The invention is an algorithmic method that can be used for the fundamental task of optimally spelling the pitches of any given musical scale. The method consists of generating all potential solutions containing all possible spellings for the pitch classes in a given input sequence (numbers of which represent any randomly compiled subset of the chromatic scale), and subjecting them to five filtering stages to find the correct solution. The invention can be used in spelling all possible scales that can be derived from the chromatic scale, in addition to conventional major and minor scales.

In the known state of art, US20040216586 A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,831,219 B1 and 5,675,100 A patent documents have been encountered. In the patent document numbered US20040216586 A1; an algorithmic method called ps13 is described. The subject method calculates the correct pitch name of the notes in tonal musical passages, given the start time and the MIDI note number for each note in the passage only. The pitch name prediction with the method has 99.33% accuracy. In the patent document numbered U.S. Pat. No. 6,831,219 B1; an alternative system related to chromatic music notation. This system is based on the correlation of colours to the tones of a musical scale. In the patent document numbered U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,100 A; a system and method related to music printing information by making an improvement on the classic MIDI standard is described.
On the account of spelling the pitches, there is no method for scales other than the major and minor scales established in music theory. Additionally, determination of the convenience of the spellings of those other scales by subjective decisions, different spellings for the same scale in different publications and this causing an inconsistency especially in the publications aiming at compiling and publishing musical scale types are the present issues in the art.
In the computerized usage in the prior art, aiming at the notation of the five pitches other than the natural ones, either all of them were being shown as sharp or flat, or a fixed setting to cause generally incorrect results was determining which of the five would be shown as sharp or flat. Applications in which one could choose a major/minor tonality could only notate the chosen major or minor scale properly.
With the subject invention, a general method has been created which provides for the spelling of the pitches of thousands of scales that can be arbitrarily chosen as subsets of the chromatic scale alongside hundreds of known scales, in addition to conventional major and minor scales, and a computer application has been also made. Thereby, a solution that can eliminate the above listed issues is set forth.

Algorithmic method for spelling the pitches of any musical scale


A device for recovering information from overexposed regions of image recording emulsions in general, and radiographs in particular includes a light-tight housing the outer surface of which is covered with a layer of lead, a source arranged to project ionizing radiation within said housing, and a removeable cassette which, in use, carries the over-exposed radiograph in close contact with a further film for recording the information. The cassette has a light-tight cover which is displaceable to permit exposure of the further film to an image produced by irradiation of the over-exposed radiograph by the source. The method includes irradiating the over-exposed radiograph, placed in close contact with a further film, by means of a device as aforesaid.

The non-destructive examination of a test piece by recording an image produced by the differential absorption of ionizing radiation often results in a radiograph having over-exposed portions. Such over-exposure may be due to characteristics of the test piece, such as dimensional variations (e.g. large variations of thickness), or variations in the coefficients of absorption of the radiation used for different materials in the test piece (e.g. steel, plastics, weld material, wiring, biological tissue etc.). Further the emulsion may be accidentally over-exposed.
Such over-exposed regions may contain important information of which the derivation is desirable or necessary, but due to their excessively high density cannot be interpreted by conventional means. It therefore becomes desirable to transform the high density of blackening in these regions into a density range which will permit interpretation, so as to derive the previously hidden information, in a negatoscope, microscope or densitometer.

Radiographic device and method for recovering information from over-exposed radiographs

European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM)


A self-service terminal, such as an automated teller machine, can have a fascia, a display positioned on the fascia, and a depth sensing camera positioned on the fascia. The camera can capture a video stream of a hand-held document, such as a check, and capture a depth map stream of the hand-held document. A processor positioned in the self-service terminal can sequentially: determine, from the depth map stream, that the document is outside a specified range of distances away from the camera; present, on the display, instructions to reposition the document to be within the specified range of distances away from the camera; determine, from the depth map stream, that the document is within the specified range of distances away from the camera; and automatically capture an image of the document from the video stream.

It can be beneficial to capture an image of a hand-held document at a self-service terminal. There is ongoing effort to improve the image-capturing mechanism, such as by making it smaller, more robust, and with fewer moving parts.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. The configurations shown in the drawings are merely examples, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the inventive subject matter in any manner.

Document imaging using depth sensing camera


A printing press includes an impression cylinder, a seal cylinder, two number printing cylinders, and a transfer cylinder. The distance L1 between the outer circumference of the impression cylinder and the outer circumference of the impression cylinder, and the distance L2 between the outer circumference of the impression cylinder and the outer circumference of the impression cylinder are set longer than the sheet length Lo of the effective printing area of the sheet, and the distance L3 between the outer circumference of the impression cylinder and the outer circumference of the impression cylinder is set shorter than the sum of the effective impression area length La of the impression cylinder and double of length Lb of the notch of the impression cylinder, and an inspection portion for inspecting the sheet supplied to the impression cylinder is also provided.

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No.2000-312975 filed on Oct. 13, 2000 including specification, claims, drawings, and summary is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a printing press, particularly effective when applied in printing of seals and numbers on stock securities or bank notes.
2. Related Art
An example of outline structure of a conventional printing press for printing seals and numbers on stock securities or bank notes is shown in FIG. 9.
As shown in FIG. 9, a paper feeder 110 has a pile board 111 for stacking up sheets 100 on which patterns have been already printed. The paper feeder 110 also includes a feeder board 112 for feeding the sheets 100 on the pile board 111 to a printing unit 120 one by one. At the leading end of the feeder board 112, a swing device 113 is disposed for transferring the sheets 100 to a transfer cylinder 121a.
The transfer cylinder 121a is opposing an impression cylinder 122a of the printing unit 120 through transfer cylinders 121b, 121c. A seal cylinder 123 for printing seals is opposing the impression cylinder 122a. A roller group of an ink feeder 124 is opposing the seal cylinder 123. Number printing cylinders 125a, 127a for printing numbers are opposing the impression cylinder 122a. A roller group of an ink feeder 126a is opposing these number printing cylinders 125a, 127a. A transfer cylinder 121d is opposing the impression cylinder 122a. An impression cylinder 122b is opposing the transfer cylinder 121d. Number printing cylinders 125b, 127b for printing numbers are opposing the impression cylinder 122b. A roller group of an ink feeder 126b is opposing these number printing cylinders 125b, 127b. A delivery cylinder 129 is opposing the impression cylinder 122b.
A sprocket 131 is coaxially disposed on the delivery cylinder 129. A sprocket 132 is provided in a delivery unit 130. A delivery chain 133 is stretched between these sprockets 131 and 132. Delivery grippers 134 are disposed at specified intervals in the delivery chain 133. The delivery unit 130 has piles 135a to 135c for stacking up sheets 100 after printing of seals and numbers.
In such printing press, when the sheets 100, on which patterns are already printed, are transferred onto the transfer cylinder 121 from the pile board 111 of the paper feeder 110 through the feeder board 112, the sheets 100 are transferred to the impression cylinder 122a of the printing unit 120 through the transfer cylinders 121b, 121c, and seals are printed by the seal cylinder 123 and numbers are printed by the number printing cylinders 125a, 127a, and successively they are transferred to the impression cylinder 122b through the transfer cylinder 121d, and numbers are printed by the number printing cylinders 125b, 127b, and they are gripped by the delivery gripper 134 of the delivery unit 130 through the delivery cylinder 129, and conveyed along with running of the delivery chain 133, and discharged onto delivery tables 135a to 135c.
However, such conventional printing press had the following problems.
(1) Since numbers are printed by the numbering cylinder 125a while printing seals on the sheets 100 by the seal cylinder 123, printing by the seal cylinder 123 may be slightly deviated by light vibration while number printing by the number printing cylinder 125a, thereby resulting in wasted paper.
(2) Since gripping of sheets 100 is changed from the impression cylinders 122a, 122b to the transfer cylinder 121d or delivery cylinder 129 while printing numbers on the sheets 100 by the number printing cylinders 127a, 127b, the terminal end of the sheets 100 may be pulled by the number printing cylinders 127a, 127b by the ink while number printing, and gripping failure of sheets 100 may occur in the transfer cylinder 121d or delivery cylinder 129, and the sheets 100 may be dropped, or the terminal end of the sheets 100 may be pulled to the transfer cylinder 121d side or delivery cylinder 129 side, and number printing failure or waste of paper may occur.
Accordingly, a printing press capable of minimizing such loss of sheets 100 has been keenly demanded.
To solve the problems, the printing press of the present invention comprises an impression cylinder for receiving sheet-like object and holding the sheet-like object, a first printing portion for printing the sheet-like object held by the impression cylinder, a second printing portion disposed at transport direction downstream side of the first printing portion for printing the sheet-like objects held by the impression cylinder, a number printing portion disposed at transport direction downstream side of the second printing portion for number printing the sheet-like object held by the impression cylinder, and a transport cylinder disposed at transport direction downstream side of the number printing portion for receiving the sheet-like object held by the impression cylinder, in which the distance between the outer circumference portion of the impression cylinder opposing the first printing portion and the outer circumference portion of the impression opposing the second printing portion and the distance between the outer circumference portion of the impression cylinder opposing the number printing portion and the outer circumference portion of the impression cylinder opposing the transport cylinder are set more than the length in the circumferential direction of the effective printing area of the sheet-like object, the distance between the outer circumference portion of the impression cylinder opposing the first printing portion and the outer circumference portion of the impression cylinder opposing the number printing portion is set less than the total length of the length of the effective impression are of the impression cylinder and double the length between adjacent effective impression areas of the impression cylinder, and an inspecting unit is further provided for inspecting the sheet-like object supplied to the impression cylinder.
This printing press may further comprise an accumulating unit for receiving and accumulating the sheet-like object from the transport cylinder, and a control unit for controlling the number printing portion to stop number printing on the sheet-like object when the sheet-like object do not satisfy the inspection standard on the basis of a signal from the inspecting unit, and controlling the accumulating unit to accumulate in a position different from the sheet-like object satisfying the inspection standard.
This printing press may further comprise the inspecting unit which inspects one side and other side of the sheet-like object.
This printing press may further comprise the inspecting unit which includes a first inspection cylinder rotatably supported, a first inspection camera for inspecting one side of the sheet-like object held in the first inspection cylinder, a second inspection cylinder rotatably supported, and a second inspection camera for inspecting other side of the sheet-like object held in the second inspection cylinder.
This printing press may further comprise the first inspection cylinder and the second inspection cylinder, which can be suction cylinders.
This printing press may further comprise a first contacting unit for attracting the sheet-like object to the first inspection cylinder side between the feed position for feeding the sheet-like object to the first inspection cylinder and the inspection position of the sheet-like object by the first inspection camera, and
a second contacting unit for attracting the sheet-like object to the second inspection cylinder side between the feed position for feeding the sheet-like object to the second inspection cylinder and the inspection position of the sheet-like object by the second inspection camera.
This printing press may further comprise the first contacting unit and the second contacting unit, which can be brushes.


A structure of a sailing boat that allows disabled people to learn how to sail and perform without any danger all maneuvers performed on the great competition sailing boats, consists of a multiple housing (1) realized in the boat (BV), provided with two seats (2, 3) placed in succession, so that a teacher, sitting on the back seat, may check, suggest and correct the maneuvers performed by a disabled person or by a youngster sitting on the front seat, and who may work only with his arms.

The present invention concerns a new structure of a sailing boat that allows disabled people to learn how to sail, and to learn how to perform, without any danger, the same maneuvers done on the great competition sailing boats. Furthermore, the structure according to the present invention has proved to be suitable for instructing beginners, specially youngsters.
It is well known that until today all those people that are disabled at their legsxe2x80x94even if they are able to use their armsxe2x80x94have been kept away from the marvellous world of sailing due to a total lack of floating means equipped and structured in such a way as to allow the presence and the cooperation of the disable person accompanied by a teacher.
Said lack is completely solved by means of the structure of sailing boat according to the present invention, consisting of a multiple housing realized in the boat and provided with two seats in succession so that a teacher, sitting on the back seat, may check, suggest and correct the maneuvers performed by a disabled person or by a young person sitting on the front seat, and who may work only with his arms.
The main feature of the structure according to the present invention consists in that it provides for important social and sports functions which have never before been faced and solved by any existing floating means or sailing boat.

Sailing boat for teaching and for disabled people


A miniature button cell employing an insulating seal and cover support gasket which extends within and parallel to the wall of the cell's container and is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart openings or cavities in its wall thereby providing a reservoir for the cell's electrolyte and/or space to accommodate the reaction products of the cell formed during discharge.

The battery has become a primary power source for many portable electronic devices such as radios, hearing aids, watches, calculators and the like. In order to maintain the overall electronic devices as compact as possible, the electronic devices are usually designed with cavities to accommodate miniature batteries as their power source. The cavities are usually made so that a battery can be snugly positioned therein, thus making electronic contact with appropriate terminals within the device. To accommodate the electronic component manufacturers, the battery industry has adopted several conventional size button cells which the manufacturer can rely upon in designing their devices which require portable power sources. Due to the large number of battery-powered devices on the market, there has been a demand for increased power output capacities of standard size button cells. Accordingly, various anode-cathode couples have been employed so as to provide a sufficient output capacity to operate various devices. A problem has been encountered, however, when the density of the electrode bodies has to be increased in certain cell systems if maximum output power is to be achieved. Consequently, when increasing the density of the electrode bodies, two approaches can be taken; one of which is to maintain the same diameter and reduce the thickness and the other approach is to maintain the same thickness and reduce the diameter. If the diameter is unchanged and the thickness is reduced, an additional provision would have to be made to maintain the same gasket and opposing electrode height while, on the other hand, if the thickness is not changed but the diameter is decreased, a support is definitely needed for the cover. In addition, it was also noted that in certain cell systems it is necessary in order to obtain greater output capacity to add additional electrolyte into the cell. Although the densification of the electrode members would provide additional space for the electrolyte, it would have the disadvantage in that in order to properly seal the cell, it would be necessary to add a support member for the cover of the cell during the sealing operation.
Another major potential problem in certain types of battery power devices is that if the battery bulges, as could occur in miniature alkaline cells, the battery would usually become wedged within the cavity of the device which sometimes can result in damage to the device. One cause of cell bulging or other distortion of the cell's overall physical dimensions is due to the expansion of the cathode and/or formation of reaction products during cell discharge or during abusive discharge conditions.
It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide a compact cell structure that employs a gasket performing the dual function of providing the sealing means which is disposed and compressed between the cell's cover and the cell's container while also providing support means for the cover during the sealing operation while additionally providing longitudinal openings as reservoirs for an additional amount of the cell's electrolyte and/or openings which can accommodate any expansion of the cell's components or reaction products during discharge.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a dual sealing and cover support gasket for use in miniature type button cells.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a gasket for miniature type button cells having a first segment which is disposed and compressed between the rim of the cell's cover and the edge of the cell's container and a second segment extending within the container and substantially parallel to the wall of the cell's container and provided with a plurality of spaced-apart openings or cavities to accommodate additional electrolyte for the cell.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a gasket for miniature type button cells having a first segment which is disposed and composed between the rim of the cell's cover and the edge of the cell's container and a second segment extending within the container and substantially parallel to the wall of the cell's container and provided with a plurality of spaced-apart openings or cavities to accommodate any expansion of the cell's components or reaction products during discharge so as to effectively minimize cell distortion.
The following and additional objects will become more fully apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

Unitary seal and cover support gasket for miniature button cells


A thin film transistor array substrate, a method for manufacturing the same and a display device are provided. The TFT array substrate includes: a substrate, and a gate electrode, a common electrode, a gate insulation layer, an active layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode arranged on the substrate. The TFT array substrate further includes: a pixel electrode, arranged on the gate insulation layer, overlapped with and jointed to the drain electrode; a passivation layer, arranged on the gate insulation layer and a channel between the source and drain electrodes; and a common electrode line, arranged on a plane identical to the pixel electrode.

In order to achieve a high pixel per inch (PPI) and a high production capacity, it is necessary to reduce sizes of TFTs and reduce the number of masks used in the process of manufacturing the TFTs. At present, the process of manufacturing a TFT array substrate includes processes of using 7 masks, 6 masks, 5 masks and 4 masks. It may be understood that, the fewer the masks used in the manufacturing process of the TFT array substrate, the lower the cost thereof will be.

Thin film transistor array substrate, method for manufacturing the same, and display device


A cutting tool and track system includes a multi-segment track assembly configured to be removably attached to a surface of a workpiece, a carriage assembly configured to ride along the track assembly, a carriage drive mechanism arranged to drive the carriage assembly along the track assembly, a cutting tool assembly connected to the carriage assembly, and a tool driving system connected to the cutting tool assembly. The cutting tool assembly rotatably supports an end mill type cutting tool that may be driven in a radial cutting plane about the axis of a tubular workpiece or along a workpiece surface. A method is provided for cutting a workpiece wherein a cutting tool assembly rotatably supports an end mill mounted for travel along a predetermined transport path in a cutting plane about a central axis of the workpiece wherein the end mill is first fed through the wall thickness of the workpiece and the cutting tool assembly is moved along the transport path in the cutting plane to cut the workpiece.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and cutting tool and track system useful for cutting through a workpiece having flat or arcuate surfaces.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Numerous portable cutting tools are known in the art of cutting workpieces having flat and curved surfaces. In relation to cutting pipes, portable pipe cutting tools are typically used in the field where the use of a fixed machining tool is not appropriate or possible. Types of conventional pipe cutting tools include portable lathes such as one described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,591 or roller cutter modules such as one described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,756. Generally, conventional portable pipe cutting tools include a rotary tool head carrying a fixed or rotary cutting tool that is driven in rotation about an axis while otherwise fixedly supported relative to the pipe by clamps or a mandrel. Normally, a single-point tool is fed around and into the pipe repeatedly to remove a small amount of material each pass until the pipe is cut through, which in the case of a thick wall may consume a considerable amount of time.
In conventional pipe cutting tools, it is a challenge to locate and support the cutting tool so that smooth and true machining operations can be performed at high tool loadings, while maintaining bearing assemblies free of gross contamination such as chips generated during the machining operation. High radial and thrust loads are encountered during high speed machining of thick walled pipe made of stainless steel and other hard materials, and such machining loads require the use of massive and complicated tool support assemblies.
Known pipe cutting tools are typically designed to fit pipe sizes within certain ranges. Furthermore, such tools may be limited to cutting only pipes and therefore lack the versatility to perform cutting operations on flat or arcuate surfaces.
Another known approach to cutting workpieces, especially larger pieces, involves the use of track guidance systems that comprise a drive track for guiding and feeding a cutting tool along the surface of a workpiece. Conventional track systems known in the art include large structural track systems encircling and rigidly secured to a workpiece such as one a described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,061, track systems that are connected to structural members not supported directly onto a workpiece such as one described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,133 or lightweight track systems such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,570,542 and 6,494,307 that are directly attached to a workpiece with magnets or suctions cups. It has been found, however, that conventional cutting tool and track systems are either not easily and quickly attachable or removable from a workpiece or insufficiently robust to withstand the rigors of high speed, high load machining.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a metal cutting tool and track guidance system that is highly portable, while sufficiently robust to withstand high machining loads and configured to be rigidly secured to a workpiece. It is also desirable to provide a cutting tool and guidance track system that is capable of being quickly and easily attached and removed from a workpiece having flat as well as curved surfaces. It is further desirable to provide a cutting tool and track guidance system which can accommodate a variety of workpieces whether tubular, flat or arcuate, and precisely cut through such workpieces in a minimal amount of time.


According to various embodiments, there may be provided an electronic device including a housing having a plurality of sides, a first conductive member constructing at least part of the plurality of sides, a second conductive member disposed inside the housing, a first sensor circuit which provides a first output indicating a first capacitance value related to the first conductive member and/or a change to the first capacitance value, a second sensor circuit which provides a second output indicating a second capacitance value related to the second conductive member and/or a change to the second capacitance value, and a control circuit which receives the first and second outputs from the first and second sensor circuits. In addition, other embodiments are also possible.

With the development of electronic communication technologies, electronic devices having various functions have recently been introduced. In general, the electronic devices have various functions which complexly perform one or more functions.
Recently, with a significant decrease in a functional gap of each manufacturer, electronic devices have become slimmer to satisfy purchasing needs of consumers, and there is an effort to improve rigidity of the electronic device and to make it slim while enhancing a design aspect. As one way of such a trend, there is a competition to prevent radiation performance deterioration and exhibit excellent performance while efficiently securing a space for disposing at least one antenna device which must be essentially provided for communication among components of the electronic device.

Antenna device and electronic device comprising same


The present invention is directed to an indirect ophthalmoscopic system for imaging of the ocular fundus including a headband configured to hold a digital imaging device and a plus eyepiece lens in front of an eye of the examiner, with the plus eyepiece lens positioned in between the digital imaging device and the examiner's eye, such that the examiner is focused upon the display of the digital imaging device. The aperture of the digital imaging device receives light reflected from the ocular fundus of the patient's eye, emanating from the patient's pupil. The examiner examines the patient and composes the image of the ocular fundus directly in the display screen. In this way, what the examiner sees is captured by the digital imaging device. Stereoscopic imagery is obtained by optical means that create side-by-side virtual images of the aperture of the digital imaging device within the pupil of the eye.

Ocular fundus imaging is used to examine and record images of internal structures in the back the eye (the ocular fundus), including structures such as the retina, optic disc, macula, and posterior pole. Fundus imaging can be used to detect and monitor diseases that affect the eye. Conventional table-top fundus imaging devices are impractical for some patients, such as infants, young children, and bedridden patients who cannot hold still or maneuver into the necessary position for proper eye alignment with the camera. Many portable hand-held fundus cameras are very expensive and are difficult or awkward to use. A hand-held camera can be used in an indirect ophthalmoscope arrangement but still needs a condensing lens held in the other hand. This occupies both hands of the examiner, with manipulation of the lids or scleral depression by the second hand no longer being possible. In addition, most ophthalmologists are not accustomed to such a bi-manual camera aiming technique. A head-mounted indirect ophthalmoscope with an integrated camera is ideal, but existing such devices have flaws that affect image quality. For instance, one such existing head-mounted indirect ophthalmoscope with an integrated camera places the effective camera aperture between the effective apertures of the examiner's two pupils. Consequently, this indirect ophthalmoscope with an integrated camera can allow the examiner to obtain a good monocular view, but the instrument can be easily misaligned for the camera, causing vignetting and poor quality images. Also, stereoscopic imaging of the ocular fundus is not possible with existing head-mounted indirect ophthalmoscopes.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a fundus imaging device, using manipulation that is familiar to, and easily used by the ophthalmologist that provides reliable, quality images.

Head-mounted indirect opthalmoscope camera


An in-tank fuel pump and reservoir canister module having a fuel filter mounted in the module base adjacent the bottom of the tank and defining a filter chamber having an outlet connected to the inlet of an electric fuel pump received directly in the tank exteriorly alongside of an upright overflow-type reserve fuel canister. A canister bottom outlet is closed by a flow controlling valve and/or by an always-open restricted orifice communicating with the filter chamber for returning engine bypassed reserve fuel from the canister reservoir to the pump inlet, either continuously and/or only when a low level supply of fuel in the tank to the filter is interrupted. The valve is operated by a diaphragm portion of the filter, base-mounted between the canister outlet and filter chamber and also communicating directly with the tank, the valve opening against the bias of a coil spring in response to pump suction acting on a capillary seal formed on the diaphragm filter to thereby allow reserve fuel to flow into the filter chamber. At system shut-down a filter backwash flow can occur from the canister reservoir. The pump rotary vane impeller chamber has an internal vapor purging passageway communicating at its outlet directly with the interior of the tank so as not to be subjected to any anti-purging gravity pressure head differential existing between the fuel level in the canister reservoir versus that of the main body of fuel in the tank.

Modern fuel delivery systems for automotive vehicles with engines having fuel injectors have utilized an electrically driven fuel pump in the vehicle main fuel tank. Typically, the electric fuel pump is mounted either directly in the vehicle tank, or is mounted within a reservoir canister received in the tank as shown for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,747,388; 4,807,582; 4,831,990; 4,893,647; and 4,964,787. The canister reservoir supplies fuel to the pump in the event there is an interruption in the availability of fuel from the tank, such as when, under low fuel level conditions, cornering of the vehicle causes sloshing or movement of the fuel away from the pump inlet and to one side or the other of the tank, and/or when the tank is excessively tilted by vehicle inclination on severe grades, or when essentially all of the fuel in the main tank has been consumed or used. Typically, the output of the fuel pump is greater than that required by the vehicle engine and the excess fuel is either returned from the fuel injectors to the tank or to the in-tank canister reservoir.
Typically, in a no-return fuel system, there is only one fuel supply line between the fuel pump module and an engine fuel rail or manifold distributing fuel to the individual fuel injectors, and downstream of the fuel injectors there is no line returning unused fuel from the rail or manifold to the fuel tank. In such non-return fuel systems excess fuel is bypassed directly to the tank or canister reservoir, typically by a pressure regulator usually located closely downstream of the pump outlet within the tank or canister, or by a return line to the tank or canister when the regulator is exteriorly remote from the tank.
Generally speaking two types of electrically driven rotary fuel pumps have hitherto been used in the vehicle main fuel tank for pumping liquid fuels to the fuel injectors of the automotive vehicle engine, namely a turbine type vane pump or a positive displacement pump. One preferred form of a positive displacement gear rotor type electric fuel pump is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,995, and a suitable turbine regenerative fuel pump is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,916.
Such in-tank vehicle fuel pumps must be capable of operating in a wide range of ambient temperatures. It is necessary that a low pressure be created in the entry to the pump chamber in order to draw fuel into the pumping chamber. This reduced pressure alone may cause a change in state of the fuel from liquid to vapor at elevated temperatures and significantly reduce the efficiency of the pump.
In another condition as, for example, when a vehicle has been operating and then the engine shut off for a period, the fuel line between the pump and fuel injectors full of liquid fuel under pressure whereas the fuel in the pump can be completely vaporized due to the elevated temperature in the fuel tank and pump itself. Thus, when the engine is restarted, the pump is full of vapor and even the fuel in the entrance filter may be vaporized. The pump cannot, under these conditions, generate enough pressure to move the fuel in the pressurized fuel supply line.
Accordingly, both of the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,697,995 and 5,257,916 disclose a rotary pump construction with a built-in vapor purging system which will enable the pump to operate under the conditions above described without interruption of the fuel supply, with one major exception. However, in accordance with the present invention it has been found that a turbine type vane pump when disposed within an in-tank canister reservoir does not operate satisfactorily to sufficiently purge itself of vapor under adverse temperature or other vapor-inducing conditions. Due to the preferred location and size of the vapor purge port in the first or pre-channel zone and the inherent operating characteristics of the turbine pump, only a small amount of vapor pressure build up can be produced by such a pump at the pump vapor purge port. Hence, unlike the positive displacement pumps employed within the in-tank canister reservoirs, it has been found that such a vane type pump cannot purge itself of vapor in the pumping channel if the pressure differential between the pump inlet and the vapor port outlet exceeds about 21/2 inches of water.
This constraint as to self-purging of vapor does not apply to positive displacement gear rotor pumps of the aforementioned type since they characteristically pump both fuel vapor and air very well. Hence, when mounted inside an in-tank fuel reservoir canister and provided with a vapor purging port communicating with the column of fuel in the canister and located at approximately the elevation of the rotary pump chamber, such positive displacement pumps can purge vapor into the canister against a gravity fuel differential pressure head ranging from say six on up to ten or twelve inches, as when the canister reservoir is full and the gravity head at the pump inlet exerted by the body of fuel in the tank exterior to the canister reservoir is very low.
Nevertheless, some OEM automotive vehicle manufacturers have preferred turbine vane fuel pumps for use in fuel tanks over gear rotor positive displacement pumps for a variety of reasons, even though they have had to forsake the advantages of a canister reservoir-type reserve supply of fuel for preventing starvation of fuel supply to the turbine pump from the main tank in order to obtain vapor self-purging operation. In an attempt to make up for this lack of the preferred selectable alternative canister reserve supply of fuel, such as that provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,747,388, some automotive manufacturers have mounted turbine vane fuel pumps in specially configured fuel tanks with the pump inlet submerged in a so-called "swirl pot", i.e., a molded-in basin in the tank bottom in an attempt to maintain an adequate body of fuel in the vicinity of the fuel pump inlet to prevent pump starvation. However such swirl pots are still subject to being emptied by severe vehicle cornering or excessive vehicle inclination, as well as when essentially all of the fuel of the main tank has been consumed or used. Such swirl pots also inherently must be limited in their length, width and depth dimensions, thereby imposing a further constraint on the bulk of the fuel pump and associated filter package which can be accommodated in such swirl pots.
Despite such hitherto prevailing limitations, some OEM automotive vehicle manufacturers have preferred to use turbine vane-type fuel pumps over gear rotor positive displacement pumps for in-tank mounting because such turbine vane pumps generally are quieter and smoother running, and also have low tank fuel level operation performance characteristics preferred by such vehicle manufacturers over those of gear rotor positive displacement pumps. With a typical positive displacement gear rotor fuel pump, such as that disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,916, when the pump encounters like conditions with a large presence of vapor in the pump chamber, the positive displacement pump will continue to pump liquid fuel but will also pump vapor as well. When this condition occurs the fuel pumped to the engine contains vapor and/or air entrained with liquid fuel. This will cause the vehicle engine to spit and stumble or otherwise run rough even though the engine continues to run on this vapor and liquid fuel mixture. However, because of constraints imposed by engine control unit (ECU) operational characteristics and exhaust emission requirements, several vehicle manufacturers would prefer to see the instantaneous shut off characteristic under extreme low tank fuel level conditions of the turbine vane fuel pump, wherein the pump ceases pumping any fuel.


Method and apparatus for sustaining process temperature measurement with respect to a lead wire break. A resistance temperature device can include a group of lead wire arms including lead wire arms of a first lead wire type and a second lead wire type. An operation can occur to automatically switch from a first lead wire type configuration to a second lead wire type configuration in the resistance temperature device having the plurality of lead wire arms including the first lead wire type and the second lead wire type, if one or more wire breaks occurs in one or more the lead wire arms.

Industrial process control and monitoring systems are used to monitor and/or control industrial processes. For example, a process variable such as pressure, temperature, flow, etc., of a process fluid can be measured by a process variable transmitter. This information allows an operator to monitor operation of the process. Further, the measured process variable can be used as an input to a control algorithm and used to control operation of the process.
In many instances, the process variable transmitter is located at a remote location and transmits information back to a central location over a process control loop. The process control loop can include, for example, a two wire process control loop in which the process variable is transmitted in an analog manner, for example, based upon a 4-20 mA current level flowing through the loop or a digital manner to the central location. The same two wires can be used to provide power to the process variable transmitter. Another example process control loop is a wireless control loop in which data is transmitted wirelessly.
One type of process variable which is measured is temperature. Various types of temperature sensors are used to measure temperature. One type of temperature sensor is a resistance based temperature sensor known as an RTD. The resistance of the RTD varies as a function of temperature. Typically, the resistance is accurately measured using a Kelvin connection to the RTD in which a first pair of wires carry a current and a second pair of wires are used to measure a voltage drop across the RTD. If one of the connections degrades, inaccurate temperature measurements may be obtained and maintenance must be performed.
RTD sensors are thus temperature-sensing devices in which the resistance of an RTD sensor increases with temperature. Regardless of the type of wiring configuration, at times, there may be poor connections on any of the terminals wires, which can lead to measurement errors. In the case of a 3 or 4 wire RTD, when one or more of the 3 or 4 wires of the RTD breaks, the temperature measuring field transmitter enters a failsafe condition and no temperature measurement is provided until the break is rectified. Such as a sensor wire break can negatively impact plant operations, for example, until the break is repaired or dealt with in some manner.

System and apparatus for sustaining process temperature measurement for RTD lead wire break


The present invention is related to recycling of fermentable and metabolizable biomass materials for sequentially performing a cultivation of fungal cells and for producing biogas by anaerobic fermentation of said biomass materials.

Many traditional energy sources, such as e.g. fossil fuels, are being depleted faster than new ones are being made. Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources because they take millions of years to form. Also, use of fossil fuels raises serious environmental concerns. Renewable energy sources represent a promising alternative to many traditional energy sources. Biomass represents one source of renewable energy.
If biomass energy is to have a long-term, commercial future, the organic material must be processed to generate affordable, clean and efficient energy forms, such as liquid and gaseous fuels, or electricity. Biomass processing is important to ensure an efficient exploitation of the biomass energy. However, the energy potential can often be difficult to exploit. An increased exploitation of the energy potential of a biomass may result in an increased production of renewable energy sources, such as biogas.
Additionally, spent biomass materials having a reduced organic nitrogen content can be upgraded, sanitized and re-used in the production of many edible products.
Extensive scientific and engineering work has been conducted on the biogasification of waste materials. The fundamental technique relies on an anaerobic digestion or fermentation process. However, anaerobic microorganisms responsible for methanogenesis are inhibited by ammonia and methanogenesic anaerobic bacteria are inhibited by and cease to metabolise nutrients effectively at high ammonia concentration levels.
The problems associated with ammonia inhibition have made currently available technical solutions difficult to operate—especially when using biomasses containing relatively high amounts of nitrogen.
To mitigate these problems, it has been attempted to control the carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio of the biomass material subjected to fermentation. However, state-of-the-art solutions continue to suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, adjusting the ammonia concentration in a reactor by adjusting the C/N ratio of the biomass is a slow process, and adjusting the C/N ratio may prove insufficient when handling biomasses prone to generating relatively high ammonia concentrations during anaerobic digestion.
Lime pressure cooking and ammonia stripping has been disclosed as a way to reduce the amount of organic and inorganic nitrogen present in a biomass to be subjected to anaerobic fermentation. Reference is made e.g. to U.S. Pat. No. 7,883,884.
Furthermore, many complex biomasses contain macromolecular constituents which are difficult to metabolize for microbial organisms traditionally involved in the production of biogas. In particular, macromolecular constituents, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignocellulose and lignin, are present in many biomass materials and can only be metabolized to a limited extent during a biogas fermentation process.
There is a need for improved and more cost effective pre-treatment methods for rendering the afore-mentioned, recalcitrant biomass material constituents more accessible for many microbial organisms present during different stages of a biogas production.

Method for cycling biomasses between mushroom cultivation and anaerobic biogas fermentation, and for separating and drying a degassed biomass


A spring-supported electric contact device including a track mounting sapce in a lower part of a vehicle body for a flexible track passing through, a seesaw plastic frame pivotably fastened in an open chamber in the vehicle body beneath the track mounting space and having one end supported on a conical spring, an electric contact assembly consisted of two spaced pairs of contact nails electrical connected to the motor drive by an electric wire and fastened to the seesaw plastic frame and constantly disposed in contact with respective metallic electrical conductor strips on the flexible track to connect DC electricity supplied by a DC adapted from city power to the motor drive.

The present invention relates to self-propelled toy vehicle and track assemblies and more particularly to a spring-supported electric contact device for a self-propelled toy vehicle with a flexible track which passes through the vehicle for controlled vehicle travel therealong.
Toy vehicle and track assemblies in which a toy vehicle moves along a continuous track are well known, and several types of toy track and vehicle assemblies are currently available. These toy vehicle and track assemblies commonly use a battery DC power source installed in the toy vehicle to provide electricity to a respective motor drive so that they can be propelled to travel along a respective track. However, it is no economic to use a battery DC power source for providing electricity to the motor drive of a toy vehicle and track assembly because a battery DC power source will be used up within a short length of time when the toy vehicle is continuously propelled. Furthermore, waste battery will cause a severe environmental pollution problem. Therefore, it has become the inevitable way to get DC power from city power supply for the motor drive of a toy vehicle and track assembly through a DC adapter. By reversing the adapter or changing its phase, the vehicle is controlled to move forward or backward along the track. However, using city power supply through a DC adapter for the motor drive of a toy vehicle and track assembly is still not easy. There is still a key technical problem not satisfactorily settled. This problem is the stable electric contact between the track and the vehicle body while the vehicle is running and maneuvering on the track.

Spring-supported electric contact device for toy vehicle and track assemblies


A multi-modular power plant includes a plurality of on-site nuclear power modules that generate a power plant output, and a number of power plant systems which operate using electricity associated with a house load of the power plant. A switchyard associated with the power plant may electrically connect the power plant to a distributed electrical grid. The distributed electrical grid may be configured to service a plurality of geographically distributed consumers. Additionally, the switchyard may electrically connect the power plant to a dedicated electrical grid. The dedicated electrical grid may provide electricity generated from the power plant output to a dedicated service load, and the power plant output may be equal to or greater than a combined load of the dedicated service load and the house load. At least a portion of the power plant output may be distributed to both the power plant systems and the dedicated electrical grid.

Energy demand for certain types of facilities may require a continuous, or near continuous, uninterrupted energy supply with a high level of reliability that the required amount of energy will be available as needed. Some types of facilities may meet their energy reliability requirements by providing a primary energy source, such as a coal or natural gas-fired power plant, together with a backup source of energy, such as a diesel generator and/or batteries. However, there is rapidly increasing concern regarding the environmental impacts of coal and natural gas emissions, which may significantly curtail or preclude their use for power production in the future. Additionally, the backup sources of energy may have a limited energy supply that is intended to operate for a finite time period and/or only provide sufficient power for limited services. A loss of off-site power that exceeds the relatively short time period may result in an interruption of the energy supply that the facility is reliant upon for continued operation.
Known nuclear power plants may also be designed with one or more backup sources of energy that may be used to provide power in the event of a loss of off-site power. Additionally, many nuclear power plants are being designed to perform a non-safety trip in the event of a loss of power, such that the reactor may be shut down and cooled using passive techniques such as gravity, natural circulation and other laws of physics. Nevertheless, the non-safety trip of a nuclear reactor may require a significant number of reactor and/or plant safety functions to perform as expected while the reactor shuts down. Although remote in probability, reactor designs may need to take into account the various scenarios in which one or more of the safety functions may not perform as expected, thereby potentially increasing the cost and complexity of the reactor design.
This application addresses these and other problems.

Multi-modular power plant with dedicated electrical grid


A wiring board is machined by providing a light shielding body for shielding a portion of a laser beam in a light path between a laser oscillator and a machining lens, irradiating the laser beam onto the light shielding body, and introducing a non-shielded portion of the laser beam having passed through the light shielding body to the machining lens.

FIG. 14 is a simulated view for explanation of the conventional technology. In FIG. 14, designated at the reference numeral 1 is a laser oscillator, at 2 a laser beam oscillated from the laser beam 1, at 3a, 3b bend mirrors each for bending the laser beam 2 oscillated from the laser oscillator 1, at 4 an image transferring mask having an aperture smaller than that of a diameter of the laser beam in a central section thereof, at 5 a galvano-mirror, at 6 a transmission type of optical component such as an f-.theta. lens, and at 7 a wiring board as an object to be machined.
In FIG. 14, a laser beam 2 oscillated from the laser scillator 1 is bent by the bend mirror 3a and goes into the image transferring mask 4. At this point of time, the laser beam 2 has a diameter larger than the aperture diameter of the image transferring mask 4 and is taken out by a desired amount of energy or as a desired form of beam through the image transferring mask 4. The laser beam 2 having passed through the image transferring mask 4 is bent by the bend mirror 3b, guided to a specified position of the f-.theta. lens 6 by the galvano-mirror 5, and also guided to the wiring board 7, whereby a hole is pierced through the wiring board 7.
It is well known that a laser beam has a different intensity distribution, as indicated by reference signs .alpha., .beta., .gamma. shown in FIG. 15A, according to a position after the laser beam is passed through the lens. Namely, FIG. 15A shows a laser beam 2 at each of the positions indicated by the reference signs .alpha., .beta., .gamma. after the beam is passed through the f-.theta. lens 6, FIG. 15B shows a beam intensity distribution at each of the positions such as at a position indicated by .alpha., namely a focal position, at a position indicated by .beta., and at a position indicated by .gamma. each shown in FIG. 15A, and FIG. 15C is a view showing a form of a machined hole in the wiring board 7 at each of the positions indicated by .alpha., .beta., .gamma. shown in FIG. 15A according to each beam intensity.
Generally, in a case where hole-piercing is executed in the wiring board 7, the wiring board 7 is placed at a position indicated by .alpha. in FIG. 15A, namely at a focal position. In this case, the intensity distribution of the laser beam 2 is flat as shown in FIG. 15B, and as a result, it is possible to machine a hole with a high degree of roundness and is straight in the direction of the board thickness of the wiring board 7 therein as indicated by .alpha. in FIG. 15C.
On the other hand, in a case where the wiring board 7 is placed at a position indicated by .beta. in FIG. 15A, this situation is called a defocusing state, and the laser beam 2 is irradiated to the wiring board 7 as indicated by .beta. in FIG. 15B with the intensity distribution thereof like that by the laser beam 2 with reduced converging characteristic, and for this reason it can be recognized that a tapered hole in which the diameter is large in the upper side of the hole and is small in the lower side thereof is formed, as indicated by .beta. in FIG. 15C.
Further, in a case where the wiring board 7 is placed at a position indicated by .gamma. in FIG. 15A, the intensity distribution of the beam is like that by .gamma. in FIG. 15B, and a tapered angle of the machined hole can be increased as indicated by .gamma. in FIG. 15C. As described above, it is possible to easily change a tapered angle of a machined hole according to increase or decrease of a defocusing rate, so that in recent years, this method has become more and more popular and been used for actual industrial purposes.
In a case where the board is machined in the defocusing state, however, a degree of roundness of a machined hole therein is degraded due to astigmatism in a transmission type of optical components such as an f-.theta. lens or the like.
It is also difficult to vertically adjust the axis of the laser beam after passing through the f-.theta. lens to the wiring board in the area covering all inciding positions of the laser beam to the f-.theta. lens, and for this reason, a positional displacement of a machined hole is generated even if the identical position is tried to be machined in a case of machining the hole at the focal position as well as in a case of machining it in the defocusing state. Accordingly, it is required to correct a positional displacement each time when the defocusing rate is changed, which causes increase of needless works.

Method and device for machining a wiring board utilizing light shielding of a laser beam to select a machined tapering


A novel method of applying paints and other coatings is disclosed which can be carried out by forcibly inserting a cloud of coating particles carried by at least one inert gas into a laser beam attenuated by defocusing. At least one of the inert gases serves as a shield against combustion and can be directed downwardly in addition to a sideway spreading and spraying action. The pressure of the inert gas pushes the particles down onto the substrate. As soon as the particles are energized by the laser beam, they melt and begin to flow while at that exact instant, the coating particles come into contact with the substrate to avoid any possible dissipation of the laser energy. The coating material compositions can be altered by increasing the melting time of the particles even though a short melting time is preferred for achieving a fast coating process.

In typical applications of liquid or powdered coatings, problems encountered include the use of volatile organic contaminants to suspend the coating solids, the overspray and the necessity of masking to assure accurate coverage, and the use of large amount of thermal energy in curing. These problems are costly in terms of pollution abatement, high labor content, and high energy consumption. The abatement of volatile organic contaminants is strictly controlled by the EPA in terms of pollution control and possible exposure to toxins. Strict adherence to EPA guidelines by the manufacturers is both costly and time consuming.
The accurate control of coating coverage is frequently difficult and requires extensive masking even in more advanced coating techniques such as the electrostatic coating. The application and removal of masking is time consuming and labor intensive. Another poor use of time and energy is the necessity of curing a coating in a hot air oven.
In an effort to overcome the drawbacks encountered in conventional coating techniques, coating methods by using laser have been developed in recent years. These techniques normally utilize laser for curing an already applied coating on a substrate. The laser energy is used very inefficiently since the exact location of the laser beam and its energy distribution are not taken into consideration. For instances in curing a coating having a high melting point, the curing point is set at or near the focus point of the laser in order to achieve a high power density. In curing a coating having lower power requirements, the laser beam is defocused which makes the thermal transfer less efficient. The only available process control is to increase the power level in order to overcome any curing problems.
The presently available laser curing techniques do not utilize gas flows to carry a coaxial flow from a lens to a substrate. Some laser techniques require the operation to be conducted in sealed atmospheric chambers which is not a practical approach for high volume productions. For instance, one existing method of laser curing of powder coating applies a thin layer of powders on a substrate first and then irradiates a laser beam over the powders. Since the laser beam causes the powders to draw together, several successive layers of powders must be applied and the laser beam must be used to pass over the coating several times. This makes a continuous process or a process capable of accurate thickness control very difficult. In coating high temperature powders such as those containing metal particles or refractory materials, a laser beam first forms a molten pool of the substrate and then powder is sprayed directly onto the molten area. As a result, the substrate material is frequently damaged by the intense heat.
Other laser coating techniques involve the use of powder coatings that contain special laser light absorbers mixed into the powder in order to increase the absorption of laser energy. This is only necessary because of the inefficient use of laser energy in conventional laser coating techniques, where most of the energy is wasted. Still other conventional laser coating techniques involve the use of high energy densities and relatively low coating speeds. Powders are applied either electrostatically or simply sprayed on with poor repeatability. A slow laser scanning speed is necessary in order to ensure that all the powder is melted in one pass. The powder can also be indirectly heated from below by the heat transferred from the substrate. It is therefore not possible, using a conventional laser curing technique, to coat plastic substrates except at slow speeds and at small powder thicknesses. Since the laser is applied to the powders inefficiently, an excessive amount of heat must be generated in order to carry out a conventional laser coating technique.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for using a laser in coatings that do not have the shortcomings and the drawbacks of the prior art laser coating methods.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for using a laser in coatings that do not require the processing step of first applying a layer of powder on a substrate prior to the application of laser energy.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for using a laser in coatings in which a coating powder is first energized with laser energy before it is applied and fused to a substrate.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for using a laser in coatings by forcibly inserting a cloud of coating particles into a laser beam attenuated by defocusing.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for using a laser in coatings by first providing an inert gas to form a cloud of coating particles suspended in the gas in such a way that the inert gas serves as a shield against combustion.
It is another further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for using a laser in coatings by first providing an inert gas to form a cloud of coating particles suspended in the gas and energized by a laser beam such that the coating particles can be directed downwardly toward a substrate in addition to the sideway spreading of the particles.
It is still another further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for using a laser in coatings wherein coating particles suspended in an inert gas begin to melt and flow as soon as the particles are energized by a laser beam.
It is yet another further object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for using a laser in coatings wherein coating particles suspended in an inert gas begin to melt and flow as soon as they are energized by a laser beam such that the particles adhere to a substrate instantly.


A receptacle and printed circuit board combination for receiving a telecommunications plug and achieving electrical connection between the plug and the printed circuit board is provided. The combination occupies a minimum required amount of space and requires a minimum amount of material. The combination comprises an insulating housing, a plurality of electrical contacts, and a printed circuit board, wherein the housing and circuit board form a plug receiving opening. The printed circuit board has a cut-out portion for receiving the receptacle. Preferably, the receptacle further comprises two latches extending from a bottom surface of the housing for mounting the receptacle on the circuit board, wherein the cutout portion of the circuit board receives the peg. In certain preferred embodiments, the housing further comprises two ledges, each extending from a sidewall of the housing. In additional preferred embodiments, the ledges have respective ledge extensions extending down from the ledges at the front of the housing to help anchor the receptacle in place on the circuit board by making contact with a leading edge of the circuit board. In other preferred embodiments, the ledge extensions have respective lips extending from the ledge extensions toward each other such that the receptacle can receive a latch arm of the telecommunications plug.

Electrical connector receptacles for receiving telecommunications data/voice line plugs are most commonly used to interconnect telephone lines. Such telecommunication jacks are used to connect telephone lines and telephones (transmitting voice signals) or telephone lines and computers (transmitting data and/or voice signals).
U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,497 describes a connector receptacle of a type which is intended for use in the telephone industry. This receptacle comprises an insulating housing having a plug-receiving end and a plug-receiving opening extending into the plug-receiving end. A plurality of circular openings extend through the housing from the plug-receiving end to the rearward end of the housing and contact springs extending from these circular openings diagonally into the plug-receiving opening so that when a plug is inserted into the receptacle, the contact members on the plug engage the contact springs. The contact springs are in the form of wires and are connected by means of crimped electrical connections to lead wires. These crimped connections are contained in the circular openings in the housing and the lead wires extend from the circular openings and away from the housing at the rearward end thereof. The most commonly used type of connector plug which is intended to be mated with connector receptacles of the type described above is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,320.
The connector receptacle described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,497 has been widely adopted in the telephone industry and other equipment such as data processing equipment which may be installed adjacent to a telephone exchange, personal computers, and similar equipment. The use of these connector receptacles in such related equipment often requires that the receptacle be mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB), also referred to as a printed wiring board (PWB).
So that telecommunications receptacles can be easily and readily mounted on PCB's, the receptacle of U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,497 is modified to have formed electrical conductors rather than wire type conductors and one end of each formed conductor extends beyond the housing of the connector so that the connector can be mounted on a PCB with the ends of the conductors extending into openings, or through holes, in the PCB. These ends of the conductors can then be soldered to conductors on the PCB in the usual manner.
Space on PCB's of computer-related equipment, however, is always at a premium. It is, therefore, to provide a receptacle for receiving a telecommunications plug that can be mounted on a PCB and occupy the minimum required amount of space on the board.


A finger guide for a clarinet has two substantially rectilinear rods that are connected by an offset-rod portion that holds the two rod portions in offset positions. Mounting posts on either end of the rectilinear rods fit in a sleeve extending radially from ring clamps that mount the finger guide on the clarinet. This allows the finger guide to be mounted with one rod portion on one side of a reference plane through the axes of the rest-position tone holes while the other rod portion is positioned on the other side of the reference plane. Tongue portions extend outward at the longitudinal positions of the little-finger keys to provide guidance for the little fingers.

The present invention relates to finger guides for wind instruments and is particularly applicable to such guides as used on clarinets.
It is important for the beginning clarinet player to learn proper fingering techniques from the very beginning. Unfortunately, the beginning clarinet player is also faced with many other lessons that are to be learned from the very beginning, and concentration on proper fingering can easily fall by the wayside.
In order to overcome this problem, finger guides have been suggested that force the student to employ proper finger movements without requiring him to concentrate on the finger movements during his early lessons. An example of such a guide is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,556,535 to Hansen. The Hansen device includes a rod mounted parallel to the axis of a clarinet and spaced above the rest-position tone holes for the first three fingers of both hands. The rod is positioned in a common plane with the axes of the rest-position tone holes. The theory of operation is that the student is not permitted to raise his fingers by too great a height above the tone holes without interference from the finger guide. Although this arrangement appears quite practicable in theory, in actual practice it can often fail to prevent excessive movement of the fingers.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improvement in prior-art finger so as to increase the effectiveness of the finger guide in preventing excessive finger movement. It is also an object of one version of the invention to serve as a guide not only for the first three fingers, but also for the fourth finger of both hands.


A method for updating a current network flow statistic stored in a memory device, comprising: storing a first statistic and a first address corresponding to a location in the memory device in a first stage of a multiple stage delay pipeline; shifting the first statistic and the first address to successive stages of the pipeline during successive clock cycles; at a middle stage of the pipeline, sending a read signal to the memory device to read the current statistic from the location; at a last stage of the pipeline, receiving the current statistic from the memory device in response to the read signal, adding the first statistic to the current statistic to generate an updated statistic, and sending a write signal to the memory device to write the updated statistic to the location; and, if a second statistic for the first address is stored in the first stage of the pipeline while the first statistic is stored in any but the first and last stages of the pipeline, replacing the first statistic with a sum of the first and second statistics and not sending the read signal when the second statistic is shifted to the middle stage.

Statistics collection is an important function performed by integrated circuits ("ICs") in various applications. In data networking applications, for example, statistics are essential for managing bandwidth and quality of service. These statistics typically include a number of packets, bytes, etc., in a network flow or data path. Maintaining and updating these statistics is a challenging task as network applications may demand statistics for thousands of flows at ever increasing traffic rates. To keep up with these demands, a rapid update cycle is required for each statistic.
In a network device such as a switch or router, a field programmable gate array ("FPGA") may be used for statistics collection. An FPGA is an IC that can be programmed in the field after manufacture. FPGAs typically contain programmable logic components and programmable interconnects. The programmable logic components can be programmed to duplicate the functionality of basic logic gates such as AND, OR, XOR, NOT or more complex combinatorial functions such as decoders or simple math functions. In most FPGAs, these programmable logic components (or logic blocks, in FPGA parlance) also include memory elements, which may be simple flip-flops, registers, or more complete blocks of memories. A hierarchy of programmable interconnects allows the logic blocks of an FPGA to be interconnected as needed by the system designer, somewhat like a one-chip programmable breadboard. These logic blocks and interconnects can be programmed after the manufacturing process by the customer/designer (hence the term "field programmable") so that the FPGA can perform whatever logical function is needed. In addition to an FPGA, statistics collection typically requires the use of one or more large memory devices external to the FPGA for storing the statistics. The memory device may be a random access memory ("RAM") device such as a quad data rate ("QDR" or "QDR™II") synchronous RAM ("SRAM") device or a reduced latency dynamic random access memory ("RLDRAM") device.
Now, the total round-trip delay (i.e., the time to read from a location in memory including internal synchronization) is a serious bottleneck in maintaining per-flow statistics at the rate of packet arrival at the network device. In order to speed up memory access for statistic updates, simple pipeline techniques can provide a partial solution. However, a limitation of simple pipeline techniques is apparent when multiple updates for a particular flow are required for a period of time that is shorter than the round-trip delay. In such a case, each statistic update requires the previous update to have been completed.
One solution to this problem is to separate each memory access by the total round-trip delay due to the random nature of packet arrivals. However, such a solution would cause a slow down in the speed of operation of the statistics system and would necessitate additional storage due to the slow down. Another solution is to separate the memory accesses for a given flow by the round-trip delay. However, this solution would only alleviate the problem to a limited degree without totally eliminating the need for extra buffering and speed reduction due to bursts in packet arrivals at the network device.
A need therefore exists for an improved method and system for updating network flow statistics for a network device gathered by a processor and stored in a memory device external to the processor. Accordingly, a solution that addresses, at least in part, the above and other shortcomings is desired.

Method and system for updating network flow statistics stored in an external memory


An optically functional device has a semiconductor substrate, a light receiving portion disposed on the semiconductor substrate for receiving input light, a light emitting portion disposed on the light receiving portion for emitting output light, a window disposed above the light emitting portion, through which input light and output light pass and a resistance layer made of a semiconductor for functioning as load resistance. The resistance layer is disposed at least in either place between the semiconductor substrate and the light receiving portion, or between the light receiving portion and the light emitting portion, or on the light emitting portion. The light emitting portion has a light emitting layer made of semiconductor material having an energy of forbidden band width of more than the energy of a main peak of input light. The light receiving portion has a base and a collector each of which is made of a semiconductor material having an energy of forbidden band width equal to or less than the energy of a main peak of input light. The light emitting portion is adapted to feed back a part of the output light to the light receiving portion. Thereby a nonlinear output response to input light is performed based on the feedback effect of the output light absorbed by the light receiving portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optically functional device for use as optically operational devices and memories in optical information processing apparatuses, particularly relates to an optically functional device which is applicable to information processing apparatuses having image processing functions and neutral net functions operated with light, or which may be applied to various controlling apparatuses in use of these functions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Performing arithmetical operations and memory operations using light requires so-called optically functional devices, or the devices in which a light output is emitted in a nonlinearly responding manner in accordance with a light input.
As a first referential example, there has been proposed an optically functional device configurated as shown in FIG. 7 (a document: refer to J. Lightwave Technology vol. LT-3 (1985) 1264). This optically factional device is one, as detailed in the aforementioned document, in which a so-called thyristor structure consisting of pnpn-layers is formed.
With respect to this device, there are provided a light emitting portion in the upper portion comprising three layers, (specifically, p-InP Confining Layer, N-InGaAsP Active Layer, and n-InP Confining Layer), a transistor (HPT; Hetero Bipolar Transistor) in the lower portion comprising four layers (n-InP, n-InGaAsP buffer, p-InGaAsP Gate, and n-InP Emitter) and a pair of metal layers, functioning as electrodes, being disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the device. As to this device, with the state that electric field is applied between the electrodes, when light is inputted from the rear side of the substrate, the HPT is turned to ON to flow current, thus causing the light emitting portion to emit light upward. At this time, a part of the emission is inputted into the HPT, this light becomes a so-called feedback light, causing a nonlinear operation.
FIG. 8 shows the operation of the device schematically. In FIG. 8, the current is taken along the axis of ordinate, the applied voltage is taken along the axis of abscissa, the thyristor characteristic of the pnpn-structure is represented with a solid line, and the operational line based on the load resistance existing in the system is denoted by broken line.
In FIG. 8, with increase in the input light intensity, the break down voltage V.sub.B changes in the order of 1.fwdarw.2.fwdarw.3, furthermore, in accordance with this change, the state of intersection points with the operational line also changes from two points P and Q to a sole point Q. More, specifically, in a case where the input light intensity corresponds to the state of 1 or 2, as is apparent there exit two stable points forming a so-called bistable state. (In this figure, V.sub.A denotes the applied voltage, and R.sub.L the load resistance value.)
Consequently, as shown in FIG. 9, the nonlinear operations, that is, respective characteristics such as differential gain (a), bistability (b) and optical switch (c), can be obtained in accordance with applied voltages. Further, the respective characteristics can be acquired when the value of the load resistance is varied.
FIG. 10 is an operational principle diagram showing aforementioned optically functional device by using an equivalent circuit. In the figure, reference numerals 21, 20, and 22 represent the HPT, the light emitting device and the load resistance, respectivly, meanwhile, reference numerals 24 25 and 26 denote respectively the feed back light, the output light outward, and the input light into the HPT.
As a second referential example, there is also a device which is disclosed in "Technical Digest, 20C3-2, Integrated Optics and Optical-fiber Communication (IOOC), 1989, Kobe, Japan." This device has mostly the same structure with the first referential example. Either of these examples needs to be operated by connecting in series with an appropriate load resistance. At this time the load resistance value is to be selected in accordance with the input light intensity and applied voltage used and the desired character.
For optically functional devices in addition to the aforementioned two examples, there is a third kind of structure, which is shown in a patent application No. 73908/1990 applied by the present inventor. The structure of the device of this prior application is shown in FIG. 11. The operation and operational principle of the device based on this preceding invention is the same as the aforementioned referential examples, and the behaviors of its operation are as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the equivalent circuit is expressed in FIG. 10.
The device of this invention is an optically functional semiconductor device which has a light receiving portion I disposed on a semiconductor substrate 2, a light emitting portion II thereon, and which is equipped on the side of the light emitting portion with a window 10 through which the input light and output light goes in and out. In this arrangement, the light emitting portion II is made of a semiconductor material having an energy of forbidden band width of more than the energy of a main peak of input light, and the light receiving portion I is made of a semiconductor material having an energy of forbidden band width equal to or less than the energy of a main peak of input light, and the optically functional device characteristically receives and feeds back by means of the receiving portion I a part of output light generated from the light emitting portion II and performs a nonlinear output light response to input light based on the feedback effect of the absorbed light by means of the light receiving portion I. Consequently, The light emitting portion can be commonly used as the input window, thus making it possible that input light and output light can be respectively, received by and emitted from, the same position. Furthermore, it is possible that the wavelength of the input light can be differed from that of the output light, so that input light can be easily separated.
In FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a structure of the aforementioned optically functional device, the layers structures are formed of, from the bottom in the order, a rear electrode 1, an n-type GaAs-substrate 2, an n-Al.sub.0.4 Ga.sub.0.6 As layer 3, a p-GaAs layer 4, an n-GaAs layer 5, an n-Al.sub.0.4 Ga.sub.0.6 As layer 6, a p-Al.sub.0.4 Ga.sub.0.6 As layer 7, a p-GaAs layer 8 and another electrode 9. In this arrangement, the portion I serves as a light receiving portion (3, 4 and 5) being formed as an HPT, and the portion II works as a light emitting portion (6 and 7). Reference numeral 10 denotes the input/output window of light, and the progressing directions of the input and output light are shown by arrows 11. The device of this example is also required to be connected to an appropriate load resistance in series for operation. At this time, the value of the load resistance is selected in accordance with the input light intensity and applied voltage used and the desired characteristic. This may be understood from the fact that the gradient of the operational line as shown with a broken line varies depending upon the value of the load resistance. For example, if the value of the load resistance increases and thus the gradient becomes small (the line becomes laid down), the bistable state which has two stable points P and Q comes to exist even for a low current, and simultaneously, the current difference between P and Q, or specifically, the light output difference between ON state and OFF state (ON-OFF ratio) becomes small.
Now, in the case where the optically functional device according to the aforementioned referential example is to be operated, a load resistance having an appropriate resistance value is connected in series to the device for the purpose of acquiring a desired performance. Particularly, when devices are set in two-dimensional array arrangement, each device is required to be connected with a load resistance. This is because that in a case where a common load resistance R.sub.L is connected to the optically functional devices-array as shown in FIG. 12, if any one of the optically functional devices is turned to ON, the rest optically functional devices cannot be applied with required voltages, and thus cannot be brought into operation.
It is impossible, however, that load resistances are one by one joined as in an after-treatment to the array of respective optically functional devices of some tens to some hundreds microns (.mu.m) in diameter, so that the resistance value is naturally determined by the resistance in total of the semiconductor substrates and semiconductor layers forming the light-emitting portion and light-receiving portion. This is because that in order to achieve required performances for the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion, the layers forming the respective portions have to be optimized in their compositions and carrier densities. For this reason, the resistance value cannot be taken as an independent parameter, and this fact limits the resulting device in its performance and operation, thus diminishing the freedom in device-designing.

Optically functional device with integral resistance layer

Ricoh Research Institute of General Electronics Co., Ltd.


A fastener guide (6) for use in a power-operated drive in device (4), particularly of a stand-up tool (2), having a guide path (16) in which a plurality of fasteners (14) can be received and which has a device-side opening (18) and a free opening (20), the guide path (16) being curved toward the device-side opening (18) proceeding from the free opening (20). The fastener guide (6) can be mounted on the drive in device (4) in a detachable manner by connection means, and the guide path (16) has a fall-out prevention device (26, 48) at each of the two openings (18, 20).

The invention is directed to a fastener guide for a power-operated drive-in device, particularly a stand-up tool, having a guide path in which a plurality of fasteners can be received and which has a side opening device and a free opening, the guide path being curved toward the side opening device proceeding from the free opening.
Stand-up tools are used primarily for mounting ground side workpieces or workpieces that can be walked upon such as flat roofs such that the person operating the tool can maintain a substantially upright posture while mounting. In known stand-up tools, the drive in device is filled with fasteners by magazine strips in which a supply of fasteners is stored. These magazine strips are usually attached to the fastener guide parallel to the working direction of the drive in device. Accordingly, the fasteners slide out of the magazine strip into the fastener guide of the drive in device which then guides them along its curvature to the drive in device.
DE 33 25 565 shows a magazine type screw gun with a magazine receptacle in which a magazine strip can be inserted and which can be closed by a locking cover. In the inserted state of the magazine strip, the fasteners slide out of the magazine strip into a curved screw guide which feeds the fasteners to a screwing tool.
An approach of the type mentioned above is disadvantageous since the screw magazine can be arranged at the drive in device only by a special receptacle device. This special receptacle device must be precisely adapted in size and shape to the screw magazine provided for filling. Therefore, the receptacle devices are relatively unwieldy and have a complicated construction. This can cause problems when filling the drive in device, especially under cramped conditions at the mounting location. An additional problem consists in that only screw magazines having a very particular size and shape may be inserted into the receptacles.


A new Chrysanthemum plant named ‘CIDZ0099’ particularly distinguished by its medium size red and yellow bicolored daisy-type inflorescences, strong and uniform plant habit, and a flowering response time of 7.5 weeks.

The present invention comprises a new Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'CIDZ0099'.
'CIDZ0099' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has medium size red and yellow bicolored daisy-type inflorescences, strong and uniform plant habit, and a flowering response time of 7.5 weeks.
'CIDZ0099' originated as a natural whole plant mutation discovered among flowering plants of 'B9630' growing in a greenhouse in Gilroy, Calif., in November, 2015. The parent is the proprietary plant designated as 'B9630', having purple and white bicolored daisy inflorescences, while it's similar to 'CIDZ0099' in all other characteristics.
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'CIDZ0099' was accomplished when vegetative stem cuttings were propagated from the initial selection in February 2016 in Gilroy Calif.


A system and method of implementing column redundancy in a memory system in which a single set of redundant columns is provided in one of a plurality of blocks of columns which is the fastest to receive decoded select signals or which is physically located closest to decode circuitry. In normal operation, the decode circuitry selects a single column and block as determined by the input address signal. In redundancy mode, the input address is compared to a pre-programmed repair column and block address corresponding to the a previously determined defective column and a match signal is generated. The match signal functions to enable the block having the redundant columns and disable the sense amplifiers of all other blocks. In addition, the match signal disables all of the columns in the selected redundancy block other than a single redundant column. As a result, all redundant columns have approximately the same access time as the fastest block of columns in the memory system. In addition since, redundant columns are not included in each block of columns, a reduced number of redundant columns are used and silicon space is conserved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to redundancy in memory circuits, and more particularly to accessing redundant columns.
2. State of the Art
Redundancy is used in memory systems having memory arrays to replace failed rows, columns, or single cells in the array. To implement redundancy in a memory system, spare (or redundant) replacement rows or columns and redundancy circuitry are designed into the memory structure. The redundancy circuitry functions to disable the failed row or column to be replaced as well as enable a redundant row or column such that when the failed row or column is accessed by its corresponding address, the redundant TOW is accessed instead.
FIG. 1 shows the conventional structure of a memory system 10 using column redundancy including a memory array 11, sets of redundant columns 0-N, and address decoder and redundancy circuitry 12. The memory array 11 is divided into blocks of columns Block <0>, Block <1>, . . . Block <N> and each block includes a corresponding set of redundant columns 0-N, respectively. Each block has a corresponding sense amplifier 13 for sensing data from its corresponding block and provides it to output 14.
During a normal access operation, the address decoder provides a block select signal to select and enable data sensing from one of the N blocks in which the access operation is to occur, and provides column and row select signals to select and access the specific memory cells within the selected block.
The redundant circuitry 12 includes decode circuitry coupled to each redundant column. The decode circuitry includes the same number of fuses as bits in the column address. During device testing when a defective column is detected, its address is programmed into one of the redundant column's associated decode circuitry by blowing its fuses so as to match the defective column address. Programming the redundancy circuitry with the defective columns address also permanently disables the defective column such that the redundant column is accessed instead of the defective column.
In an access operation in which a defective column is being accessed, the address decoder provides a block select and enable signal to the block in which the defective column resides. However, when the defective column address is decoded by the address decoder and redundancy circuitry, the redundant column is accessed instead of the defective column. For instance, if a defective column in Block 1 is accessed, Block 1 is enabled but one of the redundant columns in redundant column set 1 is accessed instead of the defective column.
In the memory structure shown in FIG. 1 having N blocks of columns each including a set of redundant columns, decode circuitry each having as many fuses as column address bits is required for each redundant column in each of the N sets of redundant columns. As can be imagined this redundancy design tends to consume significant wafer space.
In addition, another disadvantage of this type of design relates to the relative position of the blocks of columns and each block's associated access time. Specifically, address select signals and in particular row (or wordline) select signals are generated by the address decode. These signals are transmitted to each block along a single wordline address. As a result, due to the propagation time for the select signal to travel from the decode circuitry to each of the blocks, blocks that are farther from address decode (e.g. block N) receive the select signals later than closer blocks. Hence, the addition of redundant columns tends to extend out the farthest block position even more, thereby increasing the delay of select signals. Since each set of redundant columns exhibits the same access time as the block it resides in, if a column is replaced in the Nth block, then the redundant column will also exhibit the same approximate longer access time as the Nth block. Moreover, the extra capacitive loading caused by the redundant columns in each block slows sensing of data even more for all blocks and in particular the Nth block such that the overall access time for the device is increased still.
The present invention is a manner in which to incorporate redundancy into a memory system such that less space is used and the access time of redundant columns in the memory system is reduced.

Column redundancy circuitry with reduced time delay


An animal chute with animal-actuated gates at each end and a data collection area. The animal enters the chute through one of the gates and both gates automatically lock the animal in the data collection area until the data is collected. The opposite gate then unlocks in order to let the animal exit the chute. The animal chute also has a side safety gate which breaks away upon pressure from the animal in order to allow it to escape. Data such as animal identification and weight is gathered in the data collection area. The gates may be operated with a linkage system and electric linear actuators. The data may be transmitted to a personal computer in order for the data to be stored and analyzed. The chute may be controlled with a programmable logic controller. The chute may be used in conjunction with additional directing devices in order to sort animals which pass through the chute.

The present invention relates to an animal chute with animal-actuated locking gates that allows data to be gathered while the animal is detained in the chute. After data gathering, the gates will open to allow the animal to access a second area. The chute is also equipped with a safety feature of a breakaway panel which releases upon application of pressure from the animal.
It is common practice in the livestock industry to closely monitor the weight and other data concerning one's animals. This information is used for various purposes such as segregation based upon a predetermined weight which will provide a maximum financial return under prevailing market conditions. Various conventional devices have been developed for monitoring and sorting animals. However, many of the conventional devices are relatively expensive or are relatively labor intensive and often require several operators.
Therefore, a device is desired which would allow automated and/or animal-actuated monitoring and mechanical separation of animals into segregated areas. It is also desirable to have a device wherein the animals cannot easily exit the device in either direction until the data collection process is complete. It is also important not to overly arouse the animals so they will not injure themselves, to minimize dangerous parts common in conventional devices, and to provide an escape means which the animal can use.