A key ring assembly includes first and second half bodies which are coupled together, a pivot member pivotably received between the first and second half bodies and having a retainer movably received therein, a biasing member having a first pressing end abutting against the retaining arm and a second pressing end adjustably engaged with an arcuate rib formed on the first half body. With such an arrangement, the retainer extends through a channel in the pivot member and a trough in the arcuate rib and selectively extends into a sliding groove between the first and second half bodies, so that key fasteners are able to be confined in the sliding groove and freely leave the confinement of the key ring assembly only when desired.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a key ring assembly, and more particularly to a key ring assembly having a retainer slidably received therein to effectively stop key fasteners from disengagement with the key ring assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional key ring assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,734 and shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Such a constructed key ring assembly mainly comprises a first half body (90), a second half body (91) coupled with the first half body (90) and a pivot member (93) pivotally received between the first half body (90) and the second half body (91). The first half body (90) having a first flange portion (92) which is laterally formed along a periphery thereof and projects outwardly therefrom and comprises a first distal end (921) and a second distal end (922), a hook member (94) comprising a first end portion (941) located above the first distal end (921) of the first flange portion (92) and a second end portion (942) integrally formed with the second distal end (922) of the first flange portion (92), a first opening (923) defined between the first distal end (921) of the first flange portion (92) and the second end portion (942) of the hook member (94), a first recess (98) defined in a face of the first half body (90) and a spindle (981) extending out from a surface of the first recess (98). The second half body (91) is coupled to the first half body (90) and comprises a second flange portion (93) laterally formed along a periphery thereof and projecting therefrom facing towards the first flange portion (92) and comprising a first free end (931) in alignment with the first distal end (921) of the first flange portion (92) and a second free end (932), a sliding groove (97) (see FIG. 6) defined between the first and second flange portions (92, 93), a second opening (933) defined between the first and second free ends (931, 932) of the second flange portion (93) and communicating with the first opening (96), a second recess (95) defined in a face of the second half body (91) and aligning with the first recess (98) and a through hole (951) defined in a surface defining the second recess (95).
The substantially C-shaped pivot member (99) is pivotally mounted between the first and second half bodies (90, 91) and has a retaining arm (991) integrally formed on the pivot member (99) and abutting against the first distal end (921) of the first flange portion (92) and the first free end (931) of the second flange portion (93) and in alignment with the first end portion (941) of the hook member (94) so as to form a loop, the retaining arm (991) being able to pivot with the pivot member (99) to slide between the first and second openings (923, 933). A biasing member (96) is mounted between the first and second half bodies (90,91) and comprises a first pressing end (961) abutting against the retaining arm (991) and a second pressing end (962) abutting against the second end portion (942) of the hook member (94).
Preferably, the first recess (98) and the second recess (95) respectively defined in the first and second half bodies (90,91) are respectively flush with the pivot member (99) for retaining the pivot member (99) in place. In addition, the pivot member (99) has a compartment (992) transversely defined therethrough for receiving the biasing member (96) therein. A cutout (993) is further defined in the pivot member (99) beside the retaining arm (991) and communicating with the compartment (992) for receiving the first and second pressing ends (961, 962) of the biasing member (96) therein. The spindle (981) of the first half body (90) is formed on a mediate portion thereof and extends through the compartment (992) and the through hole (951) so as to couple the first and second half bodies (90,91) together by means of such as rivet fitting arrangement.
However, by such an arrangement, there are still some shortcomings in the conventional key ring assembly of the type described above.
As known, the key ring assembly shown in FIG. 5 retains a key fastener (50) slidably received in the sliding groove (97) between the first half body (90) and the second half body (91) mainly by the abutting force of the biasing member (96) to the retaining arm (991). When the key fastener (50) is heavily loaded, the abutting force of the biasing member (96) will not be able to overcome the weight of the key fastener (50), so that keys (not numbered) suspended on the key fastener (50) are easily lost from this type of key ring assembly because of the load of the keys pushing away the retaining arm (991).
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the above-mentioned disadvantages of the conventional key ring assembly.


This invention relates to purified natural glass products having low concentrations of soluble substances. More particularly, this invention relates to purified natural glass products having low slurry electrical conductivities (i.e., less than about 18 .mu.S-cm.sup.-1). Preferred embodiments are further characterized by low concentrations of soluble iron (i.e., less than about 2 mg Fe/kg product) and/or low concentrations of soluble aluminum (i.e., less than about 10 mg Al/kg product). These products may be prepared from natural glasses and natural glass products, including, for example, expanded perlite, pumice, expanded pumice, and volcanic ash. The products of the present invention retain the intricate and porous characteristics of the feed material but possess low concentrations of soluble substances, thereby permitting much greater utility, particularly in filtration applications.

This invention relates to purified natural glass products having low concentrations of soluble substances. More particularly, this invention relates to purified natural glass products having low slurry electrical conductivities (i.e., less than about 18 .mu.S-cm.sup.-1). Preferred embodiments are further characterized by low concentrations of soluble iron (i.e., less than about 2 mg Fe/kg product) and/or low concentrations of soluble aluminum (i.e., less than about 10 mg Al/kg product). These products may be prepared from natural glasses and natural glass products, including, for example, expanded perlite, pumice, expanded pumice, and volcanic ash. The products of the present invention retain the intricate and porous characteristics of the feed material but possess low concentrations of soluble substances, thereby permitting much greater utility, particularly in filtration applications.


The invention combines fluorescent QDs and methods to dispense and detect them efficiently in a compact volume for a range of optical tagging applications. Micro-fluidic devices are used for mixing water-soluble fluorescent QDs in aqueous solutions to create a multi color fluorescent nano-optical tag, and gratings are used for spreading the spectral components of the fluorescent signal leading to an improvement in optical data storage capacity over prior art methods. The spectral signature of the tag is detected by a compact read-out head with a grating spectrometer. One way is to dispense the tag within the pits of a DVD or CD using an ink-jet nozzle and exciting them by a large range of wavelengths each shorter that the emission peak. The filters have a high immunity to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, and up to 41 infrared filters can be holographically recorded by spatial multiplexing of the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of image sensing devices and applications. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technology that combines fluorescent nano-particles (quantum dots) and methods to dispense and detect them for a range of optical tagging applications.
Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever.
2. Background Art
An increase in the awareness for security and fraud protection systems at many levels has created an influx in tagging applications in such fields as security/identification, counterfeit, ultra-high density data storage, manufacturing assembly, military, and civil remote sensing. Prior art tagging technologies are based on either bar-coding or radio frequency (RF). Technologies based on both bar-coding and RF have difficulties. Bar-code tags have to be manually scanned one at a time, and RF tags are at times difficult to introduce due to such handicaps as high volume/low cost, high tagging throughput of small parts, large number of combinations, and use with optical discs such as CDs and DVDs causing interference with the laser. This difficulty can be better understood with a review of prior art radio frequency identification (RDIF).
RDIF
RDIF is a means of identifying a person or an object using a radio frequency transmission, typically at 125 kHz, 13.56 MHz, or 800-900 MHz. RDIF has extensively been used in applications such as toll collection, access control, ticketing, and car immobilization devices. In recent years the technology has received an increased attention due to heightened security concerns and supply chain automation. Even though the primary benefit of RDIF tags over barcodes is their ease of use and reliability, RDIF tags cannot be placed on nano size objects or when a very high information density is required. PharmaSeq, Inc. and TAGSYS are two of the leading companies that use RDIF technology, but they both utilize circuits (about 0.25 mm) with radio frequency for applications mainly in the textile retail industry.
There is a need for an inexpensive alternative to barcode tags and for a nano sized alternative to RDIF tags. This alternative is a micro-fluidic device that controls small quantities of fluids by creating the equivalent of a vast network of large pumping circuitry with valves, combiners, splitters, and pumps onto an integrated chip. The components of the chip can be constructed from a multitude of different polymeric platforms that enable hydrodynamic control of fluid movement. FIG. 1 illustrates one such chip that incorporates micro-valves, pumps, and splitters that partitions a sample of fluid into three equal components for further analysis. The Figure has 4 separate blocks marked 1 through 4, which will be explained further below. The liquid sample is introduced with a syringe pump and fills the measuring channel until it reaches stopping valve A (block 1). The excess fluid is diverted through valve B (block 2). The fluid sample then proceeds through valve A and begins filling the dividing channels (block 3). Finally, block 4 shows three precisely measured, equal samples ready for further analysis.
FIG. 2 illustrates another prior art chip with an integrated mixer for three liquids. The flow of each channel is individually set to control the mixing ratio and perform simultaneous organic reactions in controlled ratios. In the Figure nitrophenylcarbonate is introduced in the chip at A. Three amines coming from the top of the chip at B, C, and D meet the nitrophenylcarbonate at microfluidic mixing junctions E, F, and G respectively. The mixtures are collected at exit ports (not shown) and confirmed using MS analysis. The Figure also shows, to the right, the chemical reaction between the nitrophenylcarbonate and the three amines. Certain fundamental properties of fluorescent liquid on a nano scale will better help in fully appreciating the present invention.
Fluorescent Liquid
Nanoliters volume of a liquid behaves very differently from liters volume of the same liquid. The effect of the guiding channels' walls become important at the nano scale because the walls tend to drag the liquid so that the center flows more rapidly than the edge. This characteristic could create a problem when different liquids are mixed to produce a homogeneous solution, especially organic liquids that tend to be sticky. However, chips made by several companies in the field overcomes this problem successfully.
For example, a homogenous solution created by mixing 39 different fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) each with 6 gray levels in a sub-micrometer spot size yields 1030 combinations (˜1000 bits/μm2). These QDs typically hold a few thousand atoms and are a few nanometers in diameter that selectively hold and release atoms. Since these QDs are composed of simple inorganic compounds making them chemically inert, and those with outer shells are stable to photochemical damage. Also, since the emission wavelength of a QD depends on its size, it is possible to tune the emission wavelength by controlling its size. The spectral linewidth may be as little as 12 nm at Full-Width Half-Maximum (FWHM) for a single nanocrystal. FIG. 3 illustrates an electron microscope image of a QD on the top. As seen in FIG. 3, the QD is about 10-15 nm across and consist of an inner core section 300 enclosed in a shell 310 which is covered in a polymer coating 320. The outermost layer is a streptavidin layer 330. The bottom of FIG. 3 illustrates a graph showing the typical absorbance and emission spectra of a typical QD with center wavelength 605 nm.

Method and a system to dispense and detect fluorescent quantum dots


A planar antenna and a handheld device are provided. The handheld device includes the planar antenna and a system ground plane. The planar antenna has a first feed point, a first ground point, a second feed point, and a second ground point. The first ground point and the second ground point are located between the first feed point and the second feed point. The system ground plane is electrically connected to the first feed point, the first ground point, the second feed point, and the second ground point. Thereby, the performance in radio signal transceiving is improved.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject application generally relates to a planar antenna, and more particularly, to a planar antenna of a handheld device.
2. Description of Related Art
Multi-input multi-output (MIMO) is a term used for describing the transmission of radio signals between multiple antennas. In short, MIMO refers to the use of multiple antennas respectively at a transmitter and a receiver, wherein signals are transmitted and received by the antennas at the transmitter and the receiver so that the service quality provided to each user is improved. Compared to a conventional signal-antenna system, the MIMO technology offers an increased frequency available ratio such that the system can transmit data more efficiently with limited wireless bandwidth.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a conventional MIMO handheld device. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the signal quality (VSWR) of a planar antenna in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a handheld device 100 adopts two planar antennas 110 and 120. The planar antenna 110 has a feed point F110 and a ground point G110. The planar antenna 120 has a feed point F120 and a ground point G120. Because the planar antennas 110 and 120 have similar operating frequencies, signals transmitted and received by the planar antennas 110 and 120 may interfere with each other. The interference cannot be effectively eliminated (as shown in FIG. 2) even when the planar antennas 110 and 120 are respectively disposed at two different sides of the handheld device 100. In FIG. 2, the curve 131 indicates the transceiving quality of the planar antenna 110, the curve 132 indicates the transceiving quality of the planar antenna 120, and the curve 133 indicates the situation of signal interference.
Generally speaking, a planar antenna requires a clearance area. If two planar antennas are respectively disposed at two different sides of a handheld device, a greater total clearance area is required by the two planar antennas and which is disadvantageous to the circuit layout of the handheld device. Besides, there may not be enough space for respectively disposing two planar antennas at two different sides of a handheld device. The closer the two planar antennas are, the more serious the problem of signal interference is. Moreover, the problem of signal interference is aggravated if three or more antennas are disposed in a handheld device.


A wheel loader includes a bucket boom including a pair of left and right side members; a front frame to which the base ends of the pair of side members are coupled; and a boom cylinder of which a base end is coupled to the front frame and a distal end is coupled to the side members. A base-end interval between the pair of side members is smaller than a distal-end interval between the side members. A face section that inclines towards a middle as extending in an upwards direction is provided on the left and right extremities of the front frame. A mounting boss to which the base end of the boom cylinder is attached is provided on a lower side of the face section while a mounting boss to which the base ends of the side members are attached is provided on an upper side of the face section.

To date, in order to improve visibility from the driver's seat in a wheel loader, improvements in the shape of a bucket boom (also called a lift arm or lift link) included in a working equipment have been proposed (see patent documents 1 and 2). Specifically, a bucket attached to the front of such a working equipment, especially its left and right ends, is designed to be easily visible from the driver's seat, so that the position of the bucket with respect to the dump vessel can be quickly determined when loading soil into a dump, whereby operation(s) can be favorably carried out.
Specifically, according to the patent document 1, a bucket boom including a pair of left and right members is designed such that base ends of the members are coupled to a front frame while their distal ends are coupled to the bucket. By designing an interval between the members at their base ends to be smaller than an interval at their distal ends, a link mechanism is arranged not to widely spread out to the left and right at a side adjacent the front frame, thereby improving visibility.
On the other hand, according to the patent document 2, while the base ends and distal ends of the left and right members are respectively coupled to the front frame and the bucket, the interval between the distal ends of the members and the interval between their base ends are designed to be substantially equal. However, the interval between the members is narrowed in substantially the middle of each of the members in the front-rear direction, whereby visibility is improved. In other words, while a traditional arrangement is designed such that crossmembers connecting the members at their middles are positioned at the exact height of the dump vessel when the bucket boom is raised (lifted up) and thus blocks the bucket located to the front, the arrangement according to the patent document 2 is designed such that, by reducing the interval between the members at their middles, the left and right ends of the bucket can be reliably seen from the driver's seat even when the bucket is raised.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3730291
Patent Document 2: JP-A-2003-184122


Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for presenting Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) in an online game. In one method, a player becomes a “regular” visitor of a friend when the player visits the friend a predetermined amount of times within a certain period (e.g., three times within the last seven days). When a player becomes a regular visitor, the player may obtain items (e.g., pepper) that are not obtainable in any other way. As long as a player is a regular visitor, the player may continue visiting the friend to continue obtaining the special items. However, if the player falls below the threshold of visits required within the period, the status of regular visitor is lost by the player, and the player may regain the regular status by meeting the requirement again.

1. Field of the Invention
The present embodiments relate to methods for executing games in a distributed environment, and more particularly, methods, systems, and computer programs for performing viral interactions cooking operations in a cooking game.
2. Description of the Related Art
Online games that allow players to interact with other players have become popular. Some online games, such as chess or bridge, have a small number of players that play together at the same time. Other online games, such as Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games, can have a large number of players playing simultaneously. Online game operators, also referred to as social game operators, harness the power of online social networks, to design games that closely integrate the players' social graph data with their existing friendship connections.
Game operators are continuously looking for new ways to improve social interactions to the game and for new game interfaces that provide a realistic experience to players. Players wish to improve their game experience by submerging themselves in the fiction of the game, and the better the experience is, the longer that players will stay in the game and the higher the probability that players invite their friends to play. Improving the way players interact with each other in the game is one way to improve the gaming experience, which differentiates the social game from the one-person game.
It is in this context that embodiments arise.

Regular visitor to friend board in viral game


A machine for additive manufacturing positions a film having additive material relative to a substrate. The additive material is melted onto the substrate or previously formed layers of a workpiece using a laser. The substrate/workpiece and/or the film can be positioned in multiple axes so that complex shapes can be formed without extraneous supporting structures. The film-based delivery of the additive material allows deposition in orientations other than horizontal as is required for powder-only additive manufacturing and also avoids the inconvenience of collecting and recycling unused loose powdered metal.

Technical Field
The present disclosure generally relates to computed numerically controlled machine tools, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus using a captive additive material.
Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, materials are processed into desired shapes and assemblies through a combination of rough fabrication techniques (e.g., casting, rolling, forging, extrusion, and stamping) and finish fabrication techniques (e.g., machining, welding, soldering, polishing). To produce a complex assembly in final, usable form ("net shape"), a condition which requires not only the proper materials formed in the proper shapes, but also having the proper combination of metallurgical properties (e.g., various heat treatments, work hardening, complex microstructure), typically requires considerable investment in time, tools, and effort.
One or more of the rough and finish processes may be performed using Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine tools. Such machine tools include lathes, milling machines, grinding machines, and other tool types. More recently, machining centers have been developed, which provide a single machine having multiple tool types and capable of performing multiple different machining processes. Machining centers may generally include one or more tool retainers, such as spindle retainers and turret retainers holding one or more tools, and a workpiece retainer, such as a pair of chucks. The workpiece retainer may be stationary or move (in translation and/or rotation) while a tool is brought into contact with the workpiece, thereby performing a subtractive manufacturing process during which material is removed from the workpiece.
Because of cost, expense, complexity, and other factors, more recently there has been interest in alternative techniques which would allow part or all of the conventional materials fabrication procedures to be replaced by additive manufacturing techniques. In contrast to subtractive manufacturing processes, which focus on precise removal of material from a workpiece, additive manufacturing processes precisely add material, typically in a computer-controlled environment. Additive manufacturing techniques may expand manufacturing capabilities such as by permitting seamless construction of complex configurations which, using conventional manufacturing techniques, would have to be assembled from a plurality of component parts. For the purposes of this specification and the appended claims, the term 'plurality' consistently is taken to mean "two or more." The opportunity for additive techniques to replace subtractive processes depends on several factors, such as the range of materials available for use in the additive processes, the size and surface finish that can be achieved using additive techniques, and the rate at which material can be added. Additive processes may advantageously be capable of fabricating complex precision net-shape components ready for use. In some cases, however, the additive process may generate "near-net shape" products that require some degree of finishing.
However, there are some shortcomings in some of the additive techniques, particularly those associated with powder-based processes. In some cases, as little as 5% of the powder deposited on the part being manufactured may actually be processed leaving 95% of the powder to be recovered and recycled. Many operators do not wish to handle their own recycling on site, requiring the cost and inconvenience of outside services. Because the powder is so fluid prior to application often support structures must be included in the design of even small overhangs or similar design features. These support structures must then be removed by post-processing using a mill or other tool. Also, because of the fluid nature of the powder it must be deposited on virtually horizontal surfaces in order to keep gravity from affecting the uniform thickness of the powder. The need to re-coat a work surface with new powder after each additive layer is added slows the process and exacerbates the amount of powder lost during the manufacturing of a part. Lastly, the deposition of powders and the inevitable powder 'dust' left after a project makes it difficult to quickly switch between alloys of different powders because of the cleaning required to prevent contamination of the new powder by remnants of the previous powder.

Machine tool system and method for additive manufacturing


An electron-beam deposition system includes an evaporation source having a source target with a target location at which a deposition material may be positioned, and a controllable electron-beam source disposed to direct an electron beam at the target location. A trailing-indicator monitor measures a past evaporation performance of the evaporation source and has a trailing-indicator output, and a leading-indicator monitor measures a future evaporation performance of the evaporation source and has a leading-indicator output. A controller receives the trailing-indicator output and the leading-indicator output, and controls the electron-beam source responsive to the trailing-indicator output and to the leading-indicator output. Preferably, the trailing-indicator monitor measures a deposition of the deposition material on a monitored substrate, and the leading-indicator monitor measures a brightness of the deposition material in the evaporation source.

Multilayer thin-film structures deposited upon a substrate are widely used in optical applications, such as in Fabry-Perot filters, and in microelectronic applications. The layers may be metals or inorganic nonmetals. In one approach to fabricating multilayer thin-film structures, several evaporation sources are placed into a vacuum chamber, with each evaporation source in a line of sight with a substrate. A plurality of thin layers of different compositions are deposited serially onto the substrate from the various evaporation sources.
Evaporatively unstable materials are particularly difficult to evaporate and deposit onto the substrate in a controlled manner. Such materials are unstable because, for example, they exhibit a rapid and/or nonlinear change in evaporation rate with power input, they sublime, or they have a small difference between the melting and boiling temperatures. Many important evaporatively unstable materials are inorganic nonmetals, such as glasses, ceramics, or semiconductors.
One common approach to depositing evaporatively unstable materials is to use thermal sources, wherein the evaporatively unstable material is placed into a crucible that is heated to a sufficiently high temperature to cause the evaporatively unstable material to evaporate and travel to the substrate. Such thermal sources are operable and highly useful in depositing thick films, but they are difficult to use in the transient conditions of thin-film deposition and with many evaporatively unstable materials.
An alternative is to use electron-beam evaporation. In an electron-beam deposition system, an evaporation source includes a deposition material and a controllable electron-beam source that directs an electron beam at the exposed surface of the deposition material. The electron beam heats the surface of the deposition material so that it progressively evaporates and is deposited upon the substrate. With time, the thickness of the deposit increases to a desired value. For thin-film deposition, electron-beam deposition has the advantage that the evaporation can be started and stopped rapidly through control of the beam power and location.
However, electron-beam deposition may be difficult to control, particularly for the deposition of evaporatively unstable materials such as some inorganic nonmetallic materials. The usual control approach is to continuously monitor the thickness of the film deposited upon a monitored substrate different from the substrate of the article of manufacture. The change in thickness is used to control the power input to the electron-beam source that determines the subsequent evaporation rate. Although successfully used for metallic materials, this approach has drawbacks for the deposition of evaporatively unstable materials. Such materials exhibit instabilities in the deposition process and the deposition rate, so that control based upon thickness measurements of the deposit on the monitored substrate may result in incorrect thicknesses on the article of manufacture.
There is a need for a better approach to the deposition of evaporatively unstable materials to produce thin-film structures. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.

Rapid-response electron-beam deposition system having a controller utilizing leading and trailing deposition indicators


A pilger die assembly in which the die has an annular body with an opening extending from a central, through bore to the peripheral surface. The opening subtends a circumferential angle at the through bore of less than 180.degree.. The cylindrical arbor has a section of reduced cross-sectional dimension, preferably formed by a flat. The die is positioned with the opening aligned with the flat, slid into coaxial registration with the arbor, rotated to a captured position in which the opening is no longer aligned with flat on the arbor and then pushed axially to engage a key on the arbor in a keyway extending axially from one side face of the die. A stop screw threaded into the arbor adjacent the other side face of the die locks it in place.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to apparatus for cold forming metals, and particularly to pilgering apparatus for reducing the cross-section of tubing such as zirconium alloy tubing used in making fuel rods for nuclear power plants.
2. Background Information
A pilger mill is a forming apparatus for axially elongating and reducing the diameter of a ductile tube. A pair of opposed rollers or dies having tapered grooves around a portion of their circumference bear on the tube which is supported on a mandrel. The dies reduce the external diameter while the mandrel prevents the tube from collapsing under the force of the roller dies and dictates the inner diameter of the tube. The dies are operated in a cyclic manner to incrementally cold work the tube. With each stroke, the tube is advanced along its longitudinal axis and rotated.
Pilger forming is used in the production of precision tubing such as zirconium alloy tubes used in cladding nuclear fuel. The machine operates at up to about 250 work and return stroke cycles per minute.
Conventionally, the dies are ring shaped and are heat shrunk onto a shaft or arbor which is journalled at both ends and geared for coordinated rotation. Typically, the annular die is provided with a keyway engaged by a key on the shaft or arbor for synchronization of the timing of the confronting die pair.
Changing of such a conventional pilger die requires removal of the die and arbor weighing several hundred pounds from the pilger machine using a crane. The spent die must then be heated to remove it from the shaft before a new die can be heat shrunk in its place. This is a time consuming practice averaging well above three hours.
An attempt was made to reduce the change out time for pilger dies by using a die with a horseshoe shaped opening which allowed it to be laterally slid on and off the arbor. The die was fixed in place on the arbor by axial clamping members. This procedure eliminated the need to heat shrink the die onto the arbor and to remove the arbor from the pilger machine saddle, resulting in a very substantial reduction in the time required. However, the reciprocation of the arbors and dies at 250 or more cycles per minute generated forces which made it difficult to maintain the die on the arbor.

Quick change pilger die and assembly of same with rollstand arbor


A physical/electrical media jack is configured for electrically coupling with a physical/electrical media plug. The jack includes a housing having an interior chamber communicating with the exterior through an opening. Positioned on opposing sides of the opening are a pair of blocking ridges each having an inside sloping edge. In one embodiment, dovetailed splines are positioned on the exterior surface of the housing for receipt in complementary keyways formed in the border frame of a PC Card or the casing of an electrical apparatus. The jack further includes a retractable access portion having an aperture formed therein for receiving a media plug. The second end of the retractable access portion is slidably received within the opening in the housing. Outwardly projecting from opposing sides of the retractable access portion at the second end are a pair of retention lips. The retention lips bias against the blocking ridges to prevent unwanted removal of the retractable access portion from the housing. The retention lips and blocking ridges, however, are configured to enable removal of the retractable access portion through the opening without mechanical failure of the jack when sufficient outward force is applied to the retractable access portion.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electrical receptacles, and more specifically, breakaway physical/electrical media jacks for coupling with physical/electrical media plugs.
2. Present State of the Art
Physical/electrical media couplers, such as RJ-type couplers, provide an easy and quick method for coupling a data or telephone line to hardware such as a telephone, modem, or computer. Due to the simplicity of the connection and the corresponding standardized structure, RJ-type couplers are used extensively in the telecommunication and computer industries. RJ-type couplers include a plug or contact block and a receptacle or socket commonly called a jack. The plug is attached to the end of an electrical cable or wire. During use, the RJ plug is selectively received within the jack to facilitate physical and electrical connection.
An RJ plug comprises a small block which houses a plurality of distinct metal contacts. A plurality of thin slots extend from the end of the block to each of the contacts. Mounted on the outside of the block is retention arm.
In complement, the RJ jack comprises a socket having a plurality of flexible contact wires which are oriented to be received within corresponding slots of the RJ plug when the RJ plug is slid into the socket. The wires within the socket press against corresponding contacts on the RJ plug to complete electrical connection between the RJ plug and the RJ jack. The interior surface of the socket also defines a catch that receives the retention arm on the RJ plug so as to mechanically secure the RJ plug within the socket. To remove the RJ plug, the retention arm is manually flexed to release the catch, thereby enabling manual removal of the RJ plug from the socket.
RJ type jacks are commonly positioned on PC Cards. PC Cards are small, thin cardlike structures that house a circuit board. During use, the PC Card is selectively inserted into a small aperture constructed in a personal computer or other electronic equipment. The circuit board of the PC Card can be constructed to perform a variety of different functions. Most commonly, PC Cards are used for either storing memory or for facilitating communication links over standard or wireless systems.
A conventional PC Card comprises a circuit board having an input/output (I/O) connector attached at one end for coupling with the hardware. Mounted around the remaining perimeter of the circuit board is a plastic frame. A metal plate is mounted to the plastic frame on each side of the circuit board so as to enclose and protect the circuit board. The RJ jack attached to the PC Card typically comprises a thin plate having a socket formed therein. The plate is slid into the PC Card through an opening formed in the plastic frame. The plate can be either retracted into the PC Card, when not in use, or advanced to expose the socket. The RJ jack is electrically coupled to the circuit board by flexible wires.
Although RJ couplers are used extensively, they have several shortcomings. For example, it is a relatively common occurrence that the plug wire is accidentally pulled or tripped over. If sufficient force is applied, the assembly can fail. This is typically the result of structural failure of the plug or failure of the structure surrounding the socket. In the case of the PC Card, the plate is usually pulled out of the card, severing the flexible wire connection between the RJ jack and the circuit board. Pulling the plate out of the PC Card can also structurally damage the plate and/or the PC Card since the two structures are not designed to be separated. The above failures, particularly to the PC Card, are not typically user repairable. Accordingly, new components must be purchased and/or the parts returned to the factory for repair.
An additional problem with conventional RJ jacks is that they are limited to coupling with a single type of plug. RJ plugs come in different sizes and numbers of contact wires to facilitate different purposes. To use different plug configurations, the hardware must either be formed with a variety of different sockets or a variety of different PC Card must be purchased having different jacks.
There are additional problems directly related to sliding jacks used in PC Cards. For example, where the RJ jack passes through the frame of the PC Card, an inherent weakness in the card is produced. This is because the edges of the frame on opposing sides of the RJ jack are not connected. Furthermore, the top and bottom covers positioned on opposing sides of the jack are also freely exposed. Numerous problems have also been encountered as a result of having to use a flexible wire which attaches between the circuit board of the PC Card and the jack. For example, flexible wire requires manual positioning and attachment and must be properly positioned to prevent wear or obstruction with the sliding plate. In addition, since the sliding plate is continually in electrical contact with the circuit board through the flexible wire, the card must be uniquely designed so as to prevent the plate from shorting on the PC Card when the plate is retracted therein.

Breakaway physical/electrical media jack


An anti-crash safety device includes a supporting frame for securely mounting to a vehicle body and an impact rebounding unit which includes at least a resilient reinforcing member supported by the supporting frame at a position spaced apart from the vehicle body for shielding at least a portion of the vehicle body and at least a shock absorbing element rearwardly extended from the resilient reinforcing member. The resilient reinforcing member is adapted to retain a restoring force for bounding an impact force away from the vehicle body when the impact force is applied on the resilient reinforcing member. The shock absorbing element is adapted for applying an urging force to absorb the impact force from the resilient reinforcing member so as to minimize the impact force transmitting from the resilient reinforcing member to the vehicle body and to protect the vehicle body from being crashed by the impact force.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to safety device for vehicles and, more particularly to an anti-crash safety device which is a combination of a conventional bumper and a shock absorber for simultaneously absorbing the impact force and bouncing the impact force back so as to protect the vehicle as well as guarantee the maximum safety of the vehicle occupants.
2. Description of Related Arts
The most popular anti-crash devices for a vehicle are bumpers. As its name implies, a bumper is a part of car designed to withstand the impact from collisions. Most bumpers were shields made of rubber, but increasingly bumpers are made of metal, that are mounted on the front and rear of a passenger car. When a low speed collision occurs, the bumper system absorbs the shock to prevent or reduce damage to the car. Some bumpers use energy absorbs or brackets and others are made with a foam cushioning materials.
Commonly, the typical vehicle bumpers comprise a primarily plastic and/or steel construction designed for elastic deformation up to an impact. These bumpers are typically designed to prevent or reduce physical damage to the front and rear ends of passenger motor vehicles in low-speed collisions, not designed to be structural components that would significantly contribute to vehicle crashworthiness or occupant protection during front or rear collisions. In other words, the bumper is not a safety feature intended to prevent or mitigate injury severity to occupants in the passenger cars. This is to say that a bumper is not suitable for overcoming a high energy impact, for example, a severe collision of a high-speed running car. They are merely designed for preventing slight collision or vehicle body scratches of parking impact, such as protecting the hood, trunk, grille, fuel, exhaust and cooling system as well as safety related equipment such as parking lights, headlamps and taillights in low speed collisions.
Nowadays, people of our society are highly aware of security issues. As a result, the trucks and SUVs having a tough outlook shape began to dominate the roads in last decade. Out of question, these kinds of tough vehicles have higher chassis as well as enlarged bumper. Furthermore, the advent of SUVs has led to the installation of large metal grills as part of a vehicle's bumper, increasing the damage caused on other vehicles/cyclists/pedestrians in a collision. It is largely because of such enlarged bumpers that SUVs are twice as likely to kill pedestrians they hit as are cars at equal speeds. So, the conventional bumper is out of time since the performance in safety perspective is not qualified anymore. For example, if a sedan with conventional bumper collides with a SUV equipped with a metal bumper, the sedan's bumper are not able to protect the vehicle from being crashed since the SUVs' bumper is in a higher elevation and intensified performance.
What is more, since the bumper are made of rigid materials, such as steel and utility plastics, the principle function of the bumper is functioned as a buffer zone for preventing the vehicle from direct contact with other objects. This is to say the conventional bumper could not absorb the shock caused by a severe collision. Inclusively, the SUVs installed metal grilled bumper could not absorb the impact shock either. However, the serious shock could result to long term personal injury, even to an extent, death. As a result, it is highly desirable to develop a kind of bumper, which is shock absorbable and ultimate safe.


An exercise machine has a frame, a seat and a pair of exercise arm assemblies. Each of the exercise arm assemblies is pivotally attached to the frame. Handles at the outer extremities of the arm assemblies are gripped by the user to perform the intended exercise. The geometry of the arms and their pivot points is arranged so that the handles of the assemblies follow arcuate paths which converge as the handles are moved forwardly. At a starting position for a press exercise, the handles are approximately in line with the shoulders of the user. As the handles are pushed forwardly against an exercise resistance, they converge inwardly until they are nearly touching when the user's arms are fully outstretched. The machine may also be used to perform a seated-row exercise, in which case the handles are pulled rearwardly against the exercise resistance.

1. Related Applications
2. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of resistance type exercise machines, and particularly to a machine for exercising the muscle groups of the upper torso and arms.
3. Background
A wide variety of exercise machines have been designed to develop particular muscle groups of the body. Most such machines have one or more operable members to be gripped by a user while performing exercises. The operable member is typically supported by the exercise machine so that it is constrained to follow a predetermined exercise path. The user is therefore constrained to move his or her body in accordance with the mechanical structure of the machine.
Machines of this sort provide a degree of exercise control that is in marked contrast to the use of free weights that are still favored by many athletes. Exercise movements with free weights are not restricted to follow predefined paths. On the other hand, exercise machines typically employ a pivoting exercise member with a grip that moves in an arcuate path centered at the pivot axis of the exercise member. Although this controlled movement of the exercise member is generally desirable in order to isolate the exercise to particular muscles or muscle groups, the mechanical design of prior art exercise machines does not necessarily provide an optimum path of movement.
One of the most common exercises performed with an exercise machine is a chest press exercise. The athlete is typically seated, often in a slightly reclining position. A press arm pivots on a horizontal axis and is gripped at approximately shoulder level. The press arm is coupled to a resistance mechanism, most commonly a stack of weights in which the number of weights, and thereby the resistance, can be manually selected. A pair of horizontal handgrips are provided, and quite often a pair of vertical handgrips are provided as well. The exercise is performed by pressing forward on the handgrips against the selected resistance until the athlete's arms are outstretched. When performed in this manner, the exercise emphasizes the pectorals and triceps. Changing the position of the handgrips will slightly alter the muscular emphasis of the exercise.
Variations on the traditional chest press exercise machine have been developed in order to shift the muscular emphasis of the exercise and/or improve the physiological interface. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,631 issued to Jones discloses a decline press exercise machine in which a pair of independently pivoting press arms are suspended on axes that converge in a horizontal plane. The press arms therefore move in arcuate paths that lie in vertical planes which converge inwardly with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the machine. Such an arrangement is claimed to more naturally accommodate musculoskeletal movements of the arms and shoulders.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,951 issued to Deola discloses an exercise device having a suspended U-shaped member resembling a conventional press arm, but with two bar members connected to the lower ends of the U-shaped member by universal joints. The freedom of movement afforded by the universal joints allows the device to be used for performing either a conventional chest press exercise or a dumbbell fly exercise.
A vertical pectoral contractor and rear deltoid machine manufactured by Body Masters Sports Industry, Inc. as model CH 504 provides a pair of exercise arms that pivot about vertical axes located approximately in line with the user's shoulder joints. To exercise the pectoral muscles, the user grasps handgrips suspended from the overhead exercise arms and rotates them forwardly and inwardly through symmetric circular arcs that are concave with respect to the user's torso.
A pectoral isolator manufactured by Galaxy Sport as model 142 also provides a pair of pivotal exercise arms. However, in this machine, the pivot axes are well forward and outboard of the seating position. The user begins the exercise with the handgrips out to each side and rotates the exercise arms forwardly and inwardly in circular arcs that are convex to the user's torso.


A technique facilitates controlling flow in a wellbore. One or more flow control valve assemblies may be designed for coupling with downhole well equipment. Each flow control valve assembly comprises a flow control valve which cooperates with a control module. The control module comprises a plurality of electrically controlled valves arranged to control flow of actuating fluid to the flow control valve. Each flow control valve assembly also comprises a hydraulic override system to enable hydraulic actuation of the flow control valve to a predetermined position when, for example, no electrical power is available for the electrically controlled valves of the control module.

Hydrocarbon fluids, e.g. oil and natural gas, are obtained from a subterranean geologic formation, referred to as a reservoir, by drilling a well that penetrates the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Once a wellbore is drilled, various forms of well completion components may be installed to control and enhance the efficiency of producing fluids from the reservoir. One piece of equipment which may be installed is a flow control valve. Typically, flow control valves allow a variety of positions between full open and full close. To achieve this, a control module may be used to incrementally displace an annular choke which is adjusted to control the production or injection of reservoir fluids.

System and method for controlling flow in a wellbore


Four techniques which result in the visual improvement of transitions between video streams with a same packet identifier (PID). All four techniques are applicable in the situation where the stream transition is between two streams that utilize the same PID. Retaining the same PID reduces the delay between the time the user selects an action via the remote control to the time when the new stream is displayed on the TV.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronics and communications. More particularly, the present invention relates to digital video systems.
2. Description of Related Art
In video on-demand (VOD) systems, digital compressed video and audio bitstreams are stored on a server and streamed out to a user's set top box or subscriber station. Over the course of the VOD session, many different streams are transmitted to a set top box to allow forward and rewind and other such features.
Typically, video must be streamed continuously to the set top box in order for it to operate properly, and video servers are designed to meet this requirement. However, servers are generally not able to switch between different streams at any precise point in the streams.
The resulting transitions seen by the user usually contain visual artifacts such as macroblocking, rolling, tearing, and shaking. Modifying the server to improve transitions is not an attractive option since it would add significant complexity and cost to the most expensive part of the VOD system.
One common method for handling stream transitions is to perform an operation analogous to a digital channel change by changing the packet identifier (PID) value that the set top box uses to identify the video that it should receive. While this technique may reduce or remove some of the visual artifacts, it does not eliminate all of them. Also, this method increases the delay incurred for the transition because the method requires that after the set top box is notified of the PID change, the set top box must flush its video buffer and wait while the video buffer is refilled. Also, the display to the user during the such a reset of the decoder buffer varies between set top vendors and models. Some set top boxes will freeze the last frame of the old stream while another may go to an entirely "black" frame.
Transition smoothing techniques generally are a tradeoff of latency (or delay), complexity, and visual quality. In addition, there are difficulties in achieving transition smoothing (or visual improvement of stream transitions) which is independent of set top box model.

Visual improvement of video stream transitions

Abstract: The first technique includes two methods: a method for pre-conditioning video stream data for storage; and a method for transitioning between video streams which utilizes the pre-conditioning. The second technique involves a method for transitioning between video streams where timing information in the new stream is modified so as to be consistent with timing information in the old stream. The third technique involves a method for transitioning between video streams where packets in the old stream are replaced by picture repeat packets. The fourth technique involves a method for transitioning between video streams where packets in the old stream are replaced by null packets.

Abstract: The various techniques discussed above may be combined to further improve the smoothness and quickness of the video stream transitions. For example, the first technique may be combined with either the third or fourth technique. Similarly, the second technique may be combined with either the third or fourth technique.


An image sending/receiving device of the present invention includes: an image receiving section for receiving image data from an external image reproducing device connected to the image sending/receiving device; an image sending section for sending the image data to an external image display device connected to the image sending/receiving device; a first storage section for storing a set of resolutions to be read out by the image reproducing device; a second storage section in which a set of resolutions are pre-stored; a read-out section for reading out a set of resolutions pre-stored in the image display device from the image display device; and a resolution registration section for registering, in the first storage section, all of the resolutions read out by the read-out section or a subset of resolutions among those read out by the read-out section with which the image sending section is able to send data to the image display device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image sending/receiving device for registering a set of resolutions with which an image reproducing device can output reproduced image, based on a set of resolutions read out from an image display device and another set of resolutions pre-stored in the image sending/receiving device.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 6A shows a conventional system in which a DVD player, an AV amplifier and a display device, all conforming to the HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) standard, are connected together via HDMI cables. The image data reproduced by the DVD player is output to the display device via the AV amplifier.
The display device can use different display resolutions, and EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) specifying a set of resolutions (e.g., "XGA", etc.) compatible with the display device is stored in a PROM (not shown) provided in the display device (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-15425).
The AV amplifier also includes ROM therein storing a set of resolutions (which are all in conformity with the HDMI standard). The AV amplifier reads out the EDID from the display device to which it is connected, and identifies resolutions compatible with the display device from the EDID. The AV amplifier produces and registers new EDID in a PROM (not shown), wherein the new EDID specifies a subset of resolutions among those pre-stored in the ROM of the AV amplifier that are also included in the set of resolutions read out from the display device.
The DVD player reads out the EDID from the PROM of the AV amplifier to determine a set of resolutions that are available both to the AV amplifier and to the display device. The resolution of images to be output from the DVD player to the AV amplifier is specified by a user's operation based on the set of available resolutions. Specifically, the DVD player displays a resolution setting screen with a plurality of resolutions, and the user selects one of the resolutions. The resolutions displayed on the resolution setting screen are a set of resolutions that are included both in the resolutions pre-stored in the DVD player and in the resolutions read out from the PROM of the AV amplifier. Thus, it is possible to display on the resolution setting screen a set of resolutions that are available both to the AV amplifier and to the display device.
FIG. 6B shows a similar conventional system in which an AV amplifier is connected to a display device conforming to the DVI (Digital Visual Interface) standard (which is compatible with the HDMI standard) via a DVI cable. The AV amplifier reads out EDID from the display device, and the AV amplifier produces and registers new EDID in the PROM, the new EDID specifying a subset of resolutions among those pre-stored in the ROM of the AV amplifier that are also included in the set of resolutions specified by the EDID of the display device. The DVD player reads out the EDID from the PROM of the AV amplifier, and displays the set of resolutions included in the set of resolutions specified by the EDID on the resolution setting screen.
As described above, stored in the PROM of the AV amplifier is a set of resolutions that are stored both in the ROM of the AV amplifier and in the PROM of the display device. Therefore, a resolution that is compatible with the display device but is not stored in the ROM of the AV amplifier is not displayed on the resolution setting screen of the DVD player, and the DVD player cannot output image data in that resolution. This problem is common in cases where a display device of the DVI standard is connected to an AV amplifier of the HDMI standard. A display device of the DVI standard has a greater variety of resolutions than that of the HDMI standard.
For example, assume that the ROM of the AV amplifier stores resolutions a, b, c and d, and the PROM of the display device stores resolutions a, b, c, d, e and f. Then, only the common resolutions a, b, c and d are registered in the PROM of the AV amplifier, and the resolutions e and f are not registered. As a result, only the resolutions a, b, c and d are displayed on the resolution setting screen of the DVD player, and the resolutions e and f are not displayed therein. Therefore, it is not possible to select e or f as the resolution in which the DVD player outputs image data. Thus, even though the display device is capable of displaying images in the resolutions e and f, the DVD player cannot output image data in the resolutions e and f.
In the HDMI standard, an HDMI-sync display device is required to have all the available resolutions accurately pre-stored in the PROM in the display device. Therefore, when the DVD player displays the resolution setting screen based on the EDID read out by the AV amplifier from the display device, a set of resolutions compatible with the display device are accurately displayed on the resolution setting screen, and the user can select one of the resolutions compatible with the display device.
In the DVI standard, however, a display device is not required to have all the available resolutions accurately stored in the PROM. Therefore, a display device conforming to the DVI standard may have only some or none of the available resolutions stored in the PROM, due to PROM capacity limitations. Specifically, there may be one or more resolutions that are compatible with the display device but are not stored in the PROM. When such a display device is connected to an AV amplifier, the DVD player will display the resolution setting screen based on the EDID of the display device. Then, the resolutions compatible with the display device will not accurately be displayed on the resolution setting screen. As a result, there will be some resolutions that are compatible with the display device but cannot be selected as resolutions in which the DVD player outputs image data, whereby the DVD player cannot output image data in such resolutions.


The present invention relates to the compound of dialkyl(2-alkoxy-6-aminophenyl)phosphine and the preparation method thereof and the application in the palladium catalyzed coupling reactions of aryl chloride and ketone. The dialkyl(2-alkoxy-6-aminophenyl)phosphine of the present invention could coordinate with the palladium catalyst to highly selectively activate the inert carbon-chlorine bond, and to catalyze direct arylation reaction in the α-position of ketones to produce corresponding coupling compounds. The preparation method of the present invention is a simple one-step method which produces the air-stable dialkyl(2-alkoxy-6-aminophenyl)phosphine. Compared with the synthetic routes of ligands to be used in the activation of carbon-chlorine bonds in the prior arts, the preparation method of the present invention has the advantages of short route and easy operation.

Organic halides are very important building blocks in organic synthesis. However, in the application in the past, expensive but relatively more active organic bromides and iodides were used in coupling reactions to synthesize target molecules (Chem. Rev. 1994, 94, 1047). So far, some examples of coupling reaction between aryl chloride and ketone have been reported (Acc. Chem. Res. 2003, 36, 234; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 676; Chem. Rev. 2010, 110, 1082), but there still exist the following problems.
1. The ligand in most catalyst systems are of complicated structure and difficult to synthesize which lead to significant costs.
2. Many existing catalyst systems fail to highly selectively catalyze the mono-arylation of ketone with acetyl group.
3. There has been few studies on arylation of acetone. It is hard for many aryl chlorides with substituted electron withdrawing groups to be introduced into the α-position of the carbonyl of acetone.
The objective of the present invention is to disclose a novel organic phosphine ligand and thereby solve the above problems.

Dialkyl(2-alkoxy-6-aminophenyl)phosphine, the preparation method and use thereof


A mount assembly for mounting a two-way radio antenna to a curved section of a vehicle has top and bottom collars shaped to match the contour of the vehicle curved section. During installation of the mount assembly, the top and bottom collars are positioned on opposite sides of the vehicle curved section, and an externally-threaded tubular connector is inserted through through-holes in the top and bottom collars and through an opening formed in the curved section of the vehicle. A mounting ring threads onto the upper end of the tubular connector that projects beyond the top collar and is threaded into engagement with the upper surface of the top collar. A fastening nut threads onto the lower end of the tubular connector that projects beyond the lower surface of the bottom collar. As the fastening nut is tightened, the top and bottom collars are drawn together to firmly secure the mount assembly to the vehicle surface. A two-way radio antenna is threaded onto external threads provided on the mounting ring, thereby attaching the antenna in a vertical orientation to the vehicle through the mount assembly.

The present invention relates to a mount assembly for mounting a two-way radio antenna to a mobile vehicle, and more particularly relates to a heavy duty mount assembly for securely mounting a two-way radio antenna to a curved surface of a mobile vehicle, such as a vehicle fender, so that the antenna extends perpendicularly to the ground along which the vehicle travels.
Two-way radios are in widespread use today by policemen, firemen, EMS personnel, security personnel, commercial personnel, military personnel and many others. To facilitate two-way radio communication, it is often necessary to mount a two-way radio antenna on a mobile vehicle. Many antenna mounts have been developed for this purpose.
Many standard antenna mounts that are commercially available today attach to the fender of a vehicle using small fingers that grip the underside of the vehicle fender. Such antenna mounts are disadvantageous because they provide a relatively weak mount assembly which is easily dislodged. Also, such antenna mounts have an open area between the coaxial cable shield and the mount itself, which is disadvantageous because RF energy escapes through the open area causing degradation of radio signals. Moreover, such antenna mounts, while easily mountable to a flat surfaces of a vehicle, are not readily mountable to curved surfaces. Furthermore, many of the standard antenna mounts are not designed to mount the radio antenna so that it extends perpendicularly to the ground, which is necessary for maximizing transmission and reception of RF energy.
Other antenna mounts that are commercially available are difficult to install, often requiring a skilled technician for installation, and many have a large number of parts and thus are costly to manufacture and time-consuming to install. In addition, many commercially available antenna mounts present a small contact area between the mount and the vehicle surface to which it is mounted, which results in a lack of mount stability and the likelihood that the antenna will become loosened over time and even jarred out of position when the vehicle rides over bumpy surfaces.

Mount assembly for two-way radio antenna


Disclosed are methods and apparatus for cleaning a substrate, such as a fabric material, involving the application of optical energy to the substrate, typically in the form of a beam of light, where the energy of the beam causes removal of the contaminant from substrate, such as from the fibres of a fabric material. The cleaning may occur via any mechanism, including one or more of, alone or in any combination, ablation, melting, heating or reaction with the substrate or contaminant or agent introduced to aid in the cleaning. The optical energy is typically applied to a selected area of the substrate (e.g., as a beam), and the substrate and beam or optical energy source moved relative to one another so as to clean a larger area of the substrate, either by moving the substrate or the beam, or both. Movement of the beam with respect to the substrate can be attained through a beam scanning mechanism or through movement of the optical source itself.

Conventional cleaning apparatus and processes typically utilise an aqueous method or a method which utilises chemicals. Consider, for example, household washing machines or dry cleaning, which is more commonly used within industrial cleaning processes.
Domestic cleaning of clothes or other fabric articles typically involves hand washing processes or more commonly front or top-loaded drum-style washing machines which employ both an aqueous and mechanical cleaning process, often requiring detergents and stain removal chemicals. Such machines have a high consumption of both water and power, with an average domestic washing machine using between 9-10 litres of water and consuming approximately 0.75 KW-hour electricity per wash load. Once the items are cleaned, the very nature of the cleaning process leaves the articles quite wet and requires subsequent drying, either in an inefficient machine such as a commercial tumble drier or through inefficient use of a building's heating system (radiators, etc.) or through outside drying via direct sunlight and/or wind.
Dry cleaning processes typically involve extensive use of hydrocarbon solvents such as perchloroethylene, and the storage, treatment and disposal of such chemicals may pose environment concerns. Furthermore, dry-cleaning equipment is specialist and is often extremely expensive and non-portable.
The cleaning of carpets and upholstery, both in the domestic as well as industrial environment, typical uses hot water or steam processes and, in many cases, these processes again leave the material soaked to dry out gradually over time. For industrial applications, for example in the transport sector where seats of passenger aircraft, trains and buses require regular cleaning, this can be involve periods of "down time" where the vehicle is not used so as to allow the cleaned upholstery to be dried.
In modern society, many articles being cleaned using conventional method and apparatus are very lightly or locally soiled. For example a shirt may have a dirty collar and cuffs and perhaps have an odour in certain regions of the shirt. Nevertheless, the item is fully washed simply because there is a small oil or food stain in a very localised area. In a household setting, the use of a washing machine to clean such items on a daily basis can be excessive, and can result in a degradation in the lifetime of the article due to the mechanical nature of the cleaning process and the need, very often, for drying of the garment in direct sunlight.

Methods and apparatus for laser cleaning of fabric materials


A display apparatus adapted for viewing by a person wearing linearly polarized lenses, such as sunglasses, is disclosed. The display apparatus includes a display device, such as an LCD or a filtered TFEL display, which displays information by providing as an output linearly polarized light travelling toward the person viewing the display apparatus. A quarter-wave plate is positioned between the display device and the linearly polarized lenses of the sunglasses. The quarter-wave plate receives the linearly polarized light from the display device as an input and provides as an output circularly polarized light which passes through the linearly polarized lenses of the sunglasses substantially without attenuation.

Display systems which output linearly polarized light (such as LCDs or filtered TFEL displays) cannot be used in avionics or automotive applications while the viewer is also wearing linearly polarized lenses such as sunglasses. If not aligned with the transmission axis of the polarized lenses, the linearly polarized light from the display is attenuated by the linearly polarized lenses. This can result in lowered display brightness and visibility, and even complete obscuration of the display.
As a result, manufacturers and users of avionics and automotive displays are forced to make a choice between wearing linearly polarized glasses for improved glare reduction, or using the latest technology which is based upon polarization optics. With the increased demand for use of LCDs in both automotive and avionics applications, this presents a significant problem for current and future display systems.

Display apparatus having quarter-wave plate positioned to eliminate conflicts with polarized sunglasses


An Al/Cu/Mg/Mn alloy for the production of semi-finished products with high static and dynamic strength properties has the following composition: 0.3–0.7 wt % silicon (Si), max. 0.15 wt. % iron (Fe), 3.5–4.5 wt % copper (Cu), 0.1–0.5 wt. % manganese (Mn), 0.3–0.8 wt. % magnesium (Mg), 0.5–0.15 wt % titanium (Ti), 0.1–0.25 wt % zirconium (Zr), 0.3–0.7 wt. % silver (Ag), max. 0.05 wt. % others individually, max 0.15 wt. % others globally, the remaining wt. % aluminum (Al). The invention further relates to a semi-finished product made for such an alloy and a method of production of a semi-finished product made for such an alloy.

Aluminum alloys having a high static and dynamic bearing capacity include the alloys AA 2014 and AA 2214. Drop-forged parts for wheel and brake systems of airplanes are manufactured from these Al alloys in the artificially aged state. The semi-finished products produced from the alloy intrinsically have the listed strength properties of the alloys, especially at lower temperatures. However, at temperatures of more than 100° C. these properties decrease more rapidly than is the case with alloys of the group AA 2618.
Semi-finished products of the alloys of group AA 2618 have better high-temperature stability and are utilized for a variety of uses such as compressor impellers for rechargeable diesel engines or for rotors of ultracentrifuges. However, at temperatures below 100° C., the aluminum alloys of the group AA 2014 and AA 2214 have greater bearing capacity.
In the wheel brake system of airplanes considerable heat is generated during the braking process. This leads to temperature increases even in the wheels, which typically are fabricated of an AA 2014 or AA 2214 alloy. These can cause early overageing of this alloy and lead to a severe limitation of the service life of the structural part.
In compressor impellers the transition to titanium alloys has been made to give the compressor impellers the necessary static and dynamic strength properties even at increased temperatures. However, employing titanium is expensive is therefore not suitable for the production of airplane wheels. Furthermore, titanium is less well suited as a material for wheels due to its limited thermal conductivity.
The problematic described above is not new. Therefore, for many years there has been the wish for an Al alloy, which combines the high strength properties of the alloys AA 2014 or AA 2214 at ambient temperature and the thermal stability of the alloys AA 2618 or 2618 A.

Al/Cu/Mg/Ag alloy with Si, semi-finished product made from such an alloy and method for production of such a semi-finished product


The present disclosure provides a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, and an LCD device. The LCD panel includes a color filter (CF) substrate, and an array substrate. A side of the CF substrate protrudes relative to the array substrate so that at least part of a common electrode of the CF substrate are exposed to the outside, and the common electrode of the CF substrate is electrically connected with a common line of the array substrate by a conducting member. The array substrate is further configured with a ground line, and discharge points are arranged between the common line of the array substrate and the ground line of the array substrate.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel in the prior art mainly includes three layers: a color filter (CF) substrate 1, an array substrate 2, and a liquid crystal (LC) layer 3. Generally, most circuits of the LCD panel are arranged on the array substrate 2, thus, the CF substrate 1 and the array substrate 2 are arranged in a staggered mode, and the array substrate 2 protrudes relative to the CF substrate 1 so that some circuits of the array substrate 2 are exposed to the outside. The exposed circuits of the array substrate 2 are laminated and interconnect with an external flexible printed circuit (FPC) 4. A transparent conducting layer (also called common electrode layer 11) of the CF substrate is interconnected with a common line of the array substrate by a conducting ball (Au ball).
In order to reduce cost, manufacturers of the LCD panel often hope to cut LCD panels having more of a bigvisible area using a glass substrate having a certain size, which results in less space of the LCD panel used to locate components. In order to ensure reliability of the LCD panel, a common method is to protrude a side of the CF substrate relative to the array substrate to locate components. As shown in FIG. 2, because the staggered arrangement causes a part of the transparent conducting layer of the CF substrate 1 to be exposed to the outside, the exposed part of the transparent conducting layer may be easily affected by electrostatic discharge (ESD), and circuits and related integrated chips (ICs) may be burnt out in severe cases. Because there is no etching process in a manufacturing process of the CF substrate, eliminating influence of ESD on the exposed the transparent conducting layer of the CF substrate becomes a difficult problem for engineers. One method used at present is to coat the exposed transparent conducting layer of the CF substrate with an insulating glue for protection which may increase cost and work time.

LCD panel with anti-electrostatic discharge function and LCD device using same