An object of the present invention is to provide a disk-loading roller which consistently loads and ejects a disk without a considerable decrease in conveying force, even when the roller is employed in the presence of a very large amount of dust or over a very long period of time. The disk-loading roller is for loading a disk with the roller abutting a peripheral portion of the disk, and the roller has such an outer surface that the outer diameter of the roller varies in an axial direction and is formed from a rubber molded elastic product, wherein the roller has a rough outer surface having a peak count RPc of 2 to 30 per 700 μm, a maximum valley depth Rv of 35 to 80 μm, and an arithmetic mean roughness Ra of 2.5 to 5.5 μm, wherein these values are mean values as determined through measurement of the rough outer surface in a ×400 vision field.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk-loading roller for conveying a disk such as an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a CD, an LD, or a DVD) into a device such as an acoustic device, an information device, or an image-viewing device for operating the disk, and more particularly, to such a disk-loading roller which prevents loading or ejecting failure which would otherwise be caused by dust deposited on the disk; in particular, sand dust or similar dust, resulting in slipping of the roller.
2. Background Art
Conventionally, devices for operating an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a like disk (e.g., a CD, an LD, or a DVD) employ a pair of loading rollers disposed opposite each other so as to hold the disk on a turntable in the devices. For example, as shown in FIG. 25, loading rollers 1 are disposed such that a shaft 2 penetrates each loading roller 1 at about the center axis thereof. A pair of the rollers are disposed opposite each other, and either of the rollers is rotatably driven. The diameter of each loading roller 1 is gradually decreased from the outer end to the center along the axis, and a disk 3 loaded to a device is supported only at a peripheral portion of the disk by the loading rollers 1 for centering.
When the disk 3 is inserted between such a pair of loading rollers 1 and either of the loading rollers is rotated, the disk 3 is conveyed into the device while being in contact with the two loading rollers 1. Then, when the head of the disk 3 abuts the wall of the disk-holder, transfer of the disk 3 and rotation of the loading rollers 1 are stopped, and only the shaft 2 is self-rotated. Thus, the disk 3 is held on the turntable.
Instead of employing a pair of loading rollers 1, as shown in FIG. 26, there may be employed another mechanism such that a disk 3 is inserted between a resin sheet material 4 and a single similar loading roller 1.
However, the aforementioned loading rollers have a drawback in that the rollers cannot provide sufficient torque for conveying a disk, because of dust deposited on a disk, in particular, sand dust or the like, which has been transferred to a roller surface and deposited on the roller surface in the course of long-term use.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3627866 (in Claims and other sections), the present inventor previously proposed a loading roller having a raised/dented outer surface provided during the molding process, the outer surface having a ten-point mean roughness Rz of 0.5 to 10 μm and a mean Sm of 15 μm or less.
The disk-loading roller exhibits excellent roller performance over a long period of time, in the case where a relatively small amount of dust is present. However, when the roller is employed in the presence of a large amount of dust, or over a very long period of time, further enhancement in currently attained performance is envisaged.


A steam sterilization apparatus (10) includes an electronic control system having a main control circuit (C) including a central processing unit (68), an input device (36), and output devices (24,28) provided on a single circuit board (22) which is attached to a front bezel (16) of the sterilizer (10). The sterilizer (10) includes a flash steam generator (56). The main control circuit (C) implements an over-temperature feedback circuit (160) that disconnects the heating elements (162) in the steam generator (56) from electrical power when an over-temperature condition is detected. Isolated feedback is provided to the central processing unit (68) confirming the heating element disconnection operation. The control system includes error switches (82, 86, 88) that detect various error conditions. Upon an error condition being detected, the steam supply to the steam sterilization chamber (12) and/or to the pressurized steam seal (42) of the apparatus (10) is halted. The main control circuit (C) implements a feedback circuit (150) confirming the steam shutdown procedure. The main control circuit (C) also includes a ratiometric analog input circuit (74) that eliminates temperature drift in analog measurements.

The present invention relates to the disinfecting and sterilizing arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with compact steam sterilization systems used in hospitals, clinics, physicians offices, and other healthcare facilities as well as those used in pharmaceutical, laboratory, and other facilities.
Steam sterilizers are highly effective in sterilizing medical instruments and related items that are able to withstand the high temperature, high moisture, and high pressure within the steam sterilization chamber. Despite the effectiveness and popularity of steam sterilizers, the control systems for these devices have remained relatively large, non-integrated, and expensive. For example, a keypad for user input, a printer for hard copy output, and a visual display were connected to multiple circuit "cards" or boards that drive these input and output devices. The input and output boards were also connected with the main controller circuit board. These connections were provided through wiring harnesses and the like that increased the size of the control system and the sterilizer overall, increased material and assembly costs, and increased the number of electrical connections in the control system which led to unreliability.
Furthermore, typical compact steam sterilizer control systems have not included feedback systems to provide an added level of safety and effectiveness by ensuring that, when the controller initiated an operation; the operation was actually carried out. With prior systems, the controller could be unaware that a relay has failed in an open or closed position. The controller might energize or deenergize a relay coil without any actual relay operation being carried out. This could result in erroneous machine operations and, in certain instances, could result in an operator of the sterilizer being subjected to a dangerous condition.
Another drawback associated with prior steam sterilizer control systems was their lack of ratiometric circuitry. The high temperature within and surrounding known steam sterilizers caused the output signals from analog devices to drift. An analog-to-digital converter received a varying analog input signal from a pressure or temperature sensor and provided varying output data to the central processing unit of the control system depending upon the temperature of the sensor and the associated circuitry. With non-ratiometric control systems, one could not be entirely certain of pressure, temperature, and other analog measurements that are critical to effective and safe sterilizer performance.
Prior steam sterilizers utilized common tap water for steam generation in a boiler or the like. Commonly assigned and co-pending U.S. patent application entitled Steam Delivery System for a Decontamination Apparatus, filed on even date herewith and expressly incorporated by reference herein, describes a flash steam generator system for generating steam as an alternative to using a boiler. However, the flash generator uses filtered water to prevent fouling of the flash generator due to mineral deposits and the like. Prior control systems for steam sterilizers did not control the delivery of filtered water to a flash steam generator. Furthermore, prior control systems did not inform an operator when a water filter was due for replacement.
The present invention provides a new and improved method and apparatus for overcoming the above-referenced problems and others.

Steam sterilization apparatus and control system


A method and apparatus for generating lumia patterns, using a low wattage incandescent light source having a source size of greater than one millimeter. The light source, a multiple-lensing filter and an imaging lens are tuned with each other to create a bright, reinforcing pattern from a relatively weak light source.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to the field of Lighting Effects and more particularly concerns generating Lighting Effects patterns with a low wattage light source to achieve lighting effects heretofore only practical for use in the theater with the use of cumbersome and hazardous equipment. Specifically this method and apparatus employs a low wattage extended light source having a combination of elements adjusted to explicit parameters to achieve lighting effects in an highly efficient, safe, economical and energy saving manner.
2. Background of the Invention
Lighting Effects is the general area of reproducing a pattern or image of light for theatrical purposes. Lighting Effects are typically those effects employed to simulate the shadows of real objects such as foliage or window blinds, as well to simulate the random light patterns produced by fire, smoke, rippling water or the like for theatrical purposes. Such random patterns generated in Lighting Effects are referred to herein as lumias.
A luminaire is a general term for a unit of lighting equipment including spotlights, flood lights and any other lighting equipment. Luminaire is the international generic term for lighting equipment, it is not restricted to theatrical lighting.
Until now many complicated, expensive and cumbersome arrangements of luminaire had to be employed to generate lumias. For instance, an animation disc, a slotted or perforated metal disc which rotates in front of a lamp, known as a gobo, could provide the effect of movement in a lumia. A gobo is a thin, flat metal disk or plate having a cutout design, or a glass plate etched or painted to produce a design. A gobo is placed in front of a powerful theatrical spotlight, to project lighting effects such as those giving the impression of foliage or windows or the like.
A gobo typically requires the use of a large and high wattage type of theatrical spotlight known as an ellipsoidal reflector spotlight projector. An ellipsoidal reflector spotlight projector is a large theater luminaire that generates an enormous amount of heat and must have a skilled technician to operate it.
By use of different colored material, a gobo can produce a colored image. Movement can be added to the gobo-generated image by rotating the gobo disks or wheels. For instance a painted glass disk rotating in front of the light source of an ellipsoidal reflector spotlight projector with an imaging lens to focus the image can produce patterns of flames, rain or snow. Likewise, the image of the flickering of a flame can be produced by using an irregularly slotted rotating metal disk through which light is shone onto a prism-type piece of glass which scatters the beam of light and adds the "dancing" effect of firelight to a scene.
A gobo is greatly limited in its application however because an ellipsoidal reflector spotlight projector is large and uses a very hot light source to project a satisfactory image. A gobo arrangement is therefore wholly impractical for use in residential or common retail business lighting applications, such as aquariums or restaurants. The heat generated, the energy consumption, the size, as well expense of the equipment and the skill required in operating it make it far too impractical for the lay person to use as a common appliance.

Luminaire apparatus and method for generating lumias with a low wattage extended light source


A computing system can include one or more machine-learned models configured to receive context data that describes one or more entities to be named. In response to receipt of the context data, the machine-learned model(s) can generate output data that describes one or more names for the entity or entities described by the context data. The computing system can be configured to perform operations including inputting the context data into the machine-learned model(s). The operations can include receiving, as an output of the machine-learned model(s), the output data that describes the name(s) for the entity or entities described by the context data. The operations can include storing at least one name described by the output data.

Currently, automatically generated names are generally generic and not customized for the entity being named. For example, a pseudonym for a user when entering a virtual environment (e.g., a chatroom) can be randomly selected from a predetermined list. The result is a generic pseudonym that is not customized for the user. As another example, text is often anonymized by simply redacting text often including names of people or places. The resulting text can be difficult to read. Accordingly, a system and method for generating names that are relevant or appropriate based on context associated with the entity to be named would be welcomed in the art.

Systems and methods for generating names using machine-learned models


A retainer for holding a printed circuit card in a card rack or the like is disclosed. The retainer comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped members slideably mounted end-to-end on a rod, with at least one of those members being moveable in a transverse direction relative to the rod and to its respective adjacent members upon effective shortening of the rod to thereby bring a clamping surface of the transversely moveable member into contact with a printed circuit board and to apply a clamping force thereto. The rod is formed of an alkaline metal alloy that has been tempered to provide the rod with sufficient strength and decreased weight.

Electronic equipment often employs printed circuit boards or cards. These cards typically are mounted in a chassis or card rack by stacking the cards in row alignment with one another. Row alignment in the chassis is defined by slotted or spaced surfaces within or on the chassis, with each card placed in a slot or between a pair of spaced surfaces. Many applications for such retainers require high performance that will captivate a printed circuit board under the most extreme shock and vibration conditions such as those encountered by spacecraft or military aircraft.
Typical printed circuit board retainers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,823,951 and 5,036,428, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such retainers comprise a partially threaded screw or rod and a plurality of members slideably mounted in an end-to-end relationship on the rod. The members disposed on the rod have wedge-shaped end portions which are engagable with one another. The wedge-shaped end portions serve to move at least one of the members in a transverse direction relative to the rod when the members are moved towards one another along the rod. Such movement may be achieved by providing the rod with screw threads to engage and move the distal-most member when the rod is rotated, or alternatively, the movement may result from the action of a lever assembly used-to draw the rod away from the distal-most member, thereby pulling that member toward its companions.
The transverse direction in which the member is moved acts to engage a clamping surface of that member against an edge of the printed circuit board. The opposite edge of the board is thereby forced into contact with, and clamped against, a spaced surface fixedly connected to or integral with the chassis in which the board is to be mounted.
Commonly, the rod in prior art retainers is threaded at one end to engage with mating threads on a nut attached to one of the end-most sliding members mounted on the rod. The opposite end of the rod includes a portion that may be engaged by a tool to allow the rod to be rotated. In so doing, the members are moved toward one another as the threaded rod is rotated in the tightening direction.
In many high performance applications, the printed circuit board chassis comprises a sealed box which does not allow cooling air to pass over the circuit board. Rather, heat generated by the circuit board is conducted through a metal heat sink attached to the printed circuit board and then transmitted to a heat exchanger or plenum. One critical thermal interface in the heat transfer path becomes the printed circuit board retainer itself.
In addition, it is desirable to reduce as much weight as possible in components used in high performance applications such as spacecraft and military aircraft. Typically, weight reduction is achieved by substituting light-weight, and other exotic, materials for conventional materials. For example, aluminum, titanium and various composite materials are used in aircraft to replace materials such as steel.
In the case of the circuit board retainers described above, however, stainless steel has been the material of choice for forming the rod element, due to the perception that lighter materials lacked the tensile strength and other physical properties needed to adequately clamp a circuit board into position. Thus, these retainers continue to use stainless steel rods despite the weight of that material which may cause such rods to account for approximately one-third to one-half of the weight of the entire retainer.
As a result of the use of circuit board retainers in various high performance applications, a need exists for retainers which efficiently transmit or release forces applied between the rod and the slideable members mounted on the rod while minimizing weight of the retainer unit and maximizing its thermal conductance properties.


A pair of shorting contacts (16,16) on mated connector bodies (10,10). The shorting contacts are protrusions on the respective connector bodies which are laterally reversed mirror images of each other. The respective protrusions confront each other in a substantially transverse configuration. Initial engagement between the respective protrusions is at an initial point contact (25) at a high stress. The protrusions thereafter wipe against one another and come to engage at a final point contact (26). The path from the initial point contact to the final point contact constitutes a line between the respective connector bodies.

A mother board and one or more daughter boards are used to transfer signals between respective assemblies used in a computer or other electronic equipment. The mother and daughter boards may be arranged perpendicular to each other, as in an "edge card" configuration, depending upon the design of the overall product.
Edge card connector contacts are formed on the mother card so that when the daughter card is removed, the opposing contacts come together to form an electrical shorting circuit. The reliability of these shorting contacts is very important to the efficiency of the overall equipment. Due to the environment in which the boards are located, there is the possibility of debris being collected at the interface between the mother board and the daughter board or of a film being formed on the opposing contacts on the mother card. In this type of situation, the electrical connection between the opposing contacts may be imperfect or unreliable and may result in malfunction of the electronic equipment.
The following citations reflect the state of the art of which the applicant is aware insofar as these citations appear relevant to the present invention.
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. Inventor(s) Issue Date ______________________________________ 3,627,929 Gilissen et al 12/14/71 3,976,850 Faber et al 08/24/76 4,087,151 Robert et al 05/02/78 4,106,841 Vladic 08/15/78 4,285,565 Kirby 08/25/81 4,514,030 Triner et al 04/30/85 4,647,100 Crawford 03/31,87 5,098,306 Noschese et al 03/24/92 ______________________________________ Other Patent No. Issue Date ______________________________________ German 28 02 800 07/27/78 UK 2 133 938 08/01/84 PCT W085/04528 10/10/85 ______________________________________
The known art utilizes opposing contacts which are usually bent or bowed members, parallel to one another which engage across the entire width of the respective contacts. Alternately a dimple has been used on a surface to obtain contact stress against the opposing contact.
It is important to have opposing contacts which can reliably and simply effect an electrical connection when the daughter board is removed from the mother board and which can overcome film deposits and debris on the surfaces of the contacts.

Electrical connector with shorting contacts which wipe against each other


The inventive wheelbarrow provides novel features that allow the wheelbarrow to remain level on uneven or sloping terrain when parked, thereby providing more stability.

The present invention is directed to a novel self-leveling wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow incorporates self-adjusting legs which conform to the terrain and lock into place when at rest on the ground. The self-leveling feature offers added stability and provides a significant advantage over conventional wheelbarrows when used on sloping or uneven terrain. Several different designs for locking the legs are described herein.
Conventional wheelbarrows are well suited for use on smooth, level surfaces. Their ease of use, excellent mobility, and low cost have made them the material handling equipment of choice for moving small loads in the construction and landscaping industries. As a result of the great success of the conventional wheelbarrow, their basic design has remained essentially unchanged for many years. However, due to its high center of gravity, fixed leg assembly, and the inherent instability of a tripod-style base, the use of a conventional wheelbarrow on uneven or sloped terrain is somewhat restricted. These factors result in a tendency to overturn if the legs are not resting on a level surface. When level ground cannot be found in close proximity to the working area, the worker may be forced to park the wheelbarrow some distance away. The additional walking between the wheelbarrow and the working area during loading or unloading reduces worker productivity. When parked on uneven or sloping terrain, extra care must be taken to avoid overturning and potential injury to the user. As shown in FIG. 1, often a wedge or block X is placed beneath one leg L of the wheelbarrow W in order to provide additional stability and prevent overturning.
The present invention is directed to an improved wheelbarrow that is stable on sloping or uneven ground, the wheelbarrow having features that eliminate its tendency to overturn. Aspects of the present invention incorporate self-adjusting mechanisms added to the leg assembly which consequently allow the legs to conform to the terrain as the wheelbarrow is lowered and locked into position when both legs are in contact with the resting surface. The self-leveling action increases stability and maintains the wheelbarrow, in particular the basin, in a level position. The center of gravity remains very nearly centered above the midpoint of the legs, thus the weight is more evenly distributed between the legs, and the tendency to overturn is diminished.
In certain aspects, the present invention comprises a self-leveling wheelbarrow having a basin, a wheel disposed beneath the basin near the basin's front end, and a handle assembly secured to the basin. The wheelbarrow further includes a rear mounting bracket secured near the rear end of the basin, the mounting bracket having a top end secured beneath the basin, mounting bracket further having a vertical slot communicating therethrough. The leg assembly of the wheelbarrow includes a pair of legs secured to one another by a centrally disposed plate, such that the one leg is positioned beneath the right side of the basin and the other leg is positioned beneath the left side of the basin. The centrally disposed plate includes a top edge. A pin extends from the plate and is slidably engaged within the slot to allow the leg assembly to move vertically within the slot and to rotate in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction about the pin. The wheelbarrow further includes a locking assembly secured beneath the basin in vertical alignment with the top edge of the leg assembly plate. The locking assembly is configured to engage the top edge of the leg assembly plate when the legs are in contact with underlying terrain. In one embodiment, the locking assembly further includes a first pair of opposing cam devices, each of the cam devices having an eccentrically fixed pivot end about which the cam device may rotate, and a free end having an outer edge, each of the cam devices spaced a distance apart to create a channel between the outer edges. This channel extends in horizontal alignment with the top edge of the leg assembly plate and is configured to engage the top edge therein. In operation, as the legs of the leg assembly contact the underlying ground as the wheelbarrow is parked upon the terrain, the leg assembly rotates about the pin within the slot to accommodate the contour angle of the terrain, sliding the top edge of the plate within the locking assembly channel in friction-fit contact with the outer edges of the opposing cam devices. This action consequently locks the plate therebetween to prevent the leg assembly from rotating further about the pin the direction of travel (i.e. either in a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction of travel). In addition, the locking assembly may include a second pair of cam devices positioned adjacent to the first pair of cam devices to prevent rotation in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions simultaneously.
Other aspects of the inventive wheelbarrow include different locking assemblies, including one or two locking bars secured beneath the basin and aligned above the top edge of the leg assembly plate when the leg assembly is in contact with the ground surface. The locking bar(s) has an eccentrically fixed pivot end about which the bar may rotate and a free end having a horizontal slot in alignment with the top edge of the leg assembly plate and configured to engage the top edge of the plate therein. As the leg assembly contacts the underlying ground and the leg assembly rotates about the pin to accommodate the contour of the ground, the top edge of the plate slides within the slot in friction-fit contact therein, thereby locking the plate therein to prevent the leg assembly from rotating further about the pin in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction of travel.
Another embodiment of the locking assembly includes a disk brake locking assembly having a pair of disk brake pads aligned on each side of the leg assembly plate, such that upon activation of the locking assembly by a brake lever, the pads squeeze toward one another to engage the plate therebetween.
Other features of the inventive wheelbarrow include the pin extending from the mounting bracket instead of the leg assembly plate, with the vertical slot communicating through the leg assembly plate, as opposed to the mounting bracket.
Moreover, the leg assembly may include, in a series, a rear vertical member to which the rear plate is secured, a horizontal portion integral with the vertical member and adapted to contact the ground, and a front member integral with the horizontal member and terminating into a front plate, the front plate in alignment with a front mounting bracket and secured beneath the wheelbarrow in registration with the rear mounting bracket. In this embodiment, the pin comprises an elongated rod extending from the front mounting bracket, front leg assembly plate, through the vertical slot in the rear leg assembly plate, and secured to the rear mounting bracket. Alternatively, the vertical slot may be located in the rear mounting bracket.


A method and system for filtering data packets in a multiple-call environment are described. In one embodiment, each data packet received from a packet source is associated with an identifier of an IP telephone call that corresponds to this data packet. The IP telephone call is identified using information contained in the data packet. In one embodiment, all data packets related to a specific IP telephone call can be traced using the identifier of the specific IP telephone call.

IP telephony allows people to use the Internet as the transmission medium for telephone calls. The basic steps involved in originating an IP telephone call are conversion of the analog voice signal to digital format, and compression/translation of the signal into IP data packets for transmission over the Internet, with the process being reversed at the receiving end. Each IP data packet may be transmitted between two endpoints directly or via one or more IP telephony gateways. Accordingly, an IP telephony gateway may host multiple IP telephone calls.
Network monitors and network sniffing tools are designed to capture IP packets from the network. For example, these tools may be used to capture packets between two H.323 entities. An H.323 entity is an entity that follows an H.323 protocol, which is defined by Telecom Standard H.323 of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T). H.323 describes terminals, equipment and services for multimedia communication over networks. Computer terminals and equipment that fulfill H.323 may carry real-time voice, data and video, or any combination including, for example, video telephony.
Some network monitors and network sniffing tools may include parsers for filtering IP data packets such as H.323 Protocol Data Units (PDUs) and may be used to assist software engineers in debugging IP telephony applications. This assistance, however, has proven to be insufficient in a multiple-call environment.

Method and apparatus for per-call filtering of H.323 packets


A patient-support apparatus includes a patient-support deck coupled to first and second lift systems configured to lift the patient-support deck relative to the floor. The lift systems each include a pair of supports and a carriage coupled to the patient-support deck and suspended from the supports by tethers which are wound and unwound to raise and lower the patient-support deck.

The present disclosure is related to patient-support apparatuses having lift systems.
Patient-support apparatuses such as a hospital beds, for example, are known to use linear actuators which extend and retract to move portions of the apparatus relative to other portions. Movement of one portion of the patient support apparatus relative to another portion results in raising patient-support deck sections of the apparatus relative to some support frame, or lifting an entire patient-support deck relative to other members of the patient-support apparatus. Lift motors are known to be positioned beneath the patient-support deck and occupy a space between the patient-support deck and the floor.

Lift system for a patient-support apparatus


The invention comprises novel apparatuses and testing methods for evaluating a fluid diffusion component. The apparatus includes a fluid capable of undergoing oxidation or reduction, a half-cell electrode assembly able to receive the fluid, and a change in acidity indicator in communication with the assembly. An inventive method of the invention includes the steps of passing a fluid capable of undergoing oxidation or reduction through a half-cell electrode assembly to form a sample, contacting the sample with an indicator, and detecting a change in acidity in the indicator.

An ion exchange membrane fuel cell, more specifically a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, produces electricity through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in the air. Within the fuel cell, electrodes, denoted as anode and cathode, surround a polymer electrolyte to form what is generally referred to as a membrane electrode assembly, or MEA. Oftentimes, the electrodes also function as the gas diffusion layer ("GDL") of the fuel cell. A catalyst material stimulates hydrogen molecules to split into hydrogen atoms and then, at the membrane, the atoms each split into a proton and an electron. The electrons are utilized as electrical energy. The protons migrate through the electrolyte and combine with oxygen and electrons to form water.
A PEM fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly sandwiched between two graphite flow field plates. Conventionally, the membrane electrode assembly consists of random-oriented carbon fiber paper electrodes (anode and cathode) with a thin layer of a catalyst material, particularly platinum or a platinum group metal coated on isotropic carbon particles, such as lamp black, bonded to either side of a proton exchange membrane disposed between the electrodes. In operation, hydrogen flows through channels in one of the flow field plates to the anode, where the catalyst promotes its separation into hydrogen atoms and thereafter into protons that pass through the membrane and electrons that flow through an external load. Air flows through the channels in the other flow field plate to the cathode, where the oxygen in the air is separated into oxygen atoms, which joins with the protons through the proton exchange membrane and the electrons through the circuit, and combine to form water. Since the membrane is an insulator, the electrons travel through an external circuit in which the electricity is utilized, and join with protons at the cathode. An air stream on the cathode side is one mechanism by which the water formed by combination of the hydrogen and oxygen is removed. Combinations of such fuel cells are used in a fuel cell stack to provide the desired voltage.
The flow field plates have a continuous reactant flow channel with an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is connected to a source of fuel in the case of an anode flow field plate, or a source of oxidant in the case of a cathode flow field plate. When assembled in a fuel cell stack, each flow field plate functions as a current collector.
Electrodes, also sometimes referred to as gas diffusion layers, may be formed by providing a graphite sheet as described herein and providing the sheet with channels, which are preferably smooth-sided, and which pass between the parallel, opposed surfaces of the flexible graphite sheet and are separated by walls of compressed expandable graphite. It is the walls of the flexible graphite sheet that actually abut the ion exchange membrane, when the inventive flexible graphite sheet functions as an electrode in an electrochemical fuel cell.
The channels are formed in the flexible graphite sheet at a plurality of locations by mechanical impact. Thus, a pattern of channels is formed in the flexible graphite sheet. That pattern can be devised in order to control, optimize or maximize fluid flow through the channels, as desired. For instance, the pattern formed in the flexible graphite sheet can comprise selective placement of the channels, as described, or it can comprise variations in channel density or channel shape in order to, for instance, equalize fluid pressure along the surface of the electrode when in use, as well as for other purposes which would be apparent to the skilled artisan.
The aforementioned PEM fuel cells are being developed as an alternative energy source for portable, stationary, and industrial applications. Significant R&D efforts in the fuel cell area are being directed towards the science of fuel cell technology as well as in the areas of engineering and systems integration. A common need at the heart of all PEM systems is to increase the understanding of molecular level interactions within the system including gas flow to the membrane electrode assembly ("MEA"), diffusion, kinetics, thermodynamics of reactants and products of the electrochemical reaction, water management, heat transfer, and current collection.
Presently, diagnostic systems like fuel cell test stations are available which allow performance testing of stack-level component integration, combined with electronic measurements for performance evaluations, these systems are very costly, complex, and time consuming to operate. Additionally, individual component characterization and material evaluation is potentially possible through the use of classic electrochemical, and materials characterization methodologies such as X-ray diffraction, Potentiostatic/Galvanostatic measurements, impedance analysis, and microscopy.
As an example of industry shortcomings in the testing regime, Gurley porosity is commonly utilized to give an indication of the permeability of a fuel gas (e.g., hydrogen) through gas diffusion layer substrates. While Gurley porosity is useful for initial material screening purposes, direct correlation to operational performance is difficult. Also Gurley porosity does not include any specificity towards a correlation with the electrochemical reaction that takes place at the anode or cathode. Furthermore, localized differences in gas diffusion rates are difficult to detect.
There is a lack of availability, of intermediate testing paradigms that elucidate material and component integration, below the stack-level or even single cell level integration (ex-situ). Also there is need for testing methods to evaluate component performance functions under conditions that simulate real fuel cell operation. Furthermore, there is a need for a quick cost-effective testing paradigm for components.

Ex-situ PEM fuel cell testing: towards visualizing gas diffusion


An airship recovery system is disclosed including a first cushion pad configured to create a suction force on an outer portion of the airship to capture the airship during landing. An arm is coupled to the first cushion pad and movable between at least two different vertical positions. In an embodiment the air is movable in multiple degrees of freedom. An actuator device is coupled to move the arm. A sensor device is incorporated to detect the location of the airship relative to the recovery system. A controller is utilized to receive signals from the sensor device regarding the location of the airship and output command signals to the actuator to move the arm and the first cushion pad toward a desired contact location on the airship.

An airship may be lighter than air or heavier than air. Certain airships may land, or be recovered, by dropping tethers. The tethers can be recovered by a ground crew. The ground crew may use a mechanical means such as a winch attached to the tether to assist recovery of the airship. The airship may be released, or launched, by gradually releasing a tether or by releasing multiple tethers.
Alternately, an airship may be recovered using a truck or vehicle mounted mast. A mast may be thought of as analogous to a pier used to moor a ship during shore-based operations, such as loading and unloading, or refueling. The mast may provide stability during ground operations such as loading, unloading, or refueling. The mast may be used in conjunction with one or more tethers which are analogous to mooring lines for a ship. As with recovery, release or launch is accomplished by gradually releasing one or more tethers. Releasing tethers acts to release or launch an airship, as releasing a mooring line launches a ship from a pier.
As with a waterborne ship, control of an airship during landing requires stability. A pier for a ship provides some additional stability. Similarly, a mast can provide only a degree of additional stability to an airship. Further increasing external control can provide increased stability while recovering the airship. Similar advantages may also be achieved in increased stability when the airship is released, or launched.
Airships are currently being developed that combine advantages of an aerodynamic shape with the cargo capacity, simplicity, and low operating costs. Uses for such airships include cargo transport, telecommunications platforms, surveillance, emergency response, advertising platforms, and tourism, among others. Airships may be slow and difficult to maneuver. Yet, it is desirable to provide capability that allows an airship to take off and land in a minimum amount of space and in a variety of locations.

Systems and methods for recovering an airship


A handle assembly for a power tool is disclosed. The handle assembly includes a base adapted to be mounted to a body of a power tool, and a handle having first and second mounting portions pivotably mounted to respective ends of the base. An elongate torsion spring has a first part mounted to the base and a respective second part mounted to each mounting portion such that pivoting of the handle relative to the base member causes twisting of the torsion member to resiliently oppose pivoting of the handle relative to the base portion.

DE 102009000598 discloses a supplementary handle for a hammer power drill having a vibration damping arrangement comprising a torsion spring provided at each axial end of a mount for the handle.
This arrangement suffers from the drawback that the torsion springs must be highly robust, thereby increasing the cost of manufacture of the apparatus, and it is difficult to control the flexibility of the spring over a wide range of handle positions.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome one or more of the above disadvantages of the prior art.


A chirped pulse amplification laser system. The system generally comprises a laser source, a pulse modification apparatus including first and second pulse modification elements separated by a separation distance, a positioning element, a measurement device, and a feedback controller. The laser source is operable to generate a laser pulse and the pulse modification apparatus operable to modify at least a portion of the laser pulse. The positioning element is operable to reposition at least a portion of the pulse modification apparatus to vary the separation distance. The measurement device is operable to measure the carrier envelope phase of the generated laser pulse and the feedback controller is operable to control the positioning element based on the measured carrier envelope phase to vary the separation distance of the pulse modification elements and control the carrier envelope phase of laser pulses generated by the laser source.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to methods and apparatuses for controlling carrier envelope phase. Particularly, various embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatuses for controlling carrier envelope phase by controlling grating separation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Chirped pulse amplification (CPA) laser systems are often utilized to amplify laser pulses to millijoule level or higher energies. For example, CPA laser systems may be employed to generate high-power laser pulses to study various aspects of atomic physics, such as attosecond pulse generation, above threshold ionization, and molecular dissociation. It is often necessary to stabilize the carrier envelope phase of generated laser pulses to prevent measurement errors. It is known to stabilize carrier envelope phase by adding feedback loops to the oscillators employed by CPA systems. Unfortunately, adding a feedback loop to an oscillator may disturb the oscillator's output power and limit feedback bandwidth, thereby interfering with the output of the CPA laser system.

Method and apparatus for controlling carrier envelope phase

Kansas State University Research Foundation


The present disclosure provides various embodiments of methods of forming a tapering distal tip for a catheter. An exemplary method includes providing a mandrel and a holding hypotube, placing a tip first material with a first outer diameter over the mandrel and the hypotube, placing a tip second material with a second outer diameter over the mandrel and under the first material, placing a shrink tube of heat-shrink material around at least a junction of the first material and second material, heating the shrink tube, cooling the first material and second material, and removing the shrink tube and the hypotube. The first outer diameter is greater than the second outer diameter.

Catheters such as intravascular catheters are well known for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications wherein it is necessary to administer a fluid to, or otherwise contact, a precise location within the cardiovascular system, for example, by guiding the tip or distal end of the catheter through branching blood vessels. Such guiding is accomplished in part by manipulation of a proximal portion of the catheter in order to impart forces needed to curve and guide the catheter through the curving and branching blood vessels.
Generally, distal tips of catheters are made by hand. For example, an operator bonds or necks heated material over a mandrel, cools the material, and trims the material to the desired length. If the material is necked incorrectly, the operator has to reheat the part until the correct shape is achieved. The process takes both time and skill.
In addition, consistency of necking between two different operators is difficult to achieve. One operator may neck harder or heat longer than the other. Moreover, the heat being applied may not be transferred consistently between the part and heat torch so that one portion of the part will endure more or less heat.
Therefore, a need exists for methods of making distal tips for catheters that reduce human error and cost, and increase reproducibility.


A stereoscopic-image game playing apparatus displays a screen image for right eye and a screen image for left eye on LCD 105, outputs images of the player obtained by cameras 103a and 103b to the receiving side, and displays images corresponding to the right half face and the left half face of the player based on the player's images on LCD 107. The images displayed on the LCD 107 are used as figures for selectively introducing lights from the screen images on the LCD 105, by lens 106, to the right and left eyes of the player. This enables stereoscopic vision without glasses for separating images respectively for the player's right and left eyes, and allows the player to move from the initial position.

Present invention relates to a stereoscopic-image game playing apparatus used for the commercial and domestic purposes.
Generally, a conventional stereoscopic-image game playing apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-12777 displays a screen image for right eye (hereinafter referred to as "screen image (R)") and a screen image for left eye (hereinafter referred to as "screen image (L)") on an image display screen in a time-divisional manner. A player sees the screen image (R) with the right eye, and the screen image (L) with the left eye, by wearing glasses having a function for separating the screen images to the right eye and left eye of the player. As a result, the player can see a stereoscopic image.
FIG. 1 shows one example of the construction of the conventional stereoscopic-image game playing apparatus. Reference numeral 60 denotes glasses having a function for separating the screen images to the right eye and the left eye of the player; 61a and 61b, liquid crystal shutters; 62, a synchronous circuit; and 63, a color CRT as an image display device.
The operation of the conventional stereoscopic-image game playing apparatus having the above construction will be described. The color CRT 63 alternatively displays the screen image (R) and the screen image (L) in a time-divisional manner. The synchronous circuit 62 controls the glasses 60 so that only when the screen image (R) is displayed, the liquid crystal shutter 61a opens to pass the light from the screen image (R), while only when the screen image (L) is displayed, the liquid crystal shutter 61b opens to pass the light from the screen image (L). The player wearing the glasses 60 sees the screen image (R) with the right eye and the screen image (L) with the left eye, thus is given stereoscopic vision.
However, according to the inventors of the present invention, to cause the player to see the screen image (R) with the right eye and the screen image (L) with the left eye independently, the above conventional stereoscopic-image game playing apparatus always requires glasses for separating the screen images to the right eye and the left eye of the player. The glasses bother the player.
Further, the screen image (R) and the screen image (L) must be alternatively displayed in a time-divisional manner, flicker occurred while displaying the images disturbs the stereoscopic vision.
Moreover, if the stereoscopic-image game playing apparatus is used in such a game spot where many and unspecified persons gather, a problem occurs because the glasses might be stolen. For this reason, only a few stereoscopic-image game playing apparatuses have been put into practical use.

Stereoscopic-image game playing apparatus


A hopper box for a heavy lift truck such as mining trucks that minimizes the height of the gravity center of the load includes sheets that generate a floor, a front wall and two side walls. The sheets includes at least one sheet having a first longitudinal concave curved portion as a floor which continues with a longitudinal upper elongated portion which comprises the front wall thereby generating a single longitudinal curved, collapsed and elongated C-shaped sheet. A multiple number of such sheet may be provided and are placed in a juxtaposed manner until reaching the width by incorporating two side walls having on its lower face two longitudinal rigid U-shaped beams, wherein are also included half-round cross stiffeners on its ends.

In the previous art, the heavy lift trucks hoppers such as for example, mining trucks, mainly are constituted by flat surfaces and a combination of varied types of beams which stiffen the planes forming the box container.
Also, there are hoppers of various proportions, curved, rigid and deformable of steel and rubber surfaces. All of them are curved in cross direction wherein a framework of beams also in a cross direction, in some cases rigid in others flexible, provide a structure supporting the curves of the sheet.
There are several patent documents disclosing sad types of hoppers. Thus, for example, document CL 3486-2000 published also as WO 02/49879 discloses a truck bed hopper of a mining dump truck that is capable of elastic deformation when it is subject to the loading or unloading of material, built preferably of structural or of wear steel, where the general structure of the bed hopper is curved. In this way, the great moments of inertia which are achieved with curved surfaces eliminate or reduce to a great extent the use of beams as main resistive elements. The present bed hopper has a protective blinder which is preferably cylindrical in shape and a frontal wall and floor are preferably elliptical in shape. The bottom of the bed hopper externally has a plurality of transversal beams which have the main function of keeping the bottom surface curved and transferring the strengths of the envelopment to the truck's body. Further, the bottom externally also has a plurality of support elements, preferably two in number, that are located at the front part, i.e., ahead of the rotation axis of the hopper. Said support elements only permit the support of the bed hopper on the truck's body and may be eliminated if the truck's body adapts itself to directly take in the transversal beams.
Document CL 0385-1996 discloses a mining hopper for transport of material comprising a structure formed by the hopper itself or a box integrally manufactured from a wear steel being itself the floor, the side walls and the front part, the only coating against abrasion and a reinforcement structure formed by a plurality of "T" beams arranged adjacent to the box, either longitudinal or in cross direction such that it can provide structural support to the box, structure which also is only made from wear material.
Document CL 0015-1999 discloses a high mobile efficiency box which structure framework is formed by "U" folded beams, constructed in six different types of steels, located in different zones according to the mechanical requirements; having a structural portion of its angle side cross members relative to the floor and with respect to the chassis and incorporating a zone in which the gases exiting the truck are taken advantage of making them pass through the structure formed by "U"-shaped beams, heating the containing box throughout all its surface.
Document CL 0873-2003 which was also published as EP 1473189 discloses a mining hopper aimed to transport sterile materials and ores having a mixed structure based on polymers and steels which constitute the body of the hopper for transporting the material. It comprises a floor, side walls, front section and side plates, visor and external areas manufactured of polymers or polymers parts.
Document CL 0327-2010 discloses a hopper to be installed on mining trucks, it comprises a V-shaped floor having curved ends, two side walls, a front wall and a visor, a plurality of H-shaped beams arranged in an horizontal, vertical and adjacent manner which form the framework, thus allowing to fix the floor, the two side walls, the front wall and the visor.
Document CL 1878-2009 also published as AU2010224359 discloses a folded hopper for a mining truck having a floor made of an anti-abrasive material which increases its resistance and simplifies manufacturing work, it is manufactured from special steels. Said anti-abrasive material is folded and of small thickness, with its sides folded, it only uses large beams on the sides.
Document CL 0241-2011 discloses an aerodynamic hopper for high tonnage trucks constructed with double beams in "1" which form a single structure for fixing the floor, the front section and side walls, a flat floor formed by a steel sheet attached to the beams, side walls, and front section formed by a S-shaped sheet and a visor attached to the front section and beams.
Document DE10140587 discloses a tipper body having a front wall, a protective shield, and a base of curved sections, consisting of a plurality of transverse bars, preferably 4-6 curved transverse bars on the base, and at least one curved transverse bar and two side bars on said protective shield. The curved surface of the shield is preferably cylindrical, and surfaces of shield and base are preferably elliptical. There are also two longitudinal support elements to support the tipper body on the truck chassis. The material for the body sections is wear-resistant steel or conventional steel.
Document US 2002/0180247 discloses a hopper box for use in off-road transport vehicle having rubber tires, it comprises a curved floor with a front part, rear part and a pair of side edges extending between the front part and the end part. The plant includes a lower surface adapted for the fundamental connection with the transport vehicle. Each one of the side walls includes a front part and each one of said side walls can be curved. A curved front wall is attached to the front part of the plant and to the front part of each one of the side walls. Therefore, the floor, side walls and front wall cooperate to define a useful cargo space.
Generally, throughout the previous art are described different types of hoppers in which the closest to the present invention are those which walls and floors have a concave curvature in cross direction of the hopper box.

Hopper box and hopper constructed with a collapsed and elongated longitudinally curved C-shaped floor


A super large diameter longitudinal welded pipe forming machine set comprises an edge hollow-bending device (1), a cage roll forming machine (2) and a plate-frame type forming machine (3), wherein the edge hollow-bending device (1) includes a machine seat (1.1), a pinch centring device (1.2) and a plurality of edge bending mechanisms (1.3); the cage roll forming machine (2) is an open cage roll forming machine combined by an outer roll device (2.1) and an inner roll (2.4); each equal rigid frame of the plate-frame type forming machine (3) includes a machine frame body (3.2), an upper horizontal roll mechanism (3.4), an upper horizontal roll adjusting mechanism (3.5), a sliding seat (3.10), a supporting plate (3.11), a hydraulic cylinder (3.12), a lower horizontal roll mechanism (3.6), a lower horizontal roll adjusting mechanism (3.7), a side vertical roll mechanism (3.8) and a side vertical roll adjusting mechanism (3.9).

At present, all industries have more requirements to conveying pipe products in machinery industry with the development of science and technology. For example, a large amount of big-diameter and high-performance conveying pipes, especially conveying pipes with a diameter of bigger than Φ630 mm are required in oil exploration. However, the steel pipe manufacturers both at home and aboard can only produce conveying pipes with a diameter of less than Φ630 mm, and a single method to produce the conveying pipes with a diameter of less than Φ630 mm has always been used. For example, some foreign manufacturers use FFX forming method, namely flexible forming method, and some other steel pipe manufacturers both at home and aboard normally use a cage roll type forming machine set. Therefore, it has become a difficult problem for the steel pipe manufacturers both at home and aboard to produce the conveying pipes with a diameter of bigger than Φ630 mm using each of the aforementioned single production methods. In a case where the cage roll forming machine set is used to produce the super large diameter longitudinal welded pipe, forming rolls are to be distributed on a forming surface of a work piece, and the problem thereof is that, even though the forming effect is good, one of outer rolls has to be heavier than 10 tons which makes it difficult to produce and install such a big equipment and leads to high investment. In order to solve the above problem, it is very necessary to develop a super large diameter longitudinal welded pipe forming machine set by which a welded steel pipe with a diameter of bigger than Φ630 mm can be produced.

Super large diameter longitudinal welded pipe forming machine set


A bio sample collection device including: a housing; a cap part detachably fastened to the housing, and including a bio sample collector for collecting a bio sample; and a bio sample processing liquid storage unit storing bio sample processing liquid, the bio sample processing liquid storage unit being formed to be broken when the cap part is combined with the housing after bio sample is collected so that the bio sample processing liquid is mixed with the bio sample.

The present invention relates to a sample collection device, and more particularly, to a bio sample collection device.
As the interest in health increases, a process of collecting and testing various bio samples in the vicinity is in progress. In addition to a process of collecting and inspecting sludge of the sewage treatment plant, as well as sampling the food samples for food poisoning test, samples of feces and the like for the health check is to proceed.
Since these bio samples are generally unhygienic, various studies are being conducted for hygienic collection. As a device for collecting such a bio sample, the Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0473307, "Feces Sampling Device" and the Korean Utility Model Publication No. 20-2016-0001613, "Feces sampling and inspection container" are disclosed.
However, these bio sample collection devices are focused only on hygienic collection, which is insufficient for post-collection processing. For example, in the case of conventional bio sample collection devices, when the feces are collected for the intestinal microorganism test, the collected feces are exposed to the air, thereby causing a change in the distribution of the intestinal microorganisms immediately after the collection. That is, there are aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms in the intestinal microorganisms. When they are exposed to air during their collection, which affects the survival of anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms, thus changing their distribution. Therefore, when the collection time is delayed until the test, the intestinal microbial distribution and population changes, which makes it difficult to make an accurate test for disease diagnosis and microbial measurement of an individual.


A latch assembly for door locks. The latch assembly has (A) a box-shaped frame having two parallel plates each having a rectilinear slot, a curved slot with a middle section, (B) a first terminal section, (C) a second terminal section having a first shoulder and a second shoulder and (D) a hole for receiving a lock core. A dead bolt has (E) a first portion which is pressed by a finger extending from the core for retracting the dead bolt into the box-shaped frame, (F) a second portion which is pressed by the finger for moving the dead bolt out of the box-shaped frame, (G) a connection coupling the first portion with the second portion, (H) a recess extending in the connection, and (I) a passage transversely extending through the connection. A pin extends through the passage formed in the detent and its two ends are slidably received in the rectilinear slots. A detent has (J) a first portion slidably received in the recess, (K) a second portion and (L) a passage transversely extending through the second portion. A pin extends through the passage formed in the detent and its two ends are slidably received in the curved slots. A spring is compressed between the connection and the second portion of the detent. The ends of the pin are against the first shoulders when the finger is disengaged from the dead bolt and the spring will press the pin to further slide to be sited against the second shoulders.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to mortise locks and, more particularly, to a latch assembly for mortise locks.
2. Related Prior Art
Referring to FIG. 5, a mortise lock latch assembly in accordance with prior art has a box-shaped frame 40 which is generally securely attached to a lock stile of a door (not shown). The box-shaped frame 40 essentially consists of two parallel plates 42 each having a slot 44. A cylinder 46 has a circumferential slot 48. A ring 50 from which a finger 52 extends is sited in the slot 48. A core 54 is inserted through the cylinder 46 and the ring 50. The finger 52 is moved along the slot 48 when the ring 50 is rotated by the core 54 when activated by a key (not shown).
A dead bolt 56 has two separated parallel plates 58. Each plate 58 has (A) two cutouts in an edge so as to form shoulders 60 and 62 and a tab 64 sited between the shoulders 60 and 62, (B) a hole 66 defined near an opposite edge, (C) a slot 68 extending parallel to the edge wherein the cutouts are formed, (D) a hole 70 defined near a closed end of the slot 68, (E) a channel 72 extending through the hole 66. The channels 72 of the plates 58 constitute a passage for a spring 74.
A plate 76 has a first portion 78, a second portion 80 transversely extending from the first portion and a third portion 82 transversely extending from the second portion 80. The second portion 80 contains a longitudinal slot 84. Two teeth 86 transversely extend toward the first portion 78 from the third portion 82. Two separated strips 88 transversely extend from the third portion 82.
The plate 76 is sited between the plates 58 and a pin 90 is inserted through the holes 70 and the slot 84, thus the dead bolt 56 is attached to the plate 76. The spring 74 is inserted through the passage and retained between the strips 88. A pin 92 is inserted through the holes 66. The spring 74 is compressed between the third portion 82 and the pin 92. A pin 94 is inserted through the slots 68 and the space between the first and third portions 78 and 82. Two ends of the pin 94 are secured in two holes defined in the plates 58.
Referring to FIG. 6, the core 54 is activated in order to rotate the finger 52. The finger 52 is moved so that it presses the strip 76 and simultaneously compresses the spring 74. As being further rotated, the finger 52 abuts the shoulder 60 and moves the dead bolt 56 out of the box-shaped frame 40. The finger 52 is disengaged from the shoulder 60 when it is further rotated. That position is shown by a dashed line in FIG. 7. Obviously, after a revolution of the finger 52 is completed, a sufficient amount of the extension of the dead bolt 56 out of the box-shaped frame 40 for locking a door is not achieved as a clearance exists between the door and a jamb wherein a bolt-receiving hole is formed (not shown).
Referring to FIG. 8, the finger 52 continues to be rotated. The finger 52 presses the strip 76. The finger 52 abuts the tab 64. The finger moves the dead bolt 56 out of the box-shaped frame 40 by abutting the tab 64. Then, the finger 52 is disengaged from the tab 64.
A first problem of the above-mentioned mortise lock latch assembly is that the key must be rotated for at least two revolutions to lock the door. Generally, the key is rotated for 720.degree. to move the dead bolt about 18 mm.
A second problem of the above-mentioned mortise lock latch assembly is that there is a position where the finger 52 is disengaged from the tab 64 and the strip 76 is not biased by means of the spring 74 to have the pin 94 sited between the teeth 86. If the bolt-receiving hole is blocked on purpose, the strip 76 will be stopped in such a position. The dead bolt 56 can be easily moved into the box-shaped frame by inserting a strong strip between the box-shaped frame and the jamb.
Therefore, the present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems.


A roller blind tube with fabric wound around it is mounted in brackets that have spade-shaped elements (3) provided in the axis. These elements cooperate with oblong holes (2) in terminating plugs (1) in the roller blind tube. According to the invention the oblong holes (2) are opened by rotating excentrically built rings (8). Hereby the roller blind may be hung on the brackets, whereupon the rings (8) are closed again.

The invention relates to a mounting device for roller blinds comprising a terminating plug for a roller blind tube, said plug having an oblong hole for interaction with a spade-shaped element on a mounting bracket, in which at least one longer side of the hole being shaped as a plane surface parallel to the axis at a distance from said axis corresponding to half the thickness of the spade-shaped element, and that there is provided a lock, which is constituted of the inside of a slit circular ring, rotatable to locking around said spade-shaped element upon mounting.
Several conditions have to be fulfilled when mounting roller blinds with a built-in spring. One end must be prevented from rotating, and the roller blind mounting bracket must be fitted as closely as possible to the upper delimitation of a niche or cassette. Traditionally the rotation is prevented by means of a spade-shaped element, which projects axially into or out of the roller blind tube, interacting with a hole that surrounds the flat element in a suitable manner. In another type of roller blinds having exterior winding and unwinding both ends have to rotate. This is in practice obtained by using spade-shaped elements in both brackets, which may be identical, and the rotation is assured by means of a bearing built into the terminating plugs fitted to the roller blind tube. The length of the roller bearing tube should correspond to the width of the niche, and hence the mounting is traditionally performed by mounting one end of the tube in one of the brackets, whereupon a projecting spade-shaped element is pushed horizontally into a slit in the other bracket, whereupon it is swung down to be supported and held in the centre of the bracket. The force of gravity ensures that this end remains in the bracket. Conditions are not the same, if the spade-shaped element is carried by the bracket and has to interact with a hole in one end of the roller blind tube. In this situation it is necessary that both ends are fitted with brackets, and that one of them is subsequently fixed by screws. It is a complicated mounting, which is unsuitable if corrections have to be performed on the roller blind, that may necessitate its removal once again.
Known mounting brackets may have a horizontal as well as a vertical spade-shaped element. It is not possible to transfer the slit in the bracket to one of the roller blind, because this slit would not have a suitable orientation, whereby a sideways pull in the roller blind would be able to pull it loose. In case space were made available in the end of the roller blind for a construction so that the roller blind were retained by means of the force of gravity, it must then be lifted so much with respect to the bracket, that both brackets have to be lowered during mounting (to preserve the horizontal axis of the roller blind), and hence the roller blind is not fitted as closely as possible to the upper delimitation as possible. Furthermore it would not be possible to use a mounting bracket having a vertical spade-shaped element.


An apparatus, methods, and computer program products for selection of content. The content search method includes receiving a search request having search data including search terms, utilizing the search request to query against databases comprising transcripts of programs yet to be released, and returning results to the search request.

Exemplary embodiments relate generally to communications systems, and more particularly, to an apparatus, methods and computer program products for selection of content based on a search of transcripts.
Internet protocol television (IPTV) is a digital television delivery service wherein the digital television signal is delivered to residential users via a computer network infrastructure using the Internet Protocol. Typically, IPTV services are bundled with additional Internet services such as Internet web access and voice over Internet protocol (VOIP). Subscribers receive IPTV services via a set-top box that is connected to a television or display device for the reception of a digital signal. Used in conjunction with an IP-based platform, the set-top box allows for a subscriber to access IPTV services and any additional services that are integrated within the IPTV service. In addition, DVRs can be coupled to the IPTV-enabled devices in order to record the content available from IPTV.
IPTV service platforms allow for an increase in the interactive services that can be provided to residential subscribers. As such, a subscriber can have access to a wide variety of content that is available via the IPTV service or the Internet. For example, a subscriber may utilize interactive services via a set top box to view IPTV content or access their personal electronic messaging accounts via an Internet web browser. The IPTV infrastructure also allows the delivery of a variety of video content instantly to the subscribers. Such content can be recorded on the subscriber's DVR.
Often, content available for viewing includes transcripts that can be associated with the content or encoded in closed caption streams associated with the content. Although these transcripts can be accessible by the public, for content that is unpublished there lacks the ability to search the transcripts.

Apparatus, methods and computer products for selection of content based on transcript searches


A wireless beacon message management system and method of operating the system with a mobile device. At least one wireless beacon is strategically located in a premises, such as a building or other geocentrically defined area. Each wireless beacon has means for transmitting a wireless beacon signal, wherein the wireless beacon signal includes a beacon data message that has a beacon identification that identifies the beacon transmitting the signal, and optionally the content being delivered. A mobile device such as a smartphone, tablet or the like receives the wireless beacon signal and analyzes it to extract the beacon identification and optional beacon content. The mobile device may then apply one or more software filters to the beacon data message that enables the mobile device to initiate an action based on the filtered beacon data message.

Wireless beacons are devices that generate and transmit wireless signals in a relatively small area of coverage. For example, a recent commercial product known as iBeacon from APPLE, INC. is an indoor positioning system that uses Low Energy Bluetooth (BLE) (also referred to as Bluetooth 4.0 and Bluetooth Smart). Essentially, the iBeacon technology enables nearby mobiles device (such as an IPHONE running IOS or an ANDROID device) to receive and send messages over greater distances than NFC technology (near field communications). For example, the iBeacon can send messages over 150 feet. This technology is superior to GPS insofar as indoor locations are concerned since GPS relies on communications with a GPS satellite, which is generally not available in an indoor environment. In addition, this technology enables much more precision in locating the user and his mobile device.
A beacon in this respect may be a dedicated device or it may be embodied in a mobile smartphone having the appropriate hardware and software configurations. In the first case of a dedicated device, it is envisioned that retail stores and other physical locations would place these dedicated wireless beacons throughout their premises, so as to enable the beacons to communicate with the users' mobile devices as they approach, browse around, and leave the store. Dedicated beacons could operate in a stand-alone or networked environment. When operating stand-alone, they emit signals that are detected by a user's mobile device and processed by the mobile device (in standalone mode or in connection with services in the cloud (i.e. the Internet)) to provide various services and information. By interconnecting the dedicated beacons on a network to a central server computer or to services in the cloud, the system could track a user at any given time and communicate with that user. For example, the system could determine that the user is in a magazine aisle in a grocery store, and as a result send a coupon for a magazine to that user's mobile device at that time. Or, the system could determine that user is standing near a product and send information about that product (or complimentary products) to the user at that time. In another example, a user may be visiting a museum, and strategically placed dedicated beacons could track his location throughout the museum and push information about objects in the museum that the user is currently viewing.
Besides the dedicated beacons that operate in stand-alone mode, networked mode, and/or cloud-based mode, a mobile device such as a mobile smartphone or tablet may be configured to operate as a beacon and provide additional services and features as will be described.
As the use of wireless beacons proliferates, it has become apparent that a user will quickly become bombarded with wireless messages from the multitude of beacons which may surround him. For example, a user may enter a shopping mall and be surrounded by dozens if not hundreds of beacons, all of which may be competing for the user's attention. The user's mobile device may begin to receive hundreds of wireless messages, and it is likely that user may simply ignore his device or even turn it off, in an effort to avoid being bombarded with message after message after message, many of which may be of little or no interest to that user. The present invention addresses and solves this problem and will be described in further detail below.

Method and system for pre and post processing of beacon ID signals


Disclosed is an electrode active material comprising: (a) electrode active material particles capable of lithium intercalation/deintercalation; and (b) a multinary oxide coating layer partially or totally formed on the surface of the electrode active material particles, the multinary oxide coating layer comprising Al, P and a halogen element. A method for preparing the electrode active material, an electrode using the electrode active material, and an electrochemical device comprising the electrode, preferably a lithium secondary battery, are also disclosed. The electrode active material comprising a multinary oxide coating layer has improved structural stability and thermal safety, and thus can provide an electrochemical device having high capacity, long service life and excellent safety.

Since lithium secondary batteries have been commercialized, the most important object in research and development into batteries is to provide a cathode active material showing excellent electrochemical characteristics including high capacity and long service life. In addition to the above electrochemical characteristics, it is urgently required for a cathode active material to have excellent thermal safety so that a battery system can ensure the safety and reliability even under abnormal conditions such as exposure to heat, combustion or overcharge.
Cathode active materials currently used in lithium secondary batteries include composite metal oxides such as LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, LiNiO2, LiNi1-xCoxO2 (0<x<1), LiMnO2, etc. Among those, Mn-containing cathode active materials such as LiMn2O4, LiMnO2, etc., have advantages in terms of processes for the preparation thereof and cost needed for the preparation thereof. However, such Mn-containing cathode active materials are disadvantageous in that they show low discharge capacity. On the contrary, although LiCoO2 is a typical cathode active material used in most commercially available batteries by virtue of its excellent conductivity, high voltage and excellent electrode characteristics, it is not cost-efficient. Meanwhile, a Ni-containing cathode active material, LiNiO2, shows the highest discharge capacity among the above-described cathode active materials. However, LiNiO2 are problematic in that it shows rapid degradation in terms of service life and significantly poor high-temperature characteristics compared to other cathode active materials.
The above-described cathode active materials are lithium intercalation compounds whose structural stability and capacity are determined by lithium ion intercalation and deintercalation. As a charge voltage increases, capacity of such a lithium intercalation compound increases, while the compound becomes structurally unstable, resulting in a rapid drop in the thermal safety of an electrode. More particularly, such cathode active materials in a charged state show a rapid drop in bonding force between metal ions and oxygen atoms, when the internal temperature of a battery exceeds the critical temperature due to internal or external factors. Therefore, oxygen is decomposed and liberated from such unstable cathode active materials as shown in the following reaction scheme:Li0.5CoO2→½LiCoO2+⅙Co3O4+⅙O2
The free oxygen shows high heat-emission property, thereby causing a thermal runaway phenomenon. Further, the free oxygen may cause a highly exothermic reaction with an electrolyte in the battery, resulting in explosion of the battery. Therefore, initiation temperature and heat flow of the reaction, in which oxygen is liberated, should be controlled in order to ensure the battery safety.
In one method suggested for controlling the above-heat flow and initiation temperature, a cathode active material is prepared through a pulverization process and classification process so as to control the surface area of the resultant active material. The average voltage range of an active material having a small particle size is not affected by current density (C rate), because the active material has a large surface area. On the other hand, an active material having a large particle size shows a small surface area, and thus shows an increased surface polarity when it is subjected to high rate charge/discharge, resulting in a drop in average voltage range and capacity.
In order to improve the safety of a cathode active material during charge/discharge cycles, a method for doping a Ni-based or Co-based lithium oxide with a different element was suggested. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 12-149945 discloses an active material for improving the quality of LiNiO2, the active material being represented by the formula of LiNixMyCozO2 (wherein M is at least one selected from Mn and Al, and x+y+z=1).
Another method for improving the safety of a cathode active material is based on surface modification of a cathode active material. For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 9-55210 discloses a cathode active material obtained by coating a lithium nickel-based oxide with an alkoxide of Co, Al or Mn, followed by heat treatment. Additionally, Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 11-16566 discloses a lithium-based oxide coated with a metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Sn, Bi, Cu, Si, Ga, W, Zr, B and Mo, or an oxide thereof.
However, the above methods according to the prior art cannot increase the initiation temperature where the surface of a cathode active material reacts with an electrolyte (i.e., the exothermic reaction temperature where the oxygen bonded to the metal in the cathode active material is liberated). Moreover, the above methods cannot decrease the amount (heat flow) of oxygen decomposed by such reactions. Ultimately, cathode active materials according to the prior art cannot improve the safety of a battery.

Electrode active material with multi-element based oxide layers and preparation method thereof


The present invention concerns a convective system for a dryer installation for a passing web, more particularly paper. The convective system 7 is an assembly of an exterior casing 13 for suction of combustion products with opening 14 towards the web, with a first 15 and second 16 suction ducts sucking the combustion products into the convective system 7. The combustion products coming from the first suction duct 15 are guided through the exterior casing 13 to a mixing and blowing device 17. Cold air 18 is mixed in this mixing and blowing device 17 with the combustion products 19, resulting in a gas mixture with lower temperature 20. The convective system 7 also has an internal casing 21 inside the external casing 13. This internal casing 21 has at least one opening towards the web 22 and has also openings 34 allowing gas flow from the mixing device 17 to the internal casing 21 of said gas mixture 20. Under the internal casing 21, there is also a blowing duct 23. The second suction duct 16 is also arranged under this internal casing 21 thereby extracting a second flow of combustion products 24 into the internal casing 21. This second flow 24 of combustion products is then mixed with the gas mixture 20 coming from the mixing device 17, resulting in a mixture of gasses 25 with a temperature that is higher than the first gas mixture 20 and higher than e.g. 350° C. or 370° C., more preferably 390° C. or 410° C., even more preferably 420° C., 450° C. or 500° C. These hot gasses 25 are then blown to the drying web by the blowing duct 23 of the internal casing 21.

There exists e.g. according to FR-A-2771161 in the name of the applicant an installation having at least a web, gas-heated radiant elements arranged according to at least one row stretching out in the transversal direction of the web, substantially over its entire width, and, downstream at least one row of radiant elements, at least a transverse convective system equipped with suction and blowing devices to suck at least part of the combustion products produced by the radiant elements and to blow this part of the combustion products towards the web. The installation generally also has devices to extract the warm gasses resulting from the convective exchanges between the passing web and the combustion products.
The suction and blowing devices have a mixing device, such as e.g. a ventilator, that is, for several known reasons, shifted laterally at the outside of the web, in relation to the median longitudinal axis usually at a large, even extremely large, distance in relation to the width of the web. In that way, the ventilator has to laterally collect the combustion products that are initially divided over the entire width of the web, mix the combustion products and divide them again over the entire width of the web. Such a mixing entails an important consumption of energy.
In addition, such an installation has suction and blowing ducts that, at least in the transverse direction of the web, have an important size. These ducts dissipate thermal energy by radiation and convection. There is amongst other things aspiration of cold air that is cooling down the combustion products. Hence, the temperature of the combustion products blown on the web is considerably lower than the temperature of the combustion products generated by the radiant elements.
Such an installation, although functioning satisfactorily, thus implies a considerable consumption of mechanical energy and also a considerable loss of thermal energy, thus resulting in considerable investment and operating costs, and also occupies a large surface. An already improved system has been described in WO 2005/085729 in the name of the applicant resulting in a reduced consumption of mechanical energy and a reduced loss of thermal energy, lower investment and operation costs, and necessitating less space. This dryer installation is characterized by the fact that the suction and blowing devices of the convective system have at least one suction and blowing device installed opposite of the passing web in relation to corresponding suction and blowing ducts that at least stretch out in the transverse direction of the web, and arranged so as to suck and/or blow the said combustion products in such a way that the vector averages are optimized. The vectors are representing the respective trajectories of the different jets of sucked and/or blown combustion products. This optimization considerably reduces the trajectories of the jets of combustion products and the mechanical mixing energy needed to suck and blow the different jets of combustion products. These shorter trajectories of combustion products require shorter suction and blowing ducts and smaller dimensions corresponding to smaller surfaces that lead to considerably smaller losses of thermal energy by radiation and convection.
Likewise, the temperature difference between the sucked combustion products and the blown combustion products is substantially reduced, thereby increasing the efficiency.
In that way, the thermal transfers between the combustion products and the passing plane can be maximized, and it is also possible to obtain an extremely compact dryer installation in which the combustion products are blown at the highest possible temperature.
Although above described system has already improved the efficiency of the dryer installation to a large extent, there is still a major restriction to the system in that the mixing devices cannot withstand temperatures that are higher than e.g. 350° C., thereby limiting the temperature of the warm blown combustion products.

Convective system for a dryer installation


The invention provides methods and compositions for the production of transgenic plants, plant cells, embryos, and seeds that produce plants with floral organs that have increased mass and/or size as compared to wild-type plants. The transgenic plants can be transformed with a genetic construct comprising an ipt gene under the control of an APETAL3 promoter.

Methods and compositions are needed in the ornamental plant industry, the vegetable production industry, and agronomic crops to increase to increase, inter alia, yield. By increasing yield of agronomic and fruit and vegetable crops, it would be possible to produce more food on less land, thus saving sustainable resources and labor costs and increasing profit margins for farmers. Methods and compositions are also needed in the ornamental plant industry to produce larger flowers allowing for increased amounts of color display and better sales.

Floral organ tissue-specific expression of isopentenyl transferase

University of Florida Research Foundation