950; Chisolm et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,265; Ramanathan et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,995, all of which are incorporated herein by reference (including the references cited therein), disclose methods of preparing multilayer films (at least about 10 layers) using streams of at least two different thermoplastics. The streams of molten thermoplastic resin are combined in a layered stream and then directed through a layer multiplying means to provide the multilayer film. The multilayering described in these patents is used to obtain iridescent films. In order to create the iridescent effect, the layers responsible for the iridescence must have a thickness of 0.05 micron to 5 microns. The different thermoplastic materials are chosen to have a maximum difference in refractive index to achieve maximum iridescence in the multilayer film. The gas barrier materials do not produce films capable of absorbing repeated impacts without deformation or fatigue failure as is required for membranes of an inflatable bladder or a cushioning device.
Known bladder films that are composites or laminates can also present a wide variety of problems in shoe bladders, such as layer separation, peeling, gas diffusion or capillary action at weld interfaces, low elongation leading to wrinkling of the inflated product, cloudy appearing finished bladders, reduced puncture resistance and tear strength, resistance to formation via blow-molding and/or heat-sealing and RF welding, high cost processing, and difficulty with foam encapsulation and adhesive bonding, among others. Some previously known multi-layer bladders used tie-layers or adhesives in preparing laminates in order to achieve interlayer bond strength high enough to avoid the problems mentioned. The use of such tie layers or adhesives, however, generally prevents regrinding and recycling of any waste materials created during product formation back into an usable product, making manufacturing more expensive and producing more waste. Use of adhesive also increases the cost and complexity of preparing laminates. These and other perceived short comings of the prior art are described in more extensive detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,340,626; 4,936,029 and 5,042,176, each of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
Besides combinations of two gas barrier layers, composites may be formed from layers of materials having very different properties. Composites of different materials are particularly useful for footwear bladders because many requirements, sometimes contradictory, are made of the membranes used for footwear bladders. For instance, the membrane must exhibit excellent gas barrier properties as already mentioned toward both the inflationary gas and the ambient gases, while at the same time the membrane must be elastic and be resistant to fatigue failure. Materials used to construct footwear bladders must further be resistant to degradation from the fluids contained and from the environment to which the footwear is exposed. The problem of diverse and sometimes contradictory property requirements for membranes or films of this sort has commonly been addressed by creating laminates of at least two layers of distinct materials, one layer providing the durable flexibility of an elastomer and the other providing the fluid barrier property.
One approach has been to react or blend together at least two distinct materials to allow each of the different materials to make its respective contributions to the properties of the grafted copolymer or blend layer. Moureaux, U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,110, incorporated herein by reference, is an example of a grafted copolymer composition. Moureaux discloses a resilient membrane for a hydropnuematic accumulator that includes a film of a graft copolymer of a thermoplastic polyurethane and an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. The ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer is from 5 to 20% of the graft copolymer. The ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer is dispersed in the polyurethane polymer and there is some grafting between the two polymers. The graft copolymer forms islands of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer in the polyurethane matrix. The film is a center layer between two layers of thermoplastic polyurethane in the membrane of the hydropnuematic. While the nitrogen permeation rate is reduced as compared to unmodified polyurethane, a matrix film that includes particles of gas barrier resin does not offer a gas transmission rate as low as for a composite film that has a continuous layer of the fluid barrier material.
In an alternate approach, laminates have been described that eliminate adhesive tie layers by providing membranes including a first layer of a thermoplastic elastomer, such as a thermoplastic polyurethane, and a second layer including a barrier material, such as a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol, wherein hydrogen bonding occurs over a segment of the membranes between the first and second layers. Such laminates with layers of flexible materials and layers of fluid barrier materials are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,141, issued Feb. 3, 1998, incorporated herein by reference, and in copending U.S. applications Ser. No. 08/299,287, filed Aug. 31, 1994, entitled xe2x80x9cCushioning Device with Improved Flexible Barrier Membrane;xe2x80x9d Ser. No. 08/684,351, filed Jul. 19, 1996, entitled xe2x80x9cLaminated Resilient Flexible Barrier Membranes;xe2x80x9d Ser. No. 08/475,276, filed Jun. 7, 1995, entitled xe2x80x9cBarrier Membranes Including a Barrier Layer Employing Aliphatic Thermoplastic Polyurethanes;xe2x80x9d Ser. No. 08/475,275, filed Jun. 7, 1995, entitled xe2x80x9cBarrier Membranes Including a Barrier Layer Employing Polyester Polyols;xe2x80x9d and Ser. No. 08/571,160, filed Dec. 12, 1995, entitled xe2x80x9cMembranes of Polyurethane Based Materials Including Polyester Polyols,xe2x80x9d each of which is incorporated herein by reference. While the membranes disclosed in these references provide flexible, xe2x80x9cpermanentlyxe2x80x9d inflated, gas-filled shoe cushioning components that are believed to offer a significant improvement in the art, still further improvements are offered according to the teachings of the present invention.
It is an object of the invention to provide membranes and membrane material that offer enhanced flexibility and resistance to undesirable transmission of fluids such as an inflationary gas. It is another object of the invention to provide elastic membranes for inflatable bladders that can be inflated with a gas such as nitrogen, in which the membrane provides a gas transmission rate value of about 10 cubic centimeters per square meter per atmosphere per day (cc/m2xc2x7atmxc2x7day) or less.
We have now discovered that inflatable bladders with improved elastomeric properties and low gas transmission rates can be formed from microlayer polymeric composites. The microlayer polymeric composites of the invention may be used to form a durable, elastomeric membrane for pressurized bladders and other cushioning devices to be used in many applications, particularly in footwear or for accumulators. By xe2x80x9cdurablexe2x80x9d it is meant that the membrane has excellent resistance to fatigue failure, which means that the membrane can undergo repeated flexing and/or deformation and recover without delamination along the layer interfaces and without creating a crack that runs through the thickness of the membrane, preferably over a broad range of temperatures. For purposes of this invention, the term xe2x80x9cmembranexe2x80x9d is used to denote preferably a free-standing film separating one fluid (whether gas or liquid) from another fluid. Films laminated or painted onto another article for purposes other than separating fluids are preferably excluded from the present definition of a membrane.
The microlayer polymeric composite includes microlayers of a first polymeric material, also called the structural or elastomeric material, that provide the resiliency and flexibility and microlayers of a second polymeric material, also called the fluid barrier material, that provide the low gas transmission rate. For the same overall amount of fluid barrier material, microlayers of the non-elastomeric fluid barrier material produce a more elastomeric, more resilient membrane as compared to the laminates of the prior art with much thicker layers of the barrier material.
In particular, the present invention provides an inflatable bladder for applications such as footwear or hydraulic accumulators, the bladder having a membrane that includes at least one layer of the microlayer polymeric composite of the invention. The microlayer polymeric composite material of the invention has rubber-like or elastomeric mechanical properties provided by the structural material that allows it to repeatedly and reliably absorb high forces during use without degradation or fatigue failure. It is particularly important in applications such as footwear and hydraulic accumulator for the membrane to have excellent stability in cyclic loading. The microlayer polymeric composite material has a low gas transmission rate provided by the gas barrier material that allows it to remain inflated, and thus to provide cushioning, for substantially the expected life of the footwear or hydraulic accumulator without the need to periodically re-inflate and re-pressurize the bladder.
The nitrogen gas transmission rate of the membrane should be less thanabout 10 cubic centimeters per square meter per atmosphere per day (cc/m2xc2x7atmxc2x7day). An accepted method of measuring the relative permeance, permeability and diffusion of different film materials is set forth in the procedure designated as ASTM D-1434-82-V. According to ASTM D-1434-B2-V, permeance, permeability and diffusion are measured by the following formulas:
Permeance             (              quantity                          xe2x80x83                        of                          xe2x80x83                        gas            )        /          [                        (          area          )                xc3x97                  (          time          )                xc3x97                  (                      press            .                          xe2x80x83                                    diff            .                    )                    ]        =            Permeance                    xe2x80x83                                    (          GTR          )                /                  (                      press            .                          xe2x80x83                                    diff            .                    )                      =          cc                    /                          (                  sq          .                      xe2x80x83                              m                )                          xe2x80x83                          (                  24                                xe2x80x83                              hr                )                          xe2x80x83                          (        Pa        )
Permeability             [                        (                      quantity                                      xe2x80x83                                    of                                      xe2x80x83                                    gas                    )                xc3x97                  (                      film                                      xe2x80x83                                    thickness                    )                    ]        /          [                        (          area          )                xc3x97                  (          time          )                xc3x97                  (                      press            .                          xe2x80x83                                    diff            .                    )                    ]        =                    Permeability                          xe2x80x83                [                              (            GTR            )                    xc3x97                      (                          film                                            xe2x80x83                                                          thick                .                                      )                          ]            /              xe2x80x83                          (                  press          .                      xe2x80x83                              diff          .                )              =          "AutoLeftMatch"                        [                                    (              cc              )                                                  xe2x80x83                                                  (              mil              )                                ]                                              /                                          [                                          (                                  m                  2                                )                                                          xe2x80x83                                                          (                                  24                                                        xe2x80x83                                                      hr                                )                                                          xe2x80x83                                                          (                Pa                )                                      ]
Diffusion (at one atmosphere)                                           (                          quantity                                            xe2x80x83                                          of                                            xe2x80x83                                          gas                        )                    /                      [                                          (                area                )                            xc3x97                              (                time                )                                      ]                          =                  xe2x80x83                                  Gas                                xe2x80x83                              Transmission                                xe2x80x83                              Rate                                xe2x80x83                                          (            GTR            )                                                  =                  xe2x80x83                                  cc                                /                                          (                          m              2                        )                                          xe2x80x83                                          (                          24                                            xe2x80x83                                          hr                        )


A system and method for pursuing a missing cellular telephone are provided. The cellular telephone analyzes a control signal received from a mobile communication network. If the analyzed control signal corresponds to a missing mode setting signal, the cellular telephone enters a missing mode and transmits a position signal representing the current location at regular intervals. In the meantime, upon receipt of a missing mode release signal from the mobile communication network, the cellular telephone releases the missing mode. Further, the cellular telephone transmits the position signal at regular intervals beginning at termination of an incoming or outgoing call, when the missing cellular telephone answers the incoming call or makes the outgoing call in the missing mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for pursuing a missing mobile communication terminal, and in particular, to a system and method for pursuing a missing cellular telephone.
2. Description of the Related Art
A mobile communication terminal includes a unidirectional pager, a bidirectional pager, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a cellular telephone. With the advance of the mobile communication technology, the communication terminal has decreased in price and the charge rate for the communication service also has decreased. Accordingly, the communication terminal has come into wide use.
Among the above mentioned mobile communication terminals, the PDA and the cellular telephone are typical bidirectional mobile communication terminals, which provide a voice or data communication service. The position of the mobile communication terminal is changed according to the movement of the user. Thus, in a conventional method for pursuing the mobile terminal, the cellular telephone notifies its position to a base station at irregular intervals. Then, the base station transmits the received positional information of the cellular telephone to a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) and stores it in a home location register (HLR) of the MTSO.
Conventionally, since the cellular telephone transmits its positional information to the MSTO at irregular intervals, it is difficult to determine an accurate position of the cellular telephone. Accordingly, when the cellular telephone is missing, the user (i.e., the possessor) of the cellular telephone cannot determine the accurate position of the missing cellular telephone. In some cases, the finder may use the missing cellular telephone fraudulently.
Therefore a need exists for an improved method of locating a missing mobile communication terminal.

Method for pursuing missing cellular telephone


A device comprising a radar for taking at least one radar image of the terrain in front of the aircraft in a zone containing at least one characteristic pattern, the position of the characteristic pattern being known, an image processing unit for detecting, on the radar image taken by the radar, a characteristic symbol representing the characteristic pattern, a computation unit for determining, from at least the position of the characteristic symbol in the image and from characteristics of the radar image acquisition, relative position information illustrating the position of the aircraft in relation to the characteristic pattern, and for determining the position of the aircraft, from the relative position information and from the known position of the characteristic pattern, and a unit for transmitting at least the position of the aircraft to at least one user system, for example a landing aiding system or an SVS display.

It is known that bad weather conditions (fog, rain, snow, etc.) are one of the main sources of disturbances for airport operations. In particular, they reduce the visibility, thus limiting the capacities of the pilots to see the runway and its environment, possibly as far as preventing the aircraft from taking off or from setting down. That generates delays, even flight cancellations that are costly for the air transport industry.
Normally, in an approach for a landing, the solutions proposed for guiding the aircraft to the runway when the visibility is too degraded by weather conditions, are based on a ground infrastructure participating actively in the guiding of the aircraft. The deployment and maintaining in operational condition of such an infrastructure however have a not-inconsiderable cost, limiting the deployment in some regions of the world.
The aim of the present invention is to propose an aid to the guiding of an aircraft to the landing runway that does not require a ground infrastructure, or a passive infrastructure (that is to say without electronic means), while limiting the extra cost at the aircraft level.
To be able to implement an appropriate approach, notably offering the same operational advantages as a precision approach, without using an instrument landing aiding system of the ILS (Instrument Landing System) type, there needs to be accurate aircraft position information available.

Method and device for determining the position of an aircraft in an approach for a landing


Provided are systems and methods for a network station receiving a communication schedule announced by a first wireless network station, determining that the first wireless network station has a right to generate an adjusted communication schedule, and transmitting an availability window schedule to the first wireless network station. The availability window schedule indicates one or more time slots during which communication with the wireless network station is inhibited.

Wireless communication networks enable various forms of communication without the use of wires and cables. Wireless networks include, for example, cellular phone networks, wireless local area networks (WLANs), and the like. A WLAN links two or more devices using some form of a wireless distribution method (e.g., a spread-spectrum or an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) radio). A WLAN typically includes an access point (AP) that connects other communication devices, or stations (STAs), to other network resources, such as the Internet. In some instances, STAs can communicate with one another via the AP, or communicate with one another directly. The Wi-Fi Aware™ specification provides a platform for STAs to discover and communicate with one another when they are in proximity (range) of one another.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for scheduling wireless communication


A contact bridge arrangement useful particularly in electromagnetic switchgear has a set of fixed contacts and a contact bridge which can be brought into active connection therewith. The contact bridge is movably guided in a window of a contact bridge carrier being spring loaded in the direction of the fixed contacts by a spring which is braced on a support part which is carried, in the active position, on parts fixed to the housing and which is elevated by a stop in the window of the contact bridge carrier. The support part is inserted between a spring cup and the stop in the window of the contact bridge carrier from the outside of the contact bridge assembly in a direction transverse to the direction of the spring loading.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a contact bridge assembly for use, in particular, with electromagnetic switch gear having fixed contacts and having a contact bridge which can be brought into functional connection with the fixed contacts. The contact bridge is movably guided in a window of a contact bridge carrier, spring-biased in the direction of the fixed contacts by a spring braced by a support part which is supported, in its active position, by parts fixed to the housing and which is lifted by a stop in the window of the contact bridge carrier.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In one known contact bridge arrangement of the abovementioned type (German Auslegeschrift No. 1 300 611) it is necessary, in order to bring the support part into engagement with the parts fastened to the housing, to use a housing which is divided into two parts or to design the fixed contacts in a U-shape in such a manner that they come into connection the support part through a U-leg. With these known arrangements, a considerable amount of effort must be spent in assembling the equipment.


The present invention relates to a method for producing platelets from mature megakaryocytes. More particularly, the invention relates to an ex vivo method for producing platelets, from mature megakaryocytes, said method comprising a step of subjecting a suspension of mature megakaryocytes to a flow having a minimal shear rate of 600 s−1 on a solid phase coated with Von Willebrand factor.

Megakaryocyte (MK) differentiation is a continuous process characterized by sequential steps. MK ploidy increases through endomitosis, with a parallel increase in cell size. Synthesis of storage organelles and plasma membrane is enhanced, resulting in the formation of demarcation membranes. Cytoplasmic maturation is associated with a marked increase in MK size. Finally, mature MK undergo complete cytoskeleton reorganization with microtubule involvement, to induce pseudopodial elongations corresponding to proplatelets (Patel et al., 2005a; Richardson et al., 2005). Platelets are released from the tips of these proplatelets that contain all the platelet organelles.
Circulating platelets are involved in thrombus formation by adhesion to the vessel wall and by aggregation on the first layer of adherent platelets to the subendothelial matrix (Ruggeri, 2003). Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a major constituent of endothelial cells lining the vasculature. VWF is the only protein able to arrest circulating platelets in conditions of high shear rates (>1000 s−1). Tethered platelets translocate on immobilized matrix VWF, through the binding of GPIb (also known as CD42b) to VWF A1 domain (Huizinga et al., 2002). Activation of the αIIbβ3 integrin (also known as CD41a/CD61), that occurs progressively during transient tethering of platelets, involves GPIb-mediated signalling and allows αIIbβ3 binding to the RGD sequence of VWF. The Bernard-Soulier Syndrome (BSS) is a bleeding disorder characterized by severe thrombocytopenia and giant platelets (Nurden, 2005). It is due to quantitative or qualitative abnormalities of the GPIb-IX-V complex, in particular of the GPIbα subunit that contains the VWF binding site. Normal numbers of MKs are found in the bone marrow of BSS patients, suggesting that the macrothrombocytopenia observed in this setting is related to defective platelet formation from MKs.
Since MK fragmentation into platelets is not often observed in the marrow space, MKs need to migrate into the bone marrow capillaries (Tavassoli and Aoki, 1981). Platelet detachment from proplatelets has been described in the absence of flow conditions. It is intriguing that the yield of platelets shed from cultured MKs in the presence of thrombopoietin (TPO) is far below what could be expected in optimal maturation conditions (Norol et al., 1998). Many steps of platelet shedding remain elusive. In particular a role of shear forces on platelet formation has never been demonstrated. The VWF receptors GPIb and αIIbβ63 are both expressed on the MK surface during maturation (Debili et al., 1990). Few mature MKs have been identified in the blood circulation (Pedersen, 1978; Tavassoli and Aoki, 1981), where they are exposed to VWF on the luminal side of endothelial cells.
Moreover, it is intriguing that in optimal MK culture conditions, the yield of shed platelets in vitro is far below what could be expected from the large daily platelet production in vivo. So, there is an important need of a good system of platelet production.

Method for producing platelets from megakaryocytes

INSERM (Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale)

Universite de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines


Described is a collector/reservoir made of flexible and chemically-resistant material. The collector/reservoir has an open top, and side walls which are quickly inflatable with air or some other gas or fluid. When the side walls are inflated, the collector/reservoir quickly obtains more shape and rigidity, and it may be easily placed under the source of the spill to collect the spilling material. At, in or near its bottom, the collector/reservoir is provided with one or more conduits from its interior volume to its outside surface, each provided with a quick-connect fitting. This way, the spill material from the collector/reservoir may be drained to another storage or transport reservoir connected to the collector/reservoir by the quick-connect fitting.

1. Field
This invention relates generally to spills of dangerous materials, and more specifically to a compact but expandable collector for spills of dangerous liquids.
2. Related Art
In the transportation field, for example, accidents often cause the release of dangerous materials into the environment. At a truck crash site, often the truck's diesel fuel and engine lubricating oil are spilled on or next to the highway, creating a hazard and environmental problem even when the truck's load is not dangerous or spilled. When a truck's dangerous load is spilled, or when a train with tank cars carrying dangerous materials is wrecked, these hazards and environmental problems are often compounded.
Presently, it is the practice to pick up spilled materials at a truck or train crash site with a solid absorbent spread on the ground, or to squee-gee the spilled materials to the side of the road or right-of-way where they are absorbed by the ground. This practice is inefficient in that the solid absorbent or the ground, filled with the spill material, must itself then often be handled and disposed of as a toxic waste, which is expensive. Also, this practice is dangerous in that personnel involved in the clean-up are potentially exposed to large quantities of the spill material spread over a large area.
What is needed then, is a quick, safe and inexpensive way to minimize the amount of dangerous spill material allowed to be released at the vehicle crash site. Also, what is needed is a safe way to clean up the spilled dangerous material, and minimize contact between it and the environment or personnel. The present invention addresses this need.


An agricultural baler includes a main bale chamber for the compressing of crop material into bales. The main bale chamber has a floor and an outlet for discharge of compressed crop material in the form of bales. A bale ejection system is at least partially incorporated in the floor, and is arranged to move and eject a rearward bale proximate to the outlet of the main bale chamber. The baler is characterized in that the bale ejection system continuously extends longitudinally past the outlet of the main bale chamber.

Agricultural harvesting machines, such as balers, are used to consolidate and package crop material so as to facilitate the storage and handling of the crop material for later use. In the case of hay, a mower-conditioner is typically used to cut and condition the crop material for windrow drying in the sun. In the case of straw, an agricultural combine discharges non-grain crop material from the rear of the combine defining the straw (such as wheat or oat straw) which is to be picked up by the baler. The cut crop material is typically raked and dried, and a baler, such as a large square baler or round baler, straddles the windrows and travels along the windrows to pick up the crop material and form it into bales.
On a large square baler, a pickup unit at the front of the baler gathers the cut and windrowed crop material from the ground. The pickup unit includes a pickup roll, and optionally may include other components such as side shields, stub augers, wind guard, etc.
A packer unit is used to move the crop material from the pickup unit to a duct or pre-compression chamber. The packer unit forms a wad of crop within the pre-compression chamber, which is then transferred to a main bale chamber. (For purposes of discussion, the charge of crop material within the pre-compression chamber will be termed a "wad", and the charge of crop material after being compressed within the main bale chamber will be termed a "flake"). Typically such a packer unit includes packer tines or forks to move the crop material from the pickup unit into the pre-compression chamber. Instead of a packer unit it is also known to use a rotor cutter unit, which chops the crop material into smaller pieces.
A stuffer unit transfers the wad of crop material in charges from the pre-compression chamber to the main bale chamber. Typically such a stuffer unit includes stuffer forks which are used to move the wad of crop material from the pre-compression chamber to the main bale chamber, in sequence with the reciprocating action of a plunger within the main bale chamber.
In the main bale chamber, the plunger compresses the wad of crop material into flakes to form a bale and, at the same time, gradually advances the bale toward the outlet of the bale chamber. The plunger reciprocates, back and forth, toward and away from the discharge end of the baler. When enough flakes have been added and the bale reaches a full (or other predetermined) size, a number of knotters are actuated which wrap and tie twine, cord or the like around the bale while it is still in the main bale chamber. The twine is cut and the formed baled is ejected out the back of the baler as a new bale is formed.
Bale ejection systems typically move a bale through and/or out of the main bale chamber during operation of the baler. For example, EP Patent Application No. EP 16.158.730.8 (filed 4 Mar. 2016), which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, discloses a partial bale ejection system with an actuator which drives a ram and attached tines for engagement of the tines into a rearmost bale and ejection of the bale from the outlet of bale chamber. The actuator, ram and tines are all positioned within a floor slat which extends to the outlet of the bale chamber.
What is needed in the art is an agricultural baler with a bale ejection system which effectively ejects a rearmost bale from the bale chamber to the discharge chute.

Agricultural baler with extended bale ejection system


An explosion proof assembly includes a case configured to receive a waterproof assembly having a waterproof enclosure housing a computing device, wherein the case is configured to prevent combustion within an internal cavity of the waterproof enclosure. The assembly may include a flap coupled to the case to retain the computing device in the case, wherein the flap includes a tool-operated retention member configured to retain the flap in a closed position, wherein the retention member of the case is configured to be unfastened using a tool, and wherein the case and the tool-operated retention member are configured to prevent combustion within an internal cavity of the computing device.

The use of electrical devices in hazardous areas may lead to an increased risk of a fire or explosion triggered by the presence of the electrical device. For instance, an electrical device may serve as an ignition source in a hazardous area containing flammable fluids or vapors. For this reason, electrical devices used in hazardous areas are often required to be certified according to the requirements specified in that particular jurisdiction. Further, often the types of protections required vary depending on the risks and hazards involved.
The types of hazardous environments are broken down into three classes, with each class focusing on different types of hazardous materials in the surrounding atmosphere. For instance: Class I areas include flammable gasses or vapors present in the air in sufficient quantities to produce an explosion in the presence of an ignition source; Class II areas include the presence of combustible dusts; and Class III areas include ignitable fibers or other materials too heavy to be suspended in the air in sufficient quantities to produce an ignitable mixture (e.g., wood chips, cotton, nylon, etc.). These hazardous area environments are further explained in the ANSI/ISA-12.12.01 standards. Two common types of hazardous areas requiring protection for electrical devices are areas that contain flammable vapors and areas containing dust or other particulates susceptible to ignition. Further, each class is divided into two divisions based on the probability of hazardous materials being present in an ignitable or combustible concentration in the surrounding air. Division 1 defines hazardous environments where the pertinent hazardous material (e.g., vapors, dust, fibers) is present during normal conditions. Division 2 defines hazardous environments where the pertinent hazardous material is present only in abnormal or fault conditions (e.g., in the event of a container failure or other leak).
Regarding Class I hazardous environments involving flammable vapors, an electrical device may be used in such an area via an explosion proof enclosure or assembly configured to keep an internal explosion within the explosion proof assembly from escaping outward, where it would ignite vapors outside of the enclosure. Thus, with regard to environments having flammable vapors, explosion proof assemblies are designed to both prevent the entry of flammable materials into the enclosure and also, in the event of an explosion within the enclosure, to prevent the escape of hot or burning material from escaping the enclosure. Regarding Class II hazardous environments involving ignitable dusts and particulates, an electrical device may be used in such an area via a dust-ignition proof enclosure or assembly that is configured to prevent ignitable materials from entering the enclosure and by containing any arcs, sparks or heat within the enclosure that may ignite dust or other particulates in the surrounding environment. Also, there exists assemblies and enclosures for use with an electrical device that are referred to as "intrinsically safe," where an intrinsically safe assembly including an electrical device is incapable of releasing sufficient electrical or thermal energy to cause ignition of a specific hazardous substance Class I, Class II and Class III substances) under normal or abnormal conditions. Further, "nonincendive" components are nonsparking and incapable of releasing sufficient electrical/thermal energy to cause ignitions to hazardous substances during normal (i.e., Division 1) operating conditions.
While assemblies or enclosures have been developed for use in hazardous areas, these components are often expensive and not configured for use with particular electrical devices. Also, these components may only satisfy the requirements for a particular class and division, and thus may not be used in other hazardous environments or in hazardous environments under abnormal conditions (i.e., Division 2 conditions). Further, these components may be cumbersome and restrict the functionality of the electrical device being protected. For instance, these components may be permanently coupled to the protected electrical device, restricting the use of multiple electrical devices with the same enclosure. Thus, there is a need in the art for an intrinsically safe or explosion proof assembly and/or enclosure capable of being safely used in varying types of conditions hazardous environments. Also, it would be beneficial if such an enclosure was not permanently coupled to or formed integrally with the protected electrical device, allowing the use of different electrical devices with the same enclosure. Moreover, it would be beneficial if such an enclosure was quickly and conveniently separable from the protected electrical device.


A control device of a vehicle-mounted, self-excited alternator for supplying a field current to its field coil and selectively a charge current to a battery and a power to a high voltage electric load of the vehicle comprises a field current detector for detecting field current flowing through the field coil and a field current limiter which includes a reference device for providing a fixed reference value, a comparator for comparing the field current detected by the field current detector with the fixed reference value and a voltage regulator control device responsive to an output of the comparator to control the voltage regulator to cut-off the field current when the field current detected is larger than the reference value.

The present invention relates to a control device for an alternator and, particularly, to a control device for a vehicle-mounted alternator for temporarily switching an output connection of the alternator from a storage battery to a high voltage electric load of the vehicle, the load being driven by a higher voltage than an ordinary output voltage of the alternator to be supplied to the battery to charge the battery, so that enough power is supplied to the load.
In order to melt frozen water on a front glass of a vehicle in a low temperature area within a short time, a system has been proposed in which an output voltage of an alternator is switched from a usual 14 V for charging a vehicle-mounted storage battery to a high voltage of 40-70 V temporarily to supply power of about 1 KW to a high voltage load such as a heater embedded in the front glass.
When a separately-excited alternator, that is, an alternator whose exciting current is supplied from a battery, is used as the vehicle-mounted alternator, the battery may be discharged during much of this high voltage driving. Therefore, in order to avoid such undesirable discharge of the battery, a self-excited alternator, that is, an alternator whose exciting current is supplied from an output thereof, is used. In such a case, however, another problem may occur. That is, a field coil of the self-excited alternator may be burnt by large field current due to high voltage applied thereacross.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,346,337 and Japanese Kokai (Patent) No. 63-302735 each disclose a field current limitation of a self-excited alternator. In both of these systems, an oscillator is provided to produce a fixed pulse waveform signal by which a field current control element is on-off controlled when a detection of field current exceeds a predetermined value. Since, in these systems, a voltage applied across the field coil is fixed to a certain value, for example, 40 V, the current limit value itself varies with variation of the output voltage of the alternator. Since the field current limit value at, for example, 80 V may be twice the limit value at 40 V, it is impossible to prevent the burning of the field coil completely.

Control device of vehicle mounted alternator


Some embodiments provide a method for managing traffic in a virtualized environment. The method, in some embodiments, configures multiple edge service gateways (ESGs) executing on multiple host machines (e.g., on a hypervisor) to use a same anycast inner internet protocol (IP) address and a same anycast inner media access control (MAC) address. In some embodiments, ESGs of a logical network facilitate communication between machines connected to the logical network and machines on external networks. In some embodiments, the method configures a set of virtual extensible local area network tunnel endpoints (VTEPs) connected to an ESG to use a same anycast VTEP IP address. The method, in some embodiments, configures a distributed logical router (DLR or DR) to send data packets with destinations outside the logical network from sources belonging to the logical network to the anycast VTEP IP address.

Data centers provide access to external networks at edge service gateways. In data centers providing software defined networks to tenants, a logical network may be organized in a manner that is significantly different from an underlying physical network. As such, edge service gateways placed on a same logical switch may be located in disparate locations of the physical network. Therefore, methods for addressing a closest edge service gateway from source machines connected to a logical network is needed.


Methods and apparatus for estimating flow rate in a blood circulation assist system employing impeller eccentricity. A method includes magnetically rotating an impeller within a blood flow channel of a blood pump. The impeller is levitated within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A rotational speed for the impeller is determined. At least one impeller transverse position parameter is determined. The at least one impeller transverse position parameter is based on at least one of (1) an amount of a bearing current that is used to levitate the impeller transverse to the impeller axis of rotation, and (2) a position of the impeller within the blood flow channel transverse to the impeller axis of rotation. A flow rate of blood pumped by the blood pump is estimated based on the impeller rotational speed and the at least one impeller transverse position parameter.

Ventricular assist devices, known as VADs, often include an implantable blood pump and are used for both short-term (i.e., days, months) and long-term applications (i.e., years or a lifetime) where a patient's heart is incapable of providing adequate circulation, commonly referred to as heart failure or congestive heart failure. According to the American Heart Association, more than five million Americans are living with heart failure, with about 670,000 new cases diagnosed every year. People with heart failure often have shortness of breath and fatigue. Years of living with blocked arteries and/or high blood pressure can leave a heart too weak to pump enough blood to the body. As symptoms worsen, advanced heart failure develops.
A patient suffering from heart failure may use a VAD while awaiting a heart transplant or as a long term destination therapy. A patient may also use a VAD while recovering from heart surgery. Thus, a VAD can supplement a weak heart (i.e., partial support) or can effectively replace the natural heart's function.
The flow rate of blood pumped by a VAD is an important parameter for both control of the blood pump and for informing a health care professional regarding the level of circulatory support provided to the patient by the VAD. Direct blood flow rate measurement, however, may be undesirable with respect to additional components, such a flow rate sensor, that would be used to directly measure the flow rate of blood pumped by the VAD. Such additional components may add to the complexity and size of the VAD, thereby potentially making the VAD more expensive and occupy more space within the patient. Additionally, a flow rate sensor may increase the rate of thrombosis (blood clot formation) as a result of the interface between the flow rate sensor and the blood flow.
In view of the challenges associated with direct blood flow rate measurement in a VAD, flow rate in a VAD may be estimated. For example, the blood flow rate in a VAD can be estimated based on the amount of electrical power consumed by the VAD. For some operational regimes of a blood pump, however, estimated flow rate based on electrical power consumed by the VAD may not be sufficiently accurate. As such, improved approaches for estimating blood flow rate in a VAD are desirable.

Flow estimation using hall-effect sensors for measuring impeller eccentricity


The present invention provides apparatuses, methods, computer programs, computer program products and computer-readable media regarding IMS (Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem) restoration support for temporary GRUU (Globally Routable User Agent Uniform Resource Identifier). Certain aspects of the present invention include creating, at a registrar, a registration identified by a registration identifier, and storing, by the registrar, the registration identifier, a call identifier and an initial command sequence related to the registration identified by the registration identifier in a persistent database during the registration.

Some procedures required in 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) IMS to handle a S-CSCF (Serving Call Session Control Function) service interruption scenario with minimum impact to the service to the end user are described in 3GPP technical specification TS 23.380, which specifies how IMS restoration can be supported. Further, 3GPP TS 29.228 and 29.229 define how the information for IMS restoration is exchanged between HSS (Home Subscriber Server) and S-CSCF.
Furthermore 3GPP TS 24.229 includes the support of Globally Routable User Agent URIs (GRUUs), which is defined in RFC5627.
As defined in TS 23.228, section 18.104.22.168a, a Globally Routable User Agent URI (GRUU) is an identity that identifies a unique combination of Public User Identity and user equipment (UE) instance that allows a UE to address a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) request to a specific Public User Identity UE combination instance, as opposed to a Public User Identity, in order to ensure that the SIP request is not forked to another registered UE of the same Public User Identity. There are two types of GRUUs: public GRUUs (P-GRUUs) and temporary GRUUs (T-GRUUs).
P-GRUUs are GRUUs that reveal the Public User Identity of the user and are very long lived. The public GRUU is permanent for the same Address of Record (AoR) (i.e. public user identity) and instance-ID pair.
T-GRUUs are GRUUs that contain a URI that do not reveal the Public User Identity of the user and are valid until the contact is explicitly de-registered or the current registration expires. The temporary GRUU must be changed with every re-registration. And all temporary GRUUs generated for an AoR and instance-ID pair for a registration are valid for the whole period of registration.
The IM CN (IP Multimedia Core Network) subsystem shall support the capability for IMS UEs to obtain both T-GRUUs and P-GRUUs when performing IMS registration, exchange GRUUs using SIP requests and responses and use GRUUs to address SIP requests to specific UEs according to RFC 5627.
As defined in TS 23.228, section 4.6.3, the Serving-CSCF (S-CSCF) performs the session control services for the UE. It maintains a session state as needed by the network operator for support of the services. Within an operators network, different S-CSCFs may have different functionalities. During a registration session, the S-CSCF may perform the following functions:                It may behave as a registrar, i.e. it accepts registration requests and makes its information available through the location server (e.g. HSS).        When a registration request includes an Instance ID with the contact being registered and indicates support for GRUU, the S-CSCF shall assign a unique P-GRUU and a new and unique T-GRUU to the combination of Public User Identity and Instance ID.        If a registration request indicates support for GRUU, the S-CSCF shall return the GRUU set assigned to each currently registered Instance ID.        The S-CSCF shall notify subscribers about registration changes, including the GRUU sets assigned to registered instances.        During registration process, the S-CSCF shall provide policy information, if available, for a Public User Identity from the HSS to the P-CSCF and/or UE.
The SIP registrar (in IMS it is the S-CSCF, as mentioned above) delivers both P-GRUU and T-GRUU in Contact header in 200 OK response to REGISTER request.
Each Public User Identity (i.e. Address of Record (AoR)) may have one or more Globally Routable User Agent URIs (GRUUs). As mentioned above, there are two types of GRUU, P-GRUUs and T-GRUUs which are associated with Public User Identities and are generated and assigned to the UE together during registrations and re-registration in a pair of one P-GRUU and one T-GRUU. Each pair of a P-GRUU and a T-GRUU is associated with one Public User Identity and one UE.
During subsequent re-registrations the same P-GRUU will be assigned to the UE but a new and different T-GRUU will be generated and assigned. After a re-registration all the previous T-GRUUs generated during the period of this registration are all still valid. A UE may retain some or all of the previous T-GRUUs obtained during the initial registration or previous re-registrations along with the new T-GRUU or the UE may replace some or all of the previous T-GRUUs with the new T-GRUU. The current set of the P-GRUU and all T-GRUUs which are currently valid during this registration period is referred to here as the GRUU set. If a UE registers (explicitly or implicitly) with multiple Public User Identities, a separate GRUU set is associated with each. If different UEs register with the same Public User Identity, a different GRUU set is associated with each.
FIG. 1 shows the relationship of Public User Identities, GRUUs, and UEs as defined in TS 23.228.
As shown in FIG. 1, each GRUU is associated with a certain Address of Record (AoR) (i.e. public user identity) and instance-ID pair. And each pair has a GRUU set (one P-GRUU and multiple T-GRUUs). All GRUUs in this set can be seen as equivalent. The S-CSCF is able to identify the GRUU set of a P-GRUU, because 3GPP requires that a P-GRUU must be generated from AoR+instance-ID. So when a P-GRUU is received, the S-CSCF can identify the GRUU set of the P-GRUU. And AoR+instance-ID can already be stored in HSS and can be restored during the existing IMS restoration procedure.
In a similar manner, this can also be done for T-GRUU even if 3GPP doesn't specify any algorithm to generate the T-GRUU. As long as AoR+Instance-ID can be retrieved from a received T-GRUU, the GRUU set of the T-GRUU can be identified. But this is not enough because the validation of the T-GRUU is also bound to Call-ID and Cseq (command sequence) values of the registration of the AoR+Instance-ID pair.
As defined in RFC 3261, Call-ID contains a globally unique identifier for this call.
CSeq or Command Sequence contains an integer and a method name. The CSeq number is incremented for each new request within a dialog and is a traditional sequence number.
Further, the address-of-record (AOR) is a SIP or SIPS URI that points to a domain with a location service that can map the URI to another URI where the user might be available. Typically, the location service is populated through registrations. An AoR is frequently thought of as the "public address" of the user.
Further, as defined in TS 24.229, an instance ID is an URN (Uniform Resource Name) generated by the device that uniquely identifies a specific device amongst all other devices, and does not contain any information pertaining to the user. The public user identity together with the instance ID uniquely identifies a specific UA instance.
Currently, the algorithm defined in RFC5627 doesn't support the retrieval of AoR, instance-ID, Call-ID and CSeq values from the T-GRUU.
Further, based on the current concept for IMS restoration procedure defined by 3GPP, the S-CSCF can store the latest Contact header of REGISTER response in HSS, which will overwrite the previous Contact header stored in HSS. Though the latest T-GRUU can be stored in HSS and can be restored at S-CSCF, all previously generated T-GRUUs are lost and cannot be restored.

Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) restoration support for temporary globally routable user agent uniform resource identifier (GRUU)