A conductivity measurement system measures conductivity of molecules. A substance to be measured is applied to the first and second electrodes. A potential is applied across the electrodes. A computer-controlled motion controller moves a first electrode relative to a second electrode in discrete steps. In a first step, the electrodes are brought together in physical contact to form a plurality of molecular junctions. The electrodes are separated by a first distance which breaks a first molecular junction. The electrodes are separated by a second distance which breaks a second molecular junction. A conductivity measure is taken at each step. The process of separating the electrodes continues until conductivity measure is zero. The conductivity of one molecule corresponds to a last non-zero conductivity measurement prior to a zero conductivity measurement.

Many practical devices used in the industry and in various applications of technology continue to dramatically reduce in feature size. In the field of nanotechnology, device miniaturization has reached the boundary of the molecular level. Work is on-going to achieve practical devices, in areas such as microelectronics, chemical sensors, and bio-sensors, which are quantified in terms of numbers of molecules.
In the process of designing nanotechnology devices, there is a need for instrumentation and techniques of qualifying, measuring, and characterizing such devices. Analysis tools such as the Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) and Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), electromigration fabricated electrodes, break junctions, mercury drops, nanopores, nanorods, and cross-wire tunneling junctions, have been used to understand the characteristics and behavior of nanotechnology devices. The ability to measure and record physical phenomena at the molecular level is essential to understanding the attributes and behavior of molecules and advancing basic research into practical applications. For example, these tools have been used to gain knowledge about electron transport in molecules. It is important to fundamental nanotechnology research and development to be able to accurately and repeatable measure and characterize the conductivity or resistivity of one or more molecules. Understanding the conductivity of a molecule reveals significant insight into its physical and chemical makeup and interaction with other molecules.
In the work toward developing analysis tools aimed at quantifying molecular conductivity, a variety of techniques have been tried with varying degrees of success. In one approach, a molecule is anchored to a conducting substrate with covalent bonding. A STM tip or conducting AFM tip can be placed over the top of the molecule to measure the current through the molecule between the tip and the substrate. While the molecule can form a reproducible contact to the substrate via the covalent bond, the tip-molecule contact conductance remains undefined, which makes it difficult to determine the conductivity of the molecule itself.
Another related approach is to cap a metal particle onto the molecule. Again, the contact conductance between the metal particle and the tip is undefined. Moreover, the molecules prepared for the STM/AFM measurements are often imbedded in matrix of other molecules, which often prevents the molecule from binding to analyte molecules for sensor applications.
In break junctions, a pair of electrodes is formed separated with a molecular scale gap. The two electrodes originate by breaking a metal wire on the substrate to create the gap. By bridging the gap with molecules terminated with linkers that can bind to the electrodes, a molecular junction is formed which permits a measure of the electron transport properties of the molecular junction.
In a similar approach, the process of electromigration forms a molecular scale gap between two electrodes by passing an electrical current through a thin wire to break the wire into two electrodes via electromigration effect. When molecules are present during the electromigration process, a molecular junction is formed in which molecules bridge across two electrodes.
In a cross wire tunneling junction, a metal is first coated with a layer of molecules, and a second wire is placed over the first wire in perpendicular direction. A molecular junction can be formed by carefully controlling the separation between the two wires.
In an electrode-molecular film-electrode junction, the electrical properties of molecules can be measured by sandwiching a layer of the molecules between two electrodes. The layer of molecules is placed on a flat electrode by self-assembly or by using the Langmuir-Blodgett method. A metal film is evaporated on top of the molecular layer. For nanopore and nanorod molecular junctions, the nanopore and the nanorod junctions are formed in a similar manner with the electrode-molecular film-electrode sandwich structure formed in the nanoscale pores in a SiN membrane or alumina templates. In the case of nanorod method, molecular junctions are first formed in the pores of membrane templates electrochemically. The membranes are then dissolved to leave molecular junctions floating in solution. The molecular junctions are trapped electrically to the gaps between electrodes to allow conductivity measurement of the molecular junctions.
Unfortunately, for each of the above known approaches, it is difficult to accurately and repeatably determine how many molecules are involved in the molecular junctions. The conductivity test may involve one molecule or many molecules; there is no way to be certain as to specifically how many molecules are bridging the electrodes. Also, there is uncertainty as to how, or even if, the molecules are joined to the electrodes. In many tests, the electrodes are not properly coated or protected as required for electrical measurement in aqueous solutions. Finally, these processes rely on electron beam lithography or other expensive fabrication procedures, which may not be practical or available to users.
A need exists to accurately and repeatably measure the electrical conductivity of a determinable number of one or more molecules.

System and method for measuring conductivity on molecular level


A system and method for spectral loading unutilized channels of a partially loaded WDM system may be used to suppress spectral hole burning (SHB). Dummy tones may be loaded at different loading wavelengths within the band of system wavelengths such that the loading wavelengths are associated with a subset of unutilized channels in the WDM system. The loading wavelengths may be selected and spaced based on a distortion in the gain spectrum of the partially loaded WDM system such that the dummy tones alter the distortion to provide a desired gain spectrum.

To maximize the transmission capacity of an optical fiber transmission system, a single optical fiber may be used to carry multiple optical signals in what is called a wavelength division multiplex system (hereinafter a WDM system). Modern WDM systems have a high traffic capacity, for example, a capacity to carry 64 channels of 10 gigabits per second (hereinafter Gb/s). When an optical link is initially deployed, however, the link may be only partially loaded (e.g., ≦8 channels). Initially, only a few of the total number of potential channels may be used to carry information signals.
When the information signals are transmitted over long distances or between links of optical fiber cable, one or more amplifiers may be provided to compensate for signal attenuation. The amplifiers used in some WDM systems cannot easily be modified and may be sized initially to support a fully loaded link (e.g., 64 channels, each channel carrying 10 Gb/s). The power per channel must be sufficient to provide an adequate signal to noise ratio in the presence of the amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise from the amplifiers, necessitating a high amplifier total output power for systems with high fully-loaded capacity. The amplifiers are thus configured to provide an optical output signal at a nominal optical power. The nominal output power level is insensitive to the power at the input of the amplifier. As the amplifier input power varies over a wide range, the output power changes very little around this nominal output power level. Thus, when the optical link is fully loaded, each channel is amplified to a substantially equal optical output power. If the initially deployed system uses only a few channels for information, these channels share all of the amplifier output power. As additional channels are added, the optical output power per-channel decreases.
When some channel powers increase compared to other channels, problems may be caused by an effect known as spectral hole burning (SHB). In an optical communication network using rare-earth-doped fiber amplifiers, such as erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs), signal-induced saturation in the doped fiber medium may cause SHB. As a result of SHB, a gain depression or "hole" may be induced in the gain spectrum of a WDM system in the spectral vicinity of a saturated channel. When a WDM system is loaded with low channel counts during initial deployment, for example, the system may show a severely distorted gain shape such that the channels experience a higher power evolution along the system.

System and method for spectral loading an optical transmission system

Tyco Electronics Subsea Communications LLC


An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a rolled paper, and for cutting the rolled paper on which the image has been recorded to a standard size. The image recording apparatus includes a detection device for detecting a length of an image to be recorded on the rolled paper; a storage device for storing a plurality of predetermined lengths corresponding to a plurality of standard sizes; a selection device for selecting a selected length from the plurality of predetermined lengths, the selected length (i) being longer than the detected image length, and (ii) being nearest to the detected image length from among the plurality of predetermined lengths; and a cutting device for cutting the rolled paper, on which the image has been recorded, to the length selected by the selection device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and particularly to an image recording apparatus for recording an image on long recording paper, such as roll paper or the like, and for cutting the recording paper.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known example of such an apparatus is a facsimile apparatus which records a received image on roll paper, cuts the roll paper on which the image is recorded and outputs the image. In general facsimile apparatuses, the roll paper is cut according to the size of the received image on one page. Since information about a sending side, such as the telephone number, abbreviation thereof and the like, are generally added to the received image, the received image size (the length of the received image) for an A4 size original is increased to a length obtained by adding the length of the sending-side information to the A4 size length. When the received images are filed, each has an inconvenient non-standard length.
A facsimile apparatus has been thus proposed in which a received image of a standard size is recorded and cut off from roll paper to obtain a received image of a standard size for filing or the like. In this facsimile apparatus which cuts the roll paper to a standard size, a received image is recorded after being stored in a received image memory so that when the received image exceeds a standard size by .alpha. (for example, 1 cm) or less, the received image is corrected to an image of a standard size and then cut off from the roll paper. This permits the formation of a recorded image of a standard size.
In the above facsimile apparatus which cuts the roll paper to a standard size, it is difficult to appropriately cut the roll paper if no image memory is provided.
Namely, a facsimile apparatus which records a received image in real time without using an image memory has the problem that, for example, when an image of a size (a standard size+.alpha.) is recorded, the length .alpha. cannot be cut out and a recorded image of a standard size cannot be obtained.

Image recording apparatus with means for cutting a standard paper size based on an image size


An optically readable matrix (100) has four intersecting sides of approximately equal length defining a perimeter and includes a binary code formed from light and dark squares of substantially equal sizes located within the perimeter. The matrix (100) comprises first and second orientation squares (105, 110) included in the light and dark squares and located in opposite corners of the matrix (100). Each of the orientation squares (105, 110) preferably includes a contrasting circular area (115, 120) located in a predetermined position within the orientation square (105, 110) and having a predetermined size relationship with the orientation square (105, 110). Such a matrix (100) may be formed on a printed circuit board (505) for use in an electronic device (500) to convey information about the printed circuit board (505). An apparatus (600) for decoding the matrix (100) includes an optical scanner (610) for scanning the matrix (100) and for locating the orientation squares (105, 110). Determination circuitry (710) coupled to the scanner ( 610) determines the size and distance between the circular areas (115, 120) relays the information to computing circuitry (715), which computes the size, orientation, and density of the matrix (100). A controller (705) thereafter translates the binary code.

In many conventional applications, optically readable codes are imprinted on components to convey information to optical sensors or other such scanning devices. Bar codes, such as the universal product code (UPC), are one type of optically readable code that is often printed on consumer articles for scanning past an optical sensor. The optical sensor typically decodes information from the code imprinted on a consumer article, subsequent to which the decoded information may be routed to further processing equipment. A bar code printed on an item in a grocery store, for instance, may be scanned past an optical sensor to decode price information included in the bar code. Thereafter, the price information is automatically transmitted to a cash register, which typically prints the price information on a customer receipt, thereby saving time by eliminating the need for manual price entry on the cash register keyboard. Bar codes, however, are usually rather large and, as a result, may be unsuitable for use with smaller products, such as miniature paging receivers, that have a minimum of available space. Additionally, because information in bar codes is represented by uniform bars of various widths, bar codes are often difficult to print on non-paper surfaces, such as metals or plastics, that have rough or uneven surfaces. Therefore, bar codes printed on such surfaces may be illegible to optical scanning devices, possibly resulting in the erroneous decoding of information.
Another example of coded information is an optically readable matrix, formed as a "checker board" symbol that represents information in the form of black and white squares. Typically, the information is coded in a binary code, wherein 0's are represented by squares of one color and 1's are represented by squares of another color. The binary code matrix possesses several advantages over the conventional bar code. For example, the binary code matrix may be more easily decoded when printed on a rough or uneven surface since irregularities do not affect the interpretation of the information as long as the color of the square can be determined. Additionally, the size of the binary code matrix may be adjusted, by decreasing or increasing the size of the squares, depending on the space available in which to print the matrix.
Conventionally, however, a portion of the available space for the binary code matrix is utilized to distinguish the binary code matrix from the surrounding area. For example, one typical binary code matrix employs a "quiet zone", i.e., an area around the perimeter of the binary code matrix in which no further information can be located. An optical scanning device searches for this quiet zone to locate the binary code matrix. Another type of binary code matrix is recognized by an optical scanning device when two or more rows of solid black squares along the perimeter of the binary code matrix are located. As a result, a relatively large amount of space, which otherwise might be used to convey additional information, is wasted in differentiating the binary code matrix from the surrounding area.
Although the conventional binary code matrix is inherently more accurate than the bar code, errors may nevertheless occur in decoding the included information. Such errors most commonly occur when a square is mistaken for the opposite color or is incorrectly colored and, as a result, the information is decoded erroneously. As a safeguard against decoding errors, some typical binary code matrices include identical information in two or more different locations within the binary code matrix. In this case, however, the optical scanning device which decodes the information has no method of detecting which is the correct information if the information in one location differs from the information in the other location. Furthermore, the duplication of information contained in the binary code matrix may almost double the size of the matrix, thereby wasting space which is often already at a premium.
Thus, what is needed s an optically readable binary code matrix that maximizes space usage. The binary code matrix should also utilize a minimal number of squares to distinguish the binary code matrix from the surrounding area. Furthermore, the binary code matrix should include data by which errors in decoded information may be detected and corrected.

Binary code matrix having data and parity bits


A sheet processing apparatus includes a first intermediate stacking portion which stacks a conveyed sheet and which performs process to the sheet, a stapler which performs process to the sheet on the first intermediate stacking portion, a second intermediate stacking portion which is located on an upstream side in a conveying direction of the stapler and which is capable of temporarily storing the conveyed sheet, and an intermediate roller pair which conveys the sheet on the second intermediate stacking portion to the first intermediate stacking portion. The sheet stacked on the first intermediate stacking portion and the sheet temporarily stored in the second intermediate stacking portion overlap each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus which processes a sheet and an image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet processing apparatus. In particular, the invention relates to a sheet processing apparatus which can receive and put the next sheet on standby while processing a sheet, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the sheet processing apparatus.
2. Related Background Art
Conventionally, as image forming apparatuses, for example, there are a printer which prints digital information using an electrophotographic technique, and a multifunction printer installing an image reading apparatus together with the printer as a base, thereby being given a multifunction. Some of those printers have a sheet processing apparatus which processes a sheet having an image formed thereon.
Some conventional sheet processing apparatuses have such functions of stacking a sheet discharged from a printer on a sheet stacking portion, performing, for example, stapling process to the sheet, and discharging the sheet thereafter (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-80162).
However, the conventional sheet processing apparatus cannot receive a sheet in the next job until the sheet processing apparatus discharges a sheet bundle after starting the stapling process. Therefore, the conventional sheet processing apparatus has a problem in that sheet processing efficiency is lowered in proportion to the number of sheets which cannot be received.
In addition, an image forming apparatus having such a sheet processing apparatus has to bring a printer engine to a standstill state until the sheet processing apparatus receives a sheet. Therefore, the conventional image forming apparatus has a problem in that sheet processing efficiency is low because the image forming apparatus cannot form images on sheets successively.

Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus


A piston-cylinder assembly has a working piston attached to a piston rod and dividing a working cylinder into two working spaces. An external reservoir partially filled with damping medium is provided outside the piston-cylinder assembly and is connected to one of the working spaces by a connecting pipe. The piston-cylinder assembly is provided with a stepped bore for receiving the connecting pipe, in the larger-diameter part of which a seal is held in place by the connecting pipe.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a piston-cylinder assembly, in which a working piston is attached to a piston rod and divides a working cylinder into two working spaces. An external reservoir partially filled with damping medium is provided outside the piston-cylinder assembly and is connected to one of the working spaces by a connecting pipe.
2. Description of the Related Art
Piston-cylinder assemblies, in which the vibration damper comprises a container with an external expansion space connected to the container by a connecting pipe, are known (e.g., DE 102 02 350 C1). The connecting pipe is connected permanently and in a leak-tight manner both to the external reservoir and to the container itself by threaded pipe fittings.
Piston-cylinder assemblies, in which a reservoir partially filled with oil is located externally for space reasons, are also known (e.g., AT 35 445 B). This external reservoir can be attached directly to the piston-cylinder assembly, but it can also be located somewhere else and connected to the piston-cylinder assembly by a flow connection. What is involved here is a gas pressure damper for motorcycles, in which the external reservoir is designed as a gas pressure accumulator, which compensates for the volume of the piston rod. The units are connected to each other by a high-pressure hose with ring-type nipple connections known in the industry, through each of which a banjo bolt passes. This type of connection is bulky and uneconomical and can be disassembled by unauthorized persons. Disassembly at this point makes a piston-cylinder assembly unusable, because the pressurized damping medium escapes.
Additional piston-cylinder assemblies, in which a level-controlled MacPherson strut unit is provided with an external reservoir located outside the MacPherson strut unit, are also known (U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,594). The external reservoir in this exemplary embodiment is used as a low-pressure reservoir, but it is possible to tamper with the pressurized unit. Another source of difficulty is the brazed or welded joint on the assembly side. Pipe connections made by brazing or welding must be inspected for leaks before installation in the vehicle, which increases costs. The cycle times of the assembly process must also be longer, which makes this method of attaching external reservoirs unsuitable for mass production.


A crosslinkable silane-terminated polymer is provided which includes the reaction product of an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer and a silane possessing a plurality of hydrolysable sites and at least one active hydrogen-containing group which is reactive for isocyanate, the silane upon hydrolysis produces a reduced amount of volatile organic compound compared to that produced by the hydrolysis of a silane possessing an equivalent number of hydrolyzable sites all of which are hydrolyzable alkoxy groups.

Urethane prepolymers have been modified in the past to improve or add to their basic properties by end-capping some or all of the isocyanate groups with various organofunctional silanes. Among these methods, U.S. Pat. No. 3,632,557 teaches the complete end-capping of conventional polyurethane prepolymers with primary and secondary aliphatic aminosilanes. U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,344 details a room temperature curable silicon terminated organic sealant composition comprising a small quantity of 3-(N-2-aminoethyl)aminopropyltrimethoxysilane end-capper to improve the sealant's cure speed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,925 details the same composition as is given in U.S. Pat. No. 3,979,344 but also incorporates a reinforcing carbon black filler. Sealants having improved elongation and flexibility were prepared using silane end-capped polyurethane polymers obtained from silane monomers having at least one dialkoxy group and an organofunctional group with at least one active hydrogen atom in U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,816.
However, polyurethane prepolymers end-capped with primary aminofunctional silanes contain an active hydrogen atom that is capable of further reactions with the isocyanate end groups. This reactivity can lead to undesirable stability of both the polymer and sealant compositions. Several methods teach the use of secondary aminofunctional silane end-cappers. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,237 teaches the curable isocyanate terminated polyurethane prepolymers of at least part of whose terminal isocyanate groups have been reacted with a secondary amine containing silane monomer having two trialkoxy silane groups. U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,933 describes crosslinkable polyurethane resin mixtures that have been end-capped with various primary and secondary difunctional aminosilanes. More recently, U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,955 teaches the use of N-alkoxysilylalkyl aspartic acid ester end-capped polyurethane prepolymers and sealant compositions made therefrom.
Accordingly, there is a need for a silane-based end-capper to create silylated polyurethane resins that have lower VOC admissions. There is also a need for a silane-based adhesion promoter to create sealants, adhesives and coatings that have lower VOC admissions.

Crosslinkable silane-terminated polymer and sealant composition made with same


The present invention is directed to a system and method for migrating web servers. More particularly, the present invention is directed to transferring configuration and content information from a source server to a target server, including any web sites, applications, features, directory structures and sever side extensions that existed on the source server. The present invention provides a modular script based tool, that can be incorporated or customized by an administrator as needed, and executed on any one of a number of operating platforms or systems. The tool of the present invention comprises an authentication module, a parser module, a work items module; and a verifier module. In combination, these modules obtain one or more informational items pertaining to a source web server, parse the one or more informational items to generate one or more task items, utilize the task items to perform a transfer, and perform health checks on the target server, to ensure the content and configuration of the target web server.

Over the last several years there has been tremendous growth of the Internet. This growth has been spurred by end user quests for data, information and products. In order to support this growth, there is a multiplicity of web sites scattered around the world and executing on a variety of software and hardware platforms. From time to time and for any one of a variety of reasons, there sometimes exists a need to migrate from one platform to another. For example, some web sites are hosted on an Apache web server running the Linux operating system, others are hosted on a Netscape enterprise network server running in a Windows environment and still other web sites operate on the Internet Information Server (IIS) on a Microsoft Window's network platform. It should be noted that these web server platforms are merely exemplary and are specified only to aid in the explanation of the present invention. When dealing with this variety of platforms, it may become necessary to migrate from one to another, as previously mentioned. There is therefore a need to provide an administrative tool to facilitate such migration.
One example of such a tool was the IIS migration wizard provided by Microsoft. This prior art system was provided to migrate from Netscape enterprise network server and Apache server to IIS version 5.0. Another objective of this prior art migration wizard was to facilitate an upgrade path within the IIS version of products. However, this tool along with other similar tools were problematic in that they attempted to do too much, were not intuitive and were not directed at the right type of administrator. For instance, the IIS migration wizard was a graphical user interface (GUI) based tool rather than a script or command line tool. While ordinarily this would not be perceived as a problem, it should be understood that the purpose of the tool was to enable an administrator who typically worked with command lines and scripts, to perform a migration of their existing server. Thus the intended user was faced with an unfamiliar interface. More importantly, the intended users are confronted with what they would consider to be a tool that limited their ability to customize the tool as needed. Beyond the problems discussed thus far, these prior art migration tools did not work. The tools tried to do way too much. The tools that were available to perform migration within a particular operating system platform such as Linux or Unix, could not be used to migrate web servers onto the Window's operating system platform.
What is needed is a migration tool that addresses the main features sought by administrators. First, the migration tool had to be in a language that administrators can relate to. For example, rather that providing an administrator with an executable black box file, a script file utilizing a language such as Perl either alone or in combination with some other scripting language would be preferable. Second, the migration tool must work when delivered. In other words, the migration tool has to be one that provides functionality without requiring too much effort from the administrator. Third, the migration tool must handle some basic migration tasks. Such tasks include the migration of server configuration, content of web sites and the migration of MIME types. And fourth, the migration tool should provide new key and innovative features. Such features include the ability to invoke the tool from any one of a variety of machines. The tool should be accessible from the source or target operating platform or from other intermediate systems. Intermediate machines are referred to as hosters. For example, the tool should operate on a computing device utilizing either Linux Windows. Even further, this tool should be capable of being invoked from either a source server computing device such as a server running Apache Linux or a destination server computing device such as a computer running Windows IIS. Another feature of such a tool, would be the migration of server extensions, such as for example Front Page Server Extensions (FPSE). Yet another feature would be the migration of user directories e.g. "www.mysite/˜myname/*.htm" (a user's special directory). An even further feature would be the migration of .htaccess files. These files contain directory and file permission levels. These and other features are provided by the system and method of the present invention and will be discussed later in this document.

System and method for web server migration


A valved stent including a stent structure having a generally tubular body portion with an interior area, a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis; a valve structure including a plurality of leaflets and positioned within the interior area of the stent structure; and an invertible structure extending from one of the first and second ends of the stent structure. The invertible structure can be rotatable relative to the end of the stent structure from which it extends.

Diseased or otherwise deficient heart valves can be repaired or replaced using a variety of different types of heart valve surgeries. One general type of heart valve surgery involves an open-heart surgical procedure that is conducted under general anesthesia, during which the heart is stopped and blood flow is controlled by a heart-lung bypass machine. This type of valve surgery is highly invasive and exposes the patient to a number of potential risks, such as infection, stroke, renal failure, and adverse effects associated with use of the heart-lung machine, for example.
Due to the drawbacks of open-heart surgical procedures, there has been an increased interest in minimally invasive and percutaneous replacement of cardiac valves. Such surgical techniques involve making a relatively small opening in the skin of the patient, thereby providing access to the vascular system. A valve assembly may then be inserted into the patient and delivered to the heart via a delivery device similar to a catheter. This technique is often preferable to more invasive forms of surgery, such as the open-heart surgical procedure described above.
Various types and configurations of prosthetic heart valves are used in percutaneous valve procedures to replace diseased natural human heart valves. The actual shape and configuration of any particular prosthetic heart valve is dependent to some extent upon the valve being replaced (i.e., mitral valve, tricuspid valve, aortic valve, or pulmonary valve). In general, prosthetic heart valve designs attempt to replicate the function of the valve being replaced and thus will include valve leaflet-like structures. These leaflet-like structures can be used with heart valve bioprostheses, which involves using a natural valve material (e.g., a porcine valve) to make a heart valve. More specifically, these bioprosthetic replacement valves include a valved segment that is mounted in some manner within an expandable stent or frame structure to make a valved stent. In order to prepare such a valve for percutaneous implantation, one type of valved stent can be initially provided in an expanded or uncrimped condition, then crimped or compressed around a balloon portion of a catheter until it is as close to the diameter of the catheter as possible. When it is desired to expand the stent, such as when the stent is at its desired implantation location, the balloon is inflated to provide a certain outward radial force to achieve a particular stent expansion. In other percutaneous implantation systems, the stent of the valved stent can be made of a self-expanding material. With these systems, the valved stent is crimped down to a desired size and held in that compressed state within a sheath, for example. Retracting the sheath from this valved stent allows the stent to expand to a larger diameter, such as when the valved stent is in a desired position within a patient. With either of these types of percutaneous stent delivery systems, conventional sewing of the prosthetic heart valve to the patient's native tissue is typically not necessary.
Although there have been advances in percutaneous valve replacement techniques and devices, there is a continued desire to provide different stent or frame structures and delivery systems for delivering cardiac valves to an implantation site in a minimally invasive and percutaneous manner. There is also a continued desire to be able to control the inflow side of a valve during the implantation process to control the accuracy of placement within the body.

Transcatheter valve structure and methods for valve delivery


An apparatus and method for charging a battery with an improved charging performance and a reduced degradation of the battery. A battery charging profile is configured to achieve a minimal degradation of a selected battery possible for a given charge time. A minimization is achieved using battery degradation modeling data indicative of a battery degradation level of a selected battery, and voltage and temperature response modeling data indicative of a predicted battery voltage and a predicted battery temperature of the selected battery as a function of time and charging current.

Traditionally, battery charging algorithms have been optimized to achieve minimal possible charging time given the available current of an AC adaptor. A constant current/constant voltage (CC/CV) charging method satisfies this criteria. However, in many cases, charging in a minimal charging time brings no significant benefit to the application, while using a pre-defined acceptable charging time would be sufficient. In addition, minimizing the charging time has detrimental effects on the battery aging rate, because of the high temperature, high voltage and/or lithium plating periods that coincide in traditional CC/CV charging which accelerate battery degradation.
Previous attempts to reduce battery aging during charging were focused on some isolated factors affecting degradation, for example, by reducing charging voltage. Some attempts to make optimization of multiple parameters are not based on a realistic model of battery aging that is conformed and refined using empirical data, and are not based on full battery characterization data that assures accurate voltage and temperature modeling under arbitrary conditions. Some of the degradation models need access to detailed information about battery cell chemistry and composition and are therefore not practical for mass adoption that requires standardization of obtaining the parameters. There has not been a solution that finds all the conditions that guaranty absolute minimum degradation.
There is desired a solution that provides a charge profile creating minimal battery degradation for a given charging time and a maximal AC adaptor power, and provides improved battery life.

Method and apparatus of charging the battery with globally minimized integral degradation possible for predefined charging duration


A method for extruding polypropylene containing vinylidene chloride polymers (PVdC). According to the present invention, the polymers are extruded using extrusion equipment coated with a fluoropolymer. This method improves the processability, alleviates thermal degradation of the PvdC, improves the extrudate quality by reducing discoloration and voids in surfaces of the extruded product and protects the equipment by reducing the corrosive wear.

Vinylidene chloride polymers have excellent barrier properties to a wide variety of gases and liquids due to the combination of high density and high crystallinity of the polymers. Extruded or coated PVdC products with superior resistance to most gases like oxygen are used in packaging. However, PVdC materials are subject to thermal instability. Thermal degradation by dehydrochlorination can be promoted by metals, such as zinc, copper and iron (steel).
During extrusion of polyolefins containing PVdC on conventional equipment, thermal degradation is a problem. For example, blends of polypropylene and PVdC are processed at temperatures of about 160.degree.-165.degree. C. and up to 220.degree. C. Thermal degradation by dehydrochlorination of PVdC occurs at temperatures above 120.degree. C. on conventional equipment; at temperatures about 170.degree. C. carbon black builds up; build up of the carbon black can also result in break off of carbon which contaminates the extrudate with black specks; at 165.degree. C. this carbon build up may result in a black extrudate. The dehydrochlorination of the PVdC is, by definition, accompanied by the evolution of hydrochloric acid. This elimination of HCl, molecular components of atoms of the PVdC, also results in holes in the extrudate.
One of the recommended ways of eliminating the problems of thermal degradation of the PVdC on extrusion is to use metals and/or alloys of other than steel or iron containing extrusion equipment, dies, screw and barrel. Dies, screw(s) and barrels made out of materials other than steel and iron eliminate the aspect of the iron (steel and/or zinc and/or copper) promoted dehydrochlorination of PVdC. However, this is a costly alternative for eliminating decomposition of the PVdC contained on the polypropylene extrudate or blended therein.

Method for extruding polyolefins containing vinylidene chloride polymers


A bearing support member has two support arms extending in opposite directions along an axis and is adapted for mounting about a stud means. A bearing cup is fixed to the rocker arm, extending over each support arm. Rolling members are provided within an annulus formed between the support member and the bearing cups such that the rocker arm is free to oscillate rotatably with respect to the bearing support member. The bearing cups have a bottom surface forming an interference fit, axially, with an end surface of the bearing support member such that a preload is applied to the bearing support arm to reduce and control axial play. A protrusion and cutouts facilitating the preload and a method of assembly are also disclosed.

This invention relates generally to valve operating mechanisms for use in internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to an oscillating rocker arm assembly and subassembly having rolling members.
Typically, a rocker arm assembly with rolling members is supported on a support shaft mounted perpendicularly on a support stud extending from the head of the engine. The rocker arm is pivoted on the support shaft, which serves as an inner raceway, by means of drawn cup needle roller bearings mounted on the rocker arm. If desired, a bearing sleeve may be mounted on the support shaft to provide the inner raceway, permitting use of a noncylindrical support arm and facilitating the use of powder metal forming.
In some applications of such rocker arm assemblies, there is a desire to limit axial play between the support shaft and the rocker arm as much as possible. Excess axial play may allow the support structure to contact the rocker arm, preventing the free oscillation provided by the rolling members and causing excess wear. However, because there are manufacturing variations in the components and in the assembly of those components, a zero clearance version of previous rocker arm assemblies has not been practical because of potential cracking of components or other difficulties.
The foregoing illustrates limitations known to exist in present rocker arm bearing assemblies. Thus, it is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternative directed to overcoming one or more of the limitations set forth above. Accordingly, a suitable alternative is provided including features more fully disclosed hereinafter.


The access to control data in a run-time system is configured more flexibly where the project data from a control program and the current values from a machine to be controlled are stored in the run-time system in the XML or HTML format. The data can be made available independent of location and for standard browsers via a web server integrated into the run-time system.

Programmable control systems generally contain a run-time system for the timed sequence control of an automation component, a machine or a system, and an engineering system for compiling and editing control programs. The project or project engineering data developed in the engineering system are transferred into the run-time system and used to output the controlled variables. Furthermore, the run-time system taps off current values from the automation component to be controlled and, directly or after buffering in a data store belonging to the run-time system, makes them available to the engineering system. By means of the engineering system, the current values provided can be analyzed and, if necessary, an intervention in the control program is possible.
Typically, status information is output on the run-time system which permits the user to draw conclusions about the state of the control of the automation component. Information which goes beyond the pure operation and observation of the system is generally not displayed on the run-time system. Information of this type is frequently evaluated only when detailed knowledge about the control software is available. As a rule, only service personnel have this detailed knowledge. In order to tap-off such detailed service and diagnostics data, the service personnel use the aforementioned engineering system, with which the control software can then be modified in accordance with the result of the analyzed data. It is therefore necessary for the service personnel to tap-off the detailed diagnostics data from the run-time system on site by means of an engineering system, and to make appropriate changes to the control program.

Generating XML pages from project data from an automation component and storing them in a run-time system


A circuit for a fluxgate magnetometer includes a plurality of digital function blocks that are programmed as functions within a microcontroller. The microcontroller includes and implements the functions of an analog circuit to lower the cost and complexity of a digital fluxgate magnetometer circuit.

This invention is generally related to a fluxgate magnetometer for detecting a magnetic field. More particularly, this invention is directed toward a digital magnetometer implemented with a microcontroller.
Non-contact torque sensors utilize a magnetoelastic material applied to a torque transducer. Application of torque to the torque transducer generates a magnetic field. The generated magnetic field is detected and converted to a usable electric signal by a magnetometer. Current magnetometers utilize a fluxgate circuit to detect and convert the generated magnetic field into a usable electric signal proportional to the applied torque.
A fluxgate circuit includes a non-linear magnetic element that is contained within a coil of wire. An alternating electrical current is applied to the coil to generate an alternating magnetic field. The alternating magnetic field magnetically saturates the magnetic element twice each excitation period. An external magnetic field as is generated by the torque transducer is superimposed onto the magnetic field produced by the coil of wire causing an asymmetric saturation of the magnetic element. The asymmetry of the saturation in turn causes a voltage waveform across the coil at a frequency twice that of the excitation frequency. The amplitude and phase of this signal is used as a feedback signal to the coil. The feedback provides a stable, linear sensor response desirable for many sensing applications.
Disadvantageously, conventional fluxgate circuits are comprised of several analog components that require delicate assembly and take up valuable space. Some fluxgate circuits have digitally integrated some features, however, an analog switch is retained for performing heterodyning functions, and also includes an analog buffer device to provide current feedback.
Accordingly, it is desirable to develop and design a magnetometer that does not utilize analog components and that is implemented entirely on an integrated circuit microcontroller.


A burn-in frame having at least one window and including resistors having resistor pads is situated on a flexible layer, and at least one integrated circuit chip having chip pads is situated in the at least one window. Via openings are formed in the flexible layer to extend to the chip pads and the resistor pads. A pattern of electrical conductors is applied over the flexible layer and extending into the vias. The at least one integrated circuit chip is burned in. The burn-in frame may further include fuses, frame contacts, and voltage bias tracks. After burning in the at least one integrated circuit chip, the chip pads can be electrically isolated and the at least one integrated circuit chip can be tested. This method can also be used to burn-in and test multichip modules.

The widespread use of multichip module (MCM) technologies has been inhibited by the poor yield and infant mortality of untested and unburned-in bare chips. Whereas a single chip package approach has a packaged part yield equal to that of the product of the assembly yield and the chip yield, multichip approaches have packaged part yields equal to the product of the MCM assembly yield and each of the chip yields. A single chip package with an assembly yield of 95% and a die yield of 95% has a package yield of just over 90%. A four chip MCM with the same assembly and die yields has a package yield of less than 80%, and an eight chip MCM with similar yields has a package yield of about 60%. In MCM designs for which rework is impractical, higher final package yields are required and can only be achieved with higher chip yields.
Infant mortality failures create similar concerns. For single chip packaging, individual packaged parts can be burned-in, i.e., powered with active or passive signals on each component I/O (input/output) pad at an elevated temperature to accelerate a significant percentage of latent chip defects that can be identified prior to component use. Bare chips are generally not subjected to burn-in testing prior to use in a multichip assembly.
Growth of the multichip module (MCM) market is thus limited by a lack of low cost known good die (KGD). KGD are singulated die (bare chips) tested and verified to the manufacturer's specification. KGD are functionally equal to packaged counterparts but have significantly higher costs. Currently, KGD have been cost effective only for the most demanding MCM designs.
High density interconnect (HDI) is a high performance chip packaging technology wherein sequential layers of metallization on polymer are used to interconnect chip pads with high chip density, controlled impedance, and the elimination of the need for solder bump, wirebond, or TAB (tape automated bond) processing. In one form of HDI circuit module, an adhesive-coated polymer film overlay having via openings covers a plurality of integrated circuit chips in chip wells on an underlying substrate. The polymer film provides an insulated layer upon which is deposited a metallization pattern for interconnection of individual circuit chips through the vias. Methods for performing a HDI process using overlays are further described in Eichelberger et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,695, issued Nov. 8, 1988, and in Eichelberger et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,933,042, issued Jun. 12, 1990. Multiple layers of polymer overlays and metallization patterns are typically applied.
Cole et al.,"Fabrication and Structures of Circuit Modules with Flexible Interconnect Layers," U.S. application Ser. No. 08/321,346, filed Oct. 11, 1994, describes a method for fabricating a circuit module using a flexible interconnect layer including a metallized base insulative layer and an outer insulative layer. At least one circuit chip having chip pads is attached to the base insulative layer and vias are formed in the outer and base insulative layers to expose selected portions of the base insulative layer metallization and the chip pads. A patterned outer metallization layer is applied over the outer insulative layer extending through selected ones of the vias to interconnect selected ones of the chip pads and selected portions of the base insulative layer metallization. Because of the metallized layer on the flexible interconnect layer, the number of overlays necessary to achieve the desired interconnections can be reduced and thus the volume and weight of a circuit module can be lowered.

Chip burn-in and test structure and method


The present invention relates to compression of values and bitmaps, and methods thereof. Such methods are configured for operating on a computer system having a word length architecture of length WL and are based on the observation that not all the bits used for the run-length counter—i.e., the fill length field (FL) inhere—are often used, since runs are seldom so long. Contrarily to other compression schemes (e.g., WAH), said methods may assign the unused bits to one or more position list fields (PL, PL1, PL2, PLs), thus boosting the compression ratio. Moreover, the total length (in terms of number of bits) of the uncompressed data—comprising values or bitmaps—may be stored just once, preferably at the beginning of the compression, thus dramatically diminishing the storage requirements for the compression scheme, since it is not required to keep track of the length of each bitmap word while performing the compression or the decompression.

Bitmap indexes are very efficient for queries; however, the size of the index dramatically increases for high-cardinality attributes if no compression scheme is employed. Compressed bitmap indexes are thus increasingly used to support efficient querying of large and complex databases. Examples of application areas include very large scientific databases and multimedia applications, where the datasets typically consist of feature sets with high dimensionality. Specialized databases storing large amounts of data (data warehouses), for instance, contain data that are analyzed with respect to various aspects, where the data are typically high-dimensional and range over very wide intervals. Compressed bitmap indexes enable efficient range queries over one dimension as well as combining several dimensions for multidimensional range queries.
US 2004/0090351 discloses the Word Aligned Hybrid (WAH) compression scheme, which is a lossless compression scheme based on run-length encoding, i.e., continuous sequences of bits are represented by one bit of the same value and the length of the sequence. WAH is currently regarded as the fastest and most CPU-efficient bitmap compression scheme. Basically, its performance gain is due to the enforced alignment with the CPU word size, which yields more CPU friendly bitwise operations between bitmaps. However, WAH suffers from a significant storage overhead and its compression ratios are less than optimal.
Hence, there is the need for a solution that overcomes the disadvantages of WAH, thus providing a compression scheme that outperforms WAH both performance- and storage-wise.


A system compares website visitation data sets in response to receiving user input. The system includes a client for processing the input to define one or more data sets as a query to a network, which returns the requested data. The system calculates, for at least one website visitation metric, a difference between values of the website visitation metric for the data sets, and displays one or more reports. In addition, reports can be further adjusted per additional data input. The results enable users to analyze the effects of combinations of factors.

Website providers often wish to collect data that describes usage and visitation patterns for their websites and for individual web pages within the sites. Such information can be extremely valuable in developing usage statistics for various purposes, including for example estimating server load, determining advertising rates, identifying areas of websites that are in need of redesign, and the like.
Such information is useful in many ways, including for example collecting feedback that leads to improved web page design, determining the effect of various degrees of prominence of links and graphic elements on web pages, and determining the contribution of individual links to an eventual sale.
Users, such as website administrators, often wish to compare data sets in various ways. They also often want to filter and aggregate the results. However, existing reporting systems do not allow the user to easily compare, customize, and/or filter results. Thus, much of the business utility of tracking website visitor/customer visitation data is lost using existing systems. Therefore, what is needed is an improved format that allows an easy comparison that visually depicts web page element usage and valuation statistics.

Comparison of website visitation data sets generated from using different navigation tools


Embodiments of the present invention include an ergonomic golf bag handle. Further embodiments of the present invention provide a golf bag including the ergonomic golf bag handle thereon. In one embodiment, the golf bag handle is integrated into a top divider section of the golf bag. In another embodiment, the golf bag handle is angled with respect to the golf bag. Embodiments of the present invention also include a method comprising integrating the golf bag handle into the top divider section of the golf bag. Yet further embodiments of the present invention provide a method of using a golf bag, including gripping the ergonomically-designed and comfortable golf bag handle.

1. Field of the Invention
Generally, embodiments of the present invention relate to handles for use in carrying bags capable of containing sports equipment. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to handles for golf bags.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the sporting goods industry, bags for containing and transporting sports equipment are well known. Particularly, in the sport of golf, golf bags are utilized for holding and transporting golf clubs, golf balls, golf tees, and other golf equipment. The user utilizes the golf bag to carry the golf equipment from one place to another.
A typical golf bag 10, which is shown in FIG. 1, includes multiple rigid support bars (not shown) located parallel to one another at a distance from one another. The support bars, which are connected at one end to a base 11 and at the other end to a top divider section 12 of the golf bag 10, perform as the structural supports for the golf bag 10. Other golf bags (not shown) possess alternate types of structural supports for the golf bags, including polytubes/sheets of plastic. The base 11 is usually constructed from a rigid material, such as plastic, and is used as the resting point for the golf bag 10 on the ground when the golf bag 10 is placed on the ground. The top divider section 12 of the golf bag 10 is typically divided into multiple sections to allow the user to separate the golf clubs placed within the golf bag 10 from one another as desired.
Extending around the support bars of the typical golf bag 10 is a bag portion 13 which often is constructed from a cloth material. The bag portion 13 of the golf bag 10 is connected to the top divider section 12 at its upper end and connected to the base 11 at its lower end. In between the base 11 and the top divider section 12 of the golf bag 10, one or more pockets 14, 15 are connected to the outside of the bag portion 13 to allow the user to house golf balls, tees, and other golf equipment within the pockets 14, 15.
Golf bags customarily include a stand 16, one or more shoulder straps 17, 20 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), and a handle 18 thereon. FIG. 1 shows a representative stand 16. The stand 16, which when activated allows the golf bag 10 to stand generally upright and in place without human or any other outside support, is connected to the outside of the bag portion 13 of the golf bag 10. One variation of the stand 16 consists of three rigid stand legs (not shown in FIG. 1). Usually, this stand 16 acts as a tripod, so that when the golf bag 10 is being lifted by the user, the three stand legs are pivoted inward and disposed substantially in line with one another and in line with and proximate to the bag portion 13. In contrast, when the stand 16 is activated to support the golf bag 10, two of the stand legs are pivoted outward with respect to the remaining leg, and the golf bag 10 is supported in an angled position by the three stand legs in cooperation. To activate the stand 16, the two legs are pivoted outward by the user with respect to the remainder of the golf bag 10.
The shoulder strap 17, 20, which is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, allows a user 19 to carry the golf bag 10 by resting the shoulder strap 17, 20 on one or more of his or her shoulders. Conventionally, the shoulder strap 17, 20 is constructed from a flexible cloth material. The shoulder strap 17, 20 is connected at its upper end to the bag portion 13 near the top divider section 12 and at its lower end to a mid-section of the bag portion 13 of the golf bag 10, so that the shoulder strap 17, 20 runs substantially parallel to the support bars (not shown) located within the golf bag 10. The shoulder strap 17, 20 of the typical golf bag 10 comes in one of two configurations. In the first configuration of the shoulder strap 17, shown in FIG. 5, a single strap extends between the two connected portions of the shoulder strap 17 to the bag portion 13. This configuration allows the user 19 to carry the golf bag 10 on one shoulder and at a side of the user's body.
In a second configuration, shown in FIG. 6, the shoulder strap 20 enables the user 19 to transport the golf bag 10 by placing portions of the shoulder strap 20 on both shoulders, thereby allowing the user 19 to carry the golf bag 10 on his or her back. The shoulder strap 20 is placed around both shoulders of the user 19 so that the user 19 may distribute the load of the golf bag 10 like a backpack.
To enable the user to carry the golf bag 10 by gripping a portion of the golf bag 10 with his or her hand, the typical golf bag handle 18 is connected to the outside of the bag portion 13 of the golf bag 10 as shown in FIGS. 1-6. Usually, the golf bag handle 18, which is constructed from a cloth material or other soft type of material, is disposed in line with the shoulder strap 17, 20 and also in line with the support bars (not shown) located within the golf bag 10. The location of the customary golf bag handle 18 on the bag portion 13 is between the top divider section 12 and the base 11 of the golf bag 10. The golf bag handle 18 is usually connected to the bag portion 13 using a soft, webbed connection and at a location below the top divider section 12 at about one-third of the distance between the top divider section 12 and the base 11 of the golf bag 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-6. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 1, an upper end 23 of the typical golf bag handle 18 is located on the bag portion 13 at a distance D1 from the top divider section 12 of approximately 4-5 inches, while a lower end 25 of the golf bag handle 18 is located on the bag portion 13 at a distance D2 from the top divider section 12 of approximately 9-10 inches.
Prior art golf bags are disadvantageous because the location of the golf bag handle 18 on the golf bag 10 and the angle of location of the golf bag handle 18 with respect to the golf bag 10 result in discomfort to the user 19, as depicted in FIGS. 1-6. First, the location of the golf bag handle 18 on the golf bag 10 provides discomfort to the user 19 while the user 19 is carrying the golf bag 10 using the handle 18. FIG. 2 shows the typical golf bag 10 being carried by the user 19 with the handle 18. A user's arm 26 is shown in the typical user's carrying position. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the undesirable weight distribution of the golf bag 10 when golf clubs 27 are located in the golf bag 10 causes the front end of the golf bag 10, e.g., the portion of the golf bag 10 having the top divider portion 13, to rest at a lower position than the rear end of the golf bag 10, e.g., the portion of the golf bag 10 having the base 11, when the user 19 is carrying the golf bag 10 using the handle 18 in the normal, comfortable carrying position. In fact, as shown in FIG. 3, the typical distribution of weight when the user 19 is carrying the golf bag 10 by the golf bag handle 18 in the comfortable carrying position is 60/40, where approximately 60% of the load of the golf bag 10 is disposed on the front portion of the golf bag 10 and approximately 40% of the load of the golf bag 10 is disposed on the rear portion of the golf bag 10, where the front and rear portions are divided by a line L through an approximate center of the golf bag handle 18. Thus, because of the weight distribution of the golf bag 10 with respect to the golf bag handle 18, in the comfortable carrying position for the user 19, the golf clubs 27 are in danger of falling out from the front of the golf bag 10, possibly resulting in damage to the golf clubs 27.
To prevent the golf clubs 27 from falling out of the golf bag 10, the user 19 therefore must bend his or her arm 26 at the elbow to elevate the front end of the golf bag 10 relative to the rear end of the golf bag 10. This carrying position assumed by the user 19 is uncomfortable and not ergonomic.
Second, the location of the golf bag handle 18 on the golf bag 10 is disadvantageous because the handle 18 is not in a fixed location relative to the golf bag 10. The flexible nature of the handle 18, as well as the flexible nature of the cloth material of the bag portion 13 to which the handle 18 is attached, allow the handle 18 to move relative to the remainder of the golf bag 10. Therefore, the load distribution of the golf bag 10 is not readily predicable and adjustable by the user 19 while carrying the golf bag 10, and even if the user 19 is capable of adjusting the load of the golf bag 10, the user 19 will not ultimately upon adjustment be carrying the golf bag 10 in the optimal, comfortable carrying position of the arm 26 illustrated in FIG. 2.
The location of the golf bag handle 18 on the golf bag 10 is further disadvantageous when the user 19 is transferring the golf bag 10 between carrying positions. First, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the user 19 must at multiple times while golfing and/or carrying the golf bag 10 remove the golf bag 10 from his or her shoulder to either place the golf bag 10 on the ground or to change carrying modes by gripping the handle 18 by his or her hand. The location of the handle 18 forces the user 19 to bend his or her arm 26 backward and further bend the arm 26 at the elbow to transfer the load of the golf bag 10 from the shoulder of the user 19 to the hand of the user 19. This backward bending of the arm 26 is uncomfortable and not ergonomic for the user 19. This same discomfort results when the user 19 transfers the golf bag 10 from gripping with his or her hand on the handle 18 to placing the golf bag 10 on his or her shoulder with the shoulder strap 17.
Additionally, the location of the handle 18 is disadvantageous when the user 19 must transfer the golf bag 10 from both shoulders to the hand-carrying position obtained by the hand gripping the handle 18 or must transfer the golf bag 10 from both shoulders to the ground. As depicted in FIG. 6, the handle 18 is located behind the back of the user 19 and forces the user 19 to bend the arm 26 very far backwards behind his or her back when transferring the load of the golf bag 10 from the backpack shoulder strap position to the hand-carrying position. The same discomfort for the user 19 results when transferring the load of the golf bag 10 from the hand of the user 19 to the shoulder of the user 19.
Finally, the prior art golf bag handle 18 is disadvantageous because the user 19 must crouch to pick up the prior art golf bag 10 by the handle 18 or to activate the stand 16 when the golf bag 10 is resting on a surface. FIG. 4 illustrates this uncomfortable position for the user 19 when bending down to pick up the golf bag 10 by the handle 18 or to activate the stand 16. Activation of the stand 16 of the typical golf bag 10 requires the user 19 to rest his or her hand(s) on the top of the golf bag 10 and to push to activate the stand 16, which requires the user 19 to crouch or bend to activate the stand 16.
It is therefore desirable to provide a golf bag having a golf bag handle which allows for ergonomically pleasing and comfortable carrying of the golf bag by the user. It would be further advantageous to provide a golf bag handle for a golf bag which allows for comfortable and ergonomic carrying and transporting of the golf bag while the arm of the user is in the optimal position and the golf bag is carried by placing the user's hand in the golf bag handle. Moreover, it is desirable to provide a golf bag handle which allows for comfortable and ergonomic carrying and transporting of the golf bag while the user is carrying the golf bag using the handle with the user's arm in the optimal carrying position without the golf clubs falling from the golf bag.
It is also desirable to provide a golf bag handle which provides a favorable load distribution of the golf bag for comfortable carrying of the golf bag when the user is transporting the golf bag with the user's hand gripping the handle with the user's arm in the optimal carrying position.
It is further desirable to provide a golf bag handle which permits comfortable and ergonomic transferring of the golf bag from a first position where the load is supported on one or more of the user's shoulders with the shoulder strap to a second position where the load is supported by the user's hand in the handle. Additionally, it is desirable to provide a golf bag handle which allows for comfortable and ergonomic transferring of the golf bag from the second position to the first position.
It is further desirable to provide a golf bag handle which is sufficiently anchored to the golf bag to allow for comfortable carrying of the load of the golf bag using the handle.
It is additionally desirable to provide a golf bag handle with which the user may pick up the golf bag when the stand is activated or with which the user may activate the stand of the golf bag without crouching.


A hydraulic jack movably supported by a plural casters has a vertically extending hydraulic cylinder with telescoping piston rods, has a load supporting frame at an upper end of the innermost piston rod, and has a reservoir partially filled with hydraulic fluid. A single foot pedal is pivotally supported on the jack, and is movable between first and second positions through a center position. A hydraulic valve arrangement is responsive to movement of the actuating member toward its first position for permitting fluid flow from the reservoir to the hydraulic cylinder and is responsive to movement of the actuating member toward its second position for permitting fluid flow from the hydraulic cylinder to the reservoir. A kicker lever supported for pivotal movement about the same axis as the actuating member is operatively coupled to the actuating member for movement therewith by two springs, and can actuate an air valve. In response to movement of the actuating member toward its first position, the kicker lever causes the air valve to supply pressurized air to the reservoir, and in response to movement of the actuating member toward its second position the kicker lever causes the air valve to vent pressurized air from the reservoir.

Vehicle repair shops often find it necessary to remove the engine or transmission of a vehicle in order to effect necessary repairs. Obviously, the engine and transmission are too heavy for one or more repair men to manually remove from the vehicle, at least without an unnecessary risk of injury to themselves. Accordingly, mobile hydraulic jacks have been used for a number of years to facilitate removal and reinstallation of vehicle engines and transmissions. Typically, the vehicle is raised on a conventional hoist, and then the mobile hydraulic jack is moved beneath the raised vehicle, the hydraulic cylinder of the jack is extended to raise a load supporting frame into engagement with the engine or transmission, and then the engine or transmission can be detached from the vehicle and lowered out of the vehicle by the jack.
In conventional jacks of this type, extension of the piston of the hydraulic cylinder in order to raise the load supporting frame is normally effected by repeatedly operating a manual lever which drives a manual pump which in turn forces hydraulic fluid from a reservoir into the hydraulic cylinder. However, manually pumping the hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic cylinder is very tiring, and relatively time consuming.
One commercially available jack can use compressed air to effect a first stage of upward movement of the load supporting frame, but then the remainder of the upward movement of the load supporting frame must be effected in the traditional manner by repeatedly manually operating a lever coupled to a manual pump which forces hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic cylinder. In this known jack, the pneumatic and hydraulic capabilities are functionally separate, the hydraulic operation still being entirely manually controlled, with the traditional disadvantages.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a hydraulic jack which has no manually operated pump, and in particular in which the hydraulic operation is powered entirely by compressed air.
A further object is to provide such a jack in which all hydraulic and pneumatic valves are operated by a single foot pedal.
A further object is to provide such a jack in which the hydraulic valve arrangement will prevent downward movement of the load supporting frame when the operator has selected upward movement, so that a sudden and unexpected loss of pressurized air to the jack will not result in a sudden and unexpected downward movement of the load supporting frame or the associated risk of operator injury.
A further object is to provide such a jack which is durable and will provide a long and reliable operational lifetime with little or no maintenance

Hydraulic jack with single control for actuating hydraulic valve means


A method for applying a sealant to a component, in which the sealant is applied to a part of or the entirety of a sealing surface of the component, comprises the steps of: disposing in the sealant, an abutting member approximately in parallel to a surface of the sealant, which is a liquid, formed into a film of a specified thickness; pressing the sealing surface of the component to the abutting member in the sealant formed into the film; and transferring the sealant to the sealing surface of the component by pulling the component apart from the sealant.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and devices for applying a sealant to components which is used when a package of an electronic component is bonded.
2. Description of the Related Art
The package of an electronic component requires air-tight sealing to prevent the entry of moisture, flux, and the like, which may impair the function of an internal element. Thus, in general, a sealant such as an adhesive or solder is evenly applied to a sealing part of a package. After that, air-tightness is achieved by hardening or heat-fusion sealing.
As a method for applying a sealant to the package of an electronic component, a method for directly transferring the sealant to a sealing surface is mainly used. As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, this is a method in which a liquid sealant 2 of a film of a specified thickness is formed on an application base 1, and a sealing surface 3a of a component (a cap in this case) 3 is pressed on the sealant 2 to apply the sealant 2 to the entirety of the sealing surface 3a. The direct transferring method has advantages such as being achieved by a simple device, being capable of easily applying the sealant to the entire sealing surface 3a and being capable of simultaneously applying the sealant to a plurality of components 3, which leads to high productive efficiency.
However, in the case of the direct transferring method, the sealant is prone to extend onto the side surfaces of the component 3, as shown in FIG. 1C, by which there is a problem in that only a small amount of sealant 2 can adhere on the surface 3a used for sealing. In addition, the amount of the sealant applied tends to be uneven. As a result, sealing failure due to a local insufficiency of the sealant 2, contamination of a tool due to the sealant 2 adhered on the side surfaces, and dimensional inaccuracy tend to occur.
The present invention cam solve the problem associated with the conventional art and provide a method for applying a sealant to a component, in which the sealant can be evenly applied to a sealing surface of the component without extending onto the other surfaces, and a device therefor.
The method for applying a sealant to a component in which the sealant is applied to a part or the entirety of a sealing surface of the component includes the step of disposing an abutting member approximately in parallel to a surface of the sealant in a sealant liquid formed into a film of a specified thickness, the step of pressing the sealing surface of the component, to the abutting member disposed in the sealant formed into a film, and the step of transferring the sealant to the sealing surface of the component by pulling the component apart from the sealant.
The device for applying a sealant to a sealing surface of a component has an application base, a liquid sealant film of a specified thickness disposed on the application base, and an abutting member disposed approximately in parallel to a surface of the sealant in the sealant. The sealant is transferred onto the sealing surface of the component by pulling the sealing surface apart from the abutting member after pressing the sealing surface thereto.
The abutting member is disposed on the application base, and a film of the sealant having a specified thickness is formed in such a manner that the surface of the sealant is approximately in parallel to the surface of the abutting member. Next, the sealing surface of the component is pressed to the abutting member, and at the same time, is contacted with the sealant. With this arrangement, sinking of the sealing surface can be prevented. As a result, the sealant existing on the top surface of the abutting member or a gap between a plurality of abutting members adheres to the sealing surface of the component. Next, when the component is pulled apart from the sealant, the sealant adhered on the sealing surface is also pulled apart with the component, and the sealant is thereby transferred.
Regarding the sealant transferred in the way described above, since sinking of the component can be prevented by the abutting member, only a small amount of the sealant extends onto the side surfaces of the component, in contrast with a conventional method, and a large amount of the sealant can adhere on the sealing surface. Furthermore, since the amount of the sealant adhered on the sealing surface is even, the problem of sealing failure can be solved.
As the above abutting member, it is preferable to use a meshed member. In other words, in the case of the meshed member, since it has a planar form in which a series of meshed holes are regularly aligned, evenness of the amount of the sealant adhered on the sealing surface can be achieved.
In addition, the abutting member may be a plurality of small bumps protruding upwardly distributed on the application base. In this case, similarly, sinking of the component can be prevented by the top surfaces of the small bumps, and a large amount of the sealant can be applied to the sealing surface by filling the sealant in a gap between the small bumps.
Furthermore, the abutting member is not restricted to a meshed member or a small bump. Any type of member, for example, a porous plate, can be used as long as the member has a structure that prevents the component from sinking and inhibits the sealant from adhering onto the sealing surface of the component.
Preferably, the sealant application method according to the present invention is used in a case in which an adhesive such as an epoxy adhesive is applied to the sealing surface of a component, since the adhesive can be evenly applied to the sealing surface.
In addition, the method of the present invention can be used not only for the method in which a film of a sealant is formed on an application base and a component is pressed from above, but for a method in which a sealant is filled in a thick meshed member or a porous plate to dispose the meshed member or the porous plate flush against the component so as to transfer the sealant.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings several forms which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Method and device for applying sealant to component


Cable modem terminator comprising new head-end of passenger in-flight entertainment system forms an extended intranet through cable modems disposed at one or more passengers seats. Cable modems form secondary digital networks that deliver data and entertainment content to aircraft integral devices or personal electronic devices belonging to individual passengers.

1. Technical Field
This invention pertains to the field of in-flight entertainment. Specifically, this invention pertains to methods and apparatus for communicating digital information between a system head-end, passenger interface electronics and personal electronic devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The term "in-flight entertainment system" typically refers to a collection of electronic equipment that collectively provide the facilities necessary to disseminate entertainment content or digital information to airline passengers. The in-flight entertainment, or "IFE" system deployed in a typical aircraft usually comprises some collection of equipment referred to as a "head-end".
The head-end equipment may comprise an entertainment content server. In many cases, the entertainment content server may be a simple video-cassette-player (VCP). In other embodiments of an IFE system, the entertainment content server may be a sophisticated video-server that is configured to provide streaming video. Such content will normally be encoded into a digital form and stored on computer readable media comprising the video server. In either embodiment, the output emanating from the entertainment content server may be modulated onto a radio-frequency (RF) carrier. The RF carrier may then be disseminated throughout an aircraft using an RF distribution subsystem.
An RF distribution subsystem may comprise a wire-based cable plant capable of carrying RF energy and distributing the RF energy throughout the aircraft. Such cable types typically include coaxial cable that is capable of propagating RF signals without introducing significant degradation or excessive power loss. In some embodiments, the RF distribution system may comprise a hybrid configuration where RF signals are distributed through the aircraft using a combination of wire-based and fiber optic medium. In these embodiments, conversion units convert the RF signals from RF energy to modulated light as the medium changes. In yet other embodiments, the RF distribution system may be wireless altogether.
In most IFE systems, the physical cable comprises only a portion of the RF distribution subsystem. The RF distribution subsystem may further comprise components that are linked together by the physical cable. In one system, area distribution boxes, or "ADB"s, are used as part of a main trunk for the RF distribution subsystem. In one embodiment of a known IFE system, a first ADB receives an RF signal from a modulator that comprises the head-end equipment. After the first ADB receives the RF signal, it may propagate the RF signal through a segment of cable to another ADB. The second ADB may then propagate the RF signal to subsequent ADBs forming a distribution string.
Completing the RF distribution subsystem, each ADB may further comprise branching interfaces that propagate the RF signal to one or more seat boxes. Each of the seat boxes may serve one or more seats. Each seat box typically receives an RF signal from an ADB. The seat box may demodulate the RF signal in order to extract entertainment and/or data content carried by a modulated carrier. Each seat box may subsequently present the recovered entertainment or data content to a passenger seated in an airline seat. Seat boxes may also be chained sequentially to form branches off of the main distribution string formed by the ADBs.
IFE systems have recently been upgraded with the capability to provide on-demand video content and information content to airline passengers. To facilitate this type of on-demand service, the IFE systems typically comprise a control computer within the head-end electronics suite. A passenger local-area-network (LAN) may be deployed in parallel with the RF distribution subsystem. Many IFE systems closely associate the passenger LAN and the RF distribution system. In some embodiments, this is accomplished by using the ADBs that are primarily responsible for RF distribution, as network hubs.
In operation, the passenger LAN is used to communicate individual passenger requests for data or video content back to a control computer. The control computer may route these requests to either an entertainment content server or a data server installed in the head-end. Individual passengers may also use the passenger LAN quite directly. Typically, any passenger may connect a personal electronic device to a seat box. The seat box serves as an interface to the passenger LAN. Hence, the passenger LAN forms a classic intranet structure on board the aircraft and enables direct access to the on-board data server.
Each new IFE installation is usually tailored to a specific type of aircraft. For instance, the IFE system configuration for a Boeing 747 may differ significantly from the configuration used onboard an Airbus A330. Such differences are inevitable because of the inherent differences in each aircraft body type. Irrespective of the configuration any particular IFE system must adopt, several key design objectives remain constant.
One significant design objective is that of reducing the amount of weight the total IFE system contributes to the aircraft's take-off weight. The reason for this is that each pound of weight increases the overall fuel consumption for any passenger flight. Of course, this cost must either be passed on to the flying public or the airline operator must absorb it.
A significant weight reduction could be achieved if the passenger LAN could be combined with the RF distribution system. The reason for this is simple-wire is heavy. In known IFE systems, the passenger LAN requires installation of a separate physical medium. It would be highly advantageous if the passenger LAN's network data could be carried along the same physical medium as the entertainment content, i.e. the RF distribution subsystem.

Method and apparatus for distribution of entertainment and data to passenger using cable modems


A light pattern generating device is provided and includes light sources arrayed at ninety degree intervals from each other and lenses arrayed in respective positional association with the light sources such that, when the light sources are activated, the light sources and the lenses generate at least a UL 1971 compliant light pattern.

The following description relates to notification devices and, more particularly, to a notification device for a surface of a building interior, such as a wall or a ceiling, that uses four light emitting diodes (LEDs) and lenses located on its perimeter.
The UL 1971 standard governs many public mode fire applications in the Americas and the Middle East and is a performance standard (a similar performance standard, EN54, is primarily used in Europe). UL 1971 includes specific light output and distribution requirements to ensure illumination throughout a defined area. The requirements stipulate a minimum flash rate of between about 1 Hz and 2 Hz (e.g., about 1.2 Hz), categorizes minimum light intensities by area: non-sleeping (15 cd), corridor (15 cd) and sleeping areas (110 cd for walls or 177 cd for ceilings). In particular, the UL 1971 standard requires a polar light distribution pattern to enhance the likelihood of alerting hearing impaired individuals throughout an area that an emergency such as a first is occurring (the pattern also includes "compound 45s"—eight light spots around a cross). The term "polar" refers to the way the standard measures light intensity: both horizontally and vertically at viewing angles ranging from 0 to 180 degrees.
For those notification devices that are designed to create UL 1971 compliant output patterns, maintenance of a low device profile has been found to be difficult. With the UL 1971 in effect, traditional notification devices mount strobes over their speakers. This is because generation of the UL 1971 compliant output pattern typically requires light sources that are significantly higher than much of the body of the device in order for the light sources to hit the required output at each required location. While doing so can result in devices that are UL 1971 compliant, such devices have increased device depth and degraded aesthetics as well as an issue of attenuated speaker output.

Notification device for a surface of a building interior