The invention relates to a roller bearing of a wheel hub of a motor vehicle comprising a tire pressure control system. Said roller bearing comprises an air guiding channel that extends radially through an external ring and an air guiding channel that extends radially through an internal ring that leads into an intermediate chamber that is arranged between the rows of the bearing bodies and is sealed in relation to said bearing bodies. In order to seal the intermediate chamber in a more simple and effective manner, said intermediate chamber comprises a flow channel that is embodied as a Venturi nozzle.

In motor vehicles having tire pneumatic pressure control systems, as are disclosed in general terms by DE 40 29 311, A1, for example, the pneumatic pressure of vehicle pneumatic tires is controlled while underway by either delivering air to the tires or discharging air from these, so as to be able to influence the ride and handling of the vehicle. In this context, such systems either function autonomously or respond to the individual wishes of the driver, who via the pneumatic pressure of the tires, for example, can set the vehicle to a more sporting or a more comfortable driving mode. Such systems are also used in emergency running, that is to say in the event of damage to the tire leading to pressure losses, in order to compensate, at least temporarily, for such pressure losses.
For this purpose the air or another suitable medium, for example an inert gas, must be led from a pressure source through a rotor or stator element and delivered to the tire via a tire valve. In many cases the rotor or stator component is formed by the roller bearing of the wheel axle or of the wheel bearing. Such roller bearings with an air channel are disclosed, for example, by DE 103 23 449 A1, DE 103 24 410 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,138.
In the technical solutions so far presented, sealing the intermediate chamber inside the roller bearing presents the greatest problems, which naturally applies to all rotor and stator systems, through which a hydraulic medium is to be led without losses. To improve the sealing, DE 103 24 410 A1 proposes an intermediate element, which is arranged in a divided bearing inner race, this rotating intermediate element possibly having air vanes. The intermediate chamber is sealed by means of two axially spaced and radially extending sealing elements, the sealing lips of which bear against the inner race. DE 103 23 449 A1 describes a similar solution having a one-piece inner race.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,138 the intermediate chamber, which is substantially formed by a sub-chamber of the outer race extending from the outside radially inwards, is sealed by a permanent magnet arranged in the sub-chamber of the outer race and a magnetic fluid, which tightly seals a gap between webs of the upper sub-chamber and the inner circumferential surface of the inner race.
In the known solutions, in which seals with sealing lips are used, the strong contact pressure of the seal leads, under the pressure exerted, to a high moment of friction, which leads to a large power loss and hence to pronounced heating of the roller bearing. This can adversely affect the efficiency of the seal and the service life of the seal and of the roller bearing.

Roller bearing of a wheel hub with a venturi nozzle for a tire pressure control system


Method of arranging transducers, including non-coplanar interferometer antennas on the outer surface of an aircraft, to minimize phase ambiguities when determining the direction of arrival of a signal received by an array of the transducers and emitted by a source remote from the array.

The arrangement of transducers in an array for an interferometric system is usually based on physical conveniences or other external considerations. Such systems may be used to determine direction of arrival of radiation received from a remote source. When used for this purpose, the arrangement can result in phase ambiguities which affect resolution.
The prior art contains several methods of phase ambiguity resolution for interferometric systems consisting of either collinear or non-collinear, coplanar arrangements of transducers, such as antennas.
In a treatise published in 1973 by James E. Hanson titled "On Resolving Angle Ambiguities of n-Channel Interferometer Systems for Arbitrary Antenna Arrangements In a Plane" (Defense Technical Information Center Publication Number AD 776-335) addresses ambiguities. In this treatise, Hanson demonstrated how the problem of interferometric phase ambiguity resolution could be easily approached by casting the several differential phase measurements into direction cosine space as a set of equally spaced parallel straight lines.
According to Hanson, phase ambiguity resolution is accomplished by finding an arrangement of three or more antennas that create a Hanson ambiguity diagram with but a single point of intersection of the various trajectories, an intersection that is located in direction cosine space at the exact position of the radiating source; for strictly collinear arrays of antennas the single intersection is rather a single straight line. It is also noted that this single point of intersection in direction cosine space leads immediately to the two angles of arrival—φthe azimuth angle and θ the zenith angle—so that ambiguity resolution leads to the determination of the angles of arrival.
The differential phase measurements made with practical interferometers come with errors that arise due to systematic as well as thermodynamic perturbations within the array antennas and the receiving network. These errors cause the Hanson trajectories to move or shift randomly at right angles to the directions in which they lay. As a consequence, in order to determine the single point of intersection in the ideal, no error condition becomes a set of pair-wise trajectory intersections. Thus, ambiguity resolution is accomplished by designing the ambiguity resolution computer algorithm so that it can discern a tightly grouped set of pair-wise intersections. Such an approach is described by Azzarelli, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,963 but only for non-linear, coplanar arrays.
However, there is a need for a system and method which deal with the arrangement of transducers and particularly non-coplanar arrangements of antenna elements in order to minimize phase ambiguities and in order to maximize the determination of direction of arrival or angle of arrival of a signal received by the arrangements and emitted by a source remote from the arrangements. In addition, there is a need for a method which minimizes the phase errors that arise due various perturbations.

Methods of arranging transducers and transducer arrays having reduced phase ambiguity for determining direction of arrival of received signals


Two problems seen in CMP as currently executed are a tendency for slurry particles to remain on the surface and the formation of a final layer of oxide. These problems have been solved by adding to the slurry a quantity of TMAH or TBAH. This has the effect of rendering the surface being polished hydrophobic. In that state a residual layer of oxide will not be left on the surface at the conclusion of CMP. Nor will many slurry abrasive particles remain cling to the freshly polished surface. Those that do are readily removed by a simple rinse or buffing. As an alternative, the CMP process may be performed in three stages—first convention CMP, then polishing in a solution of TMAH or TBAH, and finally a gentle rinse or buffing.

Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is now widely used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry as the method of choice for planarizing any given layer prior to the deposition of the next layer. As an example, consider a dielectric layer 11, as shown schematically in FIG. 1, in which a cavity 13 has been formed and then over-filled with a layer of a metal 12, such as tungsten or copper.
To perform CMP a slurry of abrasive particles (typically SiO2 or Al2O3 particles) having a mean diameter between about 1 and 10,000 microns) suspended in an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and nitric acid, is used. The hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the surface that is being polished thereby forming a brittle layer of oxide that is readily dislodged by the suspended particles.
Although the CMP process as described above works well in many respects, a few problems still remain. Two such problems are illustrated in FIG. 2. The first is exemplified by slurry particles 24, some of which tend to remain on the surface of the metal at the conclusion of CMP. These have to be removed in a separate operation and can often remain in place when not expected to. The second problem is exemplified in layer 23 which represents a final layer of oxide that remains at the conclusion of CMP. When processing continues, layer 23 may remain in place and increase the contact resistance to the next metal layer, as shown in FIG. 3 where oxide layer 23 has become interposed between the two metal plugs 12 and 31, the latter being contained within a second dielectric layer 32.
There is therefore a need for a CMP process wherein no oxide layer remains on the surface of a metal after CMP and wherein no particles of abrasive material remain either. Preferably such a process would be part of the standard CMP process as currently used so as to introduce minimum disruption into the overall manufacturing process.
A routine search of the prior art was performed with the following references of interest being found:
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,769, Schonauer et al. show a tungsten CMP process and post clean. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,165,956, Zhang et al. show a tungsten CMP together with NH4OH brushing in the background section. U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,280 (Ronay) shows a poly-electrolyte post CMP clean. While U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,863 (Hymer et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,207,630 (Vaarstra) are related processes.

CMP process leaving no residual oxide layer or slurry particles

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


An integrated circuit packaging system with an integrated circuit die mounted onto a substrate having a top side ground plane between the integrated circuit and the substrate, a bottom side ground plane and short high frequency connections between the two ground planes. The top side ground plane decreases signal degradation due to reflections by providing high frequency ground access close to the die and by providing a transmission line for bond wires. A grid of conductive vias through the substrate improves thermal conductivity and provides the short high frequency current path for the top side ground plane. The die is separated from the top side ground plane by a dielectric layer which also has a conductive layer next the die to provide a back bias voltage.

Integrated circuit dice are typically attached to a substrate that provides heat transfer and electrical connections. For high frequency circuits, heat transfer becomes especially important. In addition, for high frequency circuits, signal degradation due to reflections may limit the useful frequency range. Therefore, transmission line geometry becomes especially important.
A common method of electrically connecting the die to the substrate is wire bonding (or tape-automated bonding). Wire bonding consists of attaching wires to bonding pads on the die and to traces on the substrate. Flexible wire bonds provide strain relief to allow for differences in thermal expansion between the die and the substrate.
High frequency signals on an integrated circuit die and on the substrate are typically routed by microstrips or other transmission lines. Bonding wires between a substrate and a die form a discontinuity in the transmission line. This discontinuity causes signal degradation due to reflections.
For high frequency circuits, the substrate is typically a material with good thermal conductivity such as aluminum oxide or other ceramic material. The die is typically back bonded to the ceramic for thermal conduction through the back of the die.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a typical prior art system. FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a corner of an integrated circuit wire bonded to traces on a substrate. FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section through the assembly illustrated in FIG. 1. In FIGS. 1 and 2, an integrated circuit 100 is wire bonded to traces (102 and 104) on a substrate 106. Trace 102 represents the top portion of a signal microstrip. A ground plane 112 on the bottom side of the substrate 106 forms the other conductor in the microstrip. Trace 104 represents a ground connection to the integrated circuit 100. A plated via 110 connects the ground trace 104 to the ground plane 112 on the bottom of the substrate. In general, traces leading to the integrated circuit 100 are so crowded that via 110 cannot be placed close to the integrated circuit 100.
For high frequency signals (for example signals in the GigaHertz range), trace 102 and the ground plane 112 comprise an effective transmission line. However, at the wire bond 108, there is a discontinuity in the microstrip geometry. At that point, there is no longer a transmission line. Instead of confined electric field lines between the trace 102 and the ground plane 112 below, there is a longer circuit through the integrated circuit requiring current flow through the plated via 110.
The present invention improves substrate thermal conductivity and reduces signal degradation relative to prior art die mounting methods.

Integrated circuit packaging with improved heat transfer and reduced signal degradation


The present invention produces very stable, covalently bonded separation substrates for separations application such as liquid and gas chromatography as well as capillary zone electrophoresis. An intermediate substrate is prepared which has hydride species on the substrate surface. These hydrides preferably are further derivatized by the catalytic addition of organic compounds bearing a terminal vinyl group. The final surface modification contains closely packed, direct carbon linkages that are stable.

Chemically modified silicas have been, and continue to be, widely used as supports in a great variety of chromatographic separations. With the aim of controlling its selectivity while reducing unwanted interactions with one or more compounds, numerous synthetic procedures have been developed to attach organic moieties (R) on the silica surface. Early work on the chemical modification of silica (Halasz and Sebastian, Angew. Chem. (Int. Ed.) 8:453 (1969); Deuel et al., Helv. Chim. Acta 119:1160 (1959)) described the use of an esterification reaction between surface silanol groups (SiOH) and an alcohol to give a structure of the following type: ##STR1## Although such materials were useful for many separations, their limited hydrolytic stability seriously precluded the extensive usage of these bonded phases, particularly in liquid chromatography which requires the use of aqueous eluents.
Currently, commercially available bonded phases are prepared by reacting selected organosilanes with the silica surface. Halogen- or alkoxy-substituted alkyldimethylsilanes are the most commonly used silanizing reagents. The resulting bonded support bears monolayer surface structures of the following type: ##STR2## By changing the structure of the R group, it is possible to produce bonded silicas with a great variety of organic groups, ranging from non-polar materials, for instance, octyl- and octadecyl-silicas commonly used as bonded supports in reversed-phase liquid chromatography, to ionic materials such as benzenesulphonic acid derivatives which are widely used in ion-exchange liquid chromatography. The preparation of these and similar materials are described in a number of publications (e.g., Roumeliotis and Unger, J. Chromatogr. 149:211 (1978) or Asmus et al. J. Chromatogr. 123:109 (1976)) and patents (Sebastian et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,179; Hancok et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,916; or Ramsden et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4661,248).
In a related approach, polymeric (multilayer) bonded stationary phases are prepared from bi- or tri-substituted organosilanes with the general formula X.sub.n SiR.sub.4-n, where X=alkoxy, halide or any easily hydrolyzed group, and n=2,3. The resulting polymeric bonded support bears repeating surface structures of the type ##STR3## where Y=--R (n=2) or --O-- (n=3) and the oxygen atom (--O--) is bonded either to a hydrogen (that is, as part of a free silanol, Si--O--H) or to another silicon atom (that is, as part of a siloxane linkage, Si--O--Si). A number of patents and publications describe the preparation of these materials (Kirkland and Yates, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,722,181 (1973), and 3,795,313 (1974); Novotny et al., J. Chromatog. 83:25 (1973); Sander and Wise, Anal. Chem. 56:504 (1984)). Although in many instances these bonded supports provide satisfactory separations, the lack of control of the polymerization process seems to be a major contributor to such problems as irreproducible layer thickness and incomplete silanol condensation. This limitation has confined polymeric bonded stationary phases to applications where the presence of a multilayer is necessary and/or its thickness is relatively unimportant. As a consequence, the vast majority of liquid chromatographic separations are carried out with monolayer bonded phases.
The recent development of electrophoretic separations in a capillary format has promoted the extent of the silanization technology normally used in chromatography to the deactivation of the inner wall of the fused silica capillary. Thus, Jorgenson et al. (Science 222:266 (1983)) have noted that separation of model proteins, such as cytochrome, lysozyme and ribonuclease A, in untreated fused silica capillaries with a phosphate buffer at pH 7 was accompanied by severe tailing, and suggested that this might be caused by strong interactions between the proteins and the capillary wall. Derivatization of the capillary wall has been proven effective to prevent or control protein adsorption (McCormick, Anal. Chem. 60:2322 (1988); Bruin et al., J. Chromatog. 471:429 (1989)). In addition, by chemically modifying the inner surface of the capillary, operational variables such as the electrosomotic flow are more amenable to control. In another application (Hjerten, U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,201 (1987); Cohen and Karger, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,865,706 and 4,865,707 (1989)), a method is described for preparing fused-silica capillary tubes for electrophoretic separations by use of a bifunctional compound in which one group (usually a terminal --SiX.sub.3 group where X=ethoxy, methoxy or chloride) reacts with the capillary wall and the other (usually an olefin group) does so with a monomer taking part in a polymerization process. This process resulted in a wall-bonded, polymer-filled capillary useful for polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
The extensive usage of these bonded materials in chromatography and capillary electrophoresis does not necessarily imply that they meet all requirements with respect to separation performance and stability. On the contrary, monomeric bonded phases, for instance, are subject to serious effects arising primarily from a relatively limited organic coverage due to the "bulky" methyl groups of the anchored moiety, and from a still unsatisfactory hydrolytic stability of the Si--O--Si--C linkage, particularly under moderately acidic or slightly alkaline elution conditions. Similarly, polymeric bonded phases although having somewhat better organic coverages, contain a considerable population of free silanols and also exhibit a limited hydrolytic stability. Incomplete surface coverage and poor hydrolytic stability both result in the exposure of a substantial number of surface silanols, groups which are known to be primarily responsible for the residual adsorption phenomena that plague silicon-based separation materials. These so called "silanophilic" interactions are usually undesirable in chromatography as well as in capillary electrophoresis because they often result in "tailing" peaks, catalyze solute decomposition, lead to unreliable quantitation, etc. One of the most striking cases of silanophilic interactions occurs perhaps in the separation of certain compounds containing amino or other similar groups, particularly biomolecules. For instance, many proteins may interact very strongly with unreacted silanols leading to excessive band tailing, incomplete recovery of one or more solutes, or even recovery of the same component from different bands.
In an effort to overcome such problems, other organosilane reagents have been developed. Two related approaches have been proposed in which either the methyl groups of the organosilane reagent are replaced by bulkier groups (Glajch and Kirkland, U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,725, (1987)) or a "bidentate" silanizing reagent is used (Glajch and Kirkland, U.S. Pat. No. 4,746,572, (1988)). In both cases the new groups are aimed to shield the unreacted silanols as well as the hydrolytically labile linkage that bonds the silane to the support. Although this steric protection has resulted in somewhat improved bonded phases, the synthetic procedures still involve the formation of unstable Si--O--Si--C linkage, and therefore, the necessity still exists for a truly effective silane chemistry.
In another completely different approach, bonded silicas bearing direct Si--C linkages have been developed. They involve the sequential reaction of the silica substrate with a chlorinating reagent (e.g., thionyl chloride) and a proper alkylating reagent (e.g., a Grignard or organolithium compound): ##STR4## where --M=--Li or --MgBr. In principle, this method should provide not only a closer attachment and a denser coverage of organic functionalities but also a more hydrolytically stable bonded phase than that obtained by the corresponding Si--O--Si--C linkage. However, the acceptance for the application of a chlorination/Grignard or chlorination/organo-lithium reaction sequence as a routine method to modify silica substrates has been hindered by several factors. One factor is that the one-step organosilanization procedure (such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,179 to Sebastian et al.) is relatively easy to carry out as compared to the two-step halogenation/alkylation sequence. Difficulties associated with the removal of residual salts which may be occluded in the porous silica matrix during the alkylation process is also an important factor which has contributed to the limited usage of this synthetic approach. Finally, but not less importantly, the preparation of the alkylation reagent exhibits strong interferences with many reactive functionalities, particularly those containing carbonyl, nitrile, carboxyl, amide, alcohol, etc. That is, the great reactivity which makes a Grignard reagent so useful in many synthetic approaches seriously limits its applicability. The organic group, R, in the Grignard reagent, RMgBr, must remain intact during the preparation of the reagent. It is a well known fact that Grignard reagents react with acidic components to form the corresponding hydrocarbon group R--H. More strictly, "any compound containing hydrogen attached to an electronegative element such as oxygen, nitrogen, and even triply-bonded carbon are acidic enough to decompose a Grignard reagent" (Morrison and Boyd, Organic Chemistry, 3rd Edition, 1974). Additionally, a Grignard reagent reacts readily with molecular oxygen, carbon dioxide, and with "nearly every organic compound containing a carbon-oxygen or carbon-nitrogen multiple bond" (supra). The nitro group (--NO.sub.2) also appears to react oxidatively with a Grignard reagent. It seems clear therefore that only a very limited number of organic functionalities may be present in the halide compound from which a Grignard reagent can be prepared. Being even more reactive than the corresponding Grignard reagent, an organolithium reagent should exhibit the same limitations described above to a similar or even greater extent. This, of course, greatly limits the versatility of this approach.
It is therefore desirable to address the shortcomings of existing bonded packings by developing an alternate silane chemistry which combines the superior coverage and hydrolytic stability of direct Si--C linkages with the preparation simplicity of silanization.

Stable, covalently-bonded supports for chemical separation apparatus made through a hydride intermediate


In a convention inductive head, since a large magnetic field is leaked from the end of the magnetic pole end of an upper magnetic core, at recording the recording magnetic field is applied to a recording media in a region larger than a desired track width, thereby damaging the adjacent information. In an inductive head according to the present invention, in order to efficiently carry a magnetic flux to a magnetic pole tip layer, the top surface of the rear end of the magnetic pole tip layer is etched away so as to connect the rear end of the magnetic pole tip layer to the front end of an upper magnetic core having a width larger than that of the rear end of the magnetic pole tip layer. It is possible to realize a recording head having a large recording magnetic field.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an inductive head for use in magnetic recording.
2. Description of the Related Art
With increasing recording density of magnetic disk apparatuses, magnetic recording media enhance the coercivity, and the track width of inductive heads for use in recording is made smaller. In addition, as the coercivity of the magnetic recording media is made higher, the thickness of the inductive heads is increased in order to provide a magnetic flux enough for recording. At present, the thickness of the front end of an upper magnetic core of the inductive heads is increased as compared with the track width, thereby making it more difficult to manufacture them.
In order to solve the problems, Japanese Un-examined Patent Publication No. Hei 7(95)-296328 describes the structure of an inductive head having a trench with a smaller width than the width of the magnetic pole end of the upper magnetic core of the inductive head, and the width of the trench is defining a track width.
As described above, in the inductive head described in Japanese Un-examined Patent Publication No. Hei 7(95)-296328, the width of the magnetic pole end of the upper magnetic core is larger than the magnetic pole tip layer defining the track width. This structure can maintain the large magnetic flux on the front end of the upper magnetic core, so as to manufacture a magnetic pole tip layer having a small thickness and a track width with high precision. However, a large magnetic field is leaked not only from the magnetic gap portion but also from the front end portion of the upper magnetic core. At recording, the recording magnetic field is applied to the recording media in a region wider than a track width desired, thereby damaging adjacent information.
As one of means of solving the problem, in order to reduce the magnetic field leaked from the magnetic pole end portion of the upper magnetic core, the upper magnetic core is constructed such that the magnetic pole end surface thereof is recessed from the air bearing surface. However, in this case, as the magnetic field leaked is reduced, the recording magnetic field is small.

Inductive head and magnetic disk apparatus

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Japan, Ltd.


For determining the average radiation of a surface region of a burning bed, an infrared camera is used in a firing installation, which camera is aligned with this region and is equipped by means of appropriate flame filters in such a way that it operates at the minimum of the interfering radiation emanating from the flame, whereby this interfering radiation is already largely eliminated. In order then also to eliminate the solids radiation from moving particles and thus to obtain a temperature measurement of the burning bed, recordings are made successively at short intervals of time by means of the infrared camera and these are evaluated in the evaluation and control device. For calculating an average value of the radiation or of the average temperature, only those part surfaces of the surface region subdivided into a plurality of part surfaces are here taken into account which are not subject to any change and can thus be allocated to the burning bed which is to be regarded as being essentially at rest, while the varying radiation results from other part surfaces are to be ascribed to the solids radiation of moving particles, such as, for example, dust particles and soot particles, which falsify the temperature of the burning bed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for determining the average radiation and the average temperature, associated with this radiation, of a surface region of a burning bed by means of an infrared camera or thermographic camera in combustion installations and for controlling the combustion process at least in the observed surface region of this combustion installation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known methods of this type are evident from DE 3,904,272 C2 and DE 4,220,149 A1. In practice, difficulties have arisen in carrying out these methods, the difficulties being that the values of radiation and/or temperature detected do not always correspond to the exact temperature values of the burning bed, because they are affected by the radiation values of the flames, flue gases and soot particles present between the infrared camera and the burning bed. This has the consequence that the control operations carried out on the basis of such control parameters on the combustion processes frequently do not meet the desired requirements.

Method for determining the average radiation of a burning bed in combustion installations and for controlling the combustion process

Martin GmbH fuer Unwelt- und Energietechnik


Presented herein are sub-sampled carrier phase recovery techniques. In accordance with one example, a plurality of consecutive symbols associated with a received optical signal is obtained. Carrier phase recovery of the optical signal is performed using one or more carrier phase estimation stages. At each of the one or more carrier phase estimation stages, a subset of the plurality of consecutive symbols is selected for use in carrier phase estimation. The subset of symbols selected for use in carrier phase estimation at each of the one or more stages comprises symbols that provide the most phase recovery information for each of the one or more stages.

In recent years there has been an increase in the use of optical fiber communication networks. In an optical fiber communication network, an optical transmitter takes an electrical input and converts it to an optical output using a light source (e.g., laser diode, Light Emitting Diode (LED), etc.). The light from the transmitter is coupled into an optical fiber and is transmitted through the optical fiber to an optical receiver. The optical receiver converts the light back into an electrical signal.
Early optical fiber communication networks used transmission of one bit of information per data symbol. However, due to the need for high-capacity communications, there is an increasing demand for higher bit rates. This has led to the use of higher order modulation schemes for optical transmissions. Modulation schemes that have been implemented include, for example, Quaternary Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) and M-Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (M-QAM), wherein M is an integer with the power of 2 (i.e., 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, etc.). In such modulation schemes, the optical transmitter includes an optical modulator that modulates the optical signal to carry the additional data.


Apparatus for optical measurement and/or examination of a welding assembly includes a measuring space in which a welding assembly is located. Further disposed in the measuring space is a stationary reference object which is made of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion α≦2.0*10−6/K at 20° C. A plurality of cameras in the measuring space take images of the welding assembly and the reference object, with the image information transmitted to an evaluation device for evaluation.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for optical measurement and/or examination of a welding assembly, such as a motor vehicle axle or an instrument panel.
Nothing in the following discussion of the state of the art is to be construed as an admission of prior art.
Heretofore, the dimensional precision of welding assemblies, e.g. motor vehicle axles or instrument panels, produced on a large scale has been checked through attribute testing or measurement. Attribute testing involves the use of mechanical tracing gauges. This procedure is time consuming, inflexible, generally inaccurate, and prone to fail. Also known are photogrammetric processes for measuring an item which is arranged in a measuring space and recorded by cameras disposed in various positions. Through combining the image information from the individual cameras, the item can be measured in the three-dimensional space. A drawback of this procedure is the need for each camera to be calibrated onto the item prior to each measurement. This is time-consuming and results inaccurate measurements.
It would therefore be desirable and advantageous to provide an improved apparatus for optical measurement and/or examination of a welding assembly to obviate prior art shortcomings.


An ophthalmic apparatus having an examining unit which examines an eye to be examined, the apparatus comprising an alignment device for aligning the examining unit with each of a right eye and a left eye, including a target optical system which forms an alignment target on one eye, a corneal reflex forming device including an emitting optical system by which a corneal reflex is formed on the other eye, in which the emitting optical system emitting a luminous flux on relatively wide area where is defined based on dispersion of an interpupillary distance of an examinee, and an optical axis of the emitting optical system and an optical axis of the examining unit being spaced at a predetermined distance, a detecting optical system for detecting a corneal reflection being in a direction intersecting with the optical axis of the emitting optical system, including a limiting device which limits incidence of the corneal reflection and a positional detecting device which detects a position of the limited corneal reflection, and a calculating device for judging whether the aligned eye is a right eye or a left eye and/or calculating an interpupillary distance thereof, based on results detected by the detecting optical system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ophthalmic apparatus, and more particularly to an ophthalmic apparatus which examines and measures an eye to be examined, such as an apparatus for measuring an objective refractive power, an apparatus for measuring a corneal shape, and the like.
2. Description of Related Art
In conventional art, a setting-type apparatus is widely known as an ophthalmic apparatus such as an apparatus for measuring an objective refractive power, and the like. The setting-type apparatus is configured so that an examining-measuring part can be moved relatively to a fixation base. In generally, the setting-type apparatus is used by an examiner as following, firstly, the examiner makes the examining-measuring part move relative to an eye to be examined by operating a joystick or the like, then, makes the examining-measuring part be aligned with the eye, after that the examiner examines and/or measures the eye one by one. Therefore, referring to such ophthalmic apparatus, an interpupillary distance can be known by obtaining an amount of a lateral movement of the examining-measuring part at the time when condition is changed from which one eye is aligned to which the other eye is aligned. Further, whether the eye is a right eye or a left eye can be also known by detecting whether the examining-measuring part has moved to a right direction or a left direction relative to the center of the fixation base.
On the other hand, in case of using above mentioned setting-type ophthalmic apparatus, it is difficult to examine each eye of an infancy, that of a lying patient, that of an animal and the like, and it is inconvenient to bring it to another place, therefore, a handheld-type ophthalmic apparatus has been proposed recently. The handheld-type ophthalmic apparatus does not has a function to judge whether an eye is a right eye or a left eye based on a movement of an examining-measuring part though above mentioned setting-type apparatus has such function, therefore, whether the examiner examines and/or measures a right eye or a left eye is recognized by inputting a data indicating a right eye or a left eye with using a switch or the like.
However, an operation for inputting a data with using a switch in order to judge whether an eye is a right eye or a left eye is complicated, and the examiner sometimes forgets inputting a data, thereby resulting in a measurement error. In addition, in case of using a handheld-type apparatus, since an amount of a lateral movement while aligning can not be obtained, therefore, an interpupillary distance of the examinee could not be measured.


An anti-lock/traction modulator which includes a hydraulic pressure passage circuit for an anti-skid control and a hydraulic pressure source circuit for a traction control in which an accumulator disposed at an inlet side of a pump for accumulating a predetermined pressure and which circuit supplies a brake pressure to the hydraulic circuit for the anti-skid control merely during the traction control operation. These circuits are connected to each other through a piston so that brake pressure is supplied to brake cylinders of vehicle wheels from the piston during the traction control operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antilock/traction modulator and more specifically to a brake control system for use in a vehicle which applies an appropriate brake force to vehicle wheels to prevent the wheels from slipping when the vehicle starts to move rapidly, and controls the brake force appropriately to prevent the vehicle wheels from skidding when the vehicle brakes.
2. Related Art
Recently, there has actively been developing an anti-lock/traction modulator having functions of an anti-lock control for preventing vehicle wheels from skidding when the vehicle brakes and a traction control for preventing the wheels from excessive slipping when the vehicle starts to move or accelerates rapidly, for a driver to drive a vehicle easily and improve abilities of start, acceleration and driving stability of the vehicle.
An example of the conventional anti-lock/traction modulator of this type is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,750,788 and 4,726,630.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a brake apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,788. A brake apparatus 100 is provided with a master cylinder 102, booster 103, hydraulic pump P, adjusting valve 106, change valves 104, 105 and 108-115, brake cylinders of driving and driven wheels, reservoir tank 107 and oil passages for selectively communicating these devices and valves.
The operation of the brake apparatus 100 is briefly described as follows.
(1) Normal Braking Operation
The condition of the change valves during the normal braking operation is as shown in FIG. 1. When a hydraulic pressure is generated in the master cylinder 102 by depressing a brake pedal, the hydraulic (brake) pressure is supplied to a brake cylinder for each of the vehicle wheels from outlet ports I, II of the cylinder 102 through the change valves 108, 111, 109 and 113.
(2) Anti-skid Control Operation
If the wheels skid during the braking operation, the change valves 104, 108 and 109 are changed from their condition shown in FIG. 1 and, at the same time, the hydraulic pump P is actuated. The brake pressure generated by the hydraulic pump P becomes equal in pressure to the hydraulic pressure generated by the master cylinder 102 owing to the operation of the adjusting valve 106 to which the hydraulic pressure from the master cylinder 102 is applied. Accordingly, the brake pressure generated by the hydraulic pump P becomes ready for being supplied to the wheel cylinders through tee valves 108 and 109. Under this condition, the valves 110 and 111, or 112 and 113 are controlled to open and close to control the brake force to hold, release and apply according to the condition of skid of each of the vehicle wheels, thereby achieving the anti-skid control.
(3) Traction Control Operation
During the traction control operation, the valves 104, 105 108, 109, 114 and 115 are changed from the condition shown in FIG. 1 and, at the same time, the hydraulic pump P is actuated. The brake pressure generated by the hydraulic pump P of an in-line type is supplied to the brake cylinders through valves 108 and 109 to thereby apply the brake force to the vehicle wheels. Under this condition, the valves 110 and 111 or 112 and 113 are controlled to open and close to control the brake force to hold, release and apply according to the condition of the slip of each of the driving wheels, thereby achieving the traction control.
The valves 104, 105 and 108-115 as well as the hydraulic pump P are controlled by a publicly known electronic control device (not shown) in accordance with output signals of wheel speed sensors for detecting the condition of the vehicle wheels (skidding or slipping).
As described above, the skid or slip of the vehicle wheels are appropriately controlled and, therefore, the vehicle can decelerate or stop stably and start to move smoothly.
However, the conventional anti-lock/traction modulator as described above has a disadvantage that if a part of the hydraulic pressure passage circuit for the traction control comes to fail or have a damage the passage circuit for the normal brake operation comes also to deteriorate which raises a serious problem in safety driving since the pressure passage circuit for the traction control communicates with that for the anti-skid control. Further, the TCS pump of an in-line type is required to pump up the brake fluid against the passage resistance generated between the master cylinder and the modulator, thereby lowering the ability of the pump.

Anti-lock/traction modulator for brake control system


A generator set is disclosed. The generator set may include a liquid-cooled engine and an alternating current (AC) generator coupled to the liquid-cooled engine. The generator set may include an AC fan associated with the liquid-cooled engine and connected to the AC generator via a relay and an engine control module (ECM) associated with the liquid-cooled engine and connected to the AC fan via the relay. The generator set may include an engine temperature sensor associated with the liquid-cooled engine and connected to the ECM via a first circuit and an engine air temperature sensor associated with the liquid-cooled engine and connected to the ECM via a second circuit.

A plurality of internal combustion engine systems, wherein each engine system includes a generator (e.g., a main alternator), may be used in various implementations to provide power to a load when a single engine system is not sufficient to provide power to the load. For example, a plurality of generators (e.g., which may be referred to as a "generator set" or "genset") may be configured to provide electrical power to a load that requires more power than a single generator can output. In some cases, an engine system may include a fan to cool an engine of the engine system. However, in these cases the fan is a mechanically driven component of the engine system and requires an elaborate mounting of components (e.g., pulleys, belts, etc.) on the engine. These components may be expensive and/or prone to failure, damage, and/or the like.
One attempt to provide an electric cooling fan system for an air-cooled engine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,945,281 that was filed by Briggs & Stratton Corporation on Dec. 15, 2015 and issued on Apr. 17, 2018 ("the '281 patent"). In particular, the '281 patent discloses an electric cooling fan system for an air-cooled engine suitable for use with small, outdoor power equipment, such as lawn mowers, riding tractors, snow throwers, pressure washers, portable generators, and/or the like. The electric cooling fan system disclosed in the '281 patent can receive power directly from a standby generator (e.g., the electric cooling fan system may be electrically coupled to a charging system (e.g., an alternator) of an air-cooled internal combustion engine) and can be configured to be powered by 120V alternating current.
While the electric cooling fan system of the '281 patent may be powered by the charging system of an internal combustion engine, the '281 patent is explicitly directed to only a single, small air-cooled engine. For example, the '281 patent discloses that the electric cooling fan system may be used as an alternative to reduce noise levels associated with a conventional crankshaft mounted fan design for an air-cooled home standby generator. Further, the '281 patent describes the electric cooling fan system as being configured to be powered by only 120V of alternating current output by an air-cooled home standby generator.
The '281 patent does not disclose using a fan connected to an alternating current generator (e.g., a main alternator) of a large, liquid-cooled engine of an engine system, to selectively cool the liquid-cooled engine and/or liquid coolant used to facilitate cooling of the liquid-cooled engine. Moreover, the '281 patent does not disclose a fan being configured to be powered by alternating current output that exceeds 120V. Therefore, the fan powered by an alternating current generator associated with a liquid-cooled engine of an engine system of the present disclosure solves one or more problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art.

Fan powered by an alternating current generator associated with a liquid-cooled engine of an engine system


Techniques for use in accordance with application performance decomposition are provided which take advantage of the communications protocol used to carry a transaction between application components in a distributed computing network. Specifically, the invention extends the communications protocol by embedding data, such as timestamp and duration measurement data, in the protocol itself, rather than extending or altering the application or transaction data carried by the protocol as in existing approaches. Thus, the invention provides natural correlation of interactions of distributed application components on such transactions without modification to the application or transaction data. Because the correlation is performed in-line with the application component interactions, minimal data management overhead is required, and correlated performance decomposition is made possible in real-time for the transaction. Furthermore, subsequent processing stages of the distributed application can interpret the communications protocol to glean processing durations of previous stages in order to make decisions regarding treatment of the transaction.

Measuring and decomposing performance application transactions often requires distributed instrumentation co-located with application components servicing or transporting the transaction. The application components are implemented on the various computing devices in the distributed network that are involved with (e.g., initiate, process, transfer, etc.) at least a portion of a transaction. The requirement for such co-located instrumentation results in separate streams of performance measurement data that need to be correlated to show the relative contribution of each application component's service time to the overall transaction's response time. Correlation using time of day is difficult as it requires synchronized time sources which tend to drift and which are problematic to keep synchronized over long periods of time. For performance measurements, one cannot easily derive accurate durations by applying functions to timestamps taken from different timing sources. Therefore, accurate duration calculations must occur based on timestamps from the same time source. This causes multiple timestamps and/or durations to be measured at varying locations in the transaction's path whenever a distributed application spans multiple time sources.
Correlation of these timestamps and durations is typically based on tagging them with correlation data which is later used to associate related measurements, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,700, issued to Maccabee et al. on Aug. 22, 2000 and entitled: "Application End-to-End Response Time Measurement and Decomposition," the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. This introduces data management issues (e.g., storage, movement, and consolidation of distributed duration data) making correlation of distributed applications difficult and time consuming.
Further, techniques are known where embedded JavaScript is added to HTML (HyperText Markup Language) pages to measure how long it takes for the client to receive and render a web page. The system that adds the JavaScript can take timestamps which can later be compared with the information generated by the JavaScript to produce one layer of decomposition. However, intervening application components such as web proxies can not add their perspective of response time, therefore, this conventional method is limited to only a pair of participants (e.g., the client where the JavaScript runs and the server where the JavaScript was embedded). In addition, this embedded JavaScript method introduces JavaScript processing not normally in the HTML page, thus necessitating an alteration in the way the application operates.
Still further, a U.S. patent application identified as Ser. No. 09/637,330, filed on Aug. 10, 2000 and entitled "Method and Apparatus for Measuring Web Site Performance," the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses a technique for extending the application data (payload) with logic to take measurements and report back it's findings. Hence, the application data must be modified to add the measurement and reporting logic. Also, the technique works only at the endpoints (e.g., application server and most notably at the client) of a transaction.

Method and system for embedding correlated performance measurements for distributed application performance decomposition

International Business Machines Corporation


A vision frame assembly for use in fire-rated structures such as doors and alls. The frame assembly includes a pair of opposed frame members that snap-fit into a plurality of resilient latching clips mounted in the door or wall. The latching clips include mounting members to mount the clip to the door or wall and spring finger elements having differing lengths. The unique configuration of the spring finger elements makes the frame assembly adaptable to wide tolerance variations from different manufactures of doors, walls, and other fire-rated structures.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to mounting frames for holding glazings such as windows in structures, and more particularly to the snap lock vision frame assemblies in fire-rated structures such as doors and walls.
2. Description of the Related Art
The installation of vision frame assemblies in doors, especially of the fire-rated variety, has often been a difficult and time-consuming process. Prior art frame assemblies are often constructed of several parts that must be separately manufactured and inventoried. FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of such an assembly 10 installed in a cutout 12 of a wooden fire-rated door 14. The frame assembly 10 includes a front frame member 16 connected to a rear frame member 18 by a series of screws 20 arranged around the perimeter of the frame assembly 10. Each frame member 16, 18 includes an outer flange 22 connected to an inner flange 24 by a captive edge 26. The outer flange 22 has a first vertically oriented panel 28 that abuts a vertical surface 30 of the door 14 adjacent the cutout 12 and a second panel 32 that extends obliquely from the first panel 28 to the captive edge 26. The outer flange 22 of the rear frame member also includes apertures 31 for receiving the screws 20. The inner flange 24 of each frame member has a first vertically oriented panel 34 that extends from the captive edge 26 to a step portion 36. The step portion 36 extends generally horizontally to a vertically-oriented mounting lip 38. Each mounting lip 38 has an aperture for receiving the screw 20. When assembled, the panels 34 face each other to create a pocket 40 that receives a peripheral edge portion of a window pane or glazing 42 and glazing tape 44 located on opposite sizes of the glazing 42.
During installation, the front frame member 16 must be manually held in place while a layer of glazing tape 44, the glazing 42, another layer of glazing tape 44, and the rear frame member 18 are installed. Accordingly, installation can be quite awkward and can require much time and skill. Moreover, the finished product is neither entirely aesthetically pleasing nor secure, since the screw heads are exposed on the rear frame member. In addition, the front and rear frame members are not identical and therefore require a separate manufacturing operations. Separate inventories must be kept for each of the frame members, screws, and different thicknesses of tapes due to tolerance variations in the door and glazing thicknesses.
For hollow fire-rated doors 46 as shown in FIG. 2, the same frame assembly 10 can be used with the addition of reinforcing clips 48 installed at various locations around a cutout 50 in the door 46 to strengthen the door cutout. As seen in FIG. 3, the reinforcing clip 48 has a plate portion 52 with mounting lips 54, 56 extending from opposite ends of the plate portion, and an intermediate lip 57 extending between the opposite ends and generally transverse to the mounting lips 54, 56. When installed, the reinforcing clips 48 hold a front metallic skin 58 and a rear metallic skin 60 against a hollow core material 62. In addition to the disadvantages described with respect to wooden doors, the reinforcing clips require additional manufacturing, inventory, and increased installation time.
Another prior art clip 64 for mounting in hollow door cutouts is illustrated in FIG. 4. The clip 64 has a plate portion 66 with mounting lips 68, 70 extending from opposite ends of the plate portion. A first tab 72 is mounted adjacent the lip 70 and a second tab 74 is mounted adjacent the lip 68. The tabs 72, 74 extend generally transverse to the lips 68 and are formed at diagonally opposite corners of the plate portion 66. A first spring finger 76 has a first end adjacent the lip 70 and a second free end that projects toward the lip 68. Likewise, a second spring finger 78 has a first end adjacent the lip 68 and a second free end that projects toward the lip 70. Each spring finger 76, 78 has a stepped portion 80 that together form a channel for receiving the peripheral edge portion of a window pane and frame members. Although this prior art clip possesses some advantages over other prior art arrangements, it is not, inter alia, adaptable to tolerance variations in the door, window pane, and glazing tape thicknesses, as well as variations in glazing space between the frames. Moreover, the clip 64 is not universal for both solid and hollow doors.

Anemostat Products Division, Dynamics Corp. of Amerca, A New York Corp.


Methods of enhancing anaerobic digestion of wastewater are provided. The methods comprise pressure oxidation of digester material to remove sulfide and/or regenerate iron. Also provided are a pressure oxidizer device and a wastewater treatment system having one or more of such devices. The methods, device, and system have application in treatment of municipal wastewater, wastewater of agricultural and livestock operations, and in biofuels production.

Many municipalities and industries, including agricultural facilities, treat solid and liquid waste streams in anaerobic treatment facilities. Anaerobic digestion relies upon anaerobic microorganisms, e.g., methanogens, to convert, for example, sewage sludge, industrial and municipal waste, and biomass material, to valuable biogases, principally methane. The process has advantages not only in its suitability for treating wastes having a high water content or difficulties in incineration, but also facilitates the recovery of methane as a source of clean energy and reduces the volume of residual solids requiring processing and disposal.
Large agricultural operations may utilize confinement barns to house a large number of livestock, such as swine, poultry or dairy cows, in a relatively small land area. These agricultural operations often experience potential pollution problems relating to the handling and treatment of manure and wastewater. For example, pollution problems associated with animal waste include nitrogen, phosphorus, solids, bacteria and foul odors that result from anaerobic storage of manures. Storage lagoons or basins are often created on sites of agricultural operations to accumulate and store the flushed wastewater, feces and urine until an appropriate time to distribute the wastes over the land. Typically, during the storage process, due to the large volume of animal waste entering the lagoon, there is insufficient oxygen present to support the growth of aerobic cultures and/or aerobic biological activity. The absence of the necessary oxygen and the highly concentrated manure constituents convert microbial growth in the lagoon to anaerobic activity. This anaerobic activity leads to what is commonly known as a "septic" lagoon. In a septic lagoon, a very foul odor is present from the production of hydrogen sulfide, organic-sulfide compounds, organic acids, etc. Environmental concerns in wastewater treatment of agricultural operations thus focus generally on odor and water quality issues.
One method of wastewater treatment involves the addition of iron to anaerobic digesters to control hydrogen sulfide, phosphate, and scaling, and to provide micronutrients. The added iron, however, is not regenerated to substantially economize its use. Aggressive oxidation of waste by, for example, extreme pressure, high temperature, and/or acidification, solubilizes particulates and chemically digests organic material but the conditions required of such processes are prohibitively expensive. Mild oxidation of raw wastewaters is inefficient for regenerating iron within waste sludges and present risks to anaerobic digesters. Treatment of waste with pressure, while effective at solubilizing particulate matter, does not result in the regeneration of iron.
Cost-effective and practical methods and apparatuses for wastewater treatment that maximize iron utility in a wastewater treatment system, enhance anaerobic digestion of wastewater solids, and improve yield of fuel and energy values are thus desirable.

Methods and device for enhancement of anaerobic digestion


A delay analysis support apparatus that supports analysis of delay in a target circuit includes an acquiring unit that acquires error information concerning a cell-delay estimation error that is dependent on a characterizing tool; an error calculating unit that calculates, based on the error information and a first probability density distribution concerning the cell delay of each cell and obtained from the cell delay estimated by the characterizing tool, a second probability density distribution that concerns the cell-delay estimation error of each cell; and an linking unit that links the second probability density distribution and a cell library storing therein the first probability density distribution.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to technology of delay analysis in a circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, with the miniaturization of semiconductor integrated circuits, the influence of statistical variations, e.g., process variations, reductions in power supply voltage, and crosstalk, has become considerable, and circuit delay variations have increased. In conventional static timing analysis (STA), circuit delay variations are accommodated by a larger delay margin; however, timing design becomes difficult due to the larger the delay margin.
Therefore, the need for statistical static timing analysis (SSTA) that can reduce such unnecessary delay margins with accurate consideration of statistical variations is increasing. As a delay analysis technique based on SSTA, for example, a technology of performing delay timing analysis with consideration of a correlation of performance between wiring lines or cells in an analysis target circuit has been provided (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-279012 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2005-092885).
However, according to the conventional technologies, an analysis error that is dependent on an analysis tool (characterizing tool) that estimates delay in each cell, e.g., an error included in an input value or an error that occurs due to an algorithm or a numerical calculation is not considered at all.
Therefore, the delay value that is actually used for a cell in SSTA is a value that includes an analysis error in the original delay variation, and the execution of SSTA utilizing this delay value degrades the overall SSTA analysis accuracy, resulting in a problem that the merit of the fundamental accuracy of SSTA is negated.
FIG. 10 is a schematic illustrating a problem with the conventional technology. As shown in FIG. 10, a probability density distribution P is a delay distribution that is actually used in SSTA of a cell, a probability density distribution Q is a delay distribution accurately representing delay variation of the cell, and a probability density distribution R is a delay distribution concerning analysis error in the cell.
As shown in FIG. 10, the delay distribution that is actually used in SSTA of the cell (probability density distribution P) includes analysis error and is indicative of the accurate delay distribution of the cell (probability density distribution Q) including a delay distribution concerning an analysis error that is dependent on a characterizing tool (probability density distribution R).
Therefore, when the delay distribution of the cell obtained from the characterizing tool is used to execute SSTA, a pessimistic delay distribution is calculated due to the analysis error, and consequently, the circuit design must be adjusted, resulting in a problem of increased burden on the designer and a longer design period.

Delay analysis support apparatus, delay analysis support method and computer product


The present invention provides a metal nanocolloidal liquid characterized by containing a dispersion medium and nanocolloidal metal particles, and containing substantially no protective colloid-forming agent; and a method for producing a metal-on-carrier, characterized by including causing nanocolloidal metal particles to be carried on a carrier by use of the metal nanocolloidal liquid. According to the production method, nanocolloidal metal particles can be efficiently caused to be carried on a carrier, and a metal-on-carrier which is useful in a variety of fields can be industrially advantageously produced.

In recent years, metal-on-carrier, which is formed of a metal carried on a carrier such as carbon material, ceramic/metal oxide material, metallic material, or organic polymer material, has become of interest as functional material in a variety of fields, and extensive research and development has been conducted on new applications of such a metal-on-carrier.
Examples of such metal-on-carriers which have heretofore been developed include (1) electrically conductive particles formed of insulating particles (e.g., resin particles) whose surfaces are coated with a metal; (2) a catalyst for decomposing a disinfectant or bleaching agent, the catalyst being formed of a resin material having an electrical-conductivity-imparted surface on which a noble metal is carried; (3) a catalyst for purification of automobile exhaust gas, the catalyst being formed of a porous support on which a noble metal is carried; and (4) a photocatalytic thin film formed of a high-catalytic-performance thin film coated with a noble metal. In the field of fuel cell, developed applications of such a metal-on-carrier include (5) a reforming catalyst for reforming a hydrocarbon compound or an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon compound, thereby generating hydrogen, the catalyst being formed of an inorganic oxide support on which a noble metal (e.g., ruthenium) is carried; (6) a shift reaction catalyst for reducing the amount of carbon monoxide contained in hydrogen gas, the catalyst being formed of an inorganic oxide support on which a noble metal is carried; and (7) an electrode catalyst for a fuel cell, the catalyst being formed of a carbon material on which a noble metal is carried.
General features and background of the aforementioned metal-on-carriers will next be described.
[Electrically Conductive Particles]
An electrode section of a liquid crystal device or the like employs an anisotropic electrically conductive member which conducts electricity between specific electrodes or in a specific direction through deformation of electrically conductive particles under application of pressure. Such an anisotropic electrically conductive member incorporates electrically conductive particles formed of insulating particles (e.g., resin particles) whose surfaces are coated with, for example, gold. In general, an inductor or multi-layer capacitor employed in electronic parts is produced by laminating a magnetic layer on an electrically conductive layer, and subjecting the resultant laminate to sintering. Generally, such an electrically conductive layer is formed from a conductive-material-forming paste containing electrically conductive particles.
[Disinfectant-decomposing Catalyst]
Peroxides such as hydrogen peroxide and ozone are useful substances having disinfectant, antiseptic, and bleaching effects. However, a large amount of such a peroxide may be harmful to (i.e., adversely affect) the human body. Therefore, after intended effects have been attained by such a peroxide employed in a large amount, the thus-employed peroxide is subjected to neutralization-decomposition treatment. As has been known, a noble metal (e.g., platinum) serves as a decomposition catalyst in such decomposition treatment. For example, lightweight catalyst materials of different structures for decomposing a disinfectant, a bleaching agent, or the like can be produced by, for example, imparting electrical conductivity to the surface of a resin material formed of, for example, polyphenylene ether (hereinafter may be abbreviated as "PPE") or polyphenylene sulfide (hereinafter may be abbreviated as "PPS") in advance, and by causing a noble metal material to be carried on the resin material.
[Catalyst for Purification of Automobile Exhaust Gas]
In recent years, Nox occlusion-reduction-type catalysts have been widely employed as catalysts for purification of lean-burn automobile exhaust gas. Such an NOx occlusion reduction-type catalyst includes particles of a noble metal having catalytic activity (e.g., platinum or palladium), and a carbonate of a metal (generally an alkaline earth metal such as barium), the particles and the carbonate being carried on a porous support formed of pellets of ceramic material (e.g., alumina or zirconia) or a honeycomb molded material of such ceramic material, or formed of a metallic honeycomb structure coated with ceramic material. In such an NOx occlusion-reduction-type catalyst, noble metal particles serve as a catalytic component for promoting decomposition of NOx, and an alkaline earth metal serves as an NOx-occluding agent.
[Photocatalytic Thin Film]
When a photocatalytic material (hereinafter may be referred to simply as a "photocatalyst") is irradiated with light having an energy equal to or greater than the band gap energy thereof, electrons are excited to the conduction band, and holes are provided in the valence band. The thus-excited electrons reduce oxygen on the surface of the photocatalyst, to thereby form superoxide anions (.O2−), whereas the thus-generated holes oxidize hydroxyl groups on the photocatalyst surface, to thereby form hydroxyl radicals (.OH). As has been known, the thus-formed reactive oxygen species exhibit strong oxidation/decomposition performance, and thus are highly efficient in decomposing organic substances deposited onto the surface of the photocatalyst.
Titanium dioxide (in particular, anatase titanium dioxide) is practically useful as such a photocatalytic material. For the purpose of promoting the photocatalytic activity of a layer formed of such a photocatalytic material, the layer is provided with a coating layer formed of a platinum group metal (e.g., platinum, palladium, rhodium, or ruthenium).
[Metal-on-carriers in the Field of Fuel Cell]
In a fuel cell, chemical energy is converted into electrical energy through electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Fuel cells, which are characterized by high energy-utilization efficiency, have been extensively studied for practical use; for example, consumer use, industrial use, or automotive use.
Studies have been conducted on employment, as a hydrogen source, of methanol, liquefied natural gas predominantly containing methane, city gas predominantly containing such natural gas, a synthetic liquid fuel formed from natural gas, a hydrocarbon fuel such as petroleum hydrocarbon (e.g., LPG, naphtha, or kerosene), or an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon fuel.
In the case where hydrogen is generated by use of the aforementioned hydrocarbon fuel or oxygen-containing hydrocarbon fuel, reforming treatment (e.g., steam reforming or partial oxidation reforming) is carried out. In such a case, a catalyst formed of an inorganic oxide support on which a noble metal (e.g., ruthenium) is carried is generally employed as a reforming catalyst.
Generally, hydrogen gas obtained through the aforementioned reforming treatment contains CO. In a fuel cell; in particular, a low-temperature operation fuel cell (e.g., a polymer electrolyte fuel cell), CO is prone to poison a platinum catalyst serving as an electrode. Therefore, CO concentration must be reduced through conversion of CO into a nontoxic substance (e.g., CO2). Such CO reduction is generally carried out through a method employing shift reaction. Such shift reaction employs a catalyst formed of an inorganic oxide support on which a noble metal is carried.
From the viewpoint of promotion of chemical reaction, an electrode constituting a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is formed of a carbon material (e.g., graphite or carbon black) on which a noble metal (e.g., platinum) is carried.
Such a noble-metal-on-carrier is formed through a physical vapor deposition (PVD) method (e.g., vacuum deposition or sputtering) or a wet method (e.g., electroplating, electroless plating, or a method for causing colloidal metal particles to be carried on a carrier (hereinafter the method may be referred to simply as a "colloidal metal carrying method")). The noble-metal-on-carrier formation method may be appropriately selected from among the aforementioned methods in accordance with, for example, the use of the metal-on-carrier or the type of a carrier to be employed. Of these methods, a colloidal metal carrying method—in which a metal nanocolloidal liquid containing nanocolloidal metal particles is applied to a carrier through a technique (e.g., immersion, spraying, or evaporation to dryness), to thereby cause the nanocolloidal metal particles to be carried on the carrier—is advantageous in that, for example, the method is easy to perform, and does not require any expensive coating apparatus. As used herein, the term "nanocolloidal particles" refers to colloidal particles having a particle size of less than about 100 nm.
However, in such a metal nanocolloidal liquid, generally, nanocolloidal metal particles exhibit poor dispersion stability, and are prone to form aggregates. Therefore, generally, a water-soluble polymer compound (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, or gelatin) or a protective colloid-forming agent (e.g., a surfactant) is added to the metal nanocolloidal liquid, and a protective colloid is formed, whereby the dispersion stability of the nanocolloidal metal particles is improved.
For example, there have been disclosed a method in which a metal oxide thin film deposited on an insulating substrate is immersed in a noble metal colloid obtained by adding, to an aqueous noble metal chloride solution, an aqueous polyethylene glycol monooleyl ether solution serving as a protective colloid-forming agent, to thereby cause the noble metal to be carried on the metal oxide thin film (see, for example, Patent Document 1); a method for producing an exhaust gas purifying catalyst, in which a noble metal colloidal liquid is prepared by use of a quaternary ammonium salt having at least one C1-C4 alkyl group serving as a protective colloid-forming agent, and the colloidal liquid is adsorbed onto a porous support (see, for example, Patent Document 2); and a method for producing a photocatalytic thin film carrying fine noble metal particles, in which a noble metal fine particulate colloid which has been stabilized with a surfactant is applied onto a thin film having photocatalytic function, followed by thermal treatment at about 400 to about 600° C. in a reducing atmosphere (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
However, in the case where such a protective colloid-forming agent is employed, when nanocolloidal metal particles are caused to be carried on a carrier, the protective colloid-forming agent is deposited on the surfaces of the nanocolloidal metal particles carried on the carrier; i.e., the resultant metal-on-carrier contains an organic substance. In some cases, such an organic-substance-containing metal-on-carrier may fail to sufficiently perform its intended function. In such a case, the metal-on-carrier must be subjected to treatment for removal of the organic substance (e.g., firing treatment). However, in some cases, the carrier cannot be subjected to firing treatment. Thus, employment of a protective colloid-forming agent also poses a problem in that a limitation is imposed on the type of the carrier to be employed.
Known methods for producing a metal nanocolloidal liquid employing no protective colloid-forming agent include a method in which a reducing agent is added to a metal chloride solution, and fine metal particles are formed through reduction of metallic ions (see, for example, Patent Document 4 and Non-Patent Document 1).
When colloidal particles are caused to be carried on a carrier by use of such a metal nanocolloidal liquid containing no protective colloid-forming agent, generally, there is employed a method for causing the colloidal particles to be carried on the carrier through spontaneous adsorption. However, this method raises problems in that the particles are caused to be carried on the carrier at low rate, and the amount of the particles to be carried cannot be increased to a sufficient extent.
When a metal-on-carrier is to be produced by use of a metal nanocolloidal liquid, desirably, a maximum possible amount of nanocolloidal metal particles is caused to be carried on a carrier in one operation, from the viewpoint of operation efficiency. Therefore, a metal nanocolloidal liquid to be employed is required to contain colloidal particles in a large amount.
However, the aforementioned metal nanocolloidal liquid production method employing no protective colloid-forming agent involves a problem in that when a metal nanocolloidal liquid containing nanocolloidal metal particles in a large amount is to be prepared, the colloidal particles are prone to aggregate and precipitate. Conceivably, when the distance between fine metal particles becomes excessively small, such particle aggregation occurs as a result of electrostatic shielding and insufficient repulsion between the metal particles, since merely ions adsorbed onto the metal particles contribute to dispersion of the particles.
Therefore, demand has arisen for a metal nanocolloidal liquid containing nanocolloidal metal particles in a large amount, containing no protective colloid-forming agent, and exhibiting good dispersion stability. In a conventional technique, when a metal nanocolloidal solution is to be prepared from platinum particles without employing a protective colloid-forming agent, the amount of the particles contained in the solution is limited to about 150 mass ppm.
Conventionally, spraying has been widely employed as a technique for causing nanocolloidal metal particles to be carried on a carrier by use of a metal nanocolloidal liquid. However, a conventional spraying technique may pose problems in terms of, for example, safety of volatile components, regulation of the concentration of a spraying liquid, damage to a carrier, and safety to the human body. In addition, such a spraying technique involves a problem in that, for example, a treatment (e.g., firing or reduction) for removal of a protective colloid-forming agent may be required after nanocolloidal metal particles have been caused to be carried on a carrier.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2000-87248
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2002-1119
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 11-71137
Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 2001-224969
Non-Patent Document 1: "Surface," Vol. 21, No. 8, pp. 450-456 (1983)

Metal nanocolloidal liquid, method for producing metal support and metal support


A hydraulic system and method of controlling hydraulic pressure are disclosed. The hydraulic system includes a pump fluidly coupled to a reservoir that contains hydraulic fluid, a control valve fluidly coupled to the pump, the control valve being selectively movable between at least two positions, a relief valve fluidly coupled to the pump via a relief conduit, the relief valve operable to flow hydraulic fluid from an outlet of the pump to the reservoir, and a variable pressure setpoint module fluidly coupled to the relief valve and the control valve. The variable pressure setpoint module being operable to open the relief valve in response to at least two pressure setpoints depending on a position of the control valve.

Hydraulic systems are known for converting fluid energy, for example, fluid pressure, into mechanical energy. Fluid power may be transferred from a hydraulic pump through fluid conduits to one or more hydraulic actuators. Hydraulic actuators may include hydraulic motors that convert fluid power into shaft rotational power, hydraulic cylinders that convert fluid power into translational motion, or the like.
Some hydraulic systems include a plurality of hydraulic actuators. For example, lift trucks for transporting materials may include a hydraulic motor to propel one or more drive wheels of the lift truck, in addition to an array of hydraulic cylinders that perform different functions, such as, for example, lifting a load against gravity, adjusting an angular orientation of the load with respect to the lift truck, and adjusting a distance between lift forks. Similarly, off-highway trucks for mining and excavation operations may include, for example, hydraulic motors to propel drive wheels and steer the truck, in addition to hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower a bucket.
In such systems, separate hydraulic actuators may have significantly different power requirements; and therefore, different corresponding pressure requirements to optimize system operability and efficiency. For example, the fork distance adjustment cylinder in a lift truck may have significantly lower pressure requirements than the lift cylinder in the same truck because, unlike the lift cylinder, the fork adjustment cylinder only has to move the weight of the forks and not the weight of a load bearing on the forks.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,222,484 (hereinafter "the '484 patent"), entitled "Hydraulic System with Multiple Pressure Relief Valves," purports to address the problem of various hydraulic pressure requirements in a hydraulic system. The '484 patent describes hydraulic systems in which various hydraulic actuators have different operating pressure limits as determined by separate pressure relief valves. However, incorporating multiple pressure relief valves into a hydraulic system can be disadvantageously expensive, bulky, and unreliable. Accordingly, there is a need for improved hydraulic system pressure controls.

Control valve with variable pressure relief


Various present invention devices enable adherence to requirements for medical items. A medical item of the present invention includes a monitoring or data recording device to monitor and/or record medical solution conditions. The device may further include indicators to indicate compliance of the medical solution with prescribed requirements (e.g., manufacturer, medical standard or regulation, etc.). The medical item may alternatively include a barcode or transponder to uniquely identify the medical item to a thermal treatment system measuring and storing conditions in a central database. The present invention further includes various thermal treatment systems that monitor medical items for prescribed requirements and display the monitored parameters to medical personnel. In addition, the present invention may place time stamp information on medical items to enable determination by medical personnel of compliance with prescribed requirements.

1. Technical Field
The present invention pertains to medical item thermal treatment and/or monitoring systems, such as the types disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.: 5,408,576 (Bishop); U.S. Pat. No. 6,259,067 (Faries, Jr. et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,762 (Faries, Jr. et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,371,121 (Faries, Jr. et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,384,380 (Faries, Jr., et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,376,805 (Faries, Jr. et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,953 (Faries, Jr. et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,566,631 (Faries, Jr. et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,660,974 (Faries, Jr. et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos.: 2002/0147426 (Faries, Jr. et al.) and 2003/0114795 (Faries, Jr. et al.); and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/380,507, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Pressure Infusion and Temperature Control of Infused Liquids" and filed Apr. 24, 2000. The disclosures of the foregoing patents, patent publications and patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. In particular, the present invention is directed toward monitoring intravenous solution or other medical items for compliance with prescribed requirements (e.g., manufacturer, medical standards or regulations, etc.) from the time the solution is prepared through disposal of the solution after use in a medical procedure. In other words, the medical solution or other medical items are monitored from manufacture at a manufacturing plant, through transport and/or storage to an end user or medical facility, through subsequent thermal treatment by that user and during administration to a patient. In this manner, a complete record of temperature and/or other conditions for the medical item is ascertained to determine and/or indicate to medical personnel compliance with the prescribed requirements.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Various types of medical items require heating to a selected temperature prior to utilization in a medical procedure. Generally, the medical items may be heated for limited time intervals to preserve their effectiveness. These items typically include intravenous solutions, irrigation fluids, surgical instruments, bottles and blankets. Intravenous (IV) fluids, for example, are typically stored in a cool environment and, consequently, require heating to precise temperatures to prevent thermal shock and injury from occurring during infusion of the fluid into a patient. Similarly, irrigation fluids can be warmed or cooled to various temperatures depending upon their intended use. These types of fluids are typically provided to a patient utilizing a flexible bag or container filled with the fluid and delivered via a fluid line that conveys the fluid from the bag to the patient.
Some medical items can only be heated for a limited period of time, or in accordance with controlled warming cycles, in order to avoid adversely affecting their effectiveness. For example, some fluids, such as whole blood or fluids containing medication, should be warmed evenly to a specific temperature and can be rendered unusable or unsafe if all or a portion of the fluid is overheated.
In order to provide the necessary heated items for use in medical procedures, the related art provides devices for regulating and/or monitoring temperature of medical items. For example, ovens may be disposed within operating rooms to heat items to desired temperatures. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,419,568 (Van Overloop) discloses a wet dressings heater having a base with side walls defining a cavity, and an insert connected to the base and defining at least one recess in the cavity for receiving wet dressings. A heater has an electrical heating element in close proximity to the insert recess for heating the wet dressings, while the temperature of the heating element is controlled in a desired temperature range for those wet dressings.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,402 (Burdick et al.) discloses a warmer for heating wet dressings and other articles disposed within a heating and storage compartment. The articles are arranged within the compartment in stacked relation and disposed on a plate that is supplied with thermal energy from a heater. The plate includes a center aperture whereby a first thermal sensor is disposed in the aperture in contact with a bottommost article. Control circuitry is disposed beneath the plate to control the heater to maintain temperature of the bottommost article at a desired level based on the temperatures sensed by the first thermal sensor and a second thermal sensor responsive to heater temperature.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,360 (Suzuki et al.) discloses a blood bag having a temperature-monitoring device in the form of a tag or label adhered to the bag outer surface. The temperature-monitoring device includes plural reversible temperature indicators each associated with a specific temperature range to indicate a current temperature of the blood, and an irreversible temperature indicator to indicate that the blood has currently or previously reached a predetermined temperature. The reversible indicators individually provide visual indications in response to the current blood temperature being within a corresponding range, while the irreversible indicator maintains a visual indication once the predetermined temperature has been reached.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,576 (Bishop) discloses an intravenous fluid warmer having a cabinet structure to accommodate a plurality of intravenous fluid bags. A temperature sensor and pad of heating filaments are disposed within the cabinet structure, whereby the temperature sensor enables automatic temperature regulation of the pad of heating filaments to heat the intravenous fluid bags. The heating filaments are covered by a rubber layer to prevent melting of the bags during heating. A temperature indicator disposed on the cabinet structure permits a user to ascertain when a desired temperature is attained, whereby an intravenous fluid bag is removed from the intravenous fluid warmer via an opening defined in a side of the cabinet structure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,986,239 (Corrigan, III et al.) discloses a conductive warmer for flexible plastic bags. The warmer includes a heat-conducting member of thermally conductive material having a plurality of fins which are parallel and spaced apart to define a plurality of bag-receiving compartments. The fins are connected to a back portion of the heat-conducting member to which a heating element is attached in a heat-exchanging relationship. The heating element conducts heat through the back portion and fins of the heat-conducting member to the bags.
The devices described above suffer from several disadvantages. In particular, temperature and heating requirements are typically prescribed for medical solutions or other medical items from various sources (e.g., manufacturer, medical standard or regulation, etc.). These requirements typically prescribe a particular temperature range, expiration date or time and certain time intervals for heating the medical solution in order to maintain the solution efficacy. The above-described devices generally do not monitor medical items for or indicate compliance with these prescribed requirements throughout the life of the medical item (e.g., from manufacture through use and disposal). For example, the above-described warming devices may provide a temperature indication during heating, but do not monitor the heating time intervals for the medical items, the medical item temperatures during storage or usage outside of the device or the medical item expiration date. Although the Suzuki et al. device is secured to and monitors temperature of a blood bag, there is no manner for that device to monitor or indicate the heating intervals and/or passage of the expiration date or time for the blood bag. Thus, medical personnel may unknowingly administer to patients solutions and/or medication that are unusable and/or have reduced potency due to non-compliance with prescribed requirements (e.g., an exceeded expiration date, prolonged exposure to heat, attainment of temperatures outside the prescribed range, etc.), thereby risking serious injury to patients.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Medical item thermal treatment systems and method of monitoring medical items for compliance with prescribed requirements


In certain embodiments, a port cover for a system integrated into a structure for injection of a material into one or more cavities in the structure includes a base for coupling to the structure. The base comprises one or more ports for injection of the material into the one or more cavities in the structure, one or more slots, and one or more channels each associated with a corresponding slot. A cover for removably coupling to the base to selectively control access to the system includes one or more tabs each adapted to engage with a corresponding slot of the base. The one or more tabs of the cover are adapted to, after sliding downward to disengage from the one or more corresponding slots, move outward substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the base through the one or more corresponding channels to remove the cover from the base. When the cover is removed from the base, the system may be accessed for purposes of injection of the material into the one or more cavities in the structure.

A structure such as a home or building may include a system integrated into the structure for injection of a material into one or more cavities in the structure. For example, the material may include pesticide and the cavities may include stud bays, crawl spaces, or any other suitable cavities according to particular needs. In this example, a number of externally accessible ports may each be coupled to a tube that passes through one or more cavities and includes perforations through which the injected pesticide is released into the one or more cavities to provide pest control. The externally accessible ports may be accessible to any suitable service provider, such as an exterminator, who may connect a device to the externally accessible ports to inject the material, such as pesticide, into the one or more cavities. This may be undesirable if a particular service provider, such as may be associated with the construction of the structure, desires to be the exclusive provider of such services. Merely covering the one or more externally accessible ports inadequately prevents unauthorized access to the ports.

Port cover for a system integrated into a structure for injection of a material into one or more cavities in the structure


A method for generating a 3D image includes driving structured light projector(s) to project a pattern of light on an intraoral 3D surface, and driving camera(s) to capture images, each image including at least a portion of the projected pattern, each one of the camera(s) comprising an array of pixels. A processor compares a series of images captured by each camera and determines which of the portions of the projected pattern can be tracked across the images. The processor constructs a three-dimensional model of the intraoral three-dimensional surface based at least in part on the comparison of the series of images. Other embodiments are also described.

Dental impressions of a subject's intraoral three-dimensional surface, e.g., teeth and gingiva, are used for planning dental procedures. Traditional dental impressions are made using a dental impression tray filled with an impression material, e.g., PVS or alginate, into which the subject bites. The impression material then solidifies into a negative imprint of the teeth and gingiva, from which a three-dimensional model of the teeth and gingiva can be formed.
Digital dental impressions utilize intraoral scanning to generate three-dimensional digital models of an intraoral three-dimensional surface of a subject. Digital intraoral scanners often use structured light three-dimensional imaging. The surface of a subject's teeth may be highly reflective and somewhat translucent, which may reduce the contrast in the structured light pattern reflecting off the teeth. Therefore, in order to improve the capture of an intraoral scan, when using a digital intraoral scanner that utilizes structured light three-dimensional imaging, a subject's teeth are frequently coated with an opaque powder prior to scanning in order to facilitate a usable level of contrast of the structured light pattern, e.g., in order to turn the surface into a scattering surface. While intraoral scanners utilizing structured light three-dimensional imaging have made some progress, additional advantages may be had.

Intraoral 3D scanner employing multiple miniature cameras and multiple miniature pattern projectors


A method and an apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a high voltage battery pack comprised of a least a first module comprised of a plurality of first battery cells, a second module comprised of a plurality of second battery cells, and a third module comprised of a plurality of third battery cells. A first passive battery management system monitors and balances the plurality of first battery cells, a second passive battery management system monitors and balances the plurality of second battery cells, and a third passive battery management system monitors and balances the plurality of third battery cells. A pack manager measures a voltage of each of the first, second, and third modules, compares measured voltages of the first, second, and third modules, and actively balances a lower charged module from the first, second, and third modules with energy from a higher charged module of the first, second, and third modules.

Electrified vehicles include a High Voltage Battery (HVB) and a Battery Management System (BMS). The HVB is made up from a plurality of battery cells. The BMS is used for diagnostic purposes and to maintain proper balancing between the cells. One type of cell balancing is referred to as passive balancing. This method uses transistors to switch a balancing resistor into or out of parallel with an individual cell. Overcharged cells are simply discharged and the energy is wasted as heat. Another type of cell balancing is referred to as active balancing. This method uses complex circuitry to charge an undercharged cell with an overcharged cell. Active balancing has increased cost and complexity compared to passive balancing.

Hybrid cell balancing for high voltage battery packs


The present invention is a vibratory pumping apparatus that increases the ease and effectiveness of use of the apparatus. More specifically, the apparatus includes an adapter engageable with a conventional motive member, such as an electric drill, in order to enable the apparatus convert the rotational motion of the motive member into oscillatory motion for the pump, such that the pump can be operated using any number of different motive members. In addition, the mechanism within the apparatus is formed of a pair of piston-like members that operate in conjunction with one another to increase the pressure at which the fluid pumped by the mechanism is dispensed from the apparatus.

With regard to the pumping of fluids, a wide range of fluid pumping devices have been developed in order to meet this need. However, with regard to certain situations, the prior art pumping mechanisms do not provide the range of pumping pressures desired with a minimum of expense desired with such devices.
Thus, a number of vibratory pump mechanisms have been developed, which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,315,533; 6,364,622; 6,428,289; and 6,604,920, and U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/863,713 and 11/063,677, each of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety, in order to provide a pumping mechanism which provides the wide range of fluid pumping flow rates with a low cost and adaptable mechanism. Nevertheless, it is desirable to further improve upon these vibratory pump mechanisms in order to increase their usefulness and efficiency over a wide range of potential uses, particularly with respect to their ability to be utilized with readily available motive mechanisms and to dispense fluids at high pressures

Vibratory pump with adapter and high pressure mechanism